FOR FILTERING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Henry Atkins of 62 Fleet Street in the City of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
London. Civil Engineer for an Invention of
FOR FILTERING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS"
$8
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Henry Atkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1883.
FRANCIS HENRY ATKINS of 62 Fleet Street in the City of London Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING WATER AND OTHER
LIQUIDS
"
This invention has for its object the improved arrangement and construction of
apparatus for filtering water and other liquids in such a manner that the
filtering material used may be thoroughly cleansed and renovated and the accumu-
lated impurities removed without the removal of the filtering material itself out of
the apparatus the advantages gained being economy of time labor and materials,
as compared with other known methods or processes in all of which the filtering
apparatus has to be taken to pieces before it can be efficiently cleaned
In order to attain the above advantages the filtering material whatever material
may be selected (any granulated substance being most suitable for the purpose) is
enclosed in a hollow perforated vessel constructed of metal or other suitable
material and so fixed as to revolve upon its axis.
די
The filtering material is less in bulk than the whole capacity of the filter case, it
is kept in its place by a false end or sliding or telescopic arrangement a suitable
pipe or pipes within the filter case embedded in the filtering material and connected
with the outlet from the filter collect the filtered water and carry it away. The
filter case or cylinder itself may either be placed in a tank or cistern containing the
unfiltered water or enclosed in another watertight case somewhat larger fitted
with an inlet for the unfiltered water and so arranged as to act under any required
pressure.
When it is required to cleanse the filtering material the false or telescopic end is
withdrawn from its position (or vice versa) nearer to the end of the filter case by a
sliding tube or rod or other suitable mechanism connected from the outside the

page_text: filtering material being thus released falls apart and occupies only a portion of the
space inside the filter case, which if desired may be formed in divisions with a false
or movable plate to each division for holding filtering materials of different degrees
of fineness.
The filter case is then caused to revolve or rotate on its axis by means of a
handle or other suitable mechanism also connected from the outside and the various
particles of filtering material are thus scraped and rubbed against each other, the
impurities which have collected on the surface of the filtering material or between
the particles being thus rubbed free.
By a suitable arrangement of apparatus a stream of water is then turned back
through the filtering material by means of the discharge and collecting pipes for
filtered water and the impurities washed or scrubbed off the filtering material are
thus carried out of the filter case through the perforations by which they
entered.
:
The effect of the scraping and rubbing of the various particles of filtering
material caused by the rotating or churning motion given to the cylinder or filter
case will effectually cleanse the surfaces of such filtering material of the impurities
collected whether soluble or insoluble while the back current of water removes
them completely from the filter-case into the surrounding tank or cistern or other
vessel whence they may be carried away through a waste pipe or otherwise
disposed of,
"
When the above operation has been continued sufficiently long to thoroughly
cleanse the filtering material the false or sliding end is. pushed back into the
position it formerly occupied thereby. causing the filtering material to assume
again the form of a compact body or bed and the operation of filtering straining or
purifying can be resumed as at first.
In constructing filtering apparatus to combine the above improvements suitable
for different purposes modifications and variations of the arrangement above
described may be employed to provide for the gradual diminution or loss of the
filtering material caused by the scrubbing of the surfaces as described a small
opening or openings are provided through which additional supplies of filtering
material used may be introduced into the interior of the filter-case from time to
time without pulling the apparatus to pieces.
•
The hollow filter-case may be round square octagonal or of any other shape
found most convenient and may either revolve on its axis as stated or in such a
manner as to have an eccentric motion or a jerking or other motion most efféctual
for cleansing the filtering material within.
The perforated filter-case may also be fitted with projections or other arrange-
ments inside to increase or assist the cleansing effect, or instead of a cylinder or
other vessel with a false sliding or telescopic end as described two such vessels may
be made to slide one inside the other and two or three or any number of such filter
cases may be connected together to form one apparatus for large quantities of
water.
