IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS FOR WATER AND AIR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Livesey, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS
FOR WATER AND AIR."
Scaled the 15th June 1877, and dated the 13th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Livesey at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1877.
JAMES LIVESEY, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS FOR WATER AND AIR."
My Invention relates to the construction of filters for water, in which the
filtering materials are aerated and ready access is given for cleansing or renewal,
and to means of filtering the air supplied to apartments by ventilating tubes by
sifting from it the impurities suspended in it.
For a water filter I employ an upright vessel, preferably cylindrical in shape,
divided by two horizontal partitions into three compartments. In the higher
partition there is a central hole sufficiently large to give access to the compartment
below, which hole is plugged by a block of porous stone or compressed charcoal.
The water to be filtered is supplied to the highest compartment, and one or more
air pipes extend through the highest partition, and thence up above the level of
the water supplied.
Instead of pipes one or more air passages may be formed in the walls of the
vessel; or the whole upper compartment may be made of the form of a basin, with
its upper lip resting on the top edge of the filter, there being passage for air in the
annular space between the basin and the filter wall. As the air which passes through
the pipes or passages mentioned above has the effect of aerating the filtering materials,
as I will hereafter explain, I prefer to provide the mouths of the air passages with
plugs of loose cotton for the purpose of keeping back the organic matters suspended
in the air that might otherwise pass with it to the filtering materials. The lower
partition is perforated and has one or more raised hollow ribs or prominences, also
perforated, projecting upwards from its general surface. On this partition are laid
the loose filtering materials of such kinds as are usually employed. The partition
Di

page_text: itself may be flat, with corrugated cakes of compressed carbon or other filtering
material placed on it; and the partition itself may be dispensed with, such cakes
thomselves effecting the necessary separation of the chambers. The lowest com-
partment receives the filtered water, and is provided with an outlet pipe, with a
cock, valve, or plug.
The action of the filter is as follows:-Water supplied to the uppermost com-
partment percolates through the porous plug, and then through the filtering
materials in the middle compartment and the partition on which they rest into tho
lowest compartment, displacing the air contained in it, which air finds its way
through the perforations in the raised parts of the lowest partition or of the porous
cakes, and rises through the filtering materials, finally escaping by the air passages
from the middle compartment.
When a quantity of the filtered water is drawn off, the supply through the
porous plug above being very much retarded, air enters by the passages into the
middle compartment and follows the water down through the filtering material
into the space in the lowest compartment left void of water by its withdrawal.
The air so entering is in its turn caused by the downward percolation of water to
rise again through the filtering materials, which are thus more or less aerated every
timo water is withdrawn from the filter. The air passages may have valves whereby
only the entering air is made to pass through the filter.
Filters arranged to act in the manner just described may be placed in tanks, in
which case the uppermost compartment is dispensed with, the water of the tank
constituting the supply that percolates through the porous plug. But in this caso
also I provide air pipes or passages extending above the water level for the purposo
above stated.
In order to obain in filters a great length of filtering chamber I prefer to place
the filtering materials in a pipe, which, in order to economise space, may be turned
into a spiral or zig-zag form, plugs being provided at the bends for giving access to
the several convolutions. Or instead of a zig-zag pipe the 'filtering chamber may
consist of annular spaces between concentric cylinders so arranged that the water
has to pass to and fro in these spaces in zig-zags. In employing filters of this kind
I prefer to make the water supply enter in a jet the orifice of the filter chamber, so
as to take with it air for the purpose of aerating the filtering materials; or I cause
the supply water to flow with considerable velocity along a pipe to which there is
a lateral air supply.
In cistern filters that are immersed in the water contained in the cistern I
provide for the removal of any deposit that may form on the surface of the block of
filtering material in the following manner :-Instead of allowing the water supply
to flow from the ball cock directly into the cistern I cause it to flow over the
surface of the filtering block, or into a narrow chamber or jacket surrounding or
enclosing the filtering block or blocks, which chamber or jacket is made to com-
municate through openings at one or more points with the water space of the
cistern. Thus every time the water is admitted through, the ball cock it rushes
with considerable velocity over the filtering surface before issuing into the cistern,
whereby it effectually removes any deposit on the filtering surface.
