Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Filtering Liquids.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Filtering
Liquids.
I, ALEXANDRE CAPILLERY, of Vigan (Gard), in the Republic of France, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The improved filtering apparatus constructed according to this invention is simple
in construction, capable of being quickly put together or taken to pieces and is easy
to use; its filtering capacity is also very great in proportion to its size. It is applicable
to the filtration of wine, beer and other liquids in general.
The apparatus is composed essentially of one or any suitable number of plates
provided on one or both sides with spiral or other grooves or channels. This arrange-
ment enables the liquid which is filtered by percolating through filtering material
supported by the ridges between the grooves to be conducted to a discharge passage
arranged in any convenient position.
These grooves when spirally arranged in circular plates for example end at a short
distance from the periphery so that a flat surface is left all round the plates for the
purpose of making a joint with rings or washers maintaining the plates at a suitable
distance apart.
This flat part is extended or enlarged and perforated at two places
on diametrically opposite edges of the plate so as to form eyes which when the plates
are placed one on the other with the rings interposed form continuous inlet and outlet
passages the joints of which are perfectly closed when the plates are pressed together
mechanically. The grooves are parallel and of sufficient depth to ensure the ready
flowing away of the whole of the liquid that passes through the filtering material.
They are moreover sufficiently narrow to enable the ridges separating them to
effectually support the filtering cloths leather paper or other material and protect it
from injury or tearing under the pressure of the liquid.
Between two consecutive filtering plates there is placed a washer formed by a ring
provided on its inner edge at two diametrically opposite points with two eyes the
openings in which coincide with the corresponding eyes or orifices in the filtering
plates so that their combination forms the adinission and discharge passages.
The cloths or pieces of filtering material cut out to fit the apparatus are likewise
provided with holes which correspond with the orifices in the plates and rings so as
not to stop up or obstruct the admission and discharge passages.
an
These filtering cloths may be coated or saturated exclusively at the edges or circum-
ference where they act as packing between the plates and the rings with
impermeable substance such as paraffin or the like in order to prevent the liquid from
exuding at the joints.
The elements of the filter being piled or superposed one above the other in suitable
number according to the capacity of the apparatus are pressed either by any suitable
means such as the action of a central screw or by a number of screws arranged at the
external circumference of the filter and working in nuts provided on the base and the
top plate or cover of the filter.
The base of the apparatus carries the continuation of the admission or supply and
of the discharge passages and is grooved on the upper surface in the same way as the
plates and like the plates is provided with the requisite orifices for the passage of the
iquid. The top plate which forms the cover of the apparatus is likewise provided with
hese grooves and orifices.
The uprights or connecting bars whether vertical or horizontal may be hinged or
ointed to the base so as to form a stirrup waich can be raised or lowered.
In the eyes on one side of the rings there are formed lateral orifices proceeding
from the interior of the passage to the external surface of the eye so as to conduct the

page_text: liquid to be filtered into the spaces between the plates, that is to say between the
iltering papers or cloths. These orifices must be of a diameter corresponding to
the thickness and be sufficiently numerous to admit to the filtering chambers a suitable
quantity of the liquid that is to be filtered.
When the apparatus is in action each groove constitutes an independent channel
conducting the liquid either to the centre or to the periphery and in order to provide
for the continuance of the passages and at the same time to preserve the flat surface
at the edges of the plates the grooves may be connected to the collecting or discharge
passage by holes or passages formed in the thickness of the plates.
Suitable connections are provided either on the base plate or on the cover plate for
the purpose of placing the supply pipe or passage in communication with the unfiltered
liquid or material and placing the collecting passage in communication with the
vessels receiving the filtered liquid.
The apparatus forms a hermetically closed vessel when the plates rings and cloths are
all placed in position and pressed together. The materials passing through it are thus
protected from the air and from evaporation and they cannot escape from the supply
passage except by passing through the lateral holes in the eyes of the rings which
conduct them to the filtering chambers or spaces between the grooved plates in which
they spread out and from which they cannot escape except by passing through the
filtering cloths into the grooves or channels in the plates which lead to the collecting
passage and discharge pipe.
