MENTS IN FILTERING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JAMES ALLEN CROCKER, Mechanical Engineer, of 73-79 Sumner Street, East
Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, one of the United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FILTERING MACHINES, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being bad to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification,
in which,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a filter constructed in accordance with one
portion of my invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the center of the same...
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line x x of fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of the top of the casing (shown in figs. 1, 2, and 3) with a
portion of the cover broken away.
"
Figure 5 represents my improved strainer applied to one of the covers.
Figures 6 and 7 are details representing an auxiliary support for the hub of the
filter casing when the latter is of considerable size and weight.
Figure 8 is a view of a filter of somewhat different construction than that shown
in fig 1.
Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section through the filter shown in fig. 8.
Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section on line ¹ x¹ of fig. 9.
Figure 11 is a view of a portion of a filter cover.
Figure 12 is a view of a portion of a strainer frame.
Figure 13 is a view of one of the pipe connections.
Figure 14 a view of one of the brackets for supporting the filter casing.
Figure 15 shows the form of the water passage in each end of the casing
represented in fig. 8.
Figure 16 a worm gear for revolving the filter.
Figure 17 another form of strainer frame.
My present invention has particular reference to that class of filtering apparatus
designed to remove sediment and impurities from water used for manufacturing and
domestic purposes, and one of the leading features of my invention consists in a
single independent shell or casing, having no other, outer or inclosing casing-said
single shell containing the filtering material and the passages for the flow of the
water, in combination and communicating with hollow stationary journals which

page_text: serve as inlet and outlet passages or pipes, and around which journals the single
filter casing is capable of being revolved and reversed, whereby the manipulation
and construction of the filter is simplified and the cost of the ordinary outer
inclosing casing is avoided.
Another portion of my invention consists in a stand or frame formed of the
supply and distributing pipos for supporting the filter, and in which supporting
frame the journals of the filter are prevented from turning-the journals being
stationary and the filter revolving around them.
My invention also consists in a pair of corrugated strainers located outside of the
filtering material and fitting into frames provided with supporting bars said
frmines being held in place at the opposite sides of the filter by covers, whereby the
superficial area of the straining surface is increased which is desirable or necessary
when water under a low pressure is to pass through the filter and the removal of
the strainers readily permitted.
My invention also consists in a pair of brushes or scrapers, each located within
the casing between one of its covers and its contiguous strainer, and provided with
a handle accessible from the outside of the filter, in order that one of the brushes
may be operated either when the water is flowing through or shut off from
the same.
My invention also consists in an auxiliary support for each hub of the filter to
be employed when the latter is of considerable size and weight.
My invention also consists in combination with a filtering machine, of a pinion
and gear for rotating and reversing the same when of large dimensions.
My invention also consists in a pair of standards or brackets for supporting the
ensing, said brackets serving as bearings for the hubs of the same, and also as stops
for preventing the rotation of the pipe connections during the revolution of tho
casing upon its hubs-one or both of said bracket supports being provided with an
arm in which the shaft of the reversing pinion bears.
My invention also consists in the construction of the covers of the machine
whereby greater support is given to the strainers and their frames.
My invention also consists in an auxiliary support for the strainer frames and in
an improved construction and arrangement of the latter.
My invention also consists in an improvement in the inlet and outlet passages of
the casing, the several features herein referred to being fully described and
specifically claimed.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the said drawings A represents a
metallic casing, provided with covers a at its upper and lower sides, said covers
being hold in place by a series of bolts b projecting out on each side of the outer
edges of the casing--the heads of the bolts being slid into shouldered recesses c
formed therein, in which position their tightening nuts & inay be readily loosened
when the covers are to be removed.
Extending around the inner edges of the upper and lower sides of the casing are
formed rectangular depressions, into which fit frames e each having secured thereto
a perforated wire gauze strainer B, preferably of corrugated form in cross section,
(see figs. 3 and 5) the outer surface of each frame lying Hush with the outer surface
of the casing the strainer receiving additional support by resting on longitudinal
bars fextending between the ends of the casing and the covers a fitting snugly
against the frames to prevent their moving outwardly. The interior of the
casing contains the filtering material. O is the vertical branch of the supply or
service pipo entering the building-from the street, and D is the vertical branch of
the distributing pipe passing up to the various floors.
