Improved Method of and Apparatus for Filtering Liquids.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application. 8th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left 14th July, 1893-4ccepted. 26th Aug.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Filtering Liquids.
I, JOSEPH FÉRAUD of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to new means and methods for filtering liquids in general.
According to this invention the filtering operation is effected by means of purified
and sterilized fibres of cellulose, wool or asbestos, mixed together in a proportion
depending on the nature of the liquid to be filtered, and treated with a quantity of
the said liquid. To this mixture there may be added any suitable substance in
powdered form for effecting bleaching or removal of colour, removal of taste or for
disinfecting or other purposes.
The apparatus I employ comprises a receptacle closed or open, traversed by the
liquid to be filtered and in which is immersed a filter which can be readily removed
and cleaned, and whose rigid walls are perforated or formed of fine meshes, duly
stayed, and forming chambers or zones into which the filtered liquid passes and
whence it flows to the outlet cock, said walls serving as a support to the treated
fibres above referred to which have been previously disseminated in the first portion
of the liquid to be filtered, and which are carried by the action of the current,
against the permeable rigid walls and adhere across the openings thus forming as
the filtering action proceeds a fibrous layer or thickness of felt which is caused to
become gradually thicker by the impurities which lodge on the first layer formed
by the aforesaid fibres, said fibres having mixed or not mixed with them a certain
quantity of charcoal or other deodorizing or disinfecting powdered body.
In order to enable the nature of my invention to be properly understood, I will
now proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. 1 is a plan of one form of my improved filter, part of the cover thereof being
removed, and
Fig. 2, is a vertical central section of the same.
A is a receptacle of any suitable kind and material to receive the liquid to be
filtered. B is a cock by which the liquid to be filtered is admitted to the
receptacle A.
C is a receptacle with perforated walls of suitable material, preferably of
perforated sheet-metal or metal gauze placed in the receptacle A. D is a discharge
cock for the filtered liquid. E is a double bottom. F is a cover with sheet metal
plates and handles. G is a cover carrying pivoted bolts for closing the cover.
g are strengthening rings or hoops in cases where the receptacle is made of cooper's
work. HH are side handles on the receptacle. J is a draw-off cock for testing
purposes. a are rigid permeable or perforated walls serving as filtering-supports.
bare cross-stays for strengthening the container C in its upper part. c c are joints
of caoutchouc or any suitable flexible material. d d are corrugated metallic sheets
serving to strengthen and hold apart the permeable walls through which the liquid
to be filtered passes.
ee are the uprights of a frame upon the lower crosspieces K
of which the vessel C rests. f is a small chamber through holes o in which, the
filtered liquid passes and flows away out at the cock D. The arrows indicate the
direction of travel of the liquid.
In using apparatus of this kind, I first mix with a portion of the liquid to be
filtered, or of the filtered liquid, any desired quantity of pure and disinfected
filtering material sterilized fibres of cellulose, wool or asbestos so that the same is
held in suspension in the liquid. This operation is effected in the receptacle A, the

page_text: vessel C being previously removed. The vessel C is replaced, the cover is closed,
and by opening the admission cock B, the filtering material in suspension in the
liquid, is carried along by the current and lodges against the outer surfaces of the
walls of the vessel C, where it becomes felted together so thoroughly that after a
duration of discharge of a few minutes, the liquid passes out perfectly filtered at the
orifice D. The first quantity of liquid that passes off, should be collected separately
and refiltered.
For this purpose the cock D may be formed with more than one way.
The tissue thus formed in the course of the filtering operation, is as regards the
filtering action, the closer in texture the greater the quantity of asbestos.
Asbestos alone would soon be choked and the outflow from the filter would cease.
Therefore it is possible, by a suitable mixture of the three kinds of fibres, or even
of two of them together, wool and asbestos, suitable for filtering certain substances
that do not mix with water, a tissue suitable for the various liquids which it is
desired to filter, and to adjust the amount thereof to the rapidity of discharge
required. Care must be taken that the fibres of these filters are from their nature,
unattackable by the liquids to be filtered, and have no action upon the said liquids;
and if the walls and parts of the apparatus employed in filtering are also of
unattackable materials having no action upon the liquids to be filtered, it will be
seen that the means and methods described may be employed in all known cases.
As the tissue thus formed in the course of the filtering operation, arrests all
impurities, it will become obstructed the more rapidly the more the liquids to be
filtered are charged with such impurities.
