IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INTER- CEPTING AND EXTRACTING SOLIDS AND FLOCULENT AND OTHER SUSPENDED MATTER IN WASTE AND REFUSE WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS FROM PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Lowe, of Darwen, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INTER-
CEPTING AND EXTRACTING SOLIDS AND FLOCULENT AND OTHER SUSPENDED
MATTER IN WASTE AND REFUSE WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS FROM
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Lowe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1882.
PETER LOWE, of Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR INTERCEPTING AND EXTRACTING SOLIDS AND FLOCULENT AND
OTHER SUSPENDED MATTER IN WASTE AND REFUSE WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
FROM MANUFACTORIES AND FROM THE SEWAGE OF TOWNS."
My Invention relates to a machine for the extraction and removal of solids,
floculent matter, or other refuse from water polluted by manufactories, or from the
sewage of towns and other waste liquids. The machine is a self-acting strainer,
consisting of a perforated plate or plates laid on a frame fixed at a slight inclination
with the flow of the liquid. The plate or plates may be formed of perforated
zinc, gauze wire, or other metal or substance suitable to the nature of the fluid to
be operated upon.
The water or sewage being directed to the foot of the frame flows over the plate
or plates and through the perforations, the arrested matter being pushed forward
over the plate at the end of the machine by means of brushes or scrapers working
over the surface of the perforated plate or plates on a carriage having a reciprocating
motion, and so arranged that the brushes or scrapers will cleanse the plate or plates
on either the forward or the backward motion, or they may be raised on the return
motion, or on each alternate return motion, or as often as required, to clear the
ID 1031

page_text: collected matter, which is then pushed forward over the end of the machine into a
chamber, receiver, or any receptacle that may be found to be necessary, according
to the class of matter or sewage to be extracted.
The novelty of this Invention is its simplicity, requiring very little attention
after being set to work, doing its work effectively, and in the manner in which it
extracts the solids and floculent matter from paper and other manufactories, and
the sewage of towns, producing the same in a convenient and profitable manner
which can be utilized for various purposes.
Little fall is required for the effective operation of the machine; it can be readily
adapted to existing sewers and outfalls without the necessity of raising the fluid by
pumping or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Peter Lowe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th April
1882.
PETER LOWE, of Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR INTERCEPTING AND EXTRACTING SOLIDS AND FLOCULENT AND
OTHER SUSPENDED MATTER IN WASTE AND REFUSE WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
FROM MANUFACTORIES AND FROM THE SEWAGE OF TOWNS."
This Invention relates to a machine for the extraction and removal of solids,
floculent matter, or other refuse from water polluted by manufactories, or from
the sewage of towns and other waste liquids. It is a self-acting strainer, consisting
of a perforated plate or plates laid on a frame fixed at a slight inclination with the
flow of the liquid. The plate or plates may be formed of perforated zinc, gauze
wire, or other metal or substance suitable to the nature of the fluid to be operated
upon.
The water or sewage being directed to the foot of the frame flows over the plate
or plates and through the perforations, the arrested matter being pushed forward
over the plate at the end of the machine by means of brushes and scrapers
working over the surface of the perforated plate or plates on a carriage having
a reciprocating motion, and so arranged that the brushes and scrapers will cleanse
the plate or plates on either the forward or the backward motion, or they may be
raised on the return motion or on each alternate return motion or stroke, or as
often as required to clear the collected matter, which is then pushed forward over
the end of the machine into a chamber, receiver, or any receptacle that may be
found to be necessary, according to the class of matter or sewage to be extracted.
In order that the said Invention may be more fully understood I will now
proceed to describe the Drawings upon the Sheets hereunto annexed, the same
letters and figures of reference being used throughout all the Figures to indicate
the same or corresponding parts of my Invention.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2 is a plan of
the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation through line A, B, on plan shewing the
section of the perforated plate or plates C on which the floculent and other
solid matter is arrested from flowing with the water or liquid sewage into the
chamber D beneath; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation shewing how the brushes
E, F, and scraper G are lifted before making a forward stroke to allow any solid
matter to flow on the grating or perforated plates C, so as to allow of its being
pushed forward into the receptacle D¹ at the end of the machine; Fig. 5 is a
longitudinal elevation shewing how the brushes E, F, and scraper G are raised or
lifted when required before making a backward stroke; Fig. 6 is a sectional
elevation through line C¹, D2, on plan in Fig. 2.
The water or sewage to be operated upon is directed down the incline H to the
foot of the machine at I when it flows on to the metallic perforated grating C,
which can be made of zinc, gauze-wire, or other metallic materials according to the
nature of the liquid to be operated upon, this is laid and secured upon the metallic
perforated grids K, to which is attached the frame sides J; on the top are the
slides L for the blocks M to work in, being fitted on the shafts or centres N which
is provided with the carriage frames O and supports the shafts or centres P. From
the shafts or centres P and N are suspended the levers R, which are connected to
the brushes E, F, and scraper G by means of the levers S being connected together
by the rods and links T so as to give a simultaneous motion either up or down.
To the shaft or centre N is attached at each end the side or connecting rods U,
coupling to the crank and spur wheel Y fixed on the crank shaft V, and is driven

