IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED APPARATUS FOR THE FILTRATION AND DIS- TRIBUTION OF WATER
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED APPARATUS FOR THE FILTRATION AND DIS-
TRIBUTION OF WATER." -A communication from abroad by Jean
Baptiste Denans, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st November 1871.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED APPARATUS FOR THE FILTRATION
AND DISTRIBUTION OF WATER," a communication to me from abroad by
Jean Baptiste Denans, of Paris, in the Republic of France, to be as
follows:-

page_text: such apparatus an improved valve for regulating the supply of fluids
under pressure generally. The combined apparatus consists of a stand
or water post intended to be erected in streets or other public places, or
in private works for supplying water, such stand or water post contain-
ing a self cleansing filter for removing impurities from the water as it is
delivered. The lower part of the water post contains a perforated metal
charcoal box with a perforated lid or cover. The impure water enters
a closed chamber surrounding the said charcoal box by a branch from
the main or other source of supply, whilst another branch pipe or nozzle
from the same chamber and provided with a tightly-fitting valve serves
for the periodical cleaning of the filter when required, as herein-after
described. A sunk perforated chamber in the centre of the perforated
cover of the charcoal box receives a valve attached to a vertical rod
worked by levers and counterweights, the latter keeping the valve
closed so long as no water is required to be drawn off. This valve fits
against a seat surrounding an opening in a plate above the charcoal
box, and when depressed allows water to flow through such opening
into a chamber which communicates with the lower end of an upright
rectangular or other shaped chamber containing a filter. This filter
consists of a thin hollow cast-iron filtering tube of any convenient
section having its sides and bottom perforated, and having a piece of
felt or other good filtering fabric stretched over it so that the water
must pass through the felt and perforations to gain access to the interior
of the filtering, tube. This perforated filtering tube opens at its upper
end into a cap or head pin which communicates directly with the
supply nozzle. A cup or vessel may be fitted below to catch any drip
from the nozzle. When the valve is opened the water flows through
the charcoal box and through the filtering fabric, and escapes in a
filtered state from the nozzle, but on closing the valve a certain quantity
of water will remain inside the filter, and this is allowed to percolate in
the opposite direction through the filtering fabric, and escapes by one or
more apertures or bent tubes or nozzles or provided for the purpose outside
the stand or water post, thereby cleaning the filter each time it is used.
For thorough periodical cleansing the valve in the branch pipe or nozzle
before referred to is removed, and water is forced by a hand pump or
otherwise down the interior of the apparatus through the supply nozzle.
The whole may or may not be enclosed in an outer metal casing, and in
some cases an additional upright pipe and delivery nozzle with a
spherical valve and lever at the upper end may be fitted to the lowest

page_text: chamber of the apparatus to admit of unfiltered water being drawn off
when required. The spherical valve consists of a ball of vulcanized
india-rubber contained in a chamber, and held by the fluid pressure
against the outlet aperture. This ball is pressed down to open the valve
by a vertical spindle having a slightly cup-shaped extremity, the said
spindle being depressed by a hand lever, the said lever being maintained
at any point of depression by a hinged toothed catch or ratchet. The
body of the cock or valve consists of two main parts screwed one into
the other. The lower part communicates with the pipe which leads
down to the bottom chamber of the apparatus, and contains the valve,
whilst the upper part carries the delivery nozzle and the actuating lever
handle. The india-rubber ball valve is fixed either by a wire or by a
spindle passing partly through it upon a support provided with four
arms of zinc in order that by galvanic or electric action the oxidation of
the screw threads in the cast iron may be prevented. The ball and its
support are maintained in a central position by the contact of the four
arms with the leather packing at the joint between the lower part of the
cock or valve and the supply pipe. A cock or valve of the description
above referred to is obviously applicable in all cases where liquids under
pressure are to be supplied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middle-
sex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry

page_text: "
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED APPARATUS FOR THE FILTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION
OF WATER," a communication to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste
Denans, of Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
The said Invention relates to certain combinations and arrangements
of water filtering and distributing apparatus, and comprises as a part of
such apparatus an improved valve for regulating the supply of fluids
under pressure generally, the chief object of the said improvements
being the instantaneous filtration during the time of drawing the same,
of river water or water obtained from other sources liable to be rendered
turbid by much rain fall, the said apparatus being applicable to the water
supply of cities, towns, and villages.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
I have represented on the said Sheet of Drawings two types of the
improved apparatus, which consists essentially of a filtering fountain or
stand pipe, the one type being provided with an outer metallic casing,

page_text: the other having no such casing, but the general constructions and
arrangements are in other respects similar in both types.
I shall first describe the filtering fountain or stand pipe with metallic
casing, represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The lower part of the
apparatus consists of a cylindrical chamber a provided with a branch
pipe 6 for the entrance of the water, and another branch c for the
cleansing of the filter. This branch is closed by a valve and screw
spindle d. In the chamber a is fitted a box e, perforated with small
holes, and having its upper edge turned down to form a flange, as shown
more clearly in the sectional detail, Figure 11. This box contains the
charcoal for purifying the water during its flow, and for retaining the
solid matters held in mechanical suspension in the water, which are thus
prevented from gaining access to the upper chambers of the apparatus.
The box e is covered by a grating f in one piece with a washer which
keeps it in position, and of which the central portion 9 is depressed so
as to form a cylindrical recess into which the valve which serves to
open or shut off the supply of water may enter on its descent. Upon
the outer surface of the grating f there is placed a ring or washer i,
which maintains at a sufficient elevation a plate j, having a circular
opening formed in the centre thereof, the under edges of the said opening
being made to project slightly so as to press upon the surface of the
valve h, and thereby close the apparatus when the latter is in its elevated
position, as shewn in Figure 3. Upon the plate or disc j there is bolted
the hood or inner chamber k, having an opening at its upper part for the
passage of the valve spindle, and another aperture at the side for
admission of the water to the filter when the valve is lowered.
Upon the series of rings which rest upon the flange of the chamber a
there is fitted a cast-iron hemispherical shaped chamber m, which termi-
nates at its upper part in a rectangular opening for the reception of the
filter proper; it is further provided with a stuffing box, through which
works the actuating spindle of the valve h. To the chamber m there is
bolted a casing n of a rectangular form which is closed at the top by a
cap o terminating in an opening which receives the delivery pipe p.
The casing n contains the filter which consists of a cast-iron perforated
chamber q, covered on the outside with felt or other filtering material,
having its upper part confined within the joint which connects together
the casing n, perforated chamber q, and cap o.
The fabric thus sup-
ported affords by reason of its large surface free
passage for as much

page_text: water as may be required, and any small foreign suspended bodies which
may have escaped the charcoal will be arrested and collected on its
surface. This double filtration renders the water perfectly limped what-
ever amount of impurities it may have originally contained. With a
view to ensure the constant cleaning of the apparatus there are pro-
vided near the bottom of the chamber m small orifices r, r, (Figure 1),
which when the valve h is closed produce inside the filter a flow of
water in the opposite direction to that which takes place during
filtration, which outward flow or escape of water carries away with it
any matters which may have been deposited on the surface of the filter.
One of these escape apertures r is situate rather higher than the others
in order to allow of the entrance of air into the apparatus as the water
is running out. When a prompt and vigorous cleansing of the filter is
required it is simply necessary to open the mouth of the branch pipe c,
and to introduce through the spout or nozzles water under pressure
from a hand pump, for example, which will effectually and expeditiously
remove all deposit from the filtering medium. When the filtering
fabric has become worn out it may be removed and replaced by a fresh
one by removing the upper part of the stand post or fountain, and
taking out the bolts t, whereupon the filter may be lifted out entire.
The mechanism for raising and lowering the valve h consists of a double
lever y jointed to lugs and communicating to the rod of the valve h
the movement of the counterweights when the hand lever u is no
longer acted upon. The apparatus is enclosed in the metallic casing z
to which a cup or basin w is attached for receiving any waste or excess
of water.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 represent different views of a slightly
modified arrangement of the apparatus constructed without any outer
casing; in this arrangement the extent of the filtering surface has been
increased by imparting greater width thereto; the lugs on which the
levers y are hinged are made in one piece with the casing n, the
l
actuating lever 21 of the valve rod is hung to a bracket & aast on the

