Specification of Charles Denton Abel : draining sewage.

  • Abel, Charles Denton.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Charles Denton Abel : draining sewage. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    2 A.D. 1866.—N° 1037. Provisional Specification. Abel's Improved System of Draining Sewage. * * pipes are connected all along their length to tthe waterclosets or privies of houses, each of which is provided with a receptacle sufficiently large to hold the sewage matter of one day or more, and capable of being shut off from the pipes by means of a valve. The pipes are closed in an air-tight manner at one extremity by means of valves, while at the other extremity they are con- 5 nected to a suction and force pump situated by preference underground in a central position, and worked by means of a hydraulic pressure engine. By means of this pump a partial vacuum is produced in the system of pipes at a given time, either every day or at longer intervals of time, and at such time the before-mentioned valves through which the receptacles to the waterclosets 10 communicate with the pipes are opened consecutively, whereby the entire contents of each receptacle are consecutively sucked with considerable rapidity into and along the system of pipes, the small interval of time elapsing between the opening of the several valves being sufficient to allow a certain quantity of air to be sucked into the pipes between each two consecutive charges, the 15 expansive action of which air will greatly facilitate the passage of the sewage matter along the pipes. In order to maintain the partial vacuum in the pipes while the sewage matter is passing into them, the valve of one watercloset is always closed again before the next one is opened. The receptacles to each watercloset or privy are, by preference, formed with funnel-shaped bottoms, 20 and connected to outlet pipes passing vertically downwards in order to insure that the whole of the sewage matter shall pass away at each time; they are also by preference provided with a grating situated a little above such funnel- shaped bottom, the openings of which are large enough to allow all sewage matter to pass through, but which retains foreign substances, such as bones 25 or rags, which may be removed from time to time through accessible openings in the receptacles provided with covers. During the time that the sewage matter passes into the system of pipes the pumping engine is kept at work, and is thus caused to force the sewage matter as it arrives to it along a main to a large underground reservoir situated outside the town at any convenient 80 locality where the sewage matter may be used as manure, for which purpose it is pumped out of the reservoir as it is required. This reservoir is by pre¬ ference provided with a chimney shaft, in