The mechanical arrangement for giving the rotating or other motion to the
filter-case or cases aud for releasing and replacing the filtering material may be of
various kinds according to special requirements..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Henry Atkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th October 1883.
FRANCIS HENRY ATKINS of 62 Fleet Street in the City of London Civil
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING WATER AND OTHER
LIQUIDS
"
This Invention has for its object the improved arrangement and construction of
apparatus for filtering water and other liquids in such a manner that the filtering
material used may be thoroughly cleansed and renovated and the accumulated
impurities removed without the removal of the filtering material itself out of the
apparatus the advantages gained being economy of time labor and materials as
compared with other known methods or processes in all of which the filtering
apparatus has to be taken to pieces before it can be efficiently cleaned.
In order to attain the above advantages according to my improvements the
filtering material whatever material may be selected (any granulated substance
being most suitable for the purpose) is enclosed in a hollow perforated vessel
constructed of metal or other suitable material and so fixed as to revolve upon
its axis.
The filtering material is less in bulk than the whole capacity of the filter case, it
is kept in its place by a false end or sliding or telescopic arrangement a suitable
pipe (or pipes) within the filter case embedded in the filtering material and
connected with the outlet from the filter collects the filtered water and carries it
away. The filter case or cylinder itself may either be placed in a tank or cistern
containing the unfiltered water or enclosed in another water tight case somewhat
larger fitted with an inlet for the unfiltered water and so arranged as to act under
any required pressure.
When it is required to cleanse the filtering material the false or telescopic end is
withdrawn from its position (or vice versa) nearer to the end of the filter case by
a sliding tube or rod or other suitable mechanism connected from the outside the
filtering material being thus released falls apart and occupies only a portion of the
space inside the filter case which if desired may be formed in divisions with a false
or movable plate to each division for holding filtering materials of different degrees
of fineness.
The filter case is then caused to revolve or rotate on its axis by means of a
handle or other suitable mechanism also connected from the outside and the various
particles of filtering material are thus scraped and rubbed against each other the
impurities which have collected on the surface of the filtering material or between
the particles being thus rubbed free.
By a suitable arrangement of apparatus a stream of water is then turned back
through the filtering material by means of the discharge and collecting pipes
for filtered water and the impurities washed or scrubbed off the filtering material
are thus carried out of the filter case through the perforations by which they
entered.
The effect of the scraping and rubbing of the various particles of filtering
material caused by the rotating or churning motion given to the cylinder or filter
case will effectually cleanse the surfaces of such filtering material of the impurities
collected whether soluble or insoluble while the back current of water removes
them completely from the filter case into the surrounding tank or cistern or other
vessel whence they may be carried away through a waste pipe or otherwise
disposed of,

page_text: When the above operation has been continued sufficiently long to thoroughly
cleanse the filtering material, the false or sliding end is pushed back into the
position it formerly occupied thereby causing the filtering material to assume again
the form of a compact body or bed and the operation of filtering straining or
purifying can be resumed as at first.
In constructing filtering apparatus to combine the above improvements suitable
for different purposes modifications and variations of the arrangement above
described may be employed to provide for the gradual diminution or loss of the
filtering material caused by the scrubbing of the surfaces as described a small
opening or openings are provided through which additional supplies of filtering
material used. may be introduced into the interior of the filter case from time to
time without pulling the apparatus to pieces.
The hollow filter case may be round square octagonal or of any other shape
found most convenient and may either revolve on its axis as stated or in such a
manner as to have an eccentric motion or a jerking or other motion most effectual
for cleansing the filtering material within.
The perforated filter-case may also be fitted with projections or other arrange-
ments inside to increase or assist the cleansing effect or instead of a cylinder or
other vessel with a false sliding or telescopic end as described two such vessels
may be made to slide one inside the other and two or three or any number of
such filter cases may be connected together to form one apparatus for large quantities
of water.
