IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FILTERS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN, of 22 at Tower Street, in the city of London,
Filter Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FILTERS" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to filters that may readily be carried about the person and
is designed to render them effective, easy to clean, and more convenient for carriage
and use.
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4
My improvements consist of a support or frame, covered or not with a permeable
cloth or other tissue, and which serves to arrest the filtering medium of a powdered,
granular or pulpy nature, and fitted with a mouthpiece, in combination with a case
which is fitted with the fluid carrying in suspension the filtering medium, which is
thus naturally deposited upon the pores of the filtering tissue or support, and which
otherwise assists in filtering.
The outer casing of my portable filter may be very little larger than the filter
frame, in which case it is not conveniently used as a storage flask, but is employed
simply as a filter, either filtering the water direct to the mouth from the interior of
the filtering frame or support, or used in conjunction with a syphon, such as an
indiarubber tube, attached to the inlet of the unfiltered water for the supply; or to
the mouthpiece for the withdrawal of the filtered water or to both; a suitable valve
being put in the inlet to the filter case to keep the filtering medium in, and to
prevent the back flow of water, and thus maintaining the filter ready for work. .
Or, alternatively, sufficient capacity may be afforded in the outer case to store a
certain amount of unfiltered water, which may be drunk conveniently direct from
the mouthpiece of the filtering frame and thus act as a filtering water bottle. In
this cas a suitable valve or vent hole may be employed to admit the air as the
water is withdrawn to maintain atmospheric equilibrium.
"
This arrangement can also be used in conjunction with a syphon tube by
introducing the bottle bodily into the water with the inlet open, a tube connected
to the mouthpiece of the filtering frame acting as a syphon to draw the filtered
water. Or, the inlet may be connected by a tube to the water supply (the filtering
bottle being placed below the level of the water supply) and the filtered water
carried over by another tube fitted as a syphon to the mouth of the filtering
frame.

page_text: Or, alternatively, the inner case enclosing the filtering frame or support may be
combined with one or more external cups tightly fitting the filtering case; the
filtered water then being conveniently poured from the mouthpiece of the filtering
frame into the said cup or cups for drinking.
In each of the above forms of my invention the filtering case is so constructed
that the filtering frame and its covering tissue may be withdrawn so as to afford
easy cleansing.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, PROSPER AUGUSTE MAIGNEN, Inte of 22 Great Tower Street, but now of
32 Saint Mary-at-Hill, both in the City of London, Filter Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FILTERS"
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 filters that may readily be carried and is designed to
render them effective, easy to clean, and convenient for carriage and uso.
My improvement consists of a support or frame covered with asbestos cloth or
other tissue, which serves to arrest the filtering medium of a powdered, granular, or
pulpy nature, supplied with a direct outlet or mouthpiece, from the said filtering
frame; and in combination with a filter case. This case forms the reservoir for the
unfiltered liquid and is filled for the purpose of setting with the fluid carrying in
suspension the filtering medium, which is naturally deposited upon the pores of the
filtering tissue, and which furthermore assists in the purification of the liquid.
Coarse granular carbon is in some cases added in the filter case around the filtering
frame, thus set with the finer filtering medium.
The filter case of my portable filters may be considerably larger than the filter
frame, and thus afford sufficient capacity to store a certain amount of unfiltered
water or fluid, which may be drawn conveniently direct from the outlet or mouth-
piece of the filtering frame.
Or the filter case of my portable filters may be very little larger than the filtering
frame and is employed simply as a filter. The filtered water or other liquid is
drawn from the interior of the filter frame and may be used in conjunction with
any suitable pipe, tube, or syphon attached to the inlet, the filtered water or fluid
being always taken direct from the outlet of the filter frame. A suitable valve is
applied to the inlet to the filter case, to prevent the filtering medium and water in
the filter from flowing back.

