Appliances for Ventilation of Sewers or Localities Producing' Noxious Gases and for the Filtration and Purification of such Gases. AND PURIFI- CATION
Year: 1884

page_text: Appliances for Ventilation of Sewers or Localities Producing'
Noxious Gases and for the Filtration and Purification of
such Gases.
We, GEORGE ÉEDES EACHUS of No 3 Great Queen Street, Westminster in the.
county of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, and PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN of N° 32
St Mary at Hill in the city of London, Filter Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for "APPLIANCES FOR VENTILATION OF SEWERS OR
LOCALITIES PRODUCING NOXIOUS GASES AND FOR THE FILTRATION AND PURIFI-
CATION OF SUCH GASES to be as follows:-
"
Our invention relates to appliances for effecting ventilation of sewers or other
localities producing noxious gases, such as receptacles of sewage or of refuse from
industrial processes and for the filtration and purification of such emanations. To
effect this, we make arrangements first to determine a distinct circulation of the
noxious gases and to dilute them by admixture of air or other gases and then
to deal with the escaping current by processes for their purification, filtration,
disinfection, deodorization combustion or by several of these processes combined.
For these purposes, we usually employ two adjacent shafts, either separate or
combined in a single structure, side by side or the one within the other, one of
these being an inlet or downcast shaft for admission of air and the other an outlet
or upcast shaft. In either of these, the purifying, filtering, disinfecting or
deodorising medium is arranged so as to offer an extended surface for action on the
air or gases.
Either or both of the shafts may be provided with valves to prevent reversal of
the currents and the determination of these currents may be aided by falling water
in the downcast shaft or by heat in the upcast or in communication with it.
Generally it is preferred to carry in a vertical or sloping direction the upcast
shaft to a higher level than the upper mouth of the downcast shaft.
This arrangement may obviously be applied to existing sewers or drains or
receptacles from which noxious gases emanate or chambers where operations are
carried on that produce noxious or poisonous gases.
In dealing with sewers, we prefer to arrange the communications so that each
downcast shaft supplies air to the length of sewer inclining upwards from it, the

page_text: current being thus made to set towards the upcast shaft at the farther end of this
section, the successive pairs of shafts being placed at convenient intervals along the
sewer.
Where the two shafts are side by side, separated by a partition, we hang at the
lower end of the partition a flap or such like valve which allows the sewage to
flow freely under it, but arrests the longitudinal flow of gases, and directs them up
the upcast shaft and through the material used for purifying, filtering, disinfecting
or deodorizing. Where one of the shafts is placed within the other we bend the
lower end of the downcast shaft or tube so as to direct the air into the section of
sewer inclining upwards, providing when required a valve as above described to
prevent back-draught. For dealing with the gases for purification, filtration,
disinfection, deodorization or combustion, we may describe, as an example, one
form of filter which may be employed it being understood, however, that other
forms are available for the purpose.
In constructing the shafts or altering existing manholes or ventilators, so as to
operate as shafts we employ pipes or build the whole or part of them in a circular,
conical or wedge-shaped forin or with a ridge conveniently placed.
We insert at any convenient place in the shaft, a receptacle provided with a rod
or chain or handle for convenience of removal, this receptacle having preferably
the form of a hollow cone or inverted wedge made of perforated metal, wirework,
stoneware or other suitable open material, and charged with filtering, disinfecting
or deodorising materials.
.
To compel the gases to pass exclusively through the filtering medium, we apply
at the places where the receptacle is in contact with the shaft, washers of Asbestos,
indiarubber, or other packing material.
When noxious gases have to be removed from a closed receptacle, an upcast shaft
with filter as above described may be employed, fresh air being admitted by
suitable inlets at a lower level.
The ventilating current may be promoted by a fire or flame in the upcast shaft,
which will in some measure destroy by combustion the noxious character of the
escaping gases.

page_text: such Gases.
We, GEORGE EEDES EACHUS of No 3 Great Queen Street, Westminster in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN of N° 32
St Mary at Hill in the City of London, Filter Manufacturer do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for "APPLIANCES FOR VENTILATION OF SEWERS OR
LOCALITIES PRODUCING NOXIOUS GASES AND FOR THE FILTRATION AND PURIFI-
CATION OF SUCH GASES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Our invention relates to appliances for effecting ventilation of sewers or other
localities producing noxious gases, such as receptacles of sewage or of refuse from
industrial processes and for the filtration and purification of such emanations.
To effect this, we make arrangements first to determine a circulation of the
noxious gases, to localise them and to dilute them by admixture of air or other
gases and then to deal with the escaping current by processes for their purification,
filtration, disinfection, deodorization, combustion, or by several of these processes
combined.
For these purposes, we usually employ two adjacent shafts, either separate or
combined in a single structure, side by side or the one within the other, the
partitions dividing them being either fixed or moveable.
One of these acts as an inlet or downcast shaft for admission of air and the
other as an outlet or upcast shaft. In either of these the purifying, filtering,
disinfecting or deodorising medium is arranged so as to offer an extended surface
for action on the air or gases. In cases where there may be liability to back
draught in the downcast shaft a filter may be placed in both shafts. Either or
both of the shafts may be provided with valves to prevent reversal of the currents,
and the determination of these currents may be aided by falling water in the
downcast shaft or by heat in the upcast shaft or in communication with it.
Generally it is preferred to carry in a vertical or sloping direction the upcast shaft
to a higher level than the upper mouth of the downcast shaft.
This arrangement may obviously be applied to existing sewers or drains or
receptacles from which noxious gases emanate or chambers where operations are
carried on that produce noxious or poisonous gases.
In dealing with sewers we prefer to arrange the communications so that each
downcast shaft supplies air to the length of sewer inclining upwards from it, the
current being thus made to set towards the upcast shaft at the farther end of this
section, the successive shafts or pairs of shafts being placed at convenient intervals
along the sewer.
We generally hang at the lower end of the partition or in a convenient place
between the downcast and upcast shafts a flap balanced, or such like valve which

