Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering or Purifying the Feed Water of Marine and other Boilers.
Year: 1892

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883), as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 6th day of March 1896.
Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering or Purifying the Feed
Water of Marine and other Boilers.
I ANTHONY HARRIS, of Middlesbro', in the County of York, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
In working the filters described in my Patent Application No. 16940", I have
found that to effectually remove the grease and extraneous matters, very large
surfaces of filtering medium are necessary, and in large engines the filters would
require to be at least 7 feet in diameter when the whole body of water is made to
pass through one layer of flannel. Further I find that when water passes through
a series of flannels, one after another, the succeeding flannels after the first one
become considerably contaminated, and when the current is reversed to clean the
filter this is not effectually accomplished, but the dirt is to a considerable extent
merely transferred backward from each flannel to the next. To obviate this
arrangement and to economise room when using single flannels, I place the flannels
in layers either in the shape of concentric cones, concentric cylinders or simply flat
or horizontal. Between each pair of flannels I place a perforated grate so con-
structed that the water passing freely between the layers cannot penetrate into the
interior or delivery side of the filter without passing through a flannel, but is
obliged to pass through one layer of flannel into the interior and the perforated
grate or cage between two pairs of flannels. By this means with the exception
of the bottom or bottom and top ones the pressure on the grates is in equilibrio ;
the water filtering through into them on both sides passes through the hollow
centre of the grate or cage into the central duct leading to the outlet from
the filter. It is obvious however that the process may be reversed and the dirty
water led through the central opening into the cages. My invention is best set
forth in detail by describing an experimental apparatus now constructed.
The lower portion of the filter chamber is constructed so as to form a dirt
collector and is provided with a cleansing valve and communication from the dirt
chamber to the dirty side of the filter through a series of channels, therefore, when
it is proposed to clean the filtering medium by means of reversing the current of
water, by opening the sludge valve, the water will pass back, through the egress
valve up through the central duct, and separately through each flannel, and carry
the washings through the communication into the dirt chamber and so out through
the sludge valve.
The gratings are covered, as in my former Patent, with coarse copper or nickel
plated gauze, upon which the flannels lie, and, to prevent the flannels being

page_text: displaced, when the filter is reversed, similar gauze is provided on the other side
of flannels also.
Instead of the gauze being placed on both sides, however, the flannel can, if
desired, be sewn or rivetted to the plates or gauze. I do not, however, recommend
this plan.
The joints of the various layers and grates are made watertight by the pressure
of screws set up from the outside of the filter case communicated through a per-
forated bonnet, and the jointing of the layers of the central duct is set up by a
separate central screw from the outside of the case, acting on a close ended cover
which seals the top of the central duct.
In this experimental apparatus, the frames are formed as a series of shallow
truncated cones opening into an interior central chamber. The spaces between the
frames have no admission to this central chamber but have free exit to the outside.
The outside is connected with the water supply, the central chamber with the exit.
The bottom of the outside annular chamber, which is very narrow, is supplied
with openings at intervals into a dirt channel supplied at the bottom with a sludge
valve. Any dirt delivery that settles in the outside chamber will of its own accord
gravitate into the dirt chamber, and, when the action of the filter is reversed and
the sludge valve opened, the dirty water and settlings will all drain into the dirt
chamber and thus into the sludge valve. The walls of the central chamber and of
the outside chamber are formed of flanges on the frames themselves, tunnel grooved,
consequently, when the lid is taken off the filter, the frames can all be taken out,
and there is nothing but a simple cast-iron box, the frames being again applied,
they are screwed down tight on to the bottom seat by means of two or more,
preferably three, hand wheels and screws.
Dated this 4th day of November 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering or Purifying the Feed
Water of Marine and other Boilers.
I, ANTHONY HARRIS of Middlesbro', in the County of York, Engineer, 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 :---
In working filters for feed water in which a series of flannels has been used as
filtering material, I have found that, to effectually remove the grease and the
<coarse and extraneous matters, very large surfaces of filtering material are
mecessary, and filters for large engines would require to be at least 7 feet in
diameter when the whole body of water is made to pass through one layer of
flannel. Further, I find that, when water passes through a series of flannels one
after another, the succeeding flannels after the first become considerably con-
taminated, and, when the current is reversed to clean the filter, this is not
effectually accomplished, but the dirt is to a considerable extent merely trans-
ferred backwards from the face of one flannel to the back of the next, and no
further.
Now iny present invention is designed to economise room by using several flannels,
each receiving an independent amount of water.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, illustrative
of a filter I have actually constructed.
Figure 1 is a transverse section as regards one half through the centre of the
filter. As regards the other half, it is a side view with part of the shell removed.

