IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING TOY
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stanley Kemp-Welsh, of 18, Billiter Street, in the City
of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING
TOY
Sealed the 8th March 1878, and dated the 18th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stanley Kemp-Welsh at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1877.
STANLEY KEMP-WELSH, of 18, Billiter Street, in the City of London. “IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING LIQUIDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for filtering liquids.
For this purpose I form the sides of a hollow filtering chamber of a number of
layers of fibrous material placed one on the other alternately with layers of elastic
material, rigid plates of iron, or other material may, if necessary, be introduced at
intervals between the layers to strengthen the sides of the chamber. The top and
bottom of the chamber are closed by rigid plates, and the plates are drawn together
by bolts or otherwise to compress the layers of fibrous and elastic material to the
requisite degree of tightness. In place of using separate layers of elastic and
fibrous material compound layers of fibrous material bedded in elastic material
might be used. The chamber thus formed may be of any form, according to the
nature of the substance to be treated.
A convenient way is to make each layer rectangular, and with a longitudinal
central slot of the width required for the hollow space of the chamber. The
chamber may be placed in an open or closed vessel containing the liquid to be
filtered. The bottom of the filtering chamber is fitted with a tube communicating
with a pump, by which air can be exhausted; the clear liquid will thereby be
drawn through the capillary fibres into the interior of the filtering chamber, and
will pass from thence to the pump.
If the liquid to be filtered is contained in a closed vessel it may be put under
pressure, so as to be forced through the fibres, the filtering action at the same time
being aided, if desired, by the application of suction.

page_text: The vessel containing the liquid to be filtered may conveniently be made in
compartments, which can be separated one from the other when it is necessary to
remove solid matter from it.
In place of surrounding the exterior of the filtering chamber with the liquid to
be filtered and withdrawing the clear liquor from its interior, the operation may be
reversed, and the liquid to be filtered be supplied to the interior of the filtering
chamber, and be forced or drawn, or both, into the vessel in which the filtering
chamber is contained.
It is not necessary that the layers of elastic material should be of the same
breadth as the layers of fibrous filtering material.
In cases also where very perfect filtration is not required the above form of
filtering apparatus may be used without interposing layers of elastic material
between the layers of filtering material, but the filtering surfaces may be built up
of layers of cloth or fibrous material placed one above another, and clamped
together as described; layers of felt may also be used, and they may be interposed
between layers of cloth.
In some cases also three, four, or more sheets or layers of filtering material may,
at intervals, be carried across the interior of the chamber, and having, however,
perforations in them to allow the liquid to pass readily to all parts of the chamber.
These sheets may, for convenience, be loosely stitched together, and may, if necessary,
be attached to a thin metal or wooden ring. Between each layer at the point
where the edges of the sheets are compressed by the rings of the filtering vessel,
and also between the surface of the rings and the cloths; a layer of elastic substance
should be applied where fine filtration is needed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stanley Kemp-Welsh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
March 1878.
STANLEY KEMP WELCH, of 18, Billiter Street, in the City of London.
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FILTERING LIQUIDS."
"IM-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for filtering liquids.
For this purpose I form the sides of a hollow filtering chamber of a number of
layers of fibrous material placed one on the other alternately with layers of elastic
material, rigid plates of iron, or other material may, if necessary, be introduced at
intervals between the layers to strengthen the sides of the chamber. The top and
bottom of the chamber are closed by rigid plates, and the plates are drawn together
by bolts or otherwise to compress the layers of fibrous and elastic material to the.
requisite degree of tightness. In place of using separate layers of elastic and
fibrous material compound layers of fibrous material bedded in elastic material
might be used. The chamber thus formed may be of any form, according to the
nature of the substance to be treated.
A convenient way is to make each layer rectangular, and with a longitudinal
central slot of the width, required for the hollow space of the chamber. The
chamber may be placed in an open or closed vessel containing the liquid to be
filtered. The bottom of the filtering chamber is fitted with a tube communicating
with a pump, by which air can be exhausted; the clear liquid will thereby be
drawn through the capillary fibres into the interior of the filtering chamber, and
will pass from thence to the pump.
If the liquid to be filtered is contained in a closed vessel it may be put under
pressure, so as to be forced through the fibres, the filtering action at the same time
being aided, if desired, by the application of suction.
The vessel containing the liquid to be filtered may conveniently be made in
compartments, which can be separated one from the other when it is necessary to
remove solid matter from it.
In place of surrounding the exterior of the filtering chamber with the liquid to
be filtered, and withdrawing the clear liquor from its interior, the operation may be
reversed, and the liquid to be filtered be supplied to the interior of the filtering
chamber, and be forced or drawn, or both, into the vessel in which the filtering
chamber is contained.
It is not necessary that the layers of elastic material should be of the same
breadth as the layers of fibrous filtering material.
In cases also where very perfect filtration is not required the above form of
filtering apparatus may be used without interposing layers of elastic material
between the layers of filtering material, but the filtering surfaces may be built up
of layers of cloth or fibrous material placed one above another, and clamped
together as described; layers of felt may also be used, and they may be interposed
between layers of cloth.
