IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS CONSISTING MAINLY IN A DEVICE FOR CLEANSING THE FILTERING BODIES OF THE SAME
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES EDOUARD CHAMBERLAND doctor of Sciences of 14 rue Vauquelin,
Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN FILTERS CONSISTING MAINLY IN A DEVICE FOR CLEANSING THE FILTERING
BODIES OF THE SAME, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
I have applied for Letters Patent dated March 17 1885 for improvements
embodying a filtering medium which retains all solid matter including microbes
and their germs contained in water or other liquid, and also a construction of
filter for industrial and other purposes. Owing to the efficiency of the said
filtering medium the latter clogs relatively rapidly, on account of the deposit of
solid matter on the outer surface of the filtering medium hence the necessity of
cleansing frequently. And if a certain number of filtering bodies be grouped
within the same space and if a certain number of such groups be set up in batteries,
any desired quantity of potable water can be obtained for the supply of
agglomerations, such as schools, barracks, cities, armies, etc, or any liquid freed
from any solid or organic matter, provided the rendering capacity of the filtering
bodies is considered as a constant one; but this is not the case.
In filtering very impure water, wine, beer and such like, the decrease of the
rendering capacity of the. filtering bodies is rapid. The filtering operation then
requires to be stopped, the apparatus has to be taken apart and the filtering bodies
have to be taken out; cleansed and refitted whereby loss of time, expense, risk of
breakage and leakage are entailed.
I have devised a cleansing apparatus which acts by causing a cleansing material
to rub against and along the obliterated external surface of the filtering bodies
when clogged, so as to remove mechanically the adhering substances from the said
surfaces. The same is operated from the outside without in any way stopping the
filtering action.
DESCRIPTION,

page_text: tightness being secured by packing 5 5 let into grooves of 2 and 3. 666
666 are filtering bodies of any desired shape in cross section forming a battery.
Each battery may be composed of any number of such bodies and each body is
manufactured from the filtering compound referred to in my application dated
March 17 1885 or any other filtering medium may be used.
Each body 6 is made at its lower portion with an off-set which bears against an
elastic washer 7 laid upon a raised portion 8 cast upon the bottom 2; furthermore
it has a nozzle 9 by which the filtered liquid may escape. Towards its upper end,
the body has a swelling 10 provided with a recess for receiving an elastic disk 11
upon which presses a metal disk 12. 13 is a screw operated from the outside by a
milled head 14 exerting pressure upon the filtering body 6, in order to maintain
the same firmly in place. 15 is a locknut for 13. In the head 3 is a manhole
closed by a plate 16. The centre of the said plate acts as a bearing for an
operating screw 17 the lower end of which rests in a step 18 and the upper end of
which is provided with a handle or crank 19. The requisite tightness is obtained
by a stuffing box 20.
Upon the operating screw 17 is a nut 21 to which are secured two plates 22, 22
for holding the cleansing substance. The latter is formed of washers or pieces 23
of thin metal soft rubber, asbestos, textile or spongy material or such like, gripped
between the two plates 22 22 by means of screws, rivets or pins 24 at the edges of
CLEANSING THE FILTERING DUDIES.
When, after a certain time, a layer of foreign matter has formed upon the outer
surface of the filtering bodies, whereby the filtering capacity is decreased, the
cleansing operation is resorted to without stopping the filtering operation, by
turning the handle 19 one way or the other to cause the cleansing device to be
raised or to be lowered.
The solid or mucilaginous matter removed by the cleansing device is then in
suspense in the liquid contained in the apparatus. The liquid charged with said
impurities is run off by opening the discharge pipe 26.
CLEANSING THE APPARATUS.
After a certain number of the last named operations, it is desirable to cleanse the
apparatus. To this end the inlet of the liquid to be filtered is cut off, a pet cock
or other suitable air cock not shown in the Drawings is opened, the filtering
bodies are cleansed as herein before described, the contents of the apparatus are run
off by the outlet 26 and the apparatus is cleansed by causing a rush of water to
enter therein and carry off all impurities which may have collected on the sides or
on the bottom of the apparatus. When this operation is completed, the filtering
operation is started afresh.
REGENERATING THE FILTERING BODIES.
In order to regenerate the filtering bodies which may have become clogged in
the thickness thereof, the following operation is performed. Having effected the
two previously described cleansing operations, hot water, steam or hot air at a
temperature of say 212 degrees Fahrenheit more or less, or any suitable liquid or
gaseous antiseptic is introduced within the apparatus. -

page_text: By a suitable arrangement of a device acting in the manner of a thermo-syphon,
the liquid contained in the apparatus may be caused to boil and circulate therein,
the filtering bodies having been previously filled or stopped up.
In cases where a number of apparatus herein described are set up or grouped in
batteries, they may be so connected together so as to be operated collectively by
any suitable mechanical contrivance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First A filtering body 6 having on off-set at its lower portion for bearing'
against an elastic washer 7 and having a swelling 10 at its upper portion, for
forming therein a recess which receives one or more disks, substantially as described
and illustrated,, and for the purpose set forth.
Second Fitting a filtering body 6 within a cylinder 1 by means of a pressing
screw 13 operated from the outside, elastic and non elastic disks 10 11 et 7 the
whole being pressed against a raised portion 8 of the bottom 2 of the apparatus
substantially as described and illustrated.
.
Third Cleansing filtering bodies substantially similar to those shown by the
numeral 6 in the accompanying Drawings, by causing a rubbing medium of any
suitable size shape and character to move against and parallel with the outer
surface of the filtering body during the filtering operation for the purpose of
freeing the same from any impurities adhering thereto as set forth and illustrated. .
Fourth The device hereinbefore described for operating the cleansing washers or
material 23, comprising a driving screw 17 worked from the outside by a handle 19
or its equivalent, a nut 21 carrying two plates 22 22 between which is held the
cleansing material 23 by means of screws, pins or rivets 24 substantially as set
forth and shown.
.
Fifth The herein before described apparatus for filtering liquids and simultaneously
cleansing the filtering bodies of the same consisting of a cylinder 1 closed by
ends 23 with packing 5 and bolts 4 a number of filtering bodies 6 an inlet 25 for
the liquid to be filtered, outlets 9 for the filtered liquid an outlet 26 for the
discharge, as described and a cleansing device comprising screw 17, crank 19 nut 21
disks or plates 22 22 and cleansing washers or material 23 substantially as
described and shown.
Sixth Regenerating filtering bodies substantially similar to the kind herein-
before described which have become clogged in the thickness of the compound or
material which constitutes said bodies, which consists in subjecting the latter to
the action of water steam or air having a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit
more or less or of any suitable liquid or gaseous antiseptic, substantially as herein
set forth.
Seventh Grouping the hereinbefore described filtering and cleansing apparatus
combined in any desired number so as to form a battery, the apparatus being
connected to each other in such a manner that the cleansing device of each
apparatus may be operated collectively from the outside by using any suitable
mechanical driving device.