Improvements in or relating to Filters:
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Filters:
I, JOHN SUTTON of Islip, in the County of Suffolk, and State of New York,
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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 improvement in filtering apparatus in which provision
is made for obtaining a great extent of inlet and outlet filtering surface within a
comparatively small space and for manipulating the filtering material in such a
manner as to increase or diminish the size of the pores throughout the filtering
material at pleasure and for packing and operating the filter in a convenient and
expeditious manner.
A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying
drawings, in which,—
Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a view in end
elevation. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the filter
turned in position for packing the upper compartment.
Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through line xx of Fig. 1 ; and
Figs. 5 and 6 are views in detail representing, respectively, the spindle in
longitudinal section and end elevation.
The particular class of filter which I have selected for the purpose of illustrating
my invention is that in which the filtering-vessel is supported by means of trunnions
in a suitable frame, so as to be swung from a horizontal position to a position with
its removable or opening end upward-such, for example, as shown in United
States Letters Patent No. 406,603, granted to me July 9, 1889. I do not, however,
limit myself to filters of that class only, as it will be obvious that many, if not all,
of the features of my present invention are applicable to filtering vessels of other
well-known forms and not adapted to be swung into different positions. I have also
shown the supporting-frame as mounted on a truck for convenience in transporting
the apparatus, but this may be fixed as desired.
A represents the truck, to the opposite sides of which the standards a are fixed,
the latter being provided at their upper portions with suitable bearings a¹ for the
reception of the trunnions of the filtering vessel. The filtering-vessel is here
shown of cylindrical form and comprises two distinct compartments B and B',
separated from each other by an immovable partition b, impervious to liquid. The
partition 6 forms the common floor of the two compartments and has flanges b',
extending in opposite directions from its periphery, within which the adjacent ends
of the casings which form the walls of the compartments B and B¹ are received and
to which they are secured liquid tight. The opposite ends of the casings of the
compartments B and B are provided with reinforcing-rims 63, fixed snugly thereto
and adapted to receive the covers C and C, so as to form a liquid-tight joint. The
covers and C¹ are hinged to the edges of the ends, sufficient play being provided
for at their hinged connections to admit of the movement of the cover bodily
toward its seat, and suitable screws c are adapted to engage the cover and threaded
seats or lugs in the rim for drawing the cover into snug contact with its seat.
The general structure of the filtering vessel and its covers as thus far described
is quite similar to that shown and described in my Patent above referred to and,
as mentioned therein, the vessel might be cast with its floor and walls integral, the
form shown being the one preferred in practice. The rim of the common partition
or floor 6 has the trunnions 6 fixed thereto or formed integral therewith upon
diametrically-opposite sides, and in proximity to the trunnion upon the inlet side is
provided with conduits 64 and 6, formed integral with the rim and leading in

page_text: opposite directions from the common inlet-channel 6ª in the trunnion and com-
municating the one with the compartment upon one side of the floor b and the
other with the compartment upon the opposite side of the floor b.
The common inlet-channel is provided with a stop-cock 6' for the purpose of
shutting off the liquid to be filtered from both of the compartments B and B', and
each of the conduits 6 and 65 is provided with its own independent cock 68 and 6
for the purpose of letting on and cutting off the flow of the liquid to be filtered
from either one of the compartments independently of the other. The barrels of
the cocks and 6° may be cast integral with the rim of b. There is also provided
in connection with the conduits 6 and 66 connections 610 and 6" for the purpose of
admitting water to the compartments for flushing or other purposes. The
connections 60 and 611 are provided with suitable stop-cocks 6 and 613, and they
are preferably so arranged with respect to the cocks 68 and 6° that the latter (which
may be ordinary three-way cocks) may be utilized to simultaneously shut off
communication between the channels 6' and and the compartments B and B¹ and
open communication between the connections 610 611 and said compartments.