The filter may be constructed with one only or with any suitable number of plates
pressed together by any suitable means projections and recesses may be formed on the
plates for the purpose of enabling them to be readily placed in position with the eyes
forming the passages properly registering one with the other.
In a filter with only one grooved plate the grooves may be closed at the circumference
and open into a central collecting or discharge passage communicating with a valve
of special construction hereinafter described the materials to be filtered being likewise
admitted by a central opening on the other side of the filter.
The valve of special construction hereinbefore referred to is employed to draw the
liquid beneath the froth and is in the form of a pump body with a suction pipe and
valve but the valve rod is simply a tube which slides in the suction pipe being some-
what longer than the latter so as to allow the valve to rise in the body of the pump.
By pressing on the bottom of the vessel to be filled this second tube is caused to
rise in the first and the valve opens.
Contrarily to the action of a pump the liquid is brought in the first place into the
pump body where it will remain if the valve is shut but when the valve is lifted the
liquid passes through holes in the inner pipe above its flange or packing and escapes
through this inner pipe into the hottle or vessel to be filled with filtered liquid the
extremity of the pipe being notched to facilitate the discharge. The liquid is thus
conducted to the bottom of the vessel which will fill independently of the froth on the
surface of the liquid. The vessel being filled the valve is simply allowed to fall in
order to arrest the flow but in order to discharge into the vessel the column of liquid
remaining in the tubes an orifice is provided through both tubes which admits air
when the valve is closed and enables the column of liquid to descend into the vessel.
In place of the spiral grooves in the plates concentric circular or other forms of
grooves or channels may be employed. In this case it is preferable to intersect and
connect these grooves by radial or other grooves.
In place of the grooves and ridges projections suitably distributed over the surface
of the plate may be employed.
The plates may be provided with grooves or their equivalents on one side only the
other side being hollowed and utilised as a filtering chamber.
The filtering plates may be made very light by forming on opposite sides deep
grooves or channels running in different directions so that at the points where the
channels on one side cross or intersect those on the other side the substance of the
plate is cut completely through so as to constitute a grid or open work.
The channels may be combined in any suitable manner so as to intersect one another

page_text: and the plates may be connected in pairs or otherwise so as to cause the same liquid to
be filtered more than once. For example a lateral supply passage and connections
may be arranged to deliver the liquid first to the plates corresponding to the even
numbers in a series when it passes to the odd plates which deliver the filtered product
to a central discharge passage which may be provided with a perforated pipe for the
escape of the liquid.
The liquid may be admitted at the circumference and escape at the centre or vice versa
or it may be both admitted and discharged either at the centre or at the circumference
and the supply and discharge passages may be of any convenient form and number
the liquid being supplied and drawn off at one or any suitable number of points.
Filtering plates arranged as hereinbefore described constructed for example with a
number of inlet orifices at their circumference may be enclosed in a closed chamber
into which the liquid to be filtered is introduced. This liquid is passed through th
filter entering the said orifices and escaping through a central passage leading to the
exterior of the enclosing vessel or chamber. This chamber is constructed with a li
capable of being tightly closed and provided with screws for applying pressure to the
plates of the filter.
The plates may be pressed together by any suitable mechanical arrangement such
as bolts and nuts or by screws on perforated pipes employed for supplying and drawing
off the liquids.
These filtering plates may be conveniently combined with funnels for filling bottles
or decanters being arranged to deliver the filtered liquid at the centre which is
provided with a suitable nozzle or tube entering the mouth of the bottle for example.
Such filtering funnels may be employed with ordinary filter paper laid flat or
horizontally on the grooves or channels of the plate (the edges being turned up and
crimped or folded) and the liquid may be forced through the paper by arranging
tube or supplementary funnel above the filter so that the pressure of the super-
incumbent column of liquid accelerates the passage of the liquid through the filter or
the same effect may be obtained by exhausting the air from beneath the filter by
means of a pump or otherwise.
a
In order to provide filtered water for travellers or soldiers for example a vessel
containing water may he elevated upon the bayonets attached to three rifies and the
water being drawn off from this vessel by means of a flexible pipe communicating with
filter placed on the ground the pressure causes an abundant supply of filtered water
to be immediately delivered.
minh thi t
T
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Filtering
Liquids.
