Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Treating Sewage and other Effluent Waters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Treating Sewage
and other Effluent Waters.
1, WILLIAM WATSON, of 27, Albany Buildings, Market Street, Bradford, in
the County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
treating sewage and other effluent waters.
ΟΙ
To carry out my invention I may pass the sewage through a mixing
tank
or chamber preparatory to passing it into the settling tank
chamber. In this case the sewage is fed to the mixing tank through a down pipe
extending approximately to the bottom and open at the top and whilst in this
tank air may be blown through it by a suitable compressor. The sewage is dis-
charged from the mixing tank down a baffled chute or weir into the top of a
vertical pipe located outside a circular settling tank and coupled at the Fetiem to
a circular pipe which may be inside the settling tank and extending more or less
above the maximum level of the liquid in the settling tank. This inner pipe is
also open at the top to allow air to escape and it is coupled a suitable distance
from the bottom to a similar pipe which latter is provided with a horizontal out-
let arm at the bottom extending inside tangentially in relation to the walls of
the tank so that the sewage flowing therefrom tends to impart more or less" whirl "
or gyratory motion to the sewage in the tank. The outlet pipe is fitted with a
"6 whirl." The
valve by which the discharge may be governed to regulate the
settling tank is preferably fitted with a conical false bottom having a central
opening over a sump and having inclined slots or openings formed at such an
angle that the gyratory movement of the sewage tends to drive the sediment
through the slots from whence it falls into the sump. A counter weighted bell
or cover is provided which may be brought down so as to more or less close the
said central opening when it is desired to clean out the space beneath the said
false bottom.
A float is provided in the settling tank which is of such a specific gravity that
as the sludge and sediment accumulates therein such float is raised and may be
arranged to ring a bell or give other audible or visible indication that a certain
amount of sediment is accumulated. Or it may be arranged to actuate a lever
arranged to open an air valve and admit air under pressure to force the sediment
into the sludge tank. This lever may have an internal rolling weight which is
free to run from one end to the other when the lever is "tipped" by the float and
thereby create a preponderance of weight at each end alternately.
Whilst the sediment is being formed in the settling tank the more or less purified
sewage is allowed to flow away at the top either direct or through a filtering
medium. The discharge of water in this way is preferably controlled by two out-
lets by which the height is regulated to discharge the scum through one or wash
the filtering medium and draw off through the other.
The comparatively clear effluent flows down a baffled sluce or chute through a sluce
gate on to a settling tray or trays located over a filter bed. This tray has a number

page_text: of overflow pipes standing a suitable distance above the bottom and extending
more or less below. The water rising on the tray overflows down these pipes and
drops on to the filter bed and flows in to a tank below then beneath a partition
and up through a second filter bed and away to tank or its equivalent for receiving
purified effluent.
The filter beds and tanks beneath are made in duplicate and the tray is
arranged so that it can be brought over them alternately and sluces are provided
to admit the effluent thereto when in either position. The tray is bevelled and
adjusted by a screw at each corner resting upon a suitable frame which may move
on a tramway or guide to enable the tray to be moved from one filter bed to the
other. Aprons may be provided along the sides to capture or deflect the wind up
the pipes in said tray. The tanks beneath the filter bed are inclined in opposite
directions so, that they may be drained and washed out one beneath the other to
a common sump from which it may be pumped to sludge tank. Air may be
drawn to feed the compressor from the tanks alternately whilst they are out of
operation.
The sediment accumulating upon the tray is conveyed to the common sump and
pumped to the said sludge tank and the latter has a conical bottom with a central
opening which may be fitted with a screw propellor driven in any convenient
way and adapted in conjunction with the static pressure to force the sludge into
the sludge press which is located beneath. Compressed air may be employed to
act on the column of sludge and in this case the passage may be fitted with a ball
valve to prevent the air passing into the sludge tank and air chambers or air
escape pipes may be formed round the side. The sludge enters the sludge tank
by a baffle pipe arranged to facilitate the escape of air. A sludge float or indicator
is provided to show the depth of sludge in such tank and it may be arranged to
give audible or visible alarm.
