Improvements relating to the Cleansing of Filters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by DAVID FREDERICK MAXWELL, Saint Stephen,
County of Charlotte, Province of New Brunswick, Canada.]
Improvements relating to the Cleansing of Filters.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 31, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County
of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for the cleansing of filters and comprises the
improvements hereinafter indicated.
The chief feature of my invention consists in the provision of means whereby a
supply of hot steam may be caused to flow backwards or upwards through the
filter so as to carry away all impurities from and sterilize the filtering medium or
bed in a very efficient manner.
According to one method of carrying out my invention I provide the filter tank
with a perforated false bottom on which the filtering medium or bed is supported.
In the enclosed space beneath such false bottom I provide a steam pipe adapted to
admit steam under the bottom. The space is provided with a bottom drain pipe
and is also connected to a storage tank in which a supply of water may be stored
for passing through the filter after the steam is cut off if desired.
The filter tank is provided with a waste pipe at a point above the filtering
medium or bed.
The various pipes and connections are furnished with suitable stop valves where
necessary..
The method of cleansing the filter is somewhat as follows:-A sufficient supply.
of water is stored in the storage tank which is then cut off from the filter. The
supply pipe to the filter is closed aud the waste and bottom drain pipes opened so
as to empty the filter tank and the space under the bottom of water. The bottom
drain pipe is now shut and steam is turned ou. The steam fills the space below
the bottom and passes through the filter bed escaping by the waste pipe to the
sewer. In its passage it loosens the dirt and destroys all vegetable and animal life.
in the filter. After a suitable amount of steam has been passed through, the steam
pipe is closed and water from the storage tank is allowed to pass through the filter.
completing the cleansing process.
By the process of my invention and the use of hot steam, which is known to be
much more cleansing than cold water, not only are all solid impurities and'
suspended matter more quickly and thoroughly removed from the filter, than by
any other known means, but all animalcules are completely destroyed and the filter
left practically undisturbed.
Dated this 24th day of February 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
31, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Cleansing of Filters.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County
of Lancaster, and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Civil 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 apparatus for the cleansing of filters and comprises the
improvements hereinafter indicated.
The chief feature of my invention consists in the provision of means whereby a
supply of hot steam may be caused to flow backwards or upwards through the
filter so as to carry away all impurities and sterilise the filtering medium or bed
in a very efficient manner.
In carrying out my invention I provide the filter tank with a perforated false
bottom on which the filtering medium or bed is supported. In the enclosed space
beneath such false bottom I provide a steam pipe adapted to admit steam under
the bottom. The space is provided with a bottom drain pipe and is also connected
to a storage tank in which a supply of water may be stored for passing through
the filter after the steam is cut off if desired.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 is a sectional
view of a filtering plant constructed in accordance with my invention.
A is the filtering tank which may be of wood, iron or other suitable material,
and round, square or other convenient shape. B is a false or raised bottom
supported at a suitable distance above the floor of the tank A. Said false bottom
is constructed so as to permit water to flow freely through and has on the top a
gauze screen of copper or other suitable material to support the filter bed. C is
the filtering bed which may be formed of sand, broken stone, charcoal, brick, iron,
sandstone, sponge, cloth, or any other suitable material. D is the supply pipe
which is furnished with a valve E or with any suitable form of float valve if
desired. F is a water tank of suitable depth connected by a pipe F to the
space A below the false bottom B of the filter. F is a valve in said pipe F¹.
Gis a water pipe having a cock G' and leading from the space A¹ to the sewer.
H is an overflow pipe leading from the filter tank to pipe G and having a cock H.
Jis a steam pipe leading from a steam boiler (not shewn) into the chamber A
where it is coiled as shewn in Figure 1. Said pipe J is perforated as shewn at .J'
and provided with a cock J2.
The process of cleansing the filter after the same has been clogged and rendered
inoperative by use is as follows:-Close the valve E in the pipe D. Close also
the valve F in the pipe F¹. Open the valve G' in the pipe G also the valve H'
in the pipe H, allowing the water in space A¹ and above the filter bed to escape to
the sewer until the filter is dry if necessary, after which, close the valve G¹. Then
open the valve J2 in the steam pipe J, and admit the steam which may be under
any reasonable pressure. The steam enters the chamber A' through the perfora-
tions Jin the pipe J fills space A' and immediately rises up through the filter C,
which becoming hot from its contact with the steam, enlarges its particles and
interstices and becomes raised if necessary to a temperature above the boiling
point, thereby destroying all vegetable or animal life in the filter bed. After
the filter bed C has become thoroughly heated close valve J2 open the valve F' in
the pipe F and allow a back flow of water from the tank F, which, filling space A
rises up through the filter bed C where it immediately becomes heated and by its
pressure upward carries all the dirt and other solid impurities which have gathered

page_text: therein to the overflow pipe H, thence to the sewer, thoroughly washing and
radically cleansing the filter bed C, after which it is ready for use again.
By the process of my invention and the use of hot steam, which is known to be
much more cleansing than cold water, not only are all solid impurities and
suspended matter more quickly and thoroughly removed from the filter, than by
any other known means, but all animalcules are completely destroyed and the filter
left practically undisturbed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as conimunicated to.
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of cleansing a water filter by first acting on the filtering medium
with steam, and then carrying away the loosened impurities by causing water to
flow back through the filtering medium as set forth.
2. A filter fitted with arrangements for cleansing the same by the aid of
steam and water, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
T
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant..