Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in Filtering.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1889-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in Filtering.
I JOHN EBENEZER WARREN of Cumberland Mills, in the State of Maine, in the United
States of America, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to filtering apparatus, and has for its object to provide a filter
of novel construction as will be described, whereby the foreign or sedimentary matter
held in suspension by the fluid, usually water, may be more effectually removed
therefrom, and from the filter.
The particular features in which my invention consists will be pointed out in the
clain at the end of this specification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, is a vertical section of a filter embodying my invention, the section being
supposed to be taken on line y-y, Fig. 3.
Fig. 2, a detail in elevation to show the driving mechanism, and
Fig. 3, a sectional plan view of the tank or vessel on line x-x Fig. 1 to more
clearly show the form of the said tank, part of the apparatus being omitted.
The tank or vessel A preferably circular in form, which may be of any desired capacity,
is divided as herein shown by suitable walls A¹ into a central chamber a, and an
annular space divided into chambers a¹, a² by vertical walls a* see Fig. 3.
The chamber a contains within it the filtering bed at of sand or other granular or
usual material, which is supported as shown upon a perforated metal plate b resting
upon suitable slats or beams b¹.
The chamber a also contains within it a hollow pipe or casting forming a well 6² for
the reception of water and sedimentary matter, the said pipe or casting being sustained
as shown by the bottom of the cistern, and extended up through the filter bed,
its upper riui or edge being substantially level with the top or upper surface of the
filter bed.
The well 62 has extended through it a pipe constituting the inlet pipe for the
filter, the said pipe communicating with the chamber a' of the filter and having
its inlet mouth controlled by a gate or valve 65, herein shown as operated through a
valve rod and wheel b' from above the filter, the chamber a¹, as shown, constituting
the inlet chamber for the filter.
The well 62 is provided with a suitable discharge pipe c, see dotted lines Fig. 1, by
which the water and sediment in the said well may be discharged therefrom, the said
pipe being controlled by a suitable valve not shown, but which may be operated
through the rod,c' and wheel c².
The chamber a below the filter bed is provided with a suitable outlet pipe c³, herein
shown as discharging the filtered water from the said chamber into the chamber a²
which constitutes the outlet chamber for the filter, the discharge of filtered water from
the chamber a into the chamber a being controlled by a gate or valve e operated
through the rod c and wheel c, the water in the chamber a passing therefrom
through a suitable outlet not shown.
The inlet pipe as shown, is extended above the well and has secured to it as
by set screws d, a casting composed essentially of a hub d', and radial arms d
between which arms the water is discharged from the inlet pipe into the chamber a.
The hub d forms a guide for a vertically movable shaft d³ extended above the
filter, and supported in suitable bearings in a bracket or standard d* sustained, as
shown by the cross beam ď³.
:

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1
The shaft d³, has firmly secured to it an agitator composed, as herein shown, of
the arms de provided with fingers d' preferably connected together at their lower
ends or points by a sweep or blade d8, secured to the said fingers so as to incline
toward the filter bed.
The shaft d³ has splined upon it a bevel gear wheel e ihrough which rotation is
imparted to the agitator to stir up or agitate the filter bed, when the fingers d' are
inserted therein, as will be described.
The bevel gear e is rotated by a bevel pinion e* on a shaft e¹ provided with fast
and loose pulleys e², e³, the said shaft being supported in suitable bearings in a
frame e sustained by the tank or vessel.
The upper end of the shaft d³ is provided with screw-threads f to engage threads
on the inner side of the hub of a bevel gear f' rotated by a pinion f² on a
shaft f³ provided
as shown with clutch pulleys f, f³, connected by belts ƒ³, ƒ³, to
pulleys f³, fo, on the shaft e¹.
The shaft 3 is made screw-threaded for a portion of its length as shown, and has
mounted upon it a threaded sleeve or hub f10 having an arm 12 through which is
extended a rod 9 provided on opposite sides of the arm with collars or tappets g¹, 9²,
the said rod having secured to it the clutch 10 of any usual or well known con-
struction, the mechanisin just described constituting an automatic stop mechanism by
which the direction of travel of the movable shaft may be controlled.
In the operation of my improved filter, the water or other fluid to be filtered is
discharged into the chamber a through the inlet pipe 64, the said water filling the
well and the chamber above the filter bed as indicated by broken lines, the discharge
pipe c for the well being closed.
The water passes through the filter bed and into the outlet chamber a², the valve c¹
being open.
In practice it has been ascertained that the heavier impure particles gravitate
toward the center of the filter bed, and with my improved filter these heavier impure
particles precipitate to the bottom of the well, while the lighter impure particles
which gravitate toward the walls of the chamber a, are collected by a peripheral
gutter from whence they are conducted to the central well by pipes /¹.
The central well and peripheral gutter are especially advantageous when it is desired
to wash the filter bed, as they afford a rapid egress for the contaminated or impure
water.
During the process of filtration, the agitator may be revolved with the points of the
fingers near but not in contact with the filter bed.
As the agitator is thus revolved the sweeps or blades tend to suck up and keep afloat
the sediment and prevent it settling down upon the filter bed.
So also when the sweep or blade is in the filter bed and the agitator revolved,
during the washing of the filter bed, the said sweep or blade cuts the filter bed
horizontally and lifts it up, thereby more effectually freeing it from the adhering
sediment.
If desired I may secure two or more sweeps or blades to the fingers on each arm.
The downward travel or movement of the shaft is limited by the tappet arm
striking one tappet, as g¹, thereby disengaging the clutch 10 of ordinary construc-
tion from one pulley as f* and engaging it with the pulley f, thereby reversing
the direction of movement of the shaft f³ and causing it to ascend, its upward move-
ment being limited by the tappet arm striking the tappet g².
As shown in the drawings the sleeve 10 is traveling in the direction of arrow 20
Fig. 2, the shaft d³ being supposed to be on its downward movement, it being moved
upward by the clutch engaging the pulley f4, the said clutch being brought into
engagement with the said pulley by the tappet arm f12 striking the tappet gl.
When the gate or valve e is closed the water may be discharged from the
chamber a through an outlet / controlled by a suitable valve, not shown.
.
I have herein shown the shaft f as driven by belts, but I expressly desire it to be
I understood that the said shaft may be rotated by any usual or suitable gearing, my
invention not lying in the means or gearing by which to rotate said shaft.

page_text: Instead of the particular device for automatically controlling the movement of
the agitator shaft, I may use any other usual or suitable well known mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1: In a filter, a tank or vessel, and a filter bed contained therein, combined with
a well extended through the filter bed and provided with a discharge outlet, and
with an inlet pipe extended into said well, substantially as described.
2: In a filter, a tank or vessel, and a filter bed contained therein, combined with
a well extended through the filter bed, and with a peripheral gutter connected to
said well, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3-In a filter, a tank or vessel, a filter bed and a shaft d³, combined with an agitator
consisting of an arm having fingers and a sweep or blade secured to said fingers,
substantially as described.
4: In a filter, a tank or vessel, and a filter bed therein, a shaft d³ having an
agitator secured to it consisting of an arm having fingers, and a sweep or blade
secured to said fingers, combined with means to rotate the said shaft and also move it
vertically, and automatic mechanism to limit the vertical travel of the said shaft,
substantially as described.
5: In a filter, the combination with a tank or vessel, and a filter bed therein, of
a well d, an inlet pipe extended through said well, a vertically movable shaft, an
agitator secured thereto, and mechanism to automatically stop or limit the movement
of the said shaft in vertical directions, substantially as described.
Deted the 3rd d
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.