IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF. SEWAGE AND OTHER DECOMPOSING MATTER, AND IN APPLIANCES AND VESSELS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1884

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I, DONALD NICOLL of Buckingham Street Strand in the City of Westminster
Parliamentary Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF. SEWAGE
AND OTHER DECOMPOSING MATTER, AND IN APPLIANCES AND VESSELS EMPLOYED
FOR THAT PURPOSE to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a method of collecting, treating, and disposal of house
sewage which for distinction I will term the "Cloacina" system, and whereby the
liquid constituents are separated from the solid constituents, and are at the same
time rendered innocuous before being allowed to flow off into the sewer or
elsewhere, while the solid constituents are collected in receptacles where they are
mixed with deodorizing and precipitating agents, and when the receptacles are full
they are removed to kilns where the moisture is evaporated therefrom so that the
dried material can then be utilised as artificial manure.
For these several operations I employ appliances and vessels of the following
nature.
Firstly, I construct metal tanks of suitable sizes and shapes, the top or open part
of the tanks having a turned in lip or flange, wide enough to receive a slip of
vulcanized india rubber which I fix on to the turned in lip or flange, so as to assist
in rendering the 'tank air tight, when the cover (which I construct loose from the
tanks) is screwed down upon the said rubber and lip or flange, for which 'purpose
I prefer to use thumb screws attached to the tanks and passing through iron clips
or clasps formed on the edge of the lid. The tank has an opening at the lower
part of one of its sides, which I mask with galvanized iron wire network; inside
each tank I construct (at suitable distances apart) two metal ridges, or grooves, to
receive and hold in position two moveable framed metal strainers, which (when
placed in position) will form two compartments within the tank, one to contain
sand, grit, sharp gravel, or other suitable filtering substance, and the other
compartment to contain animal or vegetable charcoal, or both in combination, and
the two compartments when so charged will serve to arrest the fertilizing elements
of the excrements and urine passing into the tanks, the effluent escaping through the
masked opening, and after passing through the above described filtering process

page_text: the said effluent will be perfectly innocuous, and can be discharged with safety to
the public health, down any open ditch, sewer, river or watercourse, and will leave
in the tank a residium of great commercial and fertilising value. The process
is assisted by a method of precipitation, and deodorization hereinafter described;
both the influx and discharge pipes have the usual syphon traps, and the orifice of
the influx pipe I mask with a close fitting cap while the tank is being removed.
The discharge pipe is faced by a small sink charged with animal charcoal or lime,
and it is also masked by a galvanized screen to prevent the charcoal or lime from
flowing away.
Secondly. In towns or crowded districts, I construct in the footpaths or as near
to the dwellings as may be possible, subways faced by preference with vitrified or
non absorbent bricks or other suitable materials, which will facilitate the insulation
and passage of electric wires that may be conveniently contained therein, the
subways being ventilated by the usual gully holes near to the footways. In these
subways I deposit the before mentioned tanks, their lids being off for the purpose
of receiving the outpour from the waterclosets of each dwelling, intended to bo
served by my system. In the roof of such subways I construct over and for the
use of each intercepting tank, a manhole of framed, iron-work, which will present
on the outer surface (in use by foot passengers) the usual paving, either of stone,
metal or asphalte, and when these manholes are turned open upon their hinges,
I, as often as may be required, send down upon the aforesaid discharge from
dwellings, by means of a funnel, or shoot, any or all of the following deodorizing
and precipitating agents, namely dry earth, crushed burnt clay, mud of streets, lime,
salts of alumina, sifted dryfashes, and soot from dwellings or any other known
disinfecting and precipitating substance. When the tanks are sufficiently charged
they are removed upon waggons; "to these I attach a crane with hand winch, the
crane being arranged so as to enable the chain worked by the winch to descend
through the open manhole and be fixed to the handles of the tank, which may then
be hauled into thet waggon, and from which an. empty. tank charged with the
purifying strainers hereinbefore described; is made to descend to replace the
charged tank, which before removal is made airtight, by screwing the lid thereon,
the masked outlet being also covered by a screwed lid. Each waggon is provided
with a ladder for descent to the tanks, also a funnel or shoot for the purposes
herein before described. I prefer to construct the waggons with flanged wheels,
gauged for the nearest tramway or railway, such flanges to be covered with
removeable broad wooden moveable tyres, I prefer to use wooden tyres to deaden
the sound, as the work of moving tanks and depositing street mud, and other
substances in the manner herein before described, should be carried on.at night,
Thirdly. My said method for distribution consists furthermore in the construction
in suitable situations of kilns, composed wholly or partly of fire clay, with double
roofs, which are constructed so as to convey the vapour arising from the "heated
tanks through perforations in the inner roofs and by a return or connecting pipe
to pass into the fire beneath the kilns, which it slackens, while the fire at the same
time destroys any possible offensive odor, I prefer to use for fuel, sifted 'household
cinders, faggots loppings of trees, coal breeze, and any garbage, in conjunction with
the dried product, or result of the aforesaid baking or heating 'action upon the
contents of the tanks, I am careful merely to dry, and not to char the said
contents, as I mainly depend upon simply solidfying them and through subsequent
pulverization, to form a powder corresponding with the substance known on the
Continent as "Poudrette," in which condition I propose to distribute the "Cloacina"
powder in sacks for agricultural purposes. The lids of the said tanks, are removed
before placing them in the kilns, and their contents are topped up with several
inches in depth of absorbent material, for instance either of the materials previously
described for deodorizing and precipitating purposes, but by, preference I take the
rakings out of the furnaces of the kilns as being highly absorbent.
For districts other than those thickly populated, and especially where gardens,
ineadow or agricultural land are available, I carry out the same mode of operating