The sludge press consists of a number of chambers one above the other and
dipping from the ends to the middle and having water escape valves constructed
to contain a suitable filtering medium. The chambers have suitable openings
communicating with each other to allow sludge and water to pass from one
chamber to the other and provision is made for opening them to discharge their
contents. The press is mounted by trunnions on a tipping stand so that it may
be tipped to discharge the contents of the chambers for which purpose the sides
are more or less disconnected. The sludge press is connected to the tank by a
union and short pipe and the latter is fitted in a stuffing box to allow it to be
lifted to clear the press whilst the latter is moved to tip it. A perforated pipe
may be forced from below through openings in the chambers to drain the water
from the press.
The pressed sludge can be loaded into small trucks in which are fixed a series
of vertical perforated, slit or weathered" pipes open at the bottom and can be
dried in ovens built over a boiler flue to utilize the waste heat from the boiler.
A blower may be employed to draw the heated gases from the flue up the said
vertical pipes and also to supply additional air.
11
10
1
1000
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Treating Sewage
and other Effluent Waters.
I, WILLIAM WATSON, of 27, Albany Buildings, Market Street, Bradford, in
the County of York, Engineer, 'do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for treat-
ing sewage and other effluent waters.
To fully describe my invention reference is made to the accompanying sheets
of drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of refer-
ence indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures.
Figure 1, represents a plan view of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2, is a sectional view of the same on the broken line a, b, in the former
figure. The upper and lower parts of the settling tank are however shown in
diametrical section.
Figures 3 to 25 are enlarged views and views of detail hereinafter referred to.
To average trade, domestic and other effluents I preferably pass the sewage
from the conduit A through the mixing tank or chamber A preparatory to passing
it through the settling tank B. To thoroughly mix it the sewage is fed to the
mixing tank through a down pipe A3 extending approximately to the bottom and
open at the top. While the sewage is in this tank air may be blown through it
by the air compressor or blower Cand the pipe C and branch pipe C reaching
approximately to the bottom of the mixing tank. The mixed sewage overflows
from the mixing tank A2 through the passage A and down the baffled wear A5
into the top A of a vertical pipe A7 located outside the circular settling tank B
and coupled below to a pipe A8 inside the tank B and extending above the
maximum level of the liquid in the settling tank. The pipe A8 is also open at
the top and is coupled a suitable distance from the bottom by a pipe A³ to a
similar pipe A20 which is provided with a horizontal outlet arm A at the bottom
extending tangentially inside in relation to the side of the tank B so that the
sewage flowing therefrom tends to impart more or less "whirl" or gyratory motion
to the sewage in the tank. The horizontal arm A22 is fitted with a slide valve A23
adjusted by the rod A24 to regulate the "whirl."
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the arrangement for feeding
the tank B.
I may dispense with the mixing tank A and feed the tank B directly from A
by the passage A25.
The settling tank B is preferably fitted with a concave false bottom B² having
a central opening B3 over a sump 134 and having inclined slots or louvre openings B
formed at an angle adapted to permit the sediment to fall through by gravity
assisted by its gyratory motion. A counter weighted bell or cover Be is provided
which may be brought down to close the opening B³ when it is desired to clean out
the space B7 beneath the false bottom B2. Figure 7, is a diametrical section of
the tank B showing the false bottom B2 and the bell B6.
A float D is provided in the settling tank B which is of such a specific gravity
that as the sludge and sediment accumulates therein such float is thereby raised
and may be arranged to ring a bell D2 or give other audible or visible indication
that a certain amount of sediment is accumulated. Or it may be arranged to
actuate a lever 13 to open an air valve C in connection with the compressor C
and admit air by the pipe C into the sludge discharge pipe B8, to force the sedi-
ment into the sludge tank E. This lever has a rolling weight D which when the
lever is "tipped or actuated by the float D is free to run to the other end and
thereby create a sufficient preponderance of weight at that end of the lever to open
the air valve C to which it is connected by the rod D³. The float D is not rigidly
connected to the lever D³ as the connecting piece D6 is introduced between the
top of the rod D' connected to the float D and the lever D³. The piece D6 allows
the rod D7 to rise until its head De meets D³ and when the latter is lifted suf-
ficiently thereby to cause the weight D* to roll to the other end of the lever D³
and by this preponderance of weight moves the lever D3 sufficiently to open the
air valve. As the sludge is discharged the float D settles down until the head D³
of its rod D reaches the bottom D9 of the connection D and as the weight of the

page_text: float is considerably greater than that of the weight D the further movement of
the float depresses the inner end of the lever D and finally the weight D rolls
back to its original position at the inner end of the lever. Any flexible connec-
tion between the float D and the lever D³ may be used instead of the connecting
piece D. Figure 8, is a sectional view of the tank B and the float and its con-
nections. The broken lines show the position of the float and lever when the air
valve is opened. Figure 9, is an enlarged view of the means of connecting the
rod D to the lever D³.
