IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPA- RATING THE PURER PARTS OF RAINFALLS FROM THE MORE IMPURE, AND For SUPPLYING LIQUIDS AUTOMATICALLY DURING PROCESSES OF MANUFACTURE
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Woodland Toms at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1878.
FREDERICK WOODLAND TOMS, of 7, Busby Place, Camden Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPA-
RATING THE PURER PARTS OF RAINFALLS FROM THE MORE IMPURE, AND For
SUPPLYING LIQUIDS AUTOMATICALLY DURING PROCESSES OF MANUFACTURE."
My Invention has for its object the separation of the purer water in rainfalls
from the more impure, and the automatic supply of liquids during processes of
manufacture, by means of an arrangement of apparatus adapted, in the case of rain-
water, to keep the first portion of a rainfall with its many impurities separate from
the purer water of the subsequent part of the same rainfall, by conveying the clean
and the dirty water into different receptacles. The apparatus is also adapted to
render the dirty water receptacle self-cleansing whenever the rainfall is sufficiently
continuous. And with reference to the employment of the apparatus in processes
of manufacture, the object of my Invention is to economise labour when liquids are
used for extracting alkaloids, medicines, chemicals, and other matters from animal,
vegetable, and mineral substances generally.
And my Invention consists in the use of two tanks or reservoirs which are filled
in turn by means of a supply pipe formed and arranged in such a manner as, in
combination with a float in each tank or reservoir, to convert a continuous flow of
a rainfall into an alternating or intermittent flow into the tanks or reservoirs.
This supply pipe consists of a vertical pipe terminating in a pipe at right angles to
it, forming two branches which lead respectively into each tank or reservoir. This
last named pipe is fitted so as to be capable of vibrating on a movable joint at the
point of junction with the said vertical pipe, and is worked on its pivot as required
by means of two floats (differing in size) connected to the said two branches and
passing into the said tanks or reservoirs. One of the floats is of such weight as to
depress the end of the vibrating pipe to which it is connected when the tank below
is empty.
On rain water first entering the supply pipe, it passes into the first tank or
reservoir with all its impurities derived from the air, and from roofs, gutters, and

page_text: other collecting surfaces, but by the time this tank is filled up to the float, sufficient
rain will have fallen to cleanse the collecting surfaces. Then on the float being
raised by the continued influx of water, the end of the pipe connected therewith is
raised above the level of the opposite end thereof, and the further supply of rain
water in a purer state is accordingly transferred to the second tank. This continues
during a further rainfall until the level of water in this tank reaches the float
therein, which being larger than the other, overpowers its resistance, whereby the
flow of water becomes re-transferred to the first tank.
The said alternating process is repeated as often as is rendered necessary by the
particular purpose for which the apparatus is being employed. Thus when used
only in connection with the rain-water supply, it will only be necessary to transfer
the inflow twice, as above stated, for after the pure water tank has been filled, any
surplus from the continued rainfall will pass into the dirty water tank, and serve
to eliminate the impurities accumulated therein. In order to facilitate this cleans-
ing process, the said first tank is divided by a vertical partition reaching not quite
down to the bottom, thus leaving a small vacant space underneath. Water pouring
into the tank on one side must consequently pass under the partition in order to
escape on the other side; and in this passage along the bottom, the water stirs up
the sediment deposited there, and drives it forward to the waste-pipe.
When on the other hand the alternating supply pipe and tanks are used for
chemical or manufacturing purposes, the reversal of flow may be repeated as often
as may be deemed necessary.
By means of the vibrating supply pipe and tanks acting in the manner above
stated, the purer rain water can be separated from the foul water, and also much
manual labour can be saved in chemical operations involving the extracting and
lixiviation of solid substances.