Apparatus for the Destruction of Solid Sewage and other Matters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for the Destruction of Solid Sewage and other Matters.
I, ARTHUR EDOUARD BRECHOT, of 15, Avenue de Villeneuve l'Etang, Versailles,
in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to an apparatus designed for the complete destruction of
sewage matters on the spot by fire without emitting any smoke or odour and only
allowing filtered and disinfected water and urine to flow to the drain. This
apparatus can also be utilized with or without a filter for the destruction by fire
of all kinds of collected dust or refuse, the combustion of which is liable to give
off bad odours.
*The apparatus comprises a vessel designed to receive the material to be burnt,
a furnace placed beneath it, a lateral receiver or box containing the disinfectant,
à tube designed to ensure a strong and regular draught by means of a jet of water
introduced through an injector-nozzle, a cap which is applied to the lower part of
the tube and which is replaced when the vessel is full by a simple plain cover
or by a cover having a central aperture which serves to receive the tube, and an
apparatus serving to effect the destruction of the gases.
The vessel is perforated throughout its periphery. At its upper part its edge
is inclined slightly inwards and upwards but the opening left by the full circle
which forms the upper edge is larger than the opening of the pipe.
The object of this upwardly inclined flange is to cause the water coming from
the pipe to pass outside the vessel.
The gases and the water circulate freely between the vessel and an external
cylinder.
The furnace which is beneath a movable grate has at its lower part a simple
Horizontal grate; but this grate, to facilitate the discharge of the cinders is fixed
at its back part by a pivot or hinge to the shell of the furnace which allows of
lowering it onto the bottom of the apparatus or of placing it horizontally.
The buffer grate is maintained in the horizontal position. by a kind of bolt
passing through the shell and which can be drawn or pushed in at will.
On each side of the furnace is an aperture which corresponds with a small door
in the shell; these doors serve for charging the apparatus.
Beneath the horizontal grate the shell is provided in front with a small door
which hermetically closes the air inlet which is opened for the combustion.
At the rear or at another point this shell is provided with an aperture com-
municating with the disinfecting box and through which passes all the liquid to
be discharged into the drain through the opening.
Through the top of the disinfecting box passes a column which serves as a
reservoir for a disinfecting substance such as sulphate of iron The lower part of
this column which is perforated extends down to the bottom of the box p.
At the lower part of the discharge tube is adapted a cap which is surmounted
by a tubular end and has a round contracted part.
The arrangement of the tube end which surmounts this cover has for object to

page_text: separate the water which travels over its convex wall and reaches the free space
around the vessel to fall upon the carbon filter and thence into the receiver formed
by the lower part of the apparatus.
The apparatus for the destruction of the gases is formed of a cylindrical furnace
with a charging door and air inlet beneath the grate; this furnace is surrounded
with a jacket which leaves a free space for the circulation of the gases. This
jacket is itself surrounded with a second jacket and the space between the two
jackets is filled with refractory clay.
At a certain height above the grate are placed horizontal tubes of refractory
clay one end of the said tubes passes through the jacket of the furnace and
extends into the free space left between it and its jacket. The other end of the
tubes terminates in the furnace at a certain distance from the side.
Beneath the point where the refractory tubes pass through the jacket of the
furnace the two outer jackets between which the refractory clay is placed are
provided with a large aperture extending, like the tubes, into the free space left
between the furnace and its refractory jacket. This aperture serves for the inlet
of the gases coming from a tube which extends therein.
An inclined partition separating, from top to bottom, the free space left around
the furnace for the circulation of the gases passes between the aperture of the
refractory tubes and the aperture for the inlet of the gases in order to force the
latter to pass all around the furnace before reaching the refractory tubes.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The filter having been filled the vessel is placed beneath the discharge pipe and
covered with the cap which is fixed to the discharge pipe.
The separation of the water from the solid matters has for object to do exactly
the reserve of the vessel at present in use. In the latter the water falls, as
required, on to the matters in order to dilute them and cause them to flow into
the drain. This washing which only allows paper, linen, etc., to be left in the
vessel is absolutely contrary to hygienic requirements. In my system on the
contrary the water is separated in the chute from the solid matters which accumu-
late in the vessel over the carbon filter from which it afterwards falls through
the movable grate into the disinfecting chamber and thence passes to the drain.
