IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRAINING, CONCENTRATING, CLARIFYING AND CONSOLIDATING OR SOLIDIFYING SUBSTANCES AND LIQUIDS, ESPECIALLY APPLIC ABLE FOR FILTERING PAPER MILL SLUDGE AND CONSOLIDATING THE SUBSTANCES CONTAINED THEREIN
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN FOULIS of Musselburgh in the County of Midlothian North Britain,:
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OR PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRAINING, CONCENTRATING, CLARIFYING
AND CONSOLIDATING OR SOLIDIFYING SUBSTANCES AND LIQUIDS, ESPECIALLY APPLIC
ABLE FOR FILTERING PAPER MILL SLUDGE AND CONSOLIDATING THE SUBSTANCES
CONTAINED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to drain concentrate, clarify, consolidate or solidify'
substances and liquids, as paper mill sludge, sewage, starch gluten, distillery dregs,
hops, barm, beer and oil foots, China clay, cement, colours, lakes dyes, pulpy fruits,"
milk curd, butterine, paraffin or other similar substances or liquids in a shorter
space of time, more effectively, and to render the product thus obtained of more
commercial value.
Owing to the great tenacity with which paper mill sludge and such like, albu;
menous, caseous, gummy, gelatinous, oily and mucilaginous substances hold or
retain the water added in the course of their treatment or production, it has
hitherto been a slow, tedious and troublesome matter to disassociate them and in
many cases practically impossible to carry their consolidation beyond the pasty
state causing the same to be of little or no value or commercial use.
To reinedy this defect the invention is practically carried into effect by adapting,
controlling, and turning to the best account what may be termed the adhesive
affinity of one class of substances, for that of another and different class, also in
using to the best advantage (for same purpose) certain absorbent, porous and
permeable materials in conjunction or combination with a regulated system of
graduated pressure; performed by mechanism or mechanical means apparatus or
appliances hereinafter described..
For the sake of clearness I divide the invention into two stages (viz) first stage,
draining and concentrating and second stage consolidating and solidifying, which
}
'

page_text: will be hereinafter referred to as first and second stages and described in such order
accordingly.
To effect the aforesaid operation the first stage consists in the use or employment
of a suitable number of tanks, cisterns or other receptacles with or without second
bottoms, solid or perforated and lined partially or throughout with couch roll or
blanket felt, or equivalent material with suitable arrangement for collecting drained
liquors. In using this form of drainer it is only requisite to charge, or fill. them
by any convenient means self-acting or otherwise and intermittent or continuous
as desired and either in a hot or cold state according to the nature of the substance
under treatment, and the operation continued till the desired result is obtained.
The second stage consists in the application of graduated pressure in addition to
and conjunction with the couch roll or blanket felt already referred to. This.
pressure may or can be applied in two different ways; rotary or direct.
The rotary form of machine is best adapted for obtaining the solid materials in
thin flakes, sheets, and the direct acting one for cakes and blocks.
The machine for the rotary method (which has two modifications) is the exact
counterpart of the wet-end of an ordinary paper-making machine with a few
reversions, transpositions & additions of parts which I will now explain. First, in
place of the wire-web or cloth, a band of felt is employed. Second. Instead of the
felted couch roll being above and the plain or naked press roll underneath, the
positions are exactly reversed. (ie), the felted roll is underneath and the naked one
above. Third, In place of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd press rolls being all naked as in
paper-making, the underneath. one-of each: set is felted; otherwise the arrange-
ments are unaltered. The additions before mentioned consist of scrapers or doctors
fitted to each of the upper naked press rolls and a supplementary plain roll for
each of the underneath felted ones, so placed as to press against them clothes-
wringer fashion, to squeeze out the water, or other liquid therefrom. Fourth, any
adequate feed arrangement to suit materials, too dense to flow onto the feed band
by gravitation alone..
'
.
