Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Alternating the Delivery of Liquid to Two Chambers or Receptacles, and also its Discharge therefrom, particularly applicable to Sewage Filters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Alternating the
Delivery of Liquid to Two Chambers or Receptacles, and also
its Discharge therefrom, particularly applicable to Sewage
Filters.
We, DONALD CAMERON of No. 1 Sylvan Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter, Civil
Engineer, and FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN of No. 7 Bedford Circus, Exeter,
Fellow of the Institute of Surveyors, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically alternating the delivery of
liquid to two chambers or receptacles and also its discharge therefrom and is
applicable to various processes and operations where such alternate delivery and
discharge are desirable. The improved apparatus has however been specially
designed for the delivery of sewage to and its discharge from filters.
Sewage whether already treated chemically, bacteriologically or otherwise is
often conducted to filters containing material such as coke breeze.
It has been found by experience that it is desirable that a filter should not be
used continuously and for this purpose it is usual to arrange filters in pairs so that
one can be at work whilst the other is at rest.
It is also a matter of some importance that the discharge from a bacteriological
sewage filter should take place rapidly so that the atmospheric air can be sucked
down the filter and thus aerate it and re-establish the bacteriological organisms
before the next delivery of sewage takes place into it.
The primary object of this invention is the construction of apparatus to auto-
matically direct sewage alternately to two filters, close the discharge pipe of the
filter which is about to be filled, and open the discharge pipe of the full filter when
the sewage is diverted to the empty filter.
According to our invention the alternation of the delivery to and discharge from
the two filters is automatically effected by the overflow from the same. In carrying
out our invention we employ two buckets or vessels carried respectively at the two
ends of a frame or beam which is suspended from a horizontal shaft and we cause
the overflow from the two filters alternately to discharge into one or other of these
buckets so that the bucket which receives the overflow descends while the other
rises and the shaft from which their carrying frame is suspended is thereby caused
to turn axially in one direction. To two arms on this shaft are respectively
connected by rods or otherwise two large valves at the bottom of small wells
communicating with the culverts of the respective filters and both communicating
with the outfall. The result is that the valve of the full well and filter is opened
and the valve of the empty well and filter is simultaneously closed. The overflows
to the buckets are at the upper part of the wells at approximately the level of the
maximum level attained in the filters. On the shaft above described is a flap valve
which as the shaft turns axially moves so as to close the inlet passage to the filter
that was last filled and open the passage to the empty filter.
We prefer to divide each bucket into upper and lower compartments, the lower
compartments of the two buckets being connected together by means of a pipe so

page_text: that water can freely run from the lower part of one bucket to the lower part of
the other. The upper compartment of each bucket is so arranged that when in its
highest position the water from the overflow pipe of the small well is retained in it,
but readily discharges as soon as the bucket reaches its lowest position when the
water in the lower compartment will retain the apparatus in position.
For ensuring that the apparatus shall remain in position the buckets may be so
constructed that the upper compartment when the bucket is lowered would
discharge into the lower which could be made to hold (say) two-thirds of the
contents of the upper only and be so shaped that when in turn it is raised again it
would discharge.
