A NEW APPARATUS FOR CLARIFYING AND PURIFYING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Nadault de Buffon, of 13, Rue du
Cherche Midi, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 4, South Street,
Finsbury, London, Ingenieur enChief du Gouvernement, fortheInvention
of "A NEW APPARATUS FOR CLARIFYING AND PURIFYING WATER AND OTHER
LIQUIDS"
Sealed the 21st November 1856, and dated the 26th May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Nadault de
Buffon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th May 1856.
I, BENJAMIN NADAULT DE BUFFON, of 13, Rue du Cherche Midi, Paris, in
the Empire of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Ingenieur en
Chief du Gouvernement, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention of
"A NEW APPARATUS FOR CLARIFYING AND PURIFYING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS,"
to be as follows, that is to say:-
C. 2.:
The Invention consists in an improved mode of constructing filters for
filtering liquids requiring that operation, but chiefly applicable for filtering,
on a large scale, river and other waters employed for distribution in towns
for domestic or industrial purposes.
The filter consists of a perforated tube of wrought iron, zinc, copper,
galvanised iron, or other non-oxidizable material, with an external envelope of

page_text: metallic cloth protected against oxidation, and forming a cylindrical surface
concentric to that of the tube. Between the tube and the envelope ordinary
filtering materials, varying in nature according to the operation, are introduced
to the required thickness, and then compressed to the required degree. The
part of the cylinder that encloses the filtering material is closed at both
extremities by a wood or metallic disc. The discs are moveable longitudinally
on their axes, and serve to compress the filtering materials by means of screw
presses; they may be fixed in the desired position by means of parallel
keys. I surround the whole with wooden laths held together by
iron hoops fixed together by screws, and by which I effect the compression
of the filtering materials in a transversal direction. A small air pipe is
adapted to the back part of the internal tube, and serves to ensure a
continual flow. The extremity of the internal tube at the 'back part of the
filtering cylinder is prolonged to a small extent, and fitted with a copper
joint, to which a small piece of tubing is adjusted, provided with the
necesary contrivance for pouring out the contents of the filter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Nadault de Buffcn in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
NADAULT DE BUFFON, of 13, Rue du Cherche Midi, Paris, in the Empiro
of France, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Ingénieur en Chef du
Gouvernement, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of May,, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Benjamin Nadault de Bullon, Her special license that I, the said Benjamin
Nadault de Buffon, my executors, administrators, and assigus, or such others
as I, the said Benjamin Nadault de Buffon, my executors, administrators, and
assigns should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "A NEW APPARATUS FOR CLARIFYING AND PURIPYING WATER AND OTHER
LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin
Nadault de Buffon, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
..:1
P

page_text: should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I,the said Benjamin Nadault de Buffon, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:--
My Invention consists in an improved mode of constructing filtering
apparatus, in which the liquid passes from the outside to the inside of the
apparatus to be filtered.
This improved filter is adapted to the purification of liquids in general,
though mainly intended for the filtration of river and other water for the supply
of towns and for general domestic and industrial purposes, and is composed,
First, of a sheet metal tube perforated, Figure 1. This tube may be made
of zinc, copper, or iron, galvanised or painted with red lead or any inoxidable
matter.
Secondly, of an outer casing of metallic gauze, also preserved from oxida-
tion, and forming a cylindrical surface concentric to that of the tube.
Thirdly, of filtering materials which are suitably arranged and compressed
in the space between the two cylinders.
Figures 2 and 3 shew a transverse and horizontal section of the above
arrangements.
Fourthly, of two annular discs in wood or metal placed at each extremity
of the cylinder for compressing, by means of a screw press, the filtering
materials in the apparatus in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the
tube. The disks are retained in their primitive position by iron key pieces.
Fifthly, of an outer casing of the apparatus, completed by a framework
formed of wooden or iron rods parallel to each other at a distance of four
to five inches apart, and maintained by iron hoops.
Sixthly, of a small air tube placed at one end of the inner tube b, Figure 4,
which ensures the continuity of the current.
At one end of the filtering cylinder the extremity of the inner tube is
lengthened at A, and is terminated by a screw joint of the ordinary form,
which is adapted to a flexible tube of suitable length to distribute the product
either to a larger conduit, or to a reservoir conveniently situated, from
which the purified water is withdrawn either by means of a pump or by
any other apparatus. The above arrangement is shown in Figure 4.

