CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTRATION
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
Count DE CRONY, of the. Province of Picardy, in the Kingdom of France,
now residing at No. 14, Cambridge Street, Edgeware Road, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS, in consequence of a communication from a foreigner residing
abroad, I am in possession of an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
FILTRATION" and whereas Her present most Excellent Majesty, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twelfth day of December, in the second year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry
Count de Crony, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, Fler especial licence that I, the
said Henry Count de Crony, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I.
the said Henry Count de Crony, my exors, admors, and 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 and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend my said Invention within that part of Great Britain called
England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed; in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Henry Count de
Crony, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said. Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be duly inrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by
the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Count de Crony, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention to

page_text: consist in introducing into the filtering machine more than two distinct sets
or beds of filtering materials, and so adjusting the same therein, and
admitting the unfiltered water or other fluid therein, in such manner that
part of the unfiltered water or other fluid will pass through one or more such
beds, and be thereby filtered, and other part of such unfiltered water or other
fluid will pass through one or more of the other of such beds, and also be
filtered;
and in obtaining a pressure for the more rapid filtration, wherever
the water or other fluid passes through more than one bed of filtering
materials; and also in admitting the unfiltered water or other fluid into such
beds through such screw-formed pegs of cane or other material as are herein-
after particularly described; and also in the preventing the obstruction of the
filter by dirt, as herein-after described; and also in cleansing the filter, and
in manner herein-after mentioned. And in further compliance with the said
proviso, I, the said Henry Count de Crony, do hereby declare the manner
in which the said Invention is to be performed by the following statement,
that is to say:-
I take a large wooden cask or other vessel, represented in the accompanying
Drawings by the letters a and 8, closed hermetically at both ends by an
immoveable head; the vessel must be sufficiently strong to resist the pressure
of the unfiltered water or other fluid. I introduce distinct beds of filtering
materials into this vessel, and I generally use four of such beds, but the
precise number is not material; they are represented in the Figures 2 and 3,
by the spaces coloured yellow and marked K, H, I, J. I introduce these filter-
ing materials through holes in the top of the cask or vessel, and these holes
are subsequently tightly closed. The partitions enclosing the filtering beds,
and marked S', S2, S3, S, S³, S, S7, S8, are inlaid or fixed in grooves or notches
in the inside of the cask or vessel, in the same manner as the top and
bottom or ends are secured. They consist of boards of wood or plates
of iron pierced with holes; the diameter of each of such holes is about
half an inch, and into these holes are screwed screws formed of cane or
other porous wood; these are firmly screwed into the boards or plates.
These screws ought not to be longer than about a quarter of an inch, other-
wise they will be soon choked up. The partitions are usually considerably
thicker than a quarter of an inch. The cane screws are screwed into the
side of the partition but adjoining the filtering bed, but abutting upon the
space into which the unfiltered water or other fluid enters on its admission
into the filtering machine. These holes on the sides near the filtering beds
are gradually widened from the depth of about a quarter of an inch from the
interior surface; this facilitates the dislodgement of the dirt from the holes in

