Liquids and the Construction of Apparatus Used therewith.
Year: 1886

page_text: Liquids and the Construction of Apparatus Used therewith.
I, PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN, of 32 Saint Mary-at-Hill, in the City of London,
Filter Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the softening and purification of impure liquids, and
consists in the application of chemical reagents in the form of a single solution to
effect the softening or purification of the liquid to be treated, and consists also in
the after separating and filtering of the solid matter from the liquid, and in the
construction of apparatus for effecting this purpose.
I find that it may be sometimes convenient, as for instance when the softening
or purification of liquids is to be carried on out of doors, that the chemical reagents
themselves should be in a liquid condition, I therefore prepare a single solution of
the following substances:-
Lime, soda, and alum in proportions to suit the character of the liquid to be
treated.
The compound made from these materials in the form of powder has already
been patented to me under No. 3038 dated 9 February 1884 for the softening &
purification of water or other liquids.
I find that when these reagents are mixed together in one solution, they do not
interfere with one another, and the presence of the alum greatly facilitates the
rapidity of their action or precipitation. To carry out my process, this softening
solution may be fed by an apparatus automatically controlled by the flow of liquid,
so as to feed a constantly proportioned amount of solution to that of the liquid to
be treated, as has been already patented to me under No. 8745 dated 9th of
June 1884.
Or, I may use any other convenient or known mechanical device for feeding the
solution to the liquid to be treated.
In order to clarify the liquid in the quickest and simplest minner, I construct a
preliminary separator as follows:-
In a tank of any size or shape, I introduce a series of horizontal plates with
perforations in different places, so as to break the current of the liquid, and thereby
to separate more easily the solid matter from the liquid. These plates may be
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0

page_text: constructed of wood or metal or other suitable material. When these plates are
made of metal, the holes are pierced so that a rim around the hole is caused to
project, so as to meet the flow of the current. Stagnant pockets, and eddies
therein, are thus formed, so as to retain the sediment, as it is separated from the
passing liquid. To increase the settling action I may introduce spiral wire, sponges,
charcoal or similar impediments, or absorbent material between the plates.
As my separator is constructed on the principle of loose parts contained in an
open vessel or cistern, the parts are readily extracted for cleaning; but I may, if
desired, pass a pipe through the separator, provided with orifices, through which a
stream of liquid can be directed upon the settling surfaces of the said separator,
and the sediment be thus readily washed out.
I may fit the plates in the separator together with adjusting screws and nuts, so
that they may be screwed down upon absorbent or other material placed between
them when purifying or separating, and the plates may be again screwed apart to
relieve the pressure on the absorbent material and thus render it more easily
cleansed.
I may combine with this separator a frame or diaphragm on which is stretched
a cloth of asbestos or other tissue, or I may introduce at top or bottom some of
the forms of filtering frames with plates having a flexible or filtering joint, as
shown and described in the specification under Letters Patent No. 13,345 dated
8 October 1884.
Or, in cases where a more perfect filtration is required, I may pass the liquid
after the separation, through a filter, such as those made under my Letters patent
No. 4854 of 1878, but with the following improvement:-
In order to better support the cloth or tissue, which is stretched over the
filtering frame under the weight of the sediment accumulating on the surface, I
apply a perforated plate over part or the whole of each side of the said frame,
thus preventing any tendency of the said cloth to collapse. Moreover it allows me
to use a more open cloth, and thus obtain greater rapidity.
When the liquid is treated in the separator with a downward current, I attach
to the outlet a swan neck with venthole, so as to effect the operation with the
smallest possible head of liquid, and to facilitate the settling of the solid matter in
the plates or in the absorbent material thereon.
D
11
1000
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Liquids and the Construction of Apparatus Used therewith.
I, PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN, of 32 St. Mary-at-Hill, in the City of London,
Filter 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 :-
My invention relates to the softening and purification of impure liquids, and
consists in the application of chemical reagents in the form of a single solution, to
effect the softening or purification of the liquid to be treated, and consists also in
the after separating and filtering of the solid matter from the liquid, and in the
construction of apparatus for this purpose.
I find that it may be sometimes convenient that the chemical reagents thein-
selves should be in a liquid condition. I therefore prepare a single solution of the
following substances :-
Quicklime, carbonate or silicate of soda (alum being omitted in this last case)
and alum or sulphate of aluminum, in proportion to suit the character of the liquid
to be treated.
I find that when these reagents are mixed together in one solution they do not
interfere with one another.
To carry out my process, this softening solution, may be fed by an apparatus
automatically controlled by the flow of liquid, so as to feed a constantly propor-
tioned amount of solution to that of the liquid to be treated, as has already been
patented to me under No. 8745, dated 9th June 188. Or, I may use any other
convenient or known mechanical devices for feeding the solution to the liquid to
be treated.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed, reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 shows my device with upward delivery of the water.
Figure 2 shows the same with the flow reversed.
Figure 3 shows a detail of the method of the forming of the plates, so as to form
stagnant pockets.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the figures.
In a tank A, of any size or shape, I introduce a series of horizontal plates B,
with perforations in different places so as to break the current of the liquid, and
thereby to separate more easily the solid matter therefrom. These plates may be
constructed of wood, metal, or other suitable material. When these plates are
made of metal, the holes are pierced, as shown in detail figure 3, so that a rim
around the hole is caused to project so as to meet the flow of the current.
Stagnant pockets and eddies therein are thus formed, so as to retain the sediment
as it is separated from the passing liquid. To increase the settling action, I may
introduce spiral wire, sponges, charcoal, wood shavings or similar impediment or
absorbent material between the plates.
As my separator is constructed on the principle of loose parts contained in an
open vessel or cistern, the parts are readily extracted for cleaning, but I may, if
desired, pass a pipe C through the separator, provided with orifices, through which
a stream of water can be directed upon the settling surfaces B of the said separator,

