IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER BY FILTERING THROUGH ANIMAL CHARCOAL, AND THE PURIFICATION OF THE ANIMAL CHARCOAL BY OXIDATION
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Hopcraft, of Windsor Villa, Brackley, Northamp-
tonshire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF
WATER BY FILTERING THROUGH ANIMAL CHARCOAL, AND THE PURIFICATION
OF THE ANIMAL CHARCOAL BY OXIDATION."
Sealed the 3rd September 1878, and dated the 7th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Hopcraft at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1878.
ERNEST HOPCRAFT, of Windsor Villa, Brackley, Northamptonshire. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER BY FILTERING THROUGH ANIMAL
CHARCOAL, AND THE PURIFICATION OF THE ANIMAL CHARCOAL BY OXIDATION,
CALLED THE 'OXIDIZING FILTER.","
The water to be filtered is passed through powdered animal charcoal very slowly,
being in contact with the charcoal for at least four hours, when the charcoal with the
assistance of the oxygen, both in itself and in the water, decomposes the organic
matter in the water forming innocuous compounds, but the charcoal in addition to
decomposing the organic matter also removes it, or becomes charged with it after
a short time and gets fouled or clogged, whereby its filtering properties are rendered
nearly powerless, the charcoal then gives out its excess of organic matter to
whatever water is passed through it, and thus renders the water passed through it
more contaminated, and more deleterious to health than before. This is overcome
by the following process:-The filter is so constructed that the animal charcoal
can be easily taken out, it is then well spread on three or four large dishes by means
of a spoon (allowed to stand in the warm kitchen all night to dry it a little, though
not absolutely essential), then placed out in the open air out of doors in a dry place,
and allowed to remain there five or six days, or until it is wanted to replace the
other lot in the filter, being turned over perhaps once or twice in the meantime
with a spoon. The organic matter in the charcoal will then be decomposed by it,
with the assistance of the oxygen of ho air, charging itself also with oxygen,

page_text: whereby volatile gases go off and innocuous compounds formed, and the charcoal
thus freed from its deleterious matter, and rendered fit for filtration of water onco
inore, and ready to replace the other charcoal in the filter when required.
DESCRIPTION OF DIAGRAM.
A is the outside of the chamber into which is inserted the chamber No. 1 by
means of its handles, into which the water to be filtered is inserted, which passes
through the two sponges on its base, for the purpose of clarifying it into the
chamber B which contains the animal charcoal in powder up to the required mark,
or up, through which the water filters very slowly, being stopped in its downward
course by the closely pressed sponge at the bottom, Fig. No. 2 showing the inside
before passing into the receiving chamber C. The water thus takes at least 4
hours in passing through the filter from A to C. The exit tap in chamber C can be
removed when required to clean the filter.
The animal charcoal in chamber B can also be removed by taking No. 1 out of
the chamber A, and replaced at pleasure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest Hopcraft in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th September
1878.
ERNEST HOPCRAFT, of Windsor Villa, Brackley, Northamptonshire. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER BY FILTERING THROUGH ANIMAL
CHARCOAL, AND FOR THE PURIFICATION OF THE ANIMAL CHARCOAL BY OXIDA-
TION."
This Invention consists of improvements in the purification of water by means of
filtering through animal charcoal, and for the purification of the animal charcoal by
oxidation.
And in order that this my said Invention may be properly understood, I will
proceed to describe the same with reference to the annexed diagrams or Drawings,
wherein,―
Figure 1 represents a filter constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section of a removable tray or chamber which is
inserted in the upper part A of the filter.
This tray has two holes in its base with sponges in the same through which the
wator passes, and has also two internal handles for lifting it in and out as required.
Figure 3 represents the chamber (inside) in which the animal charcoal is placed
or situated. This chamber is immediately below the upper tray above described.
The water after filtering through the animal charcoal contained in it passes out of
the same through the sponge in the hole in its base into the receiving chamber C.
This Invention is called the "oxidizing filter from the process of oxidizing" which
the charcoal undergoes.

page_text: A is the outside of the chamber into which is inserted No. 1 by means of its
handles into which the water to be filtered is inserted, which passes through the
two sponges on its base for the purpose of clarifying it into the chamber B which
contains animal charcoal in powder up to the required mark, about up, through
which the water filters, and thence through the sponge, diagram 2, diagram 2
showing the inside before passing into the receiving chamber C.
The exit tap in chamber C can be removed when required, and thus the whole
filter can be scalded out and cleaned at pleasure.
The animal charcoal in the chamber B can also be removed by taking No. 1
chamber out of A. It can thus be replaced by new when clogged or fouled by
filtration, or purified or oxidized in the following manner :-The charcoal is taken
out, well spread by means of a spoon on to two or three large dishes, allowed to
stand all night on the kitchen table in order to drive off a little of the moisture,
and thus dry the charcoal a little; the next morning it is taken and placed in the
open air out of doors in a dry place, being allowed to remain there 5 or 6 days, or
until it is wanted, being turned over once or twice by a spoon. The organic matter
in the charcoal will then be decomposed by the charcoal with assistance of the
oxygen of the air, whereby the volatile gases go off, and innocuous compounds
formed, and the charcoal freed from its deleterious matter, and rendered fit for
filtration once more.
I do not confine or limit myself to the shape or configuration shewn on the
Drawings, or the material used in the construction of the same, as any design or
material may be adapted as fancy may dictate and circumstances may admit, but
that what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is," the improvements in the purification of water by means of
filtering through animal charcoal, and for the purification of the animal charcoal by
oxidation, substantially as herein-before described and shewn on the Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Hopcraft, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
CHARLES HENRY MATTHEWS,
Brewer's Clerk,
Brackley.
ERNEST HOPCRAFT. (Ls.)