MENTS IN FILTERS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Rawlings at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1882.
HENRY RAWLINGS of 150 Clapham Road in the County of Surrey IMPROVE
MENTS IN FILTERS
My improvements and invention consists in providing a better means for .
aerating any porous material used in filters or other apparatus used for the
purification of water and other liquids-for flushing the same with filtered water―
and for improving the construction of filters generally.
For the purpose of aerating and flushing pressure and other filters I construct
them either in pairs or any larger number may be connected together with pipes
and valves or taps at both the top and bottom of the filters or near thereto and so
arrange them that all the filters can be used simultaneously or either can be put
out of use whilst one or more of them is working. Either filter may also be
flushed downwards (through a valve or tap with which each filter is provided and
which valve or tap will also admit air when the filter is emptied of water) with
the filtered water passing upwards through the filter or filters at work at the time.
Attached to the outlet nozzle I provide a spherical or other conveniently shaped
chamber from which runs a pipe connected to the top of each filter by a stop-
cock, so that the action of water running through one or more of the filters and
out of the nozzle or discharge outlet-draws air out of the spherical chamber and
connecting pipe and any desired filter (being then out of action and empty of
water) will have air drawn through it by opening the connecting stop cock and the
flushing valve. By attaching the same description of chamber on to and generally
near the end of a pipe through which water-waste steam or other fluids vapours or
gases are discharged with velocity-and connecting the air pipe attached to the
chamber to any suitable filter-air may be drawn through the filtering material
contained within it-by any suitable orifice.
For distributing the flow of water into the filter I place a domed plate

page_text: immediately in front of the inlet pipe of the filter-which throws or directs the
water to the sides of the filter.
For aerating the filtering material in any separate or single filter I also construct
an air-pump which is actuated by pressing upon an india-rubber sphere or other
conveniently shaped vessel (with valves attached) and by which air may be forced
into the filtering material-and it may be flushed by pumping or otherwise forcing
filtered water through it.
For filters of a smaller and more portable character-two cylinders or other
convenient forms are placed one within the other-the inner one containing the
filtering material being perforated at or near the bottom-and having a pipe at or
near the (closed or open) top to carry off the filtered water. The space between
the two cylinders holds the unfiltered water. The inner cylinder is secured upon
the bottom or side of the outer one-and access for cleaning and renewing is
obtained by means of an aperture covered by a cap-screwed or otherwise secured to
it. The pipe from the top of the inner cylinder may either pass between the two
cylinders and out of the bottom-or direct to the outside of the outer one and to
any convenient point. Or the outside cylinder may be dispensed with-and a
funnel or other shaped pipe attached and leading to the bottom of the cylinder
containing the filtering material-and by which any small quantity of water may
be poured or otherwise passed in and drawn off again immediately by the outlet
pipe arranged as a syphon-thus keeping the filter constantly empty of water and
in contact with air when not in actual use. By this arrangement. great economy
of space is also attained-which especially adapts it for travellers and for use on
shipboard.
Larger filters may also be constructed with the same arrangements to suit
circumstances and I claim to use any portion of this invention without the
necessity of using the whole or any particular portion-in the construction of
filtering vessels and apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Rawlings in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th June
1883.
HENRY RAWLINGS of 150 Clapham Road in the County of Surrey-Filter
Manufacturer IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS
My improvements and invention consists-in providing a better means for
aërating any porous material used in filters or other apparatus used for the
purification of water and other liquids-for flushing such material or fabric-with
filtered water and for generally improving the arrangement and construction of
filtering apparatus.
For the purpose of aërating and flushing pressure and some other filters-I
construct them either in pairs or any larger number may be connected together-
with pipes and valves or taps at both the top and bottom of the filters or near
thereto and so arrange them that all the filters can be used simultaneously and
together or either can be put out of use while one or more of them is working.
Either filter can also be flushed downwards through a valve or tap for the purpose
with which each filter is provided (and through which valve or tap air is admitted
when the filter is empty of water) with the filtered water which has passed
upwards through the other filters or filter at work at the time. Attached to the
outlet nozzle-I provide a spherical-or other conveniently shaped chamber from
which branches a pipe connected to the top of each filter by a stop-cock-so that
the action of water running through one or more of the filters and out of the
said nozzle or discharge outlet-will draw the air out of the said chamber and
connecting pipe and any desired filter (being then out of action and empty of
water) will have air drawn through it by opening the connecting stop-cock and the
flushing valve. By attaching the same description of chamber on to and generally
near the outlet end of a pipe through which water-waste steam or other suitable
fluid-vapour-or gas is discharged with more or less velocity-and connecting the
air-pipe attached to the chamber-to any suitably constructed filter-air may be
drawn through the filtering material contained within it-through any suitable
orifice.
