Excrement and other Feculent Matter.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1888
Specification Accepted, 8th Jan., 1889
[Communicated from abroad by JULIUS HIRSHFELD, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
United States of America, Promoter.]
Excrement and other Feculent Matter.
L
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 relation to methods and apparatus for effecting the removal of
human excrement or other feculent matter by the use of sanitary appliances, and
further for treating such matter for use as a fertilizing agent; and it has for its object
the deposition and treatment of liquid and solid human or other feculent matter in
sanitary appliances so that the liquids are separated from the solids; the organic and
chemical elements are extracted from the liquids; the solids are retained in the appli-
ances; the organic matters thereof are prevented from putrifying but are decomposod
so as to render the same inodorous and harmless; and the liquid after being separated
from the solid matter is filtered to bring it to a pure and inorganic condition and is
the only material conveyed away or passed out of the appliances to the sewer or other
drains whereby danger to public health due to polluted air and rivers or streams, is
avoided; and further to treating the solid contents of the sanitary appliances to a
grinding and a drying action so as to render the same more available, commercially, as
a fertilizing agent. It is now well known that the most important object to be achieved
in the removal of human or other feculent matter by means of sanitary appliances and
sewers or drains, is to prevent putrefaction, in said fixtures, of the organic elements
contained in the feculent matter for the reason, that the putrefaction is offensivo, and
as is well known, generates as sewer or other deleterious gases and disease germs which
polluting the air and the rivers or streams into which they empty, is extremely preju-
dicial to the public health and further that such putrefaction can only be avoided by
decomposing such organic elements.

page_text: In the sanitary appliances heretofore generally employed, the feculent matter is
commonly commingled with water to flush the same through the appliances.
The water however does not prevent putrefaction, on the contrary, as it does not
absorb nor decompose the organic elements the putrefaction is maintained and the
generation of the deleterious gases and disease germis is continuous.
Furthermore it is also well known, that there is no filtering process that can free
water from the germs of typhus fever and other similar poisonous matter when com-
municated to the water through the medium of an infected and putrefacted sewage,
and that the excrement of typhoid and cholera patients does not become dangerous to
others until putrefaction has set in, and as it is the mixing of human or other excre-
ment with water in water closets and cess-pools that maintains such putrefaction, the
sewers connected with such fixtures empty the putrescible.water into the rivers into
which they drain to contaminate them with typhus or other disease germs.
In many
cases chemicals or antiseptics have been commingled with water, but their use does
not prevent putrefaction, but only tends to kill or smother the odor from the feculent
matter and render harmless a portion of the sewer or other gases and the disease germs
arising from the putrefaction. It is also now well known that, in treating human or
other feculent matter for use as a fertilizer, it is important to effect the removal of the
organic materials held in suspension in the liquid matter, to prevent the escape of the
volatile salts of ammonia from the liquid and solid matter; and to decompose the
organic matter in order to enhance the efficiency of the same as a fertilizer; and further
to bring it to or convert it into a dry and granular condition, as in its raw state, it is
unfit for use as a fertilizer owing to the offensive and deleterious odors emanating
therefrom, and to the fact that as it is not granular in condition it chokes up the soil
and renders it impervious to the air.
The use of chemicals to obtain the above described results is a detriment instead of
a benefit for the reason, that if they are used in sufficient quantities to destroy the
disease organisms they effectually check the growth of those organisms upon which
the fertility of the soil depends.
My improved method comprises the deposition of the feculent matter in receivers,
the separation of the liquid from the solid matter the precipitation of the organic
and chemical matters of the liquids, the detention of the solids in the receiver, the
decomposition of their organic matter so as to prevent putrefaction of the same, the
filtering of the liquid after it escapes from the receiver to render it pure and inorganic
in which state it is the only material drained or conveyed away from the receiver
and the grinding and drying of the solid matter when removed to bring it to a
commercially available granular condition for use as a fertilizer; and further my.
improved apparatus comprises a receiver preferably attachable to and detachable from
a drain pipe leading to a cess-pool sewer or other outlet and having a receptacle for
the solids and liquids wherein the latter is separated from the former, a filtering
chamber below said receptacle into which the separated liquids pass and are filtered
and from which they escape in a pure and inorganic condition, and a magazine cham-
ber located above and to one side of said receptacle to hold a supply of odor absorbing
and organic matter decomposing material, a charge of which, by means of suitable
mechanism, is ejected into said receptacle over the solid contents therein after
each use of the receiver, as hereinafter more particularly described in the
specification.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional view partly in elevation showing one form of receiver
embodying my improvements, and drain pipe connection to a sewer.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of another form of receiver.