J ALEXANDRE CAPILLERY of Vigan (Gard) in the Republic of France do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The improved filtering apparatus constructed according to this invention is simple
in construction capable of being quickly put together or taken to pieces and is
easy to use, its filtering capacity is also very great in proportion to its size. It
is applicable to the filtration of wine beer and other liquids in general.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now prod
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of refern ve
indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding figures.
Figure One of the accompanying drawings shows in elevation the general

page_text: arrangement of a "Capillery
invention.
33
filter or apparatus constructed according to my
Figure Two drawn to a larger scale represents the filter in vertical section.
The two filtering plates A at the top and at the bottom respectively are shown in
section the details of the intermediate plates being omitted.
Figure Three is a corresponding plan with the upper part of the apparatus
removed so as to shew the upper surface of one of the said filtering plates.
Figure Four is a plan of a washer or ring with distribution and discharge passages as
hereinafter described.
Figure Five represents in vertical section a filter constructed with only one
filtering plate the outlet being situated at the centre.
Figure Six is a corresponding plan showing the surface of the plate.
Figure Seven represents in longitudinal section a special tap or cock fitted to or
employed in combination with the one plate filter illustrated in Figures five and six.
Figure Eight represents a modified form of filtering plate hereinafter described.
Figure Nine represents a funnel employed in combination with the improved
filtering arrangements.
The remaining figures illustrate modifications and details hereinafter described.
The apparatus Figures one and two is composed essentially of filtering plates A
provided on one or both sides with spiral grooves. This peculiar arrangement is
employed because it enables the liquid which is filtered by percolating through
filtering material supported by the ridges between the grooves at any part of the
apparatus to be received in one and the same passage and to be conducted
with certainty either to the centre or to the circumference of the said plates.
These grooves end at a short distance from the periphery or edges of the plates
so that a flat surface B Figure three is left all round the plates for the purpose of
enabling them to make a joint with the rings or washers E which maintain the
plates at a suitable distance apart. This flat part is extended at two places on
diametrically opposite edges of the plate so as to cut off the grooves from the
edges of eyes and D Figure three the orifices of which when the plates A are
placed one on the other with the rings E interposed form a continuous inlet
passage G and a continuous outlet passage F Figure two the joints of which like
the other joints in the apparatus are effectually closed or made tight by pressure.
The grooves in the plates A are parallel and of sufficient depth to ensure the flowing
away of the whole of the liquid that passes through the filtering cloth or material
resting on the ridges between the grooves and communicate through holes f with the
discharge passage F.
The grooves are sufficiently narrow to enable the ridges separating them to
effectually support the filtering material or fabric and protect it from bursting or tearing
under the pressure of the liquid.
Moreover the grooves are placed so near together and the edges of the ridges are
so narrow as to cause this part of the plates which is in contact with the filtering
material to encumber the passages in the said material as little as possible. Between
two consecutive filtering plates A there is placed a washer or ring E Figure two
provided on its inner edge at two diametrically opposite points with two eyes F¹ G'
Figure four the openings in which coincide with the corresponding orifices in the
filtering plates so that their combination forms the admission and discharge passages F
and G Figure two hereinbefore referred to.
The cloths or pieces of filtering material H cut out to fit the apparatus are likewise
provided with holes which correspond with the passages F and G so as not to stop
up or obstruct the same. The said material also acts as packing for preventing
leakage at the joints. These filtering cloths may be coated exclusively at the parts
where they act as packing between the plates A and the rings E with an impermeable
substance such as paraffin or the like in order to prevent the liquid from percolating
through the joints and exuding at the exterior of the apparatus.
The several parts composing the filter being piled or superposed one above the
other in suitable number according to the capacity of the apparatus are pressed either

page_text: by the action of a central screw as represented in Figures one and two or
number of screws arranged at the external circumference of the filter and working in
nuts provided on the base and in the top plate or cover of the filter.
The base J of the apparatus is provided with passages forming a continuation of the
admission and discharge passages F and G and is grooved on the upper surface in the
same way as the plates A and like the said plates is provided with the requisito
orifices for the escape of the liquid into the discharge passage F. The top plate K
which forms the cover of the apparatus is likewise provided with these grooves and
orifices.
