Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying or Treating Water.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying or Treating Water.
I, EASTON DEVONSHIRE, of Dock House, Billiter Street, in the City of London,
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 purifying water by bringing it into intimate,
contact with iron or other chemically acting material, and an apparatus for simul-
taneously bringing the water in contact with the iron or other material and aerating
the water as hereafter fully set forth, and especially for producing uniform contact
between all the water and the chemical purifying material, and air or gas.
The invention consists in a vessel, chamber or tank having a water inlet and
outlet, and grids or open-work partitions at intervals in the chamber with means
for polishing them.
The invention also consists in a chamber or vessel with water inlet and outlet,
an inlet and outlet for air or gas, and said grids or open-work partitions.
My invention also consists in other features of construction and combinations
which will be specifically set forth in the several clauses of the claim at the end of
the Specification.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my invention,
Figure 1. is a longitudinal section of one form of purifier embodying the invention
on line of Figure 2.
Figure 2. is a cross section of the purifier showing one form of grid which I may
employ.
Figure 3. is a view of a modified form of grid.
Figure 4. shows a modified form of purifier.
Figures 5.& 6 illustrate a second modification Figure 6 being a section on line y, 3,
of Figure 5.
Figure 7. is a longitudinal section of a purifier on the line a, a, of Figure 8.
Figure 8. is a cross section at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 9. is a view shewing a modified form of the paddles or grids.
Figure 10. is a cross section through a purifier employing a stationary tank
instead of a revolving cylinder.
In Figure 1 is shown a cylinder or drum 1, mounted on suitable standards 2,
and adapted to be revolved by any suitable means. The hollow trunnion 3
constitutes an inlet for the water to be purifled; while a like trunnion 4 at the
other end of the cylinder constitutes the water outlet. 5 is a pipe leading
from an air blower, or any suitable source of air supply, or from a supply of
arbonic acid or other gas, and terminates in a box 6 having an opening on its
ower side as shown.
7 is a box or casing surrounding box 6 and having several pipes 8, preferably
ix, radiating therefrom: 5' is an outlet for the air which accumulates at the
Irum.
It will be understood that the pipes which constitute the water and air inlets
and outlets are stationary while the drum turns thereon. The outer ends of the
radiating pipes communicate with passages 9, which preferably extend the whole
ength of the drum, and are formed by perforated partitions which subtend arcs
of the drum around the inner periphery, as clearly shown in Figure 2, 10 being
the perforated partitions.
Within the drum are placed the grids or open-work partitions 11. These
may be made in any convenient shape or by any convenient method. The form
llustrated in Figure 2 is composed of wrought iron bars 12, held in a suitable
frame 13, while the form illustrated in Figure 3 is supposed to be an iron casting

page_text: composed of bars or ribs at an angle to each other with enlargements at the
points of intersection, as shown. In the form of apparatus now being described
these grids are placed at an angle to the axis of the drum. The angle of the
grids is preferably one in five, and their distance apart is such that a vertical
line from the top of one passes through the bottom of the next one, although
it will be clear that the angle and location may be varied without departing
from the invention.
Between, the grids I place straight or curved shelves or scoops 14 and when
the apparatus is to be used 1 place within the drum a small quantity of solid
particles, such as sand, gravel or iron punching or scrap, as indicated in Figure 2,
to serve as polishing material for the grids.
In the apparatus illustrated in Figure 4, a stationary tank 15 is employed instead
of the revolving drum heretofore described.
The water inlet and outlet are numbered as in Figure 1. as also are the
grids and the shelves or scoops. 5 is a pipe leading from an air or gas supply
to the space 9 under the perforated partition 10, on which fall the particles of
gravel, iron or other material during rotation of the apparatus. The grids are
supported on a central shaft 16, and are rotated thereby.
The shelves are placed between the grids and are bolted or otherwise connected
thereto, the whole forming a rigid revolving framework.
In Figure 5 is also shown a stationary tank having-water inlet 3 and outlet 4,
and air or gas inlet 5. On the shaft 16 are placed a suitable number of grids
of the character already described, but in this case they are shown as being
placed at right angles to the shaft, and instead of solid particles and means for
raising and showering the same over the grids, the polishing material is in the
form of metal brushes 17,, which bear against the sides of the grids, and as
the latter revolve polish them. In some cases one brush for each grid may be
sufficient. Such an arrangement is shown at the left in Figure 5.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
Referring first to Figure 1, the drum is revolved by any suitable means, and
water and air or gas under suitable head or pressure are admitted at their
respective inlets, the water passing through the openings in the several grids
and out at the opposite end of the drum.
The air or gas passes to the lower passage and rises through the perforated
partition 10 and through the openings in the grids in an opposite direction from
that in which the water is passing, to the space above the water, and through pipe 5'
to the pipe or tank through which water is introduced into the purifier and may
there escape to, the open air. At the same time the solid particles in the drum are
raised by the scoops 14, and are showered down from the upper side of the drum
against the inclined grids.
'
It will be seen that these particles will fall first against one side and then against
the opposite side of the grids, and by the force of impact will keep both surfaces
bright and in the best possible condition for chemical.action.
Some of the particles also will fall in such manner as to pass through the openings
in the grids, and will thus keep the surfaces of the iron around the openings in the
grid bright.
1
When the solid particles are of iron, both said particles and the material of the
grids are relied on to furnish the chemical agent for purifying the water, and both
will simultaneously be kept bright. When however the solid particles are gravel or
other inert substances, the chemical action is due wholly to the material of the
grids, and the particles are merely used to keep the same bright and polished.
In using the apparatus shown in Figure 4. instead of rotating the vessel which
contains the water, the frame composed of the grids and the scoops is revolved.
This raises the solid particles.and showers them down in substantially the same
manner as already described in connection with Figure 1 and with the same result.
In using the apparatus illustrated in Figure 5, the solid partioles are omitted, and
the grids are polished by means of metal or other suitable brushes bearing on one

