Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Separating Insoluble Substances from Liquids.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by J. HUNDHAUSEN, D.Ph., of Hamm, Westphalia,
in the German Empire, Chemical Engineer.]
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Separating
Insoluble Substances from Liquids.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the method of and apparatus for separating insoluble
substances from liquids in lixiviatory and similar processes.
In the apparatus constructed for the purpose of this invention there is a
longitudinal trough, at a convenient distance above the bottom of which there is a
perforated or porous false bottom upon which is laid a band or series of parallel
bands of filtering cloth or the like. The space between the true and the false
bottom, or some part of it is connected with an air pump, as in a paper making
machine, to assist the sedimentation and to facilitate the drawing off of the liquid
through the false bottom. The band or series of bands upon which the insoluble
substance is deposited, is caused to pass over a drum from the upper arc of which
the substance is delivered into a transverse trough fitted with an Archimedean screw
by means of which the substance is delivered from one end of the transverse trough
into a suitable receptacle or upon a conveyer band.
The passage of the band or series of bands over the drum may be caused by the
motion of the drum and trough to and fro longitudinally with reference to the
main trough or by using an endless band or bands and causing them to travel over
the false bottom and drum.
Dated this 29th day of November A D 1895
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Separating
Insoluble Substances from Liquids.
•
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS, of 70, Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 the method of and apparatus for separating insoluble
substances from liquids, in lixiviatory and similar processes.
In the apparatus constructed to embody these improvements, there is a longitu-
dinal trough,. at a convenient distance above the bottom of which there is a
perforated or porous false bottom upon which is laid a band or series of parallel
bands of filtering cloth or the like. The space between the true and the false
bottom, or some part of it is connected with an air pump, as in a paper making
machine, to assist the sedimentation and to facilitate the drawing off of the liquid
[Price 8d1

page_text: through the false bottom. The band or series of bands upon which the insoluble
substance is deposited, is caused to pass over a drum from the upper arc of which
the substance is delivered into a transverse trough fitted with an Archimedean screw
or conveyer, by means of which the substance is delivered from one end of the
transverse trough into a suitable receptacle or upon a conveyer band.
The passage of the band or series of bands over the drum may be caused by the
motion of the drum and trough to and fro longitudinally with reference to the
main trough, or by using an endless band or bauds and causing them to travel over
the false bottom and drum.
I will more particularly describe my said invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate the details of an apparatus designed to
embody these improvements and to be used for separating starches, alumina,
pigments and the like.
The hereinbefore described longitudinal trough is illustrated in cross section by
Figure 1 in full lines. It consists of a rectangular closed bottom with angular or
sloping sides A. At about the level of the junction of the sloping sides with the
vertical sides near the bottom of the trough, there is placed a perforated false
bottom E F, which acts as a sieve, and upon which there may be placed, if
necessary, a suitable filtering cloth or medium. In the bottom of the trough there
is arranged a nozzle G, connected with a pump or suction apparatus. If by means
of this apparatus, a partial vacuum is produced between the actual and the false
bottom of the trough, the sedimentation will be facilitated, whilst at the same time
the fluid is sucked out of the sediment. The fluid with the solid matters in
suspension therein which have not been deposited, flows off at one end of the trough
through an opening above the false bottom. The angle of inclination of the trough
sides, the rate of flow of the liquid, and the degree of suction will depend in each
case upon the nature of the material in suspension, and the degree of sedimentation
desired.
A partial plan of the trough is represented by Figure 2.
For removal of the sediment from the trough, the apparatus illustrated in side
elevation by Figure 3, and in cross section by Figure 4 may be employed.
On the perforated false bottom E F, there is arranged a band or a series of
parallel bands K K composed of felt or other similar porous material.
At
A carriage A B F C is mounted above the longitudinal trough and carries, in
suitable bearings, the large roller H, and the smaller roller O between which the
band or bands K pass. The weight of the carriage is taken by the rollers L L,
which run upon flanges constructed on the sides of the trough, Figure 1.
each end of the trough there is a chain wheel, only one of which is shewn at Q,
Figure 3. A chain connected with these wheels passes partly around the
wheels PS G N M, and effects their rotation when the wheels Q at the ends of
the trough are rotated. The wheel N is a guide wheel, the wheel G¹ is fixed on
the shaft which carries the roller H, and the wheel S is fixed upon the shaft of the
Archimedean screw in the transverse trough V. The chain wheels M P rotate
alternately in opposite directions and are fixed upon the spindles upon which also
are fixed wheels which run upon the under side of the flange l.
Parallel with the roller H, the transverse trough V is arranged, one edge of this
trough acting as a scraper to remove the sedimented matter from the band or
bands K which pass over the roller. This matter falls into the trough and is
conveyed by a conveying screw S' to an outlet shoot V' whence it falls upon the
conveying band U driven by the roller T, by which it is removed and deposited in
any convenient position.
The principal defects in machines of this type already constructed, are that the
band or bands in the longitudinal trough do not make tight joint with the lateral
walls of the trough and permit air to enter round the edges to the suction apparatus.
The sloping walls I have described and illustrated obviate this defect, the bands
and material in the bottom of the trough overlapping the porous false bottom, as
indicated by the dotted lines Figure 1, and making an air tight joint with the

page_text: sides. Also, when the carriage has been pulled forward hitherto, the band has
been wound around the roller H, the rotary motion having been produced by a rack.
According to my present invention, it will be seen that I employ a chain for
producing the rotary motion of the rollers HO and the screw S₁, and the linear
motion of the carriage, which latter is obtained by the grip of the rollers H O upon
the bands K, so that the carriage pulls itself along. The roller H is also made of
larger diameter, and the bands K, instead of being wound upon the roller, pass over
it and under roller O to the bottom of the trough again.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus of the type described, a longitudinal sedimenting trough having
sloping lateral walls, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose
herein before set forth and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus of the type described, chain wheels upon the travelling carriage
respectively geared into a chain attached to rollers at opposite ends of the machine,.
by the motion of which rollers the chain may be moved in opposite directions
alternately, the motion of the chain being communicated by the chain wheels to
the rollers HO, the screw S¹, and the wheels M P, constructed arranged and
operated substantially as set forth and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
3. In apparatus of the type described, arranging the bands K to pass over
roller H and under O so as to be gripped between them, and rotating these rollers
by means of a chain and chain wheels, so that the carriage is pulled longitudinally
in either direction by the grip of the rollers upon the band, substantially as set.
forth and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of September 1896.
WILLIAM E. HEYS.