AN IMPROVED ÅRRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF FILTER PRESS FOR THE MORE PERFECT LIXIVIATION OR WASHING OF THE CAKES OF SOLID MATTER FORMED IN THE FILTERING CHAMBERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED ÅRRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF FILTER PRESS FOR THE
MORE PERFECT LIXIVIATION OR WASHING OF THE CAKES OF SOLID MATTER
FORMED IN THE FILTERING CHAMBERS." A communication from abroad by
Albert Louis George Dehne, of Halle on Saal, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1878.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OR CON-
STRUCTION OF FILTER PRESS FOR THE MORE PERFECT LIXIVIATION OR WASHING OF
THE CAKES OF SOLID MATTER FORMED IN THE FILTERING CHAMBERS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Albert Louis George Dehne, of Halle on Saal, in the
Empire of Germany.]
The object of this Invention is to wash out from masses or cakes of refuse solid
matter valuable soluble substances, .or to remove from valuable solid substances
refuse or extraneous soluble matters, which render the solid substances impure
and useless in that state for the purpose for which they are intended to be
employed.
As an example, let us suppose that it is intended to act upon the solid cake
which is obtained by filtering the syrup or saccharine juice obtained in the manu-
facture of beetroot sugar.
The filtering process itself does not materially differ from that usually employed
for filtering beet root syrups, that is to say, the impure syrup (with which are
mixed solid matters, such as fibres and woody matters derived from the beet root)
is supplied to a series of shallow or narrow filtering chambers formed by assembling
together a series of wooden frames, in the centre part of which are made shallow

page_text: recesses on each side. These recesses are grooved on their bottoms and covered with
filtering cloth and perforated metal.
The syrup or semi-liquid to be operated upon is allowed to run through suitable
openings into the spaces formned by these recesses, and the liquid portion will pass
through the filtering cloths and perforated metal and run away down the grooves
at the back, and may be collected below while the solid matters will be retained
between the perforated plates and filtering surfaces.
When the filter press has become so far charged with solid matter that the
filtering process will not continue, then the supply and exit openings are closed, and
water under pressure is forced to pass through the cakes and carry off with it the
soluble saccharine matter that is mixed with the solid matters. In order to effect
this object, projecting pieces are attached to the upper and lower edge of the side of
the frames, and tubular passages are made through these projecting pieces.
The tubular passages in the lower projecting piece cominunicates with the filtering
space formed by the recesses at one side of the cake, and with this same space the
smaller passage for the escape of the air in the upper projecting piece communicates;
while the filtering space forined by the recesses at the other side of the cake com-
municates with the main tubular passage in the upper projecting pieces. The
object of this construction is to introduce the washing fluid by the tubular passage
in the lower projecting pieces into the filtering space on one side of the cake, and
to cause the washing fluid to penetrate the cake in order to fill up the entire
filtering chamber, and to make the washing fluid to escape through the filtering
space on the other side of the cake into the tubular passage in the upper projecting
pieces, thereby perfectly washing or lixiviating the solid cakes in the press
chambers.
When all the saccharine matter has been washed out of the solid cake, the
apparatus may be taken to pieces and the solid cake removed from the filter press.
By this means a greater yield of sugar may be obtained from a given weight of
beet root.
In order to ascertain whether the lixiviation or washing of the cakes by the
above described process has been completed, that is to say, that the saccharine in
the washing fluid is either above zero on the saccharometer, or is so trifling in
amount that further washing would give no useful result, I attach to the exit
aperture through which the washing fluid leaves the press an apparatus for
ascertaining the saccharine strength of the liquid. This apparatus consists mainly
of an U shaped tube, the upward bent part of which is open so that a saccharometer
or other analogous instrument may be plunged into the liquid in this tube, in order
that the attendant may always be able to ascertain the specific gravity or density
of the liquid.
The controlling apparatus is for the purpose of examining the quality of the
liquid, and is connected with the outlet opening for the washing fluid.
