IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MATERIALS FOR FILTERING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1861

page_text: .6
LETTERS PATENT to Marc Autoine François Mennons, of the British and
Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
FOR FILTERING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS."-A communication from Mr.
G Dardel a person resident at Mulhouse (Haut Rhin).
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 17th January 1861.
1, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign l'atent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
AND MATERIALS FOR FILTERING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS," (a communication)
to be as follows:-
The Invention communicated to me consists, 1stly, in a peculiar arrange-
of apparatus by means of which a double filtering surface is presented
to the liquid in each combination.
2dly, in the application of hydraulic or other powerful pressure to the
construction of such filtering apparatus.
3dly, in an improved mode of treating the filtering materials with a view to

page_text: render them less liable to decomposition when exposed to the action of the
liquids.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a section of the complete
filtering apparatus.
A is a purge pipe for the filtered liquid; B, B, iron circles supporting
the pierced false bottoms C, C¹; D, filtering material; E, E', gratings;
F, F, cast pressure frames; G, G¹, moveable iron stays or holdfasts, by
which the pressure frames are kept in position; H, H', purge pipes for the
unfiltered liquid; I, I, bolts by which the lids N, N₁, are secured to the
filtering cylinder; J, J, opening in each of the lids N, N', fitted with a
moveable cover, and allowing the filtering surfaces to be cleaned when
necessary; K, K, L, entry and delivery pipes.
Figure 2 represents an application of the hydraulic press to the con-
struction of the filtering apparatus above described. M, N, O, P, is an
ordinary hydraulic press, on the table of which is placed the cylindrical
casing or envelope of the filter. In the upper section of this casing is lodged
the pierced false bottom C, resting on the iron circles B, B'. Over this is
laid a sheet of metallic gauze secured by another metallic circle. The
filtering material 1) is then placed in position, and is covered by the grating
E, over which is laid the pressure frame F, and the cross bars Q, surmounted
by the uprights R,R,R. On working the press the apparatus adjusted as above
rises with the table till the filtering materials are brought to the required
degree of compression, at which point the framing F is secured by metallic
holdfasts, as in G, or other convenient fastening. The upper section of the
filter being thus arranged, the cylinder is turned over, and the same process is
repeated on the other side, after which the apparatus is removed from the
press, and completed by the lids N, N', Fig. 1. It will be understood that in
the process of construction above described, the hydraulic apparatus may
be replaced by any other means of producing uniform and powerful pressure.
In the above combination any of the known filtering materials may be
employed, but the best results are obtained from woollen waste or shearings
prepared as follows:-1stly,saturation of from four to six hours in a moderately
heated bath composed of bleaching lye ("eau de javelle ") about one quart,
carbonate of soda,about eight ounces, water, twenty-five quarts. 2dly, satura-
tion for the same length of time in a boiling solution of about one half pound
of alum, and one ounce of cream of tartar in about twelve quarts of water.
3dly, on removal from this bath the wool should be exposed for several hours
to the air, and afterwards boiled for two hours in a bath composed of about
seven ounces of crushed gall nuts, and ten quarts of water. 4thly, after

