IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS
Year: 1884

page_text: WILLIAM NEEDHAM WILKINSON 15 St John's Road, Longsight Manchester in
the County of Lancashire Agent I do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in automatic compression filters for
domestic purposes and also for portable, or what are known as pocket filters, and
a regulating cover for same; and the object of my invention is an improvement in
the filtering media and its method of application.
In performing my invention I make two covers or lids for top and bottom, of
brass Iron pewter, or any kind of Metal or material suitable. To either of them,
preferably the bottom one I cast inside or otherwise fasten a neck or hollow boss,
into which I drill holes or cast slots. tap the boss inside with a screw thread, to
receive a hollow tube which is screwed to fit, and the other end of the tube is also
screwed to receive a nut or thumb screwe, the sides of the lids or covers may be
any depth or they may be flat discs, the top one has a hole in the center that the
tube may pass through.
I then make a spring coil for filtering purposes, in the following manner, I take
a piece of perforated metal, it may be zinc, tin copper, brass or any kind of material
suitable, or it may be hair cloth or woven wire, and a piece of asbestos cloth, or
other cloth such as linnen or woollen, I prefer asbestos, it may be of the same
length and breadth as the perforated metal or either may be larger than the other;
and they may be of any size I think proper; I roll them up together and make a
coil of alternate layers of perforated metal and cloth, and with them I also roll a
piece or more than one, of spring wire of any strength or they may be flat pieces
of steel, I may leave a hollow centre of any size, or I may roll it close in the centre
I then pass the tube through and, if the centre of the coil is hollow I fill it with
animal charcoal, or other filtering material. I then put on the top of the charcoal
a flannel washer or an asbestos washer, then a perforated plate of metal, wood, or
any other suitable material, I then pass over the tube a coil spring of any strength
or length then the lid or cover I then screwe these all together by means of a nut
or thumb screw drawing the top and bottom covers to the coil thereby making the
joints tight. The springs serve to give compression to the filtering material, the
sides of the covers or lids prevent the coil from unfolding or I provide an india-
rubber or metal band to fit round to keep it together. The water enters the filter
through the perforations of the coil at any part thereof or only at a given line,
fixed in the outside metal cover or I provide an indiarubber tube or cover to cover
the whole filter or any part of it this cover can at any moment be rolled down
thereby laying bare as much or as little of the perforations as is thought proper,
admitting only, as much water or liquid as the filter can clean, this indiarubber
tube serves as a covering to the filter when not in use to keep it clean I fit to the
tube of the filter an indiarubber pipe or tube fitted with a mouth piece of Ivory,
bone, pott, glass, or other suitable material through which water or liquid may be
sucked drawn or syphoned when placed in any vessel or pond of water.

page_text: In another modification instead of the screwe at the top of the filter I encircle
the filter with a coil spring. I fasten the top and bottom lids or covers to each
end of the spring either by soldering one and hooking the other, or by means of
a screwed tube fastened to one end of the spring and the side of the cover screwed
to fit to it and screwing them together and making the joints tight top and
bottom or I may hook them both or screw them both. In another modification
I use perforated tubes of any length or diametre each lined or covered with cloth
of any kind, I prefer asbestos cloth, and fitted into each other in a telescopic
manner. I cast two lids or covers similar to the ones already described but
these may have grooves cast in them, or serperate rings soldered or otherwise
fastned to them, in size to correspond with the size of the tubes to be made; each
tube is made to fit the grooves, these tubes are perforated top and bottom
alternately, the joints are made by means of screwe and tube as I described before,
the water or other liquid enters by the outside perforations and passes down
between the tubes through the cloth to the bottom of the next inner tube which
is perforated at the bottom only, then up to the top of the next inner tube which
is perforated at the top only through that and down the other and so on to any
number thence through the centre one which is filled with charcoal or other
filtering material and finally through the perforated boss or neck at the bottom of
the filter into the outlet tube which is fitted with an indiarubber tube and mouth
piece similar to the other to drink through. The coil may be applied to what are
known as stone filters either inside, or, it may be used in place of the sponge on
the top of the filter plate by being fitted into the water inlet.
In another modification for fastening on the house. tap or main supply pipe I fit
the spring coil, or the telescopic arraingement of tubes in a metal case made of
brass, copper Iron, or any suitable material or of any size or shape, (I prefer
cylindrical) the bottom of the case may be either cast, soldered, screwed, or
otherwise fastned, and the top screwed on or fastned on with nuts and bolts; the
coil is then put inside and if not complete in itself, the hollow centre is filled with
charcoal or other filtering material, then I put a flannel, or asbestos washer or a
little silicate cotton, slagwool, then the perforated plate to which I fasten or have
already cast a stud or studs of any length or diametre I then place the coil spring
or springs over these studs to keep them in their respective places I then put on
the cover which rests upon the springs and presses down the plate upon the filtering
bed keeping it tight the perforated plats fit inside the coil centre and over the
charcoal or the centre filtering material. There is a hole in the top and one in the
bottom of the filter of the same or equal size or they may be of different sizes
with a screw thread in, the top one to receive a pipe to draw off the filtered water,
the other, or the bottom hole to screw or fasten to a supply pipe or tap. I fit a
twoway tap to it, by turning the handle of which one way the water goes through
the filter and out at the top filtered, and by turning it the contrary way the water
is given off unfiltered, by this arraingement the towns pressure does not remain on
the filter thereby doing away entirely with bursting of the filter, I may put one or
more coils in one filter. I may put a coil at the bottom then a layer of charcoal or
other filtering, material, then another coil then charcoal and so on the advantage of
this will be that that portion which is first dirty can be taken out and either
replaced when cleaned, or a new part put in The spring may pass through the lid
of the filter.. and secewered in a dome or box the top of which is screwed on or
otherwise fastened, in such a manner, that the spring may be taken out without
taking off the lid of the filter.
Dated this 17th day of January 1884.