A basin is attached beneath the mouth of the upward bent part of the outlet
tube, so that the fluid will overflow from the mouth of the tube into the basin, and
is led away therefrom by a branch pipe.
A small cock is placed at the lowest part of the U shaped tube for the purpose of
emptying the latter.
The bulb of the saccharometer is placed in the open end of the U shaped tube, so
that the scale may be examined while the liquid is running away.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1878.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OR CON-
STRUCTION OF FILTER PRESS FOR THE MORE PERFECT LIXIVIATION OR WASHING OF
THE CAKES OF SOLID MATTER FORMED IN THE FILTERING CHAMBERS." A com-
munication from abroad by Albert Louis George Dehne, of Halle on Saal, in the
Empire of Germany.
The object of this Invention is to wash out from masses or cakes of refuse solid
matter valuable soluble substances which may be mixed therewith, or to remove
from valuable solid substances refuse or extraneous soluble matters which render the
solid substances impure and useless in that state for the purpose for which they
are intended to be employed.
As an example, let us suppose that it is desired to extract from the solid cako
which is obtained by filtering the syrup or saccharine juice obtained in the manu-
facture of beet root sugar any useful saccharine matter that may be mixed with the
woody fibres of which the solid cake is composed.
The filtering process itself, whereby the greater portion of the soluble saccharine
matter is separated from the woody fibres, does not materially differ from the
process usually employed for filtering beetroot syrups, that is to say, the impure
syrup (with which are mixed solid substances, such as fibres and woody matters
derived from the beetroot) is supplied to a series of shallow or narrow filtering
chambers formed by assembling together a series of frames, in the contre part of
which are made shallow recesses on each side. These recesses are grooved on their
bottoms and covered with filtering cloth and perforated metal, so as to allow the
liquid to pass through.
The syrup or semi-liquid to be operated upon is allowed to run through suitable
openings into the spaces formed in the frames by these recesses, and the liquid
portion will pass through the filtering cloths and perforated metal, and run away
down the grooves at the back, and may be collected below while the solid inatters
will be retained between the perforated plates and filtering surfaces.
When the filter press has become so far charged with solid matter that the
filtering process will not continue, then the supply and exit openings through which
the saccharine solution has been allowed to pass are closed, and water under
pressure is forced to pass through the cakes, and carry off with it the soluble
saccharine matter that is still mixed with the solid matters or woody fibres. In
order to effect this object, projecting pieces are attached to the upper and lower
edges of the side of the frames, and tubular passages are made through these pro-
jecting pieces.
The tubular passage in the lower projecting piece communicates with the filtering
space formed by the recesses at one side of the cake, and with this same space the
smaller passage for the escape of the air in the upper projecting piece communi-
cates, while the filtering space formed by the recesses at the other side of the cake
communicates with the main tubular passage in the upper projecting pieces. The
object of this construction is to introduce the washing fluid by the tubular passage
(in the lower projecting pieces) into the filtering space oh one side of the cake, and
to cause the washing fluid to penetrate the cake in order to fill up the entire
filtering chamber, and to make the washing fluid to escape through the filtering
space on the other side of the cake into the tubular passage in the upper projecting
pieces, thereby perfectly washing or lixiviating the solid cakes in the press
chambers. By this means a greater yield of sugar may be obtained from a given
weight of beetroot,

page_text: When all the saccharine matter has been washed out of the solid cako, the
apparatus may be taken to pieces and the solid cake removed from the filter
press.
In order to ascertain whether the lixiviation or washing of the cakes by the
above described process has been completed, that is to say, that the saccharine in
the washing fluid is either above zero on saccharometer, or is so trifling in amount
that further washing would give no useful result, I attach on to the exit aperture
(through which the washing fluid leaves the press) an apparatus for ascertaining
the saccharine strength of the liquid. This apparatus consists mainly of a syphon
or shaped tube, the upward bent part of which is open so that a saccharometer
or other analogous instrument may be plunged into the liquid in this tube, in order
that the attendant may always be able to ascertain the specific gravity or density
of the liquid.
