IMPROVEMENTS IN CLARIFYING AND FILTERING WATER, BEER, WINE, AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
HEATH, of Furnival's Inn, in the City of London, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eleventh day of October, in the second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Matthew Heath, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Matthew Heath, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Matthew Heath, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLARIFYING AND FILTERING
WATER, BEER, WINE, AND OTHER LIQUIDS," communicated to me by a certain
foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, that I, the said Matthew Heath, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performned, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Matthew Heath, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hercunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
The Invention consists of new methods for clarifying and filtering water,
beer, wine, and liquids in general, in open vessels.
The purification of liquids, as mentioned above, may be obtained by means of
two systems, namely, first, by clarifying without filtering; second, by filtering
only. It is the latter system which will be more particularly described herein.
As to the first system, clarifying without filtering, this is applicable to
water only used solely for the purpose of manufactures. This purification is
obtained by precipitating the heterogeneous insoluble matter contained in the
water by means of a solution of the muriate of zinc. I take one part of the
solution cold, and of ten degrees specific gravity, and put and mix the same in
a vessel with about two hundred and fifty parts of the water to be clarified, to
which must be added and mixed one-third of a part of a solution of salt of
soda at ten degrees, which immediately produces a precipitate of the acid of
zinc, which carrys with it to the bottom of the vessel the other insoluble
matters. At the end of a quarter of an hour the clarified water rises above
the precipitate. This water is drawn off by means of a cock placed within a
certain distance from the bottom of the vessel, and by means of another cock
placed underneath the first one the precipitate formed by the result of the
operation is drawn off also.
As to the second system, purification by filtering only; this purification is
effected by means of wool, hair, and horsehair of every kind; but I shall
confine myself to a description of the woollen matters only, namely, 1st, wool
of every length, but particularly that sort of short wool called wool parings (or
shearings from woollen cloths), or wool cut small by any other means; 2nd,
wool woven into cloths or stuffs; 3rd and lastly, spun wool in skeins or
hanks; but I again repeat that the wool to be particularly preferred is wool
parings, or any other wool, new or old, white or colored, which has been cut,
chopped, crushed, ground, or broken into pieces quite as fine or even finer
than the parings of woollen stuff of any kind, and which must be scoured and
cleaned by the common process of alkalis, or by the wash of potter's earth, or
by the use of both the said matters together. To these several means of
effecting filtration, that by means of vegetable carbon may be added.
It is to be understood that in the descriptions which I shall give,
common water is the liquid intended to be employed, unless the contrary
shall be stated.

page_text: The apparatuses for filtering, which will be described in this Specification,.
are not the only ones which may be employed in this system of filtration, for,
according to the locality or other circumstances which may require variation
in them and their appurts, they may be altered considerably, but in general
the plans represented by the Drawings berewith may be adhered to.
The following are descriptions of the means for fitting up filtering apparatus
with wool parings or other wool cut up quite short, either for filtering from
the bottom to the top, or from the top to the bottom, or laterally from the
centre to the circumference or from the circumference to the centre, but it
must be understood that the wool described as employed is always wool
parings, unless the contrary be expressed.
.
SCOURING AND WASHING THE WOOL PARINGS.-See Drawing No. 1.
Dissolve a certain weight of salt of soda in cold water of fifty times the
weight of the salt of soda, in a vessel or tub into which the wool parings are
put, in such a quantity as will require the treading down by a strong man to
make them imbibe the solution until the water is perceived to rise above the
wool; then take of the wool so saturated such a quantity as will nearly equal
in bulk the size of a man's hat, which is to be put into the left compartment
of the wooden vessel C, filled with water, and the water of which said compart-
ment should contain a little of the wash of potter's earth. The wool must be
stirred about for a few minutes with a stick, so as to dilute and mix it well
with the water. Then put the basket D in the tub E, and pour on with
a pail or other vessel about one-third of the liquid in which the wool is mixed,
the water running freely over the tub. When the basket is taken out the
wool therein forms over the whole extent of the bottom a kind of cake, from
which the water dirtied by the potter's earth runs off immediately. Take out
the basket, which is carried upright by means of the vehicle F upon the
compartment next the first one, where it must be immersed three or four times
by lifting it up and down, and the wool stirred about with a stick if it is
considered necesssary. The vehicle is then made to run upon the third
compartment, when the same number of immersions are made as before, and
so on in like manner with the fourth and last compartments. All the sliding:
locks G open and shut at pleasure, for the purpose of bringing the liquid in
the compartments of the vessel to a level by means of the floating cock.
When it is required to take the wool out of the basket, the hook. H of the
bar I is made use of. The cord of the basket is rolled round the wheel J;
and the wool is spread over the boarding for the purpose intended.

