Improvements in the Construction of. Filters and Reagent Feeders for the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Már., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of. Filters and Reagent Feeders
for the same.
1, JOHN WESLEY HYATT, of No. 793 High Street, in the city of Newark, county
of Essex, and state of New Jersey, U.S.A. manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FILTERS AND REAGENT
FEEDERS FOR THE SAME, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
A
This invention consists chiefly in certain improved means for filtering fluids through
a bed of granular material by introducing the unfiltered fluid at the bottom of the,
filter bed. In practicing my invention, a series of inlet strainers is provided in the
bottom of the filter bed, and the water is forced through the bed to a series of outlet
strainers which may be located in another portion of the bed at its bottom, or in the
upper portion of the bed a little below the top surface. The invention includes a
special strainer constructed by holding separate rods side by side with slight inter-,
spaces; preferably in the form of an annular bundle, and it also includes in certain¸.
cases, means for supplying a regulated volume of a coagulating or recipitating.
substance to the unfiltered fluid in its passage to the filter.
T
The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings, in which.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the filter with outlet strainers in top of bed; Fig. 2 is a i
plan of the same; Fig. 3 a vertical section on line x, x, in Fig. 2; Fig. 4a horizontal':
section of the same on line y, y, in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a filter, with
the outlet strainers at the bottom; Fig. 6 a plan of the same on line a, a, in Fig. 7,
Fig. 7 is a. vertical section of the same on line y, y, in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows the end."
of one strainer and its valve at line z, z, in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a diagram showing one
strainer upon a larger scale with a handle for sliding the alternate rods longitudinally...
Fig. 10 is a central section of the construction shown in Fig. 9, with the view broken
in the middle for want of room; Fig. 11 is an end view of the same at the left end.
with the handle removed; Fig. 12 is a view of the right hand end of the strainer
showing the inlet and the bridge or guide for the reciprocating rod; Fig. 13 is a:
transverse section on line ¹, ¹, in Fig. 9, with a view of the internal collar and:
external band for holding the rods in place. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the
bands detached from the rods; Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the application of the,
precipitant feeder to the filter; Fig. 16 is an enlarged section of the loaded valve 18;.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the feeder in section at the center line where hatched,:
and provided with a mercury column; Fig. 18 is a view of the plate 21, and Fig. 19
a cross section of the same. Fig. 20 is a longitudinal section of a precipitant feeder:
with two diaphragms; Fig. 21 shows the pressure side of the casing, and Fig. 22 the.
inside of the reagent chamber.
:
My invention differs from those in which a current of water is passed downward.
in the filter bed, and in which the impurities form a deposit which speedily operates,
to impede the passage of the water, and necessitates the cleaning of the bed to restore
its efficiency.
In Figs. 1 and 4, the inlet apertures or strainers are arranged in or communicating
with the lower part of the bed, and outlet strainers are arranged within the filter bed
near the upper surface of the same. By making the bed of suitable depth, of the
granular materials commonly employed for such purpose, the water introduced through:
the lower strainers may pass upward through the bed, and find an outlet through the,
upper strainers without disturbing the upper surface of the bed, or disintegrating
the body of the same... In such method of filtering, the capacity of a given filter bed
is much greater than when filtering downward; as the whole substance of the bed
arrests, the impurities, and not the mere surface. During the filtering-operation, no

page_text: other outlet would be provided than the upper series of strainers, but when it is
desired to wash the bed, an outlet pipe in the upper part of the filter would be opened
and the water current operated to disintegrate the bed and wash out the impurities
through the outlet pipe. In Figs. 1 and 4, F is the filter casing, A are four inlet
strainers inserted horizontally within the casing near the body. D is the upper
surface of the filter bed near the top of the casing F. The outlet strainers Care
inserted horizontally within the bed just below its surface, and partitions E are
extended between the inlet strainers Å and projected upward within the filter bed
slightly above such strainers. G are pipes extended from the several strainers A
outside of the casing; H, H1, H2, and H³, are cocks applied to the same, and B is a
header supplying water to all of the said cocks. Pipes K are extended from the
outlet strainers outside the casing, and a header L having a cock L¹ at its outlet,
connects the pipes K to carry off the filtered fluid.
