Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Periodically Discharging Chambers or Receptacles, particularly applicable to Sewage Filters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Periodically Discharging
Chambers or Receptacles, particularly applicable to Sewage
Filters.
I, JAMES MURRAY, C.E., of 7, Buchanan Terrace, Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, County Sanitary Inspector for Renfrew, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
This invention has for its object to improve the construction of automatic
apparatus for periodically discharging chambers or receptacles. This improved
apparatus is applicable for various purposes such for example, as for discharging
cisterns used for flushing trough closets, drains, and the like but is particularly
designed for discharging sewage filters.
The effluent water from sewage which has been treated either chemically,
bacteriologically or otherwise is led to one or more of a number of filters in
rotation so that certain of the filters can be at work whilst others are at rest
thus permitting of the filters being thoroughly aerated after each use before the
liquid is again permitted to enter it. My improved apparatus is designed to
rapidly discharge each filter at any desired interval, such rapid discharge helping
to draw air into the filtering medium and thus speedily aerate it and restore it
to its working condition.
In carrying out my invention there are arranged in connection with each filter
two tanks or chambers, a pipe connecting the bottom of the filter with the bottom
of one of these tanks so that as the liquid rises in the filter it will also rise to the
same height in this tank. At a desired height in the side of this first tank an
opening or passage, fitted with a valve or tap, communicates with the second tank
and the rate at which the liquid will pass into and rise in the second tank, once
it has reached the level of the opening, will be regulated by opening the valve
or tap more or less. A. siphon is placed in the first tank the long leg of which
passes through the tank and is connected to a discharge pipe. Similarly the long
leg of a second smaller siphon which is placed in the second tank is connected
beneath the tanks to the first siphon. When the liquid has been allowed to rise
in the second tank as described to such a height that the siphon in that tank
is submerged the predetermined time at which the filter is to be discharged has
arrived and that siphon will immediately act emptying the second tank and also
bringing the siphon in the first tank into action so that the first tank and the
filter with which it is connected is rapidly discharged by siphonic action. Air
is drawn down through the filtering material as the last portions of the filtered
liquid are withdrawn by the siphonic action.
An overflow pipe is arranged in connection with the first tank so that if the
filter should be filled before the predetermined time for discharge has arrived
the liquid will finds its way slowly over the weir of the overflow pipe into the

page_text: Whilst the filters just discharged are being left to be aerated as described the
liquid is directed by any suitable known apparatus to one or more of the other
filters.
If my improved, apparatus is applied as described to a water cistern instead
of to a filter automatic and periodic flushings of water will be obtained in a
satisfactory manner.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Periodically Discharging
Chambers or Receptacles, particularly applicable to Sewage
Filters.
I, JAMES MURRAY, C.E., of 7, Buchanan Terrace, Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, County Sanitary Inspector for Renfrew, 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:-
This invention has for its object to improve the construction of automatic
apparatus for periodically discharging chambers or receptacles. This improved
apparatus is applicable for various purposes such for example as discharging
cisterns used for flushing trough closets, drains, and the like, but is particularly
designed for discharging sewage filters.
The effluent water from sewage which has been treated either chemically
bacteriologically or otherwise is led to one or more of a number of filters in
rotation so that certain of the filters can be at work whilst others are at rest, thus
permitting of the filter being thoroughly aerated after each use before the liquid
is again permitted to enter it. My improved apparatus is designed to rapidly
lischarge each filter at any desired interval, such rapid discharge helping to
draw air into the filtering medium and thus speedily aerate it and restore it to
working condition.
I will now proceed to describe my invention in connection with the accom-
panying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a filter provided with the improved discharging
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of a modification of same, and
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.
In carrying out my invention there are arranged in connection with each
filter A two tanks or chambers B and C, a pipe D connecting the bottom of the
filter A with the bottom of tank B, so that as the liquid rises in the filter it will
also rise to the same height in this tank. At a desired height in the side of this
first tank B an opening or passage, fitted with a valve or tap E, communicates
with the second tank C, and the rate at which the liquid will pass into and rise
in the second tank, once it has reached the level of the opening, will be regulated
by opening the valve or tap E more or less.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 a siphon F is placed in the first tank B
the long leg of which passes through the side of the tank and is connected to a
discharge pipe G. Similarly the long leg of a second smaller siphon H which is
placed in the second tank C is connected beneath the tanks to the first siphon F.
When the liquid has been allowed to rise in the second tank C as described to

page_text: such a height that the siphon H in that tank is submerged the predetermined
time at which the filter is to be discharged has arrived and that siphon will
immediately act emptying the second tank C and also bringing the siphon Fin
the first tank into action so that the tank B and the filter A with which it
is connected are rapidly discharged by siphonic action. Air is drawn down
through the filtering material as the last portions of the filtered liquid are with-
drawn by siphonic action.
An overflow pipe I is arranged in connection with the first tank B so that if
the filter A should be filled before the predetermined time for discharge has
arrived the liquid will find its way slowly over the weir of the overflow pipe into
the discharge pipe G.
A modification of this arrangement is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which the
small siphon H communicating with the second tank C is dispensed with, the
operation of starting the main siphon F being performed by means of a tipping
bucket mounted in the second tank, so as to open a valve K in the first tank.
As in the previous case the tanks B and C are in communication with each other
through a regulating tap or valve E, through which on the liquid reaching the
necessary height in tank B a portion of same will flow into the bucket f, the
tap or valve E being so adjusted that the time occupied in filling such bucket
will correspond to the period during which the liquid is to remain in the filter A.
On the bucket J being tipped the lever L carrying same will open valve K
connected to its other end and so start the flow through the main siphon F,
such flow continuing until the filter A and chamber B are emptied.
Whilst the filters just discharged are being left to be aerated as described the
liquid is directed by any suitable known apparatus to one or more of the other
filters.
If my improved apparatus is applied as described to a water cistern instead of
to a filter automatic and periodic flushings of water will be obtained in a satis-
factory manner.
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:-
-
In an apparatus for discharging chambers or receptacles.
1. The combination with each chamber or receptacle of two tanks one of which
is connected with the bottom of the chamber or receptacle, while the second
is connected to the former, so that the liquid as it mounts in such first tank will
overflow into the second tank, and of a siphon leading from the first tank to the
discharge, and a smaller siphon leading from the second tank and connected to
the discharge leg of the siphon from the first tank, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with the two tanks set forth in the preceding claim of a
bucket situated in the second tank and operating a valve in the first tank, such
bucket being filled by the overflow from the first tank. substantially as specified.
3. The combination with the arrangement described in the preceding claim,
of a siphon leading from the first tank to the discharge, such siphon being brought
into action by the opening of the valve in the first tank when operated by the
bucket in the second tank, substantially as specified.
4. The employment in the overflow pipe connecting the two tanks set forth
in the arrangements described in Claims I and 2, of a regulating valve for deter-
mining the time that the chamber or receptacle to be emptied shall remain full,
substantially as specified.