This apparatus is for the purpose of examining the quality of the liquid, and is
connected with the outlet opening for the washing fluid.
A basin is attached beneath the mouth of the upward bent part of the outlet
tube, so that the fluid will overflow from the mouth of the tube into the basin, and
is led away therefrom by a branch pipe.
A small cock is placed at the lowest part of the U shaped tube for the purpose of
emptying the latter.
The bulb of the saccharometer is placed in the open end of the U shaped tube, so
that the scale may be examined while the liquid is running away.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved filtering press, a portion of the filtering
frames being shewn in section.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the moveable head piece or vertical plate, whereby
⚫ the filtering frames are held in place.
Fig. 3 is a view of the filtering frames detached, and shewing the naked per-
forated plate. This Figure represents one of the frames which are marked in Fig. 1
with uneven numbers, such as 1, 3, 5, 7, &c.; Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the
filtering plates which are marked in Fig. 1 with an even number 2, 4, 6, 8, &c.
This Figure shews the vertical grooves or narrow channels, down which the liquid
matters will flow when they pass through the filtering surfaces.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the filtering apparatus complete; Fig. 6 is a plan
view of the same.
In Figures 1 and 5, a, a, is the foundation plate, and b, b, standards which
support the head or fixed part of the apparatus.
The opposite end or moveable part of the apparatus is supported by the standard c,
at the central part of the cross head of which is a nut, through which passes the
strong screw & provided at one end with a hand wheel e for turning the same.
The other end of the screw d is socketed in the central part of the moveable
and g. of the filter press.
The two standards b and c are connected together on each side by the wrought-
iron bars ff which carry the filtering plates or frames 1,.2, 3, 4, &c., and also the
moveable head piece g, g.
The filtering frames consist, as will be seen at Fig. 1, of the plates provided at
their edges on either side with projecting ribs,.so that when two or more frames are
tightly pressed, together, cavities will be formed which will afford space for the
filtering surfaces, and to receive the solid matters that are to be operated upon, as
will be hereafter explained. The faces of the recesses thus produced in the frames
are grooved as shewn at Fig. 4, and are then covered with perforated sheet metal,
as shewn at Fig. 3. The hollow space thus formed from two contiguous frames
constitute the cavities into which the substance to be operated .on is conducted,
while the space behind the perforated metal plates and between them and the
grooved faces of the frames serve to receive the filtered liquid as it passes through
the filtering surfaces. The filtered liquid passes from thence through the. cocks

page_text: attached to each filtering frame (as shewn at Figures 1 and 6), and is drawn off
into any suitable receptacle.
When the solid matters contained in these spaces are to be washed for tho
purpose of removing all the saccharine matter contained therein, then these cocks
are to be closed.
The interiors of the filtering frames marked with uneven numbers, 1, 3, 5, &c.,
are in communication with the inlet passage h, and also with the air passage i, as
indicated by dots in Fig. 3.
The passage h serves for the introduction of the water for washing the solid
matters, and the passage i for the escape of air from the interior of the frames.
The interiors of the frames marked with even numbers and also the fixed and-
moveable head pieces are connected with the exit passage k, by which the washing
water is drank off the frames.
To the fixed head pieces at the left-hand end of the apparatus, Figures 1 and 6,
is attached an inlet valve and an outlet valve m for the exit of the washing water.
To this fixed head piece is also connected a flange piece provided with an inlet
valve n to admit the liquid that is to be filtered. In the prolonged axial line of
this flanged piece all the filter frames have central openings which are lined with
brass fittings.
The liquid to be filtered passes along the central chamber thus formed, and thereby
obtains access to the interior of all the frames, the brass fittings serving to securo
the filter cloths on the perforated plates, which with the filter cloths are of course
made with corresponding openings.
It will be seen that the filtering frames and also the fixed and moveable head
pieces are made with square projecting pieces at the top and bottom corners of one
side.
