Improvements in Pneumatic Sewerage.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SP
ICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Sewerage.
We, JOHN FRANCIS LIERNUR and WILLIAM PETER LIERNUR both of Monument
Chambers, London, E.C., Sanitary Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new and improved system of pneumatic sewerage,
by means of improved apparatus in the junction of the houses with the street
sewers, by which a simultaneous and automatic evacuation of sewerage, or other
waste matter may be obtained, and also in improved apparatus in conveying said
sewerage to a central station for treatment and disposal.
To carry out these improvements we divide the town or locality to be treated
into districts, each district having about two miles of total street length, and
provide each of said districts with a hermetically sealed iron reservoir placed in
or near the centre of the district, or other convenient position. These several
reservoirs are all connected to a general central pumping station, by means of
two main pipes, one used for the evacuation of the sewage matter, and the other
for the evacuation of air.
The household slops and fecal matter are collected in a down or fall pipe in the
usual manner, the fall pipe emptying into a closed iron tank of sufficient capacity
to contain about 50 gallons, or such quantity of sewerage matter as may be con-
venient. A perforated plate, or grating is placed in an inclined position inside
this tank, dividing it into an upper and lower chamber for the purpose of retaining
any solid substances and preventing them from getting into the pipe and obstructing
the flow of the sewage matter, which falls down to the lower part of the tank.
An outlet pipe is conveyed from the bottom of the tank, upwards and away from
the upper side, so that when filled, the surplus overflows into the street main,
and from thence to the district reservoir. A stop valve is provided at a convenient
position outside each house, so that in case of the house being uninhabited, or
for any other reason necessary, the house or houses may be shut off from the
system of pipes in the street.
The sewage matter may flow into the district reservoir by means of natural
gravitation, or by suction caused by a vacuum produced at the central pumping
station.
A stop valve is placed at the junction of each inflowing street main, with the
district reservoir, so that when the reservoir is filled, or at stated times, the street
inlet pipes may be shut off and the sewage withdrawn from the reservoir through
the main to the pumping station.
Air pumping engine or engines are provided at the central pumping station, for
the purpose of creating a vacuum in the air main pipe, and the sewage main.
An air admission cock is provided to the district reservoir, for the purpose of
supplying an energetic pressure of air, when emptying the reservoir. Stop valves
are provided at the junction of the air vacuum pipes with the district reservoir,
and also at the connection with the sewage main.

page_text: A vacuum is first formed in the district reservoir by closing the stop valve on
the inflowing street pipe and opening the valve of the vacuum pipe, on reversing
this action the sewage is sucked into the reservoir. The valve of the street pipe
is then again closed and the air admission cock, and the valve on the sewage
main opened, and the sewage is pumped by suction into receptacles at the central 5
station. By this means all the sewage matter as well as foul air is drawn out
of the houses into the district reservoirs, and from thence into the tanks of the
central pumping station.. From these latter the sewage matter is brought to a
set of boilers, and disinfecting and evaporating apparatus.
A further improvement consists in using foul air or gas of existing and old 1
sewers, cesspools, &c. by conducting the same into district reservoirs and utilising
it as atmospheric pressure in place of or in addition to the air admission aforesaid,
thus serving the purpose of automatic ventilation of sewers, cesspools, &c.
A still further improvement is also effected by employing helicoidal formed
tubes in certain portions of the main sewage pipe, for the purpose of preventing 1
the formation of sedimentary deposits, and of automatically cleansing the pipes.
Dated this 19th day of October 1896.
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Monument Chambers, London, E.C., Applicants' Agent.
We, JOHN FRANCIS LIERNUR and WILLIAM PETER LIERNUR both of Monument
Chambers, King William Street, London, E.C., Sanitary Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:--
This invention relates to a new and improved system of pneumatic sewerage, by
means of improved apparatus in the junction of the houses with the street sewers,
by which a simultaneous and automatic evacuation of sewerage, or other waste
matter may be obtained, and also an improved apparatus in conveying said
sewerage to a central station for treatment and disposal.