page_text: Figure 2 is a section, and Figure 3 a plan of a portion of the frames drawn to a
larger scale.
A A², etcetera, are flannels. Between each pair of flannels is a perforated
grating B, so constructed that the water passing freely between the layers of
flannel, as shown in the drawings, cannot penetrate into the interior or delivery
side of the filter without passing through a flannel, but is obliged to pass through
one layer of flannel into the interior of the perforated grate or cage between two
pairs of flannels; the direction of its course is set forth by arrows. By this means,
with the exception of the top and bottom, the pressure on the grates is equalised.
The water filtering into them on both sides passes through the hollow grate or
cage into the central duct C leading to the outlet of the filter D. It is obvious
that the process may be reversed and the dirty water led in through the central
opening into the cages and out into the chamber E into which, in ordinary course,
it enters by a pipe not shown in the drawing. The lower portion of the filter
chamber is constructed so as to form a dirt collector G, and is provided with a
cleansing valve of any ordinary construction, not shown in the drawings, but fitted
to the exit H. The communication from the dirty side of the filter to the dirt
chamber is through a series of short channels g; therefore, when it is proposed to
clean the filtering medium by means of reversing the current of water and opening
the sludge valve, the water will pass back through the egress valve up through the.
central duct C, and dividing portions will go through each flannel and carry the
washings through the communication into the chamber E and thence through
the channels g into the dirt chamber, from whence it will escape through the
sludge valve. Between the grating and the flannel, I prefer to place coarse tinned
or nickel plated gauze; on these the flannels lie, and to prevent the flannels being
displaced when the filter is reversed, similar gauze is provided on the other side of
the flaunels also, and sometimes attached to the gauze. Instead, however, of the
gauze being placed on both sides, the flannel can be sewn or rivetted to the gauze
or even to the frames. I do not, however, recommend this plan. The various
frames are guided into position by means of stem M, which is screwed into the
lowest one, as shown. All the frames can be withdrawn together without disturbing
their relative position. The joints of the various layers and grates are made water-
tight by the pressure of screws J J set up from the outside of the filter and com-
municated through a bonnet, and the jointing of the layers of the central duct is set
up by a central screw I, also from the outside of the casing acting on a close-ended
cover K which seals the top of the central duct. These screws are provided with
stuffing boxes, as shown.
In this apparatus, the frames are formed as shown of a series of shallow truncated
cones opening into the interior central chamber. The spaces between the frames
have no admission to the central chamber but have free access to the outside. The
spaces within the frames communicate with a central chamber and thus with the
exit. The chamber E is connected with a water supply. The bottom of the outside
annular chamber, which is very narrow, is supplied, as already described, with
openings g into the dirt channel G. Any dirt that settles in the outside chamber
will, by its own accord, gravitate into the dirt chamber, and, when the action of
the filter is reversed and the sludge valve opened, the dirty water settling will all
drain into the dirt chamber and thus through the sludge valve. The walls of the
central chamber and the internal walls of the outside chamber are formed of flanges
on the frames themselves, preferably tongued and grooved and having a thin layer
of rubber, flannel, or other material between, on the edges of the filtering medium
consequently, when the lid is taken off the filter, the frames can all be taken out,
and nothing is left but a simple cast iron box. If, too, the lid be withdrawn, all
the frames can be withdrawn together by applying an eye nut to the end of the
stem M and hoisting the whole out by means of a hook passing through the eye
of the eye nut.
When the frames are again applied, they are screwed down tight against the
bottom seat by means of the hand wheels and screws, which are preferably four in

page_text: •
number, including the centre one. The lid of the filter is provided with an air
-chamber L, so as to equalise the effect on the filter of the pulsations of the pump.
Whilst flannel is referred to as the filtering medium it must be understood that this
word is used in its broad sense and as meaning that the medium is to be a textile
material as other material such for instance as prepared hair felt or coarse Indian
towelling besides flannel proper will answer equally well.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. In apparatus of the kind herein before specified, forming the filtering or
purifying surfaces, whether in the shape of concentric cones, concentric cylinders
or simply flat or perforated, in layers with interposed gratings such as B, as
described, the layers and gratings being so arranged and provided with openings
that the water passing freely and simultaneously between all the layers cannot
penetrate into the delivery side of the filter without passing through a flannel, but
is obliged to pass through one layer of flannel into and through the interposed
gratings, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
2. In a filtering device the combination of a containing chamber, a series of
independently actuated frames covered with filtering material and connected with
a duct passing to the outside of the chamber with a holding-down device whereby
the frames can be tightened up independently of and without interfering with the
devices for tightening the lid and on the removal of the lid can be withdrawn one
by one.
3. The combination, in a filtering chamber, of the frames B opening to the exit D
through a central passage in the said frame, a cover covering the said central
passage and a screw I holding the said cover tightly compressed and thus com-
pressing the frames, and operated from the outside substantially as described.
4. The general arrangement and construction of parts forming the apparatus for
filtering or purifying the feed water of marine and other boilers substantially as
berein before described and shown.
Dated this 5th day of August 1893
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.