Improvements in or connected with Filtering Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1895
.
Complete Specification Left. 5th Oct., 1895--Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Filtering Apparatus.
JAMES PINFOLD 233 Park Road Aston Birmingham Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus to secure by mechanical
or other means the separation and destruction of all impurities from water, and for
properly cleansing the filter and filtering materials when necessary, and restoring
it to its original clean condition.
I form a box or tank to stand in a vertical position. Upon the floor of this tank
I place a series of gathering tubes closed at their outer ends, whilst at their inner
ends they are connected with a main "duct" running across the bottom of the tank
and having a discharge valve, a wash out valve, and a re-wash valve attached to
its outer flange. Into these gathering tubes 1 fit "collectors" (hereinafter
described) of a novel form and construction. In operation, the filter being charged
with its filtering medium, the influent water enters at the upper end of the tank,
and passing down through the filtering bed, is received by the collectors, passing
from them to the gathering tubes and thence by the main "duct" to the outlet
valve before mentioned.
The "collectors" are made in the form of inverte cones with open necks on the
smaller ends, the larger ends being open. The necks at the bottom of the cones
are threaded on the outside so as to allow of their being screwed into the gathering
tubes. Inside of each cone and in direct line with the bottom hole is fitted a small
spherical distributor secured in its place by a wire passing through it horizontally,
the ends of the wire passing through holes in the sides of cone and then rivetted up
on the outside. Over the opening at the upper end of each cone is screwed a
spherically shaped gauze of fine mesh. to prevent the filtrate carrying with it any
portion of the filtering medium, whilst at the same time providing the greatest area
for collecting the filtrate as it descends through the filter bed. At a distance of
about one-third of the height of the tank, from the bottom, I fit an external
"endless pocket" connecting with the interior of the tank by a series of openings
in the walls of the latter. This endless pocket is placed here for the purpose of
carrying away the wash waters during the process of washing out the
filtering bed.
An agitator and leveller" combined, in the form of a rake, with a flat plate
attached, the latter being fitted horizontally, is carried inside the tank upon cross
beams, by a vertical shaft having at its upper end a worm wheel, into which works
a worm keyed on to horizontal shaft extending to the side of the tank where it is
operated by means of a crank or pulleys.
28
The operation of washing out the filter bed is as follows;-The influent water is
diverted through the discharge valve at the bottom of the filter, and entering
through the main duct finds its way to the gathering tubes and thence up through
the collectors to the filtering bed, the wash water overflowing through the openings
in the walls of the tank to the endless pocket, on the bottom of which is placed
large wash water discharge" valve, which carries away the "wash
to the sewer,
or elsewhere. At the same time the "agitator" and "leveller" are set in motion,
and assist in breaking up the filtering bed. After the bed has been well washed, a
jet of steam is admitted so as to completely sterilize the same, and the water being
allowed to enter from the top of tank, as before, the first filtrate is allowed to run

page_text: to waste through the "re-wash" valve, until the bed settles itself, when the
discharge valve is again opened, all other valves being shut down.
In connection with the "influent water" pipe, I fit a small chamber, constructed
to hold chemicals in solution or otherwise, and to this chamber I connect a by-pass
pipe, having inlet" and "outlet" valves, whilst directly above the chamber, and
in the main "influent" water pipe, I place a "vibrating or "clack" valve, for
regulating the supply of water to the by-pass pipe before mentioned.
"
In the lower part of the main tank I fit a manhole door for working purposes.
Dated this the 10th January 1895.
JAMES PINFOLD Engineer 233 Park Road Aston near Birmingham 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:-
In carrying my invention into practice, I form a box, or tank to stand in a
vertical position. Upon the floor of this tank I place a series of gathering tubes,
closed at their outer ends, whilst at their inner ends they are connected to a main
duct running across the floor of the tank, having a filtrate discharge valve, a wash-
out valve, and a re-wash valve attached to its outer flange. Into these gathering
tubes I fit collectors, or nozzles (hereafter described) of novel form & construc-
tion. In operation, the filter being charged with the filtering medium, the affluent
enters at the top of the tank and passing down through the filtering bed is received
by the collectors, or nozzles, passing from them to the gathering tubes, & thence
by the main duct to the filtrate outlet valve before mentioned.
Figure 1 shows an external elevation of the filter tank.
Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation of the same whilst Figure 3 shows a plan of
the same.
The letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.
A is a tank or box placed in a vertical position. B is the floor of said tank and
CC are the gathering tubes closed at their outer ends D D, their inner ends being
connected to the main duct E, running across the floor of the tank. A discharge
valve F to allow the filtrate to pass' out of the tank, a wash-out valve G and re-wash
valve H are provided.
Into the gathering tubes CC, I fit collectors or nozzles J J, of novel form
hereafter described.
"I may also in place of the main duct E and gathering tubes CC substitute a
chamber (m) divided from the filtering tank A by a plate (n) pierced with holes
into which the nozzles J J are screwed as shown in Figure 4. In this case I'support
the filter by suitable projecting pieces or brackets (r) attached to the tank A as
shown in Figure 5, leaving a space below the bottom of the filter so as to allow of
the chamber (m) being removed when necessary.
In operation the filter tank being charged with its filtering medium K the
affluent enters through a suitable regulating valve at the top of the tank A. It
then passes down through the filtering bed K through the collectors or nozzles J J,
the gathering tubes CC, and thence by the maiu duct E to the filtrate outlet
valve F before mentioned. The collectors or nozzles J J are made in the form of
inverted cones N, as shown in Figures 6, and 8 with open necks on their smaller
ends L. The outside of the necks L at the bottom are threaded so as to allow of
their being screwed into the gathering tubes CC. Inside each of said cones N, is

