IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING LIQUIDS, AND SEPARATING SOLID MATTERS THEREFROM
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Alcide Bonnefin, of No. 2, Liverpool Street,
King's Cross, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
FILTERING LIQUIDS, AND SEPARATING SOLID MATTERS THEREFROM."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Alcide Bonnefin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1877.
FRANÇOIS ALCIDE BONNEFIN, of No. 2, Liverpool Street, King's Cross. "IM
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING LIQUIDS AND SEPARATING SOLID
MATTERS THEREFROM."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for filtering liquids
and separating solid matters therefrom. For this purpose I construct a filtering
chamber in one or more pieces, and in the side from the bottom upwards I form
longitudinal slits, bordered with soft india-rubber or other elastic substance, or in
place of slits I form rows of holes lined with caoutchouc or other elastic substance.
Into the slits I insert fabrics, either vegetable, animal, or mineral, of such a thickness
as to be compressed by the caoutchouc. Into the holes I introduce skeins of thread,
either vegetable, animal, or mineral, of such a thickness that the caoutchouc com-
presses them. This filtering chamber which receives the matters to be treated as
they are produced is in immediate connection with a chamber in which a vacuum'
is formed to exert a direct suction on the capillaries of the fabrics or skeins of
thread closing the slits or holes.
It is evident that the matter is filtered as it is produced, since by the peculiar
property of the active force of capillarity, liquids only can pass within the bundle
of matter forming the threads. These liquids are drawn out by the powerful
suction of the vacuum. The matter may be pressed by means in common use, by
hydraulic, atmospheric, or mechanical pressure, or by steam acting conjointly with
the vacuum.
When all the matters in suspension have been retained, whether the receiver be
full or not of these matters, they may be washed or cleansed by the introduction of

page_text: "
hot or cold water or steam, and if desired they may be stirred by mechanical means,
and the operation of suction and pressure is repeated to effect the exhaustion of
the detritus.
It will be seen that granular, albuminous, and other substances, which are so
subtle that they pass through the closest fabrics, together with the liquids containing
them, will be separated absolutely with the detritus, since capillaries under suitable
circumstances will not admit any foreign matter and will only allow pure liquid to
pass. The caoutchouc for its part exerts an elastic pressure, which permits the
capillaries or conducting threads to swell when necessary under the influence of the
pressure and the suction. In no case is any impurity likely to pass between the
caoutchouc and the conducting threads, since the capillary action is internal rather
than external.
The capillary action could not take place if the capillaries were strongly com-
pressed between hard surfaces, which would not yield to permit the swelling
produced by the passage of the liquids forced forward by the pressure and drawn
by the suction.
According to another arrangement I construct a filtering chamber of a series of
compartments, which may be square, oblong, round, or polygonal, the form is of
small consequence. This filtering chamber may be arranged vertically, the com-
partments being placed one over the other, and raised and lowered by screws which
also serve them as guides. Or the position may be horizontal, the parts being held
together and separated by external screws, serving also as guides. The parts may
slide on a frame or run upon rollers, according to circumstances.
The sections or compartments to compose the apparatus I form as rings or frames
of a depth adapted to the matter to be treated. These rings or frames may have a
depth of one to six inches, or even more. This filtering chamber, as in the former
case may be of metal, wood, or suitable mineral substance, provided that the parts
which are intended to come into contact with the filtering material be of soft
caoutchouc, or other soft and elastic material.
In this apparatus, which differs in arrangement from the first, I arrange between
each compartment a vertical or horizontal partition, according to the position of the
apparatus. This partition, which ought to be a little larger around the periphery
than the rings or frames, should be thus composed of double fabric of suitable
thickness, and between the two thicknesses there is interposed a plate of wood,
metal, caoutchouc, horn, or any other matter capable of supporting a pressure. I
prefer that this plate should be soft and elastic rather than hard and resisting,
although either description of material may be employed. The triple partition
thus composed has an opening at the centre. As to the method of operation it is
the same as in the first case, and the results will be the same. The second method
may be employed for the purification of liquids, or as an aid to the first method
when they are employed simultaneously. It is easy to see that an extended
filtering surface may be obtained either by employing fabrics of considerable thick-
ness to clothe the plates, or the partitions may be composed of a number of fabrics
separated the one from the other by metal or other plates.