Another way for arranging for the alternate delivery into the two filters is to
connect a flat plate with the shaft actuated by the buckets; this plate being
situated underneath the source of supply and (when in a neutral position) being in
line with the division between the two filters. On the canting of the buckets
from one side to the other the plate presents a slight angle to the supply which is
therefore directed into one filter; the delivery into the other filter takes place
when the buckets are canted to the other side. Or instead of a flat plate as above
described a saucer or gutter-like plate may be employed, the incoming sewage
discharging with it and passing out of it into the filter at the side to which for the
time being it is cauted by the horizontal shaft. Further this gutter-like plate may
extend the whole length of the filters so as to deliver the sewage thereto in a film
from its whole length.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
At starting, the actuating bucket on one side is raised to its highest position and
held there by hand, and water is poured into the lower compartment of the bucket,
which passing through the connecting pipe fills the lower compartment of the
second bucket until it begins to run out through a slot in the side of same, and by
its weight the water in the lower compartment of the second bucket holds the
apparatus in position, at the same time holding the valve in the well of one
filter (No. 1) open and the valve in the well of the other filter (No. 2) closed, and
holding the Hap valve against one side so as to direct the flow of the sewage into
filter No. 2. The sewage gradually fills this filter, and as it is filtered it rises in
the well high enough to overflow through the overflow pipe connected with it,
which discharges into the upper portion of the bucket through an opening left for
the purpose, and this becoming full over-balances the water in the lower com-
partment of the second bucket and causes the apparatus to swing over, opening
the valve of filter No. 2 and closing the valve of filter No. 1 thus allowing the full
filter to discharge rapidly the valve being large and turning the flap valve so that
the incoming sewage is diverted into the filter No. 1. As bucket No. 2 is raised
the water in its lower compartment runs through the pipe into the lower division
of bucket No. 1, so that both compartments of the latter are filled; but as this
tank reaches its lowest point the upper division discharges through holes in its
upper face which are now at its lowest angle, thus completely emptying the upper
compartment, but the water in the lewer compartment remaining, holds the
apparatus in position until filter No. 1 overflows and tips it back again in the same
way. The flooding and rapid emptying of the filters is thus alternately effected.
Dated this 10th day of February 1896
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Alternating the
Delivery of Liquid to Two Chambers or Receptacles, and also
its Discharge therefrom, particularly applicable to Sewage
Filters.
We, DONALD CAMERON, of No. 1 Sylvan Road, Pennsylvania, Exeter, Civil
Engineer, and FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, of No. 7 Bedford Circus, Exeter,
Fellow of the Surveyors Institution, 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 relates to apparatus for the automatic delivery of liquid to two or
more chambers or receptacles in succession and its discharge therefrom, and is
applicable to various processes and operations where such successive delivery and
discharge are desirable. The improved apparatus has however been specially
designed for the delivery of sewage to and its discharge from filters.
Sewage whether already treated chemically, bacteriologically or otherwise is
often conducted to filters containing material such as coke breeze.
It has been found by experience that it is desirable that a filter should not be
used continuously, and for this purpose it is usual to arrange filters in pairs or
groups so that each may have periodical intervals of rest.
It is also a matter of some importance that the discharge from a bacteriological
sewage filter should take place rapidly so as to ensure a safficient period for
aeration before the next delivery of sewage into the filter.
The primary object of this invention is the construction of apparatus to
automatically direct sewage successively to two or more filters, at the same time
closing the discharge pipe of the filter which is about to be filled and opening the
discharge pipe of a filter which is already full.
According to our invention the delivery of sewage to the filters and the discharge
from them is automatically controlled by the overflow of the filters.
We employ two or more buckets or vessels arranged in pairs, each pair being
suspended from a horizontal shaft which is connected with valves or other
appliances controlling the delivery of sewage and the discharge of filtered liquid.
Each filter has an overflow pipe so arranged that when the filter becomes full a
small quantity of liquid overflows into one of these buckets and causes it to descend
turning the shaft which carries it about its axis and so actuating the said valves or
other controlling appliances.
For controlling the delivery of sewage we may use any of the following
devices :-
(a) A valve or valves attached to the shaft either directly or by means of arms
or rods.
(b) A plate or dish (which we call a diverter) attiched to the shaft by the
turning of which it is inclined so as to throw sewage falling upon it to one side or
the other into a channel leading to the filter which it is desired to fill. Such plate
or dish may be extended through the whole or greater part of the length of the
filters so as to deliver sewage thereto in a long thin film.
For the discharge of filtered water we provide each filter with collecting drains
or conduits converging to a small well in the bottom of which is a valve commu-
picating with the outfall and connected by rods or otherwise to a beam attached to
the shaft and turning with it. By this means the motion of the buckets is made to
lift or open the discharge valve of a filter already full and close the valve of the
filter which it is desired to fill.
