IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTER PRESSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bowing, of Number 2, St Michael's House, St.
Michael's Alley, Coinhill, in the City of London, Manufacturing Chemist, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTER PRESSES"
Sealed the 6th April 1877, and dated the 10th February 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bowing at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1877
JOHN BOWING, of Number 2, S Michael's House, S Michael's Alley, Cornhill,
in the City of London, Manufacturing Chemist "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTER
PRESSES"
My Invention relates to further improvements based on the Invention, the
subject of former Letters Patent granted to me, and dated the 17th day of
November 1875
According to my present Invention I construct my improved filtering apparatus
in the following manner -I form a compound filtering chamber, or a series of
chambers, by connecting a series of 11ngs made of wood or other suitable material,
which are bound with iron hoops The 1ngs thus made are mounted on rollers
which run on two suspended rails, so as to admit of their being easily moved, and
when in contact the rings form a horizontal cylinder The dimensions of these
rings are determined by the amount and by the physical character of the matter to
be operated upon in the filter Between each two rings I suspend or otherwise place
a plate or disc, preferably of sheet metal not less in diameter than the outer diameter
of the rings Each disc has one or more large holes or slits cut in it, so that any
dense fluid matter can flow readily from one side of the disc to the other, or from
one of the series of chambers to the other That part of the disc which coincides
with the faces of its two adjoining rings is left entue, the length of the shts or
holes being less than the diameter of the ring The discs are partly covered on
both sides with canvas, cloth, linen, sacking, calico, felt, matting, or such like
material, the holes or slits being left uncovered The material employed as covering
need not entirely cover the centre parts of the discs, but it must be continuous
round the outer edges of the discs, so as to form a encumferential edge all round
between the two adjoining faces of the ings The discs or plates so made and
fitted in fact serve as partial diaphragms between each couple of contiguous

page_text: chambers In the central oi one of the rings I make an inlet hole through which
At the
the fluid mixture enters, and is forced into the apparatus when at work
two ends of the series of rings are two strong solid cucles or plates fitted to receive
the ends of the tie-rods oi bolts by which the whole series is firmly screwed or
cla.nped together
The process of working this apparatus is conducted as follows --The rings with
the discs or diaphragms are moved along the rails, and fastuned together by means
The ap-
of the bolts on tie-iods, so as to form the compound filtering chamber
paratus now is a closed cylinder Through the inlet in the circumference of the
cential ing the fluid mixture enters on 1s forced by the ordinary pumping apparatus
until by its readily passing through each successive diaphragm the cylinder is filled.
More of the fluid mixture is now forced in through the same inlet, and thereupon
the water or other fluid, together with the matter held in it in solution, begin to
pass or travel from every part of the enclosed mass along the diaphragms outwards
towards then circumferences, thence out between the edges of the contiguous ings
through the outer edges of the covering material above mentioned, and thus finally
escape at the outside of the cylinder This is continued until the matteis held in
suspension are separated, and left as a residuum mass in the chambers sufficiently
diy The bolts aro-then-removed, the apparatus 18 opened out by the ungs being
separated, and the solid slabs of pressed matter are caused to fall out beneath mito
some convenient receptacle The total bulk of solid matter thus recovered at each
operation is not much less than the entire internal capacity of the compound filter,
as the discs or diaphragms may be made so thin as to be innaterial
This form of filter press is specially adapted to the ticatnient of very large masses
01 volumes of matter, having low comparative value, such as waters, sewage, cenient,
sluny, potters' clay, china clay, whiting, yeast, and the like
In the treatment of less bulks or of delicate and costly bodies, such as chemicals,
colours, wines, beers, sugais, and the like, the apparatus may be made of glass,
porcelain, or other suitable material, and mounted in any other convenient
manner
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Bowing in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th April
1877
JOHN BOWING, of No 2, St Michaels House, St Michaels Alley, Cornhill,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTER
in the City of London, Manufacturing Chemist
PRESSES'
"
My Invention relates to further improvements based on the Invention, the
subject of former Letters Patent granted to me, and dated the Seventeenth day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five
According to my present Invention I construct my improved filtering apparatus
in the following manner -I form a compound filtering chamber, or a series of
chambers by connecting a series of 11ngs of any requned breadth made of wood or
other suitable material, which are bound together with non hoops The ungs thus
made are mounted on 1ollers which run on two suspended rails, so as to admit of
then being easily moved, and when in contact the 1ings form a horizontal cylinder
The dimensions of these rings are determined by the amount and by the physical
Between each two ings
character of the matter to be operated upon in the filter
I suspend or otherwise place a plate or disc, preferably of sheet metal, not less in
diameter than the outer diameter of the 1ngs Each disc has one or more laige
holes or slits cut in it, so that any dense fluid matter can flow readily from one
sido of the disc to the other, or fiom one of the series of chambers to the other or
others That put of the disc which coincides with the faces of its two adjoining
1ings is left entire, the length of the communicating slits or holes being less than

page_text: the lameter of the ing The discs are partly covered on both sides with canvas,
cloth, linen, sacking, calico, felt, matting, wie, cloth, or analogous material, the
communicating holes or slits being left uncovered The material employed as
covering need not entirely cover the centro parts of the disc, but in order to
5 make the exuding operation complete it should be continuous round the outer edges
of the discs, so as to form a cucumfeiential edge all round between the two adjoining
faces of the ings, thereby forming what may be termed a cucunferential exit,
through which the liquid it is desired to express may be compelled to exude by the
action of the pressing or forcing apparatus The discs or plates so made and fitted
in fact serve as partial diaphragms between each couple of contiguous chambers, and
support the cloth or analogous inatcial, which is pressed against them by the action
of the forcing apparatus In the central or some other of the ungs I make an inlet
hole though which the fluid mixture enters, and is forced into the apparatus when
at work At the two ends of the series of rings are two strong solid cucles or
plates fitted to receive the ends of the tie-iods or bolts by which the whole series is
firmly secured or clamped together
It is obvious that instead of the exit apertures being made entirely cucum-
ferential they may be made in the form of shits of limited length, but I do not
1ecommend them, as they would not be so efficient as the circumferential exit or
apertures before mentioned
The process of working this apparatus is conducted as follows -The rings with
the discs o diaphragms are moved along the rails and placed in position, and
fastened together by means of the bolts or tie-1ods, so as to form the compound
filtering chamber The apparatus now forms a closed chamber Through the inlet
in the circumference of the central or other 11ng the fluid mixture enters, or is
forced by ordinary pumping or forcing apparatus until by its readily passing through
the communicating holes or slits in each successive diaphragmn the cylinder oi
chamber is filled More of the fluid mixture is now forced in through the same
inlet or inlets, and thereupon the water or other fluid, together with the matter
held in it in solution, begins to pass or travel from every part of the enclosed mass
along the diaphragms outwards towards their cucumferences, thence out between
the edges of the contiguous rings though the outer edges of the covering material
above mentioned, and thus is finally forced to exude at the outside of the cylinde
This is continued until the matters held in suspension are separated, and left as a
residuum mass in the chambers sufficiently diy The bolts are then removed, the
apparatus is opened out by the rings being separated, and the solid slabs or blocks
of pressed matter are caused to fall out beneath into some convenient receptacle
The total bulk of solid matter thus recovered at each operation is not much less
than the entire internal capacity of the compound filter, as the discs oi diaphragms
may be made so thin as to be immaterial in reducing the size of the slabs o1
blocks
This form of filter piess is specially adapted to the treatment of very large masses
or volumes of matter having low comparative value, such as waters, sewage, cement,
sluiry, potters' clay, china clay, whiting, yeast, and the like
In the treatment of less bulks or of delicate and costly bodies, such as chemicals,
colours, wines, beers, sugars, and the like, the apparatus may be made of glass,
porcelain, or other suitable material, and mounted in any other convenient
manner
I am aware that presses have been heretofore ordinarily used, in which several
compartments or chambers' have been connected together, but in such presses the
sides of the chambers are formed with grooves or channels or holes to allow of
the expressed liquids to flow away through suitable orifices and pipes, and such
presses being of well-known construction no claim is made to them, but I claim,―
First. The combination of parts forming my improved filtering press, constructed
and acting substantially as above described
Secondly The use in filtering presses, such as that above described, or acting
substantially in the same manner, of cloth or analogous material acting against the

page_text: plane interior surfaces of the chamber, and conducting the liquid intended to be
expressed to the circumferential exit apertures or equivalent apertures through
which the expressed liquid is forced to exude, in the manner and for the purpose
above described
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bowing, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named John Bowing,
in the presence of
JNO ANDREWS,
32, Essex St,
Strand,
Solr.
JAG DOWN