In place of fitting the elastic material between which the filtering partitions
are held in the rings or frames, separate plates of elastic material may be employed.
The solid material may be washed in the second apparatus in the same way as in
the first.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said François Alcide Bonnefin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th February 1878.
FRANÇOIS ALCIDE BONNEFIN, of No. 2, Liverpool Street, King's Cross. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING LIQUIDS AND SEPARATING. SOLID
MATTERS THEREFROM."
My Invention has for its object the construction of apparatus for filtering liquids,
and for separating solid matters from liquid by capillary action taking place through
or amongst fibres held by or between surfaces of a soft or yielding material.
The capillary action can be aided by pressure or suction, or both. My apparatus
may be made in a variety of forms, but in all cases there are bundles of fibres
(usually for the sake of convenience they are woven together), and these are held
between surfaces, one or both of which (and by preference both) are of a soft or
yielding nature. At one end, the fibres are in contact with the mixture of liquid
and solid to be operated on, and the capillary action of the fibres draws the clear
liquid past the yielding nip whilst the solid matters are left behind.
In order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 3 is a
plan of an apparatus constructed according to my Invention. It consists of a
receiver or tank of which the sides A, A, are moveable, so that they can be lifted
away from the bottom B. Beneath the bottom there is a chamber C, from which
there is an outlet by the pipe D. By connection with an air-pump or equivalent
apparatus a partial vacuum is maintained in the chamber C, whenever rapid filtra-
tion is desired.
The filtering medium which I employ is a fabric, woven by preference expressly
for the purpose, with a very thick, soft, and loosely spun warp and weft. The sides
A and the bottom B of the receiver or tank are covered with the filtering fabric.
The fabric is secured to the sides by clipping it upon their upper edges by. means
of covering strips held down by screw bolts. The fabric passes under the lower
edges of the sides, and the bottom also is covered with a sheet of the fabric, so that
when the sides A are in position there are two thicknesses of fabric between them
and the bottom B. There are also between the parts A and B strips of soft india-
rubber applied in the manner shown to a larger scale at Figure 4, where the
india-rubber is seen in section and is marked E. Each fabric, as will be seen, is
held between two soft surfaces which yield to the irregularities of the fabrics,
making a joint which keeps back all the solid matters, but nevertheless leaves the
capillaries free to dilate and fill themselves with the liquid. The amount of the nip
upon the filtering fibres can be readily increased or diminished as found desirable
by weighting, or if it should be requisite partially counterbalancing the sides A.
According to another arrangement which however I have not thought it necessary
to illustrate by a Drawing, I employ an apparatus. very similar in form to that
shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, but with holes in the bottom B.. At each of the holes
an india-rubber tube is attached beneath the bottom, and a bundle of fibres.or
yarns is drawn into each of the tubes so as somewhat to dilate it, and so that the
tube may nip the fibre sufficiently to stop back any solid matter, but leaving the
capillaries free for the passage of liquid.
Figure 5 is an elevation partly in section, and Figure 6 is a transverse section of
another apparatus constructed according to my Invention in which I employ
pressure, either in lieu of, or in conjunction with suction.
The apparatus consists of a central chamber. A, to, which the material to be

page_text: treated is supplied by a pipe B, and the pressure which it is desired to apply may
be obtained by a pump or by allowing the material to descend from an elevated
cistern. The two sides of the chamber A are slotted, as. shown at A¹, A', to admit
of the free escape of the material on either side. The two faces of the chamber A
are also grooved all round, and the grooves are filled with soft india-rubber, BX, 80
that the india-rubber projects, above the plane surface or face of the chamber A.
Against the face a filtering fabric is placed and it is of such a size as to overlap the
india-rubber all around. The fabric has holes cut in it corresponding to the slots A'.