page_text: Put water into the wooden vessel C until it rises above the false bottom D.
Place the grating E and the hoop F, cover with a woven woollen stuff, with
some plugs G to fix them, in case they should not press sufficiently tight
against the sides of the vessel; then fill the vessel with water, and put therein
by portions at a time the wool which has been previously scoured and washed,
and which is sifted by means of the grating H; held in the water at about
nine inches depth, in quantity sufficient to form a layer or cake suitably
compact, of the thickness of about nine inches. The water is let to run out
by the cock I till it reaches nearly the false bottom D. Then put upon the
wool grating H the inside cover K and the screw L with its box or lever, and
press the cake of wool down. The grating is then fixed with the pegs G to
prevent its ascending. The inside cover and screw are taken away and water
put into the vessel again.. A grating is kept in the water as before
mentioned, on which some wool is spread, but in less quantity than for the first
layer. The water is let off down to the first layer; the grating is then put on
the wool; the inner cover and screw are again placed thereon and pressed
down; the grating is kept fixed, as above described, or by means of the
bars M. The inner cover and screw are then taken away and the bar N is
put in after which put one of the moveable props O upon the bar (as the
screw is represented in the section and the prop in the elevation of the
vessel), upon which prop is a lever and a round board, with weights at the
extremity weighing upon it, after which put into the water about the same
quantity of wool as for the preceding layer, for the purpose of forming a third
layer. The water is then let to run off as far as the bottom of the last layer.
The grating P is then put in (represented in two pieces in the Drawing), upon
which must be placed the bar Q, which is loaded with less weight, so that this
layer may be less pressed than the under ones...
The apparatus being thus fitted up, the water is conducted to the vessel by
the channel R, with sliding locks. The stop lock S is opened, and the
filtered water runs out abundantly by the channel T. When the filtration
slackens about one-half, more or less, the sliding lock, is closed down, and
when the water nearly ceases running through the stop lock, that must also be
shut. The last layer must be taken out and replaced, as already described.
The sliding lock and stop lock are then opened, and the filtration begius again,
and so on following the same operation is repeated until it is judged necessary
to change two layers. Finally and later, the third layer is changed, until the
In regard to
three layers are replaced, as already previously described.

page_text: washing the wool which has been dirtied by the filtration, it is effected in the
same manner as the scouring thereof, except that it is not necessary to employ
for the present purpose either alkali or potter's earth; the wool is simply put
into the left compartment of the washing vessel, where it is well stirred about,
and successively iminersed in the other.. This washing may be performed in
quite a different manner, by means of a basket immersed in running water, or
by a sieve held by the hand, as will be of course done where only small
The process for fitting up this apparatus differs a little from the one last
described, principally on account of the height of the wooden vessel C, which
admits of the necessary quantity of wool being all put in at once to form one
layer. The wool therefore for one layer being put into the water, is actively
and regularly stirred about with a hoe during several minutes, in order to
disperse it well, and make it form a woollen and homogenous paste,, after;
which it is permitted to settle down at the bottom, taking care that the liquid
does not turn when the movement ceases. Without taking the water out, a
hoop with grating D is let down it quite straight upon the first layer; the,
metal round plate E is brought upon the hoop with the crane, and by means
of the jack the layer is properly pressed down, after which the pegs are inserted
into their holes, which will be found on a level with the said hoop to keep it.
tight. The round iron plate is then taken away, and more wool is put in,.
and mixed with the water as before, and so in same manner for every layer;
or cake of wool. The round iron plate is then left upon the last layer, and,
some weights attached to the end of the lever, catching the axles of the cogs
of the jack, produce a constant pressure upon the layers. So soon as all the
layers are properly arranged, water is brought in at the top, and runs off by
the cock F until it is sufficiently clear, then it is made to run off by the stop.
lock G, which conducts it into the channel H (both one and the other are.
similar to those in Drawing No. 2, as also several other appurtenances, of
which it is not necessary to speak), or by the stop lock I, which conducts it,
into the wooden vessel K, which is hermetically closed after the air has:
escaped, by means of an opening placed in the cover, and which is, afterwards,
shut, and where a layer is laid down and pressed down by the filtration of.
vegetable carbon of about three inches in thickness, placed between two hoops.
covered with some woven woollen stuff, and this layer itself is placed between
thin layers of wool parings, the lower one of which has underneath it a hoop
with woven woollen stuff; the water is then filtered, and goes out by the