The mechanical arrangement for giving the rotating or other motion to the filter-
case or cases and for releasing and replacing the filtering material may be of
various kinds according to special requirements.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to describe the drawings hereto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show several views of a filter constructed in accordance
with my improvements intended to work under pressure.
a is a closed cylinder within which and fitted to one end is a centre tube a¹
extending only part of the length of the said cylinder and may be a fixture as
shown in Figure 2 or it may be arranged to revolve. The cylinder a also contains
a second cylinder 6 constructed of perforated material entirely closed at one end
and is intended to revolve or oscillate as hereinafter described. For this purpose
a bearing ax is formed at one end on the outside of the tube a' if this is fixed or
simply attached to it if this tube is arranged to revolve and the opposite end
having a bearing on a bar e¹ placed across the cylinder a but either or both of these
bearings may be formed in any other convenient manner.
The cylinder b is only partly filled with filtering material which is compressed
or held in position by means of the slide d. To this slide is attached a rod e which
may be either plain or have a screw thread cut on its surface and work through a
fixed nut if preferred. To one end of the cylinder b is attached a cog wheel c²
geared into another cog-wheel c¹ the shaft of which passes through a stuffing box
to the outside of the cylinder a and terminates with a crank handle or pulley c.
In Figure 2 the filtering material is shown in the position it occupies when
filtering.
The liquid to be filtered is admitted by the inlet pipe to the cylinder a passes
through the perforated material of which the cylinder b is constructed through the
bed of filtering material to the centre tube a¹ which has suitable perforations so
arranged that the filtered liquid can pass through but not the filtering material
and passing through this tube the filtered liquid is conducted outside the
cylinder a
When the filtering material requires cleaning it is done in the following manner.
The slide d is withdrawn by means of the rod e to the end of the cylinder b

page_text: as shown by the dotted lines d' and the filtering material necessarily falls
loosely about in the cylinder b. The pulley or handle c is then set in motion
causing the cylinder b to revolve oscillate or jerk as may be desired. The filtering
material and the various particles or portions are thus caused to rub one against
the other thus not only chafing or scraping the various surfaces and thereby
loosening and removing the coating or incrustation of impurity accumulated on
such surfaces during the process of filtering but also loosening breaking up
scattering and disintegrating any clots or accumulations of impurity which may
have become lodged between the particles composing the filter bed.
During this process of cleaning a current of water may be admitted either by
means of the usual inlet pipe or by means of a bye-pass through the centre tube al
and all impurities washed scraped or rubbed off the filtering material are allowed
to pass away by opening the waste valve g. As soon as the operation of cleaning
is finished by means of the rod e and slide d the filtering material is pressed into
its original position and the operation of filtering may be resumed.
Openings with suitable covers are arranged at h.h¹ for the purpose of replenishing
or increasing the stock of filtering material and at h² for allowing any to fall out
when desired.
Several of these filters may be connected together to form one large apparatus
and for this purpose a branch may be taken off any common inlet pipe to each
filter, and similarly the outlet from each filter is connected to a main pipe for the
purpose of conveying away the filtered liquid.
Figures 5 and 6 represent a similar arrangement of filtering apparatus excepting
that in the place of the high pressure case a Figures 1 and 2 I employ an open
cistern a Figures 5 and 6.
This open cistern is in every respect fitted with similar apparatus to Figures 1,
2, 3, having centre tube a² extending part of the length of the cistern, perforated
case b, slide d, rod e, handle c and also inlet outlet and waste valves the said valves
being either arranged as shown in Figures 5 and 6 or in any other convenient
manner according to special circumstances.
Figure 7 shows a different application of the same principle. An open cistern a
contains a double perforated cylinder 6 6 the opposite end of each cylinder being
closed at 6, 6. These two cylinders act telescopically; the cistern a is fitted
with a centre tube similar to that shown in Figure 2 the cylinder b either rotating
on the said tube or is attached to the tube if this is arranged to rotate.
In place of the slide d the cylinder 6 can be withdrawn by means of a rod e
allowing the filtering material to fall loosely about for the purpose of cleaning as
before described the two cylinders b and 6 revolving together when the handle c
is set in motion.
