Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering Water.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application 1st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
•
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by OMAR HESTREN JEWELL, of No. 230, Irving Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Filtering Water.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to apparatus for filtering water, and more particularly to the
class of apparatus known as gravity filters, and the object of the said invention is to
provide such a filter of simple construction in which provision is made for washing
and re-washing the filtering material, for agitating such filtering material during
the washing operation, and for straining the water used for washing previous to
entering the filter for separating therefrom all matter liable to choke the strainer cups
in the filter.
.
With these objects in view, the invention consists of the novel devices and
combinations of devices hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a vertical cross section through the centre of the filtering tank ;
Figure 2 is a plan view ;
Figure 3 is a sectional plan on line 3-3 of figure 1;
Figures 4 and 5, represent a vertical section and sectional plan of a modified
form, and
"
Figure 6 is a section of one of the pivotal connections of the strainer pipes with
the main pipe coupling.
Similar letters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
A denotes the filtering tank, preferably made cylindrical or conical, and of wood or
metal. At about one-third or one quarter its entire height is secured around the
inner wall of such tank a conical ring B, preferably formed of sheet metal and
secured with its lower flange by screws to the tank to form a tight joint therewith.
This ring B, thus attached, provides a circular or endless trough communicating with
a pipe C, tapped through the side of the tank, which pipe C is provided with a stop-
valve c, and is to connect with the waste.
D, is the water supply pipe, connecting with a force or feed pump or with an
elevated tank or reservoir, which pipe D, may supply a series of tanks A, each
through a stand pipe E, connected with pipe D by a T coupling d, and having a
horizontal upper spout and extending over the tank A, for discharging into the same,
and this pipe E, is provided with a stop valve e. To the bottom of T coupling d is
connected a globular casing F, between the in and outlet nozzles of which is a
diaphragm bored to receive and removably hold a pocket or cup-shaped strainer G,
through which water on its down course must pass, and opposite to the open end of
this strainer cup, G, said casing is provided with an opening through which said
strainer may be cleaned or removed and which is closed by a screw-plug g.
To the bottom opening of strainer casing F, is coupled a stop-valve h, connecting
by a pipe i, with a star coupling H, which has coupled to its bottom the pipe J,
provided with stop-valve j, and leading into the waste. One end of star coupling H,
through an intermediate stop-valve k, communicating with the pure water
conducting pipe k, and the opposite end of said star coupling has connected
the pipe I, communicating through an elbow b, and through a hole in the
bottom of tank A, with a chamber head L, rigidly secured upon the centre of the
bottom of the tank and having coupled a series of radial pipes M, the exterior ends
Price 871

page_text: of which extending to near the sides of the tank, are closed by screw-caps. Each
such pipe M is perforated with multiple holes into each of which is tapped a strainer
These pipes M, are placed on an incline to rest with their exterior ends upon
the bottom of tank A.
cup m.
The upper face of chamber head L has a central boss l, with a socket forming the
. step bearing for the lower pointed end of a vertical shaft N, preferably made of a
square bar of metal with a series of holes drilled through it transversely in both
directions for securing therein radial arms 0, of round, square or flat iron extending
10 within a short distance from the walls of tank A. The upper end of shaft N is
turned cylindrical and is extended through the boss of a bearing-plate, P, fixed
upon a bar or beam Q, secured in the tank on a diametrical position above ring B,
upon angle plates q. Upon the upper extremity of shaft N, is rigidly mounted a
bevel wheel R, meshing with a bevel pinion r, mounted upon one end of a
horizontal shaft S, pivoted in bracket bearing p, of plate P, and projected through
"a gland or stuffing-box s, secured in the wall of tank A; having mounted upon its
exteriorly projecting end a hand-wheel T, which, with turning, will impart a rotating
movement to shaft N and arms O, for agitating the filtering material filled in the
bottom of tank A, to about the line of the bottom of conical ring B.