The uprights of the press whether vertical or horizontal may be hinged or jointe:
at their junction with the base so as to form a stirrup or bail which can be raised or
lowered by oscillating on a pin or pivot as centre.
In the eyes G' in the rings E Figure four there are formed orifices 9 proceeding
from the interior of the passage so as to conduct the liquid to be filtered into the
spaces L (Figure two) between the filtering fabric or material H. These orifices
must be of a diameter corresponding to the thickness and be sufficiently numerous to
admit to the filtering chambers a suitable quantity of the liquid that is to be filtered.
When the apparatus is in action each groove constitutes an independent channel
conducting the liquid either to the centre or to the periphery and in order that these
channels may not be closed at the end either by the solid or ungrooved parts of the
plates which correspond with the eyes of the rings E or by the solid or flat part left at
the circumference to make the joint and to provide for the continuance of the passages
at the same time retaining the flat surface at these parts the grooves are continued in
the form of holes or passages formed in the thickness of the plates and leading to the
collecting passage.
These openings or holes as indicated in the drawings must correspond to the
number of grooves in the plates and provide accurately for the discharge not
merely from the part of the groove proceeding from the centre to the solid part
corresponding to the eyes but also for the discharge from that portion of the
which is continued from the other side of the solid part at the eye to the periphery.
These holes or passages in the interior of the solid part of the plates are provided only
at the solid part corresponding with the orifice forming the collecting passage.
groove
The number of grooves may be such that one of them would not when continuel
meet the collecting passage. In this case this groove is male to correspond with the
opposite groove of the same plate in the under part and the liquid by changing
passages thus finds an outlet to the collecting passage.
Suitable connections are provided either on the base plate as indicated in the
drawing or on the cover plate according to convenience or the exigencies of the
construction of the apparatus for the purpose of placing the supply pipe or passage in
communication with the mass of unfiltered liquid or material and placing the collecting
passage in communication with the vessels receiving the filtered matter or liquid.
The apparatus as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings forms a hermetically closed vessel when the plates rings and cloths are placed
in position and pressed together. The materials passing through it are protected from
the air and from evaporation and when they have entered the supply or admission
passage G they cannot escape therefrom except by passing through the holes g in the
eyes of the rings so as to enter the filtering chambers spaces L in which they spread
out and from which they cannot escape except by passing through the filtering cloths
into the passages formed by the grooves in the plates A which discharge them through
the holes into the collecting passage F communicating with a discharge orifice
Figure 2.
This apparatus can be worked with any suitable number of plates having one or
more grooves and one or more supply and collecting pipes according to requirements.
The means employed for tightening or pressing the plates may be of any description
best adapted to the construction of the apparatus, and may be modified according to
the requirements of this construction the pressure being applied either at the central
part or at the periphery.

page_text: To ensure the correct adjustment or rather piling or superposing of the plates and
filtering papers or cloths I may employ any suitable register marks in order to ensure
that they may be immediately adjusted in the correct position with eyes coinciding
properly without trials. Thus for example each plate may be provided with two
circular notches or recesses on diametrically opposite sides which when the parts are
in position fit over the tension bars or uprights.
Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing show by way of example a filter with a single
filtering plate for a relatively small supply.
The principle of this apparatus is the same as that of the typical apparatus herein-
before described. The plate is grooved on one side only, the grooves proceed from
the centre to the circumference being continued right up to the flat part which forms
a ring at the edge all round the plate to make the joint. This ring is perforated with
holes for the reception of the tightening screws which secure it to the hollow plate
forming the filtering chamber. These two plates being thus adjusted one against the
other and having between them the sheets of filtering material which make the joint
also constitute a perfectly closed apparatus. The collecting passage F in this apparatus
is placed at the centre and holes perforated at the extremity of the grooves and
leading to this passage discharge the filtered liquid which issues through a special
cock or tap.
The filtered liquid which escapes from this improved filter with a certain amount of
velocity forms a froth which interferes with and retards the drawing off. It is
consequently necessary to conduct the liquid underneath the froth produced by the
rapid flow and to obtain this result I employ a cock or tap constructed with the valve
illustrated in Figures 5 and 7.