The working of this machine is the same as in-paper-making, but the results are
most distinct and different for in place of the solid materials, remaining on the
felts, after passing through the press rolls (as the sheet or web of paper does), they
leave the felt and adhere to the naked roll (owing as before mentioned to their
having a greater adhesive affinity for a smooth metallic surface than for a felt
one) from whence they are shaved off by the scrapers referred to and falling outo
the travelling band are carried forward to the next set of rolls; where the same
occurrence takes place. (but with an increasing pressure) until the last set is
reached, when they fall or are carried into any convenient receptacle, the liquid
portion, after separation being likewise conveyed where most convenient. The first
modification of the machine for applying pressure consists in having one large
felted roll with a number of small naked ones ranged round the upper half of its
circumference the small rolls being provided with scrapers and adjusting screws or
spring for regulation of pressure. Underneath the large felted roll and pressing
against it is placed a plain roll for squeezing out the water or other. liquid absorbed
by the former, provided also with any convenient arrangement for collecting same.
In this arrangement no feed band is required, the felted roll carrying round the
materials successively under the small rolls when the same action takes place as in
the horizontal machine and with the same result.
The second modification of the rotary machine is the counterpart of the first
with moving parts reversed (ie.) one large naked roll with a number of small felted
ones placed round the under half of its circumference each provided with a plain
roll for squeezing out the absorbed liquids as in the previous case.
In this arrange-
ment only one scraper is required placed against the large roll behind the last of
the small ones (as in this instance) the solid matters remain attached to the naked
roll while passing the felted ones, but the same effect is produced, because each of
the small felted rolls press against it with an increasing force. The feed arrange-
ment in this case may be a hopper or equivalent device.

page_text: The machine (or modification thereof) for the application of direct pressure,
consists of a cylinder and piston, the former truly bored out. and fitted with flanges.
The diameter of cylinder is about three times greater than its height or depth.
The piston is provided with a provision for expansion rings or other form of
packing and is made to fit the bore of the cylinder accurately, its head (the piston)
is perforated with holes about in. in diameter and about in or thereby apart.
These holes on the inner or pressing surface are connected by grooved lines or
channels cut into the metal of the head. Over this grooved and perforated surface
(and secured thereto by means of screws or an equivalent) is placed a disc of couch
roll or blanket felt same diameter as bore of cylinder. One end of said cylinder is,
fitted with a movable lid or cover attached to cylinder flange by means of a hinge
joint and clasp or equivalent device. This lid is perforated grooved and felted.
same as piston head.
About of its length or thereby from covered end of cylinder is a circular
aperture fitted with a valve opening inwards for regulating supply of materials and
connected with the source of said supply by a pipe or otherwise. The flange at
other end of cylinder is for securing it in this position when at work, which can'
either be vertical, horizontal or inclined. The motive power is transmitted to the
piston by means of a lever, crank, cam, or screw actuated by manual steam or
hydraulic force.
Two or more of these cylinders can be connected together to form a continuous
delivery machine. The modus operandi" of this machine is as follows:-
Close and secure cover, move piston full length of stroke forward, that is, towards
cover end, on return stroke of piston a partial vacuum is formed in cylinder, the
valve in aperture falls admitting materials to be operated upon which are forced in
by the outside atmospheric pressure.
j
:
When the space between piston head and cover is full the latter is moved
forward; said action closes feed valve and having no other means of escape, the
liquid portion is forced through the felt discs passing off by the perforations and
the solids being unable to do so are forced up against the cylinder cover where
they remain attached. On the next return or backward stroke of the piston the
same action takes place & so on until a cake or block of sufficient thickness is.
obtained; when the cover is taken off and the contents removed. All the liquids
when separated from the solids being obliged to pass through the felt discs are
filtered and clarified at the same time, so that the consolidation and clarification'
are simultaneous and require no further reference here.
The better utilization of some of the material referred to relates to paper mill
sludge, sewage and such as contain a large amount of useless liquid, the commercial
value of such material depending almost entirely on the latter.
Dated thin 10th day of
AD 1001

page_text: I, JOHN FOULIS, of Musselburgh, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain,
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawing:-
The object of my invention is to drain; concentrate, clarify, consolidate, or
solidify, substances and liquids, such as paper mill sludge, sewage, starch, gluten,
distillery dregs, hops, barm, beer and oil foots, china clay, cement, colours, lakes,
dyes, pulpy fruits, Milk curd, butterine, paraffin, or other substances or liquids of
the like kind in a shorter space of time and more effectively than has ordinarily
heretofore been the case, and to render the products thus obtained of more
commercial value.
Owing to the great tenacity with which paper mill sludge and such like
albumenous, caseous, gummy, gelatinous, oily, and mucilaginous substances hold or
retain the water added in the course of their treatment or production, it has
hitherto been a slow, tedious, and troublesome matter, to disassociate them, and, in
many cases, practically impossible to convey their consolidation beyond a pasty
state, so that the products obtained are of little or no value or commercial use.