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as hereinbefore described, except that in place of the above described subways
I make pits near to the dwellings at a sufficient depth to receive the tanks; and as
to their contents, after frequently placing over them the most available of the
foregoing deodorizing and precipitating ingredients, and by preference dried earth,
I then allow the purified effluent to pass by pipes to the nearest ditch or water-
course, or if the neighbourhood be too flat to provide a fall for the effluent, I then
dig a pond to receive the same, and empty it as may be required by pumping any
excess over the land. The contents of the filtering compartments of the said tanks
must, in the rural districts, be periodically cleansed and dried either in the sun, or
artificially by kilns, or in any suitable manner, in order to continue to promote an
innocuous condition of the effluent, which must necessarily pass away, especially
where waterclosets are in use, and in all cases I stipulate that such closets should
be provided with the ordinary mechanical action, which limits the quantity of
water for flushing the customary water closet pans. And further to preserve the
fertilising elements of excreta so discharged into the tanks as aforesaid, I stipulate
that rainfall, and all waste water should be excluded from the said tanks.

page_text: ☐ I, DONALD NICOLL of Buckingham Street Strand in the City of Westminster,
Parliamentary Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE
AND OTHER DECOMPOSING MATTER, AND IN APPLIANCES AND VESSELS EMPLOYED
FOR THAT PURPOSE" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that
is to say:
My invention relates to a method of collecting, treating and disposal of house
sewage, which, for distinction, I will term the "Cloacina" system, and whereby
the liquid constituents are separated from the solid constituents, and are at the
same time rendered innocuous before being allowed to flow off into the sewer or
elsewhere, while the solid constituents are collected in receptacles, where they are
mixed with deodorizing and precipitating agents, and when the receptacles are full
they are removed to kilns, where the moisture is evaporated therefrom, so that the
dried material can then be utilized as artificial manure.
For these several operations I employ appliances and vessels of the following
nature. Firstly, I construct metal. tanks of suitable sizes and shapes, the top or
open part of the tanks having a turned in lip or flange wide enough to receive a
slip of vulcanized india rubber, which I fix on to the turned in lip or flange so as
to assist in rendering the tank air tight, when the cover (which I construct loose
from the tanks) is screwed down upon the said rubber and lip or flange, for which
purpose I prefer to use thumb screws attached to the tanks and passing through
iron clips or clasps formed on the edge of the lid. The tank has an opening at the
lower part of one of its sides, which I mask with galvanised iron wire network;
inside each tank I construct (at suitable distances apart) two metal ridges or
grooves to receive and hold in position two moveable framed metal strainers which
(when placed in position) will form two compartments within the tank, one to
contain sand, grit, sharp gravel, or other suitable filtering substance, and the other
compartment to contain animal or vegetable charcoal or both in combination or
other disinfectant substance, and the two compartments when so charged will serve
to arrest the fertilising elements of the excrements and urine passing into the tanks,
the effluent escaping through the masked opening; after passing through the above
described filtering process, the said effluent will thus be perfectly innocuous and
can be discharged, with safety to the public health, down any open ditch, sewer,
river or watercourse, and will leave in the tank a residium of great commercial and
fertilising value. When required for works on a larger scale, perforated inner
tanks can be used in place of the screened compartments herein before described.
The process is assisted by the method of precipitation and deodorization hereinafter
described; both the influx and discharge pipes have the usual siphon traps, and
the orifice of the influx pipe I mask with a close fitting cap while the tank is being
removed. The discharge pipe is faced by a small sink charged with animal charcoal
or lime, and it is also masked by a galvanised screen to prevent the charcoal or
disinfectant from flowing away.
Secondly, in towns or crowded districts, I construct in the footpaths or as near
the dwellings as may be possible, subways which are faced by preference with
vitrified or non-absorbent bricks or other suitable materials, and are ventilated by
openings to the usual gully holes near to the footways. In these subways (in
which electrical conductors can be conveniently arranged) I place the before

