IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING OR SEPARATING
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILFRID SWANWICK BOULT of Hayes in the county of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR WASHING OR SEPARATING" to be as follows:-
°
The apparatus consists essentially of two parts-a washing tray and a collecting
tank preferably joined together so that the water level in both may be continuous.
Washing tray. This consists of a shallow tray formed of any suitable materials
such as brick work, cement concrete, iron, and wood, having a number of partitions
reaching nearly across it and alternately attached to opposite sides so as to form
a zig-zag channel extending preferably from one end of the tray to the other. The
partitions are not spaced equally over the surface of the tray but at the top and
where the material to be washed and the water are fed in are comparatively close
together being placed at continually increasing intervals as the lower end of the
tray is neared. Also it is preferred that they should not be all parallel but every
alternate one be at a slight angle so that the zig-zag channel may have a regular
and even increase of width throughout its length. By raising the top end of the
tray a constant increase in the available depth of channel is also obtained. This
constant increase of cross section in the channel (obtained in either or both of the
ways mentioned-preferably by both means combined) causes a stream of water &
moving along it to be constantly diminishing in velocity and consequently if solid
particles are held in suspension those least easily carried along are continually
being deposited on the bottom as the speed of the current becomes unequal to
moving them further. The particles first deposited are those in which the weight
divided by the area of surface is greatest, consequently the action of the stream
may in general terms be stated to be to carry farthest the smallest and lightest
particles.
For convenience in cleaning out the tray it is made with one or both sides
sloping instead of vertical the partitions where attached to the sloping side being
if desired raised somewhat above it.
Collecting tank. The object of the collecting tank is to continuously collect the
suspended particles washed into it and allow the water only to pass at once away.
It may be of any convenient shape, but for the purpose of easily removing the i
washed material should be formed with a coned or hopper bottom. By means of
a sloping division or deflector across the whole width of the tank or by other
[Price 8.1

page_text: construction a channel is formed by which the entering stream is conducted to
some distance below the surface of the water in the tank. Near the top of the
tank a gutter is fixed being preferably continued completely round and communi-
cates with a down spout or pipe for carrying away the clear water. Upon the
level of this gutter depends the water-level in the washing tray.
In work the apparatus is used as follows:-The material to be washed is by any
convenient means fed evenly and continuously into the top end of the tray,
a sufficient amount of water being delivered concurrently at the same place. The
combined stream rushes along the narrow channel tossing and rolling about the
solid partieles and thoroughly separating the fine from the coarse. As above
explained the finest or lightest particles are carried farthest, and the speed of
current is so adjusted as to carry over into the collecting tank only those of the
required fineness or lightness. As an additional safe guard it is in some cases
preferred to block the lower portion of the channel at its entrance into the tank.
The stream being delivered some distance below the surface displaced, some of the
superjacent and quiescent water from which the solid matter has been separated
by gravity, and this flowing in a thin film over the edge of the gutter runs off
through the down spout or pipe. The washed material collects in the hopper
bottom of the tank from which it may be drawn off in any convenient manner as
through a cock or up the suction pipe of a pump.
When an amount of sediment sufficient to interfere with its proper working has
been deposited in the tray, the stream of water & is shut off and the sediment
removed. This is done by running off the water and scraping the deposit up the
sloping side into shoots, a worm conveyor, or other arrangement for carrying it off.
It is convenient to have the whole apparatus in duplicate, so that while one tray
is being cleaned out the other may be at work.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for "Washing" or Separating.
I WILFRID SWANWICK BOULT of Hayes in the county of Middlesex, Civil
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 will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 a longitudinal section on lines y-z of a
practicable form of the complete apparatus.

