Improved Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Water.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left. 14th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Water.
I, EMANUEL WINKLER, of V1, Schmalzhofgasse No. 6, Vienna, Austria,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for filtering and purifying water
from animal vegetable and mineral matters, and thus also to soften it.
According to my invention 1 combine two filtering apparatus in such manner
that they can operate continuously, without interruptions, the removal of chemical
impurities being effected by means of chemical agencies which are fed in
automatically in the required proportions.
The construction is such that it is rendered possible to wash thoroughly and
automatically the filtering medium from time to time without dismounting the
apparatus. This has also a simple device for ascertaining the purity of the water
in the apparatus itself.
For these purposes I employ two closed chambers, by preference of vertical
cylindrical shape arranged side by side and provided at top with safety valves
which are connected by a pipe. Centrally through the bottoms of these chambers
pass vertical pipes reaching nearly to the top, which serve for the introduction of
the impure water to be filtered and purified, the chambers being filled with sand
or other suitable filtering medium up to a certain distance below the openings of
such pipes, so that the incoming water flows on to the top of the filtering medium,
and filters downward through the same.
The water is by preference introduced under a pressure of from two to
four atmospheres. Manholes are provided at the upper ends of the chambers for
the introduction of the sand, and other manholes are provided at the bottom for
the introduction of the internal devices there situated.
To the sides of the vessels near the bottom are fixed other pipes of small
diameter reaching up to near the top, which serve for the discharge and inlet of
air from and to the chambers, such pipes being provided with external cocks for
this purpose.
Gauge cocks are also provided at the bottom for withdrawing and testing
samples of the water after it has passed through the filtering medium, before it is
led off to the place of consumption.
Over the bottom of the chamber is laid a ring shaped pipe, having a branch
which passes through the side of the chamber, the branch from each chamber being
fixed to opposite sides of a fourway cock, situated in the space between the two
chambers. The ring pipe has on its lower side short downward projecting branches
that rest on the bottom of the chamber, and have a number of side openings that
are covered with wire gauze of aluminium, so that the filtered water at the bottom
of the chamber find its way through such covered openings into the interior of the
ring pipe which leads it to the four way cock, from which a rising conduit pipe
leads it to wherever required.
The before mentioned central discharge pipes of the chambers are also connected
by horizontal branches at bottom to a second fourway cock which has firstly a
branch connecting it to the pressure supply pipe, and secondly a branch for the
discharge of water.
The first named four way cock also has a branch connecting it with the pressure
supply pipe.
The plugs of the two four way cocks have fixed on their external spindles two
toothed wheels of equal diameter that gear with each other, so that by turning the

page_text: one plug by a hand wheel into a certain position, the plug of the second cock is
simultaneously turned by the gearing into a corresponding position, these positions
being such that at one time the supply and discharge pipes are made to operate as
above described, that is to say, the supply pipe supplies the impure water to the top of
the filtering chamber, the filtered water being discharged through the ring pipe
and rising conduit pipe, while at another time water under pressure is made to
enter the chamber through the ring pipe and, in rising up through the filtering
medium, to carry off the impurities accumulated therein, the water with such
impurities being then made to flow off through the central pipe which was before
the admission pipe, so that by this means the filtering medium is effectually
cleansed.
The water is forced under the necessary pressure into the filtering chambers by
means of a force pump, and to the suction pipe of the latter is connected apparatus
for applying the necessary chemicals to the water for softening and purifying the
same. This apparatus is arranged as follows:-A tank is divided by a perforated
partition into two compartments, one of which contains the solid chemicals to be
employed, while the other contains the said chemicals in solution.
This second compartment is connected by a pipe to a regulating valve the
discharge from which is connected to a cylinder containing a piston valve that is
pressed by a spring against the opening of the regulating valve so as to close the
discharge. The piston valve has a stem which projects through the cylinder and
is actuated by tappet gear worked by the pressure pump, so that at regular
intervals of time, the piston valve is drawn back from the opening of the regulating
valve so as to allow a certain quantity of the dissolved chemicals to enter the
cylinder, whence it flows into a discharge pipe leading to the suction pipe of the
pump, so as to mix with the water supply to the filters.
After a certain time the tappet gear releases the piston valve, so that this is
caused by its spring to close the supply of chemicals again, and so on.
Dated this 15th day of March 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Water.
I, EMANUEL WINKLER, of VI, Schmalzhofgasse No. 6, Vienna, Austria,
Merchant, 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 improved apparatus for filtering and purifying water
from animal, vegetable and mineral matters, and thus also to soften it.
The removal of chemical impurities is effected by means of chemical agencies
which are fed automatically in the required proportions.
The chemical purification is effected before the water enters the filtering
chamber, in which latter it is perfectly cleaned from the mechanical impurities.
The improved construction renders it possible to wash thoroughly the sand
without taking to pieces the apparatus.
The apparatus is provided in addition with a simple device for testing samples of
the water before it leaves the filtering apparatus.
