IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERING OIL
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
HENRY BILLITER, of Maze Road, Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Oil
Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the sixth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Henry Billiter, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Richard Henry Billiter, my exors, admors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard Henry Billiter, my exors,
admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FILTERING OIL;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I,
the said Richard Henry Billiter, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery. within
two calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: Richard Henry Billiter, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
-described-and-asscertained-in-and-by the following-statement-thereof,-reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and. to the figures and letters
marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to modes of arranging apparatus, in combination with
bags, for filtering oil, whereby the process of bagging or filtering oil will be
facilitated, the space occupied economized, and the labor required lessened.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the apparatus used by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a plan of a frame, suitably arranged for using twenty-four
bags according to my Invention, some of the parts being removed in order
that the construction of all the parts may be more readily seen and understood.
Figure 2 is a front view of the frame, partly in section; and Figure 3 is an
end view of the frame in section; the other Figures of this Drawing shewing
various views of the bags separately, and also the quadrangular metal frame
by which the bags are kept open at top, and by which they are supported in the
frame; and one of the wicker partitions, used to support the sides of the bags,
is also shewn separately. In all these Figures, the same letters are used to
indicate the same parts. a, a, is a quadrangular vessel or tank, in which the
apparatus is placed, and into which the oil falls as it filters through the bags.
The frame which supports the bags is so arranged as to receive several bags
side by side, such bags being prevented touching each other by means of flat
wicker basketwork surfaces or partitions, which prevent the bags distending
and at the same time do not interfere with the free flow of oil through the
sides of the bags. I would here remark, that although I prefer the partitions
by which the bags are prevented being distended to be of basketwork, yet I do
not confine myself thereto, as a frame of bars near together, or grooved sur-
faces, or other such contrivances may be resorted to for constructing partitions
to be placed between the bags, which on the one hand may keep the bags
from touching one another, and also keep them from distending, and yet not
materially to interfere with the free flow of oil through the side surfaces of the
bags. b, b, are the uprights of the framing, which are combined together by
the rails 6 at the ends of the frame, and by the rails 62, 62, at the front and
back of the frame. c, c, are rails for supporting the lower ends of the bags.
d, d, are the top end rails, which have grooves in them to guide the filling

page_text: apparatus or vessel. e, f, are the front and back rails (the back rail being
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1); and 9 is the middle rail which divides
the frame into two compartments. h; h, h, are rails which divide cach of the
two compartments into twelve compartments; but these numbers may be
varied. These rails are readily applied and removed to facilitate the removal
of the bags when full, as is clearly shewn by the Drawing. i, i, are the bags,
which hang from the bars h by means of the wire frames j, which are intro-
duced into the mouths of the bags; and the upper part of the bag is then
turned inwards, as is shewn. k; k, are surfaces of 'wickerwork, which support
the bags at the sides, and prevent them bulging, and also prevent their
touching each other. 1, 1, are pins introduced between the partitions or sur-
faces of basketwork k, such pins being passed through the bottom rails, and
also through the middle and front and back rails. m is a copper trough or
vessel, extending the whole:length of the apparatus, having openings n, with
plugs in proper positions for filling the several bags in the front or back row
of bags.. And the ends of the trough or vessel are suitable for moving in the
grooves of the end top rails, as is shewn, by which means, when one row of
bags has been filled, the trough is slided over the other; and the trough is
supplied with oil from time to time by pumping or otherwise causing the oil
to be filtered to flow into the trough. By this arrangement of apparatus a
large extent of bag surface will be brought within a comparatively small space,
the sides of each bag being supported by surfaces of wickerwork, or other
partition suitable for offering support to the sides of the bags, without mate-
rially interfering with the flow of oil through the sides of the bags., The bags
are to be filled up from time to time with oil, till they become charged with a
large quantity of "foots," when the frames j are to be removed from the
mouths of the bags, and the mouths closed by being tied; and they are then
to be removed from the frame or apparatus, shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3, and
submitted to pressure by being placed one on the other, having a metal plate
between the wicker surfaces of each two of them, and then allowed to remain
till the oil no longer flows therefrom. Figure 4 shows a front view and
Figure 5-a plan of apparatus suitably arranged for facilitating the piling of the
bags upon each other. o, o, is a square tank for receiving the oil which runs
from the filter bags. p, p, are uprights, between which the bags are piled;
9, 9, being the metal plates, which are placed between the surfaces of wicker-
work, the iron plates being so formed as to be guided in their descent by
the uprights p, as is shown. r is a perforated platform on which the bags are
piled; by this means the. "foots" in the bags will be subjected to a moderate
pressure, and by this means the oil will be separated completely from the

