Improvements in or relating to Filters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
Improvements in or relating to Filters.
I, RICHARD KURKA, of No. 20, Paniglgasse, Vienna IV, in the Empire of Austria,
Filter Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention relates to a new kind of filter for water-works, which con-
sists of separate elements capable of being easily arranged in a row and in.
comparison with the filters heretofore made is exceedingly simple and acts with
absolute certainty.
The filter is composed of separate elements which may be in the form of a cylinder
or of a cylinder with a flange. These elements consist of a pipe made of porous
artificial stone or natural stone having in the upper portion a rectangular projection
or flange above which however the artificial stone pipe is continued. This pipe
may be cut off plane at the bottom or may be provided with a flange or base. For
the sake of lightness, a filter element of the kind, if made of artificial stone, is
formed in two parts, these two parts being joined together by clay which is after-
wards fired. Elements formed of natural stone are usually produced from one
piece, or, if this should not be possible, from two or more pieces, which are cemented
together.
The arrangement of the separate elements in a row is effected by placing them
in an upright position with the upper flanges at the top and adjoining one another,
so that an upper horizontal surface is produced from which only the short
continuations of the separate elements extend.
At the bottom of the reservoir, or vessel, in which the filter is constructed, the
separate elements stand erect either merely on the circular or square section of
the pipe or on the broad surfaces of the lower flanges and are supported and made
water tight in relation to each other by means of a layer of water proof material
such as concrete, brickwork or the like. In those elements which stand merely
upon the cross-section of the pipe, this waterproof layer fills up the space between
the separate elements to a certain height and rests directly on the bottom of the
reservoir, whereas in the case of the elements which rest on a flange or base the said
base acts as a bed for it and thus effects a firm connection of the separate elements
with each other. On the upper surfaces formed by the top flanges of the separate
elements a watertight layer is likewise placed at such a height that it forms a
plane surface with the projecting ends of the pipes in which only the hollow spaces.
of the separate elements are open. In order to prevent an upheaval of the whole
filter arrangement by the pressure of the water, a fastening or bracing in any
desirable form may be further provided by means of rods, bolts and the like. The
space between the separate elements, and between the lower layers and the upper
surfaces which secure an effectual water-tight closing, serves for the reception of
the filtering medium which consists of burnt clay, peat, common clay wood-
charcoal and the like.
The porous pipes of the separate elements exercise suction on this filtering
material which accordingly rests against them.
In the bottom of the reservoir is an opening which can be closed by means of
a slide, through which from time to time the silt or sludge can be drawn off.

page_text: The filtering operation is as follows:
The water to be filtered runs under pressure through the inlet into the space
between the elements and after completely filling this space and thoroughly
penetrating the filtering material and the porous filter cylinders passes into the
hollow spaces in the said elements through which it ascends and in the form of pure,
clear, serviceable water fills the space above the filter, whence it is carried through suit-
able service pipes for consumption. The impurities contained in the water are collected
in the filtering material and the pores of the filter cylinders, it being necessary
accordingly from time to time to effect a cleansing of the cylinder and to supply a
fresh filtering medium.
Dated this 10th dow of T100%
Improvements in or relating to Filters.
I, RICHARD KURKA, of No. 20, Paniglgasse, Vienna IV, in the Empire of Austria,
Filter Manufacturer, 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 present invention relates to a new kind of filter for water-works, which con-
sists of separate parts which can be easily arranged in rows one against another
and, as compared with the filters heretofore made is very simple and acts with
absolute certainty.
The present invention is represented in the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a double filter tube or cylinder without a foot
or base.
Figure 2 is a similar section of the same, showing the tube provided with a foot
or base flange.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
Figure 4 is a vertical section showing the manner in which the filter tubes are
arranged in rows, and
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4.
The filters constructed according to the present invention consist of separate
parts, which may be of the shape shown in Figures 2 and 3. They consist of a tube
or cylinder a, of porous artificial or natural stone provided near the top with a
square extension or flange b, the said tube a extending for a short distance above
the said flange. This tube a may terminate in a plain end at the bottom, as shown
in Figure 1 or may be provided with a square flange c serving as a base or foot. For
convenience in manufacture, such tubes or cylinders when of artificial stone are
made in two parts, which are fixed together with clay. These tubes or cylinders if
made of natural stone, are, however usually constructed in one piece, or, if this
should not be possible, they may be made of two or more pieces, cemented together.
The arrangement of the separate tubes or cylinders in rows is effected as is shown
in Figures 4 and 5, by, placing them in a vertical position adjacent to each other,
with the flanges 6 upwards, so as to form a horizontal surface at the top from which
only the short ends of the tubes project. The lower ends of the tubes a rest upon
the bottom of the reservoir or vessel in which the filter is built, and are made either
plain as shown in Figure 1 or with flanges c as shown in Figure 2, said lower ends
being made water-tight with respect to each other and held by a suitably thick
layer of concrete d. With tubes having plain lower ends, this layer of concrete d
fills the space between the separate tubes or cylinders to a certain height, and lies

page_text: direct at the bottom of the reservoir, while with tubes which are provided with
a flange c Figure 2 such concrete rests on these flanges and thus effects a tight
fixing of the separate tubes to each other. The upper surface formed by the
flanges 6 of the separate tubes is then covered with a layer of cement to the level of
the top of the said tubes a thus forming a plane surface having openings g as shown
in Figure 5.
To prevent the rising of the filter, any desired fastening such as rods, bolts, or
the like may be provided. The space I, around the separate tubes or cylinders a
and between the lower concrete layer d and the upper surface forms a secure water-
tight compartment and serves for holding the filtering medium i, which consists of
infusorial earth, broken bricks, turf, loam, vegetable charcoal and the like. The
porous tubes a exercise a sucking action on this filtering medium thus causing the
same to surround or envelop the said tubes.
In the bottom of the reservoir there is provided an opening f, which can be
closed by a slide or sluice, through which, the reservoir may be emptied for cleaning
purposes as hereinafter described.
The process of filtration is as follows:-
The water to be purified flows, under pressure, through the inlet h, into the space I
between the tubes a completely filling this space and, after penetrating the filter-
ing medium i and the porous filter cylinders a passes into the hollow spaces g
through which it rises, and fills the space II above the cylinders a as a perfectly
pure, clear, useable water, from which it is conducted by suitable means to where
it is to be used. The impurities from the water collect in the filtering medium 2
and the pores of the filtering tubes or cylinders a which from time to time require
cleaning and a new coating. This cleaning is effected by stopping the flow of the
water by shutting the inlet h and opening the aperture f in the bottom of the
reservoir, through which the water contained in the space II flows in a contrary
direction, through the pores of the filtering cylinders a from the inside to the
outside thereof thus removing the impurities contained therein, and flowing off
together with the slime into the space I and the filtering medium through the
outlet aperture. When this has taken place, a fresh supply of filtering medium is
put into the space I through an opening at the side or top, which must be made
thoroughly water-tight; the water inlet h is then re-opened, when the filtering
process recommences.
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:-
A filter, consisting of tubes (a) of porous artificial or natural stone, with or
without base flanges c and with square flanges b a little below the upper ends of the
said cylinders, the said cylinders being arranged in a layer of concrete, masonry, or
the like d at the bottom of the reservoir or having their lower flanges covered by
such layer, the upper flanges of the said tubes being also provided with this material
to a height corresponding to the height of the top of the tube ends a, which, in
conjunction with fastenings fixes the position of the separate tubes and forms a
space for the water to be filtered and another space for the water which has been
filtered.
Dada
1
1 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.