A New or Improved Apparatus for Filtering Waste Oils or other Fluids.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Filtering Waste Oils or other
Fluids.
THOMAS ATKINS, Civil Engineer 21 Dorlingham Road East Dulwich London,
and THOMAS AUGUSTUS HARRIS Sanitary Engineer Phoenix Works Collingwood
Street London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for filtering waste oils or
other fluids, & consists of an outer case or cylinder for the reception of the impure
fluid & suspended in this is another case or cylinder or pan for the reception of the
filtered fluid. Fitted inside this inuer pan is a filter chamber which can be screwed
down into a threaded socket, carrying a valve, which is rivetted to the under side
of the filtered fluid pan or cylinder immediately under a hole cut in the bottom of
said pan.
The act of screwing the filter chamber into position depresses the
valve & allows the unfiltered fluid to flow into the interior of the filter chamber
whence it overflows at the top into the filtered fluid chamber from whence it is
drawn off by a connection through the sides of both cylinders or cases.
The
aforesaid valve opens & closes each time the filter chamber is screwed into position
or removed, so that the filter chamber can be removed for cleaning without
emptying either vessel or permitting their two contents to mix. The filtration is
upward, & the filtering material is placed in the filter chamber in combination with
perforated plates or discs & springs of graduated strengths so that when the said
chamber is filled with the filtering material & compressed by means of a bolt
through the centre provided for the purpose, the filtering material is subject to
unequal compression owing to the unequal strengths of the springs aforesaid, so
that if three layers of filtering material are provided & three springs of different
strengths there would be obtained three different compressious of the filtering
material thus the fluid to be filtered has to pass through filtering material of three
or more different densities. A handle is attached to the filter chamber to enable .it
to be removed from or replaced in the filtered fluid chamber.
This apparatus consists of an outer vessel called the unfiltered fluid reservoir,
preferably cylindrical having a dished or coned bottom, in which a plug or cock is
fitted, & resting on suitable feet, or other support. Fitted round the inside at the
top is a narrow flange. Resting on this top inside flange is a second flanged vessel
called the filtered Huid reservoir preferably cylindrical, of lesser depth, having a
hole cut in the centre of the bottom. Rivetted underneath this hole is a tubular
metal fitting similar to a reducing socket, or that portion of a tap which is soldered
to lead piping into which the shank of a tap screws, called a "boss." This tubular
fitting or boss is of larger diameter at the end where it is rivetted to the bottom
of the filtered fluid reservoir than at its free end, & the inside of the larger end is
threaded as far down as the larger diameter extends. At the point or part where
the tube continues lessened in diameter an annular seating is made or soldered.
The bottom of the smaller end of the boss is also seated & is closed by a spindle
valve suitably attached & working outwards but kept up to its seating at the
bottom of the tube or boss by a spiral spring. The valve is provided with guides
which slide loosely inside the smaller end of the tube or boss & is thus enabled to
be opened or shut from inside the tube or boss without becoming unseated. Also
rivetted to the bottom of this filtered fluid reservoir is a tubular elbow which
extends as far as the side of the outer or unfiltered fluid reservoir, & ends with a

page_text: female threaded shank. This shank rests opposite a hole cut in the side of the
unfiltered fluid reservoir and enables a male threaded tap to be screwed in from
the outside thus enabling the filtered fluid to be drawn off. Inside the filtered
fluid reservoir is the filtering chamber which consists of a cylinder open at its
top end. The bottom of this cylinder is slightly dished & in the centre is provided
with a hollow or tubular neck threaded on the outside & projecting downwards.
At the bottom of this threaded portion the neck is reduced in diameter & a seating
is thus obtained. The reduced neck is extended an inch or two & is not threaded.
