An Improved Apparatus for Automatically Removing Solid Matter from Water or other Liquid.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Automatically Removing Solid Matter
from Water or other Liquid.
I, JOHN FOSTER STEPHENSON of Cranmore Street, Glenferrie, Hawthorn, in
the Colony of Victoria, Australia, Reservoir Superintendent, 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 has been devised for the purpose of providing an improved
apparatus for use in connection with water-works, streams, channels, &c., where it
is desirable to remove foreign, solid or floating matters from the water before the
latter is led away for consumption.
At present it frequently happens that large quantities of dead leaves, grass and
other organic matters and carths become mixed with the water in creek, lagoons,
reservoirs and the like places and it is desirable that such water should be freed
from these impurities. It also happens in mining operations that, for economical
purposes the same water or liquid should be utilized repeatedly to perform its
work; as for instance where water has been surcharged with tailings from a
crushing battery, where such water is of considerable value, it is necessary that the
liquid should be used over and over again. Again, in wool or. fibre washing
operations it is desirable to save any fragments of such wool or fibre as may have
cscaped with the waste water.
Now my invention fulfils all the functions necessary to satisfy the above require-
ments in an efficient and highly economical manner my improved automatic apparatus
acting as a general cleanser of water or other similar liquid when such water or
liquid is charged with any solid or foreign matters which will not pass through a
finely divided screen or gauze.
In order that my invention may be the better understood reference may be made
to the accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1 illustratos a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved apparatus,
whilst
Figure 2 is a plan of same, with a portion torn away for clearness of reading.
Similar letters in both these views refer to the corresponding parts.
In these drawings "A" represents a rectangular casing or box somewhat in the
form of a parallelogram preferably constructed of wood and provided with stout
water-tight joints and bottom. In this casing "A" are arranged a number of
conveniently placed lateral beams as "B" arranged in any suitable manner to
support curved segmentary screens "C," "D" and "E" (see Fig. 1), said
segmentary screens forming part of a circumfereuce of which a horizontal shaft "L"
is the centre. The upper faces of these screens are covered with fine wire gauze
or other suitable screening material, their under sides being open to the lower
portion of the box "A."
"F" is also a screen, similar in all but shape to the screens "C," " D," ""E"
and forming an inclined step down to a flat framed screen "G." This latter
screen "G" has a larger gauge than the preceding screens and is designed to form
a receptacle upon which leaves, grass, or similar matters, may collect and finally
drain off their contents. This screen "G" (a portion of which on Fig. 2 has been
torn away to show the under screen "H") inay be removed from its place by the
eyelets "G, G" (Fige. 1 and 2) and when in position its frame rests upon a lower
ร

page_text: screen "FI," formed of similarly fine gauze to those before described.
"A" is an
open passage or exit duct for the liquid which falls into the box "A" and is
preferably placed as shown at the bottom of the said casing "A" its width being
shown by the dotted lines at "A', A" on Fig. 2. "I" is a door closing an
opening "I" in the side of the casing "A." This door "I" may be provided
with hinges "I" and fastening latch "" "J" is a spouting or shoot hy which
the liquid, charged with the matters desired to be removed, enters the apparatus.
"J" is supported as shown by the casing "A" but I desire it to be understood
that "J" may be moved a short distance backward or forward in accordance with
the volume and velocity of liquid pouring through it into the apparatus.
"K" is
a shelf preferably constructed of metal and terminating in a downwardly pointing
edge, the use of "K" will be hereinafter explained. "L" is a horizontal shaft,
preferably constructed of metal, and revolving at each end in a bearing "M." To
this shaft "L" is keyed or otherwise attached a waterwheel "N" as shown. In
this wheel are full length lateral buckets "O," said buckets being constructed of
wooden planks "O" To some of these planks "O" body plates "P1" of flat
brushes "P" are attached, the plates "P1" being kept in position by nutted
bolts "P" said bolts passing through adjusting slots "P" formed in the said
plate "P" It will be seen from the drawings that the shaft "L" is free to
revolve in the bearings "M, M." These latter are formed with flanges "M" and
are fitted in slotted vertical passages in the casing "A" in such a manner that the
whole of "L," the wheel "N" and the bearings "M" may be raised to a convenient
distance (see Fig. 1) to permit the screens "C, D and E" to be lifted up and
removed from their position shown on the drawing.
