IMPROVE- MENTS IN FILTERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of 28, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lano, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FILTERS." A communication from abroad by Johannes Brandt, of
Berlin, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1880.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS." [A communication from
abroad by Johannes Brandt, of Berlin, in the German Empire.]
This Invention relates to a construction of filter in such a manner that it
can be readily cleansed from the impurities deposited by the liquid operated on.
According to one form it consists of a closed vessel mounted by hollow trunnions
on a stand, so that it can be turned upon a horizontal axis. The interior of the
vessel is divided into two compartments by a slab of filtering material, which may
be of animal or vegetable charcoal or porous earthenware, or a mixture of these, or
of layers of felt or fabric. Passages lead from both the trunnions into both the
compartments, but these passages have ports at the trunnions governed by the
turning of the vessel as by a rotating slide, so that when the filter is lying in one
attitude, the liquid entoring by one trunnion passes into the lower or supply
compartment, thenco through the porous slab into the other or discharge compart-
ment, and issues by the other trunnion. By turning the filter half round the flow
of the liquid remains the same, the supply and discharge compartments changing
places. When it is desired to cleanse the filter, the vessel is turned one quarter
round, and a lateral orifice is opened from that which had been used as the supply
compartment. Liquid then enters by a side port in the trunnion into the
compartment which was previously used for discharge, passes through the porous
slab in the direction opposite to that in which the liquid passed during filtration,
so cleansing it from impurities, and issues at the lateral orifice. When the
cleansing is completed the lateral orifice is closed, and the vessel is turned again
one quarter round to the attitude for filtering.

page_text: Instead of mounting the vessel on trunnions it may be fixed in a vertical
attitude, the supply passages at its one side and the discharge passages at its top
being governed by three way cocks or valves, so as to direct the liquid into either
compartment and out of the other, while at the bottom are provided two other
passages also governed by a three way cock, for discharging the accumulated
impurities alternately from each compartment. According to a modified con-
struction the vessel is divided into two compartments by two porous slabs fixed
side by side with a space between them, or it may be a single slab with an internal
space or passage. The liquid is admitted at the lower end of the vessel into both
compartments, passes thence through both the porous slabs into the space between
them, and flows thence through a passage at the upper end of the vessel. When it
is desired to cleanse the filter the supply and discharge pipes are closed by cocks,
and by opening a branch-cock.on the discharge pipe leading to the supply, liquid is
caused to pass through the filter in the direction opposito to that of the liquid
undergoing filtration, and is led off through a discharge cock on the-supply pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
October 1880.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILTERS." A communication from
abroad by Johannes Brandt, of Berlin, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to a construction of filter in such a manner that it can
be readily cleansed from the impurities deposited by the liquid operated on.
According to one form it consists of a closed vessel mounted by hollow trunnions
on a stand, so that it can be turned upon a horizontal axis. The interior of the
vessel is divided into two compartments by a slab of filtering material, which may
be of animal or vegetable charcoal or porous earthenware, or a mixture of these, or
of layers of felt or fabric. Passages lead from both the trunnions into both the
compartments, but these passages have ports at the trunnions governed by the
turning of the vessel as by a rotating slide, so that when the filter is lying in one
attitude the liquid entering by one trunnion passes into the lower or supply
compartment, thence through the porous slab into the other or discharge compart-
ment, and issues by the other trunnion. By turning the filter half round the flow
of the liquid remains the same, the supply and discharge compartments changing
places. When it is desired to cleanse the filter the vessel is turned one quarter
round, and a lateral orifice is opened from that which had been used as the supply
compartment. Liquid then enters by a side port in the trunnion into the com-
partment which was previously used for discharge, passes through the porous slab
in the direction opposite to that in which the liquid passed during filtration, so
cleansing it from impurities, and issues at the lateral orifice. When the cleansing
is completed the lateral orifice is closed, and the vessel is turned again one quarter
round to the attitude for filtering.
Instead of mounting the vessel on trunnions, it may be fixed in a vertical
attitude, the supply passages at its one side, and the discharge passages at its top
being governed by three-way cocks or valves, so as to direct the liquid into either
compartment and out of the other, while at the bottom are provided two other
passages also governed by a three-way cock for discharging the accumulated
impurities alternately from each compartment. According to a modified con-
struction the vessel is divided into two compartments by two porous slabs fixed
side by side with a space between them, or it may be a single slab with an internal
space or passage. The liquid is admitted at the lower end of the vessel into both
compartments, passes thence through both the porous slabs into the space between
them, and Hows thence through a passage at the upper end of the vessel. When it
is desired to cleanse the filter the supply and discharge pipes are closed by cocks,
and by opening a branch cock on the discharge pipe leading to the supply, liquid is
caused to pass through the filter in the direction opposite to that of the liquid
undergoing filtration, and is led off through a discharge cock on the supply pipe.

