IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER AND APparatus CONNECTED THEREWITH, TOGETHER WITH THE MODE OF CLEANSING THE SAME
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of the Firm of.
Henderson and Company, British and Foreign Patent Agents, of
No. 31, Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER AND APparatus
CONNECTED THEREWITH, TOGETHER WITH THE MODE OF CLEANSING THE
SAME." -A communication from abroad by Gustave Demailly, Civil
Engineer, of the City of Brussels, and Kingdom of Belgium.
Sealed the 12th August 1873, and dated the 18th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Hen-
derson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th February 1873.
I, ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of the Firm of Henderson and
5 Company, British and Foreign Patent Agents, of 31, Charing Cross, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH, TOGETHER WITH THE MODE OF CLEANSING THE SAME," a
communication to me from abroad by Gustave Demailly, Civil En-

page_text: gineer, of the Oity of Brussels, and Kingdom of Belgium, to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to purify water before its use either in
domestic or industrial purposes, and prevent incrustation and destruction
of boilers.
For instance water supplied to steam generators is purified both by a
chemical and mechanical process; and is freed from calcarious salts and
other substances held in solution.
This system while suppressing the cause of accident effects a great
saving of fuel, time, and money, and it can readily be applied to every
description of generator, no matter of what form or combination, fixed
or movable, whether applied to tubular or other boilers for railways or
for navigation.
The employment of non-purified water or water containing calcarious
salts and other substances for industrial purposes, such as bleaching and
scouring thread and tissue, paper pulp, or other matter, requires the
addition of a greater quantity of chlorine and other chemicals, which is
a hindrance to perfect bleaching, and in dyeing is the cause of failure
in producing light and delicate shades, a waste of soap, soda, tartar, and
so on, the use of such water in domestic purposes being injurious to
health.
Calcarious waters contain lime combined with carbonic acid, and
form carbonate of lime; selenious waters contain lime combined with
sulphuric acid, forming sulphate of lime.
The following is the mode of treating calcarious waters, that is to say,
waters charged with bicarbonate of lime :-I add thereto a small pro-
portionate quantity of solution of caustic lime; the water is then
immediately troubled in presenting a precipitate formed by the action of
the carbonic acid by immediately depositing carbonate of lime, so that
instead of having to treat matters in solution it merely remains to
operate on matters in suspension.
But in thus treating masses of water it is necessary first to obtain
lime water, that is to say, clear water containing lime in solution in
sufficient quantity and rapidity; secondly, to be able to make the
mixture in sufficiently correct proportions of lime water with the mass
to be purified; and, thirdly, to effect a quick clarification of the
mixture.

page_text: In the solution of this problem I have combined in one single
apparatus both the chemical and mechanical means, I have therefore a
clarifying apparatus of great power and novel construction, combined
with an apparatus destined to manufacture clear lime water in a con-
tinuous manner and in proportionate distribution.
The latter apparatus is also destined to perfectly mix the lime water
with the mass of water to be purified as fast as it is used, which forms
the chemical operation, troubling the water, and which by the absorption
of the carbonic acid transforms the bicarbonate of lime in solution into
carbonate of lime in suspension.
The water thus treated and prepared, that is to say, no longer · con-
taining anything but matters in suspension, is admitted into the filter,
which retains them, allowing only pure water to be delivered.
The apparatus or purifier consists of a filter formed of a cylindrical,
vertical case of sheet iron or cast iron furnished with a lid; in this is
contained another cylinder which is the filter proper, also formed of
sheets of cast or sheet iron, one at the top and the other at the bottom,
and united by three concentric cylinders of perforated sheet iron. These
cylinders form two annular capacities supplied with filtering matter,
such as felt or wool rendered imputrescible.
The water arrives in the filter by a tap, and spreads itself in the open
space between the envelope and the filtering cylinder; then by pressure
it traverses the latter, and makes its exit by a discharge tap perfectly
clear and freed from all matters in suspension that it contained.
The filter supports a recipient for the lime united to a mixer, the
supply pipe being connected by a tube to the recipient, and directly with
its base to one of the orifices of the mixer, the other orifices being united
by a tap to a tube of admission to the filter. The apparatus works by
pressure or by the aspiration of a feed pump, the purified water flowing
into a reservoir or directly conveyed by force to the generator.
The recipient forming the lime water consists of a vertical cylindrical
case of cast iron with a lid at the top, and the liquid therein is directed
to the bottom by an inner pipe. Within this case is another vertical
cylinder formed of two cast-iron plates and two cylinders of sheet iron.
forming an annular capacity furnished with filtering substances and a.
pipe. The cylindrical filtering body forms part with the base of the.
recipient, and is locked top and bottom by an adjusting screw; at the.
base is a three-way tap, one of whose openings communicates with the