E is a horizontal pipe through which the sediment passes when the filter is
reversed.
G is a horizontal pipe connecting the bottoms of the supply and distributing
pipes, and is for the passage of the water (without flowing through the filter) when
it is desired to obtain a large supply of water speedily-as for instance in the
event of fire or in case the filter is removed for repairs, etc.

page_text: The various pipes are provided with valves g by which they are opened or closed
to direct the water as desired. Each end of the casing is provided with a hollow
hub h, for the reception of a hollow journal which is surrounded by a suitable
packing held in place by a screw thimble Z.
The outer end of each hollow journal has slipped thereover a union coupling
nut H, the outer end of which screws over a thread cut on a projection n extending
out from its contiguous vertical pipe C or D (figs. 1 and 2) by which construction
the parts are made perfectly water tight and the casing is free to be revolved on its
journals. Each journal is provided with a circular opening p located in a horizontal
plane and extending from its interior to its outside in line with a vertical passage.
or pipe I formed within each end of the casing and extending in a diametrical
direction between and terminating on a level with the planes of the outsides of the
strainers-the passage through each journal being of the same diameter as that of
its vertical communicating pipe C or D in which it has its bearings. Each journal
is prevented from turning within its hub by means of a dowel-pin q projecting out
from the pipe-bearing and entering the outer flanged end of the journal, whereby
the latter is prevented from revolving and the position of its circular opening p is
kept unchanged.
The circular opening p of the inlet-passage of the journal connected with the
supply pipe C is located at its top, while that of the outlet-passage of the other
journal having its bearings in the distributing pipe D is at its bottom, their
positions alternating only when the casing is reversed, the said arrangement of
the openings p in the journals allowing the water when turned on to pass freely
in the direction of the arrows fig. 2, through the hollow journal i, through the
upper branch of its contiguous casing pipe I into the spacer between the upper
corrugated strainer and its cover, thence down through said strainer into the
filtering material, the greater or heavier portion of the sediment being deposited
on the outer surface of the upper strainer, while all or nearly all of the small
balance is taken up or absorbed by the filtering material, the water flowing next
through the lower strainer down into the space between it and the lower cover,
whence it is forced up through the lower branch of the opposite pipe I within the
casing and the circular opening p in the opposite journal, out in a horizontal
direction through said journal into the upper branch of the distributing pipe D
to be carried in the different directions required. The inner side of each end of
each cover a is hollowed out or recessed at a point & immediately opposite and in
line with the passage through the pipe I formed within the contiguous end of the
casing, in order to afford an uninterrupted passage for the water to and from
said pipe.
When the sediment on the upper surface of the upper strainer is to be removed,
it is simply necessary to reverse the filter by turning it a half revolution, close the
valve in the distributing pipe D, open the valve in the horizontal waste pipe E, and
the water from the supply pipe C will carry off the sediment as desired.
To assist the water in cleansing the strainer from sediment and slime, which
might otherwise adhere thereto, I locate in the space outside each strainer, &
brush or scraper, L of any suitable material which comes into contact with the
corrugated sides of the strainer, the brush or scraper being drawn longitudinally
upon its outer surface by means of the handle t, which passes through a stuffing
box u, in the end of the cover. These brushes may either be rectangular as 'shown,
or circular in cross section and when circular be made to rotate over and upon
the corrugated strainer, by means of a ring connected with its handle, or by any
other suitable device. In the event of the pressure of the water being insufficient
to carry off the sediment deposited on the strainer, I intend to employ the pressure
of steam, in which case the pipe conducting it may enter the supply pipe C in a
line with the hollow journal i and pass through and out of the casing in the
same direction previously traversed by the water; and, when steam is used the
passage of the water in the supply pipe must be closed by its valve g. To relieve
the journals of the weight of a heavy filter I intend to secure a bifurcated

page_text: hracket M, to each of the lower sections of the vertical pipes CD, forming an
upright frame.in which the journals bear, and provide each bifurcation with a
friction roll w, which will form a partial bearing for the hub, and on which the
easing may be revolved-(see figs. 1, 0 and 7).
