Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Sewage or other Impurities from Cesspools, Sinks, and the like.
Year: 1885

page_text: 55
Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Sewage or other
Impurities from Cesspools, Sinks, and the like.
I WILLIAM SPENCE of 8 Quality Court Chancery Lane in the 'County of
Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SEWAGE OR OTHER IMPURITIES
FROM CESSPOOLS SINKS AND THE LIKE" (being a communication to me from
abroad by Frederic Sanders of Saint Petersburg in the Empire of Russia Merchant).
to be as follows :-
This Invention has for its object a new method of and apparatus for evacuating
cesspools sinks sewers and other reservoirs in which filth and impurities are
accumulated and the removal of such impurities out of towns without cartage.
And the Invention relates to a method of evacuating cesspools sinks sewers and
other reservoirs by means of ejectors either by producing a vacuum in the casing
of the ejector or by a direct increase of the pressure in this casing by pumping
into the same air or gas (which may be disinfecting or deodorizing gas) or a
suitable liquid.
In the case of a cesspool for collecting the impurities of a dwellinghouse there is
or may be a chest made of wood lined with asphalte or altogether of asphalte or
cement or of iron coated inside with hot coal tar or of other suitable airtight
material not liable to be corroded by the filth accumulating in the reservoir.
The impurities pass into the said chest through a pipe inserted in the lid thereof
such pipe having at the bottom a valve opening into the chest by the weight of
the material and closed automatically by a counterbalance weight. The bottom
of the chest is formed with an incline or with a gutter or otherwise to facilitate
the discharge of its contents and there is an aperature or passage covered with a
grating to prevent obstruction by solid matters and provided with a valve (by
preference a ball valve) adapted for allowing impurities to pass out freely but
preventing their return.
The filth and other impurities are removed from the said chest or reservoir by
means of an ejector iu communication with the said valvo into which ejector air or

page_text: a disinfecting or deodorising gas or water or other suitable liquid is pumped under
sufficient pressure.
In some cases the ejector may be arranged inside the chest and the said valve
dispensed with and instead thereof there is a suction pipe communicating between
the bottom of the chest and the ejector.
The gas or liquid is forced in through a pipe with two branches each provided
with a valve one branch leading into the chest through a distributor and the other
into the ejector the former serving to cleanse the chest after removal of the
impurities therefrom.
The injector may be of ordinary construction but it is preferred to add an air
chamber and further to form the end of the internal tube as a funnel instead of
with a small orifice as usual. A whistle is arranged to sound as soon as the level
of the impurities descends to the bottom of the chest or reservoir.
By the action of the ejector the impurities are forced from the chest through a
pipe into an inclined pipe whence they are conducted to the main pipe serving to
carry them beyond the town.
In order to carry away the impurities it is necessary to arrange two separate
sets of pipes one set for forcing air water or disinfecting or deoderising gas or
liquid under high pressure to the ejector and the other set consisting of main pipes
and branch pipes communicating with the main pipes for carrying away the
impurities from each cesspool pit or reservoir.
:
'
The above described method of removing impurities may also be employed for
carrying off rain water by digging wells at the crossings of the streets and con-
necting them with inclined pipes The rain water is admitted into these wells
through gratings fitted with valves and counterbalancing weights.
The above apparatus may be modified by arranging the dirt hole or pit so that
it may be cleansed from dirt and rain water by means of a bent pipe into which
enters a smaller pipe in direct connection with the force pumps (to serve as an
ejector) and there is at the bottom end of the suction pipe a funnel with a sievo.
97th August 1885