For distributing the flow of water into the filter I place a domed plate
immediately in front of the inlet pipe of the filter-which throws or directs the
water to the sides of the filter.
"
For aërating the filtering material in any separate or single filter I also construct
an air pump which is actuated or worked by pressing upon an india-rubber,
sphere or other conveniently shaped vessel with valves attached-and by which
air may be forced into the filtering material-and which material may be
previously flushed—(if requiring it) by pumping or otherwise forcing filtered
water through it.
For, filters of a smaller and more portable character-two cylinders or other
convenient forms-are placed one within the other-the inner one contains the
filtering material and is perforated at or near the bottom-and has a pipe at or near.
the (closed or open) top to carry off the filtered water. The space between the
two cylinders holds the unfiltered water. The inner cylinder is secured upon the
bottom or side of the outer one-and access for cleaning and renewing the filtering
material is obtained by means of an aperture covered by a cap or plate-screwed.
or otherwise secured to it. The pipe from the top of the inner cylinder may either
pass between the two cylinders and out of the bottom or pass direct to the
outside of the outer one and to any convenient point. Or-the outside cylinder

page_text: :.
'
may be dispensed with, and a funnel or other shaped pipe attached leading to the
bottom of the cylinder containing the filtering material and by which small
quantities of water may be poured or otherwise passed in and drawn off again
immediately by the outlet pipe arranged as a syphon or otherwise, thus keeping
the filter constantly empty of water and in contact with air when not in actual
use. By this arrangement great economy of space is also attained which especially
adapts it for travellers and for use on shipboard.
Larger filters may also be constructed with the same arrangements to suit
circumstances and meet the largest demands.
To illustrate these arrangements two drawings are appended.
SHEET I. Figure 1 shows the arrangements by which two filters are connected
together to give easy facility for flushing-aërating-and renewing the filtering
material in pressure filters. Figure 2 is a sectional and side view showing the
disposition of the pipes-valves and other arrangements. The reference lettering
is the same in all the figures on SHEET I. When both filters are working at
the same time both valves H and D. and valve I are open-but both valves G
and M are closed. The unfiltered water from the tank flows through valves H
into the filters where it is at once thrown to the sides by the domed plate A-
then passes upwards.through the filtering material B. The plate E prevents more
than a certain proportion of the water passing up the centre of the filter. When
it reaches the strainer C-the filtering process is completed-and the purified or
filtered water passes through valves D and valve I through orifice K. For flushing
the left-hand filter-its valves G and D are opened-but H and M.-and discharge
valve I are closed-while the valves H and D of the right hand filter are open-
but G and M are closed. The water passing upwards through the right-hand filter
will discharge its filtered water downwards and flush the left-hand filter through
the flush valve G. To flush the right-hand filter, the valves are reversed-
excepting the valves M and orifice valve I-which must be kept closed during the
flushing process.
For aerating the left hand-filter-its valves H and D are closed-but G and M
are open. The right-hand-filter is set at work as before described by opening
valves H and D of that filter-and the orifice valve I-but keeping G and M
closed. The filtered water from the right hand filter only is discharged by valve I
through globular chamber K. which causes more or less vacuum to be formed in
the pipe L (according to the velocity of water discharge)-and which will
constantly draw air through the filtering material B-by the flush valve G as long
as valves M and G are open. To aërate the right-hand-filter-the valves are
reversed but the orifice valve I remains open. The filter to be aërated should be
previously emptied of water through valve G. It will be evident that any number
of filters may be connected together and flushed and aërated in the same manner.
Either filter may also be worked alone-without either flushing or aërating
another or if more than two filters are connected together-any number of them
can be worked together-set out of work-and flushed or aërated at the same
time. By the manhole F the filter may be emptied-but it is recharged by
removing the cap of the filter at C. N is a removeable screw for cleaning the
lower chamber of the filter. A long handled bottle-brush would be suitable for
this purpose.
Figure 3 is a section of globular chamber K. 00 is the vacuum chamber.
Figure 4 shows another arrangement for aerating when only one filter is
used by a stream of water or other liquid (independent of the filter) running
the similar chamber K-and drawing air through the pipe L-valve M and
filter Figure 4. The air enters by the open valve I-but the valves H and G
must be closed. This arrangement will also be applicable where more than one
filter is used—as in Figure 1-but an air ingress must be given by a valve at or
near the top of the filter-and the valve G must be closed in addition.
