IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING NIGHT SOIL IN CONNECTION WITH A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM OF SEWERAGE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A M and W Clark
of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING NIGHT SOIL IN CONNECTION WITH A PNEUMATIC
SYSTEM OF SEWERAGE communicated to him from abroad by La Compagnie
Générale de Salubrité of Paris, France, represented by Jean Baptiste Berlier,
Manager
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A M and W Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING NIGHT SOIL IN
CONNECTION WITH A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM OF SEWERAGE." [communicated to him
from abroad by La Compagnie Générale de Salubrité of Paris, France, represented
by Jean Baptiste Berlier, Manager]
This Invention relates to an improved construction of receiving and discharging
apparatus to be employed in combination with the pneumatic system of sewerage
forming the subject of a previous Patent dated November 14th 1881 N° 4800
which comprises a strainer contained within the receiver as described in the
Specification of the said Patent.
The present Invention has for object various improvements in the construction
and arrangement of this strainer within the receiver as well as in the arrangement
of the latter and its combination with the discharging apparatus. The improve-
ments are illustrated by way of example in the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the receiving and discharging apparatus
the receiver at the right hand of this Figure comprising a modification in the
position of the strainer. Figure 2 is a plan of the same. Figures 3 and 4 are
external elevations of the discharging and receiving apparatus respectively.
J

page_text: Figure 5 is a vertical section of an arrangement of strainer mounted to rotate on a
vertical axis. In these Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same
parts.
The soil pipe A opens into the receiver B which contains the strainer C and is
provided with a door G for access to the strainer for the removal of foreign matters.
The discharger E contains the metallic Boat F guided in its up and down movement
by a rod H and provided at its lower end with an indiarubber or other valve a
closing the communication with the sewer or pipe. When the liquid and solid
matters reach the level 1-1 the float is raised and opens the valve to allow the
matters to run off into the sewer until the level falls to 2-2 whereupon the valve
is again closed. e is a tube establishing communication between the upper parts
of vessels B and E. The strainer C is for intercepting foreign matters which
might fall into the soil pipe without arresting the liquid and solid sewage matter.
Its bottom may be furnished with upwardly pointed spikes which divide and
disintegrate these foreign matters thus assisting their decomposition and ultimately
their escape from the strainer into the sewer. The arrangement of the receiver at
the right of Figure 1 is designed to assist this decomposition by the partial
immersion of the strainer in the sewage matter. To prevent the frequent clogging
of the strainer it may be mounted on a vertical axis and receive rotary motion as
shown in Figure 5 the strainer being thus converted into a sort of hydroextractor.
To this end a pivot k is attached to the bottom of the strainer and mounted in a
footstep and is geared by bevel gear o with a horizontal shaft p which is
journalled in the lower part of the casing of chamber B the bearings being packed
to prevent any leakage or escape. The strainer has an axis at top turning in a
bearing in a cross frame n. By this arrangement rapid rotary motion may be
imparted to the strainer the resulting centrifugal action compelling the passage
through the perforated sides of the strainer of all except those matters which are
incapable of being decomposed or sufficiently divided to pass through. By rotating
the strainer at suitable intervals the frequency of inspection and cleaning of the
strainer is greatly diminished.
The apparatus may also be arranged as in Figures 6 to 9. Figure 6 is a vertical
section of the receiver with its rotating strainer driven from the side. Figure 7 is
a vertical section of a similar apparatus driven from below. Figure 8 is a similar
section the strainer being supposed to have been removed. Figure 9 is a vertical
section of the discharging apparatus its float valve being slightly modified.
In these several Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same parts but
do not correspond with those of the previous Figures. As shown in Figure 6 the
strainer a is suspended by hooks b or otherwise beneath a toothed ring c turning
about a cylindrical flange d to the top of the vessel f around the orifice of the soil
pipe. This ring c gears with a bevel wheele whose horizontal axis passing through
the side of the chamber f, is mounted in a packed bearing g and turned by a crank
handle h. In Figures 7 and 8 the strainer instead of being suspended is mounted
on cross arms i attached to a vertical axis driven by a horizontal shaft below
through bevel gear k. is a tubular socket at top off to receive the end of the
soil pipe and m is a hand-hole and cover for inspecting and cleaning the apparatus.