This tap is constructed with a spring valve s connected to a tube si which slides in
a pipe being somewhat longer than the said pipe which is connected to the valve
case and to a nozzle t¹ communicating with the supply of filtered liquid.
By pressing the projecting end of the tube on the bottom of the vessel to be
filled this tube s¹ is caused to rise or slide in the tube u' and the valve opens against
the pressure of its spring.
The filtered liquid under pressure then passes the valves and flows through holes s
into the inner pipe s' below the valve seat and escapes at the open end of this inner
pipe the extremity of which is notched to facilitate the escape of the liquid. The
liquid is thus conducted to the bottom of the vessel which is thereby enabled to fill
independently of any froth that may accumulate on the surface. When the vessel is
filled the pressure on the end of the tube s' is removed and the spring valve closes
automatically.
In order to discharge into the vessel the column of liquid remaining in the tube s
this tube is provided with an orifice s³ which when the valve is closed coincides with a
corresponding orifice in the tube u¹ and admits air above the column of liquid and
enables the liquid contained in the tube to descend into the vessel.
When the valve is open the orifice in the inner tube does not coincide with
the orifice in the outer tube and the liquid is thus prevented from escaping at this
point.
In the construction of the filtering plates A the weight may be reduced by forming
on opposite sides deep grooves or channels running in different directions so that at
the points where the channels on one side cross or intersect those on the other side the
substance of the plate is cut completely through so as to constitute a grid formed by
the intersecting ridges.
Figure 8 illustrates an example of this arrangement. On one side of the plate
deep channels are cut that is to say channels cut through about two thirds of the
thickness of the plate. The plate is then turned over and similar channels are ent
in a direction perpendicular to the first. The result is a species of grid possessing
sufficient strength by reason of the depth of the crossed arches of which it is
composed, but the weight is much smaller in proportion to the capacity of the plate.
In the example illustrated in Figure 8 the channels in each side are straight
and parallel to one another, but it is evident that any other combination of lines may

page_text: be employed provided that their directions on opposite sides cross one another at a
certain angle. The appearance of the grid may thus be modified in a great variety of
ways without affecting the action.
With this arrangement it will be seen that not only is the liquid supplied by the
supply passage or passages enabled to circulate as described but also the liquid
arriving at any part of the channels can pass freely to any point where it is to be
discharged the liquid being able to circulate freely in the interior of the plate which
is almost completely hollow at the middle of its thickness.
At the same time as hereinbefore stated the deep channels which are made in both
O sides of the plate may cross one another at any angle as near a right angle as possible
and pass in any desired direction.
Figures 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15 and 16 illustrate by way of examples sundry com-
binations that may be employed but to which I do not propose to contine myself in
practice as the same may be modified and multiplied according to requirements.
It is obvious that the peripheral form of these plates independently of the com-
bination of their channels may be modified in any suitable way and in all cases are
suited to the cylindrical prismatic or other form or configuration of the filter.
This particular mode of constructing the plates has led me to make other arrange-
ments connected with the supply and discharge of the liquid and the adjustment and
tightening of the apparatus. For example the liquid may enter by the passage A¹
formed by the junction of a certain number of plates (Figures 10 and 17) and serving
to distribute the liquid through the holes a to all the even compartments or alternate
spaces between the plates which are instantly filled to their utmost capacity by means
of the aforesaid channels.
Under the action of the pressure the liquid passes through the filtering membranes
and enters the odd compartments or spaces between the compartments filled with
liquid as aforesaid which discharge it in a filtered condition through the holes
central passage or perforated tube B'.
into a
The filtration may proceed inversely that is to say the liquid may enter at the centre
and run off at the passage A¹. A modification of this arrangement is represented in
Figure 15. In this case the supply tube A' is flattened and the discharge tube B¹
is simply formed by the plates instead of being attached to them at their centre.
Figure 17 shows at the upper part an arrangement in which the liquid is supplied
at all parts of the external surface of the filtering column. This arrangement is
represented in plan in Figure 11.
The supply and delivery may be at the centre, this is the case in Figures 12 and 18.
The water enters at A¹ and flows away at B'.
The common tube into which open the holes a and bis separated by a partition c
preventing the filtered liquid from mingling with the liquid to be filtered.
