US390168A - Apparatus for treating sewage - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. E. HARTHAN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SEWAGE. No. 390,168. Patented Sept. 25,1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S. E. ,HARTHAN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SEWAGE.

No. 390,168. Patented Sept. 25,1888.

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N 4 i k 1 I I I w 1\ N l l I 1 Q XNZ/Z'NTUE: l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

S. EMERSON IIARTIIAN, OF IVOROESTER, MASSAGIIUSETTS.-

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SEWAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,168, dated September 25, 1888.

Application filed March 3,1857. Serial No. 229,528. (No model.) I

To (all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1 S. EMERSON IIARTIIAN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of W'orecster and State of lilassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus 01" Plant forTrealing Sewage and Water, of which the following, together with the aceompanying drawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my present invention is to provide an cllicient and economical apparatus or :5 plant for the treatment or purification of sewage and water; and my invention consists in an apparatus constructed and organized for operation as illustrated and explained in the following description, the particular subject matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating my improved plant for treating sewage. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of one of the filter-beds, drawn to a somewhat larger scale.

In referring to parts, A denotes the water course or channel whereby the sewage is delivered to the filteririg-compartments, which preferably consist of oblong areas inelosed by upright side walls, a, with a bulk-head, B, at the lower end, and having an overflow or rollway, I), at its top for the discharge of the water. Any desired number of these compartments may be employed, according to the extent of the plant. In the present instance I have shown two compartments arranged side by side, each being provided with a gate, 0, for shutting off the passage from the supplychannel A, so that either compartment can be drained while the other is in operation.

D indicates a filter-bed disposed within the compartment, preferably in a more or less oblique or inclined position longitudinally thereof and laterally horizontal. Said filter-bed in the present instance commences at one end near the head of the compartment, at the bottom thereof, and gradually rises to a position 50 near the bulk-head B',where the filter is above the water-level or top line of the bulk-head.

In practice the size of the filter-bed may be eight to ten feet (more or less) in width and from fifty to one hundred feet (more or less) in length.

The filter-bed is supported on suitable framework, E, and may be composed of any suitable material. The construction which I deem best for this filter-bed is illustrated in Fig. 3,whcrein 6 indicates aseries of longitudinal boards sup- 6o ported narrow edge upward on the framesE. Upon these are a coarse-mesh grating or netting, (1, next a mediumly-fine mesh wire-netting,d, then three courses (more or less) of hair felt, F Fl and above these a fine wire- 6 5 netting, f, and a series of longitudinal iron slats or bars, 1'. This construction may be modified as desired for effecting equivalent operation.

G indicates an endless belt or chain, composed of a series of transverselydisposed scraping-bars, of wood or other suitable material, linked together, and mounted on guiding wheels or rolls G and driving-sprocket II, and operated to travel along the top surface of the filter-bed from its lower to its upper end for scraping the deposited sludge or solid material therefrom. The scraping-bars G of the chain belt slide along the longitudinal slats 1', whereby unnecessary wear on the surface of the felt or top netting is prevented.

The traveling chain G of scraping-bars (l transfers the'sludge from the filter-bed D to a conductor, I, that leads into a revoluble hydro-extractor or centrifugal machine, J, by means of which the greater portion of the moisture is made so as to be self-dischargingthat is, it is discharged from the sludge. Said machine J has a rotatable basket of such form that a constant supply of material may be fed into it from the conductor I, and as the solid material becomes freed from moisture it is caused, by the rotation of the extractor, to work up and over the edge of the basket, and falls into a receiving-space, Z, from which it is carried to any desired place of delivery by the endless-band conveyor L. The feeding and discharge of the hydro-extractor is thus rendered automatic and continuous, so that it opcrates withoutthe necessity of special attention of an attendant. A pipe or conductor, J, leads from the water-space of the extractor mech anism into the filter compartment, through which the water extracted from the sludge can flow back to said compartment to be refiltered.

M indicates a driving-shaft, provided with suitable pulleys and belts, m in m, for operating the filter-clearing belts G, the hydro-extractor J, and conveyer L.

A turbine water-wheel, N, arranged to take water from the filtercompartments below the filter-bed by a suitable gate or gates, as a, is in the present instance provided for operating the apparatus, its shaft N being provided with suitable pulleys, from which a belt, m, runs to the pulley on shaft M for transmitting power and motion thereto. The driving me, is preferably a watenwheel, as N, in cases where there is sullieient head and fall to give the re quired power; butasteam-engine orother kind of motor may be used for operatingpower if more convenient or preferred, and the shafting and pulleys,with their driving belt or gearing, may be disposed in any convenient arrangement.

In the operation of my improved apparatus the sewage from the channel A flows onto the top surface of the filter bed or beds D and percolates through the felting, leaving the solid matter or sludge on the top surface of the filter. The water flows over the top of the bulkhead B or through the gate 11, and escapes down the channel or tail-race It. The cleaning-belt G, being in action, scrapes the accumulated solid matter or sludge into the con ductor I,whence it falls into the central chamber of the extractor-machine J, and is delivered therefrom to the conveyer L, whereby it is carried to the place of deposit, to be burned or disposed of in any manner desired. The operation of the mechanism for filtering and removing the sludge is continuous and automatic, and can be maintained or operated with economy and with but little attention. \Vhen necessary, the gate 0 can be closed and a compartment drained through the waste-gate s, to facilitate repairs or overhauling the filter-bed while the filter in the other compartment is in operation;

\Vhat I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Ineombination,snbstantiallyasdescribed, the stationary filtering-bed l), the endless traveling cleari ng-belt (l, provided with a series of laterallydisposed scrapers that drag along the face of the filtering-bed, the guiding and operating rolls carrying said belt, ahydro-extractor mechanism into which the sludge is deposited automatieally from said clearing-belt, and means for imparting motion to said mechanism, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a plant for treating sewage, aiilteringbed constructed as shown and described, and consisting of the transverse frames E, the longitudinal strips e, the gratings d cl, supported on the edges of said strips, sheets of filtering material, F, and the longitudinal guard-bars 13, extending along the face thereof, in combination with a chain or belt having a series of scrapers that travel along the face of the filter supported by said guard-bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The within-described purifying apparatus, consisting of the filter-bed 1), endless traveling belt G, having scraper-bars G, sup

ported on guide-rolls G, the operating-wheel.

H, the conductor I, the selfdiseharging hydroextractor J, eonveyer L, and water returnpipe J, arranged, substantially as shown and described, for treating sewage by continuous action, as set forth.

W'itness my hand this 26th day of Ifiebruary, A. 1). 1887.

S. EMERSON HAlt'lIIAN. Wi tncsses:

(Janis. I'I. Bunmnun, ELLA l. BLnNUs.

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