To carry out these improvements we divide the town or locality to be treated
into districts, cach district having about two miles of total street length, and
provide each of said districts with a hermetically sealed iron reservoir placed in
or near the centre of the district, or other convenient position. These several
reservoirs are all connected to a general central pumping station, by means of
two main pipes, one used for the evacuation of the sewage matter, and the other
for the evacuation of air.
The household slops and fecal matter are collected in a down or fall pipe in
the usual manner, the fall pipe emptying into a closed iron tank of sufficient
capacity to contain about 50 gallons, or such quantity of sewerage matter as may
be convenient. A perforated plate, or grating is placed in an inclined position
inside this tank, dividing it into two chambers for the purpose of retaining any
solid substances and preventing them from getting into the pipe and obstructing
the flow of the sewage matter, which falls down to the second chamber of the tank.
An outlet pipe is conveyed from the bottom of the tank, upwards and away from
the upper side, so that when filled, the surplus overflows into the street main,
and from thence to the district reservoir. A stop valve is provided at a convenient
position outside each house, so that in case of the house being uninhabited, or for

page_text: any other reason necessary, the house or houses may be shut off from the system
of pipes in the street..
The sewage matter may flow into the district reservoir by means of natural
gravitation, or by suction caused by a vacuum produced at the central pumping
station.
A stop valve is placed at the junction of each inflowing street main, with the
district reservoir, so that when the reservoir is filled, or at stated times, the street
inlet pipes may be shut off and the sewerage.withdrawn from the reservoir through
the main to the pumping station.
Air pumping engine or engines are provided at the central pumping station, for
the purpose of creating a vacuum in the air main pipe, and the sewage main...
An air admission cock is provided to the district reservoir, for the purpose of
supplying an energetic pressure of air, when emptying the reservoir. Stop valves
are provided at the junction of the air vacuum pipes with the district reservoir,
and also at the connection with the sewage main.
A vacuum is first formed in the district reservoir, by closing the stop valve on
the inflowing street pipe and opening the valve of the vacuum pipe, on reversing
this action the sewage is sucked into the reservoir. The, valve of the street pipe.
is then again closed and the air admission cock and the valve on the sewage main
opened, and the sewage is drawn by suction into recentacles at the central station.
By this means all the sewage matter as well as foul air is drawn out of the houses.
into the district reservoirs, and from thence into the tanks of the central pumping
station. From these latter the sewage matter is brought to a set of boilers, and
disinfecting and evaporating apparatus.
A further improvement consists in using foul air or gas of existing and old
sewers, cesspools, &c. by conducting the same into district reservoirs and utilising
it as atmospheric pressure in place of or in addition to the air admission aforesaid,
thus serving the purpose of automatic ventilation of sewers, cesspools, &c.
A still further improvement is also effected by employing helicoidal formed
tubes in certain portions of the main sewage pipe, for the purpose of preventing.
the formation of sedimentary deposits, and of automatically cleansing the pipes.
In order that these several improvements in relation to pneumatic sewerage,
may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shews a general plan of a district or town, shewing the arrangement of
sewage pipes and mains, leading to the hermetically sealed reservoirs, and the
sewage mains from thence to the general pumping station.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a house shewing the down pipe and closed tank
from which the sewage matter overflows into the street main and thence to the
reservoir.
Fig. 2 is a plan shewing the branches from said house or houses to the district
reservoir and thence to pumping station.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a house drain junction with the street district
pipe, and Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a district reservoir in connection with the main
5. sewer-pipe.
Fig. 5 is a section of the signal in connection with the same.
Fig. 6 is an end front view, and Fig. 7 is a plan or top view of the main
receiving apparatus at the pumping station, to be hereinafter described. Fig. 8
is a longitudinal view of the same, Fig. S shewing part in section. Fig. 9 is an
enlarged sectional view of the valve and adjacent parts of the said receiving
apparatus.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent a device for automatically opening and closing the
cocks leading to the receiving apparatus, partly in elevation and partly in section.
