Improvements in the Apparatus and Process for Solidifying and Drying Sewage Sludge and such like Articles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 5th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 14th June, 1887
Improvements in the Apparatus and Process for Solidifying and
Drying Sewage Sludge and such like Articles.
I, WILLIAM ASTROP of 61 Vicarage Road Tottenham in the County of Middlesex
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :-
The object of this Invention is to abstract the bulk of the liquid from sewage sludge
so as to reduce it to a semi-plastic condition to render it more convenient for the
further manipulation for the process of drying and pulverizing as described in my
patent for treating sewage dated Sept. 1884 No. 11,901.
In carrying out my Invention I provide any required number of Tanks or other
vessels of suitable dimensions according to the quantity of sludge to be treated. In
the tanks I fix one or more drums or cylindrical cages composed of wire gauze or felt
(or both, on the periphery each drum or cage to be fitted with suitable tubes for the
purpose of exhausting the air to cause a vacuum, thereby abstracting the liquid from
the sludge in the tank through the periphery by atmospheric pressure. These tubes
may be fitted with gland joints to facilitate a rotary motion (if required) to the
cylinders. I also fit a certain number of scrapers or brushes which may be a fixture
or revolving for the purpose of cleansing the Wire and felts from the adhering sludge.
When it is required to carry the semi-plastic sludge some distance, or to further
compress it, I use a scraper in the form of an archimedian Screw to work in a
channel provided for the purpose, this will force the semi-solid through a horizontal
or vertical delivery tube and carry it to the required distance.
Thus the sludge is delivered from the precipitating tanks to the abstracting apparatus
here described, this delivery must be so arranged that the said cylindrical cages are
always summerged whilst at work. The air pump or exhauster is then applied which
will cause the superfluous liquid to filter through the gauze or felt in the periphery of
the Cylinder. When the semi-solid or thick sludge will be discharged from the lower
part of said tanks either by gravitation or by pressure from a scraper as described, or
otherwise. The sludge will then be of a convenient consistence to be conveyed direct
to my drying apparatus as described in my specification of the before mentioned patent
or to any other suitable arrangement for drying and pulverizing.
Dated 5th August 1886.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Drying Sewage Sludge and such like Articles.
I, WILLIAM ASTROP, late of 61 Vicarage Road, Tottenham, but now of 9 Townsend
Road, South Tottenham, both in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
to
The object of this invention is to abstract the bulk of the liquid from the sewage
sludge, so as to reduce it to a semi-plastic condition, and render it more convenient
for further manipulation, in the process of drying and pulverizing, as described in my
Patent dated the 5th of September 1884 No. 11,901.
In carrying out my Invention I provide any required number of tanks, or other
suitable vessels, of suitable dimensions, according to the quantity of sludge to be
treated. In these tanks I fix one or more drums, or cylindrical cages, composed of
wire gauze or felt (or both,) on the periphery of each drum or cage. These drums are
also fitted with suitable tubes for exhausting the air, and thereby causing a vacuum,
and abstracting the liquid from the sludge in the tanks, through the periphery by
atmospheric and fluid pressure; these tubes are fitted with gland joints to the pipes to
allow of a rotary motion (if required) of the cylinders or drums. I also fit a certain
number of scrapers or brushes which are made fixtures when the drums revolve, or
revolving if the drums are stationary, for the purpose of cleansing the wire and felts
from the adhering sludge.
When it is required to carry the semi-plastic matter some distance, or to further
compress it, I use a scraper in the form of an archimedian screw working in a channel,
provided for the purpose; this forces the semi-solid matter through a horizontal or
vertical delivery tube, and carries it to any required distance. Thus the sludge is
delivered from the precipitating tanks to the abstracting apparatus herein before
described, and this delivery is so arranged that the cylindrical cages or drums are
always submerged while at work. The air or other pump or exhauster is then applied,
which causes the superfluous liquid to filter through the wire gauze or felt on the
periphery of the cylindrical cages, and the semi-solid or thick sludge is discharged of a
convenient consistency to be conveyed direct to my drying apparatus, as described in
my said former Specification No. 11,901, or to any other suitable arrangement
for drying and pulverizing.
When a sufficient fall can be obtained from these tanks to the drain, the pumps or
steam exhausters may be dispensed with, as such a fall maintains a sufficiently practical
vacuum in the cylindrical cages.
And in order that my said invention may be more particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawing.
a is the tank, partly in section. bb are the cylinders, c is the pipe which carries
the sewage matter to the tank a. d is a pipe which receives the filtered water from

page_text: the cylinders. Suitable stuffing boxes are fitted to the ends of the cylinders at e e.
Scrapers ff are fitted as shewn.
When it is desired to use revolving cylinders, they are caused to revolve by means
of bevel or other suitable gear, and the scrapers fare fixed stationary, as shewn in the
drawing, whereby the outer filtering surfaces of the cylinders are scraped and otherwise
cleared of solid matter.
The outer surfaces of the cylinders (except the ends) are covered with wire gauze,
or gauze and felt, or other suitable material for filtering and separating the solid
matter from the water, and passing the latter into the interiors of the cylinders, and
thence to the pipes.
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. The method of separating the liquid portions of the sludge from sewage
precipitating tanks, by means of the revolving or stationary cylindrical filters 6 b, the
outer surfaces of which are cleared and kept clear by stationary or revolving
scrapers ff, for the free entry of such liquid portions and withdrawal of the same,
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawing.
2. The general construction combination and arrangement of the several and
respective parts, together constituting my improvements in the apparatus and process
for solidifying and drying sewage sludge and such- liko matters, substantially as
herein before described and shewn on the drawing.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.