In some cases I introduce any suitable granular substance into the said narrow
chamber, so that in being agitated by the flow of water it will assist in scouring
the filtering surface.
In one construction of filter for carrying out the above arrangement I make the
filtering block of cylindrical or annular form, and surround its outer surface with
a casing forming a narrow annular chamber, into which the before-mentioned
supply pipe enters tangentially, thus causing the water to sweep round in the
chamber in contact with the filtering surface before issuing into the cistern through
one or more openings in the outer casing, which openings may be separated from
the inlet pipe by a partition in the annular chamber.
In domestic filters consisting of a funnel, in which is fitted the filtering block,
and which rests in the neck of a bottle for receiving the filtered water, some incon-

page_text: venience is experienced in removing the funnel in order to pour the water out of
the bottle, and in so removing the funnel the water continues to drip therefrom
In order to remedy these inconveniences I provide a rod passing centrally through
the filtering block and the beak of the funnel, through which it can slide up and
down to a limited extent; and I form on the upper end of the rod projecting
beyond the funnel a loop or handle, while on its lower end I fix a disc acting as a
valve. Thus when it is desired to remove the funnel from the bottle this is readily
effected by pulling the handle of the rod, whereby, firstly, the beak of the funnel is
closed by the disc, so as to prevent the escape of water, after which the rod raises
the funnel off the bottle by the pressure of the disc against the lower end of the
funnel.
For the purpose of filtering the air supplied to an apartment by a vertical
ventilating tube I hang within the tube a conical or taper bag made of porous
fabric, the mouth of the bag being stretched by a hoop, which rests at the top of
the ventilating tube, while the apex of the bag hangs freely below. By this
arrangement I am enabled to obtain an extended porous surface for the passage of
the air, and the bag can with facility be removed for cleansing, and replaced.
A bag, such as I have described, may be stretched on a light wire frame and
inserted in the tube, and this arrangement may be used when the ventilating tube
is not vertical.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Livesey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th October
1877.
JAMES LIVESEY, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS FOR WATER AND AIR."
My Invention relates to the construction of filters for water in which the filtering
materials are aerated, and ready access is given for cleansing or renewal, and to
moans of filtering the air supplied to apartments by ventilating tubes by sifting
from it the impurities suspended in it.
For a water filter I employ an upright vessel, preferably cylindrical in shape,
divided by two horizontal partitions into three compartiments. In the higher
partition there is a central hole sufficiently large to give access to the com-
partment below, which hole is plugged by a block of porous stone or compressed
charcoal.
The water to be filtered is supplied to the highest compartment, and one or more
air pipes extend through the highest partition, and thence up above the level of the
water supplied.
Instead of pipes one or more air passages may be formed in the walls of the
vessel, or the whole upper compartment may be made of the form of a basin with
its upper lip resting on the top edge of the filter, there being passage for air in
the annular space between the basin and the filter wall. As the air which passes
through the pipes or passages mentioned above has the effect of aerating the
filtering materials, as I will hereafter explain, I prefer to provide the mouths of the
air passages with plugs of loose cotton for the purpose of keeping back the organic
matters suspended in the air that might otherwise pass with it to the filtering
materials. The lower partition is perforated, and has one or more raised hollow
ribs or prominences, also perforated, projecting upwards from its general surface.
On this partition are laid the loose filtering materials of such kinds as are usually
employed. The partition itself may be flat with corrugated cakes of compressed
carbon or other filtering material placed on it, and the partition itself may be dis-
pensed with, such cakes themselves effecting the necessary separation of the chambers.
The lowest compartment receives the filtered water, and is provided with an outlet
pipe with a cock, valve, or plug,

page_text: The action of the filter is as follows:-Water supplied to the uppermost com-
partment percolates through the porous plug, and then through the filtering
materials in the middle compartment and the partition, on which they rest, into
the lowest compartment, displacing the air contained in it, which air finds its way
through the perforations in the raised parts of the lowest partition or of the
porous cakes, and rises through the filtering materials, finally escaping by the air
passages from the middle compartment.
When a quantity of the filtered water is drawn off, the supply through the
porous plug above being very much retarded, air enters by the passages into the
middle compartment, and follows the water down through the filtering material into
the space in the lowest compartment left void of water by its withdrawal. The
air so entering is in its turn caused by the downward percolation of the water
to rise again through the filtering materials, which are thus more or less aerated
every time water is withdrawn from the filter. The air passages may have valves,
whereby only the entering air is made to pass through the filter.
Filters arranged to act in the manner just described may be placed in tanks, in
which case the uppermost compartment is dispensed with, the water of the tank
constituting the supply that percolates through the porous plug; but in this case
also I provide air pipes or passages extending above the water level for the purpose
above stated.
In order to obtain in filters a great length of filtering chamber, I prefer to place
the filtering materials in a pipe, which, in order to economise space, may be turned
into a spiral or zig-zag form, plugs being provided at the bends for giving access to
the several convolutions. Or, instead of a zig-zag pipe, the filtering chamber may
consist of annular spaces between concentric cylinders, so arranged that the water
has to pass to and fro in these spaces in zig-zags. In employing filters of this
kind I prefer to make the water supply enter in a jet the orifice of the filter
chamber, so as to take with it air for the purpose of aerating the filtering materials,
or I cause the supply water to flow with considerable velocity along a pipe to which
there is a lateral air supply.
In cistern filters that are immersed in the water contained in the cistern I provide
for the removal of any deposit that may form on the surface of the block of filtering
material in the following manner :-Instead of allowing the water supply to flow
from the ball-cock directly into the cistern, I cause it to flow over the surface of
the filtering block, or into a narrow chamber or jacket surrounding or enclosing the
filtering block or blocks, which chamber or jacket is made to communicate through
openings at one or more points with the waterspace of the cistern; thus every
time the water is adınitted through the ball-cock it rushes with considerable velocity
over the filtering surface before issuing into the cistern, whereby it effectually
removes any deposit on the filtering surface.
In some cases I introduce any suitable granular substance into the said narrow
chamber, so that in being agitated by the flow of water it will assist in scouring the
filtering surface.
In one construction of filter for carrying out the above arrangement I make the
filtering block of cylindrical or annular form, and surround its outer surface with a
casing forming a narrow annular chamber into which tho before-mentioned supply
pipe enters tangentially, thus causing the water to sweep round in the chamber in
contact with the filtering surface before issuing into the cistern through one or more
openings in the outer casing, which openings may be separated from the inlet pipe
by a partition in the annular chamber.
In domestic filters consisting of a funnel in which is fitted the filtering block,
and which rests in the neck of a bottle for receiving the filtered water, some incon-
venience is experienced in removing the funnel, in order to pour the water out of
the bottle, and in so removing the funnel the water continues to drip there-
from. In order to remedy these inconveniences I provide a rod passing cen-
trally through the filtering block and the beak of the funnel, through which

page_text: it can slide up and down to a limited extent, and I form on the upper end of the
rod projecting beyond the funnel a loop or handle, while on its lower end I fix a
disc acting as a valve. Thus, when it is desired to romove the funnel from the
bottle, this is readily offected by pulling the handle of the rod, whereby, firstly, the
beak of the funnel is closed by the disc, so as to prevent the escape of water, after
which the rod raises the funnel of the bottle by the pressure of the disc against the
lower end of the funnel.
For the purpose of filtering the air supplied to an apartment by a vertical ven-
tilating tube I hang within the tube a conical or taper bag made of porous fabric,
the mouth of the bag being stretched by a hoop which rests at the top of the ven-
tilating tube, while the apex of the bag hangs freely below. By this arrange-
ment I am enabled to obtain an extended porous surface for the passage of the
air, and the bag can with facility be removed for cleansing, and replaced.
A bag, such as I have described, may be stretched on a light wire frame and
inserted in the tube, and this arrangement may be used when the ventilating tubo
is not vertical.