The trunnion upon the outlet side is provided with a channel 64 for the
discharge of the filtered liquid, which channel communicates at points between the
filtering-vessel and its bearings with the chambers for the filtered liquid within
the compartments B and B¹ by means of branch pipes 618 618, each provided with
its stop-cock 617 618 to shut off the flow from either one of the compartments
independently of the other, as may be desired. Outlet-cocks 60 and 61 communicate
with the interiors of the stop-cocks 617 618 to send the liquid from either
compartment to waste. The branch pipes 6 and be are also each provided with a
test-cup D and D', preferably of glass, to which are attached vents, the flow of
the gases therethrough being controlled by suitable cocks d d', or the cup may be
self acting.
As the structures and arrangements of the filtering devices within the two
compartments B and B' and the means for manipulating them are substantially
duplicates of each other, the description of one will be sufficient. The floor plate
or frame is of a skeleton formation and comprises a series of ribs e, radiating from
a central ring or hub E, and is provided with feet e', (which may be omitted if
desired) located at intervals and here shown as projecting downwardly from the
ring or hub E to permit the free flow of the liquid over the partition floor b beneath
and upwardly between the ribs of the plate. It is intended that this floor-plate
shall have a diameter substantially equal to that of the compartment in which it is
placed and that it shall rest at the inner end of the compartment upon the partition b
when in normal position and at the same time have a free sliding movement
upwardly or downwardly away from the floor 6 under the impulse of an operating-
spindle, as will be hereinafter more particularly referred to. A hollow spindle F
extends from the partition 6 upwardly to a position to enter a socket e therefor in the
cover C when the latter is in closed adjustment, and the lower end of said spindle
is provided with feet f, located at intervals around the margin of its lower end to
admit of the flow of the liquid from the space in proximity to the partition b into
the interior of the spindle. The said spindle is further provided at its lower end
with a right-hand screw-thread f, adapted to engage a corresponding thread
within the hub or ring E of the floor-plate. The floor 6 is preferably provided
with a shallow recess 60 at the point where the feet or end of the spindle rests
About midway of its length, within the compartment B, the spindle F is 5
provided with an annular groove f* for the reception of one or more thumb screws
for adjusting a double floor-plate, as will hereinafter appear. The said spindle is
reduced in size near its upper end and provided with a shoulder f³, upon which a
screw-threaded sleeve or collar fis adapted to seat. The screw-threaded collar
is made removable from the spindle F, so that the several plates, which will be 5
hereinafter referred to, may be fitted to slide in close contact with the body of the
spindle, instead of leaving the space which would be required were 'they' to 'slide
thereon.

page_text: ver the exterior face of the screw-thread upon the collar f*. The collar f* is held
position upon the spindle and prevented from rotating relative thereto by means
E a key f, which extends transversely through the spindle and is engaged with a
ecess in the upper edge of the collar. The interior of the hollow spindle F
ommunicates with the space immediately beneath the cover C by means of
penings, extending laterally therethrough. The upper end of the said spindle
of an operating
provided with a squared socket f, into which the shank
ever G (here shown as a hand-wheel) is adapted to fit, the latter extending through
suitable stuffing box g', fixed to the cover and closing liquid tight the opening
cover, through which the shank g extends. A set-screw g³, extending through
he side of the cap in which the shank g is supported into position to engage the
aid shank, serves to lock the operating lever in its position with its end in the
quared socket ƒª.
the
A top plate or frame, quite similar to the bottom plate or frame hereinbefore
referred to and comprising a series of ribs h, radiating from a central ring or
aub H, is provided with a screw-thread within its hub, adapted to register with the
screw-thread upon the collar f, seated upon the spindle, the thread upon the
collar f being a left-hand thread, or the opposite of that upon the lower or inner
end of the spindle.