The modus operandi of my invention is as follows-
Presume that water is to be cleansed from leaves, grass, insects and the like;
the liquid enters my apparatus by the spouting or shoot "J" and wholly or partly
pours into one or more of the lateral buckets "O." This action will set the
wheel "N" into rotary motion, the buckets meanwhile filling and discharging their
.contents against and over the screens "C, D, and E" and to a less extent "F."
The liquid immediately filters away through the strainers "C, D" and "E"
leaving a deposit of the beforementioned impurities, such as animal or vegetable
matters upon the face of the said screens. These matters are quickly removed
from the faces of the screens by the cleaning or sweeping action of the brushes "P"
in their revolution with the wheel as shown on Figure 1.
It will be noticed that these brushes (see Fig. 2) are set alternately, so as to
slightly overlap one anothers work and so calculated that with one revolution of
the wheel "N" the brushes collectively will have swept the whole of the
surfaces of "C, D" and "E." In practice the wheel revolves at some considerable
speed and causes the said brushes "P" to eject all the collected matter from "C, D"
and "E" on to the wider gaugo screen "G." Here the leaves or other matter
can roughly drain before being removed; this is effected by opening the door "I"
and raking such matters out with any convenient instrument. From time to time
the eyelets "G, G" may be utilized and the screen "G" lifted out for cleaning
or repairs. Any finer matters which may have fallen through the larger orifices
in the screen "G" can then be conveniently removed from the lower and finer
screen "H."
The liquid after having found its way through the gauzo screens "C, D"
and "E" passes along to and out of the open passage or exit "A!"
Reverting to the spouting or shoot "J" if the supply and velocity of liquid be
very considerable the said shoot should be moved backward so that its contents
will fall ou to the shelf "K" and from thence into the buckets "O." This
alteration may be necessary in order to prevent any excessive velocity or volume
of the liquid from causing the wheel to revolve in the wrong direction; the desired
object of the arrangement of the shoot "J" and shelf "R" being to direct the
incoming liquid so as to fill the buckets "O" that their weight may revolve the
wheel "N in the direction shown by the arrows.

page_text: When my apparatus is used in connection with water charged with tailings
from a crushing battery-all the screens "C" "D" "E""""G" and "H"
are covered with a finer gauze than that used at the crushing battery through.
which the tailings have passed.
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 apparatus for automatically removing solid matter from water or other
liquid.
In combination a revolving water-wheel as "N" operated by the liquid requiring
cleansing, brushes as "P" and one or more curved screens as "C" "D" "E
said brushes being so arranged as to cleanse the surface of said screen or screens.
during their revolution with the said wheel substantially as and for the purposes
Bet forth.
2. In apparatus for automatically removing solid matter from water or other
liquid-
In combination a water-wheel arranged within a casing as "A," a liquid
supply shoot as "J" or "K" and brushes as "P" said brushes cleansing one or
more curved screens as "C, D, E" substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In apparatus for automatically removing solid matter from water or other
liquid.
In combination one or more curved screens as "C" "D" "E," inclined screen
as "F," and screens as "G" and "H," brushes as "P," and water-wheel as "N,"
casing as "A" and an inlet shoot as "J" and "K," substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. In apparatus for automatically removing solid matter from water or other
liquid.
In combination a water-wheel as "N" brushes as "P," bolts "P" and
Blots "P" for adjusting same, the said wheel boing supported in bearings as "M"
capable of being raised and lowered substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
5. In apparatus for automatically removing solid matter from water or other
Liquid.
The general arrangement and combination of the whole of the parts substantially-
as herein described and as illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Nineteenth day of August 1896.
J. F. STEPHENSON,
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent.