Improvements in or connected with Filtering Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Filtering Apparatus.
We, THE REEVES PATENT FILTERS COMPANY, LIMITED, and WILFRED REEVES,
Engineer, both of Albany Buildings, 39, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with filtering
apparatus and has reference more particularly to filters of large size, such as
used in water works for purifying town supplies.
One feature of the invention consists in so constructing the filtering bed as
to obviate the difficulty that arises in ordinary filters of large size by reason
of the liquid creeping down between the wall of the filter and the filtering
material.
A further feature of the invention consists in providing an improved device
for agitating or stirring up the upper or finer layer of material on the filter
bed, the said device consisting of revolving arms having rotating radial
rods or spokes mounted thereon, and digging into the said material.
Another feature of the invention has reference to a mode of purifying or
sterilizing the filter bed by forcing steam through the same.
The invention further relates to a construction of filter which can be used
if desired for purifying liquids by the addition of suitable purifying agents,
and in which the filtering material can be readily cleansed by reversing the
direction of flow of the liquid through it.
One construction of filter according to our invention, which can if desired
be used also for the purification of liquids, consists of a suitable cylindrical tank
or casing in the lower part of which the filter bed is arranged while the upper
part is divided by a conical wall or partition extending upward from the.
filter bed.
The material of the filter bed rests upon a suitable strainer plate or grid,
such as hereinafter referred to, and the wall thereof instead of being vertical,
is of conical shape so that the area of the lower part of the bed is less than
that of the upper part. The result of this arrangement is that the liquid no
longer creeps down between the filtering material and the wall and so escapes
unfiltered through the coarse part of the bed, but the said liquid is caused to
descend evenly and regularly through the whole of the bed, and is effectually
filtered.
The conical wall or partition above the filter bed is kept filled with liquid
and enables the same head of liquid to be maintained with a less volume and
weight thereof than if a cylindrical chamber were employed. Moreover the
space between the conical chamber and the wall of the filter casing forms a

page_text: settling chamber into which the liquid is introduced and from which it over-
flows into the conical chamber, after undergoing a preliminary filtering through
a coarse filter arranged in the upper part of the settling chamber. A suitable
arrangement of pipes and valves is provided to enable the inlet and outlet of
the liquid to and from the filter to be controlled, and the inclined wall of the
filter bed has arranged around its upper edge a trough or channel into which
the liquid overflows freely all around the bed when its direction is reversed to
purify the filter. This trough or channel communicates with a draw off pipe of
such a size that the liquid runs away as fast as it enters the trough and con-
sequently the latter remains always practically empty.
The device for stirring the finer upper layer of filtering material comprises
as stated a pair of revolving arms, on which the stirrers proper are free to
rotate. The arms are provided at their outer ends with wheels or rollers running
on a annular rim or projection on the wall of the filter bed. The motion may
be communicated to the said arms by bevel gear acting on a central spindle
from which the arms extend laterally. The stirrers are set after the manner of
the spokes of a wheel, and as the arms revolve the said stirrers are caused to dig
into and stir up the fine material on the filter bed.
When the apparatus is being used for filtering, the liquid is run into the
settling chamber, and flows over the conical wall or partition completely filling
the space inside the same and above the filter bed. As the filtering proceeds
the filtered liquid collects in the bottom of the filter, the said bottom having
an outlet at the centre to which the walls thereof converge. The liquid is led
away by a suitable draw off pipe.
The strainer or grid on which the filter bed is supported has numerous conical
perforations and is supported above the bottom of the filter by short pillars or
rods rivetted or otherwise secured to it and resting upon the said bottom. It
may be formed in any desired number of sections and at its centre rests upon a
hollow-block or casting having say four openings or slits in the sides thereof
the purpose of which is to distribute the liquid evenly to the under side of
the filter bed when the flow is reversed for cleansing the filter.
This cleansing is effected by running off any sediment in the settling chamber
and by admitting the liquid to the upper side of the coarse filter in the settling
chamber the said liquid filling the settling chamber and being conducted through
a pipe connected with the outlet pipe for the filtered liquid. Through this latter
pipe and the aforesaid hollow block or casting the liquid flows to the under side
of the filter bed and passes up through the same, finally overflowing into the
aforesaid annular trough or channel round the filter bed. At the same time the
stirrer or agitator is worked to loosen the filtering material and fascilitate
the removal of impurities therefrom.
The sterilization is effected by allowing the filter bed to drain and then blow-
ing steam, either ordinary or superheated, into the under part of the filter, so
that it rises up through the said filter bed and thoroughly acts on and sterilizes
the same.
If the liquid is to be purified as well as filtered, such purification may con-
veniently be effected by means of suitable purifying agents introduced into the
settling chamber, by pipes or otherwise.
Although in the construction of apparatus above described, the conical wall
or partition is referred to as being inside the wall of the filter, yet we wish it
to be understood that in some cases the said conical wall, may form the outer
casing of the filter the settling chamber being in this case dispensed with.
Moreover instead of supporting the filter bed upon perforated plates, or grids
and admitting the liquid beneath such plates, we may arrange in the lower and
coarser part of the filter bed a series of tubes extending radially from a central
box or chamber and provided with perforated nozzles or jets, some of which may
be arranged in an inclined direction so as to throw the liquid into the filtering

page_text: The material of the filter bed b rests upon a suitable strainer or grid e, and
the adjacent wall of the lower part of the casing instead of being vertical, is of
conical shape as at a³ so that the area of the lower part of the bed is less than
that of the upper part. The result of this arrangement is that the particles
composing the upper or finer layer of material on the filter bed are forced
against the conical wall of the casing whereby the liquid is prevented from
creeping down between the filtering material and the wall of the filter and cannot
therefore escape in an unfiltered condition through the coarse layers of the bed;
the said liquid descending evenly and regularly through the whole of the bed,
and becoming effectually filtered.
The strainer or grid e on which the filter bed rests is perforated all over with
conical holes. In order to leave a free space below the filter bed, the said grid
is supported above the funnel shaped or conical bottom a of the filter by short
pillars or rods e¹ which are rivetted or otherwise secured to the grid and rest
upon the said bottom. The grid is formed in segments or sections (Figure 2),
of which there may be any desired number, and at its centre the said grid rests
upon a hollow-block or casting having say four openings or slits e³ in. the sides
thereof, the purpose of which is to distribute the liquid evenly to the under side
of the filter bed when the flow is reversed for cleansing the filter:
A
The space between the conical chamber d and the wall of the filter tank forms
a settling chamber f into which the liquid is introduced and from which it over-
flows into the conical chamber d, after undergoing a preliminary filtering through
a coarse filter g arranged on a grid gl in the upper part of the settling chamber.
The lower part of the said settling chamber is provided with a filling of cement
or the like, the upper surface of which is inclined. Such filling prevents the
sediment collecting in the angle between the conical wall and the outer casing
of the filter tank. A suitable arrangement of pipes h, h1, h2, and valves i, i¹,
23, 23, 24, 25 is provided to enable the inlet and outlet of the liquid to and from
the filter to be controlled, and the inclined wall of the filter bed has arranged
around its upper edge a trough or channel k into which the liquid overflows
freely all around the bed when its direction is reversed to purify the filter.
This trough or channel communicates with a draw-off pipe controlled by a
valve, and this pipe is of such a size that the liquid runs away as fast as it
enters the trough, so that the latter remains always practically empty.
The device for stirring the finer upper layer of filtering material of the bed b
comprises as stated a pair of revolving arms m m¹ formed of one continuous bar
of metal on which the stirrers proper n are free to rotate. The arms are provided
at their outer ends with wheels or rollers m² running on an annular rim or pro-
jection ¹ on the wall of the trough k. Motion is communicated to the said arms
by bevel gearing oo operated by handles o² or otherwise. The wheel o¹ is
mounted on a central vertical spindle p mounted in cross-bearers or supports q
and provided with a ball-bearing r. The arms extend laterally from the lower
end of the spindle and are connected therewith by a block or casting s.
Each
of the stirrers proper comprises a series of fingers n arranged radially around
a hub n', and as the arms m m¹ revolve in a plane parallel to the filter bed b
the said fingers are caused to dig into and stir up the fine material on the said
filter bed without causing it to be
banked up".
The conical chamber is kept filled with liquid and enables the same head
or pressure to be maintained with a less volume and weight of liquid than would
be required if a cylindrical chamber were employed.
When the apparatus is being used for filtering, the liquid to be filtered is
run into the settling chamber through the pipe h and valve i, and flows over the
conical wall or partition c completely filling the chamber or space d above the
filter bed. As the filtering proceeds the filtered liquid collects in the bottom of
the filter and is withdrawn through a central outlet by the pipe h² and valves 2²
and 2³.