page_text: or on both sides. In this case the chemical action is due to the grids, or to the
grids and brushes.
Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, 1 is a cylinder mounted to revolve on the
trunnions 2, the trunnions forming respectively a water inlet and a water outlet.
Within the cylinder is a device for bringing the water into intimate contact with
iron for the purpose of producing chemical action consisting of several perforated
partitions, plates or grids 3, radiating from the centre and connecting at the
periphery with the cylinder. Four of these radiating plates are shown, although
in practice a larger number would ordinarily be used.
The plates are preferably perforated for about three-fourths of their width, as
shown, the plates near the outer edge being left unperforated. In each of the
compartments between the paddles.or plates is placed a quantity of loose stones, or
in some cases scraps of iron or other hard particles, as indicated at 4, 4. 5 is a gear
around the periphery of the cylinder by means of which it may be revolved.
Extending through the centre of the cylinder a perforated air or gas pipe. The
inner edges of the plates are held in proper relation by braces which loosely
encircle the air pipe..
In Figure 9. the plates instead of being made continuons throughout the length
of the cylinder, are divided up into several shorter paddles 3'. Either the long or
the short plates may be used in connection with the rotating cylinder of Figure 1,
or in connection with the stationary tank 6 of Figure 4. These short paddles are
secured to the shaft 7, and are moved by rotation of the shaft. Stones or other
hard particles are also employed in this apparatus.
In using the apparatus water is passed into the purifier at one end and out at the
opposite end. By preference the water is not allowed to entirely fill the cylinder
or the tank, but rises to the level indicated by the line 10. As the plates are
carried around by rotation of the cylinder, or by rotation of the shaft 7, the water
rushes through the perforations in the plates being thereby thoroughly sub-divided
and brought into intimate contact with the iron of which the plates are
composed.
As the plates revolve the stones or other hard particles resting on them move
around and keep the surfaces bright and clear. As each plate approaches the
vertical position, the particles roll down on to the opposite face of the preceding plate
and polish it. As the plates revolve they raise water into the air space above the
water line 10, and as they move still further they carry air from said space down
into the water, owing to the form and arrangement of the plates. The air then
rises through the water. In this way the extent of aeration is increased. With
the first form of purifier the air rises from the central pipe to the top of the cylinder
and is then carried down again into the water.
In the second purifier the central pipe is not necessary since the tank is open-to
the air at the top and sufficient air will be carried down by the revolving plates.
It will be evident that many other modifications might be illustrated all involving
the same general principle as those already described but this is not deemed necessary.
It will be evident also that while it is especially desirable to treat the water with
iron or other chemically. acting material and air or gas at the same time, certain
features of the improvements may be used separately. For example, in the
apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, the means for introducing air or gas might be
omitted and still the apparatus would be capable of use, although it would not be as
efficient. with certain classes of water.
After passing the water to be purified through an apparatus of the character
described, it is preferably taken to a settling tank, and then passed through a sand
or other filter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1
In a water nurifier the combination of a chamber or tank, means for passing

page_text: water through the same, grids or open-work partitions of chemically acting materials
such as iron, in the chamber, and means for polishing the grids, substantially as set
forth.
2. In a water purifier the combination of a chamber or tank, means for passing
water through the same, grids or open work partitions of chemically acting material,
such as iron, in the chamber, and means for moving the grids in the water, substan-
tially as set forth.
3. In a water purifier the combination of a chamber or tank, means for passing
water through the same, grids or open-work partitions of chemically acting material,
such as iron, in the chamber, means for moving the grids in the water, and means
for polishing them, substantially as set forth.
4. In a water purifier the combination of a chamber or tank, means for passing
water through the same, grids or open-work partitions of chemically acting material,
such as iron, in the chamber, and means for introducing air into the water while it
is being treated with iron, substantially as set forth.
5. In a water purifier the combination of a chamber or tank, perforated plates or
grids extending lengthwise through the chamber,, and means for moving the plates
in the water, substantially as set forth.
6. In a water purifier the combination of a chamber or tank, perforated plates or
grids extending lengthwise through the chamber, and means for moving the plates
in the water, said plates extending above the water line in the purifier and adapted
to carry air into the water, substantially as set forth.
Dated this lat
of Cantation 100L
EASTON DEVONSHIRE.
By Harris & Mills,
* 23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.