page_text: the above process the wool should be passed to a boiling solution of about one
quarter of a pound of acetate of iron (or double that quantity of sulphate of
iron) in about ten quarts of water. The wool should be twice submitted to the
action of the gall nut and iron baths, after which it is dried, then steeped for
about an hour in a weak soda lye, and finally dried off for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine Frauçois Mennons in the Great Seal l'atent
Office on the 11th April 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 39,
Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I, the said
Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MATERIALS FOR
FILTERING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS," (a communication from Mr. G. Dardel,
a person resident at Mulhouse, (Haut Rhin,) upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors,
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals,should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennous, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing,
and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: The Invention communicated to me consists, 1stly, in a peculiar arrange-
ment of apparatus by means of which a double filtering surface is presented
to the liquid in each combination.
2dly, in the application of hydraulic or other powerful pressure to the
construction of such filtering apparatus.
3dly, in an improved mode of treating the filtering materials with a view
to render them less liable to decomposition when exposed to the action of
the liquids.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a section of the complete filtering
apparatus.
A is a purge pipe for the filtered liquid; B, B', iron circles supporting the
pierced false bottoms C, C; D, D', filtering material; E, E', gratings; F, F¹,
cast pressure frames; G, G', moveable iron stays by which the pressure frames
are kept in position; H, H', purge pipes for the unfiltered liquid; I, I', bolts
by which the lids N, N³, are secured to the filtering cylinder; J, J, opening
in each of the lids N, N, fitted with a moveable cover and allowing the
filtering surfaces to be cleaned when necessary; K, K', L', entry and
delivery pipes.
Figure 2 represents an application of the hydraulic press to the construction
of the filtering apparatus above described; X, X, X, X, is an ordinary
hydraulic press, on the tablo Z of which is placed the cylindrical casing or
envelope M of the filter. In the upper section of this casing is lodged the
pierced false bottom C resting on the iron circle B. Over this is laid a
sheet of metallic gauze secured by another metallic circle. The filtering
material is then placed in position and is covered by the grating E, over
which is laid the pressure frame F and the cross bar Q surmounted by the
uprights R. On working the press the apparatus adjusted as above rises
with the table till the filtering materials are brought to the degree of com-
pression required, at which point the framing is secured by metallic holdfasts
or other convenient fastening. The upper section of the filter being thus
arranged, the cylinder is turned over, and the same process is repeated on
the other side, after which the apparatus is removed from the press and
completed by the lids N, N¹.
Figure 3 represents the filtering cylinder as withdrawn from the press, and
previously to being enclosed, as shewn in Figure 1; Figure 4 represents apart
the grated pressure frame F. It will be understood that in the process of
construction above described, the hydraulic apparatus may be replaced by any
other means of producing uniform and powerful pressure. The filtering
apparatus thus arranged offers many advantages over those at present in

page_text: general use. When set in position, as shewn in Figure 1, the liquid filters
through the sides instead of from above or from below as in the ordinary com-
binations, so that the greater part of the sediment falls to the bottom, instead
of covering the entire surface. To remove this sediment it is simply necessary
to draw off the liquid by the purge pipes H, H', the entry and delivery pipes
K, K', and L being previously closed. When required to free the filtering
surfaces from the fatty or albuminous matters with which they may from
time to time be coated, the covers are removed from the openings J, J', in
the lids N, N', and the surfaces brushed over with an acid or astringent
solution. Another advantage connected with this apparatus results from
the uniform compression of the filtering materials during the process of con-
struction, which compression maybegraduated at will according tothe pressure
of the water or other liquid to be filtered. By this means a single layer of
filtering matter reduced by the pressure to a thickness of, say, two inches may
be substituted to the three or four layers of from twenty-four to thirty-two
inches in depth, at present in general use, while the loss of time and liquid
incurred in giving the "set" to ordinary filters is entirely avoided.
In the above combination any of the known filtering materials may be
employed, but the best results are obtained from woollen waste or shearings
prepared as follows:-
1stly, saturation for from four to six hours in a moderately heated bath
composed of bleaching lye (eau de javelle) about one quart; carbonate of
soda one-half pound; water about twenty-five quarts.
2dly, saturation for the same length of time in a boiling solution of alum
about one-half pound, and cream of tartar one ounce in about twelve quarts
of water.
3dly, on removal from this bath the wool should be exposed for several
hours to the air, and afterwards boiled for two hours in a bath composed
of seven ounces of crushed gall nuts and ten quarts of water.
4thly, after the above process the wool should be passed to a boiling
solution of about four ounces of acetate of iron (or double that quantity of
sulphate of iron) in about ten quarts of water.
The wool should be twice submitted to the action of the gall nut and
iron baths after which it is dried, then steeped for about an hour in a weak
soda lye, and, finally dried off for use.
Having now described the nature of the said improvements and the manner
of carrying them into effect, I would have it understood, that I do not con-
fine myself to the precise details above laid down, as these may be modified

page_text: in many respects without deviating from the principles or main features of
the Invention; but what I claim is,-
;
1stly, the peculiar arrangement of apparatus as above described and re-
presented in Figures 1, 3, 4, of the accompanying Drawing by means of
which a double vertical filtering surface is presented to the liquid in each
combination.
2dly, the application of hydraulic or other powerful uniform and readily
graduated pressure to the construction of such filtering apparatus, substan-
tially as above described and represented in Figure 2 of the accompanying
Drawing.
3dly, the preparation as above described of the filtering materials with
a view to decrease their liability to decomposition when exposed to the
action of the liquid to be filtered.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
M. F. MENNONS. (L.s.)