IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE WITH A VIEW OF EXTRACTING THE FERTILISING PRODUCTS THEREIN CONTAINED AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th April 1875.-A communication from abroad by Gustavus
Palmer Harding and John Robert Johnson, of 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris, Engineers.
I, WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-
Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE WITH
A VIEW OF EXTRACTING THE FERTILISING PRODUCTS THEREIN CONTAINED AND IN
THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to separate the solid matter contained
in the sewerage from the liquid. For this purpose I cause the said
sewerage to flow in the shape of a wide and relatively very shallow
current over a level surface, slightly inclined in one direction
I prefer
that the sewerage should issue from a reservoir in a stream with a fall
of about fifty centimetres from the said reservoir to the upper extremity
of the inclined plane, and with such a speed as can be regulated
according to the requirements or the nature of the material to be treated
by means of sluices, cocks, or other appropriate appliances.

page_text: The angle of the inclined plane is such that the liquid portions of the
matter flow freely to the bottom of the incline, from which they are
conducted off or collected as may be required, whilst the solid matter is
gradually accumulated on its surface to a thickness which may amount to
fifty centimetres. When the deposit of such solid matter has reached 5
the thickness of fifty centimetres (or less as may be required) the flow
of sewerage is cut off and directed towards a second similar inclined
plane, whilst the deposit thus formed is allowed to drain and to dry.
In order to accelerate this drying process, if preferred, I cause a rapid
current of air engendered by any appropriate machines to pass over the 1
said accumulation of solid matter, or the said matter may be removed
from the incline or inclines whilst still in a damp state, and there
mixed with gypsum, cement, peat, charcoal, or any other antiputroscent
substance having a marked affinity for water.
I propose superposing a scries of such inclined planes at a distance of 1
about sixty centimetres one from the other; the upper one being pro-
tected from the rain in any convenient manner.
Or instead of super-
posing the inclines and of the above described method of operating on
the sewerage, I arrange them all on the same plane with a substructuro
of impermeable material covered with a layer of sand or other porous ?
material; I surround this impermable bed with enclosing walls so as to
serve as a basın or vessel. At its upper and the cross wall would be
from thirty to forty-five centimetres high; the two side walls run from
thence to the lower cross wall, which stands at a somewhat lower level
and is provided with a sluice opening below the level of the sand or 2
other filtering medium.
After closing the sluice I first thoroughly saturate the gravel bed with
clean water and then allow the sewerage to flow into the apparatus in
the form of a thin stream, until the solid matter has precipitated on the
gravel to a sufficient thickness, the flow of sewerage liquor is then cut
and the sluice opened, so that the liquid portion runs off through the
sand, leaving the solid matter thercon comparatively dry. This solid
matter is then collected and the sluice bemg reclosed the operation is
recommenced.