Figure 3 is an elevation of one side of same, and
Figure 4, is a sectional view of a form of grinding and drying apparatus for treating
the solids after their removal from the receivers.
A represents a casing which is of any suitable form or configuration, having a
seat a with opening a¹ and a seat lid a hinged to the casing in any suitable manner.
Within the casing A is a removable receptacle B of preferably inoxidizable material

page_text: and is of a smaller size than the interior measurement of the casing so as to provide
a space a between the casing and receptacle. The latter has perforated sides and
bottom and an open top. This receptacle as shown in figure 1, may be made of wire
bagging or other suitable material so that the perforations therein are formed as the
receptacle is made, but it may be otherwise constructed as desired.
The receptacle B is suspended within the casing either by bolts, clasps or other
equivalent removable devices 6 passing through the sides of the casing, or by means
of overlapping flanges 61 and 62 respectively secured to the receptacle, and casing or
both said clasps and flanges may be used as shown in said Figure.
If desired the receptacle B is provided with handles ³ to facilitate insertion into
and withdrawal from the casing A. The receiver B shown in Figure 1, has a hinged
bottom & which is held up against the bottom edge of the receptacle B by removable
screw bolts, clasps or equivalent devices 6 passing through the walls of the casing and
engaging with said bottom as shown so that when said bolts or devices 6º are with-
drawn the bottom & falls or opens as indicated by dotted line Figure 4.
The bottom c of casing A is located at a suitable distance from the bottom of re-
ceptacle B so as to provide a chamber C between the receptacle B and said casing
bottom c.
The latter is inclined as shown and is hinged as indicated at c¹ to one side
of the casing A so as to admit of dropping said bottom c when desired and as herein-
after set forth as indicated at y Figure 4.
The bottom c may be so constructed that when raised to its normal position it finds
its own joint, which is water tight, with the casing, or suitable packing may he
provided for making such joint, water tight. Said bottom is held in its raised position
by means of screws or clasps or equivalent devices c³ passing through the walls of tho
casing and engaging with the bottom c.
•
The bottom c las at its lowest end or level an opening c³ covered by a strainer or
perforated plate c' and is provided with a pipe-connection c having cock cand a
coupling connection with a pipe leading to the sewer, cesspool or other drain
C¹ such connection being made so that the receiver A is attachable to and
detachable from said pipe c by means of said coupling c and when detached there-
from the valve is closed to prevent escape of drip.
Within chamber C is located a suitable precipitating or filtering compound D
composed of a mixture of clay and alum, or equivalent compounds may be sub-
stituted if desired. Back of seat a and above receptacle B is a chamber E, which if
desired, may have side pockets e as indicated by dotted line e' in Figure 1, to in-
crease the capacity of said chamber which holds the deodorizing and absorbing
compound consisting of a mixture of pulverized slag or coke and sulphates of lime
or other materials as hereinafter described may be substituted a charge of which is to
be ejected into receptacle B upon the feculent material after it is deposited therein.
Any suitably mechanical devices controlled by the raising and dropping of the seat-
lid a for effecting such discharge, may be used.
In the drawings I have shown a charging chamber G located between chamber E
and the depending seat wall the bottom of which is formed by the inclined chute e²
leading from chamber E said chamber G may be closed at its top if desired.
At the bottom of the walls g g of chamber G are openings g² which are alternately
covered by valves or slides g³, 9* respectively.
These slides move up and down in guides 95 and are jointed to or engage with
a pivoted bar one of said slides g³ being connected by a link g' to a lug g on the
seat lid a as shown.