Thus constructed the filter chamber can be screwed into the boss or tubular metal
fitting which is rivetted on to the bottom of the filtered fluid reservoir. The act
of screwing the filter chamber into position allows the reduced tabular neck to
press on the guides of the valve & to open the valve thus allowing the unfiltered
fluid to flow up through the valve into the inside of the filter chamber. The act
of unscrewing the filter chamber allows the valve to close. The amount of thread
on the neck of the filter chamber, the length of the plain unscrewed portion, & the
lift of the valve are so arranged that the valve is kept closed untill the filter
chamber is nearly screwed home. The valve is thus enabled to close before the
filter chamber is fully unscrewed for removal for cleaning, & the unfiltered fluid is
prevented by this means from passing into the filtered fluid reservoir when the
filter chamber is removed. The interior of the filter chambre is arranged as
follows on the dished bottom rests a loose perforated plate with a threaded rod
rivetted into the centre of the plate & projecting into the centre of the plate &
projecting upwards. The top of this rod projects above the top of the cylinder.
On this rod is slipped a stout spiral spring about an inch long which rests on the
perforated plate & the first layer of filtering material is arranged in the form of a
pad on the perforated plate, & around the spiral spring. On top of this filtering
material is placed a loose metal washer of smaller diameter than the filter chamber
so as to leave an annular open space round the periphery for the fluid to flow up
through. This washer is prevented by the stout spiral spring from resting too
heavily on the first layer or pad of filtering material. A second but weaker spiral
spring is slipped on the centre rod & rests on the washer & a second layer of
filtering material is put in position. On top of this is placed a second washer or
disc which extends to the side of the filter chamber but which is perforate!
immediately round the centre rod only, leaving the rest of the disc unperforated.
A third still weaker spiral spring is slipped on the centre rod & rests on this disc,
& around it & on the disc is arranged a third layer of filtering material.
filtering material is thus arranged in layers divided by washers or discs open or
perforated alternately around their centres & peripheries, & kept separated by the
spiral springs of graduated strengths. Any number of layers can be arranged for,
according to requirements or the nature of the fluid to be filtered. The whole is
then capped by a perforated disc & compressed by means of a winged nut screwed
on the centre rod. Owing however to the springs being of different strengths the
being of different strengths the various layers of filtering material will not be
equally compressed. The fluid to be filtered has thus to not only take a serpentine
path in its upward flow but has to pass through layers of filtering material of
various densities before it can pass out of the filter chamber into the filtered fluid
reservoir & be drawn off. Two lugs are fitted on the outside of the filter chamber
& to these is attached a T handle which reaches to the top of the reservoir.
By
means of this handle the filter chamber can be unscrewed & taken out & replaced
without emptying the reservoirs or in any way interfering with the other parts of
the apparatus. A suitable mouth or inlet is attached to the outside vessel to
enable the unfiltered fluid to be poured in, & this mouth or inlet is continued down
inside by means of a tube to nearly the bottom so that any inflowing fluid may not
disturb that already in & which may be clarifying by precipitation. Where waste
oil is filtered we place a layer of water at the bottom of the unfiltered reservoir to
facilitate the settling of all heavy matter in suspension in the fluid. A suitable
cover is added which may be tight fitting & provided with air valves.
The

page_text: Any suitable filtering material may be used such as cotton-waste, cotton wool,
asbestos, hair, felt or other fibrous material, or sawdust, charcoal sand or other
granular agent.
Dated this 20th of T.1 1005
A New or Improved Apparatus for Filtering Waste Oils or other
Fluids.