To remedy this defect my invention is practically carried into effect, by adapting,
controlling, and turning to the best account, what may be termed the adhesive
affinity of one class of substances, for that of another and different class; also in
using to the best advantage (for the same purpose) certain absorbent, porous, and
permeable materials, in conjunction or combination with a regulated system of
graduated pressure, obtained by mechanism or mechanical means, apparatus, or
appliances, as hereinafter described.
For the sake of clearness, I divide the invention into two stages, viz:-first
stage, draining and concentrating, and second stage consolidating and solidifying;
which will be hereinafter referred to as the first and second stages, and described in
such order accordingly.
To effect the aforesaid operation, the first stage consists in the use or employment
of a suitable number of tanks, cisterns, or other receptacles; with or without second
or false bottoms, solid or perforated, and lined partially or throughout with couch
roll, or blanket felt, or equivalent material, with suitable arrangements for collecting
the drained liquors
11.
In using this form of, drainer, it is only requisite to charge or fill them by any
convenient means, self acting or otherwise, and intermittent or continuous, as
desired, and either in a hot or cold state, according to the nature of the substance
under treatment, and the operation is continued till the desired result is obtained.
The second stage consists in the application of graduated pressure, in addition to
and in conjunction with the couch roll or blanket felt already referred to.
This pressure may or can be applied in two different ways, rotary or direct.
The rotary form of machine is best adapted for obtaining the solid material in
thin flakes or sheets; and the direct acting one for cakes and blocks.
Where paper mill sludge or other substances of a like nature are to be treated,
I prefer to heat them before submitting them to the draining and consolidating
process.
The temperature to which they are so heated may be varied more or less
according to the character of the substance, but I prefer that it should be about
212° Fahrenheit,

page_text: This beating may be accomplished by any convenient means such as the direc
heat of fire under pans or boilers, heated air, or steam, applied directly or in pipes,
or in any of the well known means used for purposes of the like kind. By such
process of heating applied to materials containing mucilaginous or albuminous
substances, these substances are coagulated and the process of draining and
solidifying are more readily and effectually accomplished. It will be seen therefore
that it is not necessary that materials containing mucilaginous or albuminous
matters so coagulated should be drained and solidified whilst still hot, but they
may be allowed to cool before being so treated.
The machine for the rotary method (which has two modifications) is the exact
counterpart of the wet end of an ordinary paper making machine, with a few
reversions, transpositions, and additions, of parts which I will now explain.
First: in place of the wire web or cloth, ordinarily used in paper making
machines, a band of felt is employed.
Second instead of the felted couch roll being above, and the plain or naked
press roll underneath, the positions are exactly reversed, that is to say the felted
roll is below, and the naked one above.
Third: in place of the first second and third press rolls being all naked as in
paper making machines, the underneath one of each set is felted, the arrangements
otherwise being unaltered.
The additions before mentioned consist of scrapers or doctors, fitted to each of
the upper naked press rolls, and a supplementary plain roll for each of the under-
neath felted ones, so placed as to press against them and to squeeze out the water-
or other liquid therefrom.
Fourth an adequate feed arrangement of any of the ordinary well known kinds,
to suit materials too dense to flow on to the feed band by gravitation alone.
The operation of this machine is similar to that of paper making machines, but
the results are most distinct and different, for in the place of the solid materials
remaining on the felts after passing through the press rolls, (as the sheet or web of
paper does) they leave the felt and adhere to the naked roll, owing, as before
mentioned, to their having a greater adhesive affinity for a smooth metallic surface,
than for a felt one; from the rolls they are shaved off by the scrapers already
referred to, and, falling on to the travelling band, are carried forward to the next
set of rolls, when the same process takes place, (but with an increasing pressure)
until the last set is reached, when they fall or are carried into any convenient
receptacle, the liquid portion, after separation, being likewise conveyed where most
convenient.
This method of arrangement is illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying
drawing, in which a is the endless band of felt travelling round the drums b, b, b,
set in revolution by any convenient power and supported by rollers at c, c.
The material is fed upon the band a at d², either from a tank, or by hand, or any
other ordinary feeding mechanism.