page_text: mentioned tanks, their lids being off for the purpose of receiving the outpour from
the water closets of each dwelling intended to be served by my system. In the
roof of such subways, I construct over and for the use of the intercepting tanks,
manholes of framed iron which will present on the outer surface (in use by foot-
passengers) the usual paving, either of stone metal or asphalte, and when these
manholes are turned upon their hinges, I, as often as may be required, send down
upon the aforesaid discharge from dwellings, by means of a funnel or shoot, any or
all of the following deodorizing and precipitating agents, namely dry earth, crushed
burnt clay, mud of streets, lime, salts of alumina, sifted dry ashes, and soot from
dwellings, or other known disinfecting and precipitating substances. When the
tanks are sufficiently charged, they are removed upon waggons; to each of these
I attach a crane worked by hand, arranged so as to enable the chain worked by
the winch to descend through the open manhole and to be fixed to the handles of
the tank, which may then be hauled into the waggon, from which an empty tank,
provided with the purifying strainers and substances hereinbefore described, is
made to descend to replace the filled tank, which, before its removal is made
airtight by screwing the lid thereon, the masked. outlet being also covered by a
screwed lid. Each waggon is provided with a ladder for descent to the tanks, also
a funnel or shoot for the purposes hereinbefore described. I prefer to construct
the waggons with flanged wheels, which may be gauged to suit a neighbouring
tramway or railway, such flanges to be covered with removeable broad wooden
tyres. I prefer to use wooden tyres to deaden the sound, as the work of moving
tanks.and depositing street mud and other substances in the manner hereinbefore
described should be carried on at night.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings shew respectively a plan partly
in section, a cross section and a front view partly in section of the construction
of the tank receptacles which I prefer to employ for the purposes of my invention.
A is a rectangular inetal tank having a loose cover B which can be secured air
tight by being pressed down upon a caoutchouc fillet C by means of clips of any
known kind or by the thumbscrews D which are screwed in the flange E. F F¹ are
two loose partitions slid into grooves formed at the ends of the tank, and made
either of wire network or of perforated metal; the spaces G.G¹ between which
partitions are filled, the one with sand, gravel or other suitable filtering substance,
and the other with animal or vegetable charcoal or other disinfectant. The front
side of the tank has an opening at H which is covered internally with network,
and can be closed externally by a cover H' secured by thumbscrews or otherwise.
Fig. 4 shews the tank A placed in position in the subway I for receiving the house
sewage from the trapped pipe J. The liquid constituents of such discharge pass
through the filtering and deodorizing compartments G G², and escape in a perfectly
innocuous condition through the opening H into the trapped pipe K leading to the
sewer.
The subway I is constructed beneath the pathway L of the road and is accessible
through a man-hole M closed by a cover M¹, through which deodorizing and
precipitating agents can be introduced from time to time. into the tank A, and
through which also the tank. is removed when sufficiently filled with solid matter
as hereinbefore described. The subway is ventilated by a passage N leading into
the street gulley O. Thirdly, my said method of distribution consists furthermore
in the construction in suitable situations of kilns, each of which is composed wholly
or partly of fire clay with a double roof, constructed so as 'to convey the vapour
arising from the heated tanks through perforations in the inner roof and by a
return or connecting pipe into the fire beneath the, kiln, which it slackens, while
the fire at the same time destroys anyý possible offensive odour. I prefer to use for
fuel, sifted household cinders, faggots, loppings of trees, breeze, and any garbage in
conjunction with the dried product or result, of the aforesaid baking or heating
action upon the contents of the tanks. I am careful merely to dry, and not to
cbar the said contents, as I mainly depend upon merely solidifying them, so that