page_text: cock L, M'. In opposite sides of the frame A are formed passages C³, C³, C¹³, C²,
which communicate by pipes D', D³, with the supply and discharge for the fluid to be
filtered. The pipes DD, are fitted fluid tight through the trunnions, and are secured
by screws g to the standards F, F, so as to be stationary. The pipe D¹ has two
openings H and I placed at 90° to each other, while D2 has only a single opening K.
The action of the filter is as follows:-The liquid under pressure flows through D¹
and passage C¹ into the chamber A', and the cocks M and L being closed it passes
thence through the slab x into the chamber A², from which it passes in a filtered
condition through passage C³ and hole K into the delivery tube D'. On the surface
of the slab in the chamber A¹ having become coated to such an extent with
impurities that the liquid will not pass through in sufficient quantity, the apparatus
is turned into the position shewn in dotted lines at Fig. 2, whereupon the
accumulated sediment is readily removed by causing the liquid to flow through
aperture L and passage C into the chamber A² whence it penetrates through the
slab into the chamber A¹ in the contrary direction to that first described, thereby
dislodging the deposit in A', which is allowed to flow off through the opened
cock L. In this position it will be seen that the discharge pipe D³ is entirely closed.
As soon as the liquid runs off clear from the compartment A¹ the apparatus is
again turned 90° so that the chamber A is at bottom receiving the supply, the
discharge flowing off through A', passage C', and pipe D². For clearing out the
chamber A the above described operation is repeated, the apparatus being, however,
turned so that the discharge cock M is at bottom.
Figs. 3, 4, and 4ª, shew sections taken respectively on lincs E, F, Fig. 4, G, H,
Fig. 3, and X, Y, Fig. 4, of an apparatus operating in a similar manner to that
above described, but mounted permanently in an upright position instead of being
reversible on trunnions. In this case the filtering slab is secured fluid tight by
means of a flange with caoutchouc or other packing y, and secured by screws.
The chambers A1, A2, are so connected by passages at top and bottom, provided
with two-way cocks P and Q, that either the one or the other may be put in
communication with the supply and discharge, the supply being made to enter
through the cock O, which according to its position admits the liquid into A¹ or A².
If the supply enters chamber A' the cock Q must be in the position shown at
Fig. 3, closing the communication between A' and A², while P is turned, as shewn,
to allow the filtered liquid to escape from A³ after passing through x.
When chamber A¹ requires to be cleared the cock P is turned so as to close the
discharge branch; O is turned so as to admit the supply into A²; and Q is turned
into the position shewn at Fig. 4ª so as to allow the discharge from A¹ to take place
through the bottom branch. When the liquid runs off clear Q is closed, and P is
made to communicate with A', whereupon the discharge will again take place
through the top branch.
Thus it will be seen that the apparatus may be introduced at any point into a
pressure service pipe, and be cleaned out at any time without disturbing the
connections, by operating the cocks as above described.
For
Fig. 5 shews a section on line I, K, Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 shews a section on line L, M,
Fig. 5, of an arrangement in which the filtering slab has an inner passage b which
communicates by the cock R with the discharge, and by the cock S with the supply.
The cock T also communicates with the supply, and with both chambers A¹, A³, by
the passages d, while U serves to lead off the deposit. On opening the cock T the
supply enters both chambers A1, A2, and penetrating the filtering slab froin both
sides passes into the channel b, whence it flows off through the cock R.
clearing the chambers of deposit the cocks T and R aro closed and S and U are
opened, whereupon the supply will enter the passage b through S, and after passing
through the filtering slab into the chambers A1, A3, flows off through the pipe G and
cock Ü. When by this means the deposit has all been cleared out the cocks are
again turned into the first described position for putting the filter in action
again.
Instead of employing a single slab x with internal passage b two separate slabs

page_text: may be used having a space corresponding to the passage b between them. The
filtering slabs may be made of either plastic carbon, porous earthenware, felt, or
any other suitable material, and they may be secured in any convenient manner
to form a fluid tight joint. In place of ordinary cocks or taps for establishing
the communications any other means, such as valves or slides, may be used for that
purpose.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, and in what manner the
samo is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim,-
First. Constructing apparatus for filtering liquids wherein a closed casing is
divided by a partition formed by filtering material into two separate chambers, so
that the liquid has to pass from the one chamber into the other through such filtering
partition, means being provided whereby the chamber can alternately be put in
communication with the supply of liquid to be filtered, while the other chamber
is put in communication, first, with a discharge for, sediment, and then with the
discharge for filtered liquid, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Second. The construction of filters herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6
of the accompanying Drawings, wherein the filtering chambers are cleared of
sediment by the pressure of the liquid to be filtered.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
CHA”. D. ABEL. (L.8.)