IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR FILTERING AND DRYING SEWAGE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Gibbs and George Cantrell Gibbs, both of
40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR FILTERING AND DRYING
SEWAGE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 26th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Gibbs and George
Cantrell Gibbs at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th
September 1879.
WILLIAM GIBBS and GEORGE CANTRELL GIBBS, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in
the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF AND APPARATUS For
FILTERING AND DRYING SEWAGE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates more especially to the treatment of the sewage of towns,
which consists of focal and other solid matters suspended in a greater or less
quantity of water, and it has for its objects improved methods of filtering such
sewage or removing the water from the solid parts, and of drying the solid
remainder, and improvements in the construction and arrangement of machinery or
apparatus used for the purpose of so filtering and drying such sewage. The improved
machinery or apparatus may also be used for the purpose of filtering and drying
other substances, such as sugar.
We take the sewage matter, consisting of focal and other solid substances sus-
pended in water, and we admit it to the apparatus in which it is to be treated as
hereinafter described, either directly from a sewer or from a tank or reservoir into
which a certain quantity can be admitted as required. We arrange a box or
chamber, rectangular in plan and open or partly open above, which is capable of
rising and falling for a short distance vertically between guides fixed to or forming
part of the framework of the apparatus. Above this chamber we arrange suitable
bearings in which is fitted a horizontal shaft made to revolve slowly by steam or
other convenient power, and upon this shaft we form or fix one or more cams which
operate upon corresponding friction rollers or blocks upon the chamber, so that
during a certain part of the revolution of the shaft the chamber is forcibly depressed
and is held down for a sufficient time, the chamber being then raised by one or

page_text: more springs or levers and weights during the remainder of the revolution. Below
the chamber we arrange a second corresponding chamber, the upper edge of which
is parallel with the lower edge of the upper chamber, and between the two we
arrange an endless belt or band of felt, wire gauze, or other sufficiently porous
material, which after passing between the chambers as described descends and passes
round rollers or drums fixed below the machine in such manner that when the
rollers or drums are made to revolve the endless band travels forward and a fresh
part of its surface becomes adjusted between the two chambers. The lower part of
the lower chamber is provided with a pipe communicating with an airpump operated
by the same power which actuates the revolving shaft already described, or by other
convenient power, so that when desired the air can be withdrawn from the lower
chamber. The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The shaft in its revolution
forces down the upper chamber upon the lower one, forcibly compressing the endless
band of felt or porous material between their edges. The upper chamber is then
filled with sewage suspended in water, either by means of a pump or by being
admitted from a sewer or tank. The air pump then causes a more or less perfect
vacuum in the lower chamber, and the water is withdrawn through the felt band
and is followed by a current of air, by which the solid matter remaining upon the
felt is more or less completely dried. The revolving shaft then releases the upper
chamber, which rises, leaving the solid matters deposited upon the felt. The endless
band is then made to travel forward through a sufficient space, by hand or automati-
cally by means of a cam and levers and pall and ratchet wheel, carrying with it
these solid matters, and the upper chamber is then again depressed and the opera-
tions repeated. The effluent water may be passed through filtering beds of sand,
charcoal, or other suitable materials before being finally discharged, and the solid
matters are deliverd into a suitable receptacle as the endless band passes over the
drums or rollers.
A modification which we prefer of the above arrangement consists in supporting
the lower chamber upon wheels or friction rollers, so that it can be readily placed
under the upper chamber, or removed, or another chamber substituted for it, and we
arrange filtering beds of sand, charcoal, or other suitable materials in this moveable
chamber. Instead of an airpump for withdrawing the air from such lower chamber
as above described, we admit compressed air into the upper chamber, the top of
which is closed. For this purpose we prefer to arrange near the apparatus a separate
closed tank or cistern of suitable size, the upper part of which is supplied with
compressed air from any suitable air-compressing apparatus driven by the same
power which drives the revolving shaft, or by other convenient power, and we admit
a sufficient quantity of the sewage which is to be treated into this tank at intervals
from the sewer or from a reservoir. A pipe is arranged so as to communicate
between the closed upper chamber of the apparatus and this tank, the open end of
the pipe where it enters the tank being made moveable vertically, either by making
it flexible or telescopic or turning upon a joint, and we connect it to handles or
levers so that its height can be adjusted either by hand or automatically by a cam
upon the revolving shaft or other moving part of the apparatus.
