IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND PURIFYING SEWAGE AND OTHER FOUL LIQUIDS, GASES, AND NOXIOUS VAPOURS, AND CONVERTING THE SLUDGE ARISING THEREFROM INTO FUEL, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GAS OR ATMOSPHERIC AIR."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wild, of Littleborough, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, and Henry Ledger, of Leek, in the County
of Stafford, Cashier, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS
FOR TREATING AND PURIFYING SEWAGE AND OTHER FOUL LIQUIDS, GASES,
AND NOXIOUS VAPOURS, AND CONVERTING THE SLUDGE ARISING THEREFROM
INTO FUEL, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR CARBURETTING GAS OR
ATMOSPHERIC AIR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wild and Henry
Ledger at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th April 1881.
ROBERT WILD, of Littleborough, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, and HENRY LEDGER, of Leek, in the County of Stafford, Cashier.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND PURIFYING SEWAGE
AND OTHER FOUL LIQUIDS, GASES, AND NOXIOUS VAPOURS, AND CONVERTING
THE SLUDGE ARISING THEREFROM INTO FUEL, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS
FOR CARBURETTING GAS OR ATMOSPHERIC AIR."
We introduce the sewage or other foul liquid requiring to be purified first into a
mixing chamber forming part of our improved tank arrangement, wherein one or
more agitators cause it to become thoroughly mixed with a solution of alumina
ferric cake and soap water, or one of these solutions; the mixture then passes up
and down through a series of compartments formed by partitions, which are affixed
alternately to the top and bottom of the tank, and then having become thoroughly
incorporated with the solution, the mixture flows along letting the solid particles
settle to the bottom of this portion of the tank until it reaches the far end, when
it falls into a trough or settling compartment until the liquid portion overflowing
the same passes back on the other side of a partition, and finally escapes into a
similar tank, where if necessary it is again treated with a similar solution of
alumina ferric cake, and if requisite with a small quantity of ammonia.
In connection with the settling compartment is a revolving screen over which
an endless wire work band or apron passes, so as to separate the sludge and carry

page_text: it forward to where it is required to be delivered, and the liquid portion which is
sucked through the screen by means of an exhauster is conducted back through a
pipe to the mixing chamber to be again passed through the apparatus.
Having passed through the second tank arrangement above mentioned, the liquid
then passes into an improved filter forming the second part of our Invention, and
consisting of a series of parallel chambers which communicate with each other at
alternate ends, the liquid entering a vertical compartment in the first chamber, and
then rising up through filtering material confined between gratings, and overflowing
into a similar vertical chamber which leads it into the adjoining filtering chamber,
and so on throughout all the chambers.
The sludge arising from this improved process when mixed with hydro-chloric or
other acid dries of itself, and is then found to constitute a good fuel capable of
burning by itself.
Our improved arrangement of filter for smoke and other noxious vapours
consists of a series of compartments formed by hollow partitions, which are
affixed alternately to the top and bottom of a chamber, and in each of which
compartments are perforated trays, which support coke or other suitable filtering
material through which the smoke or other noxious vapour ascends, and then finds
its way down through the hollow partition into the bottom of the adjoining
compartment, where the same operation is repeated, centrifugal or other pumps
being employed to force or draw the smoke or other noxious vapour through the
filter. The upper part of each of these compartments being in communication with
a tank or cistern, so that caustic, potash, or other purifying solution contained
therein may escape through suitable fine gratings in the form of spray into each of
such compartments, and to become commingled with the smoke or other noxious
vapours, the solution which falls to the bottom being pumped up again so as to be
used over and over again until exhausted.
It will be obvious that this arrangement of apparatus is equally applicable for
carburetting gas or atmospheric air by employing a suitable carburetting liquid in
the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Wild and Henry Ledger in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th October 1881.
ROBERT WILD, of Littleborough, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, and HENRY LEDGER, of Leek, in the County of Stafford, Cashier.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND PURIFYING SEWAGE
AND OTHER FOUL LIQUIDS, GASES, AND NOXIOUS VAPOURS, AND CONVERTING
THE SLUDGE ARISING THEREFROM INTO FUEL, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS
FOR CARBURETTING GAS OR ATMOSPHERIC AIR."