Intermediate between the top and bottom plates or frames referred to there is
located what I am pleased to term a "double floor-frame," comprising ribs or
arms i, recessed to open communication between them and radiating from a central
ring or hub I, the latter provided with a bore adapted to embrace, with an easy
sliding fit; the spindle F. Thumb-screws ¹, one or more in number, are seated in
threaded perforations in the ring or hub I, and are adapted to project within the
same into the annular groove f in the spindle, and thereby prevent the double
floor-frame from moving lengthwise of the spindle. The thumb-screws i¹ are
provided with shoulders, which abut against the hub or ring I before the end of
the screw engages the bottom of the groove f³, and therefore leave the spindle
free to turn independently of the double floor-frame. Perforated plates K K¹ are
seated upon the opposite faces of the double floor-frame, and corresponding
perforated plates KK are seated upon the faces of the floor and top frames,
the spaces between the plates upon the opposite sides of the double floor-frame
and the top and bottom frames, respectively, forming chambers for the reception
of filtering material L. There are also interposed between the perforated
plates K K K K and the filtering material additional perforated plates k k², &c.,
the perforations in the latter being smaller than those in the former, as is
usual, and such other perforated or porous membrane may be interposed, as
is common in the art for filtering purposes. The several perforated plates are
provided with central openings adapted to receive the spindle F with a close
sliding fit.
The
In assembling the parts the floor frame or plate is first placed in position upon
the partition b. The spindle F is then screwed into its hub E. The perforated
plates Kare slid down over the spindle into engagement with the floor-frame
and the first stratum of filtering material put in place. The perforated plates k K
are then slid down over the spindle into engagement with the filtering mass.
double floor-frame is then slid over the spindle and secured in position by the
thumb-screws, then the perforated plates K₁ k', then the second stratum of
filtering material, then the perforated plates * K³, then the screw threaded
collar f* is adjusted upon the spindle and the top frame screwed thereon into
engagement with the perforated plate K³; or the collar f' might be first screwed
into the hub H of the top frame and the collar and top frame then be simultaneously
adjusted upon the spindle. The cover C being now closed and secured and the
operating-lever adjusted, or the spindle F may be rotated, in any well known way
5 and thereby simultaneously, through the right and left hand screw-threads thereon,
draw the top and bottom frames toward the double floor-frame, compressing the

page_text: filtering material in the two strata, and so retarding the flow of the liquid throug
the filtering material. A reverse movement of the spindle-operating lever wi
simultaneously expand the strata of filtering material, and thereby increas
the flow.
In Fig. 3 one compartment B represents the strata expanded and the other show
them compressed.
In assembling the several frames and plates suitable washer-rings may be inserte
between them and the double floor-frame may be further secured in place by on
or more set screws, engaged with its periphery and the casing.
The top an
bottom plates are conveniently prevented from rotating by means of forked lugs e
and h¹, or other suitable means extending, respectively, from the partition 6 and
cover C, straddling the ribs e and h. The space between the perforated plates K K
upon the opposite faces of the double floor-frame forms the outlet chamber commor
to the two filtering-strata and communicates with the delivery-pipe 6 through the
wall of the casing. A vent-pipe M extends across the periphery of the compart
ment and communicates with the spaces in proximity to the cover and partition
through ports m. A vent and drain cock m³, fixed to the vessel or to the
cover C, serves to let off gases from the pipe M and said spaces when operating
and for admitting air to within when blowing off or draining the compartment from
the cock m' below. The cap g³ upon the outside of the cover C forms an air-
chamber, which communicates with the space beneath the cover by one or more
channels g, and a vent cock g³ communicates with the interior of the cap g³ through
the shank g of the spindle-operating lever.
To lift the covers for gaining access to the interiors of the compartments B B',
I provide a lever N, preferably bifurcated at one end, the branches n being adapted
to enter sockets n', formed in raised portions or a raised portion of the cover and
removably secured therein by suitable keys n². I also provide a catch n³ for
engaging the operating-arm of the lever and holding it in position to lock the
cover open, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.
The stand-pipes O and P, through which the liquid to be filtered is conducted to
and led from the channels in the trunnions, are bolted and keyed or jam-nutted to
the ends of the trunnions by means of bolts o and p, which pass through the pipes
and screwed or pinned into the rim of the fixed partition b. The joints between
the trunnions and the stand-pipes are so packed as to admit of the rotation of the
filtering vessel relatively to the stand-pipes without causing a leakage. Additional
supports for the stand-pipes are provided by brackets o' and p³, fixed to the
standards a and engaged with the pipes. After the filtering-strata have been
adjusted, either in the presence of water admitted into the compartments through
the cocks and 6 or in the absence of such water-supply, and the water flush
has been passed through the strata, as is common in starting, the liquid to be
filtered may be admitted from the stand-pipe O through the channel 66 into either
one or both of the compartments B B¹ through the channels 66 into the space in
proximity to the partition b. From there it percolates through the stratum of
filtering material nearest the partition b, and also extends upwardly through the
hollow spindle into the space beneath the cover, and thence percolates through‹
the outer stratum of filtering material. In both instances the filtered liquid escapes
from the strata of filtering material into the chamber formed by the double floor-
frame, and is led thence into the branches of the outlet channel within the opposite
trunnion and thence into the discharge stand-pipe P.