page_text: recipient; another in the same axis puts the mixer and recipient in
communication, and the third branches on the water supply of the
generator. A discharge tap is fixed to the case.
In the recipient is placed a certain quantity of lime which dissolves in
proportion to the water contained, and according to the water's con- 5
tinuous arrival. The lime water thus formed flows by pressure through
the filtering cylinder, and arrives in the central pipe perfectly clear, and
ready for distribution or mixing by a tap. The mixer consists of a
bent winged wheel terminating at the top by a screw; the wheel turns
on an inverted pivot on a vertical axis, and is lodged in a cylindrical 1
chamber perpendicular with the axis of the recipient and tangent to the
common axis of the supply pipe of the tap and tube of admission into
the filters.
Supposing this latter tap is open the water arriving by the supply
pipe enters the chamber, and meets in its passage the paddles of the 1
wheel, which under the action of the current is animated by a rotary
motion of a speed in accordance with the flow.
The cleansing of the filter is effected without the necessity of taking
the apparatus to pieces in the following manner :-When the steam
engine is stopped the tap admitting water into the filter is closed, as 2
well as the exit pipe communicating with the feed pump, which allows
of free communication with the central pipe of the filter and water
draught of the generator.
On opening the discharge tap it will at once be seen what has taken
place. The pressure of the generator sends the water already purified 2
into the central pipe of the filter. This water traverses inversely the
beds or layers of filtering matter, and draws along with it the foreign
organic matter arrested during filtration, and flows out by the dischargo
tap.
The whole cylindrical body is movable on the pivot at its base, and 3
communicates with the exterior by a shaft at the top furnished with a
fly wheel, by aid of which 'the water imparts to the cylindrical filtering
body a circular movement, the effect being to pass the external surface
of the cylinder several times under the action of a brush fixed vertically
at the inner side of the case, which suffices to dislodge any residue that 3
might be adhering thereto.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
CHARLES HENDERSON, of the Firm of Henderson and Company, British
and Foreign Patent Agents, of 31, Charing Cross, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
•
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in tho
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, Her
special licence that I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arthur Charles
Henderson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER AND APPARATUS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH, TOGETHER WITH THE MODE OF CLEANSING THE SAME," a
communication to me from abroad by Gustave Demailly, Civil Engineer,
of the City of Brussels, and Kingdom of Belgium, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner thic
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 Arthur Charles Henderson, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
.the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings,
that is to say :—.
Almost all industries employ water, the indispensable agent in all
that the most linnil waters are

page_text: not chemically pure, and that the matters they contain are more or
less injurious according to the usages to which they are put.
The apparatus forming the subject of the present Invention is intended
to purify water before its use in industrial purposes, especially that
employed for generating steam.
The immense quantity of water successively circulating in a generator
for conversion into steam leaves by the effect of evaporation, calcarious
and other deposits which adhering to the sides, or forming in compact
masses, in either case produce grave defects in the working of the
apparatus and are the frequent cause of explosion.
To obviate these drawbacks in an economical manner I purify the
water before its use by a combined chemical and mechanical process,
consequently there can be no deposits of the nature above mentioned,
which are so dangerous and costly on account of the frequent cleansings
to no purpose which they necessitate, and especially in the waste of
fuel in vapourizing the water through the superposed layers, bad
conductors of heat.
My purifying apparatus can be applied to all kinds of generators no
matter of what form or system, whether fixed or movable, whether
applied to tubular or other boilers; for railways, or for navigation.
The principle on which it is constructed render it of service in the
most varied industries, dyeing, bleaching thread, tissues, paper pulp,
and so on, or in domestic usage.
Although the apparatus can be used in purifying water containing
a salt of some kind, as demonstration of the system I shall hero explain
the method of purifying calcarious waters as they are more difficult to
treat than those containing salts in solution.
In the construction of the apparatus I have based my theory on the
following considerations and observations.
-
In adding to calcarious water (that is to say charged with bicarbonate of
lime) a small proportionato quantity of solution of caustic lime, the water
is immediately troubled in presenting a precipitate formed by the
action of the carbonic acid by depositing carbonate of lime. Conse-
quently in lieu of operating on matters in solution it merely remains to
act on matters in suspension.
4