In Figure 9 n is the discharge chamber and the improvement consists in
mounting the float o on a rod p screw threaded at top and squared for the
application of a key. The screw threaded portion passes through a nut q fixed in
any suitable way and position. By this means the float may be raised by turning
its rod p when it is desired to open valve r in order to completely empty the
vessel. Figures 10 to 13 illustrate further modifications Figure 10 being a vertical
axial section. Figure 11 a plan. Figure 12 a rear elevation and Figure 13 a front
elevation of the receiver. In these Figures the same letters indicate the same
parts. In this arrangement the strainer a rotates on a horizontal axis c and the
soil pipe b opens into the rear side of the chamber. The axle of the strainer passes
through a bearing and stuffing box d and is squared at its outer end e to receive a
crank handle and at its inner end to engage in a corresponding socket in the end of

page_text: the strainer. The opposite end of the strainer is open and fits and turns around
the mouth of soil pipe b on which it is retained by a gunmetal collar f. To remove
the strainer it is only necessary to turn cap g on its pivot to release one end of the
shaft which may then be withdrawn from its socket in the strainer. The latter
can then be withdrawn by removing cover : Figure 14 shows the driving gear
for the strainer outside its chamber. b is the receiver e the strainer a the driving
gear beneath chamber b the horizontal shaft being mounted in the support c
whilst the strainer spindle d is supported in a footstep f carried by the same
support. The other parts are the same in arrangement and working as above
described.
I may however merely by way of precaution place a valve g at any suitable
point on the soil pipe or receiver b at which the matters would be discharged in
the case of any obstruction of the receiver
Figure 15 represents a central longitudinal vertical section of a modified
arrangement of the receiving and discharging apparatus Figure 16 is a transverse
vertical section of the receiver.
In this case the rotary strainer placed in the receiver a is dispensed with and in
lieu thereof a grated false bottom b is employed either fixed or supported upon
brackets or supports c. As shown more clearly in Figure 16 this false bottom is
slightly eccentric to the rotary shaft & which carries a number of arms or agitators e
of suitable form and passes through stuffing boxes f to the outside casing a where
the power is applied to turn said shaft. Each arm approaches the grated bottom
as it arrives in a vertical position, so that the solid matters are subjected to a
gradual compression and so triturated as to escape freely from the apparatus and
prevent any obstruction of the receiver or pneumatic tube.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING NIGHT SOIL IN
CONNECTION WITH A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM OF SEWERAGE A communication to
me from abroad by La Compagnie Générale de Salubrité of Paris France
represented by Jean Baptiste Berlier Manager.
"
This Invention relates to an improved construction of receiving and discharging
apparatus to be employed in combination with the pneumatic system of sewerage
forming the subject of a previous Patent dated November 14th 1881 N° 4800 which
comprises a strainer contained within the receiver as described in the Specification
of the said Patent.

page_text: The present Invention has for object various improvements in the construction
and arrangement of this strainer within the receiver as well as in the arrangement
of the latter and its combination with the discharging apparatus.
The improvements are illustrated by way of example in the annexed Drawings
in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the receiving and discharging
apparatus the receiver at the right hand of this Figure comprising a modification
in the position of the strainer. Figure 2 is a plan of the same Figures 3 and 4
are external elevations of the discharging and receiving apparatus respectively.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of an arrangement of strainer mounted to rotate on a
vertical axis. In these Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same
parts.
The soil pipe A opens into the receiver B which contains the strainer C and is
provided with a door G for access to the strainer for the removal of foreign matters.
