Improvements in and relating to the Purification and Filtration of Water and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Purification and Filtration of
Water and Apparatus therefor.
I, ADAM SCHANTZ, of No. 116, West River Street, in the City of Dayton, County
of Montgomery, State of Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to means for the purification and filtration of water for brewing,
boilers, medicinal and domestic uses.
In those parts of the country where the water is impregnated with lime, magnesia,
and other mineral salts, it is very difficult and expensive to rid the water of such
organic substances and obtain it in a proper condition and quantity for use; it being
necessary to subject said water to a boiling temperature for several hours before it is
in condition for use, to say nothing of the damage done by such water to metal pipes
and boilers by incrustation. The fuel consumed in this constant boiling of great
volumes of water is very considerable, and the wear and tear on the metal is great.
My invention consists in subjecting the water, as it falls from the reservoir in the form
of a continuous shower to heated pipes, and then subjecting the water, which has
been more or less heated by said pipes to the action of a bed of heated boulders,
upon which the water is made to fall and over which it is made to flow, and then
agitating the water, after it has fallen upon the heated boulders, by jets of steam for
the purpose of keeping the water constantly moving.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1, is a perspective of that portion of my apparatus in which the final separa-
tion of the lighter impurities of the water takes place.
Figure 2, is a vertical section of my apparatus complete.
Figure 3, is a detailed view, taken at right angles to Figure 2.
A represents the initial receiving tank for the water from the well, or city
pumping station.
This tank has its bottom perforated throughout with small
holes B¹, through which the water sprinkles in a continuous shower over and
through several banks of pipes B which are heated to a comparatively high
degree of exhaust steam. These pipes are mounted over a large open reservoir or
tank C which is water-tight, and in which pyramidal shaped piles of boulders or
rocks are placed, one pile of rocks being placed under each set of pipes B.
These pipes B are placed out in the open air and the tank is entirely open at its
top so that the water in falling, and after it is in the tank is subjected to the constant
action of the atmosphere. In this tank C the heavier impurities are deposited,
and the remaining lighter impurities which are carried away by the water from this
tank C are deposited further on, as will be more fully described hereinafter. If
the pipes B and the tank C were enclosed so that the atmosphere could not
have free play upon the water, the impurities would not be deposited near as rapidly
or freely, and hence it is necessary that the pipes B should be exposed freely to
the atmosphere, and that the tank C should be open at its top. Over the
boulders the water drops in a continuous spray after striking the heated tubes. This
contact of the water in its separated and heated condition causes a ready precipitation
of the mineral substances, and the initial step in the process of purifying the water

page_text: is thus performed. It will be borne in mind that this step consists in heating the
water in small particles or drops by means of heated pipes; before they are again
united they come in contact with the heated boulders in the open tank C. In
this operation a large percentage of the beavy mineral substances, such as lime, is
separated from the water. I use common boulders or rocks which are piled up in
pyramidal form under each set of pipes so that the water in falling from the pipes
will drop directly upon the tops of these boulders, which being heated, serve to
attract the impurities in the water and cause precipitation of the same upon the
boulders. From these boulders the water flows out into the tank C where it is
subjected to escaping steam from the pipes C₁ which are placed in the bottom
of the tank and which escaping steam serves to keep the water in constant motion
and to raise its temperature.
The pipes B are heated preferably by exhaust steam, and the water heated by
these pipes in turn heat the boulders, and when heated, the boulders attract the
heavier impurities, such as lime, as a magnet does iron.
From the tank C the water flows into the trough or passage-way D and as
this heated water emerges from the tank and strikes a colder stratum of air, the
water instantly begins to deposit its impurities upon the bed of gravel and rocks
placed in the trough. From the bottom of the tank extend suitable pipes D¹ by
means of which the impurities deposited therein may be drawn off at will.
I find in practice that a gutter from fifty to one hundred feet in length sufficient
for the passage of the water to the next station, provided the trough is sufficiently
wide to cause the water to run in a shallow stream. Throughout the passage of the
water through this trough it is subjected to a continuous contact with the boulders
and gravel, and during which period the air comes in contact with its surface, thereby
lowering its temperature and causing a rapid precipitation of the lime and other
impurities contained in the water upon the gravel and boulders. The water upon
leaving the gutter D empties in the tank E which is heated by means of
exhaust steam introduced through the pipe D³. The end of this pipe is turned
downward in the tank so that the water in the trough and the water which is dis-
charging, will come in direct contact with the steam as it rises upward and which
steam serves to heat the water in the tank to a high temperature.
The water as it flows from the trough D is bright and sparkling as it falls into
the tank E but the moment this water comes in contact with the steam from the
pipe Ds, it becomes roily, and something of the color of milk. The water then
flows from this heating tank E into the vessel F, which is provided with
one or more compartments F1, which are formed by means of a series of barriers,
or dams G.
In practice I have found that one dam gives good results, but a
greater number may be used if desired. The moment the water begins to flow into
the vessel and strikes fresh air, the impurities begin settling in the compartment or
compartments formed in the vessel F.
As the water falls from this vessel F into a series of throughs I which
are preferably V-shaped, it loses some of its high temperature, and begins
precipitating or settling its impurities rapidly. From these troughs the water drips
upon the filtering cloth M which is placed upon a bed of gravel N placed
in the tank 0, and upon this filtering cloth the remaining impurities are
deposited. The tank 0 is placed in a larger tank P and between the two
tanks a sufficient space is left for the free circulation of air. The filtering cloth may
be of any suitable material or thickness, and the bed of gravel will be sufficiently
thick, about three feet, to thoroughly filter the water before it passes into the large
receiving tank P. As the water falls from the tank O, it passes through an
air chamber of a height of five or six feet, in very small drops or sprays, and in
passing through this air chamber it becomes thoroughly aerated. The water that is
then drawn off from the large tank P is bright, sparkling, and clear as crystal,
and possesses all the life and freshness of dropping rain. While the water is made
absolutely pure, it is not flat or dead, like distilled water, but is sparkling and
lively.

page_text: an elevated point, in discharging the water in heated showers upon beds of hot
boulders partaking of a limestone nature and which exert an attracting and adhesive
influence on the lime contained in the water, substantially as set forth.
6....The method of purifying water containing mineral salts, consisting in rapidly
heating the water while in a spray or shower, in precipitating said heated spray or
shower onto beds of boulders which are heated thereby and maintained at a high
temperature, in agitating the water after it falls on said boulders, and in passing
the water while in said agitated condition though a shallow gutter having its
bottom lined throughout with boulders and gravel, whereby the heavier mineral
substances are separated from the water, substantially as set forth.
7....The method of purifying water containing mineral salts, consisting in subjecting
the water in the form of a continuous spray or shower, to contact with hot bodies
whereby a high temperature is quickly given said water, in subjecting said water
in heated showers, to contact with boulders whereby said boulders are given a high
temperature and are so maintained, in agitating said water by means of jets of steam
after contact with the boulders, in passing said water through a shallow gutter
containing boulders and gravel and in contact with the air, during which period
the heavier impurities are separated, in heating said water to a boiling point as it
discharges from said gutter, and in finally delivering said water, at the last named
temperature, onto a filter bed through which it passes to an air chamber wherein it
becomes thoroughly aerated, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of Dossiber 1800
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.