Improvements in or connected with the Ventilation of Sewers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Ventilation of Sewers.
We, REUBEN THOMAS PRESTON, of the Firm of J. Stone & Co., of Deptford, in
the County of Kent, Engineers, and GAVIN CARLYLE RALSTON, in the employ
of the said Firm, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;
The object of this invention is to do away with the injurious effect of the
escape of noxious gases from sewers, and especially to the escape of same by
the so called ventilating columns in inhabited districts. For this purpose we
utilize water pressure from a water main (or where available air pressure from
a compressed air main or a small gas engine, oil engine, hot air engine, or
electrical or other motor) to cause the sewer gas in the vicinity of the ventilating
column to be passed through water and also by preference to be commingled with
fresh air; the escaping thus far purified and diluted gas then passing off by the
ventilating column or other outlet. The escaping gases may be assisted in rising
by gas jets, or be burned by gas jets.
The water from the water main may be applied to an injector like device with
cones for drawing in the sewer gas and by preference also fresh air and the com-
mingled water gas and air being passed into the lower part of a water tank or
receptacle in connection with the off side of the sewer and from which the
purified gas rises from the water into the ventilating column. The overflow water
from the tank runs into the sewer or into a closed or trapped flushing tank,
thus saving flushing water. The fresh air supply may be drawn from an air
trap in the roadway, or from a pipe arranged along the inner or outer wall
of the ventilating column.
Or the water as driving medium may be used for operating a fan to draw the
gas from the sewer and by preference also to draw in fresh air, the commingled
water, gas and air passing into the water tank or receptacle.
Or the gas may be drawn through the water in the tank, the ejector or fan
being arranged between the purifying water and the ventilating column.
Or the water pressure is applied to an injector which draws in fresh air and
impinges upon the vanes of a turbine that draws in the sewer gas, the mixture
of gas, water and air being forced into the lower part of the water tank..
The purifying water may be mixed with disinfecting agents.
.
"
1000

page_text: of the said Firm, 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:—
The object of this invention is to do away with the injurious effect of noxious
gases from sewers and the like, and especially to the escape of same by
the so-called ventilating columns in inhabited districts. For this purpose we
utilize water pressure from a water main (or where available air pressure from
a compressed air main or water or air pressure as produced by fluid compressing
apparatus operated by a small gas engine, oil engine, hot air engine or electrical
or other motor) to cause the sewer gas in the vicinity of the ventilating column 1
to be passed through water and also by preference to be commingled with fresh
air, the escaping thus far purified and diluted gas then passing off by the
ventilating column or other outlet. The purified air or fluid may be assisted in
rising by gas jets.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical part sectional elevation
showing our apparatus applied to a sewer manhole in connection with a ventilating
column. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a part sectional
elevation shewing the apparatus applied to a sewer manhole without a ventilating
column. Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation shewing the apparatus fitted with
a small water wheel applied to a sewer manhole in connection with a ventilating :
column and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view shewing how the overflow water
from the tank may be utilized for flushing purposes.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the cock or valve A on the pipe A¹ fitted to the water tank L
admits water from the water main to an injector like motor with adjustable
nozzle B and two fixed cones C and D. The water forced through the injector
causes the water in the water tank L to enter the back E of the injector and the
small holes C and D¹ and to circulate it, I being the outlet. The current
produced in the injector induces the gas from the sewer N to rise in the uptake
pipe and to pass down the pipes F1 and F to the injector nozzles B and C.
The current through the nozzle D in a similar manner induces a current of fresh
air from the pipe G for mixing with the sewer gas, the quantity of air being
determined by the state of the sewer and regulated by a valve or cock such as G¹
Fig. 3. H is an overflow pipe from the tank into the sewer, efficiently trapped
to prevent any sewer gas from rising. I is a hand hole or plug for cleaning out
the tank. Jis an automatic float valve for closing the bellmouth of the pipe F
in case the sewer becomes charged with storm water. The sewer gas purified in
the manner described passes off by the pipe K in the ventilating column 0 as in
Fig. 1 or through the grating P as in Fig. 3. The inlet of fresh air from the
pipe G may be omitted but we prefer to use it as it aida considerably the
purifying action of the water.
In Fig. 4 the cock A on the pipe A¹ admits water from the water main on to a
small water wheel Q which is enclosed in a casing and serves to draw in fresh
air by the pipe G and sewer gas from the sewer N by the opening or openings Q
in the casing, the commingled water, gas and air passing into the water tank L
by the pipe while the purified gas passes up by the column 0.
In Figure 5 a suitable arrangement is shewn whereby the overflow water from
the tank L containing the ejector apparatus designated by the letter X runs
into a trapped flushing tank L. The tank L has a trapped overflow pipe H¹
communicating with the tank L' and the latter has a syphon R so that when
the water in the tank L rises sufficiently to cause the syphon R to act the said
tank L is emptied into the sewer thus saving flushing. It is evident that if
desired the tanks L and L' may be made in one by arranging a suitable partition
to divide one tank into two compartments.
The purifying water may be mixed with disinfecting agents, but we have found
water alone or water mixed with pure air sufficient for ordinary and even bad
cases of foul sewer gases.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The purifying of sewer gas or foul air by passing it through water by
means of water or air under pressure substantially as set forth.
2. The purifying of sewer gas or foul air by passing it through water by
means of water under pressure commingled with air substantially as set forth.
3. The purifying of sewer gas or foul air by passing it through water under
pressure commingled with air and the utilization of such water for flushing
purposes substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of a water tank having inlet for sewer gas or foul air,
an ejector device worked by compressed air or water for forcing the gas from
said inlet to a point below the wafer level in the tank and up through the water,
thereby purifying it, an outlet for the so purified gas, and an overflow pipe for
the water in the tank substantially as described and shown.
5. The combination of a water tank having inlet for sewer gas or foul air, an
ejector device worked by compressed air or gas for forcing the gas from said
inlet to a point below the water level in the tank and up through the water,
an inlet for fresh air which commingled with the gas and the water in the
ejector purifies the gas, an outlet for the so purified gas, and an outlet pipe for
the water in the tank, substantially as described and shown.
6. The combination of a water tank, a small water wheel enclosed in a casing,
said water wheel operated by water under pressure in a pipe terminating with a
jet nozzle arranged on the wheel casing and adapted to induce fresh air thereto,
lateral openings on the casing for drawing in sewer gas or foul air, an outlet from
the casing for the commingled air, gas and water, said pipe terminating at a
point below the water level in the tank, and serving to pass the gas up through
the water an outlet for the purified gas and an overflow pipe for the water in
the tank, substantially as described and shown.
7. The constructions of apparatus shown on the drawing.
T
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