Improvements in Apparatus for the Treatment of Sewage or other Liquids.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Treatment of Sewage or other
Liquids.
We, DONALD CAMERON, of No. 1, Sylvan Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter, Civil
Engineer, FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, of No. 7, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Fellow
of the Institute of Surveyors, and ARTHUR JOHN MARTIN, of Bradninch House,
Exeter, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically effecting the discharge of
liquid from chambers or receptacles, and the delivery of liquid to other chambers
or receptacles which it is desired to fill. It has particular reference to filters for
treating sewage or sewage effluent.
According to our invention, the discharge valve from each chamber opens
outwards, and is arranged to be opened by the pressure of the liquid in the
chamber, when such liquid has risen to a certain desired height. The height to
which the liquid will rise before it will open the valve is regulated by a weight
applied to the valve either directly or otherwise.
It will be convenient to arrange the chambers in pairs, with the outlets from
each pair adjacent to one another, and to connect the two discharge valves by
links and a lever or otherwise, so that the opening of one valve shall close the other.
The weight which keeps the valves closed, may be conveniently attached to an arm
on the lever projecting upwards at right angles to it.
The valves controlling the flow of liquid to two chambers whose discharge
valves are thus connected, may be operated by a lever mounted on a shaft, on
which also the first mentioned lever may be mounted, or such shaft may be
connected with the first mentioned lever by connecting rods or otherwise. The
flow of liquid to the filters may also be controlled by a diverter as described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 3003 of 1896, granted to two of the present
applicants Donald Cameron and Frederick James Commin and dated 10th
February 1896, or by a revolving basin as described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 23042 of 1896, granted to the three present applicants Donald
Cameron, Frederick James Commin, and Arthur John Martin, and dated 17th
October 1896.
In order to secure the complete opening of the valves, these may be formed as
pistons within cylinders, extending so far in the direction in which the valves
travel that the latter will not leave them until they have moved so far that the
weight aforesaid will aid instead of opposing their motion. The opening and
closing of the valves may be regulated if necessary by dashpots or other suitable.
devices.

page_text: Where more than two chambers are used, it will be convenient to be able to
discharge one chamber of a pair without at once filling the other, as would happen
if the flow to the latter were controlled only by the supply valve, which is opened
on the discharge of the former. To this end, a second valve may be placed on the
supply pipe to each chamber, and may be actuated by the discharge of one of the
chambers belonging to some other pair. Any chamber will then receive liquid
only when both supply valves are open, and not when either or both of them are
closed. This arrangement of supply valves may be used with certain of the
apparatus described in the Specification of the above mentioned Letters Patent
No. 3003 of 1896, or with certain of the apparatus described in the Provisional
Specification No. 22965 of 1897, filed by the three present applicants Donald
Cameron, Frederick James Commin, and Arthur John Martin, and dated 6th
October 1897.
This invention relates further to means for checking the flow of liquid to a
chamber or chambers when any of them is full to a certain desired height. Such
means consist of a valve or stop which is closed either wholly or partially by the
rising of a float in a well or shaft connected with the chamber which is filling. In
conjunction with such valve or stop, there may be an overflow by which the liquid
having accumulated behind it to a certain height, may pass again to the chambers
or one of them. In any case when the float falls, thereby opening the valve, the
accumulated body of liquid will be released and pass to the chamber which is to
be filled.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1897
ALLISON BROS.
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Treatment of Sewage or other
Liquids.
We, DONALD CAMERON, of No. 1, Sylvan Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter, Civil
Engineer, FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, of 7, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Fellow of the
Institute of Surveyors, and ARTHUR JOHN MARTIN, of Bradninch House, Exeter,
Civil Engineer, 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 apparatus for automatically effecting the discharge of
liquid from chambers or receptacles, and the delivery of liquid to other chambers
or receptacles which it is desired to fill. It has particular reference to filters for
treating sewage or sewage effluent, in connection with which it will be hereinafter
described.
We will proceed to describe our invention in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing an arrangement in which the pressure
of the liquid, when it reaches a certain desired height, is employed to actuate the
valves of the filters in connection with which the apparatus is used, and
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same.
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the above arrangement applied to a set of four
filters.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, and

