IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris, of Hackney, in the County of Middlesex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS."
Sealed the 2nd January 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 4th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th June 1879.
HENRY HARRIS, of Hackney, in the County of Middlesex.
FILTERS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to water filters of the kind and applied to the purpose
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date
September 19th, 1870, No. 2517. The object of the Invention therein described
was to enable filtered water to be drawn direct from the service pipe by drawing it
off from the said pipe through a filter attached thereto in order to avoid the use of
separate filters, and this is likewise the object of my present Invention, whereby the
filter is moreover rendered self cleansing and more efficient, and means are provided
of drawing either filtered or unfiltered water at will.
According to my present Invention the filtering vessel is of truncated, conical,
or pyramidal form, and fixed in an upright position to a plate or backing firmly
bolted to the wall, so as to be a complete fixture that cannot be tampered with or
put out of order by the carelessness of servants. The filter is connected with the
service pipe by a short branch pipe, connected with the service pipe just above the
ordinary unfiltered supply cock. Said branch pipe enters at the centre of the
bottom or larger end of the filter, and is provided with a stop cock to regulate the
passage of the water through the filter. The filtered water is drawn off through
a pipe connected to the top of the filter and carried down outside the same, ter-
minating in a draw off cock, and placed on about a level with the other cock, by
which the ordinary unfiltered supply is drawn direct from the main.
The inlet and outlet orifices of the filtering vessel are each protected by a strainer
composed preferably of three fold wire gauze or other reticulated material and per-
forated sheet metal. The gauze is preferably of zinc and copper, so that a galvanic
action may be set up to check the entry of animalcule to the filter. The space

page_text: between the upper and lower strainer is filled with pure animal charcoal in a
granulated form, and tightly packed, instead of a solid block as ordinarily used for
filtering water. I dispense with sponges, bags, or any other filtering medium but
the charcoal
The filter may be made of galvanised iron, copper, or other metal, and is screwed
to the branch pipe, so that it may be readily removed when necessary.
Owing to the conical shape of the vessel the water entering at the larger end is
caused to pass through the whole body of the charcoal, whereby it is purified in a
most effectual manner.
The relative arrangement of the filter and the ordinary unfiltered water supply
cock is such that every time unfiltered water is drawn from the latter for household
purposes the impurities arrested by the bottom strainer of the filter are detached
therefrom, drawn back, and discharged with the unfiltered water. By this arrange-
ment neither sediment nor animalculæ can enter the filter.
This filter may also be used in connection with a cistern, and in this case it is
arranged on the supply pipe, and provided with the ordinary ball cock for regu-
lating the supply. The filter may also be made portable, supported on a stand
resting on the ground, and connected by a pipe with a butt containing the supply.
This pipe would be provided with gauze shields at either end to arrest any solid
matter.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Harris in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd January
1880.
HENRY HARRIS, of Hackney, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FILTERS."
My Invention relates to water-filters of the kind and applied to the purpose
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date
September Nineteenth, One thousand eight hundred and seventy, No. 2517. The
object of the Invention therein described was to enable filtered water to be drawn
direct from the service-pipe by drawing it off from the said pipe through a filter
attached thereto in order to avoid the use of separate filters, and this is likewise the
object of my present Invention, whereby the filter is moreover rendered self-
cleansing, and more efficient means are provided of drawing either filtered or
unfiltered water at will.
According to my present Invention the filtering vessel is of truncated, conical,
or pyramidal form, and fixed in an upright position to a plate or backing firmly
bolted to the wall, so as to be a complete fixture that cannot be tampered with or
put out of order by the carelessness of servants.
For the better explanation of my Invention I refer to the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
The filter is connected with the service-pipe just above the ordinary unfiltered
supply-cock. Said branch pipe enters at the bottom of the centre of the larger end
of the filter, and is provided with a stop-cock to regulate the passage of the water
through the filter. The filtered water is drawn off through a pipe connected to the
top of the filter and carried down inside, as shown by A, in Figure 1, the same ter-
minating in a draw off cock, as shown at C, in Figure 1.
The inlet and outlet orifices of the filtering vessel are each protected by a strainer
composed preferably of threefold wire gauze or other reticulated material and per-
forated sheet metal. The gauze is preferably of zinc and copper, so that a galvanic
action may be set up to check the entry of animalculæ to the filter. The space
between the upper and lower strainer is filled with pure animal carbon in a
granulated form, and tightly packed, instead of a solid block as ordinarily used for
filtering water.
I dispense with sponges, bags, or any other filtering medium but the carbon.
The filter may be made of galvanised iron, copper, or other material, and is
fixed to the branch pipe, so that it may be readily removed when necessary.
Owing to the conical shape of the vessel the water entering at the larger end is
caused to pass through the whole body of the carbon, whereby it is purified in a
most effectual manner.
The relative arrangement of the filtered and the ordinary unfiltered water supply-
cock is such that every time unfiltered water is drawn from the latter for household
purposes the impurities arrested by the bottom strainer of the filter are drawn back,
detached therefrom, and discharged with the unfiltered water. By this arrangement
neither the sediment nor animalculæ can enter the filter.
The filter may also be used in connection with a cistern, and in this case it is
arranged on the supply pipe, and provided with the ordinary ball-cock for regu-
lating the supply. The filter may also be made portable, supported on a stand
resting on the ground, and connected by a pipe with a butt containing the supply.
This pipe would be provided with gauze shields at either end to arrest any solid
matter.
Figure 1, A, the purifying filter screwed on a plank of wood, and fixed over the
sink 1 above the ordinary water-tap H; B, the inlet at bottom of filter; C, the
oulet for pure filtered water; C×, the tap for the filtered water; D & E, the treble

page_text: metal gauze shields at inlet and outlet of the filter; F, F, the connecting pipe to join
the filter to the service pipe G above the ordinary tap H.
Figure 2, A, the purifying filter on a larger scale for breweries and manufactories
where pure water is required for a number of apartments from the same source of
supply. It is in two pyramidical forms joined in the centre. B & C are the inlet
and outlet of filter; D, D, D, are the centre shield and two smaller ones; E, E,
the T& elbow joints as may be required for the connection to service-pipe and
distribution of pure filtered water.
This shaped filter is adapted for baths and hospitals, as also for ships and for the
army, where water is brought from rivers or other sources, and conveyed purified in
reservoirs or cisterns.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
Signed and sealed in
presence of
P. O'HALLORAN,
28, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane.
HENRY HARRIS. (L.S.)