IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE PURIFICATION OF OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Humphrey Chamberlain at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1879.
HUMPHREY CHAMBERLAIN, of Barnsley, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE PURIFICATION OF OTHER LIQUIDS."
My Invention relates chiefly to the treatment of sewage in order to separate the
solid portion or matters contained in suspension therain from the liquid portion,
and to the treatment of such liquid portion for the purpose of removing from it the
impurities which are contained in solution therein, so as to render the effluent water
pure and innocuous, but the Invention is also applicable to the purification of other
liquids.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to the treatment of sewage, I employ
an elevated chamber, the sides of which are formed of an inner layer of fine wire
gauze or finely perforated metal or other suitable reticulated or open worked
material, and an outer layer of stout wire gauze or perforated metal or reticulated
or open worked material having a proportionately large mesh, with an intermediate
layer of flannel or other suitable fabric or substance interposed between the inner
and outer layers. Into this chamber the sewage is conducted either directly when
the supply is on a level with the upper edge of the chamber, or by means of
elevators when the supply is at a lower level. The sewage thus introduced into the
chamber descends by gravitation, the solid portion being received upon the bottom
which is provided with a door or valve for the discharge of the accumulated
contents as and when required, whilst the liquid portion flows off through the inner
intermediate and lower layer of the slides of the chamber into a tank below
provided for its reception. The liquid portion is then conducted through a filter
consisting of a series of receptacles having perforated bottoms on which is placed
what is known as soapors waste, or other suitable deodorant, disinfectant, or
purifying medium or agent, the several receptacles being in intercommunication
with a strainer interposed in the passage between each two consecutive receptacles.
The liquid portion of the sewage is thus caused to pass under pressure up through
the first receptacle containing the medium or agent, thereby being deprived of the
greater portion of its impurities in solution, and then to descend through the
passage (the strainer intercepting any solid matter) to the next receptacle
containing the same or another medium or agent through which the liquid passes in

page_text: an upward direction, and then again down through the next passage to the third
receptacle (the strainer again intercepting any particles of solid matter which may
still remain) and so on in succession through the remaining receptacles and passages
if a greater number than three are employed. The effluent water discharged from
the last receptacle will have been freed from all its impurities, and may be used for
any required purpose or allowed to flow away into a river or stream without the
liability of the same being polluted thereby.
It is preferred to employ two or more sets of the complete apparatus which may
be brought into use by turns or in rotation, one being in process of discharging and
cleansing, whilst the other is in use. In discharging the receiving chamber the
door or valve at the bottom is opened, and the solid feces are allowed to fall into
carts or other movable receptacles for transport for the solid feces to be utilized as
manure, or in the manufacture of manure as required. The inner sides of the
receiving chamber may then be cleaned with water by the aid of a syringe or
otherwise, and the chamber be again rendered ready for use. The inner perforated
lining of the chamber having the effect of protecting the flannel or other interposed
fabric or substance from contact with the solid matter, so that the said fabric or
substance only requires renewal at long intervals by removing the outer layer of the
chamber which is detachable for the purpose. The purifying media may also be
cleansed by opening valves provided beneath the several receptacles, the liquid
which the latter contain being thus discharged and carrying with it the impurities
I which may have become mixed with the purifying media.
The Invention is also applicable for the treatment of other liquids having matters
in suspension, or in suspension and solution for the purpose of purifying such
liquids.