Year: 1888

page_text: I, ATHOL JOHN CAPRON, of Southwich Hall, in the County of Northampton Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The purification of water and sewage is now in some cases effected by bringing it
into contact with metallic iron in a state of fine division kept agitated to keep the
surfaces of the iron clean and in active condition.
In some cases this process is not entirely satisfactory owing as I believe to there not
being sufficient air or free oxygen in the water to be purified.
According to my invention 1 employ electrolysis in conjunction with the above
process so as to liberate free oxygen in the water either immediately before acting
upon it by the metallic iron or immediately after and before the iron has been entirely
separated from it.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Purification of Sewage and Impure Waters.
I, ATHOL JOHN CAPRON late of Southwick Hall in the County of Northampton,
Civil Engineer now residing at 1 Basherville Road Wandsworth Common in the
County of Surrey 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 purification of water and sewage is now in some cases effected by bringing it
into contact with metallic iron in a state of fine division kept agitated to keep the
surfaces of the iron clean and in active condition.
In some cases this process is not entirely satisfactory owing as I believe to there
not being sufficient air or free oxygen in the water to be purified.
According to my invention I employ electrolysis in conjunction with the employ-
ment of metallic iron so as to liberate free oxygen in the water.
The iron surface I keep clean by abrasion preferably in the manner herein after
explained.
The Drawing hereunto annexed shews apparatus constructed in the manner 1 profer
for carrying out my invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a horizontal section of the apparatus.
The apparatus consists of two or more iron discs A. A. fixed on an axis B in such
a manner as to be insulated from the axis and from one another. The space between
the discs is filled up totally or in part with a non-conducting material such as sand or
gravel. The alternate dises are connected by means of a suitable rubbing contact
with the opposite poles of an electrical machine accumulator or battery. The drawing
shews the discs as being put into connection by metallic brushes D D' with two
bars EE one of which is coupled to one pole and the other to the other pole of an
electrical machine or battery. The discs are made to revolve and water is supplied
through the pipe C or other suitable inlet and after passing between the discs the
water flows away into suitable setting ponds or filters.
The action of the sand or gravel between the discs is to abrade the iron and keep
the surfaces clean so that the action is similar to what it would be if iron in a state of
fine division were used in agitation. The action of the electric current is to decompose
a portion of the water under treatment thus liberating free oxygen whichi oxidises the
iron taken up in solution in the water.
In place of all of the discs being made to revolve as above described a series of fixed
plates may be alternate with revolving discs.
In this case the fixed plates may be connected with one pole and the revolving discs
with the opposite pole of the electrical machine accumulator or battery.
Or instead of having the space between the discs filled up with a non-conducting
material such as sand or gravel the surfaces of the discs may be kept clean by means
of suitable rubbers held against their faces.

page_text: The purification obtained by this process is similar in principle to that obtained by
the simple process of metallic iron used in a state of agitation. It is however much
more effective especially in the case of a water deficient in oxygen as sufficient free
oxygen can be liberated by the electrolysis to completely oxidise all the metallic iron
taken up in solution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would say that I lay no claim
to the employment of oxygen liberated by electrolysis in conjunction with oxide of
iron but I declare that what I claim is:
1. The purification of sewage and impure waters by the combined action of metallic
iron and electrolysis substantially as described.
2. The construction of apparatus for purifying sewage and impure waters sub-
stantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
32 1 1
1
1040

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
1, ATHOL JOHN CAPRON, of Southwich Hall, in the County of Northampton Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The purification of water and sewage is now in some cases effected by bringing it
into contact with metallic iron in a state of fine division kept agitated to keep the
surfaces of the iron clean and in active condition.
In some cases this process is not entirely satisfactory owing as 1 believe to there not
being sufficient air or free oxygen in the water to be purified.
According to my invention 1 employ electrolysis in conjunction with the above
process so as to liberate free oxygen in the water either immediately before acting
upon it by the metallic iron or immediately after and before the iron has been entirely
separated from it.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Purification of Sewage and Impure Waters.
I, ATHOL JOHN CAPRON late of Southwick Hall in the County of Northampton,
Civil Engineer now residing at 1 Basherville Road Wandsworth Common in the
County of Surrey 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 purification of water and sewage is now in some cases effected by bringing it
into contact with metallic iron in a state of fine division kept agitated to keep the
surfaces of the iron clean and in active condition.
In some cases this process is not entirely satisfactory owing as I believe to there
not being sufficient air or free oxygen in the water to be purified.
According to my invention I employ electrolysis in conjunction with the employ-
ment of metallic iron so as to liberate free oxygen in the water.
The iron surface I keep clean by abrasion preferably in the manner herein after
explained.
The Drawing hereunto annexed shews apparatus constructed in the manner I prefer
for carrying out my invention.
Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a horizontal section of the apparatus.
The apparatus consists of two or more iron discs A. A. fixed on an axis B in such
a manner as to be insulated from the axis and from one another. The space between
the discs is filled up totally or in part with a non-conducting material such as sand or
gravel. The alternate discs are connected by means of a suitable rubbing contact
with the opposite poles of an electrical machine accumulator or battery. The drawing
shews the discs as being put into connection by metallic brushes D D' with two
bars EE one of which is coupled to one pole and the other to the other pole of an
electrical machine or battery. The dises are made to revolve and water is supplied
through the pipe C or other suitable inlet and after passing between the discs the
water flows away into suitable settling ponds or filters.
The action of the sand or gravel between the discs is to abrade the iron and keep
the surfaces clean so that the action is similar to what it would be if iron in a state of
fine division were used in agitation. The action of the electric current is to decompose
a portion of the water under treatment thus liberating free oxygen which oxidises the
iron taken up in solution in the water.
In place of all of the discs being made to revolve as above described a series of fixed
plates may be alternate with revolving discs.
In this case the fixed plates may be connected with one pole and the revolving discs
with the opposite pole of the electrical machine accumulator or battery.
Or instead of having the space between the discs filled up with a non-conducting
material such as sand or gravel the surfaces of the discs may he kept clean by means
of suitable rubbers held against their faces.

page_text: The purification obtained by this process is similar in principle to that obtained by
the simple process of metallic iron used in a state of agitation. It is however much
more effective especially in the case of a water deficient in oxygen as sufficient free
oxygen can be liberated by the electrolysis to completely oxidise all the metallic iron
taken up in solution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The purification of sewage and impure waters by the combined action of metallic
iron and electrolysis substantially as described.
2. The construction of apparatus for purifying sewage and impure waters sub-
stantially in the manner herein before described.
11:30 1 1
1000
A. J. CAPRON.