The horizontal section Figure 13 shows the supply tube A' and the discharge tube B¹
situated according to generating lines of the cylindrical apparatus which lines may be
diametrically opposite or not.
A similar arrangement is illustrated by Figure 16 in which the tubes in question
are of flattened shape and the plates are not traversed by a rod at the centre as in
Figure 13. The tubes A¹ and B' may be of any suitable form and be arranged in any
suitable position.
Figures 14 and 19 show the arrangement of the filtering column in the interior of
vessel V provided with a supply tube T and a discharge tube E. The plates and
iltering surfaces arranged in the form of a column are pressed together by
crews passing through the cover of the case the cover being fastened down by
ye bolts o.
In the arrangements represented in Figures 17 and 18 the plates are tightened up
y means of a central stem connecting the two end plates F and F which stem may
in the form of a perforated tube (Figure 17) or of a solid rod D¹ (Figures 18,
and 13).
The end plates F and F are provided with the connections or unions required for
e supply and discharge of the liquid.

page_text: It is evident that in each modification of the apparatus employment may be made
of any of the combinations of plates or grids herein specified or combinations derived
therefrom and that any number of plates may be employed according to the quantity
of liquid to be filtered.
The construction of the supporting plates may be modified as follows:
The ridges between the grooves may be replaced by pins a' of the kind represented
in Figures 20 and 21 distributed in suitable numbers over the surface of the plate.
The ridges may be retained but when concentric may be cut or intersected by one or
more passages b¹ serving as indicated in Figures 23 to 26 to connect together the
grooves. These connecting passages may be combined with the other combinations of
grooves with the exception of those illustrated in Figures 8 and 10 to 16 which do not
require them. The grooves of whatever form may be formed on one side only of the
plates as represented in Figure 25. In this case the flat or ungrooved side is hollowed
out to form a basin so as to act as a filtering chamber and communicates with a supply
passage G and the grooved side communicates with another discharge passage F.
The cloth or filtering material H is placed between two adjacent plates. These grooves
may be likewise intersected by passages Figure 26 for the free circulation of the
liquid and for conducting it to the discharge passage.
The ungrooved side being of hollowed or basin shape may present a smooth surface
or may be provided with pins or projections (Figure 25) in suitable quantity to
adequately support the filtering cloth or material when the flow is reversed for cleaning
the filter.
A considerable number of filtering combinations may evidently be obtained with
this construction of the supporting plates, but being based on the same principles their
formation is readily understood without further description.
In the construction of the plates with concentric or parallel grooves the grooves
may be intersected by passages c¹ (Figures 27, 28, and 29) formed in the thickness or
substance of the supports.
These passages are made as nearly as possible perpendicular to the grooves, in this
case they place the latter in communication. Figures 27 28 and 29 represent a plate
with concentric grooves and with passages c. Figures 30, 31, and 32 represent a
plate with parallel grooves likewise combined with passages c¹.
These plates are likewise provided with supply and discharge passages and as shown
partake of the nature of the plates with spiral grooves and of those with concentric
grooves cut in their ridges. They have the advantage of being more cheaply con-
structed and of having ridges which are continuous and consequently present certain
and regular support to the filtering paper which is placed upon them and enable the
filtered and unfiltered liquid to circulate freely from one part to another.
Lastly on the same principle as the said filtering plates I construct a funnel
(Figures 9, 20 and 23) in the form of a shallow pan G the bottom of which is provided
with concentric or spiral grooves or provided with pins.
The liquid flows towards the centre of the bottom which is provided with a nozzle g
which enters the mouth of the bottle or other receptacle for the filtered liquid. The
bottom is further provided with a flat circular part supporting the filtering paper y
the edge of which may be turned up and pleated so as to form a paper cup. The
pleated edge of the paper rests against the inner surface of the corrugated side of the
pan which may be of cylindrical or conical form.
The liquid is poured into the filtering funnel thus constituted which presents the
important advantage compared with the conical funnels in common use lined with
filter paper of enabling a much larger surface of the filter paper to be utilised than is
the case when the said conical funnels are employed the filtering surface instead of
diminishing in proportion as the level of the liquid sinks remaining the same all the
time independently of the depth of the layer of liquid upon the paper. Moreover the
necessity for folding the filtering part of the paper is obviated and the latter being
well supported does not run any risk of bursting or tearing.