page_text: Fig. 5 a plan view of an automatic cut off valve which may be used when it is
desired to cut off the supply of liquid to a filter or other chamber at a certain
desired level.
According to the part of our invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the necessary
movement for operating the valves is obtained by arranging the discharge valve
from each chamber to open outwards, the opening being effected by the pressure
of the liquid in the chamber when same has risen to a certain desired height. The
height to which the liquid will rise before it will open the valve may as shown be
regulated by a weight 26 applied to the valve either directly or otherwise.
It will be convenient to arrange the chambers in pairs, with the outlets from each
pair adjacent to one another, and to connect the two discharge valves 1° and 2° by
links 27 and a lever 25 or otherwise, so that the opening of one valve shall close
the other. The weight 26 which keeps the valves closed, may be conveniently
attached to an arm 28 on the lever 25 and projecting upwards at right angles
to it.
It will be understood that the valves 1b and 2b controlling the supply to two
filters or chambers whose discharge valves 1 and 2º are connected as described,
may be operated by a lever 29 mounted on the same shaft 6 as that which carries
the lever 25 connecting the discharge valves, or they may be mounted on lever 25.
Or if desired the shaft carrying the lever operating the supply valves may be
connected with the lever actuated by the discharge valves by means of connecting
rods or otherwise.
The flow of liquid to the filters or chambers may however be controlled in any
suitable manner,
the essential point of this part of our invention being that the dis-
charge valve of a filter is opened by the pressure of liquid in the latter when such
liquid reaches a certain desired level, thus discharging such filter, and at the same
time by any suitable means opening the supply to another filter or chamber which
is empty.
In order to secure the complete opening of the valves, these may be formed as
pistons within cylinders 30, such cylinders extending so far in the direction in which
the valves travel that the latter will not leave them until they have moved so far
that the weight 26 will aid instead of opposing their motion. The opening and
closing of the valves may be regulated if necessary by dashpots 31 or other suitable
devices, and guides 32 are preferably provided for keeping such valves in their
proper positions relative to their cylinders after they have left the latter. Dashpots
may also be used in connection with other forms of our apparatus in which it is
desired to secure a gradual opening or closing of valves.
Where more than two chainbers are used, it will be convenient to be able to
discharge one chamber of a pair without at once filling the other, as would happen
if the flow to the latter were controlled only by the supply valve which is opened
on the discharge of the former. To this end we may as shown in Fig. 3 place
additional valves 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, on the supply pipes 1, 2, 3, 4, to the filters or
chambers 1, 2, 3, 4, each of such additional valves being actuated by the discharge
of one of the filters or chambers belonging to some other pair. Any chamber will
then receive liquid only when both supply valves (which we will hereinafter refer
to as primary and secondary valves respectively) are open, and not when either or
both of them are closed.
In Fig. 3 it will be seen that a set of four filters is shown, the lever actuated by
the discharge valves for filters 1 and 2 being mounted on the same shaft 6 as the
levers carrying the secondary supply valves for these filters and the primary supply
valves for filters 3 and 4, while the levor actuated by the discharge valves of
filters 3 and 4 is mounted on the same shaft 6 as the levers carrying the secondary
supply valves for these filters and the primary supply valves for filters 1 and 2.
In order to describe the operation of this arrangement, we will take for example
the case where filter 1 is the next to be filled, the different supply valves being then
arranged as follows:-Secondary valves 1b and 4b will be opened, so that the

page_text: valves 2 and 3b will be closed, while of the primary valves 18 and 38 are opened
and 28 and 4 closed. In this position of the parts the discharge valves 2° and 3°
are open and 1° and 4° closed. It will therefore be seen that in this position filter 1
will be filling from the main supply 5 through primary valve 18, passage 1ª, secondary
valve 1b, and so through the continuation of passage 1 to filter 1, while if there is
any liquid in filter 3 it will be discharged through valve 30.
On filter becoming filled to the desired height, the pressure of the liquid in
same will raise discharge valve 1°, thereby reversing the positions of all the valves
carried by the shaft 6 to which it is connected, so that the secondary supply valve 1b
of filter will be closed and the secondary supply valve 2b of filter 2 opened. At
the same time the discharge valve 1° of filter 1 will be opened, and discharge
valve 2e of filter 2 closed. Also the primary supply valve 35 of filter 3 will be closed
and the primary supply valve 45 of filter 4 is opened. The valves connected to the
shaft 6 actuated by the discharge valves of filters 3 and 4 will not be operated by
this movement, so that a passage will have been opened through primary valve 48,
passage 4*, and secondary valve 4b to filter 4, which will thus be filled in its turn,
filter 1 in the meantime being discharged. On filter 4 becoming full its discharge
valve 4e will be operated, altering the positions of the valves connected to the
shaft 6", so that the effluent will now be able to pass to filter 2 through primary
supply valve 25, passage 2ª, and secondary supply valve 2b, filter 4 being discharged
during the filling of filter 2. On filter 2 discharging, the shaft 6 will be operated
by the discharge valve 2e of this filter, and the valves connected to it being thus
altered in position filter 3 will be filled through primary supply valve 38, passage 3ª,
and secondary supply valve 3b.
As above described each filter is discharged immediately it becomes full, but if
it should be found advisable to allow the effluent to remain in the filter for a short
time this can be effected by checking the movement of the opening of the discharge
valve by means of a dashpot or other suitable device attached to one of the levers,
as shown and described in connection with the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1
and 2.
In certain cases it may be found advisable to provide means for checking the
flow of liquid to a chamber or receptacle when any of them is full to a certain
desired height. For this purpose we may employ the means shown in Figs. 4 and 5
of the accompanying drawings, such means consisting of a valve or stop 33 which
is closed either wholly or partially by the rising of either of the floats 34 or 34" in
the wells 35 and 35". These wells are connected in any suitable manner with the
chambers to be filled, so that on the level of the liquid rising in one of the chambers
it will correspondingly rise in the well connected therewith and so raise the float in
such well. The floats are carried by a lever 36 pivotted at 37, and having the
valve 33 suspended to its opposite end so that on one of the floats being raised such
valve will fall on to its seat by reason of its own weight, thereby cutting off the
supply. As shown the valve may be of cylindrical form and have a ring of elastic
material 38 on its lower edge so as to make a tight joint with its seat, and it is also
preferable to employ guide pieces 39 which will keep it in its correct position.
The valve is placed in a chamber or well 40 to which the effluent or other liquid to
be filtered or otherwise treated is supplied, and from which a conduit or conduits 41
lead to the receptacles or chambers to which it is to be delivered, so that assuming
the level of the liquid in the tank to correspond with that shown in the well 40
inside the valve, it will be seen that in the position shown in Fig. 4 the liquid has
been cut off from the receptacles, but that on the liquid in the receptacle with which
well 35 is connected being discharged the float 34 will fall and so raise valve 33
from its seat and allow liquid to pass through the valve to conduit 41. In con-
junction with the valve or stop 33 there may be an overflow by which the liquid
having accumulated behind it to a certain height may pass again to the chambers
or to one of them.