Instead of discharging the sludge by compressed air I may provide a plug valve F
in the bottom of the tank as shown in Figure 10. In this case the float is loosely
mounted on the rod D7 and is free to rise until it meets the bottom 19 of D8 and
operates it in a similar manner to that described with reference to Figure 8. The
valve is secured to the lower end of the rod D7. Figure 11, is a cross section
of the float the broken lines representing a plan view. The top of the float is
inclined to prevent the sediment accumulating upon it.
Whilst the sediment is being formed in the settling tank the more
or less
purified sewage is allowed to flow away at the top either directly or through a
filtering medium G placed upon the perforated support G². The discharge of
liquid is preferably controlled by two outlets G³ and G in which case the out-
let G may be normally closed excepting for the purpose of allowing scum to
flow away but such outlet may be opened below to cleanse the filtering medium
by the back flow of the liquid above it.
The comparatively clear effluent flows from the opening G³ into one side or the
other of the distributing sluice H according to the position of the sliding gate H³.
From thence the liquid flows through the slits H³ in the side H and flows down
the baffled weir or chute H on to a settling tray J. This tray has a number of
over-flow pipes J2 standing a suitable distance above the bottom and extending
more or less below. The liquid rising on the tray over-flows down these pipes
and drops onto the filter bed K and perculates through in to a chamber K² below,
then beneath a partition K3 and up through a second filter bed K and over the
end K in to the discharge channel K. Figure 12 is a sectional view on a larger
scale of one of the pipes J2 and a portion of the bottom of the tray J. The
pipes J2 may be made with perforations 3 to allow the liquid to flow through in
small jets.
The beds K and K are made in duplicate K and K8 and the tray J is arranged
so that it can be brought over K and K' alternately. The tray is supported upon
the four corner screws J³ resting upon the frame J provided with wheels J
running upon the tramway or guides Jo to enable the tray to be readily moved
from one filter bed to the other. To discharge sediment or sludge accumulating
upon the tray it is moved over the bed K and the side outlet J7 opened over the
channel L leading to the sludge sump L². The tray may be levelled or tilted
by the screws J³ to facilitate the discharge. Aprons J8 are hinged to the fram-
ing J of the tray and are adapted to be adjusted in order to capture or deflect the
wind up the pipes J. The bottoms of the chambers beneath the filter beds are
inclined in opposite directions to facilitate drainage and to permit the sediment
discharge passages K' from K2 passing under K and Ks. The passages K9 dis-
charge into the channel L. Air may be drawn through the conduit C7 to feed the
compressor from the chambers beneath the filter beds when such chambers are
empty.
The sediment from the sump L2 is forced by air supplied by the pipe C up the
pipe L³ in to the sludge tank E The tank E has a conical bottom E2 with a
central opening E³ fitted with a screw propeller E driven by the bevel wheels E
actuated in any convenient way and adapted in conjunction with the static pressure
to force the sludge into the sludge press which is located beneath. The pipes B8
and L³ discharge into 'the box E which leads into the baffle pipe E discharging
below the normal level of the liquid in E. The passage E8 facilitates the escape
of air. The over flow-water from the tank E passes down the over-flow pipe Ea

page_text: into the mixing tank A³. A sludge float or indicator O is provided to show the
depth of sludge in E and it may be arranged by means of the chain 02 passing
over the pulley 03 and supporting a weight 0 to ring the bell or gong O when
the weight reaches it. Figure 13, is a plan view and Figure 14, is a elevation of
the sludge tank, and in the latter figure a portion of the sludge press is shown
together with the means for connecting them. Figure 15, is a sectional view at
right angles to Figure 14 of the connecting parts. Figure 16, is a sectional view
of the baffle pipe E7.
The opening E3 is provided with a stop valve P below the propeller E* and this
stop valve is connected by the pipes P2 and P3 and the union P to the top of the
press. Air from the compressor may be forced in the pipe P by the pipe C8
to assist the sludge down through the pipe. A ball valve P is provided to prevent
the air passing into the tank E. An air chamber P5 may be coupled to the pipe 12
to receive surplus air.
