Water Filters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
St. Louis, MO.J
Water Filters.
I, JOHN LIDDLE of 154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Patent Agent 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 an improved arrangement whereby when the faucet or
discharge valve of a water filter is opened to draw water for use, there is
simultaneously and automatically opened a valve located in the waste pipe of the
filter, so that each time water is drawn for use, a communication is opened up
between the filter and the waste pipe resulting in filtered water being forced back
through the filtering medium and the waste pipe to clean the filtering medium.
The invention further relates to an arrangement in connection with the filter for
providing an ice box or receptacle with means for cleaning it of sediment.
Figure I is a front elevation of the filter.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of the valves which control the passage of water
from the filter through the waste pipe and from the filter to the place of use.
Fig. III is a vertical section taken on line III-III, Fig. II.
Fig. IV is a vertical section of the filter taken on line IV-IV, Fig. I.
Fig. V is a top view of the filter.
Fig. VI is an enlarged section taken on line VI-VI, Fig. IV.
Fig. VII is an enlarged section taken on line VII-VII, Fig. V, and illustrating
the nipple in the supply pipe that causes a reduced flow of unfiltered water from
the source of supply to the filter.
Referring to the drawings; 1 represents a closed storage tank, within which is
located the filtering stone or block 2. But a single stone or block is shown, but it
is evident that more than one may be used when desired. The tank 1 is shown as
provided with an enclosing jacket 3, which is preferably made of some good
non-conductor of heat, with a view of keeping the filtered water cool.
The filtering block 2 is connected to the bottom 4 of the tank 1 by means of a
casting or head 5 secured to the bottom 4 by means of bolts 6, the casting or head
having a bridge 7 that receives the lower end of a rod 8 by which a cap 9 is held
on the stone or block. The tank 1 rests on a base 10, supported on legs 11.
12 is the supply pipe, through which unfiltered water passes from the source of
supply to the filter. The pipe 12 is shown as being connected to the pipe 13 of a
sink 14. The pipe 12 is connected to the pipe 13 inside of the faucet valve 15, so
that when the valve 15 is closed, there is always a water pressure in the pipe 12.
The pipe 12 extends to the casting or head to which it is connected by a T 16
and a nipple 17, see Figs. IV and VI. The water passing through the pipe 12,
enters the interior of the filtering block 2 through the casting or head 5, and
percolating through the filtering block, enters the storage tank 1 in a filtered
condition.
18 represents a faucet, through which filtered water is drawn from the storage
tank 1. This faucet is connected to the bottom of the storage tank at 19 through

page_text: pipe 20. 21 is a drain pipe, leading from the T coupling 16 to the
sink 14, and this pipe passes through the base 10 in close proximity to the faucet
pipe 20, as shown in Fig. I.
The faucet 18 has a valve 22, the stem of which is connected to a crank 23 on
one end of a rock shaft 24, that is provided with a handle 25. The other end of
the shaft 24 extends into the waste pipe 21, and this pipe is provided with a
crank 26, to which is connected the stem 27 of a valve 28. A water-tight joint is
made between the pipe 21 and the shaft 24 by means of a stuffing box 29, and a
like joint is made between the faucet 18 and the shaft 24 by means of a stuffing
box 30. It will be understood that as the shaft 24 is rocked, by the handle 25, the
valves 22 and 28 will be simultaneously opened and closed. When these valves
are closed, water passes through the supply pipe 12 into the closed tank 1 until
the pressure in the tank equals the, pressure in the supply pipe, and then the water
will cease to flow through the pipe 12, the tank being principally filled with water,
but having a condensed air body above the water, as shown at 31, Fig. IV.
When the valves 22 and 28 are opened to draw clear water from the faucet 18
for use, water under the condensed air pressure in the tank 1 will also be caused to
pass back through the filtering stone or block 2 and through the waste pipe 21
into the sink 14, from where it escapes to the sewer; so that each time water is
drawn for use, there is a reflux of water through the filtering stone causing the
latter to be cleaned of dirt and sediment which has been extracted from the water
as it filters through the stone, and thus the stone is kept constantly cleaned.
For the purpose of creating a slow flow of water through the filtering stone
during the filtering process, and for the purpose of preventing the pressure in the
supply pipe 12 from interfering with the reflux of water through the filtering stone
or block and a flow of water through the waste pipe when the valves 22 and 28 are
open, the pipe 12 is provided with a constriction, shown in Fig. VII, consisting
preferably of a nozzle 32 having an opening that is considerably smaller than the
interior diameter of the pipe 12. This nozzle is held in a union 33, the location of
which is seen in Fig. V. By providing this nozzle, the force on the supply side of
the filtering stone or block is diminished, and the water is caused to filter slowly
through the filtering stone or block, and then when the valve 28 is opened, a reflux
of water of much greater force passes back through the filtering block or stone, so
that the pressure which dislodges the dirt and sediment from the filtering stone or
block is much in excess of the pressure that deposited the sediment and dirt, the
result being a thorough cleaning of the stone or block.
Located within the storage tank, and depending from the top thereof, is an ice
chamber 34. 35 is a pipe leading from the bottom of the ice chamber up through
the top of the chamber 34, and down to the waste pipe 21, which which it connects
at 36. The pipe 21 is provided with a valve 37 between the pipe 35 and the
sink 14. By closing this valve for a second when the valves 22 and 28 are open,
the pipe 35 will be filled with water, and then by opening the valve 37 again, the
water and sediment collected in the ice chamber 34 will he siphoned out through
the pipe 35.
40 represents an air valve located in the top of the tank 1, and through which
the tank may be supplied with a fresh amount of air when desired and when the
pressure within the tank is removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performned I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a water filter, the combination of a storage tank, a supply pipe, a filtering
medium, a drain pipe, and a faucet for drawing filtered water from the storage
tank, said drain pipe and faucet being provided with valves connected together
so as to be simultaneously operated, whereby the drain pipe is opened each time
water is drawn from the faucet, for the purpose specified.
2. In a water filter, the combination of a storage tank, a drain pipe, a faucet

page_text: for drawing water from the storage tank, a valve in the drain pipe, and a
connection between said faucet and drain pipe valve whereby water is discharged
from said tank through the filtering medium each time clear water is drawn from
the faucet, as specified.
3. In a water filter, the combination of a storage tank having a clear water faucet,
a drain pipe communicating with the storage tank, and means for simultaneously
opening and closing said faucet and pipe, for the purpose specified.
4. In a water filter, the combination of a storage tank, a supply pipe having a
contracted opening, a filtering medium located within the storage tank, a drain
pipe communicating with said storage tank through said filtering medium, a valve
in the drain pipe, a faucet for drawing clear water from the storage tank, and a
connection between the valve of said faucet and the valve in said drain pipe,
whereby said valves are simultaneously opened and closed, for the purpose
specified.
5. In a water filter, the combination of a storage tank having a filtering medium,
a waste pipe communicating with the storage tank, an ice chamber located within
the storage tank, a pipe extending from the bottom of the ice chamber up through
the top of the ice chamber and down to said drain pipe, and valves 28 and 37
located in said drain pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 17th day of February 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.