The receiver B is put in communication with the discharger E by a pipe D at
bottom. The discharger E contains the metallic float F guided in its up and down
movement by a rod H and provided at its lower end with an india rubber or other
valve a, closing the communication with the sewer or pipe b. When the liquid or
solid matters reach the level 1-1 the float is raised and opens the valve to allow
the matters to run off into the sewer until the level falls to 2-2 whereupon the
valve is again closed. e is a tube establishing communication between the upper
parts of vessels B and E. The strainer C is for intercepting foreign matters which
might fall into the soil pipe without arresting the liquid and solid sewage matter.
Its bottom may be furnished with upwardly pointed spikes i. i. which divide and
disintegrate these foreign matters thus assisting their decomposition and ultimately
their escape from the strainer into the sewer. The arrangement of the receiver at
the right of Figure 1 is designed to assist this decomposition by the partial
immersion of the strainer in the sewage matter. To prevent the frequent clogging
of the strainer it may be mounted on a vertical axis and receive rotary motion as
shown in Figure 5 the strainer being thus converted into a sort of hydroextractor.
To this end a pivot k. is attached to the bottom of the strainer and mounted in a
footstep l. and is geared by bevel gear o. with a horizontal shaft p having a
squared end for receiving a winch handle which is journalled in the lower part of
the casing of chamber B the bearings being packed to prevent any leakage or
escape. The strainer has an axis m. at top turning in a bearing in a cross frame n.
By this arrangement rapid rotary motion may be imparted to the strainer, the
resulting centrifugal action compelling the passage through the perforated sides of
the strainer of all except those matters which are incapable of being decomposed or
sufficiently divided to pass through. By rotating the strainer at suitable intervals
the frequency of inspection and cleaning of the strainer is greatly diminished.
The apparatus may also be arranged as in Figures 6 to 9. Figure 6 is a vertical
section of the receiver with its rotating strainer driven from the side. Figure 7 is
a vertical section of a similar apparatus driven from below. Figure 8 is a similar
section, the strainer being supposed to have been removed. Figure 9 is a vertical
section of the discharging apparatus, its float valve being slightly modified.
In these several Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same parts but
do not correspond with those of the previous Figures. As shown in Figure 6 the
strainer a is suspended by hooks b. or otherwise beneath a toothed ring c. turning
about a cylindrical Hange d to the top of the vessel f around the orifice of the soil
pipe. This ring c gears with a bevil wheel e whose horizontal axis passing through
the side of the chamber f is mounted in a packed bearing g and turned by a crank
handle h. In Figures 7 and 8 the strainer instead of being suspended is mounted
on cross arms i. attached to a vertical axis driven by a horizontal shaft below
through bevel gear k. is a tubular socket at top off to receive the end of the
soil pipe and m is a hand-hole and cover for inspecting and cleaning the
apparatus.
In Figure 9 n is the discharge chamber and the improvement consists in
mounting the float o. on a rod p screw threaded at top and squared for the

page_text: application of a key. The screw threaded portion passes through a nut q fixed
in any suitable way and position. By this means the float may be raised by
turning its rod p when it is desired to open valve r. in order to completely empty
the vessel.
Figures 10 to 13 illustrate further modifications Figure 10 being a vertical axial
section Figure 11 a plan, Figure 12 a rear elevation and Figure 13 a front
elevation of the receiver. In these Figures the same letters indicate the same parts.
In this arrangement the strainer a. rotates on a horizontal axis c. and the soil
pipe b. opens into the rear side of the chamber. The axis of the strainer passes
through a bearing and stuffing box d. and is squared at its outer end e. to receive
a crank handle and at its inner end to engage in a corresponding socket in the end
of the strainer. The opposite end of the strainer is open and fits and turns around
the mouth of soil pipe b. on which it is retained by a gunmetal collar f. To
remove the strainer it is only necessary to turn cap g on its pivot to release one
end of the shaft which may then be withdrawn from its socket in the strainer.
The latter can then be withdrawn by removing cover h.
Figure 14 shows the driving gear for the strainer outside its chamber the
apparatus being in vertical section. b is the receiver e the strainer a the driving
gear beneath chamber b. the horizontal shaft being mounted in the support c.
whilst the strainer spindle d is supported in a footstep f carried by the same
support. The other parts are the same in arrangement and working as above
described.