It is obvious that the liquid to be filtered might be conducted by a continuation 5
of the channels 6* and across the periphery of the vessel from each cock 6ª°
to the space beneath the covers instead of through the hollow spindle, and that in
such event the spindle might be made without a passage through it. The form
shown is, however, considered the more desirable, as it utilizes the hollow form of
spindle in delivering the liquid centrally and avoids the necessity of extending the 5.
thickened portion of the rim of the partition b.

page_text: By the above construction and arrangement of parts two inletting-surfaces of
the diameter of the filtering vessel are provided in each compartment for passing
the liquid to the filtering material and a common chamber provided for the two
outletting-surfaces, also of the diameter of the vessel. The two compartments
being arranged to operate independently of each other, one may be kept in
operation while the other is being packed. The rate of flow of the filtered liquid
and its condition may be regulated with the greatest precision by the simultaneous
compression or expansion of the strata of filtering material in either compartment
without stopping the operation (as is usual) and the provisions for blowing off
gas and testing are conveniently located and readily manipulated.
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 combination, with separate strata of filtering material and plates held in
position to retain one side of each strata fixed, of movable plates engaged with
the opposite sides of the strata and means for moving the movable plates
simultaneously toward and away from the fixed plates, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with separate strata of filtering material having their out-
letting sides facing each other and spaced apart, of frames or plates at the inletting
sides of the strata, right and left hand screws for controlling the said frames or
plates, and means for simultaneously operating the screws to force the plates
toward and away from each other, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with the filtering vessel, with its central partition impervious
to liquid, and its covers, of separate strata of filtering material in each compart-
ment of the vessel, spaced apart and spaced from the covers, plates located upon
opposite sides of the separate strata, means for moving the plates at the opposite
sides of the different strata in each compartment toward each other, conduits for
conducting the liquid to be filtered to the spaces adjacent to the partition and the
covers, and means for discharging the filtered liquid from the space between the
strata, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with a filtering vessel having separate strata of filtering
material located therein and spaced apart, of movable frames or plates in proximity
to the opposite sides of the separate strata, a hollow spindle extending centrally
through the strata and having a right and left hand screw thread in engagement
with the movable frames, chambers for the entrance of the liquid to the filtering
strata at or upon opposite sides of the different strata, said chambers being in
communication with each other through the hollow spindle, a chamber for receiving
the filtered liquid intermediate of the strata, means for rotating the spindle, and
suitable inlet and outlet conduits, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with the spindle and plates provided with openings adapted
to closely fit the body of the spindle, of a follow plate or frame provided with a
screw-threaded opening and a removable screw-threaded collar or sleeve adapted
to slide onto the end of the spindle into engagement with the screw-threaded
opening in the follow plate or frame, and means for securing the said collar or
sleeve to the spindle, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with the chambers for the entering liquid at the opposite
ends of the compartments, of fixed conduits extending along the outside walls of
the compartments and communicating with said chambers, and blow-off or vent
cocks suitably placed and communicating with the said chambers and hence with
the conduits substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with the filtering vessel, its conduits for the entrance of
liquid thereto, and the water inlet cocks in connection with said entrance conduits,
of the outlet-conduits, the stop cocks connected therewith, and the auxiliary water-
outlet cocks connected with the said stop-cocks in the outlet-conduits, substantially
as set forth.

page_text: 8. In combination with the fixed central partition, the hinged covers and the
movable frames located in proximity to the partition and covers, the said partition
and covers being provided with suitable lugs which project toward the frames in
position to engage their ribs and prevent them from rotating, substantially as
set forth.
DAL!. 5.
1000
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.