At the end of a certain period, depending on the nature and state of the liquid as
also on the proportions of mixture of the filtering fibres, the discharge will diminish
appreciably.
When this occurs the cover of the apparatus, and the permeable vessel C is
removed, and the felted layer adhering to its walls is removed therefrom; this can
be easily done by hand.
This layer may be thrown away, after having been exhausted of any liquid it
may contain, if desired. I thus avoid two important and costly operations:-washing
and sterilizing the filtering walls.
I may add to the aforesaid mixture of fibrous materials, a substance in the state
of powder, such for example as bone charcoal or wood charcoal.
It will be seen that with the means I have described and illustrated care must be
taken in selecting modes of construction of the apparatus, and in preparing the
mixture of the aforesaid fibrous materials according to the nature of the liquid, and
according to the result which it is desired to effect, and if required, in adding to
said mixture a substance in the form of powder disseminated in the mass with the
object of producing a chemical action of a disinfecting nature or otherwise.
As the improved filter may be used with any liquid to which it is suited, I propose
to call it by the term "Universal."
The filtering operation may be effected under pressure if desired. The output
is great because all the filtering surface shares equally in the filtering action, and
this allows of dealing with considerable volumes of liquids with apparatus of only
small capacity.
Dated this 8th day of March 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Filtering Liquids.
I, JOSEPH FÉRAUD of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, Engineer, 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 an improved method of and apparatus for filtering
liquids.
According thereto the filtering operation is effected by means of purified and
sterilized fibres of cellulose, wool or asbestos, or two or all of such fibres mixed
together in suitable proportions depending on the nature of the liquid to be filtered,
and treated with a quantity of the said liquid. To this mixture there may be
added any suitable substance in powdered form for effecting the bleaching or
removal of colour from the water, the removal of taste therefrom or for disinfecting
or other purposes.
The apparatus I employ comprises a receptacle, either closed or open to be
traversed by the liquid to be filtered, and in which is immersed a filter adapted to
be readily removed and cleaned, and whose rigid walls are perforated or formed of
fine meshes, duly stayed, and arranged to form chambers or zones into which the
filtered liquid passes and whence it can flow to an outlet cock, the arrangement
being such that the walls of the filter serve as a support to the fibres above referred
to which will be disseminated in the first portion of the liquid to be filtered, and
will be carried by the action of the liquid current against the permeable rigid walls
so as to adhere thereto, and cover the openings therein thus forming, as the filtering
action proceeds, a fibrous layer or thickness of felt constituting a filtering medium
which becomes gradually thicker as the impurities separated from the liquid
treated, lodge thereon. The aforesaid fibres may have mixed with them a quantity
of charcoal or other suitable deodorizing or disinfecting powdered body.
In order to enable the nature of my invention to be properly understood, I will
now proceed to describe the same by reference to the drawings left with my
Provisional Specification in which
Fig. 1 is a plan of one form of my improved filter, part of the cover thereof
being removed, and
Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same.
A is a receptacle of any suitable kind and material to receive the liquid to be
filtered. B is a cock by which the liquid to be filtered is admitted to the said
receptacle. Within the receptacle A. is located a vessel C the lower portion of
which is formed with a permeable or perforated wall or walls a, preferably of
perforated sheet-metal or metal gauze through which the filtered liquid passes. In
the example shown, this lower portion consists of two concentric annular chambers
formed with rigid permeable walls a that serve as supports for the filtering material.
dd are corrugated metallic sheets arranged within the annular chambers and serving
to hold apart and strengthen the walls a thereof. bb are stays for strengthening
the upper part of the said receptacle C. D is a discharge cock for the filtered
liquid. E is a double bottom for the receptacle A. F is a cover with sheet metal
plates and handles. G is a ring fixed to the upper part of the receptacle A and
carrying pivoted bolts for holding the cover F in the closed position. In cases
where the receptacle is made of cooper's work strengthening rings or hoops 9 are
employed. H H are side handles on the receptacle A. Jis a draw-off cock for
testing purposes.
cc are packing rings of suitable material such as india rubber.
ee are the uprights of a frame upon the lower cross-pieces K of which the walls a of the
lower portion of the vessel c bear. f is a small central chamber arranged within
the upper part of the vessel C and formed with holes o through which the filtered
liquid can pass and thence flows away through the cock D. The arrows indicate
the direction of travel of the liquid.

