Improvements connected with the Filtration of Water and in Cleansing the Filters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
TRUVIDIONAL DITUITUATION.
Improvements connected with the Filtration of Water and in
Cleansing the Filters.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM HAWKSLEY Brightside Boiler Works, Sheffield in the County
of York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of treating impure water
before passing it into filters, and also to improvements in cleansing such filters.
In carrying out my invention, in dealing with impure water, for example water
containing chemical impurities and matter in suspension ; instead of treating such
water, as is usually done, with precipitants, and then running it into settling tanks
where it is allowed to remain until precipitation is complete; I propose to mix the
necessary precipitants or purifying chemicals, with the water, by admitting them into
the water, as it passes through the suction pipe of the pump or pumps which are
employed to force the water through the filters. The precipitating medium will be
thoroughly mixed with and diffused through the water, amalgamation will take place
and the impurities thus separated and either precipitated or held in suspension will be
caught and kept back by the filtering medium.
This improved method of dealing with impure water will be much more expeditious
than the use of settling tanks, and will greatly economise the space required for such
process and in some cases reduce the number of pumps required.
The second part of my invention relates to the cleansing of filters, such as are used
for the filtration of large quantities of water, and are usually arranged in a series con-
veniently placed, and connected with inlet and outlet pipes. For example, I arrange
any number of filters in a row or group and connect them to the main supply pipe, by
means of an intermediate pipe; each filter being provided with a threeway cock, in
connection with a blow off or sludge pipe.
Near the top of each filter is a single way cock communicating with the delivery
pipe, and the supply and delivery pipes are arranged so that a direct passage may be
had between the two and to the tank.
Hitherto it has been usual to cleanse such filters by reversing the direction of
the unfiltered water flow, and forcing unfiltered water through the filtering medium
in the filters, and thus fouling the filter bed and only partially effecting the cleansing
purpose.
I propose to carry out the cleansing of the filters by using water already filtered
from impurities or by the use of steam, or by the two combined.
By my arrangement of pipes, and stop cocks, I can cause the water as it is filtered
in one or more of the filters to pass through one or more of the remaining filters, and
the filtering medium therein in the contrary direction to the flow when filtering; this
forced current may be produced by the action of the pump, or by the head of water
in the storage tank.
Or instead of employing water as before described I may attach a steam pipe to the
filtered water main and by shutting off the water supply and the communication with
the storage tank, I may blow steam at any desired pressure through the filter beds,
which would effectually cleanse away all impurities; but if some of the encrusted
deposit is exceptionally difficult to remove, the application of steam until the crust is
thoroughly heated and the filtering medium charged with steam and then suddenly
blown off, repeated once or twice, will break up the deposit and cause it to crumble to
pieces and be carried away through the sludge pipe in which pipe test taps may be
ixed to draw off a sample of water to prove when the filter is properly cleansed, or
guage glasses suitably fixed to watch the process of cleansing.

page_text: I may if desirable use an intermediate high pressure tank placed conveniently
between the pump and the filters, for the purpose of more effectually amalgamating
the chemical reagents with the water, and receiving a portion of the grosser deposit
as well as floating material before it reaches the filters.
Dated the 4th of Jun 1980
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Filtration of Water and in
Cleansing the Filters.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM HAWKSLEY Brightside Boiler Works, Sheffield in the County
of York, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of treating impure water
before passing it into filters, and also to improvements in the method or process
of cleansing such filters.
The annexed sheet of drawings illustrates the apparatus by which my invention may
be carried into practice.
Fig. 1, is an elevation of a series of six filters, with all the necessary pipes and
apparatus for carrying out my invention.
Fig. 2, is a plan of same.
Fig. 3, end elevation of filters, and also showing the high pressure tank.
A, are the filters supported on a suitable gantry or erection B, and connected with
the supply pipe C, by means of an intermediate pipe D. J is the delivery pipe,
F the sludge pipe, P is the pump, T is a tank in which the chemicals or precipitants
are placed, and R is the residual tank.
In carrying out my invention in dealing with impure water, such for example as
water containing chemical impurities, and other matter in suspension, instead of
treating it in the usual manner with precipitants, and then running it into settling
tanks, and allowing it to remain until precipitation is complete; I propose to mix the
necessary chemical purifiers, or precipitants, with the water by admitting them into
the suction pipe P₁, of one or more pumps which are used to lift and force the water
forward to the filters.
The precipitating or other purifying medium will by this process or means be
thoroughly mixed with and diffused throughout the water, complete amalgamation
will take place, and after passing through a residual tank the water will be ready to
be finally purified in the filters.