N is a waste pipe inserted in the top of the filter casing and provided with discharge
cock N'. A manhole would be provided in the casing to admit an operator between the
two series of strainers, for the construction and repairs of the same in large constructions.
The strainers are shown formed each, of an annular bundle of parallel rods a¹
sustained at each end in heads, with slender interspaces to permit the passage of the
fluid, and bands secured about them at intervals to prevent them from separating. In
operation, the discharge cock N' is closed, the outlet cock L' from the upper series of
strainers is opened, and water is supplied through all the cocks supplying the inlet
strainers A. The water entering the inlet strainers then passes upward through the
bed and escapes by the strainers C to the outlet pipe or header L. The action of the
water, when thus passing upward through the bed and into the outlet, is clearly shown
in Fig. 3, where arrows s¹ are shown, but escaping through the same without disturbing
the top of the bed.
The casing is wholly closed, so that the water fills the same and has no means of
escape except through the strainers C. To wash the filter, the cock L', from the
header L, is closed, preventing the escape of water from the outlet strainers, and the
discharge cock N¹ is opened. The water entering by one or more of the inlet strainers
is then permitted a free discharge from the filter casing, and passes violently upward
through the filter bed, disintegrating and agitating the same and washing off the
impurities through the waste pipe N.
The partitions E are designed to act when washing the bed in sections, and operate
to direct the current of water nearly straight upward, through a portion only of the
bed, when such current is introduced through one strainer only at a time.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7, show the outlet strainers arranged in the bottom of the filter, in
which case the unfiltered fluid is introduced into the bottom of the filter bed
successively through a series of strainers under one portion of the bed, and escapes
through one or more strainers arranged under another portion of the bed.
The entering fluid loosens and cuts away the filter bed above the inlet strainer,
forming a substantially vertical passage through the bed, and the fluid then reaches
the outlet strainer by precolating through both the side and top of the bed.
When the side of the passage thus formed in the filter bed becomes foul, such inlet
strainer is closed, and the unfiltered fluid is introduced at an adjacent strainer, which
loosens and cuts away the foul surface upon the vertical side of the bed, and exposes a
fresh lateral surface through which the water precolates to reach the outlet strainers.
The cleansing of the filter bed may thus be deferred until all the inlet strainers have
been used in turn. The filter bed is cleansed, as in the former construction, by
opening an upper outlet and admitting water successively to all the bottom strainers.
In Figs. 5 to 7; F is the casing of the filter, c, c¹, c², c³, c, c, are six strainers formed of
round rods, and operated one half of them as inlet strainers, and the other half as
outlet strainers. Gravel e² is placed around the strainers upon the bottom of the
filter bed, to remove the finer particles of the filter bed from contact with such
strainers, and to thus permit a greater separation of the strainer rods and a freer
passage of the fluid.
Partitions are required to prevent the water from spreading through the gravel and

page_text: undermining the bed, instead of flowing upward as desired. u is the top of the
filter bed, d a vertical partition extending half way upward, dividing the filter bed in
half from the bottom about half way to the top. e are partitions about one third its
height, inserted between the strainers c, c¹, c², and e¹ are similar low partitions inserted
between the strainers c³, c², ca.
o is an outlet pipe provided with cock o' above the level of the filter bed, and
m a manhole for access to the filter.
The space above the strainers, between the several partitions, would be filled with
gravel e to the tops of the low partitions, and the remainder of the filter bed up to
the line u would be formed of fine sand or other suitable material. The strainers c to c
are provided each with a valve v seated upon a casting v¹ connecting the end of the
strainer with the inner end of a tube f which is extended through the shell of the
filter; and connected with a water supply as follows. The pipes of the strainers c to c²
are coupled together by a header f¹ and are connected with a water supply from the
main pipe h and branch i. The other three strainers are connected in a similar
manner with a header 9 and with the main pipe h by a branch j.
A cock is provided in the pipe h and other cocks 1, 1, in the branches i and j.
The water may thus be thrown into either header at pleasure, by opening the cock k
and closing one of the cocks 1, 1, and either strainer may be connected with such
header, and receive a water supply, by opening the valve applied to such strainer.