Fig. 12 is a vertical section, Fig. 12 being a cross section, and Fig. 13 a
5 horizontal section of a device for a reversing gear for the receiving apparatus.
Fig. 14 shews the arrangement for ventilating sewer pipes or culverts and
utilising the abstracted foul gases as atmospheric pressure.
.
:

page_text: Figs. 15 to 23 are horizontal and cross sections of an improved form of sewer
pipe for preventing the accumulation of deposit of sedimentary matter, when the
velocity of the sewerage in motion is not sufficient to carry the whole along the
pipe.
The same letters refer to the same parts in the several views and details.
In Fig. 1, A A are hermetically closed reservoirs placed in or near the centres
of the town or districts, in order to collect the fecal matter of the same B Bare
street sewer pipes emptying into said reservoir. B' B' are the street suction pipes
leading to the district reservoir. C is the main sewer pipe running all along the
various district reservoirs and conducting the sewage matter to the pumping
station D.
In Fig. 2, E is the closed tank shewn in section, into which the sewage and
slop matter from the house is received from the fall pipe F. G is a perforated
division plate or grating in said tank, placed in an inclined position, for the
purpose of retaining in the left part any solid substances that may find their
way down the pipe, the grating or perforated plate preventing them getting into
the right hand part of the tank and from thence into the street pipe, and thus
obstructing the flow of the sewage matter. H is an outlet pipe conveyed from
the bottom of the closed tank to the upper side and away to the street pipe. J is
a stop valve to shut off the house or houses from the system of pipes in the street,
if so required.
In Figs. 3 and 4 representing the house drain junction with the street pipe,
is shewn the barometric trap S, interposed hetween the house drain H and the
street pipe B. The hydraulic height "h" of each junction differs in accordance
to its distance from the reservoir, this degree becoming, of course, less as the
distance increases, and is being of the utmost importance to obtain along the
whole street pipe the same proportion as to height according to the distance from
the reservoir, so as to secure proper hydraulic action. The proper effect may be
readily secured without change in the rest of the structure by the use of a longer
or shorter section y'. The result is that when the pneumatic action takes place the
inflow of the atmospheric air into the street pipe occurs at all the junctions, right
and left simultaneously, thus splitting up the Huid matter within these pipes into
drops, and enabling the air current then created to carry these drops into the
reservoir with its own high velocity-namely the one of a storm wind instead of,
as hitherto the case, only that of an ordinary rapid current. The inflow of air 3
occurs when the level of the fluid is sunk below Z, in form of large bubbles, these
passing through the fluid matter without carrying enough of it along for prevent-
ing the junction forming an hydraulic closure during the time when no pneumatic
action ensues, or of preventing the maximum barometric resistance being formed
when that action takes place, so that the arrangement is always ready for operation. 4
This latter result is obtained by enlarging the top e sufficiently to keep the matter
within it from being materially disturbed by the air bubbles passing through it.
At the same time the top of pipe d is carried up to the street pavement and covered
with a moveable cover in order to remove, if necessary, sedimentary deposits at
the base. In Fig. 5 is shewn the connection of the district reservoir A with the 4
main sewage pipe C. This pipe connects with the said reservoir by a branch
pipe provided with a cock K, and between this cock and the connection of the
branch with the main pipe C is an extra air inlet pipe for the purpose hereinafter
described. The operation of forcing the contents of a reservoir to the pumping
station may be limited to opening this cock K and the air cock f provided in the 5
top of the reservoir. There being a vacuum within the main pipe C, the atmos-
pheric air presses the fluid matter into it, and thence to the pumping station.
But this has the disadvantage that a new vacuum cannot be made in the reservoir
for effecting the drainage of another sewer pipe until after the whole of the
contents of the one pipe have reached the station. In order to avoid the serious 5
loss of time this would occasion we prefer the arrangement hereafter specified.
