Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Water for Boiler and other Technical Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying Water for Boiler and
other Technical Purposes.
A communication by ARTHUR PENNELL, of Kansas City, in the State of
Missouri, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 certain improvements in water purifiers for eliminating
scale-forming salts from artesian well and other hard waters, rendering them fit for
boiler use and other technical purposes; and the invention consists in features of
novelty hereinafter pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 represents a vertical section taken on line I, I Figure 2 of the improved
purifier;
Figure 2 a top view of the purifier;
Figure 3 an enlarged transverse view of the baffle box ; and
Figures 4 and 5 represent a vertical section and plan view respectively of a
Modification.
In these
1 represents a circular tank, of which there may be one or more, said tanks being
of such dimensions that they may contain from one to three hours supply of water
for the purpose required, the areas of the tanks being governed by the amount of
free or loosely combined carbonic acid present in the water.
2 represents a supply pipe leading into the baffle box, said pipe being located
about one-fourth of the height of the water from its bottom, through a flange
nipple 3, said baffle box 4, having its base resting on a bracket 4, located in the
Said baffle
tank and being firmly bolted to said flange nipple as shown at 5.
box, 4, is made oblong in cross-section (see Figure 3) with a central partition 6,
extending the long way of the box, thus forming vertical chambers 7, 8, on each
side of said partition.
The top of the baffle box 4 extends up about one half the height of the tank 1,
and is provided with a galvanised iron or otherwise constructed funnel 9, said
'funnel terminating in a flue 10, through which imprisoned gases or air are permitted
to escape.
The water, after passing in through the supply pipe 2, passes up through the
chamber 7, over the top of the partition 6, and down through the chamber 7, and
then passes from the baffle box out through an opening 11, into the tank 1. Said
'opening 11 is located at the side of the buffle box, so that the outflowing currents
may pass out into the tank 1 at right angles to the radius of the tank, at that
point, or at a tangent, thereby inducing a gyratory or whirling movement in the
tank.
In order to eliminate the salts in the water, the necessary chemicals, consisting
mostly of slack lime, the composition and quantity of which must be determined by
analysis of the water, are introduced into the supply pipe 2. Said chemicals pass
with the water into the baffle box 4, where they are thoroughly mixed with the
water, and, on emerging through the opening 11, the precipitate coagulates.
Owing to the gyratory or whirling movement of the water in the tank 1, the
precipitate tends to the centre of the same, where it subsides as exemplified ly

page_text: nature in a whirlpool. This performance is assisted by locating near the bottom of
the tank a funnel 12, haying its lowest portion at the centre of the tank, where it
is connected with a waste pipe 13, through which the sediment may be flushed,
said waste pipe 13 being controlled by a valve 14.
15 represents the outlet through which the water flows off from the tank 1,.
perfectly clear, bright and free from scale-forming salts. Should there be much
light organic impurity in the water, the subsidence of the water is delayed, and it
will be necessary to use some efficient form of filter.
Owing to the construction of the improved purifier, the saine can be cleaned
through the waste pipe at any time without shutting off the supply, thus doing the
work with one purifier instead of two or more, as would be necessary in case the
supply had to be shut off before the tank could be cleaned.
In Figures 4 and 5 a modification is shown, and, in this case, the baffle box or
mixing chamber 4 is eliminated and the pipe 2 extended into the tank and provided
with an elbow as shown at 16 in the drawing, so that the water is discharged into
the tank at right angles to its radius (the same as from baffle box) in order to give
it the whirling motion. The baffle box can be dispensed with when the water is
free of salts or ingredients that require chemicals to precipitate. In fact, it is con-
sidered that the gyratory movement is the most valuable feature of this invention..
The pipe 2 should enter the tank a sufficient distance from the bottom (about }) so;
that the action of the water will not stir up the sediment or precipitates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion 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 :-
1. A water purifier constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore.
described.
2. In a water purifier, the combination of a suitable tank, a supply pipe entering.
said tank, and a distributing chainber on the inside of said tank and connected with
said supply pipe and having an outlet into the tank extending at right angles to the
radius of the tank, whereby the water will be injected into said tank with a
whirling movement, substantially as set forth.
3. In a water purifier, the combination of a cylindrical tank having a funnel-
shaped bottom, a sediment outlet pipe extending from said funnel-shaped bottom, a
supply pipe entering said tank, and a distributing chamber in and at one side of
said tank connected with said supply pipe and having an outlet into the tank
extending at right angles to the radius of the tank, substantially as set forth.
4. In a water purifier, the combination of a suitable tank, a supply pipe, a baffle
box connected with said supply pipe for thoroughly mixing chemicals with the
water, said baffle box consisting of chambers 7, 8, having an intervening partition 6,
an inlet and an outlet, substantially as set forth.
5. In a water purifier, the combination of a suitable tank, a supply pipe, a baffle
box 4, having chambers 7, 8, an intervening partition 6, and an opening 11, so
situated that the water is discharged from the baffle box at right angles with the
radius of the tank, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a water purifier, the combination of a suitable tank, a supply pipe, a baffle
box 4 being suitably connected with said supply pipe, a bracket for supporting the
same, said baffle box having chambers 7, 8, with an intervening partition 6, and
open at its top; a discharge opening in said baffle box, and a flue in connection
with said baffle box for conveying gases or air from the same, substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a water purifier, the combination of a suitable tank, a supply pipe, a
discharge pipe, a baffle box connected with the supply pipe, said baffle box having
chambers 7, 8, with an intervening partition 6, a discharge opening 11, a flue con-
nected therewith, a funnel located near the bottom of said tank, and a discharge,
pipe connected with said funnel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth..
‘8. In a water purifier, the combination of a suitable tank, a supply pipe entering
5

page_text: said tank, and a distributing chamber on the inside of said tank and connected with
said supply pipe and having an outlet into the tank extending at right angles to
the radius of the tank, said outlet being a suitable distance above the bottom of
the tank to obviate the disturbing of the sediment at the bottom, substantially as
5 and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Oth dow of Me 1802
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.