Improvements in Filters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Filters.
I, SWINFEN KER JORDAN, of 25 Jermyn Street, in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Most of the filters constructed according to the theories evolved by M. Pasteur
are in general large in size for a comparatively small output; furthermore nearly
all have to be taken to pieces to be cleaned; in places where the water is strongly
charged with impurities in suspension the filters must be frequently cleaned out
and the necessary taking to pieces of the apparatus is a cause of annoyance to
those who use them.
In order to obviate these difficulties I have devised a simple filter, occupying
little space, capable of giving a considerable output and furthermore offering the
advantage that it may be perfectly cleaned, without being in any way taken apart,
simply by the manipulation of an external handle.
My filter, based like other similar apparatus, on the use of biscuit porcelain, is
composed essentially of one or more hollow porcelain discs communicating with
each other by a central channel and offering in extremely restricted dimensions a
considerable useful surface capable of allowing the passage, in a unit of time, of a
comparatively large quantity of water.
In order to show more clearly the essential features of my invention I will
describe the same with special reference to the accompanying drawings which
represent a type of filter with three discs.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the filter. Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1
through A-B.
The discs c c c are placed beside each other, a central shaft D passing through
them all. The hollow spaces a communicate through an aperture E with a central
channel E which establishes a communication between all the discs. The distances
between the filter discs are maintained by bosses, the joints c¹ between which are
of rubber or other like substance. The discs are fixed together in the following
manner; The shaft D has a shoulder P upon which rests the first disc against which
the second disc is immediately placed. The joint of the first disc c with the
shoulder P is made with washers of rubber or of any other similar substance c¹;
a like joint is made between each disc the last being tightened by a washer p upon
which the screw nut R is applied. It will be seen that in this manner the
three discs are perfectly solid, and that the unfiltered water cannot mix with the
filtered water.
The shaft D upon which the discs are mounted goes through the centre of the
two ends joined together by the bolts L' such ends being those of a cylinder
which may be of glass or metal. The joints M of the cylinder A with the ends B
are made of rubber.
For the joints of the shaft D with the ends, stuffing boxes F are used. The
legs K upon which the filter rests form part of the ends B.
For cleansing the filter sand or other granular material, previously passed
through a sieve in order to make the grains uniform, is used; it is placed in the
filter up to the shaft D.
At the inlet H is placed a small grating V perforated with holes smaller than
the grains of sand. The outlet I has also a grating V similarly perforated to
prevent the sand from going out during cleansing operations. At one end of the
shaft D is a handle G by which the discs c are rotated for cleansing purposes, and

page_text: at the other end of the shaft D a bent tube J is fixed to communicate with the
channel E' through which the filtered water passes.
For cleansing the filter the inlet and outlet taps are opened, then the discs are
made to revolve slowly; the water from underneath passes through the grating V
and distributes itself over the lower part of the sand which is thus loosened,
facilitating thereby the motion of the discs. It will thus be seen that the motion
of the sand on the whole surface of the discs effects an easy and complete cleansing.
A few turns are sufficient to make the cleansing perfect. When the water
going out of the tap I is clean the tap is closed and the filter is ready to work
as when new.
The number of filtering discs may be increased or diminished according to the
quantity of water to be filtered.
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 :
1. A filter for filtering and purifying water comprising a vessel of cylindrical or
other shape containing hollow discs of porcelain mounted on a hollow shaft
communicating with the said discs and forming a central channel for conveying
away the filtered liquid substantially as described.
2. A filter consisting of a vessel partially filled with sand or other granular
material in which hollow porcelain discs mounted on a hollow shaft, aud
communicating therewith, are free to rotate substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
3. The combination of parts constituting my improvements in filters, the whole
arranged, constructed and operating substantially as described in the foregoing
specification and illustrated by the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 21st day of July 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
10 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.