page_text: they may be pulverized or broken or cut into fragments. The powder or granular
fragments thus produced correspond with the substance known on the continent as
"Poudrette," in which condition I propose to distribute the "Cloacina" powder or
granular matter in sacks for agricultural purposes. The lids of the tanks are
removed before placing them in the kilns, and their contents are topped up several
inches in depth with absorbent material, for instance any of the materials previously
described for deodorising and precipitating purposes, but by preference with
rakings taken out of the furnaces of the kilns, as being highly absorbent.
Figs. 5 to 8 of the Drawings shew the construction of the above described kiln
which I prefer to employ; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 6 a sectional plan,
Fig. 7 is a front elevation and Fig. 8 a cross section. The kiln consists of a
chamber P, (accessible through doors P¹) into which are introduced the tanks A,
containing solid sewage matter as they are removed from the subways, 'being
conveniently mounted on small trucks for facility of introduction and removal.
Beneath the chamber P, which is on a level with the ground line Q, is the furnace R,
by preference a "Jukes" furnace, having a forced air supply at R¹ and having
flues S which lead backwards and forwards, beneath the floor of the chamber P
and communicate with a series of flues S¹ ascending in the side walls of the
chamber P and passing over its roof. They all open into a central longitudinal
flue S² leading to the chimney T. Thus the heat of the combustion gases from the
furnace is effectually imparted to the chamber P, whereby. the watery constituents
of the tanks A are evaporated. The vapours thus generated are led by pipes. U U
to the ashpit of the furnace, in order that, in being made to pass through the fire,
they may be burnt and rendered perfectly. innocuous before escaping along with
the combustion gases up the chimney. For districts other than those thickly
populated and especially where gardens, meadow or agricultural land are, available,
I carry out the same mode of operating as herein before described, except that, in
place of the above described subways, I make pits near to the dwellings at a
sufficient depth to receive the tanks, the contents of which I treat as previously
described, that is to say, I frequently throw in charges of the most available of the
foregoing deodorizing and precipitating ingredients, by preference dried earth,
while the purified effluent passes by pipes to the nearest ditch or watercourse,
or, if the neighbourhood be too flat to provide a fall from the effluent, I dig a pond
to receive it, and empty it as may be required by pumping any excess over the
land. The contents of the filtering compartments of the tanks must in the rural
districts be periodically cleansed, and dried either in the sun, or artificially by
kilns, or in any suitable manner. In order to maintain an innocuous condition of
the effluent, which must necessarily pass away, especially where water closets are
in use, such closets should be provided with the ordinary mechanical action, which
limits the quantity of water for flushing the customary water closet pans.
further, to preserve the fertilising elements of excreta so discharged into the tanks
as aforesaid, rain fall and waste water generally should be excluded from the said
tanks.
And
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.
1. The method herein described of collecting treating and disposing of house
sewage, that is to say, first collecting it in tanks or receptacles containing filtering
and purifying media, rendering the liquid effluent innocuous, then removing the
receptacles, when filled with more or less solid matter, to kilns, where the moisture
is evaporated, so as to render the solid matter available in portable form as artificial
manure.
2. The use for the treatment of house sewage, of tanks or receptacles constructed
and operating substantially as herein described with reference to Figs 1, 2 and 3

page_text: 3. For the treatment of house sewage in the manner referred to in the first
claim, the construction of subways provided with drain pipes for the effluent and
arranged for ventilation and access, substantially as herein described with reference.
to Fig. 4 of the Drawings.
4. For the treatment of house sewage in the manner referred to in the first claim
the construction of kilns substantially as herein described with reference to Figs 5
to 8 of the Drawings.