Improvements in Filters.
Year: 1890

page_text: מנגע VI
Improvements in Filters.
A communication from abroad by JUNIUS ALBERT BOWDEN, of Detroit, County of
Wayne, State of Michigan, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, ('ivil
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 :—
The invention is designed to produce a filter for purifying water which shall
effectually cleanse the water which is passed through it, which may have its filter bed
quickly and thoroughly cleansed when desired and which will be of such simple con-
struction that it will not be liable to get out of order, and when the parts become
worn out may be easily taken apart and the worn out parts renewed.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of one form of the filter.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through another form of the filter.
Figure 4 is a view illustrating a modification of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is another modification.
Figure 6 shows a variation in which the three loosening pipes above the plate are
dispensed with.
Figure 7 illustrates a modification of Figure 6.
Figure 8 illustrates the manner of constructing the pipe which is placed in the
filter bed.
Figure 9 is a view illustrating the use of the cone in a horizontal filter.
In carrying out the invention, the upright form of filter shown in Figure 1 will
first be described. This filter is composed of two compartments A B, one above the
other. These compartments are both partially filled with a filtering medium C. In
most cases, ordinary sand is used, although, of course, any other material desired may
be used as the filtering medium. Upon the hottom of each compartment is a conical
shaped diaphragm D supported clear of the bottom of the compartment by a suitable
perforated screen E. Suitable pipes and valves, as hereinafter described, direct the
current as desired.
Now, supposing the beds are clean, and it is desired to filter water; the valves ƒ ƒ¹
are opened and water is admitted at. F. It passes through the bed in the upper
chamber, through the perforate screen E, beneath the inclined diaphragm, through
the outlet pipe G, through the lower filter bed and lower perforate screen, and out
through the outlet pipe H.
Now supposing it is desired to cleanse the upper bed; the valves f¹h h² are closed
and the water is admitted through the pipe beneath the diaphragm in the upper
compartment, and the pressure forces it out through the perforate screen E and up
through the filter bed. The water being admitted beneath the bed will cause the sand
to rise with it, and on account of the conical diaphragm the sand in the centre of the
bed will slide down this inclined diaphragm to take the place of the sand which has
been carried up by the current, and a complete circulation is thus established, and
the bed thoroughly washed. The impure water, is then carried off through the
pipe K.
The lower filter bed may be cleaned in the same way by closing the valve ¹ and
opening the valve h². This will allow the water to pass up through the pipe H,
through the perforated screen E, and up through the bed, as above described, and out
through the pipe K. Of course, each compartment may be used independently, and

page_text: a filter be constructed with only one compartment, the arrangement of pipes and
valves being merely to suit the broad form of filter illustrated.
In Figures 3 to 7, and in Figure 9, what may be termed a horizontal filter is shown,
that is, instead of the shell being an upright shell, as in Figure 1, it is a horizontal
shell, the long dimension being horizontal instead of vertical. Of course, in the
horizontal form of shell, much greater size and capacity can be obtained than with
the vertical, and in constructing large filters it is preferable to use the horizontal
shell.
In the horizontal construction, the inclined diaphragm may be used, as shown in
Figure 9, or, in its stead, suitable loosening pipes L L L (see Figures 3, 4 and 5)
may be provided, with orifices opened downwards, and a suitable plate beneath,.
against which the water may impinge and be spread out over a large surface, and
then rising, carry the sand with it. So also, a series of small pipes M may be provided
along the bottom of the shell, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, with openings m directed
toward the side of shell. These pipes are all used for the purpose of loosening the
filter bed for the purpose of washing.
It will be observed in each one of the Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9, that there is a
pipe N which extends along the bottom. This pipe is for the purpose of carrying off
the filtered water after it has passed through the bed, and also, by suitable connections
and valves on the exterior, the water may be forced into the bed through this pipe,
and thus assist in washing. This pipe is of novel construction, it being formed, as
illustrated in Figure 8, of horizontal, longitudinal ribs n, and around these ribs is a
wrapping of wire n'. A pipe is thus formed which is much superior to the ordinary
perforate pipe, since it will not wear out as easily, and when it does wear out, is much
more easily repaired.
Another feature of the invention is that, where the cone is employed, a thin
opening d at the apex of the conical diaphragm, as illustrated in Figure 9, may be
used, through which the water may be forced, and thus utilized to loosen the bed.
Another important feature of the invention is the provision above the drain pipe N
of a suitable plate O, shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. This plate is adapted to
sustain the weight of the bed, and relieve the drain pipe N from this weight, and also
shield it from the wear on account of the friction of the particles of sand as they are
circulated.
"
Another feature is the surface wash, illustrated in Figure 3 at P. This consists of
two pipes located just at the surface of the filter bed, which extend lengthwise of the
filter and are provided with jets or nipples p which project numerous streams of water
across the surface of the bed, and thus serve to loosen the worst part of the impurities
which are carried off through the outlet pipe Q.
A valve R is also provided in the top of the filter whereby air may be admitted to
relieve any vacuum which may be produced.
It is of course obvious that the several minor features above mentioned may or may
not be employed without departing from the invention, the essential feature of which
is to discharge into the lower part of the filter bed a stream of water which shall
strike the bed on all sides in cleansing, no matter whether the filter be a horizontal or
a vertical one.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a filter, the combination, with the shell and the filter bed located therein,
of an inclined bottom beneath the bed, and means for projecting a stream of
water into the-bed-adjacent-to-the-base-of the-incline. for the purpose of cleansing
the bed, substantially as described.
2. In a filter, the combination, with the shell and the filter bed therein, of a
conical-shaped diaphragm located beneath the filter bed, and suitable pipes beneath
said diaphragm for projecting a stream of water into the bed from beneath the
diaphragm, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a filter, the combination, with the shell and the filter bed therein, of a
surface wash consisting of one or more pipes extending across the surface of the
filter bed, and provided with jets or nipples which project a stream of water
across the surface of the bed, substantially as described.
4. In a filter, the combination, with the outlet pipe N, of a suitable plate located
above the same for protecting it, substantially as described.
5. In a filter, the pipe N composed of longitudinal ribs covered with a wrapping
of wire, substantially as described.
6. In a filter, the combination, with the shell and the filter bed therein, of the
drain pipe H and a series of loosening pipes located adjacent thereto and adapted
to project the water against the shell before it passes through the bed, substantially
as described.
Detal this 2nd dave of Luna 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.