page_text: But in thus treating masses of water more or less considerable it is
necessary, first, to procure lime water, that is to say, clear water con-
taining lime in solution in sufficient quantity and rapidity; secondly,
to mix in sufficiently accurate proportions the lime water with the
mass of water to be purified; and, thirdly, to effect a quick clarification
of the mixture.
To solve the question I have combined in a single apparatus working
without intermission or auxiliary aid both the chemical and mechanical
means.
I have therefore a clarifying apparatus of great power and novel
construction combined with an apparatus (forming part with it) destined
to prepare the limpid lime water in a continuous manner, and in pro-
portionate distribution. This latter apparatus perfectly mixes the lime
water with the mass of water to be purified as it is used, this mixture
constituting the chemical operation which troubles the water and trans-
forms by the absorption of the carbonic acid the bicarbonate of lime in
solution into carbonate of lime in suspension. The water thus treated
that is to say containing only matters in suspension is admitted into the
filter which retains them, delivering only pure water.
The apparatus is applicable to the purification of all other cases, it
sufficing to replace the solution of lime for the most efficacious chemical
agent for acting on the salts in solution. Seleneous waters can be
treated by my apparatus by mixing with them by the same means a
solution of carbonate of soda, a precipitate will then be formed of
carbonate of lime, either by the use of nitrate of ammonia, oxalate of
ammonia and chloride of barium.
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a vertical section by the
centre of the apparatus following the line A, B, and Figure 2 is a
horizontal section following the line C, D, E, F.
A is the pipe supplying the non-purified water, B is the recipient of
manufacture and filtration of the lime water, C is the mixer and distri-
buter, D is the filter.
The apparatus works under a pressure of some mètres or by a suction
or feed pump. The purified water flows into a reservoir or is conveyed

page_text: .
The lime water recipient B consists of a cylindrical case, with lid J,
it is connected with a pipe A by the tube G, and with the body of
the filter D by the lower conduit H. The water is consequently com-
municated to the recipient B at the same pressure as in the pipe A, it
is directed towards the bottom of the recipient by the inner pipe K, 5
uniting with the pipe G, and furnished with a valve L, whose object
is to maintain and furnish the recipient B with a regular and constant
supply of water, and to prevent the carbonating of the lime when
hydrate of lime is used for transforming the bicarbonates of lime into
insoluble carbonates.
1
In the envelope B is a vertical apparatus consisting of cast-iron
plates i, i, united by the perforated tube O of the upper plate forming
a circular cylindrical capacity N, furnished with filtering substances.
This filter rests on the base of the recipient B, it is locked top and
bottom by the adjusting screw V below is a gauge or distributer M 1
which can be increased in size when desired, and according to the internal
pressure.
A discharge tap Q is fixed to the case B, see Fig. 2.
In the recipient B a certain quantity of lime is placed in proportion
to the liquid therein contained and gradually with the continuous 2
arrival of water. The lime water thus formed flows by pressure through
the filtering cylinder and reaches the central pipe O perfectly clear and
ready for conveyance in the requisite proportion by the distributer M
to the mixer C. This rapid and incessant operation does not necessitate
the use of large reservoirs for the production of the lime water, and 2
does away with manual labour.
The mixer C consists of a wheel with curved pallets terminating at
the upper part in a conical screw h. The wheel turns on an inverted
pivot on a vertical and fixed axis u. Thus the water arriving by the
pipe A to present itself in the chamber D encounters in its passage the 3
paddles of the wheel of the mixer, this wheel by the action of the
current is animated with a rotary motion the speed being in proportion
to the flow.
The screw h, forming part of the wheel lodges in the conical capa-·
city M and produces by its rotary motion an effect of suction from 3
bottom to top allowing the lime water to flow in a sufficient and regular
quantity, regulated by the distributer M and in such wise that the

page_text: mixture of the lime water with the mass of water to be purified takes
place whilst the apparatus is working in as continuous and perfect a
manner as possible.
At this juncture the water admitted in the filter D will merely contain
organic matters, and carbonates of lime in suspension, these matters
will be retained by the filter D, a description of which here follows :—
This filter consists of a cylindrical vertical case in sheet or cast iron
and supplied with a lid. Inside this case is another cylindrical body
which is the filter proper. This body is formed of two cast-iron plates
P, P, one above and the other below, and united by two concentric
cylinders R, R', of very thin perforated sheet iron. These cylinders
constitute an annular capacity which is furnished with filtering
substances.
On the plates P, P, circular strix. or denticulations are made whose
section is triangular, so that no particle of water escapes filtration
before reaching the central tube R'.
The water conducted to the filter by the conduit H spreads itself in
the open spaces comprised between the envelope D and the filtering
cylinder then by pressure passes through the latter and makes its exit
perfectly clear and freed from all the matters in suspension which it
contained through the discharge tap S. This tap communicates at one
side either with a reservoir or feed pump and by the third tube (serving
to cleanse the filter) by a supply of water from the generator.
A discharge tap Q' is arranged at the base of the filter to allow of the
flow of the matters retained when the apparatus is cleansed.
The feed pump drawing on the filter returns the purified water to the
generator.
The operation, therefore, is most simple, as with a single apparatus
and almost instantaneously the following results are obtained :-Manu-
facture of a sufficient quantity of filtered lime water, proportionate and
perfect mixture of this lime water with the mass of water to be purified,
and, finally, the clarification of this mixture.
The filter is, moreover, so constructed that it can be cleansed without
taking it to pieces without loss of time and as often as desired. Onc
cleaning at the end of a day's work is sufficient.