Figure 8 represents a filtering arrangement partly similar to Figure 7 but
instead of one pair of long telescopic cylinders b b I employ several short
cylinders b, b³, mounted on a centre tube a¹ passing through the whole series of
such short cylinders.
"
Each of the said cylinders is closed at one end is filled with filtering material
and is fitted with a second cylinder 63 closed at the opposite end being in this
respect similar to the large pair of cylinders shown in Figure 7.
When it is desired to clean the filtering material the rods or guides e e are
withdrawn the inside cylinders b' are withdrawn at the same time thus increasing
the internal capacity of each of the said cylinders in the same manner but on a
smaller scale than that described in Figure 7. The whole series of cylinders is
now caused to oscillate rotate jerk or be other ways agitated in order that the
grinding or rubbing action may take place amongst the filtering material as
previously described.
Figure 9 shows another method of constructing filters in accordance with my
improvements.
Within a water tight case a a perforated cylinder 6 is mounted and fitted with
a-centre tube a¹, which in this case may extend the whole length of the cylinder.

page_text: From the centre tube a¹ to the inside edge of the cylinder b are two dividing
plates dd which may or may not be of perforated metal extending the whole
length and breadth of the space from centre tube to cylinder case. The said
division plates d d are shown extended and pressing the filtering material together
as compactly as may be desired.
When it is necessary to clean the filtering material the two plates d d are drawn
together the filtering material thus has increased space and falls loosely about and
the operation of cleaning by oscillation rotation or other movement is performed
in the same manner to that previously described. When cleaning is finished the
two plates d d are moved back to their original position by means of a cam
eccentric or other convenient movement thus again compressing the filtering
material and the operation of filtering can be resumed.
Figure 10 shows an arrangement in which a series of short cylinders b b closed
at both ends constructed wholly or partly of perforated metal or material are
mounted on a central tube a¹ Each of the cylinders b b is filled with filtering
material to above the level of the tube a¹ but not entirely. When filtering the
liquid flows through the perforated material into either of the discs through the
filtering material to the centre tube a¹ which has suitable holes to allow of the flow
of the filtered liquid but not the passage of the filtering material. The discs b b
being mounted on and attached to the centre tube a¹ in the operation of cleaning
the tube a¹ is caused to revolve oscillate jerk or be otherwise agitated the filtering
material thereby falling loosely about in the whole of each cylinder b.
When the operation of cleaning is finished the filtering material resumes as
nearly as possible its original position by the law of gravity and without any
special means of replacing or compression.
Figures 11 and 12 show the application of the same principal to filters intended
for household use or use on a smaller scale.
In Figure 11 a is a case for receiving filtered water and also to contain a
second vessel a intended to receive the unfiltered water and also to hold the
filter.
The filter consists of a cylinder b or vessel of any other suitable shape with the
lower end closed and a cover b¹ fitted on the upper end or top. In this cylinder
is fixed a centre tube a' extending part of the length of the said cylinder b having
suitable perforations to allow the filtered water to flow through but not the
filtering material. The said tube passes through and beyond one end of the
cylinder b and is attached to the lower end in any convenient manner. The end
of the tube a¹ passing through the cylinder b is fixed into a bole through the
vessel a in such manner that it is water tight but can be removed when necessary.
For this purpose the hole in the vessel a' may be fitted with a cork or india rubber
plug having a hole through it through which the tube a' passes or the joint may
be made by means of the end of the tube a' being screwed and fixed with a screw
nut and washer immediately above and below the hole in the bottom of the
vessel a² or in any other convenient manner. The tube a¹ may be fitted with a
filtering block of charcoal porous stone or any other material of smaller size than
the cylinder b and the remaining space between the block and the sides of the
perforated cylinder b filled with loose filtering material or the whole of the space
between the tube a' and the sides of the cylinder b may be occupied by loose
filtering material a space being left between the top of the vessel and the loose
filtering material.
