AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I WILLIAM ANDERSON of 3 Whitehall Place in the City of Westminster Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND
APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING WATER" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the purification of water, and
in apparatus for the same.
I cause the water to be purified to pass upwards through a vessel preferably
cylindrical with conical bottom. This vessel is charged with spongy iron or
metallic iron in a sufficiently divided state. The water enters the vessel from the
bottom and in an upward direction with such velocity that it is able to keep
the spongy iron or material in constant movement. The movement may be
assisted by agitating blades fixed upon an axis dipping down into the vessel and
amongst the spongy iron or material which it contains.
The purified water is drawn off from the top of the vessel where the dimensions
are such that the current is not sufficiently rapid to cause the spongy iron or
material to be carried out of the purifying vessel. The escape of the spongy
iron or material is further prevented by the use of a screen of perforated metal.
The axis with the agitating arms upon it is driven from any motor by bevelled
gear, or in other convenient manner. But little power will be absorbed in driving
the axis, as the upward current of water is sufficient, or nearly so to keep the
spongy iron or material in suspension.
At the lower part of the purifying vessel there is a valve, which is closed when
the apparatus is not in work to prevent the descent of the spongy iron or material
into the pipe or conduit which leads the water into the purifying vessel.
The purification is completed by passing the water through a sand filter or by
subsidence.
There is also a door at the bottom of the apparatus, by which the spongy.iron
can be discharged from the purifying vessel whenever desired.
Dated this 13th day of May 1884
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,

page_text: enclosed within a drum of perforated zinc, it is accommodated within the upper
part of the vessel a. At a³ is the outlet for the purified water.
At the commencement of the operation the vessel a is filled with spongy iron
from the valve c on which it rests up to or about the line a*. The valve c is not
opened until the water has been turned on and as soon as it is opened there being
a sufficient head of water, say ten feet or thereabout-an upward current is started
amongst the spongy iron which is sufficient to support it and prevent it descending
into the box b. The ascending column of water is brought into intimate contact
with the purifying material which is kept in constant commotion and when
purified passes out through the strainer d which serves to keep back any of the
smaller masses of spongy iron which otherwise might be carried on with the water.
The water level on the inside should be about on the line x and on the outside
on the line x. The water after treatment should be passed through a sand filter
to separate the impurities which have been rendered insoluble by the treatment
and is then ready for delivery and use.
The friction of the particles of the purifying material the one on the other keeps
them constantly clean and active. A compound apparatus may be used with two
or more jets.
It will be seen that this process for purifying water depends on causing the
water to ascend amongst a column of spongy iron or other purifying material
contained in a vessel to which the water is admitted at the lower part by a mouth
of such dimensions that the stream in entering has sufficient velocity to carry the
material forward with it whilst above in consequence of the increased area of
the passage
the stream is insufficient to carry the material for more than a short
distance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
First. The process of purifying water by causing it to pass amongst spongy
iron or other purifying material in an upward stream the velocity of which is
adjusted and controlled substantially as described.
Second. Apparatus for purifying water substantially as described and represented
by the annexed Drawings.