The action of the apparatus arranged as just described is as follows:- A sufficient'
quantity of sewage having been admitted into the tank, the inlet opening of which
is then closed, and the shaft being made to revolve, the upper chamber is forcibly
depressed toward the lower chamber, the endless band of felt being held between
them, and the end of the adjustable pipe having been lowered into the sewage the
latter is forced by the compressed air into the upper chamber until the lower end
of the adjustable pipe is uncovered, when the compressed air passes through it into
the upper chamber and forces the water in the sewage through the felt into the
lower moveable chamber and through the filtering beds in the latter, until it is finally
discharged sufficiently purified through an opening in the bottom of the chamber.
The water is followed by a stream of compressed air (which may be heated) which
passes through and dries the solid parts of the sewage which remain upon the felt.
The continued revolution of the shaft then allows the upper chamber to rise, and

page_text: the endless band is made to travel forward for a sufficient distance, carrying with it
the dried matter, as in the arrangement first described. The upper chamber is
then again depressed and the series of operations is repeated, and so on as long as
may be desired.
When the filtering beds in the lower chamber are saturated with impurities, the
chamber is withdrawn upon its wheels or rollers and is cleaned, or a clean one is
substituted for it.
We prefer to arrange a strong grating or perforated plate upon the upper surface
of the lower chamber, over which grating or perforated plate the endless band of
felt or porous material passes. We make the endless band pass down round rollers
arranged in a tank or cistern of water below the apparatus in which it is cleaned,
and it may also be made to pass between adjustable sets of cleaning rollers, between
which it is pressed and cleaned. Any suitable deodorizer may be regularly supplied
to the surface of the felt before the sewage is fed upon the latter. Instead of the
arrangements described the pressure of the air may be applied to the lower chamber,
the water being expelled into the upper one and followed by the air, as described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Gibbs and George Cantrell Gibbs in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th March 1880.
WILLIAM GIBBS and GEORGE CANTRELL GIBBS, both of 40, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF AND APPARATUS
FOR FILTERING AND DRYING SEWAGE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates more especially to the treatment of the sewage of
towns, which consists mainly of focal and other solid matters suspended in a
greater or less quantity of water; and it has for its objects improved methods of
filtering such sewage, or removing and separating the water from the solid parts,
and of drying the more or less solid remainder; and also of improvements in the
construction and arrangement of machinery or apparatus used for the purpose of
so filtering and drying such sewage. The improved machinery or apparatus may
also be used for the purpose of filtering and drying other substances, such as
sugar.
In order to put our Invention in operation, we take the sewage matter, con-
sisting of focal and other solid substances suspended in water as above described,
and we admit it to the apparatus in which it is to be treated, as hereinafter
described, either directly from a sewer or from a tank or reservoir, into which a
certain quantity can be admitted as required. We arrange a box or chamber
rectangular in plan and open or partly open above, which is capable of rising and
falling for a short distance vertically between guides fixed to or forming part of
the framework of the apparatus. Above this box or chamber we arrange suitable
bearings, in which is fitted a strong horizontal shaft made to revolve slowly by
steam or other convenient power, and upon this shaft we form or fix one or more
cams which operate upon corresponding friction rollers or blocks upon the chamber,
so that during a certain part of the revolution of the shaft the chamber is forcibly
depressed, and is held down for a sufficient time for the purpose hereinafter
described, the chamber being raised by one or more springs or levers and weights
during the remainder of the revolution when the pressure of the cams is removed.
Below the chamber we arrange a second corresponding chamber, the upper edge of
which is parallel with the lower edge of the upper chamber, and between the two
we arrange an endless belt or band of felt, wiregauze, or other sufficiently porous
and flexible material, which after passing between the chambers as described, descends
and passes round rollers or drums fixed in bearings below the machine in such
manner that when the rollers or drums are made to revolve, the endless band
travels forward, and a fresh part of its surface becomes adjusted in the required
position between the two chambers. The lower part of the lower chamber is
provided with a pipe communicating with an airpump, operated by the same
power which actuates the revolving shaft already described, or by hand or other
convenient power, so that when desired the air can be withdrawn from the lower
chamber.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The shaft in its revolution forces
down the upper moveable chamber upon the lower one, forcibly compressing the
endless band of felt or other porous material between their edges. The upper
chamber is then filled with sewage suspended in water, either by means of a pump
or by being admitted to the chamber from a sewer or tank. The airpump then
causes a more or less perfect vacuum in the lower chamber, and the water is with-
drawn through the felt or porous band and is followed by a current of air, by
the passage of which the solid matter remaining upon the band is more or less
completely dried. The revolving shaft then releases the upper chamber, which
rises, leaving the solid matters deposited upon the felt. The endless band is then
made to travel forward through a sufficient space by hand or automatically by

page_text: means of a cam, levers, and pall and ratched wheel, actuated by the machine
itself, carrying with it these solid matters, and the upper chamber is then again
depressed by the revolving shaft, and the operations are repeated.