I may however merely by way of precaution place a valve g at any suitable
point on the soil pipe or receiver bat which the matters would be discharged in
the case of any obstruction of the receiver.
Figure 15 represents a central longitudinal vertical section of a modified arrange-
ment of the receiving and discharging apparatus Figure 16 is a transverse vertical
section of the receiver.
In this case the rotary strainer placed in the receiver a is not used and in lieu
thereof a grated false bottom b. is employed either fixed or supported upon brackets
or supports c. As shown more clearly in Figure 16 this false bottom is slightly
eccentric to the rotary shaft d. which carries a number of arms or agitators e. of
suitable form and passes through stuffing boxes f to the outside casing a. where the
power is applied to turn said shaft. Each arm approaches the grated bottom as it
arrives in a vertical position, so that the solid matters are subjected to a gradual
compression and so triturated as to escape freely from the apparatus and prevent
any obstruction of the receiver or pneumatic tube.
With this improved system of pneumatic sewerage may be combined apparatus
for automatically indicating the vacuum and means for preventing the gases from
rising up the soil pipe. Figure 17 represents in elevation a simple arrangement of
indicator and electric signal adapted to this system of sewerage. Figure 18
represents another arrangement, also for indicating the maximum and minimum
vacuum, but at different points. Figure 19 represents an elevation and plan of an
equilbrium vulve arranged at the lower part of the soil pipe.
The apparatus represented in Figure 17 consists of two mercury tubes a. b. of
unequal length connected at c and with the sewer by the piped and branch
pipes d'. d. of which . connects with the upper end of tube a. by a hermetical
joint and the other with a vacuum gauge e. of any suitable kind. The short tube b
is open at top and in it is fitted a float or piston f whose rod is furnished with
two contacts for closing the circuit of an electric bell i; when the vacuum is at a
maximum the circuit is closed through the upper pair of contacts g. h. and when at
a minimum by the lower pair of contacts g. h. Suitable cocks enable the sewer to
be put in communication either with the electric bell or the gauge..
The apparatus represented in Figure 18 is on the same principle but arranged
so as to furnish the indications at two different points or streets through which
the sewer is carried; d. d. are pipes branched on the sewer pipe at two different
points. e. c. are the vacuum gauges, h the commutator, g the indicator and i the

page_text: electric bell. It will be evident that by simply multiplying the number of indicators
and gauges similar indications may be obtained at any number of points.
To prevent the possibility of any gases passing up through the soil pipe from
the receiver before described, a valve or damper m Figure 19 is placed in said soil
pipe immediately above the receiver n said valve being provided with counter-
balance weights o. for keeping the pipe constantly closed against the entrance of
gases arising from the receiver.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1 In a pneumatic sewerage system the combination of a receiver B with
rotary strainer C, and a discharger with float F as described and illustrated in
Figures 1 to 5 of the Drawings.
2nd The metallic float F in discharger E supported and guided in its up and
down movement and provided with a valve, for closing the communication with
the sewer which is raised for running off the matters from the apparatus by means
of a screwed rod as described and represented in Figure 9.
3rd The arrangement of rotary strainer C, provided with pointed spikes I at
bottom and with mechanism for imparting rotary motion thereto as described for
the purpose specified.
4th The strainer a. suspended upon a cylindrical flange d. beneath a toothed
ring c. by means of hooks b as hereinbefore described and represented in Figure 6.
5th The strainer a of receiver f mounted upon cross arins ; driven by bevel
wheels k, as described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.
6 The arrangement of receiver rotating upon a horizontal axis and lateral soil
pipe as described with reference to Figures 10 to 14.
7th The arrangement of receiver with grated false bottom b and arms or
agitators e. as described with reference to Figures 15 and 16.
8th The combination with a pneumatic system of sewerage of an electric apparatus
for indicating the degree of vacuum in the sewer pipe, as described and represented
in Figures 17, 18 and 19.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set my
band and seal this First day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.