Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Filtering Liquiils under Pressure.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Filtering Liquiils
under Pressure.
RICHARD KRIX, of 2/11 Jordanstrasse, Dresden in the Kingdom of Saxony and
German Empire, Traffic Officer, 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 the method of and to apparatus for filtering fluids under
pressure and is especially designed for the purification of water so as to render it
fit for domestic and manufacturing purposes. By its use organic matter and
organisms contained in the water are removed or altered so that their prejudicial
effect is destroyed whilst no unpleasant or prejudicial effect is produced.
The filtration and purification of water are effected according to these improve-
ments in the following manner :-
The water is forced under pressure through a chamber in which there are
arranged at suitable distances apart above or behind each other, layers of capillary
vegetable stems such as reed or cane, forming a filter. These capillary vegetable
stems are subjected to a preliminary treatment.
Thus, young unripe reeds or canes, such as the East Indian or Arundo Donax,
are, before they are fully developed, cut off as near as possible to their roots and
divided into pieces of from twenty to thirty centimeters in length. These pieces
are placed for a period of two or three months, according to their quality, in a
marshy soil and are allowed to remain there until new and substantial fibres are
formed in the tubular net-work of the cane or reed, nearly closing it. The pieces
are then removed and boiled slowly in a solution containing about ten per cent. of
common salt which frees them from all noxious and slimy matters. They are then
slowly dried for from ten to fourteen days and placed in a solution containing from
twenty to twentyfive per cent. of permanganate of potash which is eagerly absorbed
by the tubular structure of the cane or reed, which it fully penetrates. This
treatment has the effect of constricting the capillary passages to such an extent
that water can be forced through them only by pressure, when it exudes from the
opposite end in minute jets. The time occupied by the passage of the water
through the capillary passages suffices for the destruction and decomposition of the
organisms and organic matters whilst the slime or solids is or are also decomposed
and induced to form a new net-work without stopping up the capillary passages or
influencing the flow of water. The permanganate of potash is in no way detrimental,
and does not affect the smell taste or colour of the water.
The canes or reeds prepared as hereinbefore described may be variously employed
for the purposes of filtration and purification of water, but I prefer to arrange them
above or behind each other in layers, and so that the spaces between the layers
form chambers communicating with each other and with the outside through the
capillary passages. This arrangement is made within a pipe or tube through
which the water has to pass, so that the water must flow through the layers and be
freed thereby from its impurities.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a form of apparatus which I may employ
for the purposes of my invention.
In each of the figures of these drawings similar parts are denoted by similar
letters of reference.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the complete apparatus included in the
pipes of a high pressure water service.
Figure 2 is a plan of the valve and holder.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the apparatus.

page_text: In the construction illustrated there are two layers bb Figure 1, each layer
consisting of a closely packed bundle of the prepared pieces of capillary vegetable
stems arranged around the spindle g in such a manner that they cannot lock
together and that the chamber or space c is preserved between them. On one end
of the spindle g there is a valve i with wing guides e, firmly fixed, which consists of
the indiarubber or leather disc fand a similar metallic disc h outside it. These
discs fh, are secured upon the spindle by the nut m. The layers of fibre b bare
pressed into a cylinder a which may form a continuation of the guides e, and which
is inserted into the coupling piece k. At the opposite end of the cylinder a there
is secured the cross piece d, by the nut m'. In the drawings this cross piece is
shewn to the left of Figure 2, and as it is of greater diameter than the
cylinder a and fits into a recess in the coupling k, it serves when the delivery
pipe B is in place, to prevent any alteration in the relative positions of the cylinder
and coupling.
Apart from the delivery pipe B, the cylinder a can slide in the coupling k to the
extent of the difference between the distance from f to d and the length of that
part of the coupling & which forms the seating for the cylinder. When the packed
cylinder, valve and end piece d are inserted into the coupling and the pipe B is
screwed home, the apparatus is firmly fixed as shewn by Figure 1. The water
then enters from the supply pipe A through the openings between the wings e and
passes through the layers bb where it becomes purified, and escapes through d to
the delivery pipe B. If the delivery pipe be disconnected, the pressure of the
water in A, exerted upon the disc h, forces the cylinder through the coupling k,
pressing the soft part f of the valve upon the end of the coupling, which forms a
seat for it, and thus stops the further flow of the water.
The water travels at so slow a rate through the apparatus that, in the event of
the sudden closing of a tap, no concussion or "hammer" will take place in the
supply pipes and their bursting from this cause will be prevented. Also, since the
water must pass through the layers bb before it can enter the delivery pipe B,
there can be no concussion from the same cause in that pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process of purifying and filtering water which consists in forcing the
water under pressure through a layer or layers of specially prepared cane reed or
similar vegetable stems in such a manner that the water is compelled to traverse
the capillary passages of the stems, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In an apparatus for filtering and purifying water, a layer or layers of closely
packed specially prepared reed cane or similar stems arranged in such a manner
that the water must pass through the capillary passages of the stems, substantially
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The process of preparing cane reed and similar vegetable stems for filtering
and purifying water, which consists in a preliminary deposit of the unripe stems in
marshy soil, a subsequent boiling in salt solution, drying, and a final immersion in
solution of permanganate of potash, substantially as herein before described.
4. An apparatus for use iu filtering and purifying liquids, consisting of a
coupling k, a cylinder a, a cross piece d, inlets to the cylinder between the wings a,
a valve f, a screwed spindle g with its nuts m m³, and a layer or layers of
prepared vegetable stems in the cylinder, substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings..
Dated this 29th day of September A.D. 1893.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.