My apparatus therefore entirely retains the solid matters and disinfects the
liquids.
The vessel at present in use actually dilutes the matters and carries them along
almost freely to the drain with the water. When the receiver is full the contents
are burnt by first lighting the fire in the furnace of the apparatus filled with
coke. When it is red hot at all points the vessel is placed under the discharge
pipe, the fire is made up and the water cock opened.
The gases arriving through the aperture spread out into the free space around
the furnace become dried therein and partly burnt, effecting the destruction of
the odorous parts by traversing the refractory tubes which are at a white heat
to escape with the gases from the furnace into the atmosphere. No odour or
smoke is emitted.
A box is provided formed of two concentric casings the inner of which is
perforated at its lower part, and the outer provided with a single hole at its upper
part allowing the casing to be placed in communication with the drain.
The gases enter through the discharge tube into the box and pass, through a
second aperture made in the top, by the side of the former aperture, into the gas
pipe which extends to the opening in the furnace the water always remaining
above the holes in the inner casing of the box.
No odours can escape through the aperture of the outer casing which has a
pipe branching therefrom over the drain for the discharge of the waters of
condensation.
In order to render the arrangement of the vessel more convenient for small
installations particularly for houses where the the installation of the vessel with
its furnace might seem difficult, the matters are, always perfectly isolated in order

page_text: that they may be retained by the water in the vessel and to avoid diluting them
with the water in the chute, and the cylindrical vessel is made with holes in
vertical rows over a portion of the circumference; it is movable and rests upon
three supports made of simple flat vertical iron bars serving as a guide and form-
ing bottom brackets. The bottom of the vessel is plain and fixed. The water is
directed through the cover outside the vessel; thence the water falls into the
free space above the vessel, becomes disinfected, and flows through the outlet.
When the vessel is full it is covered with a tightly fitting flat cover and the
outlet aperture is closed.
The hermetically closed vessel is carried into a factory or works in order that
the matters contained therein may be incinerated to convert them. for example,
into manure.
To incinerate the matters the vessel is emptied into a similar but larger vessel
arranged in the same way as in the combustion apparatus hereinbefore described,
but the shell is replaced by a jacket of refractory bricks and cast iron.
The movable vessel can be provided with vertical rows of holes over the whole
of its periphery and, for the incineration, be withdrawn from its casing to be
placed in the shell of a furnace similar to the preceding.
In this case the vessel is provided with a movable bottom which as soon as the
vessel is in position should be withdrawn by a chain fixed to a ring at a suitable
point of its circumference.
1
August 1200
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London.
Agents for the Applicant.
Apparatus for the Destruction of sond Sewage and other
I, ARTHUR EDOUARD BRÉCHOT, of 15, Avenue de Villeneuve l'Etang, Versailles,
in the Republic of France, 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:
-
My invention relates to an apparatus designed for the complete destruction of
sewage matters on the spot by fire without emitting any smoke or odour and only
allowing filtered and disinfected water and urine to flow to the drain. This
apparatus can also be utilized with or without a filter for the destruction by fire
of all kinds of collected dust or refuse, the combustion of which is liable to give
off bad odours.
Figure 1 is a side view of my apparatus as arranged for dealing with large
quantities of sewage and other matters.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line A, B of the plan Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a section of the filling cap of the apparatus.
Figure 5 is a section on the line C, D of the plan Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a section on the line E, F.
Figure 7 is an elevation; and
Figure 8 is a vertical section of my apparatus as arranged for dealing with
smaller quantities of matter.
Figure 9 is a section on the line G-H, Figure 7:
Figure 10 is a section on the line I-J, Figure 7.
and
The apparatus comprises a vessel a designed to receive the material to be
burned, a furnace b placed beneath it, a side receiver or column c containing the

page_text: disinfectant, a tube & designed to ensure a strong and regular draught by means
of a jet of water introduced through an injector-nozzle e, a cap f which is applied
to the lower part of a filling or charging tube and which is replaced, when the
vessel is full, by a simple plain cover or by a cover having a central aperture g
which serves to receive the tube d, and an apparatus h serving to effect the
destruction of the gases.
The vessel a is perforated throughout its periphery. At its upper part its edge
is inclined slightly inwards and upwards but the opening left by the full circle
formed by this upper flange is larger than the opening of the filling or charging
tube.