To make this funnel work with liquid under pressure another funnel H¹ Figure 9
of ordinary construction is combined with it forming a pressure reservoir and the two

page_text: funnels are connected by a pipe h the lower extremity of which is provided with a
disc d forming the foot of one funnel and the cover of the other. This disc bas a
flange or edge fitting into the paper dish which makes a tight joint.
In place of performing the filtration under pressure it may be effected by exhaust
or suction by producing a vacuum under the filter paper, in this case a small pump or
hollow rubber ball a plain rubber suction tube is connected with the apparatus
between the funnel and the receptacle for the filtered liquid so as to enable the air to
be drawn off from under the filter paper.
In place of interposing a pump or rubber suction ball between the filter and the
vessel may employ a bottle or jug Figure 33 with a handle which is combined with
a small tube or nozzle communicating with the interior and which is connected
to the said pump or ball in order to exhaust air from the interior of the jug the
mouth of which is closed by a rubber stopper carrying the filtering funnel and tightly
closing the opening.
In order to use this improved filter for obtaining filtered water for soldiers or
travellers in the field I employ the following arrangement.
The water to be filtered is contained in a can or vessel sustained by three rifles
forming a stand the points of the bayonets being engaged with suitable sockets or
lugs soldered or attached to the can. The latter is connected by a flexible pipe to the
improved filter which may be of any suitable form standing on the ground. The
pressure due to the elevation of the can relatively to the filter is sufficient to cause
the filtered water to flow instantaneously.
The several parts of the apparatus may be constructed of any suitable materials the
plates and rings or washers in particular being composed of tin, copper, nickel,
glass or vulcanite for example and these elements may be of circular, square or any
other shape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First: An apparatus for filtering liquids constructed with supporting plates A
grooved or channelled on both sides with or without communication between the sides
and serving to conduct the liquid to be filtered either towards the centre or towards
the circumference and in all cases to distribute it equally from the inlet point to all
parts of the surface and at the same time to collect or reunite it when filtered from
all these points one common outlet; filtering discs H composed of paper leather
woven fabric or other material possessing the same properties interposed between the
said supporting plates which sustain them and distribute the liquid to be filtered upon
them, washers or rings E serving, when the supporting plates are simply grooved and
not perforated, for the distribution of the liquid which in this case is collected by tho
plates and conducted to a single outlet; supply and discharge passages F and Ġ for
the liquid, formed by the juxtaposition of the supporting plates and the filtering discs
provided for this purpose with suitable openings or lugs, the said plates A and the
discs H being packed together one over the other between two plates (JK) and
pressed together by means of screws in such a manner as to form a tightly closed
apparatus which being arranged vertically or horizontally enables liquids to be filtered
under pressure and out of contact with the air substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Second-In the filtering apparatus hercinbefore described and claimed the con-
struction of the supporting plates A provided on one or on both sides with spiral
concentric or other grooves or channels conducting the liquid towards the centre or
towards the circumference substantially as herein before described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Third-The construction of the supporting plates A as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings in such a manner as to form a
species of grid obtained by the intersection at any angle of the grooves of the opposite
sides which grooves may take the forms obtained by any of the combinations of
B

page_text: straight or curved lines such as those illustrated by way of example in Figures 10
to 16 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth-The arrangement of the open work plates or grids packed one upon the
other between two end plates F F¹ connected by a central rod with means for
tightening and forming admission and discharge passages for the liquid substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 10 to 18 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fifth The arrangement of the open work plates or grids piled one upon the other
in combination with a vessel V with a cover and pressure screw substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figure 19 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth-The arrangement consisting of one supporting plate grooved on one side
only an provided with a flange G for the reception of a cover d carrying a funnel H
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Seventh-The arrangement of the plates with concentric or parallel grooves having
radial or parallel passages of communication (c) in their substance so as to establish a
circulation of the liquid substantially as her inbefore described with reference to
Figures 29 to 32 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of October 1890.
J. H. JOHNSON & CO.,
Agents.