page_text: material between the pipes when the bed is being washed. The liquid may be
admitted to and withdrawn from the central box or chamber from below.
Dated this 1st day of November 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or connected with Filtering Apparatus.
We, THE REEVES PATENT FILTERS COMPANY LIMITED, and WILFRED REEVES,
Engineer, both of Albany Buildings, 39, Victoria Street, Westminster, 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 improvements in or connected with filtering
apparatus and has reference more particularly to filters of large size, such as
used in water works for purifying town supplies.
One feature of the invention consists in so constructing the filtering bed as
to obviate the defective filtering that arises in ordinary filters of large size by
reason of the liquid creeping down between the wall of the filter and the filtering
material.
A further feature of the invention consists in providing an improved device
for agitating or stirring up the upper or finer layer of material on the filter
bed when desired, the said device consisting of revolving arms having rotating
radial rods or spokes mounted thereon, and digging into the said material.
Another feature of the invention has reference to a mode of purifying or
sterilizing the filter bed by forcing steam through the same.
The invention also relates to a construction of filter which can be used if
desired for purifying liquids by the addition of suitable purifying, agents, and
in which the filtering material can be readily cleansed by reversing the direction
of flow of the liquid through it.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will now proceed to describe the same more fully with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of one construction of our improved filter.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail view hereinafter referred to.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan, and
Figure 5 a sectional elevation of a modification of a part of the filter herein-
after described.
The construction of filter shown in Figures 1 to 3 consists of a suitable cylin-
drical tank or casing a supported by brackets or stays a¹ and resting on a brick
work foundation a². The lower part of this casing contains the filter bed b while
in the upper part is arranged a conical wall c extending upward from the vicinity
of the filter bed, and forming a conical or funnel shaped chamber d, the areas
of the top of the filter bed and the bottom of the conical chamber being praç-
tically alike.

page_text: The cleansing of the filter is effected as follows:-
The valve is first closed, and any sediment in the settling chamber is run
off through the pipe h' and valves and 3. The liquid is then admitted through
the valve to the upper side of the coarse filter g and descending through the
same, fills the settling chamber f and is conducted thence through the pipe h¹
to the outlet pipe h² for the filtered liquid, the valves being so set as to
admit of the liquid flowing back through this latter pipe to the under side of
the filter. Prior to reaching the latter however the liquid flows through the
aforesaid hollow block or casting e² and distributes itself through the openings e³
to the under side of the filter bed and passes up through the same, finally over-
flowing into the annular trough or channel k. At the same time the stirrer or
agitator is worked to loosen the filtering material and facilitate the removal of
impurities therefrom.
The sterilization is effected by allowing the filter bed to drain and then blow-
ing steam either ordinary or superheated into the under part of the filter, so that
it rises up through the said filter bed and thoroughly acts on and sterilizes the
same. The steam may conveniently be admitted to the pipe 2 through a cock h³
after the valve has been closed.
Referring to the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 the filter bed instead of
being supported upon perforated plates or grids, rests directly on the bottom
of the filter while in the lower and coarser part of such bed is arranged a series
of tubest extending radially from a central box or chamber and provided
with perforated nozzles or jets 12. These nozzles or jets near the wall of the
chamber or casing a³ may be inclined alternately to opposite sides, so as to
throw the liquid into the filtering material between the pipes, when the bed is
being washed. The liquid is admitted to and withdrawn from the central box
or chamber from below by a pipe 2 corresponding to the pipe h2 shown in
Figure 1.
If the liquid is to be purified as well as filtered such purification may be
effected by means of suitable purifying agents introduced into the settling
chamber f, by pipes or otherwise.
Although in the construction of apparatus above described, the conical wall
or partition is referred to as being inside the wall of the filter, yet we wish it
to be understood that in some cases the said conical wall, may form the outer
casing of the filter, the settling chamber f being in such cases dispensed with,
or made separate from the filter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A filter in which the creeping of the liquid between the filtering material
and the surrounding wall is prevented by the conical formation of said wall
substantially as described.
2. A device substantially as described, comprising a spindle furnished with
arms carrying rotative stirrers that are adapted to enter and agitate the upper
or finer layer of material on the filtering bed when said spindle is revolved, for
the purpose specified.
3. A filter in which the main filtering bed b is superimposed by a conical wall.
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with the aforesaid conical wall of a settling chamber f
and a coarse filtering bed g arranged substantially as described and for the
purpose specified.
5. The combination with the conical portion a³ of the filter of a slotted hollow
casting and of a perforated strainer or grid formed in segments which are
supported above the funnel shaped bottom a substantially as described and for
the purpose specified.
6. The modification of the arrangement set forth in the last preceding claim,

page_text: in which a series of tubes, having perforations or nozzles, radiate from a central
box or chamber in the conical portion a³ of the filter substantially as described.
7. A filter constructed substantially as described with reference to Figures 1,
2 and 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 19th day of July 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.