When waste steam is used to create the vacuum-the globular chamber K is
preferably arranged as Figure 5.

page_text: The pipe L and valve or tap M can also be attached to the top of any single
filter instead of the bottom-but in that case the valves I and Hinust be closed
and G opened.
a
SHEET II. Illustrates some methods of aërating the filtering material in the
smaller kinds of filters and also shows some new arrangements. Figure 1 is a
filter especially adapted for use on ships-yachts or for travelling. Figure 2 is
side sectional view of Figure 1. The reference lettering is the same in all the first
six figures on this sheet. Figure 3 is a very small portable filter called a pocket
filter which possesses the special advantage of dispensing with the use of an india-
rubber-tube: The top and bottom ends are also shown-the top end being
covered with the exception of a piece being cut out of the upper side for the
admission of water. The bottom end shows the cap in the centre for recharging-
and the slightly projecting filtered water pipe. When suspended by the ring at
the side-or placed in that position with the ring upwards-the top and bottom
will be in the position shown and no water can run from the filter when out of
use thus dispensing with an outside case. Air has access also to the filtering
material. Figure 4 shows a modification of the same arrangement applied to
larger filters when made in pottery-ware-glass-cement-to meet the exigencies of
the case. Figure 5 shows a very portable arrangement adapted for ship-cabin use
or travelling purposes-being relatively very powerful. Figure 6. differs from
Figure 5 in having a funnel instead of an unfiltered water space above the chamber
containing the filtering material-so that smaller quantities of water may be
filtered with facility. The following description applies generally to each. A is
the unfiltered water space. B contains the filtering material. C is the filtered
water running to the tap or outlet D. The water enters the filtering material
at b. b. then rises through the filtering material B-and is discharged filtered c. c.
through the tap or orifice D. The filters are emptied of the old-and recharged
with new filtering material by removing the cap E. The filters can be emptied
of water by removing the screw cap F. shown in Figure 1-and which can be
applied to all the other filters excepting Figure 4-where a hole is shown for a
tap or cork.
For aërating the filters--the cap F is taken off which allows the water
remaining in the filter to run out-air taking its place-which partially aërates
the filtering material. But for a more effectual aëration I construct a pump shown
at Figure 7-which being attached to the tap or outlet of a suitably constructed
filter empty of water-will force air through it by alternately pressing upon &
ceasing pressing upon the india-rubber spherically shaped vessel shown-which
works the valves driving the air into the filtering material. A is the india-rubber
spherical vessel. B' and B2 the valves. C the india rubber connecting tube. The
air is drawn in valve B' and forced through B2 by the alternate collapsing and dis-
tending of the spherical elastic ball A.-and so through the pipe C into the filter
through the tap D. This pump may be applied to almost any filter-if precaution
is taken to close the air pipe previously-when one exists. India-rubber balls
may be substituted as valves if found desirable and I claim their use for this
purpose of aĕration."
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner it
is to be performed-I claim-
1st The construction of filters in pairs or larger numbers-connected together at
or near the top and bottom of the filters-with pipes-valves or taps-arranged
for flushing with filtered water-and for aërating the filtering material-practically
as shown at Figure 1 on Sheet 1.
2nd The application of an apparatus for the purpose of aërating porous and any
other suitable filtering materials or fabrics in filters or any other containing
vessels practically as shown in figures 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5 on Sheet 1-and I claim to
place the vacuum chamber in whatever relative position on the pipes-or to the
filter-it may be found most advantageous to use it. I also claim the use of the

page_text: "
.
Sprengel" pump or aspirator for the purpose of producing a vacuum for aërating
filtering material.
3rd The construction of the air-pump shown on Sheet 2 figure 7 for forcing air
into the filtering materials in filters where the above specified apparatus is
inapplicable but the holes in valves may be varied in number-and spherical
balls may be substituted as valves.
4th The application of the domed plate A. Fig 2. Sheet 1 to direct the flow of
water.
5th The construction of filters practically as shown on Sheet 2. Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
5 and 6 but I do not confine myself to the relative lengths of pipes-position of
valves or taps or sizes or shapes of filter vessels-on either drawing.
6th I claim to use any portion of this invention without the necessity of using
the whole or any particular portion of it-in constructing filtering vessels and
apparatus.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Rawlings have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourth day of June in the year of our Lord 1883.