The buckets may be so arranged that their own weight will cause them to remain

page_text: in any desired position; but in other cases it may be desirable to provide a counter-
weight to hold them in position. Such counterweight must be capable of holding
either bucket of a pair in its lower position.
For the purpose of a counterweight each bucket may be provided with a second
compartment which shall contain a sufficient quantity of water to hold down the
bucket in its lower position, the other bucket of the pair being thus held in its higher
position. The two second compartiments may be connected by a pipe whereby the
counterbalance water may run from the higher to the lower on every movement of
the buckets,
We prefer to fill each second compartment from the bucket to which it is
attached, an opening being provided for the purpose through which when the
bucket falls into its lower position the contents shall run into the second com-
partment. The second compartment is provided with an overflow whereby any
excess of water may escape and which shall discharge the whole contents of the
second compartment when it is again raised.
If there is no second compartment the whole of the contents of the bucket
escapes when it falls into its lower position.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
At starting, one of the actuating buckets is depressed to its lowest position and
its second compartment (if it bas one) filled with water to hold the apparatus in
position. The position of the delivery valve or diverter will then be such as to
direct the sewage into that filter whose discharge valve is closed. As the sewage
fills this filter a part of the filtered water will pass by the drains or conduits into
the collecting well and when this is full a small portion will pass off through the
overflow pipe.
If only two filters are used the overflow from each will fill the bucket on the
further side of the shaft which will be turned as soon as the weight of water in the
bucket overcomes the pressure of water on the discharge valve of the filter.
The discharge valve will thus be lifted releasing the contents of the filter which
will then be discharged rapidly drawing down into the filter an equivalent volume
of air. The discharge valve of the empty filter will at the same time be lowered
on to its seat, and the delivery valve to the full filter closed and that to the empty
one opened; or if there be a diverter it will be inclined so as to throw the sewage
on to the empty filter. When the second filter is full the overflow from its well
will cause the alternating gear to move back into its original position and the same.
cycle will be repeated.
If more than two filters are used, instead of emptying each filter as soon as it is
full it is preferable to retain the filtered water in contact with the filtering material
and the oxygen and the micro-organisms therewith engaged. Similarly instead of
again filling each filter almost as soon as it is discharged it is preferable to lengthen
the period of aeration so as to better prepare the filter to deal with the next dose of
sewage.
Therefore if four filters are used they will be arranged in two pairs each equipped
with alternating gear as before described but the overflow from each filter will
actuate the alternating gear belonging to the other pair of filters so that all four
filters will work in one continuous cycle. If the four filters are numbered consecu-
tively Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, there will be a set of alternating gear for filters Nos. 1 and 2 and
another set for filters Nos. 3 and 4. The overflow from filter No. 1 will discharge
filter No. 4, which will have been previously filled and will cause sewage to be
delivered to No. 3. No. 1 will then rest full while No. 3 is filling and will be
discharged by the overflow from No. 3 when full. Similarly No. 3 will be discharged
by the overflow from No. 2, No. 2 by the overflow from No. 4, and No. 4 again by
the overflow from No. 1.
Since two filters will be full at the same time a valve will be placed on the over-
flow pipe from ench which will be opened by the bucket rising into its higher position
so that that overflow pipe only will discharge which has a bucket ready to receive
its flow.

page_text: In addition to the filters which it is intended to use at any one time, one or more
additional filters may be provided, one or more of which may be set to work in place
of one or more filters already in the combination.
Each additional filter may be fed when necessary through the same valve or
through a valve actuated by the same alternating gear, as the filter which it replaces;
and may drain into the same collecting well as the filter which it replaces and the
spare opening into the collecting well may be closed by a valve or plug; or one or
more pairs of filters may be thrown out of work by disconnecting their admission
valves and diverting the overflow water which would otherwise pass into their
actuating buckets.
As an alternative to the arrangement already described all the valves admitting
liquid to the filters, or all the discharge valves, or all the admission valves and all
the discharge valves may be connected by cams, cranks, eccentrics, or otherwise, to
one shaft. Each connection may have a certain amount of play or lost motion, so
that the valve connected may not move with every part of a revolution of the shaft
but only at certain stages of each revolution. Said shaft may receive its motion
from one pair of actuating buckets, moving as already described, but preferably
hung from an independent shaft, and so connected by gearing, pawls and ratchets or
otherwise with the main shaft, that every movement of the buckets in eithe
direction may turn the main shaft through a part of a revolution in one constant
direction.