page_text: I WILLIAM NEEDHAM WILKINSON 17 St John's Road (formerly 15) Longsight
Manchester in the county of Lancaster Agent do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
I make two covers or lids for the top and bottom, of brass, iron, pewter or any
kind of metal, or material suitable: To either of these but preferably the bottom
one, I cast inside a hollow neck or boss, into which I drill holes, or cast slots: I tap
the boss inside with a screw thread, to receive a hollow tube which is also screwed
to fit and the other end of the tube is also screwed to receive a nut or thumb
screw.
The covers may be flat dises, or they may have flanges any depth the top one
has a hole in the centre that the tube may pass through I then make a coil in the
following manner: I take a piece of perforated metal such as zinc tin, copper, brass
or woven wire, or hair cloth, or any material suitable and a piece of asbestos cloth
or other cloth such as linen or wollen or I may use them all the cloth may be of
the same length and breadth as the perforated metal or either may be larger than
the other. I roll them up together which forms a coil of alternate layers of material.
I may roll with them one or more pieces of spring wire or flat pieces of steel of
any strength to give to the coil a spring or I may use India Rubber bands the coil
may be complete. in itself or I may leave it hollow in the centre which I fill up
with charcoal or other filtering material I then pass the coil over the hollow tube,
cover the holes I make in the neck or boss of the bottom cover of the filter with
flannel washers or other porous material to prevent the charcoal passing. I fill up
the centre of the coil with charcoal then I put on a porous washer then a
perforated plate then a coil spring then the top cover. or lid of the filter I then
screwe all these together by means of a nut or Thumb screwe making the joints
both top and bottom to the edges of the coil by placing leather or other washers
between the metals the sides of the covers or lids of the filters prevents the coil
unfolding or I provide a metal or India Rubber bands to fit round to keep it
together the water enters the filter through the perforations of the coil at any part
thereof or only at a given line fixed in the outside of the metal or other cover, or
I provide an India. Rubber tube to cover the whole or any part of the filter this
cover can at any moment be rolled down laying bare as much or as little of the
perforations as is thought proper or I may cover the filter with Asbestos cloth or
any other kind most suitable or with a coil of any kind of yarn or mixture of
yarn to any degree of thickness such as cotton, asbestos or woollen yarn I fit to the
tube of the filter an India Rubber pipe or tube fitted with a mouthpiece of bone
Ivory metal glass or other suitable material through which water or liquid may be
sucked drawn or syphoned when placed therein.
In another modification instead of the screwe at the top of the filter I encircle
the filter with a coil spring 1 fasten the top and bottom ends or covers to each end
of the spring either by soldering one and hooking the other or by means of
crewed tube fastened to one end of the spring and, the sides of the covers
screwed also to fit it screwing these together draws them tight and makes the
joints or I pass over the top and bottom covers India. Rubber bands which will
draw the filter together and keep the joints tight In another modification I use
perf rated tubes of any length or diameter each lined or covered with cloth of any
kind, I prefer asbestos cloth and filled into each other in a telescopic manner I cast
two lids or covers similar to the ones already described but these may have.