The improved apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side view of a complete filtering plant.
Fig. 2 represents the two combined filtering apparatus, the one in a sectional
view, the other in elevation.
Fig. 3 represents the one filtering vessel in horizontal section, the other in plan
view

page_text: Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the chamber filled with chemical agents.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the water-pipe.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of part of the filtering apparatus partly in side view partly
in section.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a modification.
Fig. 8 (a b c d) are details of the valve and valve box.
On the cover of the two cylindrical vessels A and B (Fig. 2) are provided the
two safety valves a and a' being connected by flanged pipes c and c¹.
These flanged pipes c and c¹ communicate with the common discharge pipe b.
Through the bottoms of the vessels reach the two vertical pressure-pipes e and €¹
which serve for the introduction of the impure water into the vessels; the water is
by preference introduced under a pressure of from two to four atmospheres ;
during the washing of the filter these pipes serve as discharge pipes for the washing
water.
Manholes d and d' are provided in the upper side walls of the boilers A and B
for the introduction of the sand, whereas the lower manholes q and gl serve for
introducing the internal devices.
Each chamber is in addition provided with an air vent & Fig. 2 communicating
with the air cocks y and y' Fig. 3. Gauge cocks u and u¹ are also provided at the
bottom for withdrawing and testing samples of the water before it is led off to the
place of consumption.
In the interior of the chambers A and B parallel to the bottom, are provided
the ring-shaped pipes r (Figs. 2, 3 and 5), communicating on the one hand by the
pieces and (Fig. 3) with the external side-walls of the chambers, and on the
other hand with the four-way cock g. From these ring-shaped pipes r lead short
downward projecting branchess (reaching nearly to the bottom) being provided
with lateral openings which are covered with wire gauze; these pipes have the
purpose, during the filtering operation to lead the water, supplied through the
branches s, through the common four-way cock g and the pressure pipe k outward,
whereas during the washing operation they lead the water below the sand layers,
which water being passed through the branches then rises and separating the
impurities from the sand leads them to the vertical pipes e and e¹.
for the
The pipe conduit represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consists of the four-way cock f
communicating the vertical pipes e and e¹ with the pipe z leading to the pump P.
The elbow-pipe w connects the pressure pipe z with the four way cock
purpose of supplying the washing or cleaning water to the ring shaped pipes r,
whereas the pipe t, communicating also with the four-way cock f, serves to
discharge the water after having adjusted the four-way cock accordingly.
The four way cock falso communicates with the pipe k the latter serving for the
discharge of the filtered water.
Upon the shafts of the two four-way cocks ƒ and g are keyed respectively two
toothed wheels m and m¹ of the same diameter which engage with each other and
are operated simultaneously by the hand-wheel n, in order to adjust simultaneously
the four-way cocks f and y during the filtering or washing operation.
The chamber for chemical agents represented in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 consists of the
part D containing the concentrated dissolved agent and of the part C in which the
chemicals are dissolved. As represented in detail in Fig. 4 both chambers are
united and separated by a perforated wall R, whereas Fig. 1 represents such a
chamber in which the compartment C serves for the reception of the chemical
agents to be dissolved, and is separated from the compartment D, serving for the
reception of dissolved concentrated agents, by a pipe S adapted to be closed.
On the compartment C is mounted the pipe O Fig. 6 provided with an adjustable
straight way and cone valve E (see also E¹ Fig. 1). This cone-valve E (Fig. 6)
is connected with a piston-box F, in which is placed a piston K, operated by a
spiral spring L, which piston closes the supply opening G.
On the external end of the guiding rod G¹ of the piston is attached an adjustable
ring G³ which is moved back by the projections H of two toothed wheels J and J'

page_text: actuated by the pump gearing, so that the discharge opening G is opened and the
chemical agents can flow off into the pipe O'. As soon as the projections H have
passed the extreme point of the periphery of the ring G, the piston K is moved
forward by the spring L and cuts off the discharge G.
Upon the valve E is mounted the index plate M, divided in degrees and the
pointer N for regulating the adjusted valve.
The modification represented in Figs. 7 and 8, (a, b, c, d) of a valve apparatus
consists of the cylindrical piston box E', the upper part of which is closed by the
spring case F', the lower part by the spring case Fi
In the upper part of the piston case or box E' is situated a tightly fitting
piston K, closing the pipe O communicating with the chamber C for the chemicals;
below the opening of the pipe O is inserted a cone valve K" with its seat U,
adjustable in the interior of the piston case E'.
The guiding rod G¹ of the upper piston K' and the guiding rod G" of the lower
cone valve K pass through the spring cases F' and F" and are surrounded by
strong spiral springs L' and L" pressing the piston K' and the cone valve K
against their seats, so that the flowing of the dissolved chemical agents through the
valve is prevented.
The guiding rod G' is provided with a tappet-plate v¹ (Fig. 1) and the guiding
rod G" with a tappet plate v₁ and both plates are connected by the projections v
and v with the rod P actuating the pump, the upper projection v being situated
below the plate v and the lower projection v, bearing above the plate v¹1, so that by
the raising motion of the pump rod P only the upper piston K' is raised and during
the downward motion it is pressed down by the spring L' upon its seat, whereas the
lower cone valve K" is drawn downward by this motion of the pump rod and
during the raising motion is brought back on its seat by the spring L".
By these alternate motions the raising of the piston K allows the chemical agents
to be supplied from the chamber C through the pipe O into the interior of the
valve apparatus El and fills the space above the cone valve K", on the other hand
when the latter is depressed, the liquid flows through the same into the lower part
of the valve apparatus El and passes thence through pipe O¹ and z to the water
drawn in by the pump, whereby the separation of the chemical impurities is effected
before the water to be filtered comes into the chambers A and B (see Fig. 1).
It is obvious that during each motion of the pump only a certain quantity of
chemical agents can pass through the valve apparatus E', as the cone valve K"
closes, when the upper piston K' rises and admits the chemical agents, which
quantity is limited by the space between the lower surface of the piston K¹ and the
cone valve whereas only after the closing of the supply pipe O again by the
piston K the discharge of the chemical agents through the cone valve K" to
the pipes O and O' is effected.
By raising or lowering the cone valve seat U in the piston case or box E' the
space for the supply of the chemical agents can be adjusted which space depends
upon the nature of the chemical impurities of the water to be filtered.
When the filter chambers A and B begin their operation, the four way cocks f
and g are first adjusted by means of the hand wheel n and the two toothed wheels m
and m', whereby the four way cock establishes the communication between
the pressure pipe and the vertical pipes e and e', whereas four way cock g
establishes the communication between the ring shaped pipes and the vertical
pipe k.
Hereupon the pump is actuated and presses the water to be purified through the
vertical pipes e and e¹ to the chambers, from here through the filtering sand and
the branches s in the ring shaped pipes r and from there through four way cock
and vertical pipe k which conducts it to its place of destination.
When now the filtering beds or the sand in the chambers require to be purified
or cleaned the two four way cocks are adjusted in the opposite direction, the
valve E or E' is closed and the water is made to flow in the opposite direction.
This operation is effected by reversing the four way cocks ƒ and g whereby the

page_text: washing water passes through pressure pipe z and elbow-pipe w into the four-way
cock 9, from here it is pressed through the branches s and the ring shaped pipes r
below the sand layers, and in rising through these separates the impurities and leads
the latter to the vertical pipes e and e', through which they may discharge through
the four way cock and discharge pipe t.
As shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the filtering apparatus is provided with two
filtering chambers; it is obvious that a greater number of such filtering chambers
may be combined, communicating all with a common pressure pipe z and a common
vertical pipe k. Each of these filtering chambers however must be provided with
the appliances described above.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a filtering apparatus with two or more filtering chambers A B the
application of a common pressure pipe for supplying all filtering chambers, each
chamber being provided with a safety valve a and all safety valves being made to
communicate by means of flanged pipes c c with a common discharge pipe bor
vessel, substantially as set forth.
2. In the filtering apparatus referred to in the first claim the introduction
of vertical pipes e through the chamber bottoms, substantially as described.
3. In the filtering chambers referred to in Claims 1 and 2 the arrangement of
ring shaped or segment like pipes r at the bottom of the chambers, such pipes being
provided with perforated branches s and serving to receive the water to be filtered
during the filtering operation and to lead and discharge it; while during the
washing or cleaning operation of the sand they supply the water below the sand
layers; substantially as set forth.
4. In the filtering apparatus referred to in Claims 1 to 3, the combination of two
four way cocks and 9, arranged in the supply and discharge pipes, and two
toothed wheels m and m¹ mounted upon the spindles or shafts of the four way
cocks fand g, which wheels are actuated by a hand wheel n keyed upon the shaft
of one of the said four way cocks substantially as set forth.
5. In the filtering apparatus referred to in Claims 1 to 4 a device for supplying
dissolved chemical agents into the water to be filtered consisting of a valve apparatus
attached to the chambers CD for the chemical agents, the piston rod G¹ of which
valve apparatus is actuated by toothed wheels J and J¹ operated by the pump
gearing, whereby the dissolved chemical agents are supplied in the suction pipe =
of the pump, that is to say before the water passes into the filtering apparatus
substantially as set forth.
6. In the device referred to in Claim 5, the modification consisting of a cone
valve K cutting off the interior of the case E' below the piston K' which closes
the supply pipe O, K' and K" being provided with guiding rods G and G", which
latter are actuated alternately by two tappets and attached to the pump rod P',
so that during the rising motion of the pump rod P' chemical agents flow under the
raised piston K¹ into the space between the piston and the cone valve, whereas
during the downward motion of the piston the chemical agents will flow off through
cone valve K" to the pipe Ot; substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of December 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.