page_text: Impurities from Cesspools, Sinks, and the like.
I WILLIAM SPENCE of 8 Quality Court Chancery Lane in the County, of
Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this. Invention (being a
communication to me from abroad by Frederic Sanders of St Petersburg in the
Empire of Russia, Merchant) and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention has for its object a new method of and apparatus for evacuating
cesspools sinks sewers and other reservoirs in which filth and impurities are
acumulated and the removal of such impurities out of towns without cartage.
And the Invention relates to a method of evacuating cesspools sinks sewers and
other reservoirs by means of ejectors either by producing a vacuum in the casing
of the ejector or by a direct increase of the pressure in this casing by pumping
into the same air or gas (which may be disinfecting or deodorising gas) or a
suitable-liquid.
In the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 shews a vertical section of a cesspool for
collecting the impurities of a dwellinghouse. The cesspool consists of a chest A
which can be made of wood covered inside with asphalt or altogether. of asphalt
ceinent or similar material or of iron coated inside with hot coal tar or generally of
any suitable fluid-tight material not subject to corrosion by the filth accumulating.
in the reservoir. The impurities fall into the chest A by the pipe C which passes
through the top lid B of the chest A to which it is secured by the flanged ring a
rivetted to the said pipe and to the lid of the chest. The lower end of the
pipe C is provided with a valve D and the weight d by the action of which the
valve tightly shuts the aperture of the pipe and opens (automatically) only
when sufficient filth is gathered in this pipe and during the evacuation of the
reservoir A.
:
In the lid B is a hermetically closing hole E through which a man can enter
when required. For facilitating the discharge of the impurities the bottom F of
the chest A is provided with two slopes disposed perpendicularly to each other.
It is obvious that the bottom can be also provided. with a gutter inclined on one or
both sides or it can be made conical or funnel-shaped or otherwise especially when
the chest A is made of metal. The form of bottom shewn in the drawing with
two slopes is most convenient with the reservoirs actually in use.
At the lowest part of the bottom F there is made for the issue of the filth an
aperture closed by means of a valve (the preference is given to ball valves) G
which permitting the impurities freely to flow off at the same time prevents their.
returning back into the reservoir, such valve can be applied also at the outside of
the chest A
In Fig. 1 is shewn the form preferred for the valve G. In this valve when the
ball g descends to the position indicated by dotted lines a free lateral canal or a
gutter h around the ball is opened by which the filth freely passes into the casing
of the ejector. In some cases the valve G may be dispensed with (for solid
impurities).
The filth and impurities are removed from the reservoir. A by means of the
ejector. H which communicates with the valve G.. Into this ejector air or a
disinfecting or deodorising gas or water or any other suitable liquid is pumped
under sufficient pressure,

page_text: The gas or liquid is driven into the pipe I which before entering the reservoir
forks in two branches K and L, whereof the first provided with the valve M leads
to the ejector H while the latter provided with the valve N enters into the
reservoir A and has at its end the rose head O. This branch L serves for washing
the reservoir after removal of the impurities from the same or for disinfecting the
matters contained in the reservoir. The valves M and N can easily be arranged
with different kinds of floats or cups to work automatically, but this would increase
the cost. of construction and maintenance of such cesspools which is .carefully
avoided. Such automatic arrangements with floats are hereinafter described.
The ejector H can be of ordinary construction but it has been found that its
action is considerably facilitated by placing behind the ejector an air chamber P
as shewn in Fig. 2. The result is still further increased when the interior tube of
the ejector does not end in a point as shewn but in the shape of a funnel as
illustrated by Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 shews that instead of using the air chamber P the interior tube of the
ejector can be made to enter into the chamber. P¹ either ending at its entry in the
chamber or passing through the same (as shewn in the drawings). The interior
tube of the ejector can be replaced by a series of conical tubes as in Fig. 2b.
For preventing the obstruction of the valve G and of the ejector H by solid
matters a grating. Q is fixed above the valve G. The whistle R which com-
municates with the pipe L is set in action as soon as the level of the impurities
contained in the pit or reservoir descends to the bottom of the same. The
whistle R may be replaced by a sounder (with pneumatic, or hydraulic action).
By the action of the ejector the filth is driven from the reservoir by the pipe S
into the inclined pipe T by which it is conducted to the main pipe or pipes serving
for carrying. the impurities beyond the town.
Fig. 6 shews a very practical arrangement of a cesspool with an ejector H
within the chest A in which case the valve G is dispensed with and in lieu thereof
a suction pipe glascends vertically or in some inclined or other direction from tho
bottom F and opens into the casing of the ejector H.
The evacuation of dish water and refuse-pits is performed in the same manner
as that of privies or cesspools with the sole difference that in the said pits at about
one fourth of their height à grating is placed. which can be of iron or of wood
coated with tar or other suitable material. The liquid parts of the impurities
(such as dish water) pass through the grating into the lower part of the pit and
are pumped out by the ejector into the branch and main pipes whilst the solid
kitchen and other refuse is either carried out of town to fields or burnt..
Thus for putting into action the proposed method for removing impurities it is
required to lay underground two separate systems of pipes viz.
1. Metallic pressure pipes (I). for conducting air or water and disinfecting or
deodorising gas or liquid under high pressure into the ejector, and
2. Main pipes and branch pipes communicating with the main pipes and
carrying away the impurities of every domestic pool pit or reservoir.
The air, water and disinfecting or deodorising gas under pressure are pumped in
by convenient machines (compressors) established at a station out of town-With.
a system of great extent it is, however, useful to establish several intermediate
stations with compressors or other suitable machines. The pipes serving to
conduct air water, and gas under pressure into the ejector are laid in any position
desired their inclination being immaterial.
The branch pipes for conducting the filth to the main pipes can be of cast iron,
wrought iron, glass, or any other suitable material used for gas and water conduits.
The pipes are to be as much inclined as possible.. At the junctions between the
branch pipes and the main pipes it is useful to apply suitable valves serving to:
prevent the impurities from returning into the branch pipes. In towns already
provided with channels arranged for the removal of impurities the ejectors can be.
made to drive the filth directly into the existing sewers, although in such case the
action of the system is not so efficient,