When the seat lid a² is raised the slide 9' is raised to uncover the opening g³ in
wall g and the slide g³ is lowered to close the opening g' in wall g, a charge of the
deodorizing material then passing into chamber G and is held therein until the seat
lid is lowered which raises slide 9 to uncover opening g in wall 9 and lower slide g₁
to close opening in wall g' as indicated by full lines in Figure 1, whereupon the
charge previously passed into chamber G passes out of the same and spreads itself over-
the top of the contents in receptacle B to deodorize the same.
In using the form of receiver shown in Figure 1 the deodorizing material F is

page_text: placed in chamber E and the filtering material D in chamber C, the bottom o of
receptacle B and bottom c of casing A being first adjusted as shown in said
Figure.
The receiver is then attached to the pipe c in a room or other part of a building
wherein it is located.
At each use of the receiver, a charge of the deodorizing material is thrown into
receptacle B upon the solid contents therein to deodorize the same and such compound
being of an carthy mixture the organic matter in said solids is decomposed and the
volatile salts are absorbed. Meanwhile the liquid matter passes through the perfora-
tions of receptacle B drips into the chamber C and percolates through the compound D
therein to become perfectly pure and inorganic and finds its way through the pipe co
to the sewer or drain unaccompanied by any organic matter. No putrefaction of the
feculent matter, therefore, occurs either in the receiver A nor in the drain-pipes and
no deleterious gases or disease germs emanate therefrom and no polluted matter
is conveyed through the sewers to pollute rivers or streams, the water of which is used
for domestic or other purposes.
As the liquid matter separates from the solids in the receiver such solid matter is
always more or less dry.
When the receiver A is used to its capacity it is removed and a new one is
substituted.
The filled receiver is then conveyed to a suitable place and if the form shown in
Figure 1 is used its contents are emptied by lowering the hinged bottoms b and c,
if the form shown in Figure 2, is used the receptacle B is removed therefrom.
The said contents may be emptied into suitable treating appliances, such as grinding
and drying devices to further commingle and dry the same, but if sufficiently dry, no
further treatment is required as they are in a suitable condition for use as a fertilizer
owing to the fact that the organic matter is decomposed and the earthy and porous
nature of the compounds D and F used, impart to the feculent matter the necessary
granular condition to render the soil pervious to the air.
In Figure 4 a form of grinding device is shown consisting essentially of a casing M,
grinding surfaces m, m³, shaft m² and power devices m³, within casing M is located
steam or other radiators N for drying the product after it falls from between the
grinding surfaces m, m¹.
If desired a separate chamber H forming a part of receptacle B or separate
therefrom may be used as indicated in Figure 2, in which case the chamber His
alone used for liquid matter and it is charged with a filtering compound D
and has an inlet end outside of the casing A closed by a hinged cap or
cover ¹.
In this figuro I have shown the receptacle B without the hinged bottom and
located within another receptacle I both being supported from their top edges by
means of flanges overlapping a flange on the interior of the casing.
Below the receptacle B and chamber H is the filtering chamber having a
perforated removable bottom instead of a hinged bottom and below chamber C is a
closed chamber L for the pure and inorganic water; said chamber L having a spigot
or valved outlet for drawing off such water from time to time.
In this construction one side of the casing A and its top part including the
chamber E are removable to admit of placing the receptacles B, H, and I within
the casing A and removing them therefrom such removable side is more plainly
shown in Figure 3.
This last described form is preferably one for use when the receiver is not
connected to a sewer or outlet pipe as shown in Figure 2; the receiver however
may be attached to and detached from the sewer or drain pipe. For many locations
and for ease in treating or manipulating the refuse after it is removed from the
receiver I prefer to use the last described form, but it is obvious that various con-
structions of receivers can be employed without departing from the spirit of my
invention, hence I do not confine myself to the constructions shown and described.