page_text: the cleansing process. The pores of the screws are perpendicular to the
plane of the boards or plates. The spaces L', U', E, U, L², are severally
about the width of the diameter of the pipe admitting the unfiltered water or
other fluid, but the precise size is immaterial. Little round pegs, forming
props, are introduced into these spaces to support the partitions, and prevent
them giving way from the weight of the filtering material, and to prevent
them being displaced when the material is introduced. Into this vessel the
unfiltered water or other fluid from the cistern A descends along the pipe C,
which passes along one side of the vessel, as is represented in the accom-
panying Drawing, and is admitted by cocks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, into the spaces"
L', U', E, U, L2, as herein-after mentioned. After filtration it passes through
cocks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, at the other side of the spaces L', U', E, U2, L, into the
clear water pipe N, which passes and is fixed on the opposite side of the.
vessel to that on which the unfiltered water or other fluid pipe is fixed, passes
into the clear water or other fluid cistern B, which is placed not so high as..
the unfiltered water or other fluid cistern at the top of the vessel. Into
the spaces U1, U2, is inserted a pipe F, through which the water or other
fluid communicates freely, and' is carried up to the height of the water
or other fluid in the unfiltered water or other fluid cistern. All the
cocks on the opposite sides of the spaces L', U', E, U², L³, are
open at the same time. Thus cocks 1 and 2 are never open at the same.
time, and so on. Into whichever of the spaces L', U', E, U, L³, the unfiltered.
water or other fluid passes at the bottom of such space should be a pipe,
fitted with a cock V, communicating with a cock or other vessel P, fitted
with a cock T. In the Figure, only one of such pipes is represented,
as it is supposed that the unfiltered water or other fluid will be generally
admitted into the space E; but if the machine be generally used with the
unfiltered water or other fluid admitted into any of the other spaces, such
of the said spaces as the unfiltered water or other is admitted into ought
in like manner to be fitted with a pipe and cocks communicating with P.
The cock V is always open, and the cock T is always shut, during the.
ordinary process. of filtration. The cock V is closed, when it is wished to.
remove the dirt from P through the cock T; a considerable portion of the.
dirt falls by its own gravity down through the pipe into P, and the filter
is thus prevented from being obstructed. The unfiltered water or other..
fluid comes in between two of the interior partitions, which are pierced or.
stopped with cane or other screws as aforesaid, and which form the divisions..
It passes through the capillary.tubes of the cane or other screw plugs, which
are small enough to retain in the passage a large portion of the mud or slime
never

page_text: brought by the water or other fluid. The purification is thus carried on by
the liquid passing through the above-mentioned divisions and the filtering
substances. The partitions thus formed and fitted with cane, or other porous
screws, do not permit the fine freestone or other filtering materials to escape,
and greatly tend to preserve the filter. I place the said filtering machine in
an horizontal position, and fix it lower than the cistern or reservoir containing
the unfiltered water or other fluid; I introduce the said unfiltered water or
other fluid into the filtering machine in manner hereafter fully described
and mentioned by means of the said pipe C, hereafter called the unfiltered
water or other fluid pipe, and which pipe is furnished as aforesaid
with the said cocks, severally numbered in the accompanying Drawings
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, for the purpose of letting the said unfiltered water or other
fluid into the said filtering machine and shutting off the same as aforesaid.
One end of the said pipe is fitted tightly into the said unfiltered water or
other fluid cistern or reservoir, and the other end thereof communicates as
aforesaid by means of the said cocks and tubes, to which they are attached to
the aforesaid spaces L', U¹, E, L³, U, fitted tightly into the filtering machine
at the side thereof. It is essential that the communication between the.
reservoir or cistern for the unfiltered water or other fluid and the said.
filtering machine be unbroken and water-tight, so that the unfiltered water
or other fluid may have no means of escape, but must pass from the reservoir
or cistern into the filtering machine, and be pressed by the unfiltered water or
other fluid into the filtering machine, and which water or other fluid, when
filtered in manner herein-after mentioned, is conveyed into the reservoir B in
manner also herein-after more particularly described. On the reverse side of
the said filtering machine, to which the pipe C, called the unfiltered water or
other fluid pipe, and tubes and cocks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, are fixed, I attach a
pipe N, one end of which is by means of the said cocks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and the
tubes attached thereto, fitted and fixed tightly into the said filtering machine,
and communicates with the said spaces L', U₁, E, L, U; the other end of
the said pipe N is fitted into the said vessel or reservoir for the receptacle of
the clarified or filtered water or other fluid or liquid which is, by the pressure
from the unfiltered water or other fluid in the said reservoir or vessel.
containing the same, conveyed into the reservoir or vessel B, made to contain
the filtered water or other fluid fit for use.. This reservoir or vessel B I make
sufficiently large to contain the same when filtered, and which is filled there-
I affix
with by its passing through the pipe N from the said filtering vessel.
the reservoir containing the filtered water or other fluid or liquid above the
filtering machine, and generally nearly on the level with the reservoir or