If a spare filter is used with this arrangement, the valves belonging to such
spare filter may be altogether disconnected from the shaft until it is required
for use.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will now proceed to
describe same in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view, and
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section on the line 2-2, showing our invention as applied
in connection with a septic tank, and one pair of filters.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the filters on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the septic tank taken on line 4-4 of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing the
buckets for actuating the alternating gear.
Fig. 6 is a plan view, and
Fig. 7 a longitudinal section, both drawn to an enlarged scale, showing more clearly
the arrangement of the alternating gear.
Fig. 8 is a plan view showing our invention as applied when five filters are
employed, one of which is always out of use, so as to enable it to replace one
of the other four, when for any reason it is required to cut one filter out.
Fig. 9 is a transverse section through one of the wells from which the sewage
is conveyed to the different filters, the valves being removed from their seatings.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view, and
Fig. 11 an end view of one of the flap valves on the ends of the overflow pipes
which discharge into the buckets for actuating the alternating gear.
Fig. 12 is a plan view showing an arrangement for working four pairs of
filters in one set, one or more pairs being capable of being cut out and allowed
to rest.
Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the operation of the four-way cocks used
in the arrangement shown in Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a plan view, and
Fig. 15 a transverse section showing a modified form of mechanism for controlling
the working of any number of filters by means of a single pair of actuating buckets,
the latter not being shown.
Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail plan view of this arrangement showing the buckets,
and

page_text: Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view of the valve through which the overflows from
the different collecting wells pass to the actuating buckets.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and in which only two filters
are employed the sewage or other liquid after passing through the septic tank A
flows over a table B cn to a diverter C, and according to the position of this
diverter it then passes on to either one of the channels D, D', from which it.
is delivered to one or other of the filters E, E', which are filled with any
filtering material, such as coke breeze or other suitable material.
At the bottom of each filter a number of pipes F, F', are placed which conduct the
filtrate as it enters them to a culvert or drain G, G, (Fig. 3) through which such
filtrate passes to the collecting wells H, H' (Fig. 1).
The position of the diverter C and consequently which of the filters the sewage
or other liquid is delivered to are determined as follows:-The shaft 1 on which
the diverter C is mounted extends over a chamber J and has a frame attached to
it carrying at its opposite extremities buckets K, K', which are so arranged that
when one of them is depressed in the manner hereinafter described it will not return
to its former position until it is again actuated. Near the top of the collecting
wells H, H', passages or pipes h, h, are situated, each being so placed that on the
liquid in the corresponding collecting well rising to the level thereof such liquid
will pass through the passage h or h¹ to the bucket at the opposite side of the
shaft I, which bucket would then be in its raised position. The effect of the
liquid entering the bucket would be that such bucket will descend to its lower
position thereby turning the shaft I, on which as above stated the diverter C is
mounted, and so causing the sewage or other liquid to be delivered to the other of
the two filters E, E. At the same time a double ended lever L also mounted on
the shaft I, and the ends of which are connected by any suitable means (such
as rods l,) to the discharge valves M, M', at the bottom of the collecting wells H, H',
will by this movement of the shaft be caused to open the discharge valve of the
filter which has just been filled and close the discharge valve of the other, which
will then begin to fill.
As the bucket which has just been filled descends, it will be tilted so that the
liquid which occupies the upper compartment of the bucket formed by the
partition k, k therein will flow over the outer edge of such partition through
the opening into the lower compartment where a portion of it will remain, the
rest overflowing over the inner edge of the bottom of the lower compartment at k³.
When the other bucket is in its turn filled with the liquid it will descend, reversing
the position of the buckets, and consequently the positions of the diverter C and
the valves M, M, raising the valve which was formerly closed and closing the
one which was formerly open. As each bucket rises again to its higher position,
the contents of its lower compartment will be entirely discharged over the inner
edge of the bottom of such lower compartment at k³.