I have stated that the deodorizing and absorbing compound F may consist of

page_text: pulverized slag and sulphate of lime, but if desired, a small portion of sulphate of
magnesia may be used in place of the lime, or coke and sulphate of lime inay be
employed, or sulphate of lime and magnesia may be mixed with the coke or slag. I
do not however limit myself to the above named ingredients in-as-much as "kainit"
combined with sifted ashes or coal dust in proper proportions can be applied all of
which not only act as deodorizers and absorbents but add materially to the value of
the feculent material when mixed with it for fertilizing purposes.
It is well known that in breweries, slaughter houses, dye works, glue and analagous
factories large quantities of semi fluid and fluid refuse containing varying quantities
of organic matter held in suspension are produced, from which it is necessary to
separate the organic matter as well as the solids from the liquid, and as this separation
can be attained by the use of the above described receiver without putrefaction of
the organic matter and consequently without contamination of the sewers
drain pipes leading from said places, I do not limit my improvements to sanitary.
fixtures only.
or
Some attempts have heretofore been made to accomplish some of the above described
beneficial results by means of what are known as earth closets, donegons, filter
pressers and the like but such appliances have not been attachable to and detachable
from the sewer or drain pipes and while some of them make provision for separating
the liquids from solids in a common chamber and for conveying the liquid to an outlet
chamber after separation is effected, yet no provision is made for filtering the liquid
after it is separated from the solid inatter, so that when it escapes from or is drawn off
from the receiver it is not in a pure and inorganic condition, as is the case when my
improved method and apparatus is employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The method herein described of effecting the removal of feculent matter by
sanitary appliances and avoiding the conveying of the same to sewers or other drains,
consisting in simultaneously separating in the appliances the liquid matter from the
solid matter, precipitating the animal and chemical ingredients of the liquid, filtering
the latter after it is separated from the solids and conveying it in a pure and
inorganic condition from the appliances, retaining the solid matter in the appliances,
and deodorizing the same and decomposing their organic ingredients, substantially as
set forth.
Second. The method herein described of effecting the removal of feculent matter
by sanitary appliances and avoiding the conveying of the same to sewers or other
drains, consisting in simultaneously separating in the appliances the liquid from the
solid matter, precipitating the animal and chemical ingredients of the liquid, filtering
the latter after it is separated from the solids and conveying it in a pure and
inorganic condition from the appliances, retaining the solid matter in the appliances
and deodorizing the same and decomposing their organic ingredients, and subsequently
removing said solid matter from the appliances and grinding and drying it, substantially
as set forth.
Third. A feculent matter receiver having a common receptacle for receiving and
separating the liquid from the solid matter and for detaining the latter therein,
and an outlet or chamber having a filtering compound for the liquid after being
separated from the solid matter, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. A feculent matter receiver having a perforated receptacle, a chamber
containing a deodorizing and absorbent compound, devices for ejecting charges of
said compound into said receptacle, and a separate chamber having a filtering compound
for the reception of the liquid feculent matter after its separation from the solid,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. A feculent matter receiver having a perforated receptacle and a drain outlet
for the liquid matter and attachable to and detachable from a sower, cess-pool, or
independent drain or other outlet pipe, substantially as set forth..

page_text: Sixth. The casing or receiver A having seat a, seat lid a and chamber E and G
with openings, and valves for said openings controlled by the movement of lid a²; in
combination with perforated receptacle B filtering chamber C and liquid outlet
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. A feculent matter receiver having a chamber for holding a charge of
deodorizing and absorbing material, a perforated receptacle, mechanism for ejecting
such compound into said receptacle, a filtering chamber below said receptacle, and
an outlet from said filtering chamber substantially as set forth.
Eighth. A feculent matter receiver having a chamber for separating the liquid from
the solid matter and detaining the solid' matter in said chamber, a chamber containing
a deodorizing and absorbent material, mechanism for ejecting charges of such
deodorizing material into said separating and detention chamber, and a filtering
chamber having an outlet for the liquid matter, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with receiver A having lid a² and seat a, chamber E,
valved mechanism between said chamber and lid, perforated receptacles B, and H,
receptacle I having chambers C and L, and outlet for the latter, substantially as set
forth.
D
11'
1
D
1000