In some cases also three, four, or more sheets or layers of filtering material may,
at intervals, be carried across the interior of the chamber, having, however,
perforations in them to allow the liquid to pass readily to all parts of the chamber.
These sheets may, for convenience, be loosely stitched together, and may, if necessary,
be attached to a thin metal or wooden ring.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: may conveniently be square in plan. The materials which I prefer to employ to
form the walls of this chamber are respectively a soft thick woven fabric of cotton
and india-rubber, either unvulcanised or but slightly vulcanised; or the fabric or
fibrous material and the india-rubber may be combined together in the process of
manufacture, the fibrous material being bedded in the elastic material. In either
case the walls of the filtering chamber are built up in layers upon a bottom plate B,
and when they have been raised to a sufficient height they are capped by a top
plate C. By means of bolts D, D, connecting the plate C with the plate B, the pile
is firmly compressed. The outer vessel E is then built up around the filtering
chamber; it is composed of a number of rings placed one on the other, and bolted
together in such manner as to form tight joints. The object in forining the outer
vessel in separate rings is to facilitate the removal of the solid matter separated
from the liquid in the process of filtration. F is a pipe in connection with the
interior of the filtering chamber, and also with an exhauster, by which the air can be
drawn out of the interior of the chamber A. When it is desired to apply pressure
to forco the liquid through the walls of the filtering chamber the outer vessel E is
provided with a closely fitting cover G, to which is adapted the pipe H through
which the outer vessel E is filled with the matter to be treated, and after it has
been filled further quantities are forced in by a pump, thereby compelling the liquid
part to pass through the walls of the filtering chamber.
It is obvious that for the purpose of expediting the filtration, pressure and exhaust
may be applied simultaneously, or either may be employed separately.
In building up the walls of the filtering chamber I lay in iron or other rigid
plates at intervals to avoid risk of the walls being forced inwards by the pressure.
These plates are perforated to allow the liquid to pass.
Figure 2 is an elevation, Figure 3 is a vertical section, and Figure 4 is a plan of
another apparatus arranged according to my Invention, and in a form which is
convenient when the quantity of solid matter to be removed ia large. It consists
of a cylindrical chamber A, within which a partial vacuum may be maintained; it
is provided with an outlet B, and through its bottom the screw pillar C passes.
The joint is rendered tight by a stuffing box; D is a nut upon the pillar, by turning
which by a worm and worm wheel the pillar can be raised or lowered; E is a table
forming the head of the pillar C; it serves to support the cylindrical receiver F,
which is made of perforated sheet metal. The cover of the chamber, which can be
readily removed, has a hole in its centre to admit the receiver F. Upon the table E
around the receiver F a filtering pile G is built up in the manner already described.
The cover of the chamber A is then put on and secured by its bolts, which having
been done, the table E is raised until the filtering pile is sufficiently pressed together.
The receiver F is then filled with the material to be treated, and the filtration
proceeds. When the receiver F is full, or for the most part full, of solid material
which has been separated by filtration from the liquid it is lifted out and emptied.
In some cases I dispense with the use of the receiver F, and provide a close cover
to the vessel A. I am then able to apply a pump to force the matter to be filtered
or treated into the apparatus. I then, in building up the pile G, lay in at intervals
sheets or layers of the filtering fabric, which, passing across the interior of the
filtering chamber, support its walls and give to them sufficient strength to sustain a
heavy internal pressure. For convenience I stitch these fabrics on to wooden rings.
Holes are provided to permit the matter within the filtering chamber to pass freely
from one side to the other of these fabrics. The introduction of these transverse
fabrics also facilitate the removal of the solid materials from the apparatus at the
end of the filtering operation.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I am aware that a Patent has
been granted to François Alcide Bonnefin, dated the Eighth day of August 1877,
No. 3019, under which he claims the construction of apparatus in such manner as
to effect the filtration of liquids, and the separation of solid matters therefrom by
capillary action taking place through or amongst fibres held by surfaces of a soft or

page_text: yielding material, as he describes in his Specification. To this therefore I make no
claim; but I claim,-
First. The construction of a closed filtering chamber with sides composed of
Inyers of fibrous material placed alternately with layers of elastic material one on
the other, and suitably pressed together, and either with or without sheets of
filtering material at intervals carried across the interior of the chamber, substan-
tially as described.
Second. The construction of a filtering chamber with sides composed of layers of
fibrous material bedded in elastic material, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of filtering apparatus with a filtering chamber having
filtering sides built up in layers suitably pressed together, such filtering chamber
being contained in an outer vessel for receiving the matter to be filtered, from
which outer vessel the liquid portion of the matter is caused to pass into the
filtering chamber, either by exhaust or by pressure, or both, substantially as
described.
Fourth. The construction of filtering apparatus with an open filtering chamber
having filtering sides built up in layers suitably pressed together, such filtering
chamber being contained in an outer vessel from which the air can be removed to
cause filtration to take place from the interior of the filtering chamber outwards,
Bubstantially as described.
Fifth. The adaption to the interior of the filtering chamber of a perforated or
open-work receiver to facilitate the removal of the solid residuum, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The construction of filtering apparatus, substantially as described and
shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stanley Kemp Welch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
STANLEV KEMP. WELCH (18)