page_text: "foots;" the bags are then to be emptied, and again used. s, s, are strings
which confine the basketwork of each of the bags in their proper places. In
some cases in place of piling the bags one-over-the-other, as-above.described,
I so arrange the framing and apparatus that the bags may receive pressure by
mechanical means in the positions they were placed when for filtering the
oil before they were tied up, thus rendering their removal from the frames
unnecessary. Figure 6 shows a plan of apparatus suitably arranged for
carrying out this part of my Invention; Figure 7 shows a longitudinal
section of the same; Figure 8 shows a front view thereof; Figure 9 shows
a transverse section; Figure 10 shows the right-hand end view thereof;
Figure 11 shows one of the plates used at either end of the machine, which
being by mechanical means caused to approach each other, press the bags
between them; and Figure 12 shows a longitudinal section of the apparatus,
showing the bags therein under pressure in consequence of the two end plates
having been caused to come towards each other. This apparatus is similar in
many respects to that first above described, but is made to contain only twelve
bags, the frame being divided into two parts by the partition 63, the other parts
being marked by the same letters of reference as those used in Figures 1, 2,
and 3. The description above given, aided by the present Drawings, will enable
a workman readily to understand the arrangement now under description, and
it will be seen that the frame is partly enclosed at the front and back, and also
at the two ends by the planks or rails 64. The basketwork surfaces or partitions,
in this instance, are kept in their places by means of long pins at the upper
and lower parts of the frame, as is shown, and these pins are removed when
pressure is applied to draw or move the end plates towards each other, and the
rails on which the bags are suspended are also removed before pressure is
applied, and the bags have their mouths tied before commencing to press. s is
a windlass or barrel moving in bearings at s', and the barrel is prevented
turning back when in use by means of the ratchet wheels, affixed on the
barrel, and the click or catch s" hinged to the frame; t, t, are the two end frames
which are caused to approach each other by means of the barrel s winding
up the chains v, v, such chains passing respectively through the blocks u, one
on each side of the frame, the end of the chains v being respectively made
fast to the branch chains w, the ends of which are hooked on to the hooks
w¹ of the end plate at the right-hand end of the machine, and the blocks u
are affixed by the branch chains ¹ to the end plate at the left-hand end of the
apparatus; hence, when the chains v are wound on to the barrel, they will
cause the bags to be pressed and the oil thereby separated from the "foots."
I would remark, that I do not confine myself to the above mode of giving

page_text: pressure to a series of bags in which oil has been filtered, in order more.
effectually to separate the oil from the "foots" in the bags, this part of the
Invention relating to the mode of arranging a series of bags side by side in.a
frame, and supported at the sides by wickerwork, or other suitable partitions,
and when the filtration has gone on for some time, an accumulation of "foots"
has taken place in the several bags, to cause them to be pressed, in order to
separate the oil from the "foots" contained in the bags as above explained.
I would remark, that although I prefer to fix and suspend the bags by a
square wire frame, introduced into each of the bags as above described, that is
not essential, as the square frames may be dispensed with; and also the rails
of the frame or apparatus, which receives and support the upper ends of the.
bags. Figure 13 shows part of a front view, and Figure 14 part of a plan of.
a suitable frame or apparatus for receiving a series of bags for filtering oil,
which is in most respects similar to that first described; but the means of
supporting the upper parts of the bags are different, for it will be seen that
the mouth of each bag is turned down on the outside, and the wickerwork or
other suitable partitions become the means of support. Figure 15 shows
sections of the bags used before and after being turned down on the outside.
I have thus far described only what I may be call single bags; but in some
cases, I can employ what I call double bags in carrying out my Invention.
Figure 16 shows part of a plan; Figure 17 shows part of a front view in
section of a frame or apparatus with what I call double bags; and Figure 18.
shows part of an end view in section; and Figure 19 shows the bag separately
before and after being drawn up into itself, and folded down inside over a
similar wire frame to that before described. These bags, it will be seen, are
made of considerable length, and when each is drawn up into itself they form.
what may be called a series of double bags, and into the interior fold of each
I introduce a wickerwork partition, by which the two surfaces of the part of
each of the bags which is drawn up will be kept separated, and thus offer
filtering surfaces for the oil to flow through, as will readily be understood on
examining the Drawings now under description; and the outer surfaces are
kept from being distended, and from touching each other, by means of the
frame partitions of uprights x, x, as is shown; in other respects, the frame is
similar to that first described. Or in place of having the bags drawn one part
within the other, I can employ single bags, such as first described, and then
introduce the trough (1), with a partition of wickerwork covered with the bag
fabric, as is shewn at Figures 21 and 22: by this means I enlarge the filtering
surface, and the oil passing through the covering fabric of the wickerwork
runs down into the trough and out through the tube (2), as is shown. When