The collecting wells H, H', which are connected respectively with the bottoms
of the filters E, E', communicate through the valves M, M', with passages m, m³,
through which the effluent can escape when either of such valves is opened.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, five filters are employed, four only of which
are in use at the same time, the fifth being held in reserve so as to enable it to
replace any one of the other four operative ones when required.
The liquid from the septic tank or other chamber or receptacle from which it is
required to distribute same enters the distributing apparatus at X and passes through
a gauge well N, and flows along an aerator O which is of dish form, the liquid
falling over the edges of such aerator into channels P, P', which convey it to
wells R, R', in which distributing valves S, S¹, S3, S³, S, open into passages T, T,
T2, T3, T, leading to the five filters are arranged.
Two pairs of buckets K, K1, K2, K³, are employed, and in addition to the
levers L for operating the discharge valves M, M', M2, M3, from the collecting
wells H, H, H2, H3, the shafts I on which such buckets are mounted have attached
to them levers L, L, operating the distributing valves S, S1, S2, S³, S*.

page_text: Any one of the hive filters can be cut out, the distributing valve by which a
passage to same is opened being disconnected from its operating lever so that it is
not operated when the position of such lever is reversed through the movement of
one pair of the actuating buckets.
The pipes G, G1, G2, G3, G4, conduct the filtrate from the bottom of the filters
respectively to the collecting wells H, H', H2, H3, the pipe conducting it to
collecting well H from filter No. 1; the pipe G to collecting wells H and H',
from filter No. 2; the pipe G to the collecting wells H₁ and H, from filter No. 3;
the pipe G3 to collecting wells H3 and H3, from filter No. 4; and the pipe G* to
collecting well H³ from filter No. 5. Only one pipe leading into each collecting
well is in use at one time, the second pipe leading into each well being closed by a
valve or plug.
Overflow pipes h, h, h2, h3, lead respectively from the collecting wells H, H1, H2, H3,
to the buckets K2, K³, K', K, so as to fill the raised bucket and consequently reverse
the valves controlled by the shafts on which such buckets are mounted, in the
manner described in the preceding arrangement, and the end of each of such overflow
pipes is provided with a flap valve U, shown in detail in Figs. 10 and 11, having
tails u adapted to be operated by the rods u' mounted on the actuating buckets
when the latter rise, thereby opening the passage for the overflow from one of the
collecting wells.
These flap valves are necessary because two of the collecting wells will be full
at the same time, as in the arrangement just described of the four filters which
are in operation, (the fifth being permanently cut out and held in reserve for the
time) one is resting full, one being filled, one being discharged, and the fourth
remaining empty for the time being. Each time one of the pairs of buckets is
actuated the liquid is diverted to the filter which was resting empty, the one
which was resting full is opened to discharge, the one which has just been filled
remains closed, and the fourth (which has just been emptied) is allowed to remain
empty.
Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate an arrangement for working any number of pairs of
filters in one set (four pairs of filters being shown in Fig. 12), any pair of such
filters being capable of being thrown out of operation by means of the employment
of cocks in the overflow pipes.
In this arrangement the overflows h, h³, 12, 13, 1, 8, 16, 17, from all the filters are
brought into one continuous pipe H, forming two complete rings, of which one
receives the overflows of the odd filters 1, 3, 5, and 7, and the other those of the
even filters 2, 4, 6 and 8. Branches from the same pipe deliver the overflow liquid
to the actuating buckets K, K', K³, K³, K, K, K, K'.
The direction of the overflow from each filter is governed by a four way
cock V, V, V2, V3, V, V, V, V, (the arrangement for each pair of filters being
shown in Fig. 13) such cocks being placed in the continuous pipe at the junction
of the overflow pipe from each filter. The delivery pipes to the actuating buckets
branch off at the same points.