This novel method of dealing with impure water, is much more expeditious than the
use of settling tanks, and will greatly economise the space or room required for the
old process, and in some cases will reduce the number of pumps that would otherwise
be necessary.
place the necessary chemicals, reagents or precipitants, in a tank T, communi-
cating with the suction pipe of the pump which draws the water from the source
of supply.
The amount of material supplied from the tank T, can be regulated by a cock T', or
be shut off entirely when so desired.
I prefer to draw the water into the suction pipe P¹ of the pump P, through a
perforated rose M, dipping into a saucer-shaped trough N, the upturned edge of which
being of larger diameter than the rose, leaves an annular opening for the entrance of
the water, and thus prevents to a great degree the entrance of deposit.
The water so treated as before described is forced by the pump into one or more
closed residual tanks R, placed between the pump and the filters A, and having the

page_text: inlet and outlet pipes R₁, and R², preferably projecting downwards into the tank as
indicated by the dotted lines.
The tank is partly filled with air, the water line being some distance above the
mouths of the inlet and outlet pipes; by this arrangement anything floating on the
5 surface of the water is prevented from entering the outlet pipe, and the confined air
being under pressure, acts as a cushion, relieves sudden checks or strains, and causes
the water to issue in a continuous stream.
The water passes from the residual tank R, into the supply pipe C, and thence
into the intermediate pipe D, which communicates with each filter by means of a
three-way cock G.
When the water has passed through the filtering medium, such as charcoal, asbestos
cloth, wire gauze, or other material, supported in one or more layers by perforated
filter plates fixed inside the filters A, it passes through the single-way cocks H, and
through the delivery pipe J, either to a store tank, or otherwise as required.
The single-way cocks H, and the three-way cocks G, enable the water to be turned
into the filters, and direct through the delivery, to the store tank; or to shut off any
of the filters for any desired purpose; or to open into the blow off or sludge pipe ;
or to permit water or steam or both to pass through the delivery pipe J, through the
filters, or through any number of them.
In the second part of my invention relating to the cleansing of the filters hereinbefore
described, I would premise that hitherto it has been usual to cleanse such filters by
reversing the direction of the flow of unfiltered, and therefore impure water, and
forcing it through the filter beds of the filters, in the opposite direction; this process
while to a certain extent clearing out the body of the filtering medium, fouled the bed
itself by its deposit.
According to my invention I use the water already filtered, or steam, or water and
steam together; by using the stop-cocks G and H, I can permit the filtered water
from the storage tank, to return either by gravitation, or by the aid of a pump, and
to force its way in the reverse direction, through the filters and filtering medium, of
whatever nature. Or I may attach a steampipe at S, and by closing the valve K,
and arranging the cocks G and H, I may blow steam through the filter beds, so as to
effectually cleanse them from all impurities, and deposit, and carry it away through
the sludge pipe F. The application of steam to encrusted deposit until it is
thoroughly permeated therewith, and then the sudden withdrawal will generally
cause the deposit to crumble or become disintegrated and broken up.
Test taps may be fixed in any convenient places to enable samples of the water to
be drawn, to judge when the filters are properly cleansed, or gauge glasses may be
used to watch the process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1st-The process of treating and filtering impure water in large quantities, by
mixing chemical purifiers, reagents, or precipitants with the water in the suction pipe
of the lifting or force-pump, which forces the water so treated through one or more
closed residual tanks, and thence through connecting pipes to any number of connected
filters, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
2-The process of treating and filtering large quantities of water under natural
pressure, by admitting into the water main or supply pipe either directly or
indirectly, any desired quantity of purifying reagents or precipitants from a special
tank, passing the water so treated through a residual tank, and connecting pipes
to any number of connected filters in the manner substantially as herein before
described.
3-In the filtration of large quantities of water, passing the water before it reaches
the filters through a residual tank, constructed to catch and retain residuals and
floating matter, and to act as an air receiver and cushion to relieve sudden checks,
and give a continuous supply substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 4-In the cleansing of large filters such as before described, causing the filtered
water as it leaves one or more of the filters, to pass in a contrary direction through
one or more of the remaining filters, and the beds of the filtering medium for the
purpose specified.
5-In cleansing large filters, such as are hereinbefore described, attaching a
steam pipe to the filtered water main, or to other suitable place and blowing
steam through any number of the said filters, in the direction contrary to the flow
of water when filtering, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 6th day of March 1890.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.