page_text: At the end of the main pipes there can be established large reservoirs for
collecting the impurities.--If these reservoirs are made close like steam boilers and
the air pumped out of them by powerful steam or other pumps, the filth will reach
them with great energy from the main and branch pipes and consequently also
from the cesspools pits or other receptacles.--This contrivance is however required
only in cases where it is impossible to give a sufficient inclination to the main pipes.
The method described for the removal of impurities can be employed likewise
for leading off rain water. For this purpose at the crossings of the streets are dug
the wells A A¹ (Fig. 4) which admit of sufficient inclination being given to street
pipes TT-Into these wells the rain water is admitted through the gratings C!
which are provided underneath with the tightly shutting valves Di and. the
weights d', the water being pumped from time to time by means of the ejector H
from these wells into the pipes T1 exactly as is done for removing impurities from
cesspools pits and other receptacles according to this Invention.
As the construction of the said wells allows the street pipes T¹ to be much more
inclined than in ordinary pipe laying, an obstruction of the pipes is not to be
feared; besides all solid and hard matters penetrating through the grating C¹ will
remain in the wells A' being retained by the gratings or cages Q¹ placed in theso
wells.
In Fig. 5 is shown a modification in the arrangement of the exit pipes proceeding
from the middle of the interval between every two wells and leading in both
directions to either well; in this case it is necessary to connect every two wells
besides the pipes T T by means of the pipe T in order to pump the water.
successively from one well to the other.
1
In Fig. 7 is represented an arrangement in which the suction pipe g¹ is made to.
communicate directly with the pipe S.-In this case the pressure pipe of the ojector.
opens directly into the elbow pipe which joins the pipe g¹ with the pipe S.
If the impurities from the main pipes are removed by the aid of vacuum.
produced at end stations, it may occur that long mains may be found defective in
some of their parts so that the production of an effectual vacuum for this or another.
reason becomes impossible.
In order to meet such case a valve a is provided in the suction pipe glas
represented in Fig. 8 and air or some liquid is forced under pressure into the main
tubes by a special conduit provided with a cock or valve. In consequence of this.
a high pressure will be obtained in the whole length of the main pipes by the aid:
of which all defects may be easily detected.-If desired the high pressure may be:
employed continuously for forcing impurities out of the main pipes; thus for
instance ejectors may be used during the day for removing filth and impurities
from cesspools and letting them into main pipes, and during the night the same.
ejectors may be used to force the impurities out of the main tubes or vice versa.
The continuous pressure in the main pipes could also be produced by the ejectors.
working only when the cesspools want emptying, extra work of the ejectors will.
seldom or never be required. If the system is worked by pressure the inclination
of all pipes is of little consequence.
The valve b. (Fig. 8) is designed chiefly to prevent the escape of offensive gases
from the main and prevents the passing of air into the main after the emptying of
the cesspool from impurities.-The valve b is fixed to a lever and is worked.
automatically by the pressure of, air or liquid forced by the ejector into the tube S¹
and transmitted to the cylinder m by a branch tube m¹-In the cylinder m is a
piston having a piston rod n which acts on the lever of the valve b.-As long as
the ejector is used for removing filth, and impurities from the cesspool A the valve b.
remains open but if the cock M is closed and the impurities forced into the main T
they cannot return being prevented to do so by a valve placed at the mouth of the,
pipe S where this pipe joins the main pipe T and in such a case there will be found
a partial vacuum in the pipes S¹ and consequently also in the branch. pipe m¹. so,
that the piston in the cylinder m is caused to ascend and the valve b. is shut
automatically.