THOMAS ATKINS, Civil Engineer 21 Worlingham Road East Dulwich
London, S.E. and THOMAS AUGUSTUS HARRIS Sanitary Engineer Phoenix
Works, Collingwood Street London S.E. do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for filtering waste oils
or other fluids & consists of an outer case or cylinder for the reception of the
impure fluid & suspended in this is another case or cylinder or pan for the
reception of the filtered fluid. Fitted inside this inner pan is a filter chamber
which can be screwed down into a threaded socket carrying a valve, which is
rivetted to the underside of the filtered fluid pan or cylinder immediately under a
hole cut in the bottom of said pan. The act of screwing the filter chamber into
position depresses the valve & allows the unfiltered fluid to flow into the interior
of the filter chamber whence it overflows at the top into the filtered fluid
chamber from whence it is drawn off by a connection through the sides of both
cylinders or cases. The aforesaid valve opens and closes each time the filter
chamber is screwed into position or removed, so that the filter chamber can be
removed for cleaning without emptying either vessel or permitting their two
contents to mix. The filtration is upwards, and the filtering material is placed in
the filter chamber in combination with perforated plates or dises and springs of
graduated strengths so that when the said chamber is filled with the filtering
material and compressed by means of a bolt through the centre provided for the
purpose, the filtering material is subject to unequal compression owing to the
unequal strength of the springs aforesaid, so that if three layers of filtering
material are provided and three springs of differeut strengths there would be
obtained three different compressions of the filtering material thus the fluid to be
filtered has to pass through filtering material of three or more different densities.
A handle is attached to the filter chamber to enable it to be removed from or
replaced in the filtered fluid chamber.
In order that our present invention may be the more easily understood and
readily carried into practice we will proceed to fully describe same with reference
to the drawing hereunto annexed which shows the apparatus in section & in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
The apparatus consists of an outer vessel B called the unfiltered fluid reservoir,
preferably cylindrical having a dished or coned bottom, in which a plug H or cock
is fitted, & resting on suitable feet or other support. Fitted round the inside at
the top is a narrow flange. Resting on this top inside flange is a second flanged
vessel C called the filtered fluid reservoir, preferably cylindrical, of lesser depth,
having a hole cut in the centre at the bottom. Rivetted underneath this hole is
a tubular metal fitting 1 similar to a reducing socket. This tubular fitting or
boss I is of larger diameter at the end where it is rivetted to the bottom of the
filtered fluid reservoir than at its free end, & the inside of the larger end is

page_text: threaded as far down as the larger diameter extends. At the point J or part
where the tube continues lessened in diameter an annular seating is made or
obtained. The bottom of the smaller end of the boss is also seated at K & is
closed by a spindle valve G suitably attached & working outwards but kept up to
its seating K at the bottom of the tube or boss by a spiral spring. The valve is
provided with guides which slide loosely inside the smaller end of the tube or
boss I & is thus enabled to be opened or shut from inside the tube or boss without
becoming unseated. Also rivetted to the bottom of this filtered fluid reservoir is
a tubular elbow L which extends as far as the side of the outer or unfiltered fluid
reservoir, & ends with a female threaded shank. This shank rests opposite a hole
cut in the side of the unfiltered fluid reservoir & enables a male threaded tap to be
screwed in from the outside thus enabling the filtered fluid to be drawn off.
Inside the filtered fluid reservoir is the filtering chamber F which consists of a
cylinder open at its top end. The bottom of this cylinder is slightly dished & in
the centre is provided with a hollow or tubular neck M threaded on the outside &
projecting downwards. At the bottom of this threaded portion the neck is
reduced in diameter & a seating N is thus obtained. The reduced neck is
extended an inch or so & is not threaded. Thus constructed, the filter chamber
can be screwed into the boss or tubular metal fitting I which is rivetted on to the
bottom of the filtered fluid reservoir C. The act of screwing the filter chamber
into position allows the reduced tubular neck N to press on the guides of the
valve G & to open the said valve thus allowing the unfiltered fluid to flow up
through the valve into the inside of the filter chamber F. The act of unscrewing
the filter-chamber F, allows the valve G to close. The amount of thread on the
neck of the filter chamber, the length of the plain unscrewed portion, & the lift
of the valve are so arranged that the valve is kept closed until the filter chamber
is nearly screwed home. The valve is thus enabled to close before the filter
chamber is fully unscrewed for removal for cleaning, & the unfiltered fluid is
prevented by this means, from passing into the filtered fluid reservoir when
the filter chamber is removed. The interior of the filter chamber is arranged
as follows; on the dished bottom rests a loose perforated plate O with
a threaded rod rivetted into the centre of the plate & projecting upwards.