Against the fabric a rectangular frame C is placed, and this frame is grooved and
fitted with india-rubber in the same way as the faces of the chamber A. Another
fabric is next placed, then another frame, and so in succession, the fabrics and
frames are placed; alternately or between each frame and that next to it there
may be placed first a filtering fabric, then a metal plate, and then another filtering
fabric. The plates thus employed are slotted, or have holes formed through them
similar to those in the face of the central chamber A, and for a similar purpose.
These partitions may be made thicker by employing several filtering fabrics
separated the one from the other by strips of soft india-rubber around the edges, so
that the fabrics are held between two elastic surfaces. The series terminates in a
'cover plate D, similar to the frames C, except that it is not open in the centre
and is garnished with india-rubber on one side only. These parts are enclosed in a
casing E, attached by bolts to the central chamber A, and provided at the further
end with a cover which can be readily removed when desired. The frames C are
furnished with small rollers C¹, to facilitate the movement of them from place, to
place, and the accurate arrangement of them within the casing E. There are also four
bolts F, F, fixed to the chamber A, and projecting on either side, and there are
corresponding eyes formed in the frames C and in the end plate D, and these thread
on to the bolts, and the plates are held together by the nuts F₁ which the bolts
receive at their ends. The outlet is at G and in connection with it there may be
an air pump or other exhauster. When the frames C become filled with solid
material separated by filtration from the liquid, the apparatus is taken apart and
the solid material is removed. Figure 7 shows to a larger scale a transverse section
of one side of the frame C, or the frames may be made to the form indicated
at Figure 8.
Figure 9 is an elevation partly in section, Figure 10 a transverse section, and
Figure 11 a plan partly in section of an arrangement very similar to that last
described, but presenting some points of difference which will tender the manipula-
tion easier when working upon a large scale. It is a double machine, and when at
work filtering on one side of the central section it may be open on the other side
for the discharge of the solid material. A is the central section; the chamber it
contains is divided by a partition, and each compartment is furnished with a supply
pipe B; an elevation of this part of the apparatus is represented separately at
Figure 12. Against its two sides the filtering fabrics and frames C are arranged
as before, but it is provided with two outlets. D, D, are the cover plates forming
the ends of the series. E, E, are the outer casings, and these in place of being
provided with moveable covers themselves separate from the central chamber A,
when the apparatus is taken apart for emptying. They are carried upon wheels as
the Drawing shows, and run away from the centre in either direction, so as to leave
the filtering parts accessible. The bolts F, F, extend some distance beyond the
cover plate D, and are connected to an end frame H which is provided with wheels
H' to support the frames C, and at the saine time to admit of the outer cases being
moved beneath them. The frames C in this arrangement are not provided with
wheels, their weight being sustained entirely by beams fixed at one. end to the
central section A and at the other by the end frames H. For removing the solid
material after the filtering operation the cases E are removed and then the nuts F¹
are run along the bolts until there is sufficient room to separate the frames and to
break the solid material out of them. The grooving of the frames C and of the

page_text: central section A to receive the india-rubber is not indicated, and in some cases
they may be left without grooves, and the india-rubber rings may be separate, or
they may be otherwise attached.
In all apparatus with compartments and partitions it is desirable to have in the
centre an axis furnished with blades, there are two blades at each partition; these
blades, whilst the apparatus is at work, stand at right angles to corresponding slots
in the partitions, and at the completion of the operation the axis is turned round.
This movement breaks or cuts the solid mass and makes a separation in each com-
partiment. When the blades are set to coincide with the slots in the partitions the
apparatus can readily be taken apart. If the axis and blades be made hollow they
may be employed to introduce water or steam to cleanse the solid matters.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of apparatus in such inanner as to effect the filtration of
liquids, and the separation of solid matters therefrom by capillary action taking
place through or amongst fibres held by surfaces of a soft or yielding material,
substantially as described.
Second. The construction of apparatus for filtering liquids, and separating solid
matters therefrom, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Alcide Bonnefin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
F. A. BONNEFIN. (LS.)