page_text: fitted a small spherical distributor O Figure 8 secured in its place by a wire P
passing through it horizontally and fixed in the sides of the cones N. The larger
ends M of the cones are covered by spherically shaped gauze of fine mesh to
prevent the filtrate carrying with it any portion of the filtering medium, and at the
same time to provide the greatest area for collecting the filtrate as it descends
through the filter bed. In place of the distributor O. I may use a distributing
plate R, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The said distributing plate is made in the
form of a shallow cone having in it sufficiently large openings S S to allow the
water to pass through. At the same time the apex of the cone serves to distribute
the water as it ascends during the washing out operation.
At a distance of about one-third the height of the tank (the said distance how-
ever being regulated by the height of the surface of the filtering bed from the
bottom of tank) I place an external annular pocket T connecting with the interior
of the tank A by a series of openings UU (Figure 2) in the walls of the tank.
These openings UU are immediately above the level of the bed K. An agitator
in the form of a rake is carried inside the tank upon cross beams by a vertical
shaft having at its upper end a worm wheel into which works a worm keyed on to
a horizontal shaft extending to the side of the tank where it is operated by means
of a crank or pulleys.
The agitator V (Figure 2) is in the form of a rake having its prongs X extending
down to a sufficient depth into the filtering medium K, the said prongs being either
vertical or set at a suitable angle. The prongs on one side of the shaft Y to travel
in circles between those described by the prongs on the opposite side of the shaft Y.
The rake is carried upon a horizontal shaft Y preferably fitted with rollers Z
running upon a ledge (a) projecting from the sides of the tank immediately below
the openings U U. The horizontal shaft Y is connected to a vertical shaft (b)
carried in bearings in cross beams or brackets (c & d) Figure 2) which are
supported on the sides of the tank A. The vertical shaft (b) is driven by
suitable gear such for example as by a worm wheel (e) keyed on to the shaft (b)
and a worm (ƒ) keyed on to the horizontal shaft (g) supported by suitable
brackets (h). The said shaft (9) may be actuated by hand or power as may be
found most convenient. The actuating gear may be placed at any required
position by piercing the walls of the tank A so as to allow the shaft (g) to
penetrate, suitable packing glands being provided to prevent the escape of the
water.
The operation of washing out the filter bed is as follows.―
The affluent is shut off and the filter having been run dry, the filtrate valve F
is closed. Water is then admitted through the wash-out valve G, and so to the
main duct E passing thence by the gathering pipes CC and the collectors or
nozzles JJ upwards through the filtering bed K. The distributors O and R.
insure the distribution of the water through the bed. The water then escapes.
directly from the surface of the bed K through the openings U U and thence by
the endless pocket T through the wash-out discharge valve (k) to waste. At the
same time the agitating gear is set in motion.
In cases where it is desirable to sterilize the bed the operation is as follows.-
After the bed K has been well washed the valves G and (*) are closed and the
bed is run dry by opening the valve H. Valve H is then closed and steam
admitted by the valve (2) which is connected by a suitable pipe to a steam boiler.
The steam entering the main duct E passes up through the collectors or nozzles J J
and the filtering bed K.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.-
1st. In a filter the combination of an endless pocket and a filtering tank, the said
pocket communicating with the said tank by openings placed directly above the

page_text: 2nd. In a filter the combination of nozzles and a detachable chamber at the
bottom of said filter substantially as described.
3rd. In a filter a nozzle having a spherical perforated cover and a distributor
substantially as described.
4th. A filter substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Dated this Third day of October 1895.
JAMES PINFOLD.