DESCRIPTION of the DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of one form of water filter according to my In-
vention; A, B, and C are the three compartments into which it is divided, A being
that for supply, which is divided from B by a partition in a hole, in which is placed
n plug of compressed charcoal a, through which the water percolates. The com-
partment B is charged with the loose filtering materials, resting on a perforated
partition which separates B and C. I prefer to make this bottom with one or more
parts, such as b, projecting upwards, so that the air displaced from C by the per-
colation of the water into it may readily escape upwards through the material in
B. Air tubes c, c, extend upwards from B above the level of the water in A.; and
I prefer to place loose cotton in the mouths of these tubes, so as to sift from
impurities the air which is drawn in when water is run off from C.
In the modified construction, shewn in Fig. 2, air passages care provided in the
walls of the filter.
According to another modification, as shewn in Fig. 3, the upper compartment A
is made in the form of a basin suspended in the filter vessel by its lip, leaving
annular passage of air around it. In this case the plug of compressed charcoal a is
extended over the whole area of the bottom, and the partition b separating B from
C is corrugated.
For this partition may be substituted a corrugated cake of compressed charcoal,
as shewn in section at Fig. 4 and in plan at Fig. 4ª, and several such cakes may be
placed one over the other.
A modified construction of filter is shewn in Fig. 5, in which case the air passage c
extends upwards from the lowest compartment C, and is provided at its mouth with
a valve c¹, consisting of a flap of caoutchouc or leather, to prevent air from entering
the compartment C except through the filtering materials.
Fig. 6 shews the arrangement of the filter when it is placed in a cistern or tank,
which in that case takes the place of the upper compartment A, the filtered water
issuing constantly at the bottom exit C.
Fig. 7 shews an arrangement of filter applicable, when it is desired to accom-
modate in small space a considerable length of course for the water through the
filtering materials; these materials are disposed in the annular spaces between
concentric cylindrical partitions, so that the water must pass in a zig-zag course
alternately downwards and upwards, on its way from the supply at the outer ring
to its discharge in the centre. It is of advantage to supply the filter by an open
jet or stream, as shewn at D, so that the water entering the filter takes with it a
quantity of air that serves to aerate the filtering materials.
Fig. 8 shews in vertical section an arrangement, whereby the supply by the ball
cock of a cistern is made to scour the porous surface of a filter placed therein.
Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the filter,.which consists of a cylinder E of com-

page_text: pressed charcoal, or of other suitable porous material, containing the loose filtering
materials F; this cylinder is enclosed in a casing G into an opening in the side of
When the ball cock is
which is led tangentially a pipe g from the ball-cock.
opened the water supplying the cistern is directed by the pipe ground the
annular space between G and F, and has the effect of scouring the surface of the
porous material.
Fig. 9 shews by vertical section the application of a valve to the funnel of a
bottle filter, according to my Invention. The mouth of the funnel has a caoutchouc
plug H with a hole through it, in which is inserted a tube h extending upwards
through a block of charcoal I, and above the level of the supply water. The part
of the tube about the middle of the block I is perforated, so that water oozing
through the body of the block from the outside towards the centre finds its way
into the tube, and flows down into the bottle below. Through the tube passes a
rod having at its upper end a handle K, and at its lower end a coned button L.
When it is desired to remove the funnel from the bottle it is lifted off by the handle
K, and this, by pulling up the rod, causes the button L to seat itself as a valve
against the plug H, thereby closing the aperture and preventing the dropping of
water therefrom.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,—
First. Constructing a water filter in three compartments with suitable porous
partitions and air passages, substantially as hercin described with reference to
Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. Constructing a water filter with zig-zag passages charged with the
filtering materials for the purpose of extending within moderate compass the course
of the water through the same, substantially as herein described with reference to
Fig. 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. Arranging a filter in a cistern in connection with the ball cock thereof, so
that the supply water is made to scour the porous surface of the filter, substan-
tially as herein described.
Fourth. Fitting the funnel of a bottle filter with a rod and valve, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Livesey, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES LIVESEY (0)