As the band a travels forward over the rollers c, c, a certain quantity of the
water drains out, and the material then passes between the rollers d, d', the upper
one of which is plain and the lower one covered with felt.
A further quantity of water is expelled by the pressure, and the material
adhering to the plain roll d is removed by the scraper at e whence it falls upon the
band a and is carried on through another similar pair of rolls f. f¹, under increased
pressure, and so on through as many additional pairs of rollers as may be desired,
the dried material being finally delivered at g and removed by a travelling band h
or other convenient means.
i, i, i, are plain rollers by which the water absorbed by the felted rolls is
squeezed out into a receptacle k.
The upper plain rolls may be made hollow and heated if desired, by steam or hot
water made to pass through them, in the ordinary well known way.
The machine is set in motion in the same way as a paper making machine, but
by the different method of construction described, instead of the solid materials

page_text: remaining upon the felt after passing through the several rolls, they leave the felt
and adhere to the naked rolls, owing to their having greater adhesive affinity for a
'smooth metallic surface than for a felt one.
The first modification of this machine for applying rotary pressure consists in
having one large felted roll, with a number of small naked ones, ranged round the
upper half of its circumference, the small rolls being provided with scrapers and
adjusting screws or springs for the regulation of the pressure. Underneath the
large felted roll, and pressing against it, is placed a plain roll for squeezing out the
water or other liquid absorbed by the former, provided also with any convenient
arrangement for collecting the same. In this arrangement, no feed band is required,
the felted roll carrying round the materials successively under the small rolls, when
the same action takes place as in the horizontal machine, and with the same
result.
This arrangement is shewn in figure 2, in which a is a large roll covered with
felt, and having a number of smaller naked rolls b, b, the pressure of which can be
adjusted as desired by screws or springs arranged round the upper half of its
circumference. These smaller rolls b, b, are provided with scrapers at e, e.
Under
the large felted roll a, and made to press against it with any desired force, is a
plain roll for squeezing out the water or other liquid absorbed by the felt upon a,
the liquid passing into a vessel . In this arrangement no endless felt band is
required, the material being fed to the felted roll a at d and being carried
round and under the succeeding smaller plain rolls b, b, b, where the same action
_ takes place as in the machine first described, the compressed solid material being
finally delivered at g into any receptacle or upon the endless travelling band h.
The second modification of this rotary machine is the counter part of that just
described, but having the moving parts reversed, that is is to say one large naked
roll with a number of small felted ones, placed round the underhalf of its circum-
ference, each provided with a plain roll for squeezing out the absorbed liquid as in
the previous case. In this arrangement only one scraper is required, placed against
the large roll behind the last of the small ones, as in this instance the solid matters
remain attached to the naked roll while passing the felted ones, but the same.effect
is produced because each of the small felted rolls press against it with an increasing
force. The feed arrangement in this case may be a hopper or other equivalent
device.
Figure 3 is in illustration of this form of arrangement the large roll a being
plain and having smaller felted rolls b, b, b, below it. Each of the latter can be
pressed up against the roll a with any desired force, and each is provided with an
adjustable plain pressure roll i, i, i, for squeezing out the water or other liquid into
the vessel k.
In this form of machine only one scraper is required at e against the large roll a
behind the last of the smaller rolls b.
It will be seen that the several forms of machine described are continuous in
their action, and produce the solid material in the form of thin sheets or flakes.
The machine or modification thereof for the application of direct pressure,
consists of a cylinder and piston, the former truly bored out and fitted with flanges.
The diameter of the cylinder is preferably about three times that of its depth, but
these proportions may be modified as desired.
The piston is provided with expansion rings or other ordinary form of packing,
and is made to fit the bore of the cylinder accurately. Its head is perforated with
holes about inch in diameter and about inch apart. These holes on the inner
or pressing surface are connected by grooved lines or channels cut into the metal of
the head. Or vertical channels may be formed in the face of the piston, over which
a thin perforated plate is fitted. Over this grooved and perforated surface, and
secured thereto by means of screws or their equivalents, is placed a disc of couch
roll or blanket felt, of the same diameter as the bore of the cylinder. One, end of
the said cylinder is fitted with a moveable lid or cover attached to the cylinder
flange by means of a hinge joint and clasp or by bolts, or other equivalent device,

page_text: this lid is grooved, perforated, and felted the same as the piston head. At or about
three fourths of its length from the covered end of the cylinder is an aperture fitted
with a valve opening inwards for regulating the supply of materials, and connected:
with the source of such supply by a pipe or otherwise. A flange or brackets at the
other end of the cylinder secures it in its position when at work, which position.
may be either vertical, horizontal, or inclined. The motive power is transmitted to
the piston by means of a lever, crank, cam or screw, actuated by manual, steam, or
hydraulic force. Two or more of these cylinders may be connected together to form
a continuous delivery machine.