page_text: vessel made to contain the unfiltered water or other liquid. I introduce the
unfiltered water or other fluid passing from the reservoir into the filter
through the different cocks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, in manner herein-after more fully.
set forth. When I wish to pass the unfiltered water or other fluid through
two beds of filtering materials, I generally introduce it into the filtering
machine through the cock 6; and the Drawing, Figures 1 and 2, represents
a filtering machine in which the unfiltered water or other fluid is introduced
through cock 6; it flows into the space E, between the two partitions S* and
So, in the centre of the said filtering machine, and part of such unfiltered
water or other fluid passes through one of the said partitions S* into the filter.
Hadjoining same, and the remainder of such water or other fluid passes
through the other partition S5 into the filter I, adjoining the same; and the
said water or other fluid having passed through the said two filters, flows'
into the divisions U₁ and U, through the partitions S and S'; in these
divisions it rises up the pipe F by means of the pressure from the water or
other fluid contained in the cistern or reservoir A, and having thus risen to
the level of the water or other fluid in this reservoir, the column of fluid
in the pipe F forces the fluid which has passed through the partitions S and
Se, through the partitions S2 and S, into the filters K and J, and thence it'
passes through the partitions S¹ and S8 into the spaces L' and L³, and then
rises through the cocks I and 9 into the cistern or reservoir B, fit for use,
being perfectly filtered and clarified. In this operation all the cocks are
closed except 6, 1, and 9.
.
And I, the said Henry Count de Crony, do hereby further declare the manner
in which the said Invention is to be also performed by the said unfiltered water
or other fluid passing through one filter only, by which means double the
quantity of water or other fluid may be at the same time filtered, that is to say,'
I close all the cocks communicating with pipe C, except 2, 6, and 10, which I
leave open to admit the unfiltered water or other fluid to pass into the said
filtering machine, and I leave open the cocks 3 and 7, to admit the filtered
water or other fluid to pass from the said filtering machine into the clear
water or other fluid pipe N, and from thence into the receptacle. B. When
the unfiltered water or other fluid is by the means last aforesaid introduced
into the said filtering machine through the cocks 2, 6, 10, that portion of
it which enters through the cock 2 is thereby admitted into the space. L', into
which it flows, and such unfiltered water or other fluid is, by the pressure of
the unfiltered water or other fluid in the reservoir or cistern A, forced through
the partition S¹ into the bed of filtering materials K, and by the same pressure
forced thence through the partition S2 into the space U¹, whence it passes off

page_text: by the said pipe called the clear water or other fluid pipe N, through the cock
3, into the receptacle or reservoir B. The portion of the said unfiltered water
or other fluid which enters into the said filtering machine through the cock C.
is thereby admitted into the space E, into which it flows, and such unfiltered
water or other fluid is, by the pressure of the unfiltered water or other fluid in
the reservoir or cistern, forced as to a part or portion thereof through the par-
tition S' into the bed of filtering materials H, and by the same pressure is
forced from thence through the partition S³ into the space U¹, where it meets
the water or other fluid which has, as aforesaid, passed through the filter K,
and passes off in the manner herein-before described with respect to that water
or other fluid through the cock 3 into the clear water or other fluid pipe N.
into the receptacle or reservoir B; and the other part of such unfiltered water
or other fluid, which has in manner aforesaid flowed through the cock C into
the space E, is, by the same pressure of the unfiltered water or other fluid in
the reservoir or cistern A, forced through the partition S into the bed of filter-
ing materials I, and by the same pressure is thence forced through the partition
Se into the receptacle U2, whence it passes off by the said pipe N through the
cock 7. And as to that portion of the said unfiltered water or other fluid
which enters the said filter through the said cock 10, and which is thereby
admitted into the said space L, it is by the like pressure of the unfiltered
water or other fluid in the reservoir forced through the partition S³ into the
bed of filtering materials J, and by the same pressure forced from thence
through the partition S' into the space U³, where it meets the water or other
fluid which bas passed through the filter I, and passes off' in the manner herein-
before described with respect to that water or other fluid by the said cock 7,
through the pipe N into the receptacle or reservoir B. A similar result is
obtained by opening the cocks 4 and 8 for the introduction of the unfiltered
water or other fluid, and opening 1, 5, and 9 for its passing off by the pipe N,
all the other cocks being closed.
From the above explanation, the mode of using the different cocks, either in a
machine containing four or a greater or less number of beds of filtering materials,
will be easily understood. It is obvious that an even number of filtering beds
is generally preferable, but if the machine be fitted with an odd number of
beds, say, three beds, the filtration of the water or other fluid admitted at one
extremity of the machine through the three beds will be accelerated by the
column of fluid in the pipe F, communicating with the space on each side of
the centre bed of filtering materials.
And I do hereby declare the manner in which I cleanse the filtering
machine to be as follows, that is to say-In a filtering machine in which, as