When this filtering material requires cleaning the cylinder 6 with the whole
contents including the tube a¹ is removed from the vessel a³ and caused to be
oscillated rotated jerked or shaken about either in water out of water or occasion-
ally dipped in water or the protruding end of the tube a¹ may be connected by
means of india rubber pipe and a jet of water allowed to pass through the filtering
material while it is kept agitated such agitation causing the particles to rub one
against another and thus remove the impurity adhering to the surfaces of the said
particles the water carrying such impurities away. A cover may be fitted at b?

page_text: and arranged to screw down if it is desired and compress the filtering material
such cover being entirely removed before the operation of cleaning is commenced.
Figure 12 shows the application of a similar arrangement of filter to Figure 11
to a different form of containing vessel the difference being that the case a takes
the form of a reservoir and in place of the vessel a³ I employ a separate vessel of
glass or other suitable material.
For the purpose of forming a portable or travelling filter a filter similar to that
fitted in the vessel a Figure 11 or that fitted in the upper vessel b Figure 12 may
be used without any reservoir whatever but with an india rubber or other tube
attached to the protruding end of the tube a' it can be thrown into water and the
water drawn direct from the filter through the india rubber tube. Or the filter
can be placed in a vessel containing the water it is desired to filter and the india
rubber or other tube attached to the tube a' acting as a syphon filtered water may
be run off into another vessel placed on a lower level the filtering material being
held in position by a cover 6¹ or its equivalent.
In every case according to my improvements I employ a filtering vessel of such
capacity that the filtering material may be confined therein leaving space for the
filtering material when released to be thrown about oscillated jerked or otherwise
agitated and the various particles knocked one against the other in order to chafe
or rub from the surfaces the impurities accumulated in the process of filtering.
In the various arrangements of filtering apparatus shown in the drawings I do
not necessarily confine myself to cylinders but vessels of square octangular or
other suitable shape may be employed if desired.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that my invention has for its
object improved methods or means of cleaning filtering substances or materials by
causing the various particles sections pieces layers or other portions of such
filtering substances or materials or other substances or materials used in conjunction
therewith to rub one against the other and so in effect clean themselves and loosen
and break up clots or accumulations of impurity lodged or incrusted or retained
on the surfaces or between the interstices or pores ready to be washed or carried
away by a current of water or other liquid or by a sifting action applied to the
filtering material or substance such effects being produced simply by motion given
or communicated to the chamber case or container of such filtering substance or
material whether such motion be rotation or oscillation jerking shaking or other-
wise and whether caused or communicated by hand power or by steam animal or
any other motive power and without the necessary aid of stirrers or other means
of stirring up or turning over the filtering substance or material (though such aids
may be superadded without disturbing the essential character of my invention) the
essential feature being that such filtering substance or material is so arranged that
such motion effects the desired purpose without removing it from the chamber or
cylinder or case containing it and such motion effecting or being capable of
effecting such a result by reason of the case cylinder chamber or other receptacle
of the filtering substance or material being either larger than is necessary for the
same when filtering or capable of expansion or enlargement when required by
telescopic sliding screw or other method of construction.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice I would remark that I do not limit myself to
the exact details hereinbefore described so long as the essential features of my
invention are retained at the same time I make no claim to any of the mechanical
or other parts separately which are well known and in common use.
But what I claim is :-
First, The improved means and apparatus for filtering water and other liquids
so arranged that the filtering materials or substances can be cleansed when required
by attrition or the friction of the particles against each other when set free and
agitated or set in motion within the filter case or otherwise substantially in the
manner and for the purpose hereinbefore fully described and represented in the
drawings annexed.

page_text: Second. I claim the improved arrangement and construction of apparatus for
filtering water and other liquids arranged to act substantially in the manner
herein before described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said Francis Henry Atkins have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Seventeenth day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
J G TONGUE
Patent Agent
34 Southampton Buildings
London W C.
F. H. ATKINS (L.S.)