IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE MANUFACTURING OF MANURES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Brown, of Elm Croft Grange, Edinburgh,
in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE MANUFACTURING
OF MANURES."
Sealed the 1st October 1872, and dated the 30th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th July 1872.
I, ISAAC BROWN, of Elm Croft Grange, Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURING OF MANURES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the treatment of sewage, and the production
of a manure from the solid or heavy portions of such sewage, as
follows:-
The sewage is in the first place intercepted by a filter screen, or a
series of such filter screens. Such screeens I have found suitable when

page_text: constructed of faggots, with a lining of wire guaze, these screens being
so arranged as to be readily removable for washing or cleansing. The
effluent liquid is after such filtration in a fit state (when the sewage
has been intercepted in a fresh state at its outfall) either for purposes of
irrigation, or may be passed into rivers without detriment, or may be
distributed over the land by means of the Invention for which I applied
for Letters Patent on the 17th May 1872, No. 1511.
The solid matter which has been intercepted as above may be then re-
moved in any convenient manner, and may be employed either as a manure
direct, or when desired may be converted into a portable manure by the
addition thereto of about one-half of its weight of ground phosphate of
lime with about the same weight of sulphuric or other acid, but these
proportions may be varied. The combination of these three materials
produces in a very short period (a few hours) a free portable manure
fit for use, by which the great expense attendant on drying sewage and
similar materials for the purposes of manure is avoided, whilst a better
and more valuable product is obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Isaac Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
BROWN, of Elm Croft Grange, Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the 36th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Isaac Brown, Her special license that
I, the said Isaac Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Isaac Brown, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF SEWAGE, AND IN THE MANUFACTURING OF MANURES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Isaac Brown, my executors or
administrators,' by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Isaac Brown, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say: -
My said Invention relates to the treatment of sewage, and the pro-
duction of a manure from the solid or heavy portions of such sewage,
as follows: :―
The sewage is, according to my Invention, in the first place intercepted
by a filter screen of peculiar construction, or a series of such filter
screens, such filters being constructed of faggot work or wicker work,
faggots having a lining of wire gauze. These filters are so arranged as
to be readily removable for washing or cleansing by a hose jet or other-
wise. The effluent liquid is after such filtration in a fit state (when
the sewage has been intercepted in a fresh state at its outfall) either for
purposes of irrigation, or may be passed into rivers without detriment, or
may be distributed over the land by means of the Invention for which I
obtained Letters Patent dated the Twenty-second of July One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-one, No. 1940.
The solid matter which has been intercepted as above described may
be then removed by dredgers connected with the intercepting tanks, or in
any convenient manner, and may be employed either as a manure direct,
or, when desired, may be converted into a portable manure by the
addition thereto of a sufficient quantity of ground phosphate of lime and
sulphuric or other acid to reduce the phosphate of lime in the sewage,
and those added to it, to a soluble phosphate of lime, and at the same
time, by this chemical action, change the organic constituents of the
sewage in a few hours to a free portable manure fit for use, by which
the great expence attendant on drying sewage and similar materials for

page_text: the purposes of manure is avoided, whilst a better and more valuable
manure product is obtained.
In carrying out my system of straining or filtration of sewage matter
I employ suitable depositing tanks, consisting of a series of any con-
venient number, each one being at a slightly lower level than the preceding
one, and separated therefrom by a transverse wall, over the sill of which
the fluid sewage matter flows in a thin sheet or film to the next lower
tank, whilst a portion of the solid matter held in mechanical suspension
deposits in the bottom of each tank.
On the top or sill of the overflow wall of the different tanks, or upon
the last one of the series I place a wire screen, by preference of about
one-eighth of an inch mesh, for the purpose of straining the sewage
matter flowing over and intercepting the floating solid matter before it
enters a final depositing tank of any desired depth with a rounded or
trough-shaped bottom for the facility of removing the deposited matter
therefrom when requisite. In front of this last-named depositing tank,
and forming in fact one side thereof, are placed a number of faggot or
wickerwork filters, by preference composed of withies or willows, which
are closely tied or bound together, and arranged vertically side by side
close together in any convenient frame or support to enable the faggot or
wickerwork filters to maintain their upright position against the lateral
Behind the first row of
pressure of the sewage matter in the tank.
faggot or wickerwork filters I dispose one or more rows of similar filters,
according to the degree of straining or filtration required. Behind the
last row of these filters or faggotwork I dispose a frame provided with a
number of vertical guiding grooves disposed side by side, and down
between and within these grooves I place corresponding sliding frames
containing fine wire gauze, which frames can be easily lifted up and
removed when required for cleaning or repairs. Immediately in front
of the first row of wire gauze frames there are disposed a second or third
set of guiding grooves precisely the same as the first set, their object
being to receive other wire gauze frames, the same as the first-mentioned
frames.
When it is required to remove a frame for cleaning the same or other-
wise, a second or duplicate frame is first introduced, either in front of, or
behind the one to be removed (as the case may be), so that a continuous

page_text: way checked by the removal and cleaning of any of these wire gauze
frames. This cleansing of the filters may be effected by simply with-
drawing the frames, and reinserting them with their faces reversed, that
is to say, placing them with what, was the inner side (coated with
deposit) on the outer side, in order that the flow of the partially filtered
sewage water through the meshes may wash off and carry away any
deposit adhering to the outer side or face of the reversed wire gauze filter
screen; or, if found requisite, the said filter screens may be taken
out and cleansed thoroughly by means of a hose or other jet of
water.
The faggot filter work of withies may be cleansed in like manner to
the wire gauze screens, any faggot that has been removed being replaced
by a clean one, so as not to diminish the thickness of the filtering
or straining medium during the time the clogged faggot is being
cleansed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use to and in the straining or filtration of
liquid sewage from its solid matter of filters composed of faggot work
of withies, or other suitable materials, substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
Second. The application and use to and in the straining or filtering
of liquid sewage matter of fine wire gauze arranged in moveable frames,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described, so as to
cleanse what is known as town sewage or other liquids from their solid
constituents by a continuous flow.
Third. The combination of a depositing tank with bundles or faggots
of withies, or their equivalents, and with fine wire gauze screens, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth. The modes of cleansing the said wicker filter or faggot work
and wire gauze filter screens, as herein-before described.
Fifth. The conversion of the sludge or solid deposited matter of sewage
into a free and portable manure by the thorough admixture therewith, in

page_text: 4
any convenient manner, of ground phosphate of lime and sulphuric
or other suitable acid, in suitable proportions, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Brown, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.