In Fig. 8 the casting or strainer head is shown with a nearly semi-circular hole,
upon which is seated a semi-circular disk valve v turned by a rod w and a handle w¹,
extended outside of the header through a stuffing box m¹.
The casting itself serves to connect the strainer with a socket m² secured to the shell
of the filter to introduce the pipes through the shell at the required angle.
Branches n, p, are attached to the header g and provided with cocks n² and p².
In filtering with this construction, the strainers e, c¹, c², would be used in turn as
inlet strainers for the unfiltered fluid, and the strainers c³, c, c³, would be used
exclusively as outlet strainers. The unfiltered fluid would be admitted to the header f¹
by pipe and cock 7; the cock being closed to exclude the unfiltered water from
the header g, and the cock n² being opened to discharge the filtered water therefrom.
But one of the inlet strainers would be opened at once, and Fig. 7 represents the
strainer c in operation, and the filter bed loosened and disintegrated above the same to
the line p. Arrows q show the passage of the unfiltered water to the vertical and
horizontal portions of the filter bed, which are not disintegrated, and through which it
passes to the strainers c³, c, c³, and thence out to the pipe n¹.
When the operative portion of the filler bed becomes obstructed by the deposition
of impurities, the strainer c would be cut off by closing its valve v and the adjacent
strainer c would be placed in communication with the header by opening its inlet
valve by handle w. The influx of the water through that strainer would loosen and
cut away the foul portion of the bed to the line r, the loosened sand being partly
shifted over the strainer c, as shown by the line r².
A new operative surface would thus be immediately secured within the filter,
and the filtering operation could be continued without the delay of cleansing the
filter bed.
When the surface adjacent to the strainer c¹ bas become fouled, such strainer can
be cut off from the header, and the strainer c² connected therewith, when the portion
within the surface would be cut away in like manner, and the operative surface
changed to the lines, the loosened sand being then partly deposited over the strainer c
as shown by the line s'. The object of the central partition which is extended higher
than the others, is to prevent the water when introduced through the strainer from
passing through too short a portion of the filter bed in reaching the adjacent strainer.
The impurities deposited in the filter during the successive use of the several inlet
strainers form an accumulation of mud which remains within the filter until it is
wholly cleansed.
This operation is performed as described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,
and the water is admitted to the strainers c³, c², c³, at such time, by closing the cock

page_text: the
and cock n², and opening the cock to direct the water into the header g during the
cleansing operation. The cock p² is provided to draw off from the header
water first filtered, which might not perhaps be sufficiently pure to use as filtered
water, and would not therefore be properly admitted to the pure water pipe n¹. The
rods which form each strainer are held at opposite ends respectively, in a fixed and
movable head, and are preferably arranged to be twisted or slid upon one another at
suitable intervals, especially during the cleansing of the filter bed, to remove any
particles that may have lodged between the rods, and clog the interspaces. In Fig. 6,
represents the stationary head, in which the ends of the rods in one strainer would
be fitted, as shown in Fig. 10, and 2 represents the rotary head. The valve rod wis
extended within the strainer to its further end, where it is rigidly secured to the
movable head 2 and it thus operates to oscillate such head whenever the rod is turned
to actuate the valve v, in connecting or disconnecting the strainer to and from the
header for g. Such oscillation of the head twists the rods at one end, whenever a
water current is admitted within the strainer, in washing the bed, and thus moves the
rods upon one another more or less, and dislodges any particles that may have gained
admission between the interspaces of the rods. The alternate rods may, if preferred,
be slid longitudinally, as indicated in Figs. 9 to 12, the alternate rods being shown
fastened in one head as at in Fig. 10, and arranged to slide through holes in the
opposite head, as at in the same figure. A shifting rod t and handle t¹ are, in such
case, provided to shift the movable head longitudinally, and a bridge f2 is shown in
the fixed head to operate in conjunction with the collar f³ upon the rod t to regulate
the stroke of the bandle t' in agitating the rods. Bands may be applied to the rods
between the beads to hold them approximately in contact with one another. Figs. 13
and 14, show such a band u¹ notched internally to fit each of the rods, and also an
internal collar 2 adapted to hold the rods outward in contact with the band. Sueb
band and collar are fitted to the rods with sufficient looseness to permit the agitation
of the rods by sliding or oscillation, as above described. The strainer formed of such
round rods is very durable and efficient, and as it may be cleaned while in use, by
agitating the rods, is more effective than any strainer formed of fine woven
material.