The top of this rod projects above the top of the filter chamber. On
this rod is slipped a stout spiral spring P about an inch long which rests on the
perforated plate, & the first layer of filtering material is arranged in the form of a
pad on the perforated plate & around the spiral spring. On top of this filtering
material is placed a loose metal washer Q of smaller diameter than the filter
chamber so as to leave an annular open space round the periphery for the fluid to
flow up through. This washer is prevented by the stout spiral spring from resting
too heavily on the first layer or pad of filtering material. A second but weaker
spiral spring R is slipped on the centre rod & rests on the washer, & a second layer
of filtering material is put in position. On top of this is placed a second washer or
disc S which extends to the side of the filter chamber but which is perforated
immediately round the centre rod only, leaving the rest of the disc unperforated.
A third still weaker spiral spring T is slipped on the centre rod & rests on this
dise, & around it & on the disc is arranged a third layer of filtering material. The
filtering material is thus arranged in layers divided by washers or discs open or
perforated alternately around their centres & peripheries & kept separated by the
spiral springs of graduated strengths. Any number of layers can be arranged for
according to requirements or the nature of the fluid to be filtered. The whole is
then capped by a perforated disc U & compressed by means of a winged nut V
screwed on the centre rod. Owing however to the springs being of different
strengths the various layers of filtering material will not be equally compressed.
The Huid to be filtered has thus to not only take a serpentine path in its upward
flow but has to pass through layers of filtering material of various densities before
it can pass out of the filter chamber into the filtered fluid reservoir & be drawn off.
Two lugs are fitted on the outside of the filter chamber & to these is attached a
-

page_text: Thandle E which reaches to the top of the reservoir. By means of this handle
the filter chamber can be unscrewed & taken out, or replaced, without emptying
the reservoirs or in any way interfering with the other parts of the apparatus.
A suitable mouth or inlet A is attached to the outside vessel to enable the unfiltere
fluid to be poured in, & this mouth or inlet is continued down inside by means of a
tube W to nearly the bottom so that any inflowing fluid may not disturb that
already in, & which may be clarifying by precipitation. Where waste-oil is
filtered we place a layer of water X at the bottom of the unfiltered reservoir to
facilitate the settling of all heavy matter in suspension in the fluid & to reduce
waste. A suitable cover is added, which may be tight fitting & provided with
air-valves.
Any suitable filtering material may be used such as cotton-waste, cotton-wool
asbestos, hair or other fibrous material, or sawdust, charcoal, sand or other granular
agent.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;--
1. Carrying the entering impure fluid to the bottom of the unfiltered cylinder or
reservoir by means of a tube or other suitable means to avoid disturbing any liquid
that may be already clarifying by precipitation, substantially in the manner & for
the purposes hereinbefore described & represented in the drawing hereunto
annexed.
2. A removable filtering chamber which can be unscrewed from its position in
the cylinder by means of its attached handle, & in which the loose deflection discs
are separated by spiral springs of graduated strengths to enable the filtering
material to be compressed to different densities by means of a winged nut & bolt or
other suitable means substantially in the manner hereinbefore set forth & shown in
the drawing hereunto annexed.
3. The valve action as shown, to permit the above filter chamber to be removed
& replaced when either cylinders are full of liquid, without the liquid in the one
cylinder mixing with or spoiling that in the other, substantially in the manner &
for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in the drawing hereunto
annexed.
4. When used in connection with waste-oils we claim the layer of water at the
bottom of the unfiltered vessel to facilitate deposition of heavy particles of impurity
in the unfiltered liquid & to diminish waste, substantially in the manner & for the
purpose hereinbefore set forth & shown in the drawing hereunto annexed.
5. The improved apparatus for the hereinbefore described purpose constructed
arranged & combined substantially in the manner & for the purposes hereinbefore
described & illustrated in the drawing hereunto annexed.
Dated this 29th day of October 1895.
THOMAS ATKINS.
THOMAS AUGUSTUS HARRIS.