IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING SEWERS AND DRAINS, AND FOR TREATING THE GASES THEREFROM
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Rowan, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
VENTILATING SEWERS AND DRAINS, AND FOR TREATING THE GASES
THEREFROM."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Rowan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1880.
THOMAS ROWAN, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING SEWERS AND DRAINS, AND FOR
TREATING THE GASES THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for ventilating
sewers and drains, and for treating the gases therefrom, the object of the Invention
being to provide means for causing the sewer gases to be drawn or forced through.
a suitable purifying medium before being discharged into the open air.
In carrying out my improvements I provide a receiver of suitable size and
material. This receiver is provided with a perforated false bottom, and may or
may not have a removeable perforated tray or shelf near its upper end; the top
of the receiver is provided with suitable charging openings for the purpose
hereinafter described; from the top of the receiver passes a shaft having a
suitable cap or cowl at the top, or provided with other means for producing an
induced current. On the hereinbefore described perforated false bottom is placed
a quantity of suitable porous material, such as coke, which is saturated with
carbolic acid or other suitable antiseptic or disinfecting material, which may
be supplied through the herein before described charging holes.
From the receiver between the false and true bottoms thereof pass a suitable
number of pipes opening into the sewer or drain, and into the said pipes, where
they lead from the drain, open air injecting pipes having if required valves
opening inwards.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Thomas Rowan in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 25th June 1881.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
THOMAS ROWAN, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman:
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING SEWERS AND DRAINS, AND FOR
TREATING THE GASES THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for ventilating
sewers and drains, and for treating the gases therefrom, the object of the Invention
being to provide means for causing the sewer gases to be drawn or forced through
a suitable purifying medium before being discharged into the open air.
In carrying out my improvements provide a receiver of suitable size and
material. This receiver is provided with a perforated false bottom, and may or
may not have a removeable perforated tray or shelf near its upper end; the top of
the receiver is provided with suitable charging openings for the purpose hereinafter
described; from the top of the receiver passes a shaft having a suitable cap or cowl
at the top, or provided with other means for producing an induced current.
the herein before described perforated false bottom is placed a quantity of suitable
porous material, such as coke, which is saturated with carbolic acid or other
suitable antiseptic or disinfecting material, which may be supplied through the
herein before described charging holes.
On
From the receiver between the false and true bottoms thereof pass a suitable
number of pipes opening into the sewer or drain, and into the said pipes, where or
near where they lead from the drain open air injecting pipes having if required
valves opening inwards.
In some cases air may be forced into the injecting pipes.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal
section (partly in elevation) of a sewer, shewing my improvements applied thereto;
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same. Similar letters in both the Figures
represent similar parts.
A, A, is an ordinary sewer. At suitable distances apart, and over the same, I
place the receivers a. b is the perforated false bottom in each receiver; and 6¹ is a
division plate for dividing the current of air; c, c, are the charging openings at the
top of the receivers a; d is the shaft leading from the top of the receiver, and
provided with any suitable cap or cowl e at the top, or with other means for
producing an induced current; f represents coke or other suitable porous material
placed in the receiver a and saturated with carbolic acid or with any suitable
antiseptic or disinfecting material; g, g, are the pipes passing from the receivers a
into the sewer or drain A; h, h, are the air injecting pipes, the lower ends of which
are provided with nozzles opening into the said pipes g where or near where they
lead from the sewer or drain, and either from the front or side of the said pipes g
as shewn. The upper ends of the injecting pipes extend near to the grating i
covering the chamber j in which the receivers a, a, are placed, or the said pipes
may extend to any suitable height above the ground. In some cases only one
connecting pipe g and one injecting pipe h will be required. k, air shaft or
opening midway between the receivers a covered with a suitable grating 1 for the
entrance of air to replace that exhausted or drawn from the sewer A, the current
of air being divided by the plate k'. The pipes h may be provided with valves
opening inwards, and suitable provision is made for discharging any liquid which
may accumulate in the receivers a and chambers j.
By these improvements it will be understood that air entering or being forced
into the air injecting pipes h, and an induced current being produced in the shaft d

page_text: by the cowl or otherwise, the foul or other air or gases in the sewer A will be
drawn or forced from the sewer A as shewn by the arrows through the pipes g,
and into and through the saturated coke or other porous material in the receiver a,
whereby the said air or gases will be purified or disinfected, and will then be
discharged through the shaft d into the atmosphere. The air or gases thus drawn
or forced from the sewer A will be replaced by fresh air drawn in through the air
shaft which will divide the current so as to cause it to pass in opposite directions
as shewn.
By this means it will thus be seen that sewers and drains may not only be
efficiently ventilated, but that the air and gases therefrom are only discharged into
the atmosphere after being purified or disinfected.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means
with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the
Invention, but what I do claim is,―
Firstly. The improvements in the method of and apparatus for ventilating sewers
and drains, and for treating the gases therefrom, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. In apparatus for ventilating sewers and drains I claim the employment
of air injecting pipes arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Rowan, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South St., Finsbury,
London.
THOMAS ROWAN. (L.S.)