The object of this upwardly inclined flange is to cause the water coming from
the said tube to pass outside the vessel a.
The gases and the water circulate freely between the vessel a and the external
cylinder i.
The furnace which is beneath a movable grate (shewn in front elevation and
plan at Figures 11 and 12) has at its lower part a simple horizontal grate k; but
this grate, to facilitate the discharge of the cinders is fixed at its back part by a
pivot or hinge to the shell of the furnace which allows of lowering it onto the
bottom of the apparatus or of placing it horizontally.
The grate is maintained in the horizontal position by a support
(shewn in
plan at Figure 13) having a number of pins passing through the furnace shell
and which can be drawn out or pushed in at will.
On each side of the furnace is an aperture which corresponds with a small
door in the shell; these doors m, m serve for charging the apparatus.
Beneath the horizontal grate & the shell is provided in front with a small door n
which hermetically closes the air inlet which is opened for the combustion.
At the rear or at another point this shell is provided with an aperture o com-
municating with the disinfecting box and through which passes all the liquid
to be discharged into the drain through the opening q.
Through the top of the disinfecting box passes the column c which serves to
contain a disinfecting substance such as sulphate of iron. The lower part of
this column which is perforated extends down to the bottom of the box p.
At the lower part of the charging tube is adapted the cap f which is surmounted
by a tubular end and has a round contracted part. The charging tube leads from
the water-closets of the house and when it is required to collect the materials in
the vessel a the cap f is placed on the apparatus and fitted to the lower end of the
charging tube.
The fecal matters falling in through the charging tube become separated; the
liquid being diverted laterally by reason of the resistance offered by the air to
the movement of the mass and the said liquid travelling over the inner side of
the cap flows over the lower internal shoulder which thus acts as a larmier; they
fall into the space comprised between the vessel and external cylinder i,
Figure 2, the lower internal shoulder forms a continuation of the conical wall
without projection or edges or interruption of continuity.
The lower external flange only serves to retain the cap upon the cylinder i and
prevent it from descending too low; the upper edge of the cylinder i is received
between the lower flanges of the cap f (Figure 8).
The solid matters which might not fall direct are prevented from following the
same course as the liquids by reason of the inwardly inclined edge at the top of
the vessel a their relative viscosity will not allow them to travel over the wall
of the lower cone, they become detached from the inwardly inclined edge and fall
in the middle of the apparatus.
The liquid thus separated from the solid portion falls upon a carbon filter com-
posed of a layer of coke and a layer of coal dust and sulphate of iron placed upon
the grate and thence passes through the filter into the receiver formed by the
lower part of the apparatus and is thus filtered before passing to the drain.
The apparatus h for the destruction of the gases is formed of a cylindrical

page_text: furnace with a charging door and an air inlet beneath the grate; this furnace is
surrounded with a jacket which leaves a free space for the circulation of the
gases. This jacket is itself surrounded with a second jacket and the space between
the two jackets is filled with refractory clay.
At a certain height above the grate are placed horizontal tubes s of fire-
clay; one end of the said tubes passes through the side of the furnace and extends
into the free space left between it and its jacket. The other end of the tubes s
terminates in the furnace t at a certain distance from the side.
Beneath the point where the fire-clay tubes s pass through the side of the
furnace the two outer jackets between which the fire-clay is placed are provided
with a large aperture u extending, like the tubes, into the free space left between
the furnace and its refractory jacket. This aperture serves for the inlet of the
gases coming from a tube which extends therein.
An inclined partition separating, from top to bottom, the free space left around
the furnace for the circulation of the gases passes between the aperture of the
fire-clay tubes s and the aperture u for the inlet of the gases in order to force the
latter to pass all around the furnace before reaching the refractory tubes.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
The filter having been charged with coke and coal dust the vessel a is placed
thereon in the cylinder i which is brought beneath the filling or charging tube
and covered with the cap f which is fixed to the filling tube.
The separation of the water from the solid matters has for object to do exactly
In the latter the water falls, as
the reverse of the vessel at present in use.
required, on to the matters in order to dilute them and cause them to flow into
the drain. This washing, which only allows paper, linen, etc., to be left in the
vessel, is absolutely contrary to hygienic requirements. In my system on the
contrary the water is separated in the filling tube from the solid matters, (which
accumulate in the vessel a) and falls onto the carbon filter from which it then
passes through the movable grate j into the disinfecting chamber and thence
passes to the drain.
