Improvements in Weirs or Apparatus for Controlling the Flow of Liquids into or from Tanks, Reservoirs, or other Holders.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1840
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weirs or Apparatus for Controlling the Flow of
Liquids into or from Tanks, Reservoirs, or other Holders.
I, FRANCIS GASSIOT HOUGHTON of Crossness, Belvedere in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to weirs or apparatus for controlling the flow of
liquids into or from tanks, reservoirs or other holders, and it consists in constructing
such weirs or .apparatus so that while the tank or reservoir is being filled the inlet
aperture is automatically and gradually closed beginning from the bottom, as the
liquid level rises, and so that on the other hand while the tank or reservoir is
being emptied the outlet aperture is automatically and gradually opened beginning
from the top as the liquid level falls.
With this object I fit across the aperture through which the tank or reservoir
fills and empties a series of horizontal flaps, plates or louvres arranged one above
another and pivoted at their ends to side frames. On the outer side of these flaps
are cam-like projections which are acted upon as hereinafter described-so-as--to
move or raise the flaps on their pivots: In a chamber which is outside the tank
and communicates therewith by means of the aperture above described is a float
which rises and falls according to the liquid level. It is through this. chamber
that the tank is filled and emptied. On the float is a projecting frame to act
upon the cam-like projections on the flaps.
Supposing the tank to be empty, all the flaps will present their edges to the
tank and chamber so that there are spaces between them through which the
liquid could pass. During the filling of the tank and chamber the float gradually
rises and as it does so its projecting frame acts first against the cam-like projections
on the bottom flap causing this to turn on its pivots so as to present its sides or faces
to the tank and chamber. As the float continues to rise it acts in like manner upon
each of the other flaps in vertical succession. Each flap when thus acted upon secures
or locks the flap next below and the spaces between the flaps being now closed the
liquid cannot flow between them. On the other hand while the tank is.being.emptiod=
the projecting frame on the float as this descends releases each flap in turn from top
to bottom of the series, and as each is released it falls over owing to the water
pressure into the edgewise position. The outflowing liquid consequently always.
runs from the tank at or near what is the liquid level for the time being. To facilitate.
the movements of the float and flaps easing rollers may be fitted to the projecting
frame and the float may have anti-friction rollers to run on vertical guides.
The float instead of being in the chamber may be in the tank itself, in which.
case the frame or part that acts upon the cams of the flaps can be connected with
the float by arms carried over the top of the series of flaps.
As the inflow and outflow of the liquid are by means of my apparatus compelled to
be at the surface of the body of liquid in the tank there is exceedingly little disturbance
of the body of liquid.
The invention will be found of great advantage where liquids, such as sewage
for example, have to be allowed to precipitate or separate by specific gravity into
layers or strata; also for decanting or drawing off liquids without disturbing the
lower parts of same, or solid matters which have subsided or become precipitated
therefrom.
There will be ordinary valves for regulating the flow between the chamber and the
primary inlet and final outlet.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weirs or Apparatus for Controlling the Flow of
Liquids into or from Tanks, Reservoirs, or other Holders.
I, FRANCIS GASSIOT HOUGHTON of Crossness, Belvedere in the County of Kent,
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 :-
My invention has reference to weirs or apparatus for controlling the flow of liquids
into or from tanks, reservoirs or other holders, and it consists in constructing such
weirs or apparatus so that while the tank or reservoir is being filled the inlet
aperture is automatically and gradually closed beginning from the bottom, as the
liquid level rises, and so that on the other hand while the tank or reservoir is being
emptied the outlet aperture is automatically and gradually opened beginning from the
top as the liquid level falls.
With this object I fit at that part of the tank, reservoir or holder where the
aperture through which it fills and empties is situated, a box, trunk, case or chamber
containing a series of horizontal flaps, plates or louvres arranged one above another
and pivoted at their ends to the side frames of the box. On these flaps are cam-
like projections or paths which are acted upon as hereinafter described so as to
move or raise the flaps on their pivots. In the box or chamber is a float which
rises and falls according to the liquid level. It is through this chamber (or there
may be more than one such chamber) that the tank is filled and emptied. The float
as it rises or falls acts upon the cam-like projections or paths on the flaps
through the intermediation of a projecting frame or otherwise.