The sludge press consists of a number of chambers formed by bolting or
coupling together a number of sections R one of which is shown in sectional plan
in Figure 17 and in diametrical section in Figure 18. The sections are made with
central openings R2 and are preferably made with an annular chamber R having
perforations R in both the top and the bottom. The chamber R may be more
or less filled with a filtering medium introduced through the hand hole R
(Figure 17). Water escape outlets R6 are provided and may be fitted with caps
or valves.
Figure 19, is an elevation of the complete sludge press and Figure 20 is a
plan view with a portion broken away to economise space.
The frame S is provided with trunnions S2 supported in trolleys S3 mounted
upon lines or carriers St. The frame S has a groove $5 down each side to receive
the tongues R on the sections R and the sections are placed one above the other
in this frame. Then the top S6 of the frame is bolted on to hold the sections
together. Figure 21, is a top plan view of the frame and press and Figure 22,
is a separate view of the frame without the top. After the press is filled the slide
valve S7 is closed as well as the valve l' and the press is disconnected from the
sludge tank. To facilitate this the sludge press is connected to the tank by the
union Ps and the short pipe P3 is fitted in a stuffing box P7 to allow it to be lifted
by the lever 18 or its equivalent before the press is moved to tip it to the horizontal
position shown by the broken lines Figure 19. When in this position a perforated
pipe T is forced by the screw T into the press from the bottom end through a
passage T3 opened in the bottom of the press for that purpose. The introduction
of the pipe besides increasing the pressure facilitates the escape of water.
A crane U is preferably provided to take the sections apart to discharge the
contents preferably into trucks shown in Figures 23 and 24. To facilitate drying
the sludge these trucks are provided with a series of vertical perforated slits or
weathered pipes W open at the bottom. Figure 25, is a sectional view of a por-
tion of one of the pipes W made with weathered or louvred openings W².
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 is:-
1. A sewage mixing tank having a down feed pipe or its equivalent opening
at the bottom said tank discharging by overflowing at or near the top, in combina-
tion with a sewage precipitating tank or a tank for septically treating sewage, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described.
2. A feed pipe for a circular precipitating tank opening tangentially in relation
to the walls of the tank and provided with a controlling valve, substantially as
herein shown and described.
3. The combination with tank for precipitating or septically treating sewage of
down feed pipe A7 connected with an up pipe A8 extending above the normal

page_text: level of the sewage and open at the top, substantially as herein shown and
described.
4. The combination with a tank for precipitating or septically treating sewage,
of the pipes A7, A8 and Aº and A20, substantially as herein shown and described.
5. A sewage precipitating tank having a false bottom B3 made with inclined
openings and provided with a bell or its equivalent for closing a central opening,
substantially as herein shown and described.
6. A sewage tank having a float adapted to actuate a lever provided with a
rolling weight said lever and weight being arranged to put a pump or other
mechanical means into operation for discharging the tank, substantially as herein
shown and described.
7. A sewage precipitating tank having a float adapted to be raised by the pre-
cipitate as it accumulates and arranged when thus raised to a predetermined point
to put in action means for discharging the precipitate, substantially as herein
shown and described.
8. A sewage precipitating tank having a float adapted to be raised by the pre-
cipitate and arranged to give audible or visible indication when such float is raised
a certain height, substantially as herein shown and described.
9. A sewage or effluent distributor consisting of a tray J having a number of
upwardly projecting pipes J2, substantially as herein shown and described.
10. The combination with the tray J of the aprons Js or their equivalent, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described.
11. The combination of the two filter beds with a transportable distributing tray,
substantially as herein shown and described.
12. The particular arrangement and construction of filter beds and chambers
below same, substantially as herein shown and described.
13. The combination with the precipitating tank B, of the tank E arranged and
operating substantially as herein shown and described.
14. The combination with the tank B of the distributing and filtering apparatus
arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and described.
15. A sludge tank having a standard overflow at the top for supernatant liquor
to escape in combination with a sludge press, substantially as herein shown and
described.
16. A sludge press located below a sludge tank and connected thereto by a
passage fitted with a check valve P and means for supplying air to accelerate
the passage of the sludge, substantially as herein shown and described.
17. The combination with a filter press of the perforated pipe T arranged and
inserted, substantially as herein shown and described.
18. A truck or receiver for pressed sludge fitted with louvred or weathered
ventilating pipes W, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 18thr day of January 1899.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Patent Agents, Bradford.