Fig. 15 shows a reagent feeder connected to a pump and filter, and to a tank of
reagent from which the reagent liquid is automatically drawn and forced into the fluid
on its passage to the filter.
The reagent being mingled with the fluid, operates to precipitate the impurities
therein during the process of filtration.
F is the filter, 14 the bed of the pump, 11 the pump chamber, 13 the steam
cylinder, and 12 the piston rod for actuating the pump. 16 is the suction pipe of the
pump, and 9 the pipe delivering the unfiltered fluid to the filter. The reagent feed:r
consists in a movable element, as a diaphragm or piston, exposed upon one side to
the alternating pressure in the pump chamber 11, and upon the other side to the
reagent fluid, affected by atmospheric pressure in a tank 6. The reagent feeder is
preferably constructed, with two diaphragms of different areas, the larger one being
affected by the alternating pressure in the pump chamber, and the smaller one
operating upon the reagent with an increased pressure, to deliver the reagent into the
supply pipe of the filter. If a single diaphragm be used, the reagent may be delivered
into the suction pipe 16 of the pump, or it may be delivered into the supply pipe 9 by
applying a column of mercury to the pressure side of the diaphragm, to supplement
the pressure generated in the pump, when forcing the supply of fluid through the
pipe 9. Fig. 20 shows the preferred construction, with two diaphragms of different
areas; the smaller one being thus adapted to deliver the reagent into the supply pipe
of the filter in which the same pressure exists as that in the pump chamber 11, which
actuates the larger diaphragm.
1 and 2 are circular casings, the former being connected by pipe 7 with the pump
chamber 11, and the latter by pipe 5 with the reagent tank 6. The casings clamp.the
edges of the diaphragms upon an intermediate ring 39, which is rebated upon one
edge to afford a larger, area, for the pressure diaphragm 37; than for the reagent

page_text: diaphragm 33. A disk 38 is applied between the diaphragms and rebated at the eige
to expose a smaller area to the reagent diaphragm 35 than to the pressure
diaphragm 37. The reagent chamber, within the casing 2, is connected by pipe 5
and check valve 3 (opening inward) with the reagent tank 6, and by pipe 19 and
check valve 4 (opening outward) with the supply pipes of the filter, and the casing 1
is recessed to receive a circular plate 21, which is adjusted, to regulate the vibrations
of the diaphragms by the screw 28 having stem 29 and hand-wheel 30, and provided
with stuffing box 31.
A screen 25 is inserted in the outlet 27 from the reagent chamber, to sustain the
pressure upon the diaphragm, and grooves 24 are formed in the casing 2, leading to
such screen, to discharge the fluid rapidly to the outlet pipe. When suction occurs
in the end of the pump chamber 11, to which the pipe 7 is connected, the atmo-
spheric pressure in the reagent tank forces the reagent through the pipe 5, opening the -
check valve 3 and filling the reagent chamber between the diaphragm 33 and the
casing 2. The succeeding pressure in the pump chamber forces the diaphragm 37
against the disk 38, and its pressure being concentrated upon the smaller area of
the diaphragm 33, is able to expel the reagent from the reagent chamber against
the pressure (exerted by the pump) in the delivery pipe 9 and in the reagent pipe 19
connected therewith.
The flow of the reagent closes the check valve 3, and opens the check valve 4, and
as the stroke of the diaphragms is very limited, the movement is quickly effected,
and repeats continuously the alternations of the pressure in the pump cylinder 11;
thus discharging a regulated amount of reagent into the water supplied to the filter,
at each stroke of the pump. By means of the screw 29, and regulating plate 21,
the stroke of the diaphragins may be reduced to a very minute amount, and the
supply of reagent thus limited in the most exact manner. In Fig. 17, the feeder is
shown constructed with only a single diaphragm 33 and a column of mercury inserted
in the pipe 7, the mercury 36 being shown inside the reservoir 8, the column not
exceeding six decimeters in height, so as not to overbalance the atmospheric pressure
in the reagent tank 6. With the feeder thus constructed, the reagent pipe 19 may
be connected with the supply pipe 9 containing the unfiltered fluid under pressure,
and when the pressure operates in the pump chamber 11, it acts upon the
diaphragm 33, with the additional force of the mercury column, and thus effects the
delivery of the reagent into the supply pipe.