page_text: and the sediment be thus readily washed out. I may fit the plates in the separator
together by adjusting screws, of differing thickness and pitch, and nuts, so that
they may be made to travel together or apart, to relieve the pressure upon the
absorbent material, and thus render it more easily cleansed, or to impart the
pressure when needed. This is shown in Figure 2, in which D are the screwed
rods or spiral columns, and E are the nuts thereupon.
In order, however, to effect this compression or separation at one stroke, I may
mount the plates upon a series of articulated levers F (Fig. 1) which may be
operated by means of the screwed rod G from the exterior of the tank.
I may combine with this separator a frame, on which is stretched a cloth of
asbestos or other tissue, or I may introduce at the top or bottom some of the forms
of filtering frames H, having a flexible or filtering joint, as shown and described in
the specification under Letters Patent No. 13345, dated 8th October, 1884 or, in
cases where a more perfect filtration is required, I may pass the liquid after the
separation through a filter such as made under my Letters Patent No. 4854 of 1878,
but with the following improvement.
In order to better support the cloth or tissue, which is stretched over the filtering
frame, under the weight of the sediment accumulating on the surface, I apply a
perforated plate over part or the whole of the said frame, thus preventing any
tendency of the said cloth to collapse. Moreover, it allows me to use a more open
cloth, and thus obtain greater rapidity.
When the liquid is treated in the separator with the downward current (see
figure 2) I may attach to the outlet a swan neck K, which will deliver the liquid
approximately at the level of the inlet pipe L, so as to effect the operation with
the smallest possible head of liquid, and to facilitate the settling of the solid matter
on the plate or in the absorbent material thereon.
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 :-
1st. The process for the softening and purification of liquids consisting of the
treatment thereof by a single solution of quicklime, carbonate or silicate of soda
(alum being omitted in this latter case) and alum or sulphate of aluminium in
proportion to suit the character of the liquid to be treated.
2nd. In a separator, the combination of a series of plates with perforations
having raised rims in a tank, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
3rd. The combination with such a series of plates of absorbent material or other
impediment placed between same, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4th. The combination with such a series of plates of an adjustable movement to
permit of compression or relief of the absorbent material, and consisting of either
adjustable nuts and screwed rods, or a series of articulated levers, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
5th. The combination with such a separator of a cleansing pipe or pipes, whereby
the plates may be flushed, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
6th. The combination with such a separator of a filter frame or frames, substan-
tially as and for the purposes specified.
7th. The combination with such a separator of a swan neck delivery pipe to
reduce the head of liquid, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., 50
Agents for the Applicant.