The operation of this filter is as follows. The valves, h, j and c, being closed and
the valves, e and k, opened, water forced in from pipe D, will flow through pipe E,
into the top of tank A filling the same. This water, by its gravity, will trickle through
the filtering material to be cleared of all impurities contained therein, which filtering
process being greatly augmented by the head of water above the filtering material,
the additional weight of which water will accelerate its passage through such filtering
material and the water thus purified will then escape through the strainer-cups m,
and pipes M into head L, and thence through pipe I, into pipe K, which will lead it
off into a storage tank or direct to the consumers. The advantage of the extra height
of a tank for filtering by gravity only will thus be readily seen: This tank A, is to
be kept filled with water by regulating the feed to be about equal to the discharge by
adjustment of valve e.
Whenever it is desirable to wash out the tank for removing the impurities collected
therein, I first close valve e, for stopping the feed and then after all the water contained
in the tank has been filtered and discharged into pipe K, I also close valve k and open
valves and c. Now the water from pipe D will first pass through the strainer-
cup G, in which it will leave behind all impurities apt to choke the filter cups m, will
thence pass through pipe I into chamber head L, and from there through pipes M and
strainers m, whence the water will rise through the filtering material and will over-
flow the upper edge of trough B, to escape through pipe C, carrying with it all
impurities collected on top and in the filtering material. During the time the current
is thus reversed the filtering material by the up current of the water will be in
suspension and will form a semi-liquid mass which can be agitated by turning hand-
wheel T, for rotating or oscillating the shaft N, with arms O, whereby slimy matter
adhering to the particles of filtering material will be loosened and liberated to be
carried off by the water.
After the filtering material has thus been thoroughly washed a re-wash is required
for removing impurities separated from the wash-out water and deposited in the lower
strata of the filtering material and in the filtering cups m, to be carried off by the first
water filtering through the material from top downward, which first water is not fit
to use and is to be carried off into the sewer through pipe J, for which purpose I close
valves, h and c, and open valves e and j, until the water carried through pipe I,
proves to be perfectly clear, when valve j, is closed and valve k is opened again.
With a trough B, made to extend around the tank on all sides and being continuous,
impurities will be more readily carried off from all parts of the tank than with a direct
outlet, and such trough B being placed close over the top line of the filtering material,
a great deal less water will be required for a wash-out than with the trough or escape
pipe placed in top of the tank.
The strainer G interposed between the supply pipe D and pipe I will be of great

page_text: utility, I having found by experience, that without such the perforations in the strainer
cups m, would soon be filled during a wash-out with impurities introduced with the
water.
Figures 4 and 5 show a modified shape of the filter to be used where square tanks
are preferred, and in this A, denotes a double rectangular tank, divided in its middle
by a partition a. These tanks may be of any desired length, and as many may be
arranged side by side or placed separate and parallel with each other as may be
required for filtering the required quantities of water. Longitudinally are arranged
against the side walls and the partitions of these tanks, troughs, for carrying off
through suitable pipes M, the overflow or wash water and transversely above these
tanks A, is placed a supply pipe B, provided with valves C, one for each tank for
regulating the feed of water therein proportionally to the filtering capacity thereof
to keep these tanks filled without overflowing.
In the bottom of the several tanks are arranged a series of pipes D, to be parallel
with each other and placed equal distance apart and extending nearly the entire length
of these tanks with their back ends closed by caps d, and each having tapped in
its top and sides a series of strainer cups E, covered at their mouths with wire
screens or with finely perforated sheet metal.
Each pipe D, has rigidly coupled to its forward end a ring e, with a square edge
spigot flange entering and butting against an internal annular shoulder of a socket
coupling, so as to be retained therein which coupling f, has a flange secured against
the inside of the wall of tank A, by screws, bolts or rivets to be rigid therewith and
with its cylindrical mouth projected through a hole in the tank and internally screw-
threaded for connecting the tee coupling g, all in a manner that pipes D, thus coupled
will form water tight connections with tees g, and at the same time, will permit the
pipes D to be oscillated for which purpose the rear ends of pipes D, are supported in
seini-circular bearings i, secured upon the bottom of tanks A. To each tee g, are
coupled two stop-valves F and G, all the valves F, again being coupled with "main
pipe H, and all the valves G, with main pipe I.
