Improvements in Domestic and other Filters."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
"Improvements in Domestic and other Filters."
I WILLIAM HENRY BARR, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., &c. Fellow of the Chemical Society,
of Belgrave Place, Bury, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows.
My said Invention relates to improvements in domestic and other filters for use in
the filtration and purification of water and other liquids.
The object of my invention is to provide a large filtering surface within a
comparatively small space and thus obtain a filter having high efficiency without
being of undue dimensions or bulk.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a framework of two or more hollow
perforated metal cylinders of decreasing diameter placed one within the other and
suitably secured together so as to provide annular spaces between each cylinder. For
example suppose two perforated metal cylinders to be used, a cylinder of smaller
diameter and length is secured within an outer cylinder so as to leave an annular
space between the two cylinders. The two cylinders are secured together at one end
by means of an annular ring soldered or otherwise secured in position.
The other end of the inner cylinder is closed by means of a metal disc with
projecting wings. These wings are utilized to secure the inner cylinder to the wall
of the outer cylinder and serve to maintain the annular space between the two
cylinders. The outer cylinder is provided with a cap formed with an outlet pipe.
The outer cylinder is covered with a layer or layers of fine strong closely woven
cotten cloth. This cloth or straining jacket is secured with cord or the like within a
groove made in the cap secured to the outer perforated metal cylinder. The straining
jacket is tied up with a cord or thread at its other end so as to resemble a closed
sack. This free closed end is then thrust within the interior of the inner cylinder,
and is made of sufficient length to reach to the top of the interior cylinder. The
pressure of the water will jamb the straining jacket against the walls of the outer and
also of the inner cylinders and obstructed outlet of inner cylinder. In case the water
pressure should fail to accomplish this a plug of loofah or other permeable material
may be employed. The jacket of cloth thus acts as a strainer both from within and
without the combined cylinders the filtered water passing along the annular space
between the cylinders to the delivery orifice provided in the closed end of the outer
cylinder. A greatly increased filtering surface is thus obtained.
It will be evident that more than two concentric cylinders provided with annular
spaces may be used whereby a corresponding increase of filtering surface would be
attained. As a modification I may also use a perforated metal delivery tube around
which a spiral coil of wire of larger diameter is secured. A filtering jacket of cloth
similar to the above is placed around the coiled wire. A cord secures the filtering
cloth to a grooved disc carried by the delivery end of the perforated tube and the cord
is then wrapped tightly between the spirals of wire pressing the filtering cloth to the
inner perforated tube at these points. The loose end of the cloth is then tied up.
The fabric is thus stretched and conducted from the periphery of each metal coil to the
fixed central conducting tube and a greatly increased straining surface is obtained over

page_text: what would be provided by the outer periphery of a cylinder of equal length and
diameter. The fixed central perforated tube is provided with a delivery orifice to
carry away the filtered water.
The cotton cloth used for straining purposes may be of two kinds, one having the
properties of the finest cambric and similarly manufactured, the other having a plush-
like nap of cotton filaments, and sold as Fustian cloth.
For fine filtering purposes, layers of cotton cellulose paper, pure and free from size,
are placed within folds of the cotton straining cloth. The filtering cylinders or spirals
after being covered with the straining cloth are placed within a suitable outer casing
which is secured by any suitable means to the water supply.
Before turning on the flow of water I place within the interior of the casing a
quantity of pulverized and sterilized agalite, either alone or in conjunction with
porous pipe-clay, or earthenware clays, which have been sterilized by heat or by well
known chemical substances.
An important feature of my invention consists in admitting the inflowing water at
the base of the filter so that it takes an upward direction. The water thus carries
with it the sterilized and filtering materials forcibly on to the surface of the straining
bed and jambs its minute interstices with a fine porous sterile earth, and thus at
once coats the straining cloth with a close porous covering which arrests all suspended
and vegitable slimy matters contained in the water.
The filter bed thus obtained is of very high efficiency without the disadvantageous
fragility of baked earthenware cylinders. The advantage of directing the incoming
water to the filter in an upward direction is most evident when the filter has not been
used for some little time as any portion of the filtering medium which may fall to
the bottom of the casing, is at once carried upwards with the incoming water and
deposited upon the straining cloth. The upward rush of water thus secures the
automatic and reliable coating of the straining cloth with the filtering medium.
