Improved Means and Appliances for the Treatment of Sewage at Precipitating and at Outfall Works.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Appliances for the Treatment of Sewage at
Precipitating and at Outfall Works.
$
1. ROBERT HARRIS REEVES, of Cedar-lale, Putney Bridge Road, Putney, London,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to treat the sewage at precipitating and outfall
works, so that the effluent from the same can flow into rivers without land filtration.
My first improvement is in producing lime water or dealing with the lime
necessary to mix with the sewage for precipitation.
Instead of slaking the lime and then mixing it with water as at present, the lime is
placed in a vessel unslaked, over which is fixed a water supply at high pressure. On
the tap which rogulates the water supply is fixed a circular or other shaped nozzle
perforated with holes so that strong needle points of water play on all parts of the
lime.
By this action the whole of the strength of the lime is absorbed and a constant
stream of lime water is given without further labour or attention. Any other
chemicals used are liquified in a similar manner.
My second improvement is in dealing with the water from the precipitating tank.
Instead of this water being allowed to flow over land for the purpose of clearing
it it is again chemically treated with preferably manganate of soda and sulphuric acid.
After which this water flows into tank-filter-beds composed of burnt ballast slag, coke
breeze, sand, or any suitable filtering material for the purpose of separating the
organic matter chemically destroyed. This water is then allowed to stand in the filter
beds a sufficient time to be clarified, when it is fit to be discharged into any river or
stream.
In cases where a brighter effluent water is required, the water is allowed to pass
through a second filtering tank without any further chemicals being used.
My third improvement is in dealing with the sludge. Instead of pressing the
sludge into cake as at present whereby its manurial value is lessened, the sludge is
pumped on to decanting roller beds, by which as the solid matter settles, the clear
top water is decanted off and the thick sludge like mortar allowed to dry, or is
placed on beds to dry similar to the plan adopted for drying peat. When this sludge
is required in a very dry powder condition it is placed in sacks and passed through
an artificial drying room whereby all moisture is removed.
1190K
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Robert Harris Reeves.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Appliances for the Treatment of Sewage at
Precipitating and at Outfall Works.
I, ROBERT HARRIS REEVES, of Cedardale, Putney Bridge Road, Putney, London,
Civil 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 object of this invention is to treat the sewage at precipitating and outfall
works so that the effluent from the same can flow into rivers without land filtration.
My first improvement is in producing lime water on dealing with the lime necessary
to mix with the sewage for precipitation.
For the purpose of my invention, the lime is placed in a vessel unslaked, over
which is fixed a water supply at high pressure. On the tap which regulates the water
supply is fixed a circular or other shaped nozzle perforated with holes so that strong
needle points of water play on all parts of the lime. By this action the whole
of the strength of the lime is absorbed and a constant stream of lime water is given
without further labour or attention. Any other chemicals used are liquified in a
similar manner.
My second improvement is in dealing with the water from the precipitating
tank. Instead of this water being allowed to flow over land for the purpose of
clearing it, it is again chemically treated with preferably manganate of soda and
sulphuric acid, the proportions of which depend upon the nature of the effluent.
If the effluent be strong or foul, the quantity of manganate to that of sulphuric
acid will be in the proportion of, say, 3 to 1. After which, this water flows into
tank filter beds composed of burnt ballast, slag, coke breeze, sand, or any suitable
filtering material for the purpose of separating the organic matter chemically
destroyed. This water is then allowed to stand in the filter beds a sufficient time
to be clarified and purified when it is fit to be discharged into any river or stream.
In cases when a brighter effluent water is required, the water is allowed to pass
through a second filtering tank without any further chemicals being used.
My third improvement is in dealing with the sludge which for the purpose of
this part of my invention is pumped or allowed to flow into tanks suspended on
trollys in which, as the solid matter settles, the clear top water is decanted off and
the thick sludge like mortar is placed on beds to dry similar to the plan adopted
for drying peat. When this sludge is required in a very dry powder condition
it is passed through an artificial drying room whereby all moisture is removed,
the material being then ready for transfer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The saturation of unslaked lime at a sewage or drain outfall by water
sprinkled under pressure to flow from the lime container and commingle with such
sewage or drain liquid while in an agitated and broken up condition as and for the
purpose set forth.
2. Chemically treating the supernatent water flowing from sewage filtration tanks
for the absolute clarification and purification of same as described.
3. The hereinbefore explained method of treating sewage sludge as set forth.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Robert Harris Reeves.