page_text: opening L cock. See for this filtration by carbon the vessel K in section and
plan. Towards the upper part, and behind the wooden vessel C, the vessel M
is placed, for effecting two arrangements (differing a little from each other)
of filtration from the bottom to the top. The layer N, formed of one part
only, is pressed rather strongly; the one O pressed less is divided into two
parts of the thickness of the framework P, for the purpose of being more
easily cleaned. These descending filtrations are established principally for
effecting a first filtration of the grosser matter, and for being cleaned, at least
during a certain period, without disturbing them, by throwing in the water at
the top, and making it pass in an opposite direction to that of the filtration.
The layer O may be replaced by a filtering by means of woven woollen
stuffs of a texture closer and closer as it approaches the side opposite to which
the water enters, which may be stopped simply by the square frame P, of
which one or several may be used at certain distances.
This gross filtration, either by means of wool parings or woven woollen
stuffs, may also be effected by descent. The different kinds of economical
stop locks of the Drawings Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, may be replaced by common
cocks. The vessels in which the layers for filtering do not occupy more than
one-third part or less of the height, afford generally, 1st, the facility of
putting in at once all the wool parings necessary for the formation of each
layer, by allowing them to mix well with the liquid before they be allowed to
sink; 2ndly, the being able to establish the several layers for filtering without
taking the water out, which the vessels, where the layers occupy about one-
third of their capacity, and even more, do not allow to be done without some.
difficulty.
After what has been previously described, there remains but little to say
respecting the fitting up sundry filters according to Drawing No. 4. This
Drawing represents, 1st, a large vessel in wood C, divided into three equal.
compartments, forming so many separate fitters, which allow of the filtered"
water being passed successively from one to the other, if it is considered that
the first filtering is not perfect. This arrangement allows also of a layer, as
it becomes gradually obstructed, being removed, and the water let at once
into the layer underneath, and so on in same manner as to all the other layers,
and for each filter, that is to say, that all the layers of these filters may be
made to serve one after the other in retaining the first impurities of the
water, that they serve, by means of the layers which follow, as a filter for
the gross impurities, and that when it is necessary to wash the wool, each
layer is found to be dirty in an equal degree, which is not the case with the
other fiters, where every second layer before it is taken out is found in general.

page_text: not to have received the first impurities of the liquid. The cocks which are
used in this apparatus of three compartments for filtering may be replaced
by the stop locks I and S of the Drawing No. 3, because they may be placed
upon a covered channel of running water.
Second filter, called a house filter.-A layer of vegetable carbon is put
into the wooden vessel upon the false bottom covered with woven woollen
stuffs.
Third, another filter, called also house filter. A filter is fitted up in
a metal vessel with wool in threads or hanks, which is made to enter forcibly
into the lower part of the filter, by lifting the bundle of hanks with a cord
passed inside, which is immediately deposited in the tube above the stopper
placed at the bottom of the filter. The filtered water is delivered by the cock
of the apparatus. To clean this last filter the hanks are well stirred about
in water, and must be replaced without being twisted, so as to prevent their
caking together. The stop locks S of the Drawing No. 2, those I and G of
the Drawing No. 3, and that of F in Drawing No. 4, have each one or more
rings of leather, and also of woven woollen stuff (the latter underneath the
leather), upon the part which gives motion to the screw with a winch, and
which is applied to the part of the cheek which remains fixed.
It is necessary to observe, that the woollen matters employed in these
several filterings must be renewed when they have lost a great part of their
filtering property, which is known when they are composed of raw wool, wool
parings, or other sorts of wool, by their filtering imperfectly and in a continuous
manner, because they are either worn out, or have got divided into small
lumps, and when they are composed of wool in skeins or hanks, by their
getting stuck together, or, when they are of woven woollen stuff, by being
separated or torn.
See Drawing No. 5, lateral filtration from the centre to the circumference,
by the filter in wood C, by means of a layer of wool parings and a layer of
vegetable carbon; filtration by the filter in wood D from the circumference
to the centre by a layer of wool parings only.
The same means which have been previously described for filtering water
may be employed for filtering beer, wine, and liquids in general.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Heath, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord 1839, the aforesaid Matthew Heath came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One:
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.