page_text: The valve b may be dispensed with and there may remain only the valve a if it
is not proposed to produce vacuum in the mains but if the suction process from the
⚫mains is adopted it is advisable to have also the valve b..
In case both these methods are applied in the mains for evacuating them it
would be advisable to have both the valves a and b at the end of the suction pipe
of the ejectors. These valves may be combined in one valve box and open on the
one side by a lever action and on the other by vacuum.
In Fig. 9 u is a hermetically closed box with two valves working in opposite
directions and the ejector fitted on the top of the box.-The arrangement with
two valves is employed when the system of carrying-off pipes is worked by suction
or pressure.
In Fig. 10 v. is a hermetically closed pipe or vessel of. comparatively large
diameter with the ejector fixed on the top and a valve at the bottom opening
upwards. This arrangement can be used if the system of carrying-off pipes is
worked by. pressure or suction.
In Fig. 11 x represents an apparatus consisting of a small pipe or vessel of large
diameter with a valve at the bottom and an ejector of small dimensions at the
top. This kind of ejector. is very effective in action especially when the impurities
are not required to be lifted very high before they enter the system of carrying-off
pipes.
In Fig. 12 is represented a multiform arrangement of apparatus adapted for
pumping impurities or water and other fluids to a great height, consisting of a
combination of vessels fixed at different suitable elevations each of such vessels
being fitted with a valve at the bottom and at the top an ejector with a pipe for
conveying the impurities or water or fluids from the top of one vessel to the bottom
of that next above it, and so on in succession until the highest elevation is reached
whence they will be forced through the system of carrying-off pipes. In this case
steam might be employed as the motive power as well as compressed air water-or
gases passed through the pipe y-The interior tube of the ejector can also be
replaced by a series of conical tubes as in Fig. 2b.
Fig. 13 shows an automatic arrangement for washing the reservoir or cesspool
in which a float is caused to traverse up and down the iron rod y fixed to the
bottom of a cesspool having in its centre a passage for this rod. As soon as the
cesspool is about half filled the disc z fastened to the said float will be caused to
act on the lever of the valve M so as to open it.-The valve M will remain open
until the float reaches the bottom of the cesspool when it will be closed the chains
pulling the lever of the valve M into its former position on completing the
evacuation of the cesspool which began with the opening of the valve M. The
valve N is constructed and arranged so as to open when the float has nearly
reached the bottom of the cesspool and to close when the float has quite reached it.
A valve can be fitted to the sewer pipe to prevent the return of the impurities if
the system is worked by pressure.
In Fig. 14 is shown an arrangement in which the float 1 moves along an iron
rod fastened to the bottom of a cesspool and having at its upper end a disc for
limiting the ascent of the float as required. The upper part of the float consists of
a tube with a ring at the top carrying pivoted hooks which by the upward motion.
of the float are brought in contact with the lever of the valve but being movable
on their pivots are pressed downwards by the lever without altering its position,
yet during a certain period of the float's descent one or two of the hooks catch the
lever and draw it down with the float until the lever slips out of reach of the
hooks. By this means the valve can be opened at the time when the float has
nearly reached the bottom of the cesspool and closed when the float has reached the
bottom and the reservoir has been thoroughly washed.
In cases wherein compressed air is used instead of water the valve N can be
connected with the water-works pipe..
...This arrangement for.hooking might also be adapted for moving the two valves N
and M at the periods required. And a variety of automatic arrangements might.

page_text: be employed even valves with several ways opening at one period for communi-
cating with the ejector and at another with the washing apparatus, but as these
increase the cost of construction and maintenance it would be preferable in most
cases to open and close the valves N and M by hand.
The principal advantages of the above described method of removing impurities
are as follows:-
°
(a) This method by acting with air, gas or any suitable liquid under the
required pressure insures its constant action whilst in other systems such as for
instance a pneumatic method acting by means of a vacuum produced in the pipes
frequently fail in consequence of air penetrating into the pipes and thereby
destroying the vacuum.
(b) This method admits of the forcing of air, gas or a suitable liquid under any
required pressure into cesspools, pits, reservoirs or other receptacles thereby acting
upon the matters contained in them by a direct pressure superior to that of the
atmosphere.
(c) By the use of disinfecting or deodorising gas or liquid the impurities can be
disinfected in the pools and pits as well as in the pipes.
(d) The arrangements of pipes and conduits or channels in towns can be made
with any inclination desired whereby the pipes are completely secured against
obstruction.
(e) The proposed system is economical in proportion to its greatly increased
efficiency as compared with existing methods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed (communicated to me
from abroad as aforesaid) I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The above described method for removing impurities rain-water & having
for its characteristic feature the use of ejectors of any suitable kind into which air,
disinfecting or deodorising gas or liquid is forced under any required pressure and
which drive the filth and impurities from cesspools, pits, wells or other reservoirs
into the pipes destined to carry them away substantially as described.
Secondly. The combination of hermetically closed pools pits wells or other
reservoirs with pipes by which air gas or liquid under pressure can be forced into
the casings of the ejectors for the purpose of driving the impurities & from the
pools or other reservoir by cdirect pressure superior to that of the atmosphere
substantially as described and the forcing of air gas or liquid under pressure into
the pools pits wells for washing and disinfecting purposes.
Thirdly. The combination of a system of wells with the ejectors and conducting
pipes in order to increase the inclination of the latter as shown in Figures 4 and 5
substantially as described.
Fourthly. The application of air chambers to the conducting pipes beyond the
ejectors serving to facilitate the action of the ejector substantially as described.
Fifthly. The application for the same purpose of a funnel-shaped widening at
the end of the interior tube of the ejector substantially as described.
Sixthly. The application for the same purpose of an ejector the suction pipe of
which is several times larger in diameter than the delivery pipe.
And lastly. The multiform arrangement of the apparatus for raising impurities.
and fluids to great heights substantially as described.
Dated this twenty sixth day of March 1886