Where very large filters are required for manufacturing purposes-for instance,
for boilers and other uses in paper, woollen, starch, iron and other mills, where the
weight is very considerable-and the water pipes C D are not of sufficient strength
to support the filter, I propose to locate it ou one or more pair of friction rolls, and
thus render it capable of being readily reversed. This feature however, I intend to
claim in a future application for patent. Instead of employing hollow journals. for
conducting the water through the filter, the journals may be solid and the pipes be
made to enter the top and bottom of the filter, said pipes being connected by
swivel tapering joints with the supply and distributing pipes and said connecting
pipes may be either rigid or flexible; but as this means of connecting the casing
with the supply and distributing pipes will also form subject matter in another
application for patent, I will not here enter into the details by which I carry it out.
Instead of conducting the water from the upper branch of the supply pipe C
through the contiguous hollow journal i and up the upper branch of the contiguous
pipe I in the casing, and thence down through the upper strainer-the annular
opening pin said hollow journal i may be turned downward so as to communicate
with the lower branch of the vertical supply pipe C, and the water pass down into
the space between the lower strainer and the lower cover, the lighter portions of
the sediment being carried up and laid upon the underside of the strainer, while the
heavier portion would be deposited on the lower cover, and on the reversal of
the casing would also fall on the upper side of said strainer, from which it may
bo removed, assisted by the brush or scraper L down the upper branch of the
opposite pipe I, (in the casing) from which it would be discharged into the
horizontal waste or sediment pipe E, and therefore I may employ the filter in
either manner described. In the foregoing I have referred to hollow journals
provided with circular openings p to enable them to open communication with the
supply and distributing pipes, the inner end of cach journal being closed.
I may however, employ at each end of the casing a hollow journal without such
opening p and with its inner end open, one such journal conimunicating with the
supply pipo C and the other with the distributing pipe D, in which case I intend
to use a solid cylindrical plug to serve as a valve in the inlet pipe I of the ensing,
which plug will on the reversal of the casing, descend by its gravity into and close
the lower branch of said inlet casing pipe, while within the outlet pipe I of the
opposite end of the casing 1 locate a vertical cylindrical valve of a length exceeding
that of the said outlet casing pipe, and provided with flanges at its ends to fit over
and close the ends of said pipe alternately, the lower end of said valve projecting
down beyond the bottom of the said pipe to allow of the passage upward therein
of the water after it flows into the space between the lower strainer and its cover.
Referring to Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 10, 17 of said drawings A¹ represents
the filtering machine composed also of a single shell or casing having a passage al
formed within each end and extending from the center to the outside of the same
-the size or area in cross section of said passage increasing on each side of its
center as it recedes therefrom (figs 9, 10 and 15). B¹ B' are the hollow hubs which
form the axes on which the casing is revolved, the passage through each hub
cominunicating with the center of the contiguous passage a and being located in
a direct line therewith.
When the machine is of ordinary size the casing and its hubs are preferably cast
integral with each other-but when it is of considerable size and weight, it is more
convenient to form the hubs separately from the casing and provide the latter with
circular holes for their reception and secure them by bolts b (figs. 8 and 9.)
t
Within each hub is fitted a gland C for holding a packing cl within, which
surrounds n pipe .connection D1 or E¹ which passes into the gland. and hub and
forms an inlet or outlet pipe for the passage of the water to and from the casing—

page_text: D¹ being the inlet and E¹ the outlet pipe-a reliable water tight joint being thus
insured between the pipe connection and the hub.
Each pipe connection is enlarged at its outer end and provided with a recess d
in order that it may fit over a projection e' rising from the outside of each one of
a pair of bracket-supports G¹, the inner portions of which form bearings f¹ in which
rest the hubs on which the casing revolves-the said projections serving as stops to
keep the pipe connections stationary during the reversal of the casing, the
prevention of the revolution of the inlet and outlet pipes being to preserve the
proper position and relation of the water passages.
