Improvements in Filters Used for the Purification and Filtration of Sewage and the like, applicable also for Treating Water for Domestic and other Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 13th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1900
Complete Specification Left. 13th Dec., 1899-Accepted. 10th Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Filters Used for the Purification and Filtration of
Sewage and the like, applicable also for Treating Water for
Domestic and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM NOTox, of Lincombe, 12, Regent Road, Birkdale, Southport, in
the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to filters used for the filtration and purification of
sewage and the like as is well understood, such filters being also suitable for
treating water for domestic and other purposes.
The object of my invention is to construct and arrange filters particularly
adapted for obtaining a large filtering area in a limited space, and to automati-
cally effect the filtration of the water intermittently so as to provide for the
aeration of the filter beds.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide two, three, four or more filter
beds superimposed one above the other, and arrange means whereby the liquid
to be filtered is discharged periodically from the upper to the lower filter beds.
The filter beds are formed from water tight tanks or compartments containing
any suitable filtering material. The upper tank may be provided with filtering
means or it may be simply a receptacle within which the sewage or other impure
water is discharged.
To obtain the intermittent action of the series of superimposed filter beds I
provide each filter bed with a syphon, which is governed by a loaded valve, the
syphons being adapted to drain off the liquid at a rate much in excess of the
incoming sewage which may also be controlled by valves. Instead of syphons
I may employ valves worked by suitable mechanism such as an air tight cylinder
rising and falling in the water and by means of levers opening and shutting
the valves when required.
When sufficient liquid has collected in the top filter bed the loaded valve is
overcome and the contents of the tank are syphoned into the lower filter bed,
the water being conducted to the bottom of the bed from thence rising upwards
through the filtering material, inorganic impurities being thus washed out of the
filter bed at every discharge which is effected from the bottom of the tank. If
desired however the water may be discharged upon the top of the filter beds. It
will be understood that if more than two filter beds are used the contents of each
will be syphoned or discharged out as described, the lowest filter bed receiving
The filtration is thus
the contents of the one immediately above and so on.
effected as many times as there are filter beds. The tanks containing the filter-
ing material may be made separately so that they may be superimposed one
upon the other, or they may be arranged in shelves in a frame or be otherwise
suitably built up.
I prefer to control the valves of the syphons in the lower tank or tanks from

page_text: t
the level of liquid in the upper tank by means actuated by a float or other suit-
able device so that the liquid in the lower tank or tanks may rest therein for
a period of time in contact with the filtering medium before being discharged.
For instance suppose the lower filter bed or beds be charged with the liquid
from the upper tank which tank takes say ten minutes before it is filled and
again discharged. At the end of five minutes the upper tank being half full
the valve releasing means are actuated by the rising liquid in the upper tank
and the contents of the lower filter bed or beds are thus discharged.
Instead of a number of superimposed filter beds as described I may employ
one large finishing filter bed and erect a number of small filters above it or
around it to feed or supply the large bed. As each small filter allows the water
to pass more quickly through, the large or finishing filter can have a longer time
for action.
It is evident that by the operations above described the filtering beds are
repeatedly aerated as the space occupied by water is periodically replaced by air.
Dated this 10th day of March 1899.
Improvements in Filters Used for the Purification and Filtration of
Sewage and the like, applicable also for Treating Water for
Domestic and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM Norox, of Lincombe, 12, Regent Road, Birkdale, Southport, in
the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner 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 and accompanying
drawings:
My said invention relates to filters used for the filtration and purification of
sewage and the like as is well understood, such filters being also suitable for
treating water for domestic and other purposes.
The object of my invention is to construct and arrange filters particularly
adapted for obtaining a large filtering area in a limited space, and to automati-
cally effect the filtration of the water intermittently so as to provide for the
aeration of the filter beds.
The accompanying two sheets of drawings, to which I will refer, clearly
illustrate my invention.
On Sheet 1.
Fig. 1 shows in sectional elevation a filter composed of four units constructed
in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is an outside elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification of my invention.
On Sheet 2.-
Figs. 5 and 6 show another method of mounting or connecting together the
superimposed filtering units.
Fig. 7 is a diagram showing another method of carrying my invention into
effect.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide two, three, four or more filter

