AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATER FILTERS
Year: 1885

page_text: We, RICHARD ROPER KELLY, Chemical Agent and Manufacturer of 3 Pall Mall'
East, in the county of Middlesex, and AGATHA COLUMBA LAURA WEIGEL,
Gentlewoman, married, of 43 Brunswick Terrace, Hove in the county of Sussex,
do hereby declare the nature of our invention for AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATER
FILTERS and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:-
The filtration of water is usually but imperfectly performed. In many filters
charcoal and other materials which act chemically as well as mechanically serve
to separate matter held in suspension in the water and to decompose and eliminate
noxious gases and some of the orgauic matter in solution.
But the water so filtered often retains a large quantity of micro-organisms and
germs and amongst them microbes such as are believed to be a principal element
of contagion in a great many maladies.
For the purpose of removing these microbes from water an especial class of filter
has been proposed in which the filtering medium consists of a diaphragm of
material of extremely fine porosity.
Although such a filter may remove the microbes, it has no chemical action on
the noxious gases and other matter dissolved in water such as is exercised by the
Charcoal and other filters above referred to and some of this matter, being in
a state of extremely fine division, may pass through the pores of the diaphragm
unaltered.
The extremely fine pores of these diaphragms also become readily choked by the
suspended matter of the raw water filtered through them, the efficiency of the
filtering diaphragm being thereby materially lessened.
The object of this invention is to combine in a simple form the advantages of
both these systems of filtration, with, when desired, the addition of means to
prevent contamination of the filtered water by atinospheric germs.
The form and arrangement of filtering apparatus according to this invention
may be varied. We illustrate by the figures I, II III IV & V of the accompanying
drawings five convenient forms shewn in vertical section.
Referring to fig. 1, the filter consists of four parts viz:-
a. Charcoal filter.
Ꮒ
Dianhroom filton

page_text: Another nozzle c is provided at the bottom. This vessel A is filled with charcoal
or other chemically as well as mechanically acting filtering material, either in a
loose state or in the form of a compressed block or in any other convenient form.
If loose material is used it may be retained by fine sieves placed on the inside
openings of the nozzles.
B consists of a hemispherical shell d provided with a nozzle e at the top so
arranged that the nozzle c of the vessel A screws into it.
This hemisphere d forins the outer shell of the diaphragm filter and is screwed
into a flanged ring g made with an inner rim h. The outside lip i of this ring fits
over the mouth of the reservoir C and is luted thereto by Paraffin-wax or other
suitable cement so as to make the junction air-tight.
The diaphragm-filter proper consists of a hemisphere f of ceramic material such
as that used for alcazaras or water coolers, or of Biscuit porcelain Plaster of Paris,
Asbestos-fibre supported by perforated plates or otherwise. Other materials whose
pores or interstices are of sufficiently small diameter to arrest the passage through
them of micro-organisms and their germs may also be employed.
This hemispherical vessel f is placed with its open side on the cap g and it is
made of such a size that it will fit easily against the inside of the rim h to which
it is cemented by Paraffin-wax or other suitable cement so as to render the junction
air tight.
The reservoir C is a vessel which may be of earthenware provided with a stop-
cock at its bottom for the purpose of drawing off the filtered water.
The reservoir C may be also provided with an opening or hole n at one of its
sides for the purpose of introducing through it the tube 0 of air filter D.
The latter consists of a tube O which turns up within the dome f to its highest
part.
This tube extends through the holen and is turned up to p above the level of
the water in the charcoal filter A; it then descends and joins a larger tube, which
descends to nearly the bottom of the reservoir C.
The lower end of this tube at q is closed by wire gauze and the tube itself is
filled with loosely packed cotton-wool or other suitable fibrous material which may
be saturated with a solution of salicylic acid or other antiseptic. The tubes may
be held in position by fastening the apparatus to a board as is done with the glass
tubes of barometers and similar instruments.
All the other parts of the reservoir C being hermetically sealed, air can enter
only through the tube O after becoming filtered by passing through the cotton-
wool which will arrest all the atmospheric germus, micro-organisms and dust and
only allow pure, sterilised air to pass into the upper part of the reservoir to take
the place of the water drawn out.
Instead of the air filter above described, a small tube with numerous up and
down bends may be employed.
All parts of the filter arranged as described can be readily taken to pieces. The
porous diaphragm can be cleaned by scraping, brushing, placing it in boiling water
or overheated steam or by refiring or burning it when all the micro-organisms and
germs collected on its outside will be destroyed and the diaphragm will be ready
for use again. The filter A is cleaned in the usual way by reversing it and
washing out all impurities deposited on the surface of the filtering bed.
Fig. II represents a modified arrangement of the porous diaphragms-filter
differing only in detail of construction but possessing the same essential features
as the filter represented in fig. I.
In this arrangement (fig. II) the filtering diaphragm of the same character and
material as hereinbefore described is of a spherical form, as is also that of the
outer shell.
The latter is provided with a nozzle e at the top for the purpose of connection
with the charcoal filter in the same way as shewn in fig. I and also with a nozzle z
at the bottom for the discharge of the filtered water. This spherical shell is made
in two parts screwed together as shewn at y.

page_text: The spherical filtering diaphragm is provided with an opening u at the bottom,
and a nozzle X to screw into the nozzle z of the outer shell.
The water runs in from the charcoal filter at c filters through the spherical
porous diaphragm f and passes out at u and x. This filter may be connected with
a reservoir by screwing it to a nozzle on the top of the reservoir.
Or, as shewn in fig. II where it is desired to dispense with the reservoir, the
nozzle may be provided with a stop cock t drawing off the filtered water direct.
The two forms of filter shewn in figs I and II of the drawings are intended for
the filtration of water under pressure. The construction of filters working only
under ordinary atmospheric pressure may be much simplified as most or all of the
metal parts may in this case be dispensed with and only stone or earthenware
china glass or other similar material used thereby much reducing the cost of
manufacture of these so-called "drip" filters.
Fig. III shews one convenient form of such "drip" filter. A is the reservoir for
the unfiltered water with a block of charcoal (or other chemically as well as
mechanically acting material) a placed therein, or with loose material placed on a
porous sieve. B is the diaphragm-filter. C is the reservoir for the filtered water
and D the connection to the air filter. The hemispherical diaphragm has a flange
which rests on a ledge of the reservoir C to which it is luted air-tight. The
reservoir A rests on the flange of the diaphragm.
Where it is desired to increase the filtering surface so as to obtain more rapid
action, the filtering diaphragms may be arranged as shewn in fig. IV each being in
the form of a plate B, and a number of these plates being connected alternately
in pairs at the top and bottom and enclosed in a vessel with inlet and outlet.
the filtering diaphragms may be arranged as in fig. V, each being in the shape of
an inverted U.
Or
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1, In a water filter the combination of a charcoal or other chemically as well as
mechanically acting filter, a diaphragm filter of ceramic or other material of fine
porosity and an air filter, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2, In a water filter the combination of a charcoal or other chemically as well as
mechanically acting filter and a diaphragm filter of ceramic or other material of
fine porosity, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
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