Supposing the tank to be empty, all the flaps will present their edges to the
tank and chamber so that there are spaces between them through which the liquid
could pass. During the filling of the tank and chamber the float gradually rises and
as it does so it acts first against the cam-like projection or path on the bottom flap
causing this to turn on its pivots so as to present its sides or faces to the tank and
chamber respectively. As the float continues to rise it acts in like manner upon
each of the other flaps in vertical succession. Each flap when thus acted upon secures
or locks the flap next below and the spaces between the flaps being now closed the
liquid cannot flow between them. On the other hand while the tank is being emptied
the projecting frame on the float as this descends releases each flap in turn from top to
bottom of the series and as each is released it fails over owing to the water-pressure
into the edgewise position. The inflowing and outflowing liquid consequently always
runs into and from the tank (as the case may be) at or near what is the liquid level
for the time being; there is thus a minimum disturbance of the liquid already in the
tank during the inflow and of the liquid remaining in the tank during the outflow.
To facilitate the movements of the float and flaps, easing rollers may be fitted to the
projecting frame and the float may have anti-friction rollers to run on vertical
guides.
The float instead of being in the chamber may to suit special circumstances such as
the position of the inlet and outlet openings, be in the tank itself, in which case
the frame or part that acts upon the cams of the flaps can be connected with the
float by arms or other devices carried over the top of the series of flaps; or the float
may be outside the tank in a special chamber having free communication with the
tank.
The invention will be found of great advantage where liquids such as sewage for
example have to be allowed to precipitate or separate by specific gravity into layers-
or strata; also for decanting or drawing off liquids without disturbing the lower
parts of same, or solid matters which have subsided or become precipitated therefrom.
There will be ordinary valves for regulating the How between the chamber and the
primary inlet and final outlet.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation, Figure 2 a plan and
Figure 3 a section on the line A B of a weir or apparatus constructed according to my

page_text: invention. a a represents the tank, reservoir or other holder, the floor of same,
WL the normal liquid level when full, I the primary inlet and the final outlet, b is
a box, case, or chamber fitted at that part of the tank or holder where the aperture
through which it fills an empties is situated. In the box or chamber bare a series
of horizontal flaps, plates or louvres c c arranged one above another as shown and
pivoted at their ends to the side frames of the box. On the flaps c care cam-like
projections or paths h h which are acted upon so as to move or raise the flaps on their
pivots. In the box or chamber is a float F which rises and falls according to the
liquid level. The float has a projecting frame or cradle d which carries a lifting
roller L (or there may be more than one such roller). The frame d also carries easing
and closing rollers e e which run on paths p p on the flaps c c.
To further facilitate
the movements of the float it is fitted at back, front and sides with anti-friction
rollers gg to run on vertical guides i.
It will be readily understood that when the tank a and box or chamber bare empty
all the flaps will present their edges to the tank and chamber, that is to say they will
be in the position of the topmost flap as seen in Figure 3. As the tank and chamber
fill the float F gradually rises and as it does so it acts by means of its lifting roller L
against the cam-like projection or path on the bottom flap e causing it to turn on its
pivots into the position shown so as to present its sides or faces to the tank and
chamber respectively. As the float continues to rise it acts in like manner upon each
of the other flaps c in vertical succession. The top and bottom-edges of the flaps are
of such form, as seen in Figure-3, that each flap when lifted secures or locks the flap
next below. The action during the emptying of the tank need not be again
explained.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 represent my improved weir or apparatus applied to a tank,
reservoir or holder with the float chamber in the form of a rectangular trunk or box
having communication with the tank or holder on all four sides. The trunk is in
communication with the inlet and outlet openings I and O and the float works four
sets of weir flaps. The guides are circular bars g at the corners working in guide
paths i. Letters of reference the same as those in Figures 1 to 3 indicate
corresponding parts.
Figure 7 represents an arrangement in which the weir flaps are acted upon by
rollers L and ee carried by a frame or cradle d which is not directly connected to a
float; the float is not in the case or chamber but in some convenient part of the
tank or holder and connected to the frame or cradle dt
d through the intermediation of
arms, chains, ropes or other suitable devices so as to impart its rising and falling
movements thereto.
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 in respect of weirs or apparatus for controlling the flow of liquids into or from
tanks, reservoirs or other holders is
-
1. A series of horizontal flaps, plates or louvres arranged one above another in
combination with a float which rises and descends according to the change of the
liquid level in the tank or holder and as it rises causes the said flaps, plates or louvres
to close in succession from bottom to top and as it descends allows them to open in
succession from top to bottom, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In an arrangement comprising a series of horizontal Haps, plates or louvres and
a float as referred to in Claim 1, a projecting frame or cradle with lifting and easing
rollers on the float, and cam-like projections or paths on the flaps, plates or louvres
for the said rollers to act upon, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The improved wiers or apparatus constructed and operating substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings for controlling
the flow of liquids into or from tanks, reservoirs or other holders.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1880
=
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.