The upper piece o, Figures 3 and 4, has two holes and i bored in it, while the
lower piece u has only one hole h.
When all the filtering frames are in their places and are properly tightened up
together, the small holes i and the large holes of the upper projection o form
continuous channels, the channel i terminating in the air cock t, Fig. 1, in the
fixed head piece, while the larger channel is connected with the valve m.
The holes in the lower piece u form the channel h which is in connection with
the valve l, and admits the water for washing the solid matters.
The construction of the improved filtering apparatus having been described, I
will now proceed to explain the manner in which the same is operated:-The liquid
to be filtered having been admitted by the central channel and allowed to run
through the apparatus for a sufficient length of time to admit of a solid cake being
formed in the recesses of the filtering frames by the accumulation of the woody
fibres and solid matters that have been separated from the liquid by the process of
filtration, the inlet valve n which admits the liquid to be filtered and the cocks
which allow the filtered liquid to run off must be closed, the valve is then opened
in order to allow water to enter the passage h in the perforated projections u.
From this passage the water will pass into the interior of the frames 1, 3, 5, 7, &c.,
and will drive out the air contained therein, which will escape through the channel
or passage and the air cock t. The washing water will now pass through the
cakes in the adjoining frames, and from thence will enter the channel or passage k
formed in the upper projecting piece o, and will pass out from thence to the valve m,
from whence it will run through the syphon pipe v, v, into the basin, and thence
the exit pipe, as shewn in the detached view Fig. 1a, into any suitable receptacle.
By this arrangement of parts and mode of working the entire mass of cakes in the
apparatus will be well washed throughout with the water, which will dissolve out
any sugar contained in the cakes, and as all the effluent liquor must flow through
the syphon pipe v, it will be evident that the attendant can with the greatest
facility test its condition by means of a saccharometer as already explained, so that
he will be able to stop the washing process when it cannot be carried on further
with advantage,

page_text: It will be obvious that this improved apparatus or mode of washing solid matters
can be used with very great advantage in many chemical works where it is required
to filter precipitates from liquids, in which process exactly the opposite result to
that required in sugar factories will be produced, as it is not the liquid which is the
valuable product, but the solid matter left in the filter, and which solid matter
requires to be washed clean of any insoluble impurities.
Heretofore, in consequence of the difficulty of completely washing out all the
soluble impurities, the solid product has been deteriorated in value, but by the
improved system above described the operator can effect the processes of filtration,
and also the perfect washing of the substance in immediate succession, with the
utmost facility, and can thus obtain a much purer product than heretofore.
The system is also peculiarly applicable to the manufacture of fine colours, in
which it is frequently of the greatest importance that a perfect neutralization
of the precipitated coloring matter should be effected.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that I lay no claim to the combination of a
number of filtering frames arranged together so as to form recesses or chambers for
the reception of liquid to be filtered, and the formation of cakes of solid insoluble
matters, except when such frames are constructed in the manner and for the purpose
herein set forth, but that which I consider to be new in the above described
improved filter press, and therefore desire to claim as the Invention secured to me
by Letters Patent as aforesaid, is,—
First. Constructing the filter frames with additional channels or passages, so that
when the filtering process is finished or temporarily stopped, the passage for the
inflow of the liquid to be filtered, and also the cocks or passages for the discharge
or outflow of the filtered liquid, may be closed, and other channels or passages
opened for the admission of water to the apparatus, and to allow it to pass through
the solid cakes contained in the filter frames, and in so doing to carry off therefrom
any soluble matters that may be combined with the solid substances in the appa-
ratus as horein set forth.
Second. I claim the application of the apparatus herein set forth either for
washing out useful or valuable soluble matters from refuse insoluble solid substances,
or for removing or separating from valuablo solid substances soluble impurities as
above described.
Third. In combination with the improved arrangement of filter press above
described for the more perfect lixiviation or washing of the cakes, I claim the appa-
ratus shewn at Fig. 14, whereby the manufacturer is enabled to ascertain the specific
gravity or density of the effluent liquid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.

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