page_text: the bags have been some time in use, and have become considerably charged
with "foots," the wire frames are to be removed, and the mouths of the bags tied
up, and they are to be removed and piled one over the other, as before explained,
placing a plate and wicker surfaces between each two bags, the wickerwork
partitions remaining in the bags till the whole-of-the-oil-has-run from the
"foots," when the bags are to be taken down and emptied, which will readily
be done by turning each bag inside out, first removing the wickerwork surface
or other partition used. In the above description, it will be seen that the
objects of the Invention above described are to obtain a series of bags side by
side as near together as possible, yet kept separate by means of wickerwork
or other partitions which do not materially interfere with the free passage of
oil through the sides of the bags, and the partitions also keep the sides of the
bags from bulging or being distended when filled with oil, and when the bags.
have become charged with "foots," the bags being closed at top, are submitted
to pressure, either by piling them one over the other, or else by mechanical
means. I wish it to be understood that I do not claim any of the parts
separately, nor do I confine myself to the precise details so long as the parts
are suitably constructed and combined for carrying on these processes.
Another part of my Invention relates to a mode of arranging a series of
filters, which consists in obtaining the pressure of a column of oil, the bags
being so placed that when the bags have become charged with "foots" they
may be submitted to pressure by their pressing on each other. Figure 19 is
an elevation in section of an apparatus according to this part of my Invention,
and Figure 20 is a plan thereof. The bags are flat, similar to those described
in respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3, and they are kept separate; as shown, and
the oil is facilitated running off by means of wickerwork partitions. The
bags are held separate in a horizontal position by means of pins and plates, as
is shewn between the uprights y, y. The oil is supplied to the bags from a
tank or vessel above through the pipes z and branch pipes z¹, on which are
cocks to stop off the supply to the branch pipes; the bags are fastened by
being bound round with cords till the "foots" have charged the bags, when
they are to be untied from the branch pipes and the mouths of the bags closed
and tied up, and the supporting pins removed so as to bring the pressure of
the bags on to each other, and thus aid in separating the oil from the "foots"
in the bags, and when the oil no longer runs from the bags the bags are to be
emptied and again supported separately and connected to the branch pipes.
I would remark, that I do not claim the use of a column of oil in supplying
filter bags, that having been resorted to before; this part of my Invention
relating to the combining a series of bags when filtering oil in such manner

page_text: that they are held separate one above the other when filtering, and combined
with a column of oil, but are allowed to press on each other to facilitate the
flow of oil from the "foots," as above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for performing the same, I would wish it to be understood
that what I claim is,―
First, the mode of combining a series of bags side by side, they being kept
separate and prevented bulging or distending by wickerwork or other suitable
partitious when filtering oil, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the mode of arranging and combining apparatus in such
manner that a series of bags, after they have become charged with "foots"
in the process of filtering oils, may be piled one over the other, yet be kept
separate, as above described.
Thirdly, I claim the mode herein described of combining apparatus with
filtering bags, which having become charged with foots in the process of
filtering oils, may be caused to be pressed as above described. And,
Fourthly, I claim the mode of combining several bags (when filtering oils.
they being one above the other and kept separate), with a column of oil, as
above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Henry Billiter, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.