Improvements in and relating to Tanks for the Precipitation of Sewage and Foul Liquids.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tanks for the Precipitation of
Sewage and Foul Liquids.
We, THE MAGNETITE SEWAGE AND WATER PURIFICATION COMPANY, LIMITED,
of 33 Barton Arcade, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and GEORGE HENRY
SKELSEY, of the same place, Director, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists in improvements in and relating to tanks for the precipi-
tation of sewage and foul liquids and the object of the improvements is to remove
the sludge or deposit from the tanks in a simpler and more efficient manner than
hitherto and while the tanks are in operation.
In constructing a precipitation tank according to this Invention the lower por-
tion of the tank is formed into one two or more chambers with tapering or conical
sides which approach one another at the bottom into which the sludge or deposit
collects. From the bottom of each chamber rises a pipe or pipes and in cases where
two or more chambers are employed in a single tank these pipes may be joined
together to form one pipe which is connected to a horizontal pipe placed say about
half way between the tops of the conical chambers and the level of liquid in the
tank. On each vertical pipe below the horizontal pipe is fitted a valve and on the
horizontal pipe there is also a valve.
When it is desired to draw off the sludge from any chamber the valve on its
vertical pipe and that on the horizontal pipe are opened which allows the pressure
of liquid in the tank to drive the sludge up the vertical pipe and through the
horizontal pipe and discharge it; in the same way if desired to draw off the sludge
from two or more chambers at the same time the valves on their vertical pipes are
opened and the pressure of liquid acting on the sludge drives it up the vertical pipes
and through the open discharge valve on the horizontal pipe.
Dated this 24th day of September 1896.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tanks for the Precipitation of
Sewage and Foul Liquids.
We, THE MAGNETITE SEWAGE AND WATER PURIFICATION COMPANY, LIMITED,
of 33 Barton Arcade, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and GEORGE HENRY
SKELSEY, of the same place, Director, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in improvements in and relating to tanks for the precipi-
tation of sewage and foul liquids and the object of the improvements is to remove

page_text: the sludge or deposit from the tanks in a simpler and more efficient manner than
hitherto and while the tanks are in operation.
In constructing a precipitation tank according to this Invention the lower por-
tion of the tank is formed into one two or more chambers with tapering or conical
sides which approach one another at the bottom into which the sludge or deposit
collects. From the bottom of each chamber rises a pipe or pipes and in cases where
two or more chambers are employed in a single tank these pipes may be joined
together to form one pipe which is connected to a horizontal pipe placed say about
half way between the tops of the conical chambers and the level of liquid in the
tank. On each vertical pipe below the horizontal pipe is fitted a valve and on the
horizontal pipe there is also a valve.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan of a precipitation tank made according to our improvements,
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the plane of the line AB, Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the plane of the line CD, Fig. 1.
. In these views, a tank is shown constructed with three precipitation
chambers 1, 2, 3, to the first of which the liquid sewage is conducted through a
trough 4 from which it flows through a sluice valve or penstock 5 over the sill G
into the chamber I under the baffle 7 over the division wall S into the chamber 2
under the baffle 9 over the division wall 10 into the chamber 3 under the baffle 11
whence the purified éffluent passes over the sill 12 and flows away through the
trough or conduit 13.
Each of the chambers 1, 2, 3, is shown as a double chamber sloping on all four
sides down to the lowest point X where the sludge and heavy impurities are
deposited and settle. From each point X a branch pipe 14 rises to a vertical pipe 15
controlled by a valve 16 and connected to a horizontal pipe 17 controlled by a
valve 18 and placed at a sufficient distance below the level of liquid in the tank.
When it is desired to draw off the sludge from any chamber 1, 2, 3, the valve 16
on its vertical pipe and the valve 18 on the horizontal pipe 17 are opened which
allows the pressure of liquid in the tank to drive the sludge up the branches 14
and vertical pipe 15 and through the horizontal pipe 17 and discharge it; in the
same way if desired to draw off the sludge from two or more chambers at the same
time the valves 16 on their vertical pipes 15 are opened and the pressure of liquid
acting on the sludge drives it up the vertical pipes and through the open discharge
valve 18 on the horizontal pipe 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The combination with a liquid sewage precipitation tank divided into a series
of sludge collecting chambers and provided with baffle walls for diverting the flow
and directing the deposition of the sludge, of the series of pipes and valves shown
and described for effecting the discharge of the sludge from all or any of the
points by the pressure of the supernatant liquid substantially as herein set forth.
2. The general construction coinbination and arrangement of parts embodying
cur improvements in precipitation tanks substantially as and for the purposes
herein described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 21st day of June 1897
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicants.