Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Water.
Year: 1893

page_text: -Date-of- Application, 25th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Water.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Glencot, Blackheath Park, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Electrician and Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
According to my invention I cause water, after having been subjected to a
filtering medium, preferably black oxide of iron, to pass through spongy platinum
together with oxygen gas, or air, or other suitable gas containing free oxygen, so
that, by the well known action of spongy platinum, the oxygen is brought into such
intimate contact with all the particles of water passing through, as to insure the
complete oxidation of all organic matter in the water, so that this will issue from
the spongy platinum in a perfectly pure condition.
The filtering and purifying apparatus may be constructed in various ways for
carrying out this invention.
According to the arrangement which I prefer to employ, a vessel containing a
layer of black oxide of iron has passing down from it a pipe of small diameter but
of a certain length, the lower end of which terminates in a small chamber having a
perforated bottom and charged with spongy platinum. Near the upper end of the
pipe it is provided with a lateral branch which is bent upwards and terminates in a
small opening. On introducing water into the upper filtering vessel this will filter
slowly into the pipe and such downward flow will induce an inward current of air
through the branch pipe, which air will pass down in small bubbles with the water.
As this mixture of air and water arrives in the chamber at bottom, and penetrates
into the spongy platinum, this will cause the oxygen of the air bubbles to be
brought into intimate contact with the particles of water, with the effect as above
described, and the purified water will then flow through the perforated bottom into
a recipient below.
I prefer to add to the entering air supply a small quantity of free oxygen so as
to increase the above described effect, for which purpose the branch pipe is made
to communicate at a convenient point with a bell immersed in water in a small tank
containing the electrodes of a small galvanic battery (preferably a dry battery), the
positive electrode being situated within the bell, so that the oxygen there given off
by the decomposition of the water will then pass from the bell into the branch tube,.
mixing with the air passing into the water.
If desired, the air supply may be dispensed with and a sufficient quantity of
oxygen alone be admitted to the water.
Should, in the course of time, any solid matters carried by the water accumulate
in the spongy platinum, the chamber containing the same can be removed and
replaced by another charged with fresh platinum, the first charge being then
purified in order to be again used subsequently.
Dated this 25th day of January 1893.
DAV
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Water.
I, WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Glencot, Blackheath Park, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Electrician and Chemist, 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:-—
According to my invention I cause water, after having been subjected to a
filtering medium, preferably black oxide of iron, to pass through spongy platinum
together with oxygen gas, or air, or other suitable gas containing free oxygen, so
that by the well known action of spongy platinum, the oxygen is brought into such
intimate contact with all the particles of water passing through as to insure the
complete oxidation of all organic matter in the water, so that this will issue from
the spongy platinum in a perfectly pure condition.
The filtering and purifying apparatus may be constructed in various ways for
carrying out this invention.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn the arrangement which I prefer to
employ. A vessel A containing a layer of black oxide of iron and supplied with a
regulated quantity of water from a tank K, has passing down from it a pipe B of
small diameter but of some length, the lower end of which terminates in a small
chamber C having a perforated or permeable bottom and charged with spongy platinum.
Near the upper end, of the pipe it is provided with a lateral branch D which is
bent upwards and terminates in a small opening at E. On introducing water into
the upper filtering vessel A it will filter slowly into the pipe B and such downward
flow will induce a restricted inward current of air through the branch pipe D E,
which air will pass down in small bubbles with the water. As this mixture of air
and water arrives in the chamber C at bottom, and penetrates into the spongy
platinum, this will cause the oxygen of the air bubbles to be brought into intimate
contact with the particles of water, with the effect as above described, and the
purified water will then flow through the perforated bottom into a recipient F
below.
I prefer to add to the entering air supply a small quantity of free oxygen so as
to increase the above described effect, for which purpose the branch pipe D may be
made to communicate at a convenient point with a belt G immersed in water in a
small tank H containing the electrodes II of a small galvanic battery (preferably
a dry battery) the positive electrode I being situated within the bell, so that the
oxygen there given off by the decomposition of the water will then pass from the
bell into the branch tube D, and mix with the air passing into the water.
If desired, the air supply may be dispensed with and a sufficient quantity of
oxygen alone be admitted to the water.
:
Should, in the course of time, any solid matters carried by the water accumulate
in the spongy platinum in the vessel C this can be removed and replaced by another
charged with fresh platinum, the first charge being then purified in order to be
again used subsequently.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for filtering and purifying water wherein the water, after being
filtered through a suitable filtering medium, is made to pass together with a supply
of air or of oxygen into a body of spongy platinum, whereby the oxygen is brought
into intimate contact with each particle of water so as to effect the oxidation of any
organic matter therein, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for filtering and purifying water, the combination of a vessel A
containing black oxide of iron or other filtering medium, a pipe B leading down

page_text: from such vessel to a chamber C with perforated or permeable bottom, containing
spongy platinum, and a branch pipe D with opening E on the pipe B substantially
as and for the purposes described.
3. In water filtering and purifying apparatus such as is referred to in the
preceding claim, combining the branch pipe D with the receiver of an apparatus
for the electrolytic production of oxygen, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.