My apparatus therefore entirely retains the solid matters and disinfects the
liquids.
The vessel at present in use actually dilutes the matters and carries them along
almost freely to the drain with the water.
When the vessel a is full I burn the contents first lighting a coke fire in the
furnacet of the apparatus h. When it is red hot at all points the cylinder i is
placed under the pipe d, the fire is made up and a water cock opened on the pipe
of the injector-nozzle e.
The gases arriving through the aperture spread out into the free space around
the furnace become dried therein and partly burnt, effecting the destruction of
the odorous parts by traversing the fire-clay tubes s which are at a white heat
and escape with the gases from the furnace into the atmosphere. No odour or
smoke is emitted.
A box is provided formed of two concentric casings the inner of which is
perforated at its lower part, and the outer provided with a single hole y allowing
the casing to be placed in communication with the drain.
The gases pass through the tube d into the box and through a second aperture
made in the top, into the pipe which leads to the opening in the furnace the
water always remaining above the holes in the inner casing of the box r.
No odours can escape through the hole in the outer casing which has a pipe
branching therefrom over the drain for the discharge of the waters of con-
densation.
In order to render the arrangement of the vessel more convenient for small
installations particularly for houses where the installation of the vessel with its
5 furnace might seem difficult, I employ, in such cases, the arrangement illustrated
in Figures 7 to 10.
The matters are always perfectly isolated in order that they may be retained by

page_text: the water in the vessel a and to avoid diluting them with the water in the filling
or charging tube. The cylindrical vessel a is made with holes in vertical rows.
over a portion of the circumference; it is movable and rests upon three supports 1.
made of simple flat vertical iron bars serving as a guide and forming bottom.
brackets. The bottom of the vessel is unperforated and fixed. The water.is
directed by the cover outside the vessel a: thence the 'water falls into the :free
space below the vessel a, becomes disinfected, and flows through the outlet. q..
When the vessel a is full it is covered with a tightly fitting flat cover andi the
áperture q is closed.
'
1
The hermetically closed vessel is carried into a factory or works in order that
the matters contained therein inay be incinerated in order, for example, to convert
them into manure.
To incinerate the matters the vessel a is emptied into a similar but larger vessel
arranged in the same way as in the combustion apparatus hereinbefore described,
but the shell or casing is replaced by a jacket i of refractory bricks and cast iron.
The movable vessel a can be provided with vertical rows of holes over the
whole of its periphery and, for the incineration, be withdrawn from its casing i to
be placed in the shell of a furnace similar to the preceding.
In this case the vessel a is provided with a movable bottom which as soon as
the vessel is in position should be withdrawn by a chain fixed to a ring at a
suitable point of its circumference.
"
my said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18- :
1. An apparatus for the destruction by fire of solid sewage and other matters
comprising an upper vessel the bottom of which, in the form of a grate, is covered
with a layer of coke and with an upper layer of coal dust and sulphate of iron,
the said vessel being arranged above a furnace grate adapted to receive the
fuel designed to burn the materials collected in the upper vessel, when the latter
is full of solid matter free from all the liquids which in filtering have passed
through the filter of the upper vessel, substantially as set forth.
2. The arrangement of fire-clay tubes at the upper part of a special furnace
surrounded by the gases, substantially as set forth.
3. The disinfecting chamber which can be fed, as required, and which, placed
at a point outside the apparatus, is traversed by the liquids as they flow to the
drain, although these liquids may be already previously mixed with disinfecting
.materials standing in the space situated beneath the lower grate, substantially
as set forth.
4. The arrangement of the cover adapted to the lower part of the filling tube
and allowing the separation of the solids from the liquids before they fall on to
the carbon filter, substantially as set forth.
5. The arrangement of the box receiving the gases and which is formed of two
concentric casings the inner of which is provided with holes at its lower part and
the outer with a single hole at about the middle of its height to be placed in
communication with the drain, substantially as set forth."
6. The arrangement of the vessel for separating the liquid from the solid matter
and entirely disinfecting the liquid as described in the preceding claims but
without the filter and furnace, the said vessel being designed to be carried into a
factory or works in order to incinerate the materials therein to convert them into
manure, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of Anril 1900
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London.
Agents for the Applicant.