Improvements in or relating to the Filtration of Sewage and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Filtration of Sewage and the like.
I, JOHN GUTHRIE, of.61 High Street, Hawick, Roxburghshire, N.B. Architect,
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the filtration of sewage and the like
and has for its object to aerate, fill and empty two or more tanks, or bacterial
sewage filters, alternately and automatically, without the aid of any special plant
operated by steam or other power; the force of the liquid under treatment, with
a simple mechanical contrivance, alone effecting this automatic action.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawing in which.
Fig. 1 is an elevation.
Fig. 2 a plan.
Fig. 3 a longitudinal section and
Fig. 4 a part cross section of a filter consisting of two tanks shewing my
improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the bottom of the tanks shewing the method of arranging
the outlet pipes.
Referring to the said drawings I employ a filter divided into two tanks A, A¹
the outlet pipes a a¹ of which are arranged as shewn at or below the Hottom of the
tank. Mounted upon the bed or division of the tanks A A¹ is a semicircular or
other shaped trough B provided at the centre thereof with a pivot, or axle b work-
ing in bearings 61 secured in any convenient way. Each end of this trough B
has an opening or discharge C through which the sewage or other liquid is dis-
charged alternately into the tanks A, A. To effect this alternate discharge of the
sewage from the trough B I arrange within each of the tanks a float D having a
hollow spindle d adapted to work upon a wire or other guide rod d¹; the said
spindle passing freely through an opening formed in a lug or projection E
attached to or forming part of the trough B. A stud or collar el is provided on
the spindle d to cause the trough to be tilted, by the action of the float when one
tank or the other is filled or almost filled.
Situated in front of the outlet pipes a, a¹, and working in combination with the
oscillating trough are two "cut-off" balanced valves F which may be of any
of the usual forms at present in use and pivotted at the point f. These valves 1
are opened and closed alternately by means of the rods f operated by the arms fa
upon the buckets G; the said buckets being raised and lowered by the rods H
working in guides deriving their motion from the arms H¹ through the oscilla-
tion of the trough before referred to.
Upon the introduction of the sewage to the trough B by the inlet pipe J it tilts
the trough to either the one side or the other, thus filling say the tank A.; the
cut off valve of the discharge pipe a from it being meanwhile closed by its own
weight. As soon however as the sewage reaches the float D it rises and tilts the

page_text: trough so that the sewage is discharged into the tank A¹ and at the same time opens
the discharge a of the tank A. The liquid then escapes, drawing down the air
through the filter, and fills the bucket G which is provided with a slide opening g
adapted to be set to allow the liquid to pass through at different speeds and thus
regulate its weight and time in emptying; these buckets thus assisting in holding
the valves open as long as required.
When the tank A' is filled the foregoing movements are reversed.
Also if desired I may control the flow of liquid from the inlet pipe to the tanks
by suitable valves actuated from the rocking centre of the trough in any con-
venient way.
I may employ one or more sets of tanks and the dimensions thereof as well as
of those of the inlet and outlet pipes may be varied at will and in accordance with
the quantity of liquid under treatment; and may be arranged to be so auto-
matically filled and emptied that the tanks may be kept open and thus aerated,
alternately, for as long or short a period as may be deemed desirable.
The filter which may be composed of porous tiles, gravel coke, and sand or
other materials at present in use may be provided with one or more upright tubes
to facilitate the drawing in of the air by the suction of the effluent whilst being
discharged.
The foregoing improvements may be applied to filters other than those for use
in treating sewage and the details may be varied to suit different requirements
without departing from the scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
In the filtration of sewage and the like, the arrangement whereby one or more
pair or consecutive number of tanks or filters are automatically and alternately
filled and emptied, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
1
101 1
100x
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.