After a discharge has been effected from the reservoir A through the branch of

page_text: the pipe C, extending into the same, the cock f in the top of the reservoir may
be closed and the cock K also to prepare for another discharge, while the atmos-
pheric pressure sufficient to force the first discharge to the receiving station is
obtained through the valve pipe 7. The top of this pipe is furnished with a cup-
shaped bell 9 (shewn enlarged in Fig. 5) so arranged that a humming or whistling
noise is produced by the air rushing past it through the crevice he so soon as its
speed of flow increases beyond a certain rate corresponding to the length of a
column of fluid transported, this speed being a sign that the frictional resistance
of the column has become less and that therefore part of the fluid matter must
have already arrived at the station.
The moment the humming noise of the bell is heard the cock of the air inflow f
must be shut without waiting for the whole of the column to reach the station,
seeing it will do this in. any event, partly on account of the momentum already
acquired and partly by means of the expansion of the atomspheric air confined
within the main pipe C. The timely closing of the air inlets f and g prevents,
therefore, more air having to be pumped out again than is absolutely necessary
for sending the liquid mass to the pumping station.
The stop cock L serves for limiting the length of the main pipe, within which
a vacuum is to be made, to the portion of it actually required for emptying the
reservoir in operation. The result of the whole arrangement is a great saving of
time, and expenditure of power.
In Figs. 6, 7, and S, are shewn improvements in the receiving apparatus at the
pumping station. This is intended to take the place of the vacuum pump first
applied immediately at the end of the main pipe for the double purpose of exhaust-
ing the air within it and of lifting the liquid following afterward from the deep
level at which it is received to the height of the apparatus for converting it into
manure power. This arrangement has, first, the disadvantage that the speed of
the current within the main pipe depends upon the speed of the piston of the
vacuum pump, and this speed for practical reasons is limited; secondly, that the
valves and pistons of these pumps are exposed to the destructive action of sand
and similar abrading substances which find their way through the closets and other
receptacles. To prevent the cost of repair, and also loss of time due to this, the
main pipe C is made to discharge alternately into the two low level
reservoirs M, M¹, and these again discharge alternately into the two high level
reservoirs N and N of the same size and lying above the first-named reservoirs,
the matter being pneumatically lifted into the aforesaid high level reservoirs N,
and N in order to bring it to the height required for running off by gravitation
into collecting tanks, to remain until wanted for manure manufacturing processes.
These reservoirs are arranged in pairs as shewn, for the purpose of expeditiously
handling the sewage matter, which is first discharged into one of the lower tanks
from the pipe C, and while one of these lower tanks is acting as a receiver, the
contents of the adjacent tanks are being lifted by pneumatic or atmospheric
pressure to one of the upper tanks, while from the other upper tank the contents
are being discharged through the pipe Pinto a collecting tank, thus providing a
continuous action, the lifting of the material of the upper tanks permitting flow
by gravitation alone to the collecting tank aforesaid.
The lifting or forcing of the material may be done in different ways and we
do not confine ourselves to any one particular method.
Any ordinary system of cocks and ways may be provided between the four
tanks or reservoirs to control the contents therein, or their discharge from one
into the other, the tanks being all connected to each other, and being in connection
also with the inlet pipes C and the outlet pipes P.
The valves controlling the various pipes and passages may be operated auto-
matically by a vacuum lift composed of a cylinder n (Figs. 10 and 11) with closed
top and open bottom, having a piston k, heavy enough (as shewn in Fig. 11) to
close the cock or valve by its own weight when air is admitted to the upper part
of the cylinder, the same being made of such a diameter that one fourth vacuum.

page_text: in the upper part of the cylinder suffices to lift the piston and open the cock or
valves.
Fig. I shews the arrangement adapted to ordinary cocks, the rack attached to
the piston rod gearing into toothed sectors fixed to: the stem of the cock; and
Fig. 10 shews a section of such cocks as arranged for admitting to the reservoir
either air or vacuum by means of the two ports cand d. If sliding or lifting
valves are used the piston rods must be provided with corresponding gearing: -
The vacuum lifts, which have to open and close cocks or valves simultaneously,
are connected to a pipe p for simultaneously admitting either a vacuum or atmos-
pheric air to all of the cylinders, and this admittance is made dependent on the
level of the liquid within the reservoirs, as determined by the position of a float o
(Fig. 8) which floats loosely and unattached up and down. When this float reaches
the baseplate of the rod r it lifts the small valve m, as shewn in Fig. 9. This
valve connects the vacuum of the reservoir in question by means of the pipes u
and 3 with the regulator X.