This intermittent direct-acting machine is illustrated in figures 4 and 5, figure 4
being an elevation partly in section, and figure 5 an end view shewing part of the
cover.
A is a metal cylinder of sufficient size and strength, bored true and fixed to any
suitable foundation A¹, in a horizontal position as shewn, or.in other convenient
position.
The cylinder A is fitted with a piston B made tight with packing rings at C if.
necessary and provided with a rod or ram D by which it can be forced into or
withdrawn from the cylinder by a hydraulic cylinder D¹, or a screw, rack, or levers,
actuated as desired by hand, steam, or other power. The body of the piston B is
shewn having a number of vertical grooves 1, 1, 1, (figure 6), covered by a per-
forated plate 2 having a large number of small holes arranged close together, the
holes being connected by grooved lines or channels cut in the inner face of the
piston at 1, 1, 1, and outside this grooved and perforated surface is fixed by screws
or other equivalent means, a disc of couch roll or blanket felt F similar to that
already described. The end of the cylinder A is fitted with a moveable cover G
shewn suspended to a bar H upon which it can be run in or out, and capable of
being firmly fixed upon the end of the cylinder by bolts or other means, and this
cover is also provided with grooves, perforated plate, and fitted with a felt disc F1
in the same way as the piston. The stroke of the piston in the cylinder is made
preferably about one third of its diameter, and near the outer end of the stroke an
opening is made fitted with a valve opening inward through which the material to
be treated can be admitted from a tank or reservoir.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The cover G being closed and fastened,
the piston being at the inner end of its stroke, the latter is then drawn out and
when it has passed the opening the valve opens and a supply of the materials to be
operated upon is drawn into the cylinder by the partial vacuum.
The piston is then forced inward and as the valve closes and there is no other
means of escape, the liquid portion of the material is forced through the felt discs
F, F, and the perforations and grooves in the piston and the cover, and the solid
matter is forced up against the cylinder cover.
On the return stroke of the piston the same process is repeated, and so on until
a cake or block of sufficient thickness is obtained. The cover G is then opened
and the solid material removed. All the liquids being compelled to pass through
the felt discs are filtered and clarified and discharged at 3, 3, so that the con-
solidation, filtering, and clarifying proceed simultaneously.
It is not necessary that the cover should be grooved, perforated, and covered with
felt or its equivalent, as well as the piston.
Where the cover is left plain the compressed material adheres to it and leaves
the felt upon the piston when the cover is opened, for the reason given above.
If the cover is also fitted with felt I prefer to use a sufficient number of rings and
crossbars to secure the latter, their surface being sufficient to ensure the adherence
of the mass and to detach it from the felt covered piston. By the improved process
and apparatus described, materials such as paper mill sludge, sewage, and others
containing a large amount of useless liquid, are effectually utilized, the commercial
value of such materials depending largely upon their freedom from water.
I do not confine myself to the exact details of the process described, or to the
precise form and arrangement of the several parts of the apparatus described and

page_text: shewn, which may be varied more or less to suit varying circumstances, but having
now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. The process for draining, concentrating, clarifying, and consolidating or
solidifying liquid and semifluid substances by means of gradually increasing
pressure between plain surfaces and surfaces of felt or equivalent material sub-
stantially as described.
2. The process of heating such substances for the purpose of coagulating any
mucilaginous or albuminous matters, or other matters of a like kind, contained in
them, substantially as described.
3. The plain and felted rolls d, d, f, f, forced together by graduated pressure,
the plain rolls i, i, i, the felted roll or endless band a, and the scrapers or doctors e,
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn
in figures 1, 2, and 3.
4. The press consisting of the cylinder A, the piston B channelled and perforated
and having the felt lining F, the moveable cover G plain or similarly channelled,
perforated, and lined, and the inlet opening and valve, arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn.
DAL
1 Dhin 1001