page_text: The apparatus consists essentially of two parts a washing tray and a collecting
tank preferably joined together so that the water-level in both may be continuous.
Washing tray. This consists of a shallow tray A formed of any suitable materials
such as brickwork, cement, concrete, iron, and wood having a number of partitions B
reaching nearly across it and alternately attached to the opposite sides C and D of
the tray so as to form a zig-zag channel extending preferably from one end of the
tray to the other. The partitions are not spaced equally over the surface of the
tray but at the top end A¹ where the imaterial to be washed and the water are fed
in are comparatively close together being placed at continually increasing intervals
as the lower end of the tray is neared. Also it is preferred that they should not
be all parallel but every alternate one be at a slight angle so that the zig-zag
channel may have a regular and even increase of width throughout its length. By
raising the top end of the tray a constant increase in the available depth of channel
is also obtained. In the drawing it is shown horizontal but the end A¹ may be
raised so as to give the required fall; the tray will work without any fall. This
constant increase of cross-section in the channel (obtained in either or both of the
ways mentioned preferably by both means combined) causes a stream of water &
moving along it to be constantly diminishing in velocity and consequently if solid
particles are held in suspension those least easily carried along are continually
being deposited on the bottom as the speed of the current becomes unequal to
moving them further. The particles first deposited are those in which the weight
divided by the area of surface is greatest, consequently the action of the stream
may in general terms be stated to be to carry farthest the smallest and lightest
particles.
For convenience in cleaning out the tray it may be made with one or both sides
sloping instead of vertical the partitions where attached to the sloping side being
if desired raised somewhat above it.
In figure 1, C is the sloping side, the partition being shown raised at B¹.
Collecting tank. The object of the collecting tank E is to continuously collect
the suspended particles washed into it and allow the water only to pass at once
away. It may be of any convenient shape, but for the purpose of easily removing
the washed material should be formed with a coned or hopper bottom F. By
means of a sloping division or deflector across the whole width of the tank or by
other construction a channel is formed by which the entering stream is conducted
to some distance below the surface of the water in the tank. In the drawing a
flat tube G is shown so arranged as to deliver the fluid into the body of the water
in the tank and avoid disturbance as much as possible. Near the top of the tank
a gutter H is fixed being preferably continued completely round and communicating
with a down spout or pipe I for carrying away the clear water. Upon the level of
this gutter depends the water level in the washing tray when the tray and tank
are arranged to work together as one combined apparatus.
In work the apparatus is used as follows:-The material to be washed is by any
convenient means fed evenly and continuously into the top end A¹ of the tray A
a sufficient amount of water being delivered concurrently at the same place. In
the drawing K and L represent the two supplies. The combined stream rushes
along the narrow channel tossing and rolling about the solid particles and
thoroughly separating the fine from the coarse. As above explained the finest or
lightest particles are carried farthest and the speed of the current is so adjusted as
to carry over into the collecting tank only those of the required fineness or lightness.
As an additional safeguard it is in some cases preferred to block the lower portion
of the channel at its entrance into the tank. The stream being delivered at some
distance below the surface, displaces some of the superfacent and quiescent water
from which the solid matter has been separated by gravity, and this flowing in a
thin film over the edge of the gutter runs off through the down spout or pipe. By
this construction the disturbance of the water in the collecting tank is very slight.
The washed material collects in the hopper bottom F of the tank from which it

page_text: may be drawn off in any convenient manner as through a cock M or up the suction
pipe N of a pump.
.
When an amount of sediment sufficient to interfere with its proper working
has been deposited in the tray the stream of water & is shut off and the sediment
removed. This is done by running off the water and scraping the deposit up the
sloping side into shoots, a worm conveyor, or other arrangement for carrying it off.
It is convenient to have the whole apparatus in duplicate so that while one tray is
being cleaned out the other may be at work.
In treating waste liquors from paper mills, distilleries & or sewage, the liquor
is fed into the tray with or without the addition of water; and if requisite a
precipitating medium is added.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
]. In a
"washing" apparatus substantially such as described the combination
with a tray in which the first sedimentary deposits are made of a collecting tank
in which the final deposit is made and from which the water. escapes.
2. The combination with a "washing" tray such as A of partitions such as B
arranged at increasing distances apart substantially in the inanner and for the
purpose specified.
3. In a "washing" apparatus the combination with a collecting tank such as E
of a gutter such as H substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with a collecting tank E of a deflector or tube such as G for
the purpose of delivering the incoming water or other fluid beneath the surface of
that already in the tank but above the level of the deposit in the tank substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
5. A washing tray or equivalent such as A in which the cross sectional area of
the channel is increased for the purpose of diminishing the velocity of the water
or other fluid passing along it substantially as specified.
6. In a washing" apparatus a collecting tank such as E having the inlet
below the surface of the fluid contained and discharging the upper stratum or
surface of the fluid substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 2nd day of March 188e