Although I prefer agalite for coating the straining cylinder I might also make use of
several other sterile and oxidising substances for the same purpose. For instance I
might in conjunction with the agalite use Kaolin, Silica, porous iron, animal
eharcoal and the like.
The regulating tap may by preference, be placed on the delivery side of the filter
bed and maintain the coating of filtering material undisturbed and preserve it from
shock and recoil. The cylinders and spiral coils may be cleansed in situ by a
reversed current of filtered water and air, or by steam. In order to secure the perfect
sterility of the agalite or other filtering medium, the filter may be placed over a
flame and the filtering material deposited upon the straining jacket at a temperature
of boiling point or even higher temperature.
"Improvements in Domestic and other Filters."
I WILLIAM HENRY BARR, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., &c Fellow of the Chemical Society, of 45
Belgrave Place, Bury, in the County of Lancaster, 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 and
accompanying drawings.—

page_text: '
My invention will be inore fully understood from an inspection of the accompanying
two sheets of drawings in which.
On Sheet 1.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation broken in its length for want of space, of one form of
my improved filter bed.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of the filter bed shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 represents a further modification of my improved filter bed.
On Sheet 2.
Figs. 4 and 5 show my improved filter bed applied to casings suitable for various
uses.
Referring in the first place to Fig. 1 Sheet 1 of the drawings, I provide a frame work
of three hollow perforated metal cylinders of decreasing diameter, placed one within
the other so as to provide annular spaces between the cyclinders. In the drawings
these cylinder are respectively marked ab c. The outer cylinder a is sweated
brazed or otherwise suitably secured to a metallic cap d formed with an annular
groove and delivery nozzle d². The cylinder b is brazed or otherwise suitably
secured to a metallic screwed ring e which is screwed to the cap d as shown.
A trough shaped ring f is disposed at the lower end of the cylinders a and b and
secured thereto by brazing or other means thus closing the ends of the cylinders a b
and keeping them apart. The inner cylinder c is brazed at its upper end to a
hollow screwed plug g and is also provided with a metallic disc h. The screwed plug g
engages with the interiorly threaded extension 3 of the cap d A plug i closes the
lower end of the cylinder c.
The outer cylinder a is covered with a layer or layers of fine strong closely woven
cotton cloth A of suitable length which is secured to the cap d by means of a cord or
elastic band or the like. The straining cloth or jacket is then tucked within the
space between the cylinders a and b and secured to the disc h preferably by means of
an elastic ring, and from thence the cloth is disposed around the central tube c and
finally secured to the plug i. The disc h acts as a stop to the straining cloth and so
provides clearance for the outlet.
The cloth or straining jacket A is represented in the drawings by dotted lines. The
straining cloth is jambed by the incoming water against the lower side of
the disc h.
The jacket of cloth A acts as a straining medium both within and without the
combined cylinders a, b, e the liquid being delivered through the nozzle d² as shown
by the arrows. It will thus be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings
that by the employment of the concentric cylinders of decreasing diameter, placed
one within the other I am enabled to obtain a vastly greater filtering area than would
be possible if the cylinder a were used alone, and this without increasing in any way
the bulk or external area of the filter bed.
It will be obvious that a greater or less number of perforated concentric cylinders
may be used if desired.
For example two perforated metal cylinders may be used, as shown in Fig. 2.
In this case a cylinder j of smaller diameter and length is secured within an
outer cylinder so as to leave an annular space between the two cylinders. The
two cylinders j k are secured together at one end by brazing or other suitable
means and distance pieces are provided to keep the cylinders apart.
The upper end of the inner cylinder is provided with a strip of perforated
metal m by means of which the inner cylinder ; is secured to the wall of the
outer cylinder and which also serves to maintain the annular space between the two
cylinders. The strip of metal m also acts to limit the upward movement of the
filter cloth A so as to prevent the same from obstructing the delivery outlet of

page_text: the mter. The outer cylinder is provided with
an outlet pipe n³.
a grooved cap n formed with
The outer cylinder is covered with a layer or layers of the straining cloth A.
