An Improved Process and Machine for Purifying and Sterilising Filtering Media.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process and Machine for Purifying and Sterilising
Filtering Media.
I, JEAN METZGER, of The Filtering and Technical Brewing Machine Works,
Worms-on-the-Rhine, in the Empire of Germany, Director, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved arrangement of mechanism and process
for the purifying and sterilising of filtering media such as fragments of cloth
and the like used in filtering presses. The arrangements in use at present do not
cause sufficient agitation of the media or the presentation of the whole surface to
the purifying and washing fluids, and as a result of this tubercules form which
while decreasing efficiency also produce injurious results in the filtered liquid.
The present invention consists generally of a process specially designed to
obviate the defects at present common, by providing mechanical arrangements
which carry the filtering medium through the washing and purifying liquid
repeatedly and in such a manner that all the surface of the medium is exposed to
the purifying liquid, while arrangements are made to keep this liquid free from
scum, and again arrangements are provided for heating by steam or the like the
may consist
medium when under treatment to produce sterilisation. The machine
generally of a screw conveyer arranged at the bottom of a tank and working in a
separate passage connected at either end by ports so that a circulation is kept up
by the conveyer between the tank and the passage. The medium thus circulated
as well as purified is kept at one constant density so that it is suitable for use at
any time in filter frames.
A machine designed to carry this improved process into effect is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings as follows,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the machine.
Figure 2 is an end elevation, and
Figure 3 a plan.
Referring to the accompanying drawings; The tank a contains the purifying
liquid and it has arranged underneath it a pipe or passage d with which it
communicates by means of two ports b and c. Within this pipe or passage dis
arranged a spiral conveyor e, and this conveyor is mounted on a shaft journalled
in bearings, and driven by belt pulleys or by other suitable gear, and all as clearly
shown in Figures 1 and 3. The medium to be sterilised and cleaned is fed into the
tank towards the passage b and from there the conveyor draws it down into
the pipe d and forces it along the same up through the passage c and over the
partition f into the tank. The medium falling into the tank flows back in a slow
stream towards the suction side b again, and this circulation is kept up as long as
desired. By these means a comparatively rapid transmission of the medium is
ensured along the passage d and a slow return flow through the purifying liquid
in the tank back to the port b.
Over the tank a a transverse drum is provided with paddles m placed in such a

page_text: position that these paddles are immersed in the liquid in the tank on their under
side. This transverse drum is preferably operated as shown by a rope drive and
worm gear from the shaft carrying the spiral conveyor e and within the drum is
a passage or channel n leading to an exterior pipe so arranged that the rotation of
the drum removes the scum upon the surface and allows it to fall within the
interior channel n and be suitably drained off. The drum itself is made detachable
so that it can be easily removed for the purposes of cleaning.
During this washing process and in order to prevent the adhering of the filter-
ing medium to the transverse drum la perforated pipe o is arranged parallel with
the transverse drum in the position shown. This pipe has two rows of perfora-
tions and q, the row p facing the drum so that by arranging a suitable pipe
connection jets of liquid strike the drum and wash off any of the filtering medium
which chances to adhere.
In putting the machine into operation the purifying water is allowed first of all
to flow into the tank a then the spiral conveyor is set in motion and the filtering
medium, (such as fragments or strips of cloth which it is desired to purify and
sterilise) fed in. If the pipe d is full of filtering medium, it is desirable to open
the water connection to pipe o and allow the two rows of jets p and q to come into
action. Further additional purifying liquid in conjunction with the steam may
be admitted directly to the passage by the connecting cock shown on the left
hand of the drawings at Figures 1 and 3. This steam serves for the purpose of
sterilising the medium. It is an indication of the completion of the process
when the water which is drained off from the transverse drum is perfectly clear.
When the material has been purified and sterilised the water and steam connec-
tions are turned off, but the conveyor is kept rotating as by this means the filtering
medium can be kept at a constant density and conveyed to whatever sourco
required (such as filtering presses and the like), and thereby secure the highest
cfficiency when in operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1,The improved process for the purifying and sterilising of filtering media in
which the medium to be treated is on the one side withdrawn from a tank contain-
ing purifying liquid and is conveyed with relatively great velocity to the other
side in order there to be conveyed back through a port over a partition into the
said tank, where it diffuses and streams back at a slow rate to be re-conveyed, this
process being repeated until the medium is completely purified.
2A machine for carrying into effect the process claimed in the preceding
claim in which a tank is provided leading by two ports at the bottom to a pipe
in which a spiral conveyor works and further arranging in conjunction with this
spiral conveyer means for introducing steam and purifying liquid into the pipe,
all as a means for the continued circulation and sterilization of the medium to be
purified substantially as hereinbefore described.
3, The machine for purifying and sterilising filtering media substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
Uated this 23rd dow of Vonal 1900
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.