IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES EMPLOYED FOR THE FILTRATION OF WATER, SEWAGE, and OTHER FLUIDS, WHEREBY MANURE AND OTHER VALUABLE PRODUCTS ARE SEPARATED, PRECIPITATED, AND OBTAINED THEREFROM.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Henry Atkins, of 62, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS AND IN THE MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES EMPLOYED FOR THE
FILTRATION OF WATER, SEWAGE, and OTHER FLUIDS, WHEREBY MANURE AND
OTHER VALUABLE PRODUCTS ARE SEPARATED, PRECIPITATED, AND OBTAINED
THEREFROM.
,,
Sealed the 8th August 1873, and dated the 14th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Henry Atkins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th February 1873.
I, FRANCIS HENRY ATKINS, of 62, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES EMPLOYED
FOR THE FILTRATION OF WATER, SEWAGE, AND OTHER FLUIDS, WHEREBY MANURE
AND OTHER VALUABLE PRODUCTS ARE SEPARATED, PRECIPITATED, AND OBTAINED
THEREPROM," to be as follows:-
This Invention has, first, for its object improved arrangements of
apparatus and mechanism for the filtration of water, sewage, and other

page_text: fluids, being specially adapted for the separation of the grosser impurities
from water for manufacturing and other purposes, or for filtering the
cffluent water of sewage, the polluted water from paper or other
manufacturing works, to prevent the pollution of rivers, or for other
purposes where it is required to filter water or other fluids in large
quantities at moderate cost.
My Invention also relates to the preparation and application of coke
in solidified blocks or slabs for the filtration of water, sewage, or other
fluids. For this purpose I reduce coke or cinders of coal to a com-
paratively coarse granulated powder by crushing or grinding the same.
It is then converted into solid porous blocks or slabs by hydraulic or
other pressure as is well understood in solidifying other granulated
substances.
The filtering materials thus prepared in the form of blocks or slabs
according to my improvements are mounted and secured in open
removeable frames or slides (by preference of galvanized iron) the joints
being closed with cement or a packing of india-rubber or other suitable
materials. The frames with the filtering blocks or slabs thus secured
therein are then placed and fixed in any convenient manner in position
across a watercourse, tank, passage, or channel, through which the
water, sewage, or other fluid to be filtered is arranged to flow, and I
prefer to arrange the filtering frames (which are furnished with handles
or other contrivance for lifting them) so that they may be readily slid
up and down or to and fro in guides, channels, or grooves formed in or
upon the sides of the tank or passage in which they are placed, in order
that they may be readily removed, examined, and changed from time to
time as required. Or if preferred the frames may be hung upon centres,
axes, or hinges, so as to be raised thereon out of the fluid for
examination or renewal.
Part of the series of frames such as above described may contain
sponge, felt, or other filtering materials, to be employed in combination
with the charcoal blocks as previously described. The sides of the
frames or the grooves in the tank may have strips of india-rubber applied
thereto to act as valves to prevent the passage of the water or other
fluid passing without being filtered.
One or more filtering frames may be employed in accordance with my

page_text: surface of the filtering slabs are coated or charged with the impuritics
withdrawn or extracted from the water or other fluid, they are allowed
to dry and are afterwards cleansed by scraping off the outer surface,
which scrapings in the case of sewage and other matters may be
converted into valuable manure.
According to another part of my improvements I extract or withdraw
the grosser impurities or floating particles from water sewage or other
fluids by means of endless bands of wire gauze, hair cloth, canvass,
sponge, or other suitable materials mounted upon rollers, and arranged
so as to revolve in a tank or passage through which the fluid to be
filtered flows. A brush or scraper is arranged to act upon the surface of
the endless band in order to brush or scrape off the impurities as they
accumulate thereon, which may be afterwards converted into manure.
Apparatus of this character may be arranged for the water or other fluid
to be filtered to pass through before it reaches and passes through
the filtering blocks or slabs previously described, or other filtering
medium.
Another part of my improvements has for its object the application of
galvanic, magnetic, or electrical action to filtering apparatus, reservoirs,
or tanks for the purpose of precipitating organic and inorganic matters
or impurities held in suspension or solution in the water or other liquids.
For this purpose I arrange in the filtering tank or apparatus a series of
perforated copper, zinc, or other metal plates, and electrodes capable of
inducing galvanic action when arrranged in near contact, as is well
understood, and through or between which the water to be filtered is
caused to flow. And I cause magnetic or clectric currents to be passed
through the filtering apparatus by means of galvanic batteries or
magneto-electrical apparatus combined therewith, in order to precipitate
the chemical, mineral, metallic, or other impurities contained in the
water flowing through such filtering apparatus, thereby softening and
purifying the water or other liquid thus treated, and such apparatus may
either be used alone or in combination with the arrangements of filtering
apparatus herein-before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis Henry Atkins in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
HENRY ATKINS, of 62, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Engineer, |
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Francis Henry Atkins, Her special
license that I, the said Francis Henry Atkins, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis Henry Atkins, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
** IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES EM-
PLOYED FOR THE FILTRATION OF WATER, SEWAGE, AND OTHER FLUIDS, WHEREBY
MANURE AND OTHER VALUABLE PRODUCTS ARE SEPARATED, PRECIPITATED, AND
OBTAINED THEREPROM," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Francis Henry Atkins, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Henry Atkins, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof. that is to sav :—