The upper and lower sides of the casing A¹ are provided with covers h¹ held 'in
place by a series of bolts ¹ projecting from the outer edges of each side and end
of the casing-the heads of the bolts fitting into shouldered recesses k¹ formed
therein their tightening nuts being readily loosened when the covers are to be
removed. A rectangular seat is formed in each open side (top and bottom) of the
casing for the reception of the frame n' of a wire gauze strainer H₁ of corrugated
form (see lower part of fig. 10) when the water is under a low pressure, or flat (as
shown in the upper part of figure 10) when the water is under a high pressure-
both strainers being either flat or corrugated at one time. The length of the
outside of the water passage a¹ formed within the casing is equal to the width of
the strainer and is on a level with the outer surface of the same when flat-and
when corrugated, on a levél with the inner bends or curves of the corrugations-
by which arrangement the sediment is prevented from lodging and is more readily
carried over the corrugations through the casing passages a. Upon the inner side
of each cover are formed a series of parallel longitudinal ribs p', which when the
cover is in place, come into contact with the outer surface of the wire gauze--thus
always serving to support and prevent the sagging and bursting of the same when
in a position above it.
The inner side of each strainer frame is also provided with a series of longitudinal
ribs q' and with transverse ribs which afford additional strength and support
thereto, and to still further guard against the deflection of the strainer frame by
the immense pressure of the water thereon, I intend to employ auxiliary supports 81
passing through the filtering material (not shown) and bearing against the inner
edges of the ribs of both strainer frames. (see figs. 9 and 10).
When the machine is large and heavy, I employ the following mechanism for
rotating and reversing the same. I is a large circular gear either formed integral
with or made separate from and bolted to one end of the casing.
K¹ is a pinion which engages with said gear 1', the shaft t' of the pinion resting
in bearings u¹ formed in an arm all projecting out from the bracket support at this
end of the casing and being turned by a hand wheel L' on the outer end. of the
pinion shaft.
Each pipe connection D¹ or E¹ is provided with three ports or openings v¹ w¹ y¹,
the port being located at the top of the inlet pipe D' and at the bottom
of the outlet pipe E¹, each port v communicating with its contiguous casing
passage a¹.
The ports w¹y of each pipe D¹, E' are diametrically opposite each other, and
when the casing is rotated so as to bring the strainers at its sides, (both in vertical
positions, parallel to each other), the casing passages a' communicate with these
ports, and the water passes only on the outsides of the strainers, carrying off the
heavy sediment accumulated thereon. N¹ is the waste or sediment pipe through
which water flows a short time after reversing the filter casing.
When the parts are in the position seen in fig. 9, the water when turned on,
passes freely in the direction of the arrows through the inlet pipe D1, through the
upper branch of its contiguous casing passage a¹, into the space between the upper
strainer and its cover, thence down through said strainer, into the filtering material,
the greater or heavier portion of the sediment contained in the water being
deposited on the outer surface of the upper strainer, while all or nearly all of the
small remainder is taken up or absorbed by the filtering material-the water

page_text: flowing next through the lower struiner down into the space between it and the
lower cover, from whence it rises through the lower branch of the opposite casing
passage al and port v' in the outlet pipe E, out in a horizontal direction through
said pipe into the upper branch of the distributing pipe P'. Each support G for
the casing must have a bearing for its contiguous hollow hub and a stop e¹ for
holding the hollow pipe connection D', E', stationary, but one support only need be
provided with the arm for the bearing u' of the shaft of the pinion K', and if
desired, the machine may be hung on one pair of bearings, and the shaft of the
reversing pinion in an independent bearing-the feature of this portion of my
invention being the revolution of the casing in any convenient way by gearing.
Instead of the outer end of either the inlet or outlet pipes being bifurcated or
provided with a recess d', and the outer end of each bracket support G having
a projection o¹ to fit therein-the. construction of these parts may be reversed and
the supports G be forked to receive a projection on the pipe.