page_text: In using apparatus of the kind described, I first mix with a portion of the liquid
to be filtered, or of the filtered liquid, any desired quantity of pure and disinfected
filtering material composed of sterilized fibres of cellulose, wool and asbestos so
that the same is held in suspension in the liquid. This operation is effected in the
.receptacle A, the vessel C being previously removed. The vessel C is then
replaced, the cover is closed, and by opening the admission cock B, the filtering
inaterial in suspension in the liquid, is carried along by the current and caused to
lodge against the outer surfaces of the walls of the vessel C, where it becomes
felted or matted together so thoroughly that after a duration of discharge of a
few minutes, the liquid passes out through the cock perfectly filtered. The first
quantity of liquid that passes off, should be collected separately and refiltered.
For this purpose the cock D may be formed with more than one way.
The filtering medium or tissue thus formed in the course of the filtering
operation, is the closer in texture the greater the quantity of asbestos used.
Asbestos alone would soon be choked and the outflow from the filter would then
cease. It is possible however by a suitable mixture of the three kinds of fibres
mentioned (or even of two of them together for instance, wool and asbestos)
suitable for filtering certain substances that do not mix with water to obtain a
filtering medium suitable for the various liquids which it is desired to filter, and to
adjust the extent of surface according to the rapidity of discharge required. For
this reason I consider it desirable to use fibrcus material of two or all of the kinds
mentioned.
Care must of course, be taken, that the fibres used in these filters are, from their
nature, unattackable by the liquids to be filtered, and have no action upon the said
. liquids; and if the walls and parts of the apparatus employed in filtering are also
of unattackable materials and have no action upon the liquids to be filtered, it will
be seen that the means and method described may be employed in all known cases.
As the filtering medium or tissue thus formed in the course of the filtering
operation, arrests all impurities, it will become obstructed the more rapidly the
more the liquids to be filtered are charged with such impurities.
At the end of a certain period, depending on the nature and state of the liquid
to be treated, as also on the proportions of the mixture of the filtering fibres, the
discharge will diminish appreciably.
When this occurs the cover of the apparatus, and the vessel c with permeable
walls a is removed and the felted or matted layer adhering to the said walls is
removed therefrom; this can be easily done by hand.
This layer which is of very small value, may be thrown away after being
exhausted of any liquid it may contain, if desired. I thus avoid two important
and costly operations; viz. washing and sterilizing the filtering medium after the
same has been used.
1
may
add to the aforesaid mixture of fibrous materials, a substance in the state
of powder, such for example as bone charcoal or wood charcoal.
It will be seen that with the means I have described and illustrated, care must
be taken in selecting modes of construction of the apparatus, and in preparing the
mixture of the aforesaid fibrous materials according to the nature of the liquid, and
according to the result which it is desired to effect, and if required, in adding to
said mixture a substance in the form of powder disseminated in the mass with the
object of producing a chemical action of a disinfecting nature or otherwise.
The filtering operation may be effected under pressure if desired. The output
is great because the whole of the filtering surface shares equally in the filtering
action, and this allows of dealing with considerable volumes of liquids with
apparatus of comparatively small capacity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1. Filtering a liquid by means of a filtering medium or tissue composed of

page_text: fibrous material consisting of purified and sterilized fibres of cellulose, wool or
asbestos or two or all of these substances mixed together in suitable proportions
depending upon the nature of the liquid to be filtered and with or without
admixture with a powdered substance suitable for decolorizing disinfecting or
otherwise acting upon the liquid to be filtered, the said fibres previous to the
commencement of the filtering operation being mixed with liquid and the mixture
placed in the path of the current of liquid to be filtered so that the fibres will be
carried forward by such current and caused to adhere to and form a felted or
matted layer of fibrous filtering material upon a perforated or permeable wall or
support through which the filtered liquid is caused to pass substantially as herein-
before described.
2. Apparatus for filtering liquids according to the preceding claim, comprising
a receptacle through which the liquid to be filtered is passed and a removable
vessel or structure located within said receptacle and formed with a perforated
or permeable wall or walls arranged to form one or more chambers or receptacles
through which the filtered liquid can pass, and to serve as a support to which a
layer of fibrous material of the kind berein referred to, with or without admixture
with charcoal or other powdered substance, is caused to adhere in the manner set
forth aud form a fibrous filtering medium or tissue substantially as herein
described.
3. My improved apparatus for filtering liquids constructed arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described and shown in the drawings.
T
1.1 1002
JOSEPH FÉRAUD,
By L. W., per F. B.