IMPROVED SELF-ACTING FILTERING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN WALSH, of 17 De Laune Street, Kennington, in the County of Surrey,
Foreman Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
SELF-ACTING FILTERING APPARATUS 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 filters, the principal object being to
filter water gradually by allowing it to soak through the filtering medium under
a slight pressure the amount of which is regulated by a suitably placed controlling
tap inserted in the pipe connecting the main tank or supply pipe with the filtering
chamber. In order to make the filter self-acting and thereby secure a regular
supply of filtered water without personal attention, I propose when convenient to
admit the water to the main tank or cistern through a ball tap.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I herein give
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrate modified forms
of my apparatus.
Figure 1 represents a cistern divided internally by means of a partition or mid-
feather A into two compartments of unequal capacity. B is a ball tap admitting
water from the main or service pipe which passes through the pipe C into the
smaller compartment D which contains the filtering medium which is indicated by
the crossed section lines. The water rises upwards through the filtering medium
and flows through the small holes a into the chamber E until it reaches a sufficient
height therein to close the ball cock B and thus shut off the supply. The chamber E
then contains a plentiful supply of filtered water which may be drawn off through
the outlet F' when the float of the ball cock will lower and a fresh admission of
unfiltered water will take place. Should the water be admitted directly from the
main it will be found necessary to reduce the pressure otherwise the water will be
forced too rapidly through the filtering material and carry many impurities with it,
to obviate which I employ the regulating tap G.
For convenience the pipe C may be composed wholly or in part of india-rubber
and the filtering chamber may have a sheet metal lining so that the charcoal or
other medium may be removed when necessary for the purpose of cleansing or
renewal.

page_text: In Figures 2 and 3 I have shewn a portable form of filter for domestic purposes.
This consists of a small cistern a supported on a pedestal or otherwise within a
large cistern b. The vessel c contains a quantity of filtering material. A pipe a
is connected with the cistern a and reaches almost to the bottom of the vessel c
the passage being regulated by the tap e. The cistern a being filled with water
and the tape slightly opened, the water will gravitate to the bottom of the vessel c
rising upwards through the filtering material and overflowing into the cistern b
and if the cistern a be kept constantly supplied, filtration will continue until the
level of the water in the two cisterns is the sanie. The filtered water may bo
drawn off through the tap f.
Should it be desired to apply my Invention to cisterns already in use, a con-
venient method of doing so is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 wherein a represents
an ordinary cistern provided with a ball cock b. Within this I place a smaller
cistern or receiver c which also contains a vessel & filled with filtering material.
Water is admitted from the cistern a to the filtering vessel & through the pipe e
the flow being regulated by the tap f. As the water rises up through the filtering
material it overflows into the cistern or receiver c and may be drawn off through
the outlet g wbilst unfiltered water may also be drawn off through the outlet /.
It will thus be seen that one cistern provided with a ball tap may be utilized for
supplying both filtered and unfiltered water.
It will be observed that although I have arranged for the water to rise upwards
through the filtering medium this is by no means an essential condition as the
water may be caused to flow or gravitato either upwards or downwards as con-
venience or other considerations may direct.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner is or may be used or carried into practise, I would
observe in conclusion that what I claim is
1. The use of a ball cock for admitting water from the service pipe to the
filtering vessel in combination with a tap for regulating the pressure thereof,
substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
2: The general construction and arrangement of apparatus shown in Figures 2
and 3, and especially the use of the regulating tap e as and for the purpose herein
shewn and described.
3. The method of applying my filtering apparatus to existing cisterns, substan-
tially as shewn and described in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dandhi 10th of March 100K