By my present invention, the weight of the casing rests on the bracket-supports,
whereby greater strength and solidity is insured than where the weight of the
filter bore entirely on the inlet and outlet pipes forining hollow journals for it to
rotate on, as set forth in a previous portion of my invention, and where the weight
is great, I prefer the employment of supports having bearings for the hubs as Inst
described.
S¹ fig. 16, represents a horizontal shaft provided with a worm gear T¹ which
engages with the circular gear I' for turning the filter.
In fig. 17 is represented a strainer applied to a frame so constructed that the
bottoms of the corrugations are located outside the line of the flow of the water-
whereby the sediment lodged thercon may be removed with greater facility.
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. A filter having but a single shell or casing A, in which are directly located
the filtering, material and passages I, I, for the flow of the water through the filter,
in combination with the hollow stationary journals i, around which said casing
is capable of being turned, and which also serve as inlet and outlet pipes
communicating with the passages II, constructed to operate substantially as
described.
2. In combination with the frame composed of the supply and distributing
pipes OD, the filter having hollow journals i, supported by said frame, said
journals also serving as inlet and outlet pipes, as and for the purpose described.
3. The filtering casing A and its covers in combination with a pair of
corrugated strainers B, B, and their frammes e e provided with supporting bars ff,
the said strainers being located at the opposite sides of the casing, substantially as
Bot forth.
4. The cover h' of a filter casing A provided with longitudinal ribs pt on its
inner aide, in combination with a strainer frame n' and strainer H-thu ribs of
the cover serving as supports for the lower strainer, as set forth.
5. An auxiliary support & for the strainer frames extending from tlie inside
of one to the inside of the other and located within the filtering chamber,,
substantially as described.
6. A casing A with its inlet and outlet passages a¹ a¹ and strainers located on
a level or outside of the level of the outlet ends of said passages, in combination
with covers ³ ³ provided with ribs resting on the outer surfaces of the strainers,
as specified.
7. In combination with a filtering inachine a single shell or casing A¹ with
inlet and outlet passages a' a' which increase in area in cross section in opposite
directions froin their centers to their outsides, substantially as described.
8. The auxiliary supports or brackets M with their friction rolls w for relieving
the journals of the greater portion of the weight and wear of the filter, in
JL

page_text: combination with the vertical branches of the supply and distributing pipes C, D,
upon which the brackets are capable of being adjusted, as and for the purpose
described.
9. A casing A¹ provided with a gear I and two supports having bearings
for the hubs of the casing, in combination with a pinion K¹ and an independent
support having a bearing for the shaft of the pinion, as and for the purpose
set forth.
10. The supports G' having bearings f¹ fl and stops e'e' in combination with
a casing A having hollow hubs B¹ B' and inlet and outlet pipe connections D¹, E¹,
substantially as described.
11. In combination-the casing A' provided with a gear I-the pinion K' and
two supports G¹ baving bearings f¹f for the hubs of the casing one of said
supports also having a bearing for the shaft of the pinion as set forth.
12. The support G¹ having a bearing f¹ for the hub of the casing a bearing ut
for the shaft of the pinion K' and a stop e¹ for preventing the revolution of an
inlet or outlet pipe connection D¹ or E-the two bearings flu and the stop e'
being formed integral with the support and with each other, as specified.
13. A filter consisting of only a single casing A with its vertical pipes. I I located
at opposite sides thereof-the hollow journals ii with their openings pp and the
supporting frame composed of branches of the supply and distributing pipes C, D,
combined and communicating with each other in the manner and for the purpose
Bet forth.
14. In combination with the filtering casing A-covers a and corrugated
strainers B, the brushes or scrapers L, located between said covers and strainers
and provided with handles projecting outside of the casing whereby they may be
manipulated at pleasure substantially as explained.
15. The worm gear T', in combination with the casing A' provided with a circular
gear I, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this nineteenth day of August 1884-at Boston—Mass.
JAMES ALLEN CROCKER,