AN IMPROVED FILTERING RESERVOIR WORKED BY COMPRESSED AIR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 13, Ruc Gaillon, Paris, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
FILTERING RESERVOIR WORKED BY COMPRESSED AIR." A communication from
abroad by François Chanoit, Engineer, of 49, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1876.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon
Paris. "AN IMPROVED FILTERING RESERVOIR WORKED BY COMPRESSED AIR."
This improved filtering reservoir consists in a case wherein at a short distance
from the bottom an appropriate filtering medium is inserted, and above the same a
space is reserved which acts like an air vessel. The water is introduced by a pipe
from below, and traversing the filtering medium enters the upper chainber gradually
compressing the air therein contained, and from which it is withdrawn as required
by means of a pipe. The lower chamber situated below the filter can be cleansed
of the matter separated from the water or other liquid filtered by means of a pipe
provided with a cock.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
4th November 1876.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue
Gaillon, Paris. "AN IMPROVED FILTERING RESERVOIR WORKED BY COMPRESSED
[Price Gd.1

page_text: AIR" A communication from abroad by François Chanoit, Engineer, of 49, Ruo
de la Chausseé d'Antin, Paris.
The main feature of this new apparatus and which distinguishes it from other
filters is that it operates by means of the alternate action of the hydrostatic pressure
of the liquids and of the air compressed by the same liquids, and thus realises
several desiderata by simply turning a cock.
In practice this apparatus effects economically,-
Firstly. Filtration of water in small or large quantities.
Secondly. Aeration of the water.
Thirdly. Better conditions as regards the temperature and the quality of the
water.
Fourthly. Better regulation as regards supply or distribution.
Fifthly. Attenuation of hydraulic shocks.
And, Sixthly. Automatic cleansing of the water.
In order that the Invention be clearly understood and easily put into practical
operation I will describe it in detail conjointly with the two Figures of the
accompanying Drawing, of which Figure 1 is a plan in section through X, X,
Figure 2 and Figure 2, an elevation in section through Z, Z, Figure 1.
This new atmospheric filter consists in three main parts or compartments placed
one above the other, A, B, and C, assuming together a cylindrical form.
The liquid is fed into the apparatus through the pipe a, fills the reception A,
traverses and fills from below the filtering chamber B, where it is clarified, and then
rises within the upper chamber or compartment C under an overlaying charge of
compressed air which originally extended itself at its ordinary pressure within the
entire empty space of apparatus.
The reception chamber A is provided with a blow-off cock », to which may also
be attached a pipe m for the purpose of discharging the impurities at a certain
height if required.
The chamber B is filled with any well known appropriate filtering medium, but
the inventor prefers furnace slag reduced or finely divided by immersion when hot
in a bath of cold water. This slag is compressed between two upper and lower
perforated plates f, each plate being lined with very fine wire gauze tinned or
galvanized, or any other material which will confine the broken up slag.
The chamber C should be regarded as the real reservoir in which the water and
compressed air accumulate, the former in the lower part, and the latter in the upper
part, where the the space it occupies is diminished in proportion to its compression.
Filtered water is drawn off from this apparatus by opening a cock placed on the
pipe c, the compressed air in the upper part D of the chamber C causing it to issue
under pressure.
When it is necessary to renew the air in the apparatus the supply of liquid
through the pipe a is arrested, and all the water contained in the apparatus is with-
drawn through the cock 1.
With this apparatus an automatic cleansing or filtering effect is obtained of an
intermittent action and energy, but as frequent and efficacious as is necessary for
the purpose. Such filtering has not to my knowledge ever been obtained or put in
practice by means of the expansion of air, which gives it an efficacity and a duration
which may be considered indefinite.
As water or other liquids requiring filtration have the property of dissolving air
in quantity varying with the pressure and the temperature in ordinary filters, if the
proportion of such pressure and temperature diminish beyond certain limits, the
said water or other liquids will no longer be digestive. With my system of filter,
since the water or other liquid which it contains is in contact with compressed air,
it absorbs the latter, particularly its oxygen, in quantities bearing a relative pro-
portion to the compression of the air. This absorbing property of liquids is easily
recognisable by the whitish hue they have on leaving the chamber C, which hue is
due to the presence of air in the shape of infinitely small bubbles, and which rising

page_text: through the liquid burst on its surface, producing a sound like that of effervescing
drinks.
Having thus explained the nature of these improvements, as well as the best
means that I am acquainted with for putting the same into practical operation, I
claim as the Invention to be secured by the herein in part recited Letters Patent,
the construction and action of a filter acting under compressed air for the purposes
specified, as above described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)