Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and Softening or Similarly Treating Sewage and other Impure Water.
Year: 1897

page_text: .Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug.. 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and
Softening or Similarly Treating Sewage and other Impure
Water.
I, WILLIAM WATSON, of 27, Albany Buildings, Market Street, Bradford, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
purifying and softening or similarly treating sewage, spent wool washing liquor,
water containing mineral impurities and other impurities capable of being pre-
cipitated or of less specific gravity than water which can be brought to the surface
and removed in the form of a scum.
An acid
To treat water containing impurities of less specific gravity as well as pre-
cipitable matter I collect it in a tank provided with a sump from which I eject it
by compressed air blowing into a delivery tube extending from the sump to a
cylindrical vessel having a conical bottom by this means the ejected liquid is
more or less aerated. Steam or a mixture of steam and air may be used. This
delivery tube extends a suitable distance down into the cylindrical vessel and the
position of its delivery orifice is preferably vertically adjustable and opens horizon-
tally so as to eject the liquid tangentially in relation to the vessel and therefore
imparts a whirling or gyratory motion to the liquid contained therein.
or other suitable reagent is fed to the liquid preferably by a pipe opening
immediately adjacent to the orifice of the delivery pipe. An overflow pipe is
fitted to the vessel the feed end of which may be vertically adjustable and a
shield or baffle piece is provided to give a downward motion to the liquid before
flowing up to the overflow. The orifice of the overflow is also made vertically
adjustable. A sluce is formed near the top of the vessel by which the scum flows
off and skimmers may be provided to remove the scum.
The skimmers may con-
sist of two horizontal radial arms the ends of which normally lie close together
diametrically opposite the said sluce but which may be geared together and
moved round in opposite directions so as to meet at the stuce and skim the surface
of the liquid towards the sluce. The depth the skimmers enter the water may
be adjustable and they may be lifted clear of the liquid on their return stroke.
A valve is fitted in the bottom of the vessel to draw off the precipitated matter.
The scum leaving the sluce may be passed into bags or received in any suitable
vesssel.
The liquid from the overflow pipe may pass into a cylindrical neutralizing vessel
(preferably having a conical bottom) by means of a feed pipe arranged similarly
to the delivery pipe described in connection with the previous vessel, but a baffle
chamber is preferably provided in said pipe to give a tortuous path to the liquid
passing through and give the air contained in it an opportunity to escape.
A

page_text: pipe supplying the neutralizing reagent preferably opens close to the feed end
of the feed pipe.
To discharge the precipitate I may employ an internal chamber located near the
bottom of the vessel and from which the contents can be discharged, by com-
pressed air, or by gravity. Provision is made for then opening this internal
chamber to admit the precipitate which is forced in by the head of water above.
External means are provided for controlling the passages to and from said
chamber.
The neutralized liquid may then pass into a softening vessel through a suitable
baffle box. Baffle plates may be provided in the latter vessel to receive the liquid
from which it may flow down a pipe arranged as before described to give a
gyratory motion to the liquid in the vessel. The softening vessel can be heated
by live or exhaust steam or other means. The reagent for softening the water
may be added whilst the water flows through the said baffle box.
The reagents may be stored in vessels conveniently located above and may be
fitted with automatic supply valves normally closed by springs and adapted to
be opened by air or fluid pressure which may be brought to bear thereon when
the air ejector is put into operation.
The above described apparatus may be kept continuously in action and requires
comparatively little attention as it is to a large extent automatic.
Suitable valves are fitted where required to throw the whole or part of the
apparatus out of operation.
Transverse filters may be fixed in the neutralizing and softening chambers.
Dated this 24th September 1897.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Purifying and
Softening or Similarly Treating Sewage and other Impure
Water.
I, WILLIAM WATSON, of 27, Albany Buildings, Market Street, Bradford, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner. the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
purifying and softening or similarly treating sewage, spent wool washing liquor,
water containing mineral impurities and other impurities capable of being pre-
cipitated or impurities of less specific gravity than water which can be brought
to the surface and removed in the form of a scum.
To fully describe my invention reference is made to the accompanying sheets
of drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of refer-
ence indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures.
Figure 1, represents an elevation partly in section of a plant constructed and
arranged in accordance with my improvements.
Figure 2, is a plan view of the same.
Figures 3 to 6 are views of detail hereinafter referred to.
To treat water containing impurities of less specific gravity, as well as, pre-
cipitable matter, such as, for instance: the effluent trom wool washing machines,