page_text: beds superimposed one above the other, and arrange means whereby the liquid
to be filtered is discharged periodically from the upper to the lower filter beds.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 four such filtering units are employed. The filter
beds a, a, a, a are formed from water tight tanks or compartments contain-
ing any suitable filtering material b.
The upper tank a may be provided with filtering means or it may be simply
a receptacle within which the sewage or other impure water is discharged.
To obtain the intermittent action of the series of superimposed filter beds as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I provide each filter bed with a syphon c, which is
governed by a loaded valve the syphons being adapted to drain off the liquid
at a rate much in excess of the incoming sewage which enters by the pipe (
and which may also be controlled by valves.
The filtering units a, a, a², a³ are enclosed within a suitable chamber A
and supported therein by means of metal or other supports B so that the filter
beds may be readily removed when required.
When sufficient liquid has collected in the top filter bed a the loaded valve d
is overcome and the contents of the tank are syphoned into the lower filter bed a¹
through the funnel e, the water being conducted to the bottom of the bed, from
thence rising upwards through the filtering material, inorganic impurities
being thus washed out of the filter bed at every discharge, which discharge is
effected from the bottom of the tank as clearly shown in the sectional view
Fig. 1. If desired however the water may be discharged upon the top of the
filter beds. It will be understood that if more than two filter beds are used
the contents of each will be syphoned or discharged out as described, the lowest
filter bed receiving the contents of the one immediately above and so on.
filtration is thus effected as many times as there are filter beds. In Fig. 1 the
top filter bed a is filling and the filter bed a below is discharging its contents
into the loaded valve being maintained in its elevated position by the
force of the discharged water.
The
From the filter bed a the liquid is discharged into the funnel e into filter
bed which in turn will discharge into from whence the purified liquid is
withdrawn through the weighted valve governed syphon d in any convenient
manner. The tanks containing the filtering material may be made separately
so that they may be superimposed one upon the other as shown, or they may be
arranged in shelves in a frame or be otherwise suitably built up.
In Figs. 3 and 4 I show a modification of my invention.
In this case the upper tank a is provided with a chamber C having a float f
attached to a rod g which is also connected to a lever pivotted at to a
bracket i.
Attached to the chamber C is a valve chamber provided with a valve seat-
ing governed by a valve / attached to a valve rod or spindle m which is held
or prevented from falling, by an elastic pressure from curved springs m² or
the like, until such time as the weight of the descending float overcomes the
action of the springs. The valve spindle m extends downward being connected
to the lower part of the spindle m³ by means of a cross head m arranged over
the funnel e the lower end of the valve spindle carrying another valve m
arranged in a valve chamber attached to the filter bed a. The upper end of
the valve spindle m is slotted for the passage of the lever h, a spring being
inserted between the top of the slot and the lever h so as to lift the valve quite
clear of its seat when the float f has been raised sufficiently.
Above the lever his arranged the end of a bell crank lever » pivotted at n
to a bracket o.
Connected to this lever is a rod p sliding in a slotted guide supported by a
bracket The filter beds a' and are provided with valve chambers in
which works a valve rod q' provided with valves
r.
The valve rod q is connected to a pivoited bell crank levers,
11

page_text: The liquid to be filtered entering the filter bed a from the supply pipe t
passes through the filtering medium and into the chamber C through the
aperture 1.
The float is thus caused to rise. The lever h sliding in the slot formed in the
head of the valve rod m the valves 1, m¹ of the filter beds a a² are unaffected.
The upward movement of the float fhowever at once operates the bell crank
lever and slides the rod so that a projection thereon in contact with the
bell crank levers operates the same to open the valves of the filter beds a', a³,
so that the contents are discharged whilst the upper filtering bed a is filling.
The filter bed a¹ is discharged through the funnel into the filter bed a
whilst the contents of a are withdrawn through a suitable pipe as completely
treated effluent. As soon as the filters have discharged their contents it,
is necessary that the valves rr should be closed. This is effected as follows.
The end of the rod p is provided with an incline which after the valves have
been open a sufficient length of time is arranged to come into contact with
an adjustable stop which raises the rod in the slotted guide in the bracket p
and allows the bell crank levers to swing back owing to the weight of the
parts so that the valves are closed. The upper filter a is then partially filled
and on it becoming practically filled the float f is so far raised as to operate io
raise the valves 7 m¹ by means of the lever acting on the valve rod m so that
the contents of the filters a andare discharged into the filters and a re-
spectively through the funnels ew which filters are in- turn again emptied on
the rising of the float f as already described.
The upper and lower parts of the rod
are connected together by a cross
head similar to the cross head m' (see Fig. 3).
Instead of a number of superimposed filter beds as described I may employ one
large finishing filter hed 1) as shown in the diagram Fig. 7.and erect a number
of small filters,,,,above it or around it to feed or supply the large
bed.
As each small filter allows the water to pass more quickly through, the
large or finishing filter can have a longer time for action.
The liquid is discharged from the filter beds automatically and intermittently
by means of syphons controlled by a loaded valve or by means of a valve actuated
by a float as already described.
It is evident that by the operations above described the filtering beds are
repeatedly aerated as the space occupied by water is periodically replaced by air.
In conclusion I will refer to a modified method of mounting and securing in
position the superimposed filter beds shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
In this arrangement the bottom filter bed is provided with a number of
brackets y the ends of which are forked and sit upon the sides or ends of the
tank as shown in Fig. 6. The upper end of the bracket is bolted to the super-
imposed filter bed to carry the same at any convenient height. This superimposed
filter bed may also carry a number of similar brackets y to which another filter
bed may be bolted and so on until the required number of filter beds are pro-
vided. The superimposed filter beds can thus without difficulty be removed
and replaced as the forked end of the supporting brackets y are readily detached
from the filter beds below and as readily replaced.
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:-
1) As means for the filtration and purification of sewage and other foul
waters and for treating water for domestic and other purposes, the employment
of a plurality of filtering units, superimposed to obtain a rotation of aërating
and filtering area in a comparatively small space, the liquid being automatically
and intermittently discharged from one filtering unit to another so as to provide
for the aëration of the filter beds substantially as described and shown.
2) The improved filter for the indicated purposes constructed arranged and

page_text: acting in the manner and substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1
and 2 of the drawings.
3) The modified construction of filter arranged and acting substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
4) A filter for the indicated purposes consisting of one large finishing filter
bed above which is arranged a plurality of small filter beds to feed or supply the
large finishing filter bed, the contents of the various filter beds being automati-
cally and intermittently discharged substantially as described and illustrated in
Fig. of the drawings.
Dated this 12th day of December 1899.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.