The effluent water may be passed through filtering beds of sand, charcoal, or
other suitable materials before being finally discharged, and the solid matters are
delivered into a suitable receptacle as the endless band which carries them passes
over the drums or rollers round which it is stretched.
A modification which we sometimes prefer to use of the arrangement above
described consists in supporting the lower chamber upon wheels or friction rollers,
so that it can be readily placed under the upper chamber or removed, or another
chamber substituted for it, and we arrange filtering beds of sand, charcoal, or other
suitable materials in this lower moveable chamber. Instead of an airpump for
withdrawing the air from the lower chamber as above described, we admit com-
pressed air into the upper chamber, the top of which is closed. For this purpose
we prefer to arrange near the apparatus a separate closed tank or cistern of suitable
size, the upper part of which is supplied with compressed air from any suitable air-
compressing apparatus driven by the same power which drives the revolving shaft,
or by other convenient power, and we admit a sufficient quantity of the sewage
which is to be treated into this tank at intervals from the sewer or from a reservoir.
A pipe is arranged so as to communicate between the closed upper chamber of the
apparatus and this tank, the open end of the pipe where it enters the latter being
made moveable vertically, either by making it flexible or telescopic, or so that it can
turn upon a joint, and we connect it to a handle or lever so that the height of its
open end can be adjusted either by hand or automatically by a cam upon the
revolving shaft, or other moving part of the mechanism.
The action of the apparatus arranged as just described is as follows:-A sufficient
quantity of sewage having been admitted into the tank, the inlet opening of which
is then closed, and the shaft being made to revolve, the upper chamber is forcibly
depressed toward the lower one, the endless band of felt or porous material being
held tightly between them. The end of the adjustable pipe having then been
lowered into the sewage, the latter is forced by the compressed air into the upper
chamber until the lower end of the adjustable pipe becomes uncovered, when the
compressed air passes through it into the upper chamber and forces the water in
the sewage through the felt into the lower moveable chamber, and through the
filtering beds in the latter until it is finally discharged sufficiently purified through
an opening in the bottom of the chamber. The water is followed by a stream of
compressed air (which may be heated in any convenient way if desired) which
passes through and dries the solid parts of the sewage which remain upon the felt.
The continued revolution of the shaft then allows the upper chamber to rise, and
the endless band is made to travel forward for a sufficient distance, carrying with it
the dried matter as in the arrangement first described. The upper chamber is then
again depressed as the shaft revolves, and the series of operations is repeated, and
so on as long as may be desired.
When the filtering beds in the lower chamber are saturated with impurities, the
chamber is withdrawn upon its wheels or rollers and is cleaned, or a clean one is
substituted for it. We prefer to arrange a strong grating or perforated plate upon
the upper surface of the lower chamber, over which grating or perforated plate the
endless band of felt or porous material passes. We make the endless band pass
round rollers arranged in a tank or cistern of water below the apparatus in which
it is cleaned, and it may also be made to pass between adjustable sets of cleaning
rollers between which it is pressed and cleansed. Any suitable deodorizing material
may be regularly supplied to the surface of the felt before the sewage is fed upon
the latter. Instead of the arrangements above described, the pressure of the air
may be applied to the lower chamber, the water being expelled into the upper one
and followed by the air as described.
The accompanying Drawing is the illustration of our Invention, Figure 1 being
a side view partly in section, and Figure 2 an end view partly in section of a

page_text: machine. A is the framework of the machine, in which the shaft B is made to
revolve by toothed wheels and pulley as shewn at c. The upper chamber D is
made to rise and fall by cranks upon the shaft B, which actuates it by the connecting
rods E, E, and springs F, F. The lower chamber G contains filter beds H, and is
shewn in Figure 2 with wheels upon which it can be removed. I is the endless
band passing round rollers L, L, and fed forward at intervals by gear not shewn in
the Drawing. M is the tank into which the sewage is admitted through the
opening N, and O is a hinged pipe through which it is forced into the upper
chamber D by the pressure of air from the compressing machinery F. The hinged
-pipe O is raised and lowered at intervals by the lever, rod, and link shewn at R.
Having now described our Invention, and the manner in which it is to be
performed, we do not claim the precise form and arrangement of apparatus
described and shewn in the Drawing, which may be modified to suit varying
circumstances, but we claim,--The combination of the upper and lower chambers, one
of which rises and falls at intervals with the endless band of felt or other porous
material passing between the chambers, and the airpump or other apparatus by
which the liquid part of the material operated upon is forced through the endless
band, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Cantrell Gibbs, for myself and on
behalf of the said William Gibbs, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twenty fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
GEGRGE CANTRELL GIBBS. (L.S.)