The pipe H, intended for conducting the purified water connects with a force
pump J, that again will convey the water where wanted and the pipo I, connecting
with another pump K, is only used for forcing water into the tank for washing out
the impurities whenever this becomes necessary. Intermediate of each two sets of
strainer cups E, the pipes D have secured three (more or less) radial arms N pro-
jecting in different directions at right angles to the pipes, with these arms of two
adjacent pipes D, in alternate order, and to each pipe 1), is also rigidly coupled an
arin P, extending to the top of tanks A, where each by a bar p, is connected with a
hand lever, Q, pivotally coupled by a link to an eye-plate q, which is rigidly secured
against tanks A, in a manner that a vibrating movement of such lever Q, will impart
an oscillating movement to pipe B, and to arms N, thereby stirring the filtering material
and creating a great disturbance therein that during the time an upward current of
water is forced through such filtering material will give the impurities therein a
better chance to separate and to be carried off with the water and with an overflow
of the same into troughs and thence to be discharged through pipe M.
The operation of this filtering apparatus is as follows: The tanks A, being filled
with sand or fine gravel or both mixed, and the valves G, being shut and the
valves F opened, water is supplied to these tanks from pipe B through valves C,
which water will trickle through the filtering material leaving behind all impurities
contained therein and after thus purified the water will enter pipes D, through
strainer cups E, and thence through valves F, will enter pipe H to be elevated or
carried off by pump J. As the impurities from the water thus filtered accumulate on
and in the filtering material, a washing out from time to time becomes necessary, for
which purpose, then, the valves C and F, are closed, and the valves G, are opened,
and pump, K, is set in motion forcing water into pipes D, which escaping through
strainers E, will rise upward in tank A, overflowing into troughs b, to be carried off
by pipe M, and during the time an upward current is thus established the levers Q,

page_text: are operated for oscillating the arms P and N, for stirring the filtering material to
allow the impurities collected therein to separate and to pass off with the water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a filtering apparatus provided with pipes and the valves for reversing
the flow of water through the filtering material for the purpose of washing out such
filter, of a strainer interposed between the main water supply and the pipe communi-
cating with the bottom of the filtering tank, and the branch pipes therein, substantially
as set forth.
Second. In a filtering apparatus provided with pipes and valves for reversing the
flow of water through the filtering material for the purpose of washing out such
filter, of a strainer interposed between the main water supply and the pipe communi-
cating with the bottom of the filtering tank and the branch pipes therein, the same
consisting of casing F, with diaphragm f, and strainer G substantially as set forth.
Third. A gravity filtering tank provided in its lower portion with an endless
trough B, extending around all sides of such tank and communicating with a discharge
pipe C, such tank being filled with filtering material below such trough and to hold
à head of water above such trough, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In combination with a gravity filtering tank having in its bottom a
chamber head L, communicating with the pure water discharge pipe I, and having
branch pipes M, with strainer cups m, of vertical shaft N, pivoted with its lower end
in a socket or chamber head I, and with its upper end in a cross beam Q, with radial
arms O, secured in such shaft and with a bevel gear wheel R, mounted on its upper
end, and of horizontal shaft S, with pinion r, and hand wheel T, exterior of the tank,
all substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with tank A, provided with chamber head L, branch
pipes M, with strainer cups m, and with pipes I, of endless trough B, and pipe C,
with valve c, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with tank A, provided with chamber head L, branch
pipes M, having strainer cups m, with pipe I, communicating through stop-valves
with pipes D, K and J, and with pipe E, communicating through a stop-valve with
pipe D, of endless trough B, communicating with discharge pipe C, through a stop
valve c, all substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The combination with a filtering tank of pipes D, in the bottom thereof
each provided with strainer cups and with stirrer arms, and each pivotally connected
with a coupling communicating with the discharge and wash-out water supply pipes
through intermediate stop-valves and connected with suitable devices for oscillating
these pipes D, and stirrer arms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The combination with a filtering tank A, of a series of pipes D, in the
bottom thereof, each pivotally connected with a coupling communicating with the
discharge pipe H, and the wash-out water supply pipe I, through intermediate stop
valves F and G, and each pipe D, provided with strainer cups E, and with radial
arms, N, and with an arm P, connected with a lever Q, for oscillating such pipes D,
and arms N, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of March 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.