With the cocks in the position shown in Fig. 13 the two filters 3 and 4 controlled
by such cocks will be in use. Their actuating buckets are filled by the overflow
from filters 1 and 2; and their overflows go to the buckets of filters 5 and 6
respectively. By throwing the levers V8 and V of the stop cocks V2 and V³ of
such filters 3 and 4 over a quarter of a turn to the right by hand, such filters 3
and 4 will be cut out and filter 1 will then overflow into the bucket of filter 5, and
of filter 2 into bucket of filter 6.
It will be seen that the levers V8 and V of the stop cocks V and V are
connected together by a rod V10, so that the two cocks are operated together.
Figs. 14 to 18 inclusive illustrate an arrangement wherein a single pair of
actuating buckets is employed for controlling the supply to and discharge from
any desired number of filters (the drawings showing the application of such
arrangement to six filters, one of which is always cut out, so as to enable it to be
used to replace one of the five which are operative when desired), the alternate

page_text: reciprocating movement imparted to the shaft carrying such pair of buckets being
converted into an intermittent rotary movement always in the same direction,
which is employed to control the supply and discharge valves of the operative
filters.
In this arrangement the channel or tank R leading from the chamber or
receptacle from which the liquid is to be distributed, is common to the whole of
the distributing valves S, 'S¹, S³, S³, S, S', controlling the passages to the
respective filters, each of such valves S, S', S2, S3, S, S, being mounted on one
end of a lever L, L', L, L³, L, L, each of which levers is pivotted on a shaft 11,
on which each lever is free to move independently, and the other ends of which
levers L, L', L, L, L, L, are connected to the discharge valves M, M¹, M²,
M³, M, Mo, of the collecting wells H, H', H2, H3, H4, H³, communicating with
the six filters.
The overflow pipes from the collecting wells H, H1, H2, H3, H, H, as shown in
broken lines in Fig. 14 all lead to a common distributing valve Z, from the case of
which two overflow pipes 6 and 7 lead to and terminate respectively over the
actuating buckets K, K' the end of each of same being provided with a flap
valve U as previously described in connection with the arrangement shown in
Figs. 8 and 9. The shaft 12 carrying the buckets K, K', has mounted upon it a
toothed sector a gearing with the teeth of a sector 6 mounted loosely on the main
shaft I (see Figs. 16 and 17). The sector a also gears with the teeth of another
sector mounted on a shaft c, and carrying another toothed sector gearing with
a toothed sector g also mounted loosely on the shaft I. Keyed to the shaft I
is a ratchet wheel d and gearing with the teeth of same are pawls e and i
carried respectively by the toothed sectors band g mounted loosely on such
shaft I.
The operation is as follows:- Upon either of the buckets K or K' being filled
by the overflow from one of the filters, and consequently caused to descend, the
sector a carried by the shaft 12 will by gearing with the sector 6 mounted loosely
on the main shaft I operate same, and by gearing with the sector e on the shaft c
also operate this, and through the sector f mounted on the latter shaft such
movement will be transmitted to the sector g also mounted loosely on the maiu
shaft 1. It will thus be seen that assuming the parts to be in the position shown
in Fig. 17, if the bucket K is filled and consequently caused to descend the
sector a cn shaft 12 will through the pawle carried by the sector b and gearing with
the teeth of ratchet d move the shaft I forward, while at the same time such
sector a through sector c', sector f, sector g, cause the pawl i carried by the latter
to slip backward over the teeth of such ratchet d. If on the other hand, the
bucket K being in the raised position is filled and caused to descend, the movement
imparted to the toothed sector a will cause pawl i to propel shaft I forward in the
same direction as before, while the pawl e will slip back over the teeth of the
ratchet d. It will thus be seen that the rocking movement imparted to shaft I³
by the alternate filling of the buckets K, K', will transmit an intermittent
movement always in the same direction to shaft 1.
Such shaft I has mounted upon it a series of cams W, W', W2, W³, W, W,
(see Figs. 14 and 15) so arranged as to operate the levers L, L, L, L, L, L,
controlling the valves S, S', S2, S3, S4, S3, for distributing the liquid to the
different filters, and also the valves M, M', M2, M3, M, M, for controlling the
discharge of the effluent therefrom.