page_text: My filters are self-contained and complete, without the necessary use of any
tubing whatever.
The inlet may be dipped direct into water or other fluid to be filtered, and the
filtered water or fluid may be drawn into the mouth or into any other receptaclo
direct from the outlet of the filter frame, though tubing may be used to convey the
fluid thereto in certain cases.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the drawings heroto annexed and to the
letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of my filter designed as a water bottle.
Figure 2 is an internal view of my filter for pocket use with the cover removed.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of my filter designed for military pocket use.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of my filter designed for military use.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of same provided with aërating tube.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the figures.
In figure 1, A is the outer case, B is the filtering frame of any suitable perforated
material with asbestos cloth or tissue stretched thereon, and provided with a
mouthpiece b; the filtering medium is mixed with the water or liquid to be
filtered, poured into the external case or bottle A, (which thus constitutes a
reservoir) through the plugged orifice, a, a little side vent being provided through
the seat of the plug, to allow of atmospheric equilibrium, whilst being filled or
whilst drinking. The filtered water or liquid is drawn from the bottle. by the
mouthpiece, b, the bottle being turned upwards at a suitable angle to cause a flow.
The inlet may be connected by a tube to the water supply, the filtering bottle being
placed below the level of the said supply, and the filtered water or liquid being
carried over by another tube fitted to the mouth of the filtering frame.
Figures 2 and 3 show a diminutive filter, termed the "watch filter," sufficiently
small to be carried conveniently in the pocket. The external case A is in the form
of a shallow box and lid, C, the lid being screwed upon the box, with or without a
washer, or otherwise secured to make a watertight joint. Within this external
case is the filtering frame B, over which is stretched a tissue, such as asbestos cloth;
upon which the filtering medium is deposited by the water or other liquid first
passing through the pores of the said cloth. The filtered liquid from the interior of
the said filtering frame may be withdrawn by the suction of the mouth, applied to
the nipple b, the supply being then withdrawn by suction through the inlet a,
direct from the source of supply, or through a suitable tube F, supplied with a
strainer f. The inlet a is provided with a valve G, surrounded by a movable
guard g, which admits of easy adjustment of the lift of the valve, and regrinding,
when required. This valve serves to retain the suspended filtering medium, and
the liquid therewith within the filter frame, so as to maintain the filter ready for
use at any time.
Figure 4 shows my soldiers pocket filter in which the external filter_case_A,
conveniently cylindrical in form, is combined with the internal filtering frame B,
conveniently formed by a spiral wire, covered with a bag of asbestos cloth H,
upon which is deposited the filtering medium as hereinbefore described. The frame
and outlet mouthpiece & forms part of the screwed cap C which can thus be all
readily removed for cleansing. This form of my filter may also be used by the
addition of a tube to the suction inlet or both to the inlet and outlet as a syphon
filter from one vessel to another.
This form of my filter is provided with the inlet valve G with adjustable guard g,
so that the filter remains always ready for use.
Figure 5 shows my portable filter constructed in a modified form for military
transport.
The external case A, conveniently cylindrical in form, is provided with an inlet a
and guard g, as herein before described, and is closed by a cover C. The filtering
franc B, of any suitable perforated material, is covered with asbestos cloth II and a

page_text: filtering medium is deposited upon it by subsidence. This is attached by an outlet
cock b to the bottom of the filter case. The cover C is pressed home so as to make
a watertight joint by means of internal bolts K or external bolts K, as shown in
figure 5, 'pressing a tongue projecting from the cover upon an elastic washer k
placed within a suitable groove in the edge of the case.
Tubes of indiarubber, metal, or other suitable material, may be used in com-
bination with this filter to connect it to any suitable source of supply, and the inlet
valve G (figure 6) may be placed at any convenient point in the external filter
case A. Where this filter is thus attached to a source of supply developing much
head or water pressure, I provide a stop cock Q or add an adjustment to the inlet
valve in the supply pipe by means of which I can check the flow into the said filter,
so as to relieve the pressure upon the filtering frame and medium to any desired
extent. An outlet pipe of any convenient form 6 provided with a tap if required
may be attached by a union to.the outlet.
Where this filter remains stationary, from time to time, I may apply an aërating
pipe S allowing the external air to enter the interior of the filtering frame with the
filtered water or other liquid and thus to aërate the same. In this aërating pipe
I fit a floating valve T, the subject of another application for Letters Patent by me,
to admit the access of air, but to automatically prevent the egress of. water.
In each of the above forms of my invention, the filtering case is so constructed
that the filtering frame and its covering tissue may be withdrawn so as to afford
easy cleansing, at any time, to the asbestos cloth, frame, and other parts, and entire
renewal of the filtering medium, as and when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st In a portable filter, the combination with an external case of an internal
frame, covered with asbestos cloth which serves to arrest a finely powdered filtering
medium, substantially as described.
2nd In such a portable filter, the construction of the mouth piece or outlet
attached direct to the filtering frame, such a connecting or suction tube, as may be
required, being attached to the inlet of the filter case, and provided with an internal
valve at the said inlet, substantially as described.
3rd In such a portable filter, the construction of the case large enough to act as
a storage bottle or flask containing both a filtering frame with outlet and also an
inlet with air hole upon the upper face, substantially as described.
4th In such a portable filter, the construction of the valve in the inlet provided
with a removable guard, to admit of easy adjustment of lift of valve, and the
regrinding when required, substantially as described.