page_text: 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 :-
In apparatus for the treatment of sewage or other liquids
:-
1. The combination with a discharge orifice of a receptacle to be filled and
discharged, of a valve which is opened by the pressure of the liquid in such
receptacle when same has risen to a given height, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a receptacle which it is desired to empty when it has
filled to a certain height, of a valve or valves arranged to be opened by the
pressure of the liquid in the receptacle, and weighted so as to resist such
pressure until the liquid has risen to the desired height, substantially as
specified.
3. The combination with a receptacle which it is desired to empty when it has
filled to a certain height, of a valve or valves arranged to be opened by the
pressure of the liquid in the receptacle, and weighted so as to resist such pressure
until the liquid has risen to the desired height, and a valve or valves or other
suitable means for filling such receptacle operated by the motion of such discharge
valves, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of a valve and means for opening and closing the same and
a dashpot or equivalent device to render such opening or closing gradual,
substantially as specified.
5. The combination with a receptacle which it is desired to empty when it has
filled to a certain height, of a valve or valves arranged to be opened by the
pressure of the liquid in the receptacle, and weighted so as to resist such pressure
until the liquid has risen to the desired height, and a dashpot or equivalent
device to regulate the opening of such valve or valves, substantially as
specified.
6. The combination with a lever connected with the discharge valve of a
receptacle which is opened by the pressure of the liquid in the latter, of a
weight for adjusting the height to which the liquid will rise before such valve is
opened, substantially as specified.
7. The combination with a discharge orifice of a receptacle, of a piston valve
connected to a lever and working within a cylinder, and which valve is opened by
the pressure of the liquid in the receptacle, the lever being fitted with a weight
to regulate the opening of the valve, whereby the latter will remain in the
cylinder until the weight will aid instead of opposing its opening movement
substantially as specified.
8. The combination with two receptacles which it is desired alternately to fill to
a certain height and empty, on one or more valves for each receptacle arranged to
open outward by the pressure of the liquid in such receptacle, and a lever or lovers
whereby the valve or valves of one receptacle in opening are made to close
that or those of the other, substantially as specified.
9. The combination with a set of receptacles to be filled and discharged, of
two supply valves for each receptacle, both of which must be opened before the
supply can take place, and each controlled by the overflow from a separate
receptacle, substantially as specified.
10. The combination with three or more receptacles which are successively filled
and discharged, of an additional valve or valves on the supply pipe to each
receptacle, the opening and closing of such valve or valves being controlled by
the filling of other receptacles, substantially as specified.
11. The combination with a receptacle to be filled and discharged of an
automatic cut off valve carried by a lever connected with a float or floats which
rise when a receptacle is filled to a given height so as to close the cut off valve,
substantially as specified.
12. In combination with a receptacle or receptacles successively filled and
discharged, means for cutting off the supply of liquid to such receptacle or

page_text: receptacles when filled to a certain desired height, such means consisting preferably
of a valve on the supply passage such valve being closed by the rising of a float
when the receptacle is filled to the desired height, substantially as specified.
13. The combination with a receptacle which is alternately filled and discharged
of a valve for shutting the supply passage thereto when it is filled to a certain
desired height, and an overflow whereby the liquid so impounded may pass by the
valve after having accumulated to a certain extent, substantially as specified.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1898.
ALLISON BROS.
Agents for the Applicants.