Improvements in the Ventilation of Sewers and in Treating the Foul Gases Generated therein, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ventilation of Sewers and in Treating the
Foul Gases Generated therein, and Apparatus therefor.
We JAMES BANNEHR of 53 and 54 Chancery Lane London Sanitarian and
WILLIAM CHATTAWAY of 23 Leadenhall Street London Analytical Chemist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention is designed with the view of preventing the evils resulting from
the discharge of poisonous gases generated in sewers and caused by the putrefaction
of excreta and other lethal matters. As such gases occupy the space intended for
the flow of sewage-water it thus becomes necessary to ventilate the sewers.
doing this, the poisonous gases containing the germs of diphtheria and cognate
diseases are allowed to pass into the atmosphere and thus cause a great sacrifice of
human life besides an incalculable amount of sickness.
In
Instead of discharging such gases in their raw state we place in a suitable
position an apparatus through which the foul gases will have to pass. The gases
are conveyed by this means through a specially constructed trap (commonly called
a stench trap) and are caused to pass through sulphuric acid or other agent for
sterilizing such gases. The olfactory offensiveness is afterwards removed by
passing the sterilized sewer gas amongst absorbent or porous carbonaceous granules
on its way to the outer atmosphere. Or in place of the foregoing we cause such
sewer gas to pass through a channel containing granules of lead-shot glass or other
nonabsorbent materials which are kept moistened with sulphuric acid or other
sterilizing agent by receiving on the upper surface thereof an incessant dropping
of the foregoing sterilizer. Underneath we place a receptacle for such sterilizer
with the diluent arising from the said sewer gas in order to subject such sterilizer
to a process of revivification. Such sewer gas then passes through the granules of
carbonaceous matter before specified.
Where the foregoing is unsuitable we cause the sewer gas on its way from the
sewer to be subjected to a considerable heat in order to destroy its micro organizms
as well as to deprive it of its offensive odour. For this purpose the sewer gas
passes through a porous medium which is heated by coal gas or other suitable
agency before it is discharged into the atmosphere. Such heating agency may be,
when requisite lighted or kindled automatically by means of a pilot light or by
electricity or other mechanical means for intermittent use.
Dated this Eighth day of September 1893.
JAMES BANNEHR.
WM. CHATTAWAY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ventilation of Sewers and in Treating the
Foul Gases Generated therein, and Apparatus therefor.
JAMES BANNEHR of 54 Chancery Lane London Sanitarian and WILLIAM
CHATTAWAY of 11 Chisholme Road Richmond in the County of Surrey Analytical
Chemist 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 :-
Our invention has for its object the treatment of the lethal gases arising from
sewage, in such a manner as to render them innocuous.

page_text: Process No. 1 consists in sterilizing the said gases by means of acid or other
suitable chemical acting thereon on their being discharged into the atmosphere and
is suitable to cases where hydro carbon gas is either unavailable or objectionable
such as in country residences.
Process No. 2 consists in subjecting the said gases to the heat of hydrocarbon
gas consumed in the burner known as a Bunsen burner which is regulated by
mechanical contrivances hereafter described and which is suitable to town residences
where gas is available.
As to Drawing No. 1. This drawing is in section and may be made of an
upright cylindrical form and is to be fitted on the top of the stench trap through
which the polluted water is conveyed from the water closet.
A is the channel for conveying the sewer gas to be dealt with. B is a trapped
space surrounding the top of the sewer gas channel-containing lead shot or granules
of glass or other nonerodent material through or amongst which the sewer gas is
caused to pass. C is a chamber or vessel for containing sulphuric acid, carbolic
acid or other sterilizing agent such chamber or vessel being made of lead,
earthenware or other nonerodent material-it being provided on the bottom and near
its side with a taper outlet D. terminating with a finely pointed tube to allow of
periodical minute discharges of sterilizing agent to be discharged into the before
named trap. E is a rod of glass or similar nonerodent terminating in a plug,
tapered in its lower end so as to fit into the taper outlet before specified. Such rod
is loaded at the top so as to cause it to plug the taper outlet. The rod E is fitted
with a cord which passes by means of pullies into the closet and terminates there
in a fitting to allow the rod to be raised a short distance, say, half an inch and then
to descend into the taper outlet. F is a chamber surrounding the acid chamber (C)
containing half inch pieces of charcoal.
As to No. 2 Drawing. This drawing is also in section. The mechanical action
is automatic with the exception that the seat cover (a) being, in its normal position
always down on the seat, necessarily requires the seat cover to be turned up on
entering the closet. The raising and falling of the seat cover governs the entire
mechanical action of this part of our invention. Thus, the seat cover (a) having
on entering been placed in its vertical position has by means of a connection with
it on the hinged edge (e¹) opened the gas valve at (f) and thus allowed gas
combined with atmospheric air (which is taken up at (9) to be conveyed to the
Bunsen burner at (h) which is ignited by means of a small pilot light (i) that takes
its supply of gas from the supply pipe before the admission of atmospheric air as
shewn by the letter (g).
The soil pipe proceeding from the closet forms a junction with the before
mentioned Bunsen burner where the sewer gas passing into the vicinity treated by
the gas flame, undergoes purification and is thus rendered fit to be discharged into
the atmosphere. Between the sewer proper and the junction just mentioned the
soil'
pipe is fitted with wire gauze at (k) to prevent any inflammable gas that may
accidentally exist in the sewer becoming exploded.
(c) is an oscillating quadrant which is provided at its point (c) with a catch
recess which receives the catch (b) fitted in the seat cover (a). The quadrant is
at its lower part fitted to its bearing (d) and provided at (c) with projections to
regulate the extent of its oscillatory movement. At-(c) is suspended a counter-
balance weight (e). The suspending medium is continued beyond its point of
attachment to the quadrant to a pulley above and from thence to the top of the
closet door, so that the opening and shutting of that door gives the requisite
oscillatory movement to the quadrant (c). Thus; by opening the door the point
of the quadrant thrusts the seat cover sufficiently from its vertical position to cause
it to fall on to the seat and at the same time by the action of the joint at (e¹) to
turn off the gas supply at (f). By the reverse action of lifting the seat cover from
its normal position by manual power-the gas is turned on and thus supplies the
Bunsen burner with the requisite material for combustion with its due amount of
atmospheric air which are ignited by the perpetual small incandescent pilot light (i).

page_text: We place a wire gauze cap or other contrivance around the pilot light (i) to prevent
its being extinguished by accidental currents of air. We may replace the pilot
flame by a suitable electrical arrangement.
In order to deaden the sound of the falling seat cover we recommend a rubber
ring to be fastened on the lower side thereof of the shape of the seat orifice.
If it be desired to shut down the seat cover independently of the mechanical
action before described this can be done by depressing the thumb piece passing
through the seat cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A means of rendering the foul gases, arising from and incidental to sewers,
innocuous.
2. That we effect this by means of some sterilizing agent either sulphuric or
carbolic acid or other chemical or by heat.
3. That we apply the chemical or heat substantially in the manner as herein before
described.
4. That the process is automatic thereby.
JAMES BANNEHR.
WM. CHATTAWAY.
JAMES BANNEHR.
WM. CHATTAWAY.