A means of operating such a reagent feeder without the mercury column, is
indicated by the pipe 17 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, connecting the reagent
pipe 19 with the suction pipe 16 of the pump.
With such construction, a loaded check valve 18 is required, to prevent the suction
in the pipe 16, from drawing the reagent continuously from the tank 6 through the
check valves 3 and 4. The loaded check vaive is shown in section in Fig. 16, the
required pressure being exerted by spring 10 and regulated by set screw 20).
The load upon such valve would be little greater than atmospheric pressure, which
would prevent the suction in the pipe 16 from opening the valve, but would not
prevent the reagent from lifting the valve to enter such suction pipe, when forced
from the reagent chamber by the pressure (above that of the atmosphere) developed
in the pump chamber 11. From the above description it will be seen that the filter
with inlets at the bottom may be operated by locating the outlet strainers in the
upper part of the filter bed, as shown in Fig. 3; or in another portion of the
bottom, as shown in Fig. 7; and that the reagent feeder, actuated by the alternations:
of pressure in the supply pump chamber 11, may be operated to discharge the
reagent either into the suction pipe of the pump or into the filter supply pipe
containing fluid under pressure. It is obvious that the single diaphragm shown in
Fig. 17, might be replaced by a cylindrical piston, and that the two diaphragmns
shown in Fig. 20 might be replaced by two pistons of unequal diameters connected
together, and that such constructions would be the exact equivalent of such
diaphragms, but I have shown the diaphragms herein, as they are much preferable to

page_text: pistons, on account of their moving with less friction, and not being liable to stick
fast by corrosion.
The pipe 7 connecting the feeder with the pump chamber 11 is shown in Figs. 17
and 20 provided with a cock 35 to shut the feeder off from the pump chamber when
the reagent is not required in the filter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
what claim is :-
1st. In a filter, the combination, with a suitable casing, of a filter bed of granular
material, inlets arranged to deliver the unfiltered fluid within the bottom of the
filter bed, and outlet strainers arranged within the top of the filter bed to convey
the filtered fluid therefrom, substantially as shown and described in connection with
Fig. 3.
2nd. In a filter, the combination, with a suitable casing, of a filter bed of granular
material, a series of inlets arranged to deliver the unfiltered fluid under separate
portions of the filter bed, outlet strainers arranged within other portions of the filter
bed, and pipes and valves arranged to supply the inlet fluid in succession to the
separate inlets, to successively cut away portions of the filter bed when fouled by
the deposit of impurities, substantially as herein described in connection with
Fig. 7.
3rd. In a filter, the combination, with a suitable casing containing a filter. bed of
granular material, of a strainer consisting in a series of rods, held in heads at their
opposite ends, and provided with means for moving one of the heads in relation to
the other, as and for the purpose set forth.
.
4th. In a filter, the combination, with a suitable casing containing a filter bed of
granular material, of a strainer consisting in a series of rods held in heads at their
opposite ends, an inlet pipe connected with one of the heads and provided with the
inlet valve v, the rod w connected with such valve and to the other head, and
operating to oscillate such head and to agitate the rods when opening and.closing the
valve, substantially as herein set forth.
5th. The combination, with a filter containing a bed of granular material provided
with suitable inlets and with outlet strainers, of a reciprocating pump supplying the
water to the filter inlets, a tank of reagent exposed to atmospheric pressure, and a
reagent feeder consisting in a casing containing a diaphragm or its equivalent, the
casing being connected upon one side of the diaphragm to the pump chamber, and
the reagent chamber within the casing upon the opposite side of the diaphragm
being connected with the reagent tank, and with suitable pipes and check valves
to deliver the reagent into the unfiltered fluid, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 10th day of December 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.