The distributing valve Z with which the overflow pipes from the different filters
all communicate, consists of a disc z baving a single aperture 2¹ and which by a
toothed wheel mounted on the main shaft I and gearing with a wheel k mounted
on the shaft of disc z is, on each movement of the shaft I, caused to make
one fifth of a revolution and thereby bring its aperture opposite the opening of
each of the overflow pipes in succession, and thus enable such liquid to pass through
one or other of the pipes or according to which bucket K or K' is in the raised

page_text: position. As before stated the end of each of the pipes 4 and is fitted with a
flap valve U so that it is only that which is opened in consequence of the bucket
over which it is situated being raised that the liquid can pass through, and
consequently such bucket will be filled and the alternating gear actuated in the
manner described.
The overflow from the spare filter can be connected by means of a three-way
cock or in any suitable manner with the overflow from the five operative filters, so
as to enable it to replace any one of same.
The lever controlling the valves of the filter out of use may be supported so as
not to be actuated by the cam on the main shaft which is provided to operate same
when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we-
claim is :-
1. The improved apparatus for automatically delivering liquid successively to
two or more chambers or receptacles and also discharging it therefrom, consisting
in the employment of a pair or pairs of buckets mounted upon a frame or otherwise
carried by a shaft or shafts and to which buckets the overflow from one or other
of the chambers or receptacles is alternately delivered, the movement thus
imparted to such shaft upon which such buckets are mounted being employed to
control the valves whereby the supply of liquid to or from the chambers or
receptacles is effected, all substantially as specified.
2. The combination with the arrangement specified in the preceding claim of a
chamber or receptacle, the overflow from which can be connected at will to the
alternating or distributing gear in place of one or other of the other chambers or-
receptacles which are previously in operation, substantially as specified.
3. The improved apparatus for automatically delivering liquid successively to
two chambers or receptacles and also discharging it therefrom, consisting in the.
employment of a pair of buckets mounted upon a frame carried by a shaft and to.
which buckets the overflow from one or other of the chambers or receptacles is
alternately delivered, the movement thus imparted to such shaft upon which such
buckets are mounted being employed to control the discharge from such chambers.
or receptacles in succession, and such shaft also carrying a diverter whereby the
liquid is alternately delivered to the other chamber or receptacle as soon as one-
of same is filled, substantially as specified.
4. The combination with two or more chambers or receptacles into which liquid
is successively delivered and from which it is successively discharged of pipes or
passages through which when each chamber is filled a portion of its contents shall
overflow for the purpose of effecting the discharge of the contents of a full chamber.
and the filling of an empty chamber.
5. The combination with two or more chambers or receptacles and overflow
pipes or passages therefrom of valves or stop cocks cn such overflow pipes which.
are alternately opened and closed by the motion of the actuating buckets.
substantially as described.
6. The combination with the improved apparatus specified in Claim 1 of four-way
cocks fitted to the overflows from each pair of filters so that any one pair of such
filters may be thrown out of operation at will, substantially as specified, and as.
shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings.
7. The combination with an actuating bucket as already described of a counter-
weight to hold such bucket in a desired position, such counterweight consisting
preferably of a second chamber having an opening whereby water may pass into
it from the actuating bucket when the latter falls, and a second opening
whereby such second chamber may be emptied when it rises, substantially as.
specified.
8. The improved apparatus whereby the supply to and discharge from any
number of chambers or receptacles may be controlled by a single pair of buckets.

page_text: actuated in the manner specified in Claim 1, either in combination or not with
suitable means for cutting out of or introducing one of such chambers or receptacles
into operation, substantially as described and as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 18 of the
accompanying drawings.
9. The combination of overflows from several receptacles or chambers with a disc
valve as shown in Fig. 18, and flap valves as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, in such a
manner as to direct the discharge of the overflow from any one of a number of
receptacles or chambers into the actuating bucket which should next receive it,
substantially as specified.
Dated this 10th day of November 1896.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.