page_text: When the steam engine is stopped the admission of water into the
filter D is intercepted. The tap S communicating with the feed pump
is closed, which leaves the communication with the central pipe R¹, and
the supply from the gencrator free. Finally the discharge tap Q is
opened.
The result is that the pressure of the generator directs the warm
water already purified into the central tube of the filter; this water
traverses the filtering layers inversely, and draws along with it the
foreign organic or other matters arrested during filtration and flows out
by the discharge tap Q¹. Morcover the whole filtering body or cylinder
which is placed vertically in the case D is movable on the pivot at the
base, it communicates with the exterior by the shaft T placed at the
summit and furnished with a fly wheel X, by aid of which the workman
imparts to the filtering cylinder a circular movement, the result of which
is to cause the whole external surface of the cylinder to pass several
times under the friction of a brush Z, fixed vertically at the inner side
of the case or envelope which detaches the residue or particles that
might be resting or adhering thereto. In a few minutes the cleaning is
effected. The supply from the generator is then closed, as well as the
discharge tap or emptying tap, and the apparatus is again ready for
use.
The cleansing of the recipient B takes place each time that it is
supplied with lime water, and the operation is the same as for the
filter D.
The action, therefore, of the filter is assured by its facility of cleansing.
The filter of the lime water recipient B contains as filtering matter
either wool shearings rendered imputrescible by means of tannate, ferate,
or permanganate of soda. The annular capacity of the filter D is
furnished with wool shearings treated as described, or sponge cut up
and purified; these layers suitably pressed will last some time without;
being renewed.
I have here exemplified the working of the apparatus under the action
of the feed pump of the steam engine as it is the most general, but the
results attained in other cases is identical. Under the pressure of some
mètres, that is to say, if the water comes from a fall or reservoir placed a
5 or 6 mètres only above, the purified water flows into a reservoir or

page_text: conduit of some sort, thence to be distributed according to requirements,
part for supplying generators, and part for any other industrial purpose.
If the feeding is effected by an injector it may be fixed to the purifier
in the position and in place of the feed pump.
In cases where the water is stored in reservoirs to be distributed to
each machine as on a line of railway, the purifier will present the same
advantages. It may be fixed either on a suction conduit near the
water draught or on the return conduit at any suitable point. In this
case the pressure of the purified water in the reservoir is employed for
cleansing the filter.
In this case a twin filter is specially desirable, having the same mixer,
the same recipient of manufacture of the lime water, and supplied by
a common supply of water to both, and a common admission tap of
three ways admitting of the cleansing of either of the filters by the
purified water from the other.
In treating water for household purposes, and when necessary the
capacity R is divided in two concentric parts, the outer one containing
the filtering substances already described, and that next the tube R¹
containing the charcoal for removing any disagreeable taste the water
may have..
Finally, I claim the apparatus as herein described and illustrated and
whose object is to systematically and regularly purify water (before its
use either for industrial or domestic purposes) of the salts in solution
therein contained or held. The said apparatus uniting in one single
and practical operation the purification of the water by a chemical
operation according to its composition which is insured by a pro-
portionate mixture, and mechanical aid followed by a powerful me-
chanical filtering, the apparatus being maintained in a perfect state of
working order and of maximum production by the readiness with which
it is cleansed without taking it to pieces and without loss. of time.
I claim, therefore, the special combination of the purifier, such com-
bination embracing the direct application of the principles on which
the system is based, namely, the methodical purification of water, con-
verting soluble salts into insoluble, and clarifying the water thus treated
by an apparatus of powerful delivery, effective and ready cleansing
working under a minimum pressure of some métres, or by a more
powerful one, such for instance as the water supply of a town or under

page_text: the action of a suction or force pump, independently of the form,
dimensions, or material of construction of the apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Fourteenth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.