page_text: in the accompanying Drawings, the unfiltered water or other fluid is admitted
into the space E, I close the cocks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and I open the cocks V and
T, and I open the cocks 1 and 9; the clear water or other fluid is thus forced
through the beds of filtering materials in an opposite direction to that in which
the unfiltered water or other fluid has previously passed, and this greatly
cleanses the filter; but in order for its being thoroughly cleansed, I suddenly
open and shut several of the cocks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9; the sudden shock of the
water or other fluid being forced in or stopped in its progress through the filter
greatly assists in cleansing the same, and for this purpose the admission of the
unfiltered water or other fluid in sudden jets through the cocks 2, 4, 8, and 10
may be also used with advantage; the cock T being open, the water or other
fluid used for the purpose of cleansing the filter passes through it. In filtering
machines where the water or other fluid is admitted, not into the space E, but
into other spaces, there must be, as is herein-before mentioned, pipes com-
municating with such other spaces and the lower vessel P, and the mode of
cleansing such machines is obvious from the description already given; the
water or other fluid must be passed in sudden jets into the machine, and the
course must be the reverse of that by which it ordinarily passes; and in either
case the water or other fluid used for cleansing the machine will escape
through the cock T. When it is wished to remove the dirt which collects in
the vessel P, the cock V must be closed, and the vessel may then be easily
emptied.
Now whereas I do not claim as the said Invention the use of the substances
composing the beds of filtering materials, or the shape of the filtering machine,
or the introducing the unfiltered water or other fluid into the filtering machine
by a water-tight pipe communicating with and fitted into the cistern or reser-
voir containing the same; but I claim as the said Invention the following
improvements, that is to say:
The introducing into the said filtering machine more than two distinct beds
of filtering material, and adjusting the same therein when the number of such
beds is any even number, and admitting the unfiltered water or other fluid
therein, in such manner that part of the unfiltered water or other fluid will
pass through one or more of such beds and be thereby filtered, and the other
part of such unfiltered water or other fluid will at the same time pass through
other of such beds, and also be filtered.
And, secondly, in obtaining a pressure for the more rapid filtration when-
ever the water or other fluid passes through more than one bed of filtering
materials.
And, thirdly, in admitting the unfiltered water or other fluid into such beds

page_text: through such screw-formed pegs of cane, or other porous material as are
herein-before particularly described.
And, fourthly, in the preventing of the obstruction of the filter by dirt, as
herein described.
And, fifthly, in cleansing the filter in manner herein mentioned.
And such Invention being to the best of my knowledge and belief entirely
new and never before used within that part of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of the same; and
that I do verily believe that this my Specification doth comply in all respects
fully and without reserve or disguise with the said proviso in the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent contained, wherefore I do hereby claim and
maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Count de Crony, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of February, in the
year of our Lord 1839, the aforesaid Henry Count de Crony came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.