This cloth or straining jacket is secured with a cord a¹ or the like, within a
groove made in the cap n secured to the outer perforated metal cylinder. The
straining jacket A is tied up with a cord or thread at its other end so
resemble a closed sack. This free closed end is then thrust within the interior
of the inner cylinder and the cloth is of sufficient length to reach to the top of the
interior cylinder j.
as to
The pressure of the liquid will jamb the straining jacket against the walls of
the inner cylinder and metallic strip m.
In case the water pressure should fail to accomplish this a plug of loofah or other
permeable material may be employed. The jacket of cloth thus acts as a strainer
both from within and without the combined cylinder ; the filtered water or
other liquid passing along the annular space between the cylinders to the
delivery orifice provided in the closed end of the outer cylinder.
A greatly increased filtering surface is thus obtained than could be accomplished
if the outer cylinder were used alone.
In Fig. 3 I show a modification which I may also use.
I provide a perforated metal delivery tube o around which a spiral coil of wire p
of suitably larger diameter is secured. A straining jacket A of cloth similar
to the above is placed around the coiled wire. In the drawing the cloth A is
shown on the lower portion of the tube only, being removed from the upper portion
to more clearly show the perforated tube and coiled wire. A cord g secures the
straining cloth A to a grooved disc o carried by the delivery end of the
perforated tube o and the cord is then wound tightly between the spirals of wire p
pressing the straining cloth A to the inner perforated tube o at these points. The
loose end of the cloth is then secured to a grooved disc o on the end of the tube o.
The fabric is thus stretched and conducted from the periphery of each metal coil p to
the fixed central conducting tube o and a greatly increased straining surface is
obtained over what would be provided by the outer periphery of a cylinder of equal
length and diameter of the coiled wire. The fixed central perforated tube is provided
with a delivery nozzle o³ to carry away the filtered liquid. Each end of the central
perforated tube may be provided with a delivery nozzle if desired.
The cotton cloth used for straining purposes may be of two kinds either the finest
cambric or a cloth having a plush-like nap of cotton filaments and sold as Fustian
cloth.
For very fie filtering purposes, layers of cotton cellulose paper, pure and free from
size, are place within folds of the cotton straining cloth. The filtering cylinders or
spirals after being covered with the straining cloth are placed within a suitable outer
casing which is secured by any suitable means to the water supply.
On Sheet 2.
Fig. 4 represents one of my improved filter beds placed within a casing suitable for
domestic use.
The casing consists of a tubular metallic or other body provided with a cover 1
which is secured to the body by means of hinged bolts 2 and wing nuts 23. The
hinged bolts swivel upon pins & secured to lugs & cast upon the body and are
housed between lugs 4 formed in the cover ¹. A rubber or other resilient washer t
secures a fluid tight joint between the cover and the top of the tubular body r.
The straining bed B is secured to the cover by means of a nut a fluid tight
connection being obtained by means of the rubber or other washer u¹. The foot of
the casing is provided with a tap to conduct water to be filtered to the interior of
the casing r. A flush tap w is also provided for use when cleansing the filter bed or
for emptying the casing 7. The water to be filtered enters the filter casing via the
tap vand passes through the filter bed B to the delivery nozzle x as indicated by the
arrows. The filter bed B may be cleansed by flushing the same with water through

page_text: the tap v and allowing the water to escape through the flush tap w which is opened
for the purpose.
Another form of casing in which my improved filter beds may be used is shown in Fig.5.
This form is particularly applicable for filtering large volumes of liquid such as water,
5 beer, cider, or the like and is readily portable. A tubular casing y is suitably secured
to the platform z which is carried upon wheels 1. The casing y is shown as provided
with a spiral wire filter bed 2 constructed as already described and which is supported
at its lower end by means of a curved plate 5.