page_text: "
allows the sewage to flow freely under it but arrests the flow of gases, and directs
them up the upcast shaft and through the material used for purifying, filtering,
disinfecting, or deodorising. Where one of the shafts is placed within the other
we arrange the lower end of the downcast shaft or tube so as to direct the air into
the section of sewer inclining upwards, providing in all cases, where required, a valve
or stop to prevent back draught. For dealing with the gases for purification,
filtration, disinfection, deodorisation or combustion, we employ various forms of
filter some of which will hereafter be described.
In constructing the shafts or altering existing manholes or ventilators so as
to operate as shafts, we employ pipes or build the whole or part of them in 1
a circular, rectangular, conical or wedge shaped form with or without ridges, ledges
or grooves conveniently placed to receive the filter which may be fitted thereto
with or without packing.
We insert at any convenient place in the shaft a receptacle provided with a rod
or chain or handle for convenience of removal, this receptacle having preferably 1
the form of a hollow cone or inverted wedge made of perforated metal wirework,
stoneware or other suitable open material, and charged with filtering, disinfecting
or deodorising materials. To make a sound joint so as to compel the gases to
pass exclusively through the filtering medium we may apply at the places where
the receptacle is in contact with the shaft washers of asbestos, indiarubber or other
packing material.
When noxious gases have to be removed from a closed receptacle an upcast.
shaft with filter as above described may be employed fresh air being admitted by
suitable inlets at a lower level,
The ventilating current may be promoted by a fire or flame in the upcast shaft,
which will in some measure destroy by combustion the noxious character of the
escaping gases.
"
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective section shewing a downcast
shaft D and an upcast shaft U applied according to our invention, to a pipe drain
or sewer P, the upcast shaft being provided with a silt box S and a disinfecting
deodorising filter F and a valve or stop V being arranged between the two shafts to
prevent passage of air but to allow passage of liquid from the one compartment of
the sewer to the other. The two shafts may be variously constructed as illustrated
by Figs. 2 to 9 inclusive, similar parts in those figures being marked by the same
letters as in Fig. 1. Thus in Fig. 2 as in Fig. 1 there are two separate shafts con-
structed in brick work concrete masonry or other suitable material, each covered by
a grating under which is a silt box S. In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the separation of the
two shafts is carried up only part of the way from the bottom, the liquid discharge
through X from the silt box S being if desired carried down by a pipe W as indicated
in Fig. 5, in which case there may be gratings with light valves above D, such
valves being made in separate pieces as shown in Fig. 17. In Figs. 6 and 7 which
are respectively longitudinal and transverse sections and in Figs. 8 and 9 which
are similar sections, the partition A which separates the two shafts may be, as
shewn in these figures a plate or slab of metal, wood, ceramic or other suitable
material that can be slid down lateral guide grooves formed along the interior of 4
the shaft which instead of being built in brickwork or masonry, may be concrete
or earthenware pipe. From the upcast shaft in each case, a pipe may be led to any
convenient position where greater height can be obtained.
The valve V at the lower part of the partition which separates the upcast from
the downcast may be a simple flap-valve as shewn in Fig. 10, completely circular 5
or preferably with a segment C cut off its lower edge. We prefer however to
make the valve in separate segments all hinged to one spindle at the top as shewn
in the front view and vertical section Fig. 11 or hinged to each other as shewn in
Fig. 12. Fig. 13 is a side view and Fig. 14 a plan of the filter F adapted to be
placed in a shaft of circular section, and Figa. 15 and 16 are similar views of the 5
filter adapted for a shaft of square section. Figs. 18 and 19 are respectively a side

page_text: view and a plan of a filter adapted to a shaft of semi-circular section, as for
instance in the cases shewn in Figs. 6 and 8 which might consist of a circular
shaft divided by a partition A. Figs. 20 and 21 are respectively a side view and
a plan of a low form of filter such as is indicated in Fig. 5. In all cases it is
preferred to make the filter case with a handle H by which it can be withdrawn
from the shaft. It should be seated on a ledge or in a groove with caoutchouc or
other suitable packing to prevent leakage of foul air past it. The casing is charged
with any of the deodorising and disinfecting substances that are usually employed
for that purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
Dividing a sewer into compartments separated by valves or stops which allow
liquid to pass but prevent passage of air from one compartment to the next, and
applying to each division downcast and upcast shafts provided with suitable
disinfecting or deodorizing apparatus substantially as and for the purpose herein
set forth.