page_text: cost.
My Invention also relates to the preparation and application of coke
in solidified blocks or slabs for the filtration of water, sewage, or other
fluids. For this purpose I reduce coke or cinders of coal to a compara-
tively coarse granulated powder by crushing or grinding the same. It is
then converted into solid porous blocks or slabs by hydraulic or other
pressure. The granulated coke is formed into a paste or compound by
mixing it with coal tar, pitch, or other suitable materials, which will
leave the moulded or pressed blocks in a porous state after being exposed
to a high temperature in an oven or kiln.
The filtering materials thus prepared in the form of blocks or slabs
according to my improvements are mounted and secured in open re-
moveable frames or slides (by preference of galvanized iron), the joints
being closed with insoluble cement or a packing of india-rubber or other
suitable materials. The frames with the filtering blocks or slabs thus
secured therein are then placed and fixed in any convenient manner in
position across across a watercourse, tank, passage, or channel through
which the water, sewage, or other fluid to be filtered is arranged to flow,
and I prefer to arrange the filtering frames (which are furnished with
handles or other contrivance for lifting them) so that they may be readily
slid up and down or to and fro in guides or grooves formed in or upon the
sides of the tank or passage in which they are placed, in order that they
may be readily removed, examined, and changed from time to time as
required. Or if preferred the frames may be hung upon centres, axes,
or hinges, so as to be raised thereon out of the fluid for examination or
renewal.
Part of the series of frames such as above described may contain
sponge, felt, or other filtering materials to be employed, in combination
with coke or charcoal blocks, such as or similar to those previously
described. The sides of the frame or the grooves in the tank may have
cement, strips of india-rubber, or other means applied thereto, to prevent
the passage of the water or other fluid passing without being filtered,

page_text: One or more filtering frames may be employed in accordance with my
improvements, according to the extent of filtration required. When the
surfaces of the filtering slabs are coated or charged with the impurities
withdrawn or extracted from the water or other fluid they are allowed
to dry, and are afterwards cleansed by scraping off the water surface,
which scrapings, in the case of sewage and other matter may be con-
verted into valuable manure.

page_text: of filtering slabs and other materials can be readily withdrawn, ex-
changed, and replaced when necessary.
In place of employing flat blocks of moulded coke or charcoal they
may be of curved form, built up with cement, and mounted in concentric
3 circles, as shewn at Figure 7 and 7*, Sheet 3, of the Drawings hereunto
annexed, the direction in which the water flows from one annular space
to another being clearly indicated by arrows. The surfaces of the filter-
ing blocks is cleansed by scraping, the inlet annular spaces being made
wide for this purpose. By this arrangement a very extensive filtering
surface may be arranged in a comparatively small space. The filtering
apparatus can be flushed out when required through the pipes arranged
underneath, as shewn.
According to another part of my improvements I extract or withdraw
the grosser impurities or floating particles from water, sewage, or other
fluids by means of endless bands of wire gauze, hair cloth, canvas,
sponge, or other suitable materials, mounted upon rollers, and arranged
so as to revolve in a tank or passage through which the fluid to be filtered
flows. A brush or scraper is arranged to act upon the surface of the
endless band, in order to brush or scrape off the impurities as they
accumulate thereon, which impurities may be afterwards converted into
manure.
Figures 8 and 9, Sheet 4, show a plan and section of a filtering tank
or cistern, arranged with endless bands a, a, of this character, which are
mounted and actuated so as to travel around the rollers a', a¹, being sup-
ported at the back by the perforated surfaces b, b.
The water, after flowing or filtering through the endless bands of wire
gauze a, a, or other filtering materials, is further purified by passing
through a series of filtering beds or chambers c, d, e, of gravel, sand,
charcoal, and other filtering materials, retained in position by perforated
divisions c¹, d¹, e¹, as clearly shewn in the Drawings.
Apparatus of this character may be arranged for the water or other
fluid to be filtered to pass through before it reaches and passes through
the filtering blocks or slabs previously described or other filtering
medium.
Another part of my improvements has for its object the application of
galvanic, magnetic, or electrical action to filtering apparatus, reservoirs,

page_text: electrical apparatus combined therewith, substantially and for the purposes
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Henry Atkin, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
W.C.
F. H. ATKINS. (L.S.)