page_text: grooves cast in them or seprate rings soldered or otherwise fastened to them, in
size to correspond with the size of the tubes to be made each tube is made to fit
the grooves the tubes are perforated top and bottom alternately the joints are
made by means of screwe and tube as I described before the water or other liquid
enters by the outside perforations and passes down between the tubes through the
cloth to the bottom of the next inner tube which is perforated at the bottom only
then up to the top of the next inner tube which is perforated at the top only
through that and down the other and so on to any number thence through the
centre one which is filled with charcoal or other material and finally through the
perforated boss at the bottom of filter into the outlet tube which is fitted with an
India Rubber tube and mouthpiece for drawing water through the coil may be
applied to what are known as stone filters by being fitted inside or it may be used
in place of the sponge on the top of the perforated plate. In another modification
for fastening on the house tap. or main supply pipe I fit the spring coil or telescopic
arraingement of tubes in a metal case of brass copper iron or aloy or any suitable
material of any shape or size I prefer cylindrical, the bottom of the case may be
either cast soldered screwed or otherwise fastened and the top screwed on or
fastened with nuts and bolts the coil is the then put inside and if not complete in
itself the hollow is filled with charcoal or other filtering material then I put a
flannel or Asbestos washer or a little silicate cotton (slag wooll) then the perforated
plate to which I fasten or have already cast a stud or studs of any length or
diameter I then place the coil spring or springs over these studs to keep them in
their respective places I then put on the cover which rests on the springs and
presses down the plate upon the filtering bed keeping it tight the plates fit inside
the coil centre or they may cover the whole coil thereby press down the whole
filtering material There is a hole in the top and one in the bottom of the filter of
the same or equal size or they may be of different sizes with a screwe thread in the
top to receive a pipe or tap to draw off the filtered water the bottom one to screwe
or fasten to a supply pipe or tap I fit a twoway tap to it by turning the handle of
which one way the water goes through the filter and out at the top filtered and by
turning it the other way the water is given off unfiltered by this arraingement the
towns pressure does not remain on the filter thereby doing away entirely with the
bursting of the filters by over pressure I may put a coil at the bottom then a layer
of charcoal or other filtering material then another coil and so on the advantage of
this would be that that portion which is first dirty can be taken out cleaned and
replaced or a new portion put in. The spring may pass through the lid of the
filter and be secured in a dome or box the top of which screwed on or otherwise
fastened in such a manner that the spring may be taken out without taking off the
lid of the filter.
The same result may be obtained by a weight and lever.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I now refer to and describe
the accompanying sheets of drawings similar letters being shown on similar parts
through the several views.
Fig. 1 is the frame work of the filter.
Fig 2 is the plan of the same.
Fig 3 is a plan of the coil of perforated metal and cloth Fig. 4 is a side view of
the same
Fig. 5 is a side view of the tubular arraingements of perforated metal
and cloth Fig 6 is a sectional elevation of a pocket or portable filter completely
fitted.
Figs. 7. 9. 10. 11. 12. and 13 are modifications of the same filter with elastic
coverings. Fig 10. and 12 showing the elastic coverings partly rolled back the
under covering of Fig 10 being formed of yarn. Fig 8 shows the filter enclosed in
a case for attatchment to the supply pipe.
In the several views above described a is the centre tube b. and 61 are the top
and bottom perforated plates c is the bottom covering with the perforations in the
neck c1 is the top cover d is the Thumb screwe f is the compression spring g is
the filtering material.

page_text: e 3 is the outer tube or covering with perforations at the top through which the
water enters following in the direction of the arrows passes through the next
tube e 2 at the bottom then upwards through the next tube e 1 finally entering the
filtering material g. h is the cloth between the perforated metal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
In a filter a coil of perforated metal or other material interlaid with cloth to
form a filtering media in conjunction with animal charcoal or other filtering
material.
A spring to obtain automatic compression on the filtering material.
An elastic or other covering to regulate the supply of water to the filter.
A tubular or telescopic arraingement of the perforated metal and cloth whereby
the water is caused to circulate upwards and downwards through the filtering
material before reaching the outlet pipe substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 20th day of October 1884.
WILLIAM NEEDHAM WILKINSON.