Improvements in Filters or like Appliances for Use in Treating or Purifying Sewage.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Filters or like Appliances for Use in Treating or
Purifying Sewage.
We, CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH WHITTAKER and WALTER CHARLES BRYANT, both of
Globe Chemical Works, Church, in the County of Lancaster, Chemical Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is to provide, for use in sewage purification
by the bacterial method or process, a filter or like appliance the area or capacity
of which can be extended as desired without hindrance to the efficient aeration
thereof.
Hitherto the dimensions of filters have been very limited, whether such filters
were tank filters, that is, those filled and emptied intermittently, or continuous
filters, because in tank filters the area or capacity of each tank is limited by
the time required for filling, emptying and aerating; and in continuous filters
the area is further limited by the difficulty of distributing the necessary air
uniformly to all parts of the body of the filter.
Our invention consists in constructing filters of several chambers either circular
or polygonal in form placed in juxtaposition and filled with filtering material the
spaces between the circles or polygons forming shafts or wells through which
air can be drawn or forced. In the centre of each chamber also we prefer to
arrange an air shaft. The beds of the filters are plain sloping surfaces on which
are laid contiguously perforated pipes, half pipes, or segments forming channels
leading to the air shafts so that the filtering material filled into the chambers
rests on a surface freely and uniformly accessible to air. These perforated pipes,
half pipes, or segments are preferably made of earthenware and are so arranged
that the open ends of the channels formed thereby are directly in communication
with the central air shafts and the spaces between the circular or polygonal
chambers, or with channels leading to such air shafts or spaces. In the central
air shafts we preferably provide steam injectors or blowers which are used when
necessary to induce a current of air under the perforated pipes, half pipes, or
segments. Any convenient air moving appliances may be used instead of a
steam blower if desired. The chambers and channels are so arranged that
air can be drawn or delivered to all or any of the air shafts, spaces, and channels
or drains of the filter.
By adding chambers at the sides the area of the filter can be increased to any
desired extent.
The filter above described is very suitable for use in connection with the
process of treating sewage described in the Complete Specification to our Applica-
tion for Patent No. 14162 of the year 1898. and it is also well adanted for use

page_text: where rotary sprinkling appliances are used for distributing the sewage on to
the filter.
Dated this Twaniy-nighth Joy of Walo 1800
W. B. JOHNSON,
Agent.
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Improvements in Fisters or like Appliances for Use in Treating or
Puritying Sewage.
We, CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH WHITTAKER and WALTER CHARLES BRYANT, both of
Globe Chemical Works, Church, in the County of Lancaster, Chemical Manu-
facturers, 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:-
The object of the present invention is to provide, for use in sewage purification
by the bacterial method or process, a filter or like appliance the area or capacity
of which can be extended as desired without hindrance to the efficient aeration
thereof.
Hitherto the dimensions of filters have been very limited, whether such filters
were tank filters, that is, those filled and emptied intermittently, or continuous
filters, because in tank filters the area or capacity of each tank is limited by
the time required for filling, emptying and aerating; and in continuous filters
the area is further limited by the difficulty of distributing the necessary air
uniformly to all parts of the body of the filter.
Our invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1
is a plan of the general arrangement of the filter, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section
on the line AA on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan to an enlarged scale and Figs. 4
and 5 vertical sections at right angles to each other of perforated pipes or seg-
ments forming the air channels. The invention consists in constructing filters
of several chambers a either polygonal in form as shown or they may be circular,
placed in juxtaposition and filled with filtering material b, the spaces e between
the polygons or circles forming shafts or wells through which air can be drawn
into the channels or drains d d by the up-draught through the filter, or forced
by a blower if desired. In the centre of each chamber we prefer to arrange an
air shaft c. The beds or bottoms of the filters are plain surfaces preferably of
concrete f arranged on a slope so that the purified sewage can easily flow away
through the channels or drains d, d. The perforated pipes or segments are
laid contiguously at the bottom of the filter, and preferably resting on bricks h,
forming channels d d leading to the air shafts so that the filtering material b
filled into the chambers rests on a surface freely and uniformly accessible to
air which can pass through the perforations g. These perforated pipes or seg-
ments are preferably made of earthenware, and are as shown so arranged that
the open ends of the channels & formed thereby are directly in communication
with the central air shafts e and the spaces e between the chambers a, or with
the channels leading to such air shafts or spaces. The perforated pipes or
segments forming the channels are arranged at a higher level than those of
the channels d so as to give a greater cross sectional area of channel. In the
central air shafts we preferably provide steam air injectors, or blowers which
are used when necessary to induce currents of air into the channels under the
perforated pipes or segments g. Any convenient air moving appliances may be
used instead of a steam blower if desired. It will be seen that by the above

page_text: arrangement of chambers and channels air can be drawn or delivered to all or
any of the air shafts, spaces and channels or drains of the filter as desired so
as to prevent any sewage escaping unpurified through lack of sufficient air for
the proper growth of the purifying bacteria.
By adding more chambers at the sides the area of the filter can be increased
to any desired extent without any diminution in the efficiency of the aeration.
jare rotary sprinkling pipes for distributing the sewage on top of the filtering
material as described in the Specification to our Patent No. 25461 of the year 1898.
The arrangement of chambers above described is well adapted for the use of these
sprinkling pipes and generally for use in connection with the process of treating
sewage described in the Specification to our Patent No. 14162 of the year 1898.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we would have it
understood that we are aware that it has been previously proposed to freely
admit air into sewage filters by means of channels opening into the sides of the
filter, and we lay no claim generally to such an arrangement, but we declare
that what we claim is:-
First. Filters constructed of several chambers with shafts or wells between
them and in the centre, and channels opening into the shafts or wells at the
bottom substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination with filter chambers of perforated pipes or segments
laid contiguously at the bottom of the filter and forming channels opening into
shafts or spaces between or in the centre of the chambers or into channels con-
nected to such shafts or spaces, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of November 1899.
W. B. JOHNSON,
4, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Agent.