page_text: In the Matter of a Patent granted to MATTHEW HEATH, of Furnivals
Inn, in the City of London, Gentleman, for the Invention commu-
nicated to him by a certain foreigner residing abroad, of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CLARIFYING AND FILTERING WATER, BEER, WINES, AND OTHER
LIQUIDS;" and bearing date at Westminster, the Eleventh day of
October, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.
..
"
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION entered by the
said Matthew Heath, pursuant to the provisions of an Act passed in
the fifth and sixth years of the reign of His late Majesty King William
the. Fourth, entituled "An Act to amend the Law touching Letters
Patent for Inventions.
I, the said MATTHEW HEATH, do hereby declare that since the inrollment
of the Specification of the said Invention, I have been advised that it is.
doubtful whether the clarifying process is applicable to any fluid but water,.
and that the parts of the said Specification herein-after disclaimed are not
new, and that the remaining parts of the said Specification would be more,
clearly understood if certain alterations were made therein; and for this reason
I, the said Matthew Heath, do hereby make the following Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alteration, that is to say, I hereby disclaim the words "clari-
"fying and "in the title of the said Patent, and I disclaim in the Specifi-
cation of the said Patent as follows, that is to say:-After the first paragraph
beginning with "Now know ye" and ending with "that is to say," I hereby dis-
claim all that follows as far as the words "First method.-(See Drawing No. 2,"
those words inclusive, after which words I hereby add and insert the following
words:"First, the nature of the said Invention consists in the application to
the purposes of filtration of that sort of short wool called wool parings or
shearings from woollen cloth, or wool cut small by any other means, or any
other wool, new or old, white or colored, which has been cut, chopped,
crushed, ground, or. broken into pieces quite as fine or even finer than the
"parings of woollen of any kind, and which must be scoured and cleansed by
the common process.. I will now describe the filtering apparatus, the mode
of applying the wool therein, and the process of filtration as carried on
therein, reference being had to the Drawing. No. 2, First method." And
6.

page_text: further on in the said Specification at the end of the description of the first
method, Drawing No. 2, I hereby disclaim the words "except that it is not
necessary to employ for the present purpose either alkali or potters carth,
"the wool is simply put into the left compartment of the washing vessel, where
"it is well stirred about and successively immersed in the other. This
"washing may be performed in quite a different manner by means of a basket
"immersed in running water or by a sieve held by the hand, as will be of
course done where only small quantities of water are filtered." And further
on in the description of the second method, I hereby disclaim all that follows
after the words "by throwing in the water at the top and making it pass in
"an opposite direction to that of the filtration," as far as the section beginning.
"It is necessary to observe that the woollen matters employed," in which
section I hereby disclaim the words " and when they are composed of wool in
skeins or hanks by their getting stuck together, or when they are of woven
woollen stuff, by being separated or torn;" as also the remainder of the Speci-
fication to the end thereof, where I hereby make an alteration by the inser-
tion of the following claiming clause :-" Now whereas I claim as the Invention
"the application of wool parings or the shearings of woollen cloth, or other
the like wool which has been cut, chopped, crushed, ground, or broken
"into picces quite as fine or even finer than the parings or shearings of
"woollen cloth or stuff of any kind for the purposes of filtration in layers or
હૈદ masses obtained by stirring in water, settling and pressing, as herein-
"before described, and arranged so as to form an ascending or descending
"filter, as also herein-before described."
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
This is to certify, that the before-named Matthew Heath has applied to
me for leave to enter with you the before-written Disclaimer and Memo-
randum of Alteration of Specification of a certain Invention for which Letters
Patent were duly granted to him under the Great Seal at Westminster, the
Eleventh day of October 1838, and the Specification of which was enrolled
on the Eleventh day of April 1839, and on considering of the said applica-
tion, I directed him to advertize. his said Disclaimer and Alteration in the
London Gazette, and in The Times and Morning Chronicle newspapers, and

page_text: such advertizements have been duly made in the said Gazette on the 24th day
of April last, and in Times and Morning Chronicle of the 25th day of the
same month, and no objection having been made to the said application, I
have accordingly granted leave to the said Matthew Heath to file his said
Disclaimer and Alteration pursuant to the Statute passed in the sixth year of
the reign of His late Majesty, entitled an Act to amend the Law touching
Letters Patent for Inventions.