On the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents a side sectional view, and
Fig. 2 a plan of our improved tank arrangement for treating and purifying sewage
and other foul liquids. We introduce the sewage or other foul liquid requiring to
be purified first into a mixing chamber A forming part of our improved tank
arrangement, wherein one or more agitators B cause it to become thoroughly mixed
with a solution of aluminoferric cake and soap water, or one of these solutions in
the proportion of one gallon to every fifty gallons of sewage, or more or less as the
matter under treatment may require, either separately or in combination with each
other, or with lime or any other well known precipitating agent or agents; the
mixture then passes up and down through a series of compartments C formed by
partitions C, which are affixed alternately to the top and bottom of the tank D
communicating together, as illustrated, so that the mixture entering at the bottom
of the first compartment has then to rise up therein, and to pass over the top edge
of the first partition C¹ in order to enter the second compartment, from whence
having become thoroughly incorporated with the solution it flows along through
the chamber E, letting the solid particles settle to the bottom of this chamber until
it reaches the far end, when it falls into a trough F or settling compartment, the
liquid portion overflowing the same passes back on the other side of a partition G,
and finally escapes into a similarly fitted tank H, where if necessary it is again
treated with a similar solution of a aluminoferric cake, soap water, or other well
known precipitating agent or agents, either separately or in combination with each
other, and if requisite with a small quantity of ammonia.
In connection with this settling compartment or compartments is a revolving
screen or cylinder I, wherein a vacuum is created by an exhauster, and over which
an endless band or apron made of wire work or other suitable material J passes so
as to separate the sludge and carry it forward to where it is required to be
delivered, and the liquid portion which is sucked through the screen or cylinder by
means of a vacuum created by an exhauster.K is conducted back through a pipe L
to the mixing chamber A to be again passed through the apparatus; L¹ is a
partition affixed in the settling chamber E, which allows the heavier sludge or solid
matter to pass up through the passage M when the outlet valve N is opened, and
also allows the lighter or floating sediment or scum to overflow, and be drawn off
through the passages O when the outlet valve P is opened, the valves N and P
permitting the sludge and floating sediment to fall into the receiving box Q, from
whence it spreads itself and is received after passing under the partitions R on the
endless band J, as aforesaid. Having passed through the second tank arrangement
above mentioned, the liquid then passes into an improved filter forming the second
part of our Invention, a plan of which is illustrated by Fig. 3, and a side sectional
view by Fig. 4 of the accompanying Drawing. This improved filter consists of a
series of parallel chambers S which communicate with each other at alternate ends,
or at top and bottom, the liquid entering a vertical compartment T in the first
chamber, and then rising up through filtering material or materials confined

page_text: between gratings U, and overflowing into a similar vertical chamber T which leads
it into the adjoining filtering chamber, and so on throughout all the chambers.
We prefer that each of the chambers should communicate with a common flushing
tank for cleansing or flushing out purposes, the communication being controlled by
valves or sluices at the side or underneath, and worked by worms and worm-
wheels, as described in the Specification of an Invention for which Letters Patent
No. 3968 were granted to us on the 3rd of October 1879, and which Invention we
sometimes use wholly or partially in conjunction with our present Invention where
a greater degree of purification is desired. The sludge arising from this improved
process when mixed with hydrochloric or other acid dries of itself, and is then
found to constitute a good fuel capable of burning by itself, or the same can be
made into pressed blocks and utilised for the manufacture of gas by being
decomposed in gas retorts, and if thought desirable the effluent from the sludge can
be re-used as a precipitant for the further treatment of sewage with a slight
addition of aluminoferric cake, or other suitable purifying or precipitating agent or
agents, or the sludge may be pressed in suitable presses with the assistance of steam,
whereby the oily matter is extracted and the residue forms a valuable manure.
Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of our improved apparatus for purifying, washing,
and condensing, and otherwise dealing and treating gases, smoke, and noxious
vapors from sewers, tunnels, domestic habitations, locomotives, furnaces of all
descriptions, and arising from or in the manufacture of coal and other gases,
chemicals, and other noxious manufactures, or any other source, and consists of a
series of compartments a formed by a hollow partition b which are affixed alternately
to the top and bottom of the chamber c, and in each of which compartment or
compartments are perforated trays x fixed alternately or otherwise at suitable
distances apart, which support coke or other suitable purifying or filtering material
or materials E through which the gas, smoke, or other noxious vapour ascends, and
finds it way down through the hollow partition b into the bottom of the adjoining
compartment, where the same operation is repeated, centrifugal or other pumps
being employed to force or draw the gases, smoke, or other noxious vapours through
the various compartments of our improved condensing and purifying and washing
apparatus; and also to pump the purifying solution or solutions from the bottom
or common tank of the apparatus to the upper tank, in order to be reused as often
as thought needful; and if thought desirable we introduce a supply of steam or
air into any of the upper or lower parts of the apparatus to assist the condensation
of the various gases, smoke, or noxious vapours under treatment. The upper part of
each of these compartments being in communication with a tank or cistern f, so
that water or a solution of soda, caustic, potash, or any other suitable purifying
solutions or agents (as may be required for the matter under treatment) contained
therein may escape through suitable fine gratings g regulated by self adjustable
valves in the form of spray into each of such compartment or compartments, and so
become commingled with the gases or other noxious vapours, the solution or solutions
which falls to the bottom of such compartment or compartments or common tank
being pumped up again, so as to be used over and over again until the same is
thoroughly impregnated and unfit for further absorption. In order to carry off tar
or any other matter in the condensation of coal or other gases or smoke, we carry a
branch or branch pipes just above the water or solution line from the various
compartments or common tank, such branches being coupled to a main pipe leading
to the tar well. The solutions or water being supplied to the tank or tanks by
means of a pipe, the same being provided with suitable valves or taps.
In the purifying condensing of gases, smoke, and noxious vapours we do not
confine ourselves to the wet process alone, but if desirable we combine both the wet
and the dry process either separately or otherwise, that is to say, we first pass the
gases, smoke, or vapours through one part of the apparatus, wherein we use the
solutions or water, as before set forward, and afterwards allow the said gases,
smoke, or vapours to pass through filtering or purifying material or materials or
agents without the use of the solutions or water in the form of spray. For the

page_text: removal and replenishing of the various compartments with filtering material or
purifying agents, we provide suitable manholes secured by bolts and nuts, either at.
the side, top, or otherwise.
It will be obvious that this arrangement of apparatus is equally applicable for
carburetting gas or atmospheric air by employing a suitable carburetting liquid in
the same.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be distinctly understood that
we do not confine ourselves to any particular material of construction as iron,
stone, brick, or other suitable material may be employed, nor do we confine
ourselves to the precise details, relative proportions or dimensions of our improved
apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing, as
the same may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention, but
what we claim is,-
1st. The improved combination and arrangement of parts of our improved tank
arrangement, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described on Figs. 1
and 2.of the accompanying Drawing.
2nd. The combination of the revolving vacuum cylinder, endless apron, and other
parts for separating the sludge from the liquid portion, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated on Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing.
3rd. The improved construction and arrangement of filter, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on Figs. 3 and 4 of the
accompanying Drawing.
4th. The improved combination and arrangement of apparatus for purifying,
condensing, washing, and otherwise dealing and treating gases, smoke, and noxious
vapours, and for carburetting purposes, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated on Fig. 5 of the accompanying Drawing.
5th. Treating sewage and other foul liquid with a solution of aluminoferric cake
and soap water, or in combination with ammonia, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described.
6th. The conversion of sewage into fuel or blocks for the manufacture of gas and
other purposes, the extracting of oily matter or matters and manure arising from
the before mentioned processes, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Wild and Henry Ledger, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ROBERT WILD.
(L.S.)
HENRY LEDGER. (L.S.)