More than one such filter bed of suitable size may however be used within the
portable casing y and these filter beds may be formed of concentric tubes or spiral
wire as described or the two forms may be used in conjunction.
liquid to be filtered is forced under pressure through the nozzle 3 to the interior of
The beer or other
the casing y and after passing through the filter bed 2 is delivered at the delivery
nozzle 4 as indicated by the arrows. The filter may be cleansed by a reverse current
of water or other fluid, or by introducing the nozzle of a hose pipe within the interior
of the caying y.
I do not however confine myself to any particular form of casing for use with my
improved filter beds as the same must be governed by circumstances, and the quantity
of liquid to be filtered.
Before turning on the flow of liquid I place within the interior of the casing a
quantity of pulverised and sterilized agalite commonly known and sold as Asbestine
or Asbestos pulp and largely used in paper making either alone or in conjunction with
porous pipe clay or earthenware clays which have been sterilized by heat or by well
known chemical substances, either in a state of fine powder or mixed into a thick
cream along with water or a clear portion of the liquid to be filtered such as cider,
beer, spirits and the like.
The inflowing liquid is admitted at the base of the filter casing so that it takes an
upward or inclined direction.
The water or other liquid thus carries with it the sterilized and filtering materials
forcibly on to the surface of the straining bed and jambs its minute intersticies with a
fine porous sterile earth, and thus at once coats the straining cloth with a close porous
covering which arrests all suspended and vegetable slimy matters contained in the
liquid.
The filter bed thus obtained is of very high efficiency without the disadvantageous
fragility of baked earthenware cylinders whilst at the same time possessing their valuable
properties of arresting and holding micro-organisms. The advantage of directing the
incoming water to the filter in an upward direction is most evident when the
filter has not been used for some little time as any of the filtering medium which
may fall to the bottom of casing is at once carried upwards with the incoming
liquid and forcibly carried upon the straining cloth. The upward rush of liquid
thus secures the automatic and reliable coating of the straining cloth with the
filtering medium. Although I prefer sterilized agalite for coating the straining
cylinder I might also make use of a combination of several other stergile and
oxidising substances for the same purpose such as agalite, porous earthenware
clays, fossil earth and purified animal and wood charcoal, which are pulverised,
purifien and sterilized by heat before use. I might also use with the agalite,
Kaolin, Silica and porous iron or any oxidising agent.
The regulating tap may if desired be placed on the delivery side of the filter
bed and maintain the coating of filtering material undisturbed and preserve it
rom shock and recoil. The cylinders and spiral coils may be cleansed in situ
by a reverse current of filtered water, air or by steam. In order to secure the
erfect sterility of the agalite or other filtering medium, the filter casing may be
ormed as a boiler or kettle and may be placed over a flaine and the filtering material
arried upon the straining jacket at a temperature of boiling point or even higher
einperature, or I might place the filtering medium within a separate vessel and boil
he same in water and deliver the boiling water and filtering medium into the casing
ontaining the filtering bed or beds.

page_text: Although I have instanced more particularly the filtration of drinking water, beer,
cider and the like it is obvious that my improved filter beds with their increased area of
straining surface is also applicable to the rapid filtration of canal and river water and
sewage.
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) The improved arrangement of filter bed for use in the filtration and purification
of water and other liquids, consisting of a series of concentric perforated metal
cylinders of decreasing diameter placed one within the other and covered with a layer
or layers of straining cloth or other material, upon the surface of which is carried and
deposited a close porous coating of filtering medium, whereby a large filtering surface
is obtained within a comparatively small space, arranged and acting in the manner
and substantially as described and shown.
2) The improved filter bed for the indicated purposes consisting of two or three
concentric perforated metallic cylinders covered with a layer or layers of straining
cloth or other material upon which is carried and deposited a close porous coating of
filtering medium, the said filter bed being used in conjunction with a suitable formn
of casing and arranged and acting in the manner and substantially as described and
shown with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
3) A filter bed for the indicated purposes consisting of a central perforated tube
surrounded by a spiral coil of wire upon which is secured a straining cloth or other
material on the surface of which is carried and deposited a close porous coating of
filtering medium arranged and acting in conjunction with a suitable casing in the
manner and substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
1007
Dated 15 ay
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.
Chartered Patent Agents 5 John Dalton Manchester.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.
Chartered Patent Agents 5 John Dalton Manchester.