This said regulator (shewn in Figs. 12 and 13) is composed of a cylinder, the
piston of which serves as a sliding valve and moves toward the portion of the
eylinder momentarily placed in connection with vacuum of the reservoir in
operation. This causes the port in the piston to cover one of the openings st.
in the side of the cylinder, one leading direct to the general vacuum pipe v through
the connecting pipe we, the other opening to the air. The porta is therefore brought
either in communication with the air or with a vacuum and as this port also
leads through a port in the upper part of the piston to an opening on the upper
part of the cylinder of the regulator X, which connects it by means of the pipe
with the various vacuum lifts provided for simultaneously operating a series of
cocks or valves so that the whole process of reversing is regulated by the float of
of the reservoir standing most in need of being discharged.
The piston rods of the regulators are (for the purpose of getting the opening
of the slide and the cylinder to fit accurately) pivoted to the weighted lever g
which also serves for reversing the cocks and levers by hand, if required. This
arrangement can be modified by gearing all the cocks or valves which are required
to work together by means of rods and cranks to a single vacuum lift of large
dimensions without altering anything in principle.
The action of this apparatus may be described as follows:-The whole of the
reservoirs are first placed in vacuum-This is done by opening cocks a³ a a
and by hand, thus placing the reservoirs in communication with the Vacuum
Main As soon as the Vacuum is effected in the reservoirs, these cocks are again
closed by hand.
To start the automatic action of the apparatus, assuming that reservoir Mis
first to be filled, the cock a is opened by hand, and the sewage flows into
reservoir M all the other cocks being closed. As soon however as the sewage level
rises in reservoir M it raises the float o and eventually raises valve m and admits
vacuum from the reservoir to the pipe w which causes the piston in regulator X
to be sucked over till the part a is opposite inlet of small vacuum pipe w and
pipe is placed in vacuum. This pipe communicates with vacuum lifts n at 720
and and the pistons are raised-the result of which is that cocks of vacuum
lifts n, n and n¹ are opened to vacuum, and the cock of vacuum lift is arranged
so as to open to air at the same time, so that pipes connected with vacuum lifts n
and are open to the upper reservoir and connect lower reservoir M with upper
reservoir N, whilst at the same time, the vacuum lifts n and cock a" is arranged
to maintain vacuum in reservoir M and also vacuum lift n' and cock a" to admit
air to the lower reservoir M, the result is that pipe 1 and P being now open
to vacuum and the lower reservoir M being open to atmosphere, the sewage rises
to upper
reservoir N and the lower reservoir M is being filled from the sewage
main C. When the upper reservoir N is filled, the float raises its valve mand
pipe is placed in vacuum-the pipe communicates with the other regulator X
(see plan) and also with vacuum 'lifts and cocks and a which are so arranged

page_text: that cock a is opened thereby to air, thus delivering air to upper reservoir and
cock a² is opened to allow sewage to flow out to the delivery main P.-Meanwhile
reservoir Mi is being filled till the sewage raises its float and the same operation
of vacuum lifts and cocks is repeated in the corresponding group of pipes and
reservoirs, and thus an alternate process of admitting sewage, raising and deliver-
ing same to the sewage main P, is continued so long as the apparatus is at
work If it is required to work 'the opposite set of reservoirs i.e. M and N or M
and N, this is accomplished by reversing the positions of the regulators X X, by
means of the weights and lever y somewhat after the manner of reversing the
slide valves of an engine.
One regulating apparatus X is required for every high and low level reservoir
together, and two of these should be geared together that, as shewn in the drawings,
each high level reservoir can serve as receiver for both of the low level ones:
it is not requisite however that two groups consisting each of a low and a high
level reservoir should be employed.