page_text: The substances introduced into the annular space betweenthetwo concentric
cylinders are there properly compressed, first.by'stamping, and afterwards by
screw pressure. A special advantage of the tubular arrangement is, that any
required amount of compression may be obtained. The selection and mixing
of filtering materials is determined by the nature of the water to be filtered,
and the degree of purification required. The materials consist, first of sponge,
moss chopped and mineralised, mixed at option with variable proportions of
pulverulent matters, such as charcoal, cinders, &c.; secondly, woollen stuff
clipping, felt, and other waste; thirdly, siliceous sand's from quarries, or sand
stone, animal or vegetable charcoal in powder, cinders, &c.
"
י
Suppose the apparatus above described to be filled with the above
filtering materials suitably compressed and immersed impure water in
such a manner that the prolonged part of the inner tube may pass into a
reservoir, Figure 4, the filtration at once commences. The filtering
materials, and especially those intended for the filtration of water, such as
pulverised charcoal, may be arranged at will in layers separated from each
other by interposed flannel or other similar fabric.
In processes already known, the filtration of water is performed through
plane surfaces from above downwards, and vice versa. In the present case,
however, it is different, as from the system of immersion of the tubular appa-
ratus the filtration takes place from the outside to the inside, and at every
point of its cylindrical surface, thus enabling me to obtain a much greater
result than by known apparatus of a similar size. The saine advantage is
obtained from the employment of a series of similar filters combined so as to
form one filtering apparatus capable of supplying any desired amount of
purified liquid, as herein-after described. The cleansing of the filter is
accomplished with facility, owing to the tubular form and the compression to
which the filtering materials are subjected; the deposit is left on the exterior
of the apparatus, from which it is cleared off by the means herein-after
described, without interrupting the action of the apparatus. In the event of a
small quantity of the sediment fiuding its way to the interior of the filter,
cleansing is performed by introducing clear water by a tube of proper length
attached to one extremity of the inner tube, the other extremity being closed.
If an arrangement of filters composed of any number of cylinders be placed
in a current of water having a speed of fifteen inches per second; the filtration
will take place regularly, the sediment being carried off by the current as soon
as formed. In stagnant water, or in a very feeble current, the superficial

page_text: deposit may be removed during the immersion by a kind of broom or brush
passed over the surface of the cylinders. The most efficient means of all is to
raise the apparatus to the surface and cleanse it by passing a stream of water
from a small garden engine, or from a flexible tube communicating with water
at a higher level, or by means of a small hand pump. The apparatus may be
made portable for travelling, for military and naval purposes, &c.
To preserve the smaller apparatus froin the effects of frost, a small lamp'
may be introduced in the inner tube to retain the temperature at a con-
venient degree; or, as a means of cooling the product in hot weather, the
outer casing of the smaller apparatus may be formed of porous earth, the
resulting surface evaporation reducing the temperature of the liquid cou-
tained within. The Drawings hereunto aunexed show some of the most
obvious applications of the system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, elevation of the inner tube of perforated sheet metal fitted with
joints; Figure 2, transverse section of a complete cylinder, consisting of the
above tube, Figure 1, the filtering materials, the casing of metallic gauze,
and the iron rods T; Figure 3, longitudinal section of cylinder, Figure 2, at
the extremity of which is seen the disc employed for compressing the
filtering materials; Figure 4, partial elevation of a cylinder immersed in
impure water, and distributing the purified water to a cylindrical reservoir,
from which it is withdrawn by a pump; A, air tube. Figure 5, elevating
mechanism for the cleansing of filters horizontally immersed, as seen in
Figure 4; Figure 6, detailed view of the flexible tubes for transmitting to
the reservoir the purified water produced by an arrangement of horizontal
filters. These flexible pipes are provided internally with a spiral spring.
Figure 7, side view of the elevating mechanism.
Low-pressure verticalfilters.-Figures 8,9,10, represent horizontal sections,
the situation of one, two, and three tubular filters set vertically on a suitable
recipient; Figure 11, horizontal section of a filter, consisting of three groups
of three similar filters combined; Figure 12, elevation of a filtering column
of about one foot in diameter, containing two vertical cylinders of about two
feet two inches each in height; Figure 13, vertical section of the same.
C, C, filtering cylinders; B, B, cistern, provided in the centre with a valve for
the discharge of the impure water; D, copper fastening for the flexible pipe,
which branches off to the two cylinders; E, E, reservoir of purified water;
F, wooden support, containing a pail or cistern to receive the impure water on
opening the valve. Figure 14, horizontal section of a cistern, similar to that

page_text: of Figure 11, representing the arrangement of the cistern for each group of
cylinders. G, joint piece; H, position of the flexible tube of each group;
I, compartment with three cylinders.
High-pressure system.-Figure 15,longitudinalsection of a filter containing
three cylinders,one represented in section,and another in elevation; Figure 16,
transverse section of the same filter; Figure 17, filter with one or two
cylinders placed under the roadway; Figure 18, transverse section of a filter-
ing chamber containing fourteen cylinders, and furnishing the purified water
direct. Figure 19, longitudinal section of an arrangement for supplying a
reservoir with water.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, so long
as the peculiar character of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is,
the construction of tubular filters, in which the passage of the liquid takes
place from the exterior to the interior, in the manner herein-before described,
and shown in the Figures of the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Nadault de Buffon, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
B. NADAULT DE BUFFON. (L.S.)
B. NADAULT DE BUFFON. (L.S.)