page_text: from the shaft W by the small pinion X working into the wheel Y, the same
being driven by a rope working in rope pulley Z, as shown, or by any ordinary
means.
When the carriage is nearly at the end of the backward stroke the inclined
lever (1) is pressed down by coming in contact with the pulley or bowl (2), by which
the shaft or centre P is slightly turned towards the front end of the machine, thus
moving the levers R by the rods and links T in the same direction, so that when
the backward stroke is completed the brushes E, F, and scraper G are raised, as
shown in Fig. 4, during which time the polluted water or sewage is flowing down
the incline H on to and through the perforated plates K, leaving any solid matter
on the top of the perforated plates C.
When a forward stroke is made the inclined lever (1) slides back with the carriage
and gently lowers the brushes E, F, and the scraper G on to the plates C, when
the brush E pushes or sweeps the arrested matter forward until the forward stroke
is completed, when the whole of the carriage with the brushes and scraper moves
backward, rubbing or brushing the plate and rolling the collected matter together,
at the same time keeping the holes in the perforated plates C perfectly clear and
free for the flow of the water or liquid passing through to the chamber D beneath.
At the end of the backward stroke the levers S and brushes E, F, and the scraper G
are lifted again for the purpose before described, the brush E pushing newly
collected matter, the brush F pushing or sweeping the matter left by the brush E
during the previous forward stroke within reach of the scraper G, when the latter
has moved back again.
At the end of this forward stroke the lever (3) comes in contact with the sliding
rod (4) worked from the centre (5) by the wheel (6) and pinion (7) from the crank
shaft V, the sliding rod (4) works in the slide bar (8) to maintain a uniform position,
by which the lever (3) is pushed back until the projection (9) on the lever (10) drops
into the notch (11) on the fixing O', which is secured to one side of the carriage
frame O, by which action the levers R and S, the brushes E, F, and the scraper G
are raised as in Fig. 5, this time making the return stroke in this position, thus
leaving the arrested matter lying on the perforated bottom as left before being
lifted; the end of the backward stroke being completed, the lever (10) comes in
contact with the spring (12), by the compression of which it is lifted out of the
notch (11), the inclined lever (1) arresting the sudden fall of the brushes and scraper
by coming in contact with the bowl (2), and as the carriage moves forward allows
them to be gently let down, as before described, the scraper G pushing the matter
left by the brush F during the last forward stroke into the chamber D¹, the brush F
pushing forward what was left by the brush E, and the brush E pushing forward
any fresh matter that is arrested during the last backward stroke, and so on
continuously as long as the machine is at work.
It is not necessary that the brushes and scraper be lifted bodily and retained
in such position during each alternate return stroke, but as often as required to
enable the scraper to clear the collected matter into the chamber D¹, which can be
done by regulating the speed of the sliding rod (4) by the spur wheel (6) and
pinion (7), as may be found to be necessary, according to the nature of the matter
or sewage to be operated upon.
The scraper G can be made of any suitable material, such as india-rubber, leather,
wood, or any other equivalent.
An essential feature in this machine is that it keeps the perforated grating C
perfectly clear and free from being choked, which is effected by the brushes E and F
rubbing backwards, which at the same time rolls the collected matter together
when of a fibrous nature, the brushes riding on and over the same, which is effected
by making the holes, as shewn in Fig. 7, in the top end of levers R larger than
the pins which connect them to the rods and links T, thus allowing them to rise
in case any solid matter is under them, which also prevents it from being forced
through the perforations in plates C, consequently no fear of being made up.
The bottom of the chamber D₁ at the end of the machine is made similar to the

page_text: bottom of the machine, consequently any water or liquid that is retained in the
arrested matter will drain itself through the perforations into the chamber
underneath, flowing away through the opening A' as under the machine, which
can be directed and conducted in any convenient way as desired. The arrested
matter is removed from the chamber D¹ in any convenient way.
The novelty of this Invention is its simplicity, requiring very little attention
after being set to work, doing its work effectively and in the manner in which it
extracts the solids and floculent matter from paper and other manufactories, and
the sewage of towns, producing the same in a convenient and profitable manner,
which can be utilised for various purposes.
Little fall is required for the effective operation of this machine, it being readily
adapted to existing sewers and outfalls without the necessity of raising the fluid
by pumping or otherwise.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the mode of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the
exact details given, but may vary the same according to the various requirements
my improved apparatus may be applicable, but that what I claim and desire to be
secured to me by the herein before recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The construction and use of apparatus for intercepting and extracting
solids, and floculent, and other suspended matter in waste and refuse water, and
other fluids from manufactories and from the sewage of towns, constructed and
operating substantially as described and as shewn on the annexed Drawings in
Figures 1 to 7.
Second. The construction and use of the respective parts for brushing or rubbing
the perforated plates C when making either a forward or backward stroke for the
purpose of carrying the arrested matter forward or rolling the same together before
being pushed forward by the scraper G, at the same time keeping the perforations
in the plates C perfectly free from being choked with the arrested matter,
substantially as described and as shewn on the Drawings annexed.
Third. The construction and use of the respective parts for raising and sus-
taining the elevated position of the brushes E and F and the scraper G during a
backward stroke, substantially as described and as shewn on the Drawings in
Figure 5.
Fourth. The construction and use of the respective parts for releasing and
lowering the elevated position of the brushes E and F and the scraper G, when
the end of the backward stroke is attained, together with the means for arresting
their sudden fall, substantially as described and as shewn in the Drawings in
Figure 4.
In witness whereof, I, the said
seal, this Nineteenth day of
Peter Lowe, have hereunto set my hand and
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the within named Peter
Lowe in the presence of
EDMUND CHADWICK,
(Agent for the Petitioner),
30, Arrowsmith Terrace,
Bolton.
PETER LOWE. (L.S.)