page_text: I collect it in a tank A provided with a sump A² from which I eject it by com-
pressed air blowing into the bell mouthed A³ of the delivery pipe
or tube A. To supply the compressed air I may employ an air
compressor B blowing into the receiver Ba from which the air is
conveyed to where required by pipes. The pipe B3 supplies the air
to the bell mouthed bottom A3 of the delivery pipe A+. This more
or less
aerates the liquid and the pipe A is arranged to deliver the liquid to the cylin-
drical treatment vessel C a suitable distance below the top of the vessel, and its
orifice A5 opens horizontally so as to eject the liquid tangentially in relation to
the vessel and therefore impart a whirling or gyratory motion to the liquid con-
tained therein. An acid or other suitable reagent contained in the vessel D is
supplied by the pipe D2 opening immediately adjacent to the orifice A. The lower
portion A6 of the pipe A and the lower portion D³ of the pipe D2 are fixed together
and slide telescopically upon the pipes A+ and 12 so that the discharge orifices
may be vertically adjusted. A rod and handle A fixed to A is provided to
facilitate this vertical adjustment. An overflow pipe E is provided the feed end E
of which extends down a suitable distance into the vessel and slides telescopically
upon E so that the level at which the liquid is drawn off may be adjusted, and
a rod and handle E3 is attached to E2 to facilitate this adjustment. A baffle box E
fixed to E2 is provided to give a downward motion to the liquid before it flows up
the overflow. An elbow joint E is made in the overflow so that its extension E
may be raised or lowered to adjust the height of the discharge orifice E7 to regulate
the height of the liquid in the vessel C. Steam may be used instead of com-
pressed air.
view
A sluice C² is formed near the top of the vessel by which the scum flows off
and skimmers may be employed to remove the scum. The skimmers I employ
may consist of two horizontal arms F and F2 which together with the arrange-
ment for operating them are shown on a larger scale by the sectional
Figure 5 and the plan view Figure 6. The arm F is mounted upon the vertical
shaft F3 and is keyed to it so as to turn with it but it is free to move vertically
thereon and the arm F2 is loosely mounted on the stud projecting from the
casting F5 fixed to the cross piece F6. The shaft F3 is driven by the pulley F7
connected by the band F8 to the hand wheel F⁹ mounted on F. Spur wheels F,
F10, geared together are fixed to the ends of the arms F and F2 and the opposite
ends of the arms normally lie close together diametrically opposite the sluice but
when the hand wheel is turned in the proper direction the arms move round in
opposite directions towards the sluice until they meet thus skimming the surface
of the liquid into the sluice. The depth the skimmers enter the liquid is adjusted
by the rack G the teeth of which engage the side of the hole G2 in the plate Ga
fixed to the cross piece F6. The lower end of the rack is connected to the lever Go
the other end of which is coupled to the casting G having arms or projections G³
embracing the ends of the arms F and F2 and the wheels fixed thereto and terminat-
ing in eyes fitting the shaft F3 and the stud F. The casting G may be made to lift
sufficiently to raise the arms clear of the liquid during the return movement.
The scum leaving the vessel may be received in any convenient receptacle for
storage, treatment or transport. The vessel C is made with a conical bottom C³
and a valve C is fitted to the bottom to draw off the precipitated matter.
The liquid from the overflow extension pipe may pass into the trough H and
flow down the pipe H2 into the vessel J. A sectional view of the trough and pipe
at right angles to the view shown in Figure 1 is shown on a larger scale in Figure 3.
The liquid passes from the trough H down H2, up H³, through the hole H down H
and is delivered by the orifice H7 in a similar manner to the way in which the
liquid is discharged from the orifice A5. The passages H3 and H6 are continued
up above the hole H5 and are open at the top to allow air to escape. The neutral-
izing reagent is supplied by the pipe D³ from the vessel D and flows into the
trough H.

page_text: To discharge the precipitate I employ the internal chamber K. This chamber
is made with one or more openings in the bottom and a valve plate K³ fitted therein
is provided with a similar opening or openings and such openings are so arranged
that when the valve plate is turned to a certain position the openings are closed.
The rod K³ fixed to the said plate and passing through the stuffing box is provided
for turning the plate by means of the hand wheel K at the top. When the valve
plate is opened the precipitate is forced by the head of liquid above into the
chamber and air supplied by the pipe B is forced into K to discharge its con-
tents through the pipe K which may be fitted with an external valve K6.
As the vessel J is filled the neutralized liquid rises through the perforated
diaphragm J2 which may support a filtering medium and overflows at J³ into the
box J into which a softening reagent may be supplied by the pipe D³ from the
vessel D. The liquid flows from the box J by the pipe J5 into the vessel N and
falls on to the baffle plates N2 and from thence on to the diaphragm N³. A tube N*
lescends from the diaphragm and its orifice №5 opens at the side so as to deliver
the liquid tangentially as before described with reference to the orifice A³ to give
a more or less gyratory motion to the liquid. The liquid rising in N passes
through the perforated diaphragm No supporting a filtering medium and flows
out at the passage N7 the inlet end N8 of which is bent down as shown in order
that the water may rise above the inlet before it overflows.
a hole in
The pipes from the reagent vessels are fitted with valves B7 opened and closed
by levers Bs. To open the valves I may employ compressed air to force pistons O
contained in the cylinders 02 outwards and provide externally projecting piston
rods 03 coupled to the levers B8 to open the valves. Figure 4, is a sectional view
on a larger scale of one of the cylinders 02 and its attachments. In each case the
piston rod 03 works freely through the cylinder cap 0+ and extends through the
slot 05 made in the extension 06 on the cap and projecting through
the end 07 of the slot is coupled to one of the levers B8. A spiral spring 08 on the
rod 03 is compressed between the end 07 of the slot and the pin 09 passed through (3
and forces the rod inwards when the air pressure on the piston is removed. The
cylinders are supplied with air under pressure by separate pipes Peach fitted
w stop valves P³. A leather washer 13 is introduced between the cap 0* and
when the piston is forced out the annular projection P4 on its face bears against
the washer and forms a tight joint.
The above described apparatus may be practically kept continuously in action
and requires comparatively little attention as it is to a large extent automatic.
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 tank for treating effluent liquids in which the effluent is forced into the
tank by air or steam under pressure at a point considerably below the normal height
of the liquid, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A tank for treating effluent liquids in which the delivery end of the overflow
pipe is jointed to allow of vertical adjustment, substantially as herein shown and
described.
3. The cylindrical tank for treating effluent liquids, having a scum sluice and
skimming arms arranged and operated substantially as herein shown and described.
4. The combination with the tank C of a neutralizing tank constructed and
operating substantially as herein shown and described.
5. The combination with the tank C, of a neutralizing tank and a softening
tank all arranged substantially as herein shown and described.
6. The combination with a tank for treating effluent liquids of a reagent vessel
the feed valve of which is opened by fluid pressure, substantially as herein shown
and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 7. The general combination construction and arrangement of apparatus herein
shown and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1898.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford.