IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS AND IN THE MODE AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE FILTRATION AND PURIFICATION OF CLEAR SEWAGE, RIVER OR OTHER WATER OR LIQUIDS
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Malcolm Ramsay at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st December 1875.
I, HENRY MALCOLM RAMSAY, of No. 11, Amyand Park Road,
Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS
AND IN THE MODE AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE FILTRATION AND PURIFICATION
OF CLEAR SEWAGE, RIVER OR OTHER WATER OR LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of construction and of
filtering arrangements, by means of which clear sewage water or liquids
is in the mode or manner of filtering and. treatment thus employed,
effectually filtered and purified, and also relates to the use or employ-
ment of pressure for the purpose of forcing the clear sewage water or
liquid through the filters.
In carrying out this Invention I construct and provide one or more
tanks, which tanks may be varied in form or size, and may be
constructed of brick, Portland cement, concrete, iron, or other materials,
and constructed in different positions relatively to each other.
Each tank has an inlet shaft or pipe with small filter chamber
attached and constructed thereto, the chamber being fitted up with

page_text: divisions and compartments for the reception of, and is filled with
filtering material consisting of loose charcoal, metal filings or scraps,
or other suitable substances, through which the clear sewage water or
liquid from outfall or other works is filtered, flowing from thence down
inlet shaft or pipe, and filling each tank from time to time, or
continuously up to the desired level or pressure.
Each tank is provided with a floor or platform at the necessary level
or height above, bottom, or invert of same, which is perforated at
certain distances apart for the reception of and the seating of moveable
hollow filters, made of porous, plastic, carbon, or other suitable filtering
substance, through which the clear filtered sewage water or liquid
passes or filters, or is forced through under pressure into the interior of
These filters may be varied in shape, form, or size, but I,
by preference, construct the filters in the cylindrical form and hollow;
the crown of each filter cylinder is closed, and the lower end seated in
perforation in floor is open, through which the filtered sewage water or
liquid flows from the interior of filter into bottom of tank, flowing from
thence into outfall, drain, or other receptacle.
each filter.
Each filter cylinder is fixed in seating of floor by rings of india-rubber
or the like, and are supported in position by (moveable) light wrought-
iron collars and rods, the cylinders being all removable for cleansing
and purification, and for the purpose of renewing and reviving the
filtering properties, and cleansing the carbon filters after a period of
usc, and the abstraction from them of soluble or other impurities lodged
or absorbed therein; the filters (pipes) are removed out of tank through
inlet shaft, and acted upon by fire sufficiently to cook or slowly bake and
glow, after which they are re-employed and fixed; or the filters may be
cleansed by being placed in a tank filled with pure water, and the pure
water under pressure forced through them for a given time.
In some cases where extreme purification is required I also fit up
each filter cylinder with an inner perforated filter case, or charge the
interior of cylinder with loose charcoal.
This Invention is capable of application and use in breweries, paper
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