page_text: discharge nozzle F. In order to facilitate the cleaning of the apparatus
a bent pipe G conveys the efflux water employed for cleaning the front
of the apparatus. The orifices r, r, are replaced by the small bent
pipe H of a size sufficient to admit of it working properly.
discharge nozzle F. In order to facilitate the cleaning of the apparatus
a bent pipe G conveys the efflux water employed for cleaning the front
of the apparatus. The orifices r, r, are replaced by the small bent
pipe H of a size sufficient to admit of it working properly.
The arrangement of the other parts of this apparatus are precisely the
same as that of the one already described with reference to Figures 1, 2,
3, and 4.
Figures 11 and 12 represent in detail a modification of the metallic
charcoal box; it consists of two cases perforated with as fine holes as
possible, and in which there may be deposited filtering or disinfecting
substances, so that the deposit which may collect in the boxes, and
which may remain on the outside thereof may be readily expelled and
escape through the cleaning valve.
In connection with the apparatus herein-before described and forming
a part thereof, is a simple and effective cock or valve of cast iron with
india-rubber ball requiring no adjustment or fitting. As shewn in
Figure 10 the body of the valve is composed of two parts of cast iron
screwed together. The lower part I carries the pipe for the supply of
the water, and receives the parts constituting the valve proper; the
upper part K carries the discharge or delivery nozzle L as well as the
actuating lever and rod for depressing the ball and permitting of the
flow of the water. The ball rests upon a cup shaped support N of cast
iron. The sphere remains when at rest always slightly oblong, and is
not unduly flattened under the downward pressure of the rod o. The
cup N is provided at its lower circumference with notches or openings
for the free passage of the water when the valve is opened, and it is
maintained in a central position in the body of the cock or valve by the
friction exerted against its lower branches or arms by the leather
packing ring which forms the joint between the two pieces I and K.
By reason of this arrangement the india-rubber takes exactly the form
of the valve seat, and the cock is consequently always perfectly tight.
The rod o which serves to compress more or less the ball M has an
expanded extremity which is hollowed slightly on the surface which fits
against the sphere, it works through a stuffing box of cast iron, the
gland being screwed therein. When a continuous flow is required a
stop P with notches therein is fixed to the front part of the cock
whereby the more or less depressed portion of the lever Q may be

page_text: maintained so as to keep the cock open during any length of time
required.
It may be here remarked that the herein-before described system of
filtration may be applied with any other arrangement for opening the
valve, whether below or above ground, whatever may be the length of
the rod or valve spindle, or the arrangement of the means for actuating
the same.
If desired the entire stand post or the nozzles and valve body
may be enamelled in the well-known manner without increasing
materially the cost of the apparatus. This enamelling is specially
applicable to the improved cock or valve whereby a neat and elegant
cock not liable to oxydation by exposure to the air may be obtained at a
very cheap rate.
Of course the dimensions and proportions of the
various parts of the apparatus may be varied to suit different require-
ments, and so as to afford the freest possible filtration. The said
apparatus may be applied to the feeding of steam generators generally,
and to the supply of pure water in all cases where requisite.
With a view to produce a simple and cheap apparatus the upper part
of the filtering water post may be dispensed with, the lower part only
containing the filtering or disinfecting substances, such as sand, charcoal,
and the like being retained, this chamber being surmounted with a
vertical tube terminating in a cock on this system. By this means an
economical apparatus will be obtained which will supply water if not
entirely filtered at least sufficiently clear for the majority of the
for which these apparatus may be employed.
purposes
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The peculiar constructions and arrangements of combined
apparatus for filtering and supplying or distributing water as herein-
before described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Second. The application of the herein-before described system of
filtering water to water posts, and other like appliances for the inter-
mittent supply of water.
Third. The application and use to and in water supply apparatus of
the kind herein-before described of the means for obtaining a double

page_text: system of filtration, and an outflow of the water remaining inside the
filter, whereby a constant and self-acting cleansing of the filter is effected,
as herein-before described.
Fourth. The peculiar construction and arrangement of cock or
valve as herein-before described and illustrated by Figure 10 of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day
of May One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)