The same principle is adopted when. a third group is employed
as reserve in
case repairs are necessary, with the exception that the connecting pipes of the
cocks or valves must in that case be so arranged that group No. I can either
operate together with group No. 2 or No. 3, and No. 2 with either No. 3 or No. 1,
and so on.
In like manner no change in principle occurs when, on account of the smallness
of the town or district, the low level reservoir requires to be filled but twice to
collect all the fecal matter, thus doing the work in a few hours a day. In that
case one group of a high and low level reservoir, or perhaps only a high level
reservoir would amply suffice, and still leave room enough for repairs, thus
making a second group as well as a reserve, unnecessary. The improvement herein
specified does not refer to the number of reservoir groups, but to the employment
of such reservoirs or groups of them generally, and to their being connected with
a pump for exhausting air only instead of applying a pump for exhausting both
air and liquid immediately, at the end of the main pipe. This secures a speed
of transport within the said pipe due to the degree of vacuum in the reservoirs,
these becoming in point of fact depots or stores of motive power and saving the
cost of repairs due to sand and other similar substances getting into the pumping
machines.
Fig. 14. shews, an arrangement for using up the foul air or gas of existing or
old sewers Y, cesspools, &c. by conducting the same into the district' reservoirs. Y is
a sewer or culvert from the top of which is conducted a pipe Y leading to the
district reservoir A, for withdrawing the foul air in the said sewer or culvert,
the admission of said foul air being controlled by the air inlet cock 2. The foul
air thus admitted is utilised as atmospheric pressure in place of or in addition
to the admission or inflow of atmospheric air hereinbefore mentioned, thus serving
the purpose of automatic ventilation of cesspools, sewers, &c. 3 is a float in
said sewer, with its valve 4, the object of which is to prevent the inflow of sewage
water or matter, if at the moment of the suction, the level should be accidentally
high in the sewer Y.
In nearly all sewers and conduits, sedimentary deposits occur when the velocity
of the current is not sufficient to carry the whole of the contents along the sewer
conduit, giving rise to well-known noxious consequences. In order to prevent such
deposits, we provide said sewers and conduits with improvements as shewn in
Figs. 15 to 23. The inside of the pipes have helicoidal or screw formed elevations
or cavities 5 5 5 shewn in elevation in Fig. 15, and in section in Figs. 16 to 23,
and arranged so as to give to the current a torsional movement which stirs up,
and washes away all sediments which may have been formed from to time on the
bottom of the pipe. This torsional movement continues its efficiency to a certain
extent preventing the subsequent formation of sedimentary or obstructive deposits..
By intercalating such improved tubes in existing or new sewage or drainage
pipes at certain intervals, according to local or individual necessities, we provide

page_text: an automatic and constant means of cleaning the inside of said pipes, and the
prevention of sedimentary deposits is thereby secured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A system of sewerage worked by suction obtained by means of a vacuum,
consisting of district reservoirs, district pipes leading thereto, house pipes leading
to said district pipes with traps interposed between the house and district pipes,
said traps being of varying heights relatively to their distance from the suction
power, discharge pipes between the district reservoirs and the receiving station,
valved passages from the district reservoir to the open air, valves for shutting off
drainage communication to the district reservoirs and opening communication to
the receiving station, and a suction pump at the receiving station, receiving
reservoirs connecting with the discharge pipes, and a collecting tank in connection
with the reservoirs, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a system of sewerage, the automatic ventilation of old sewers, sewage
pipes or cesspools, or any form or kind of sewage pipes and the apparatus connected
therewith, and the utilisation of the foul gases abstracted therefrom, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth and described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
3. In a system of sewerage, the provision of special sewage pipes consisting of
a series of helicoidal-formed elevations or cavities on the inside of the pipe,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings."
4. The application of this invention, and the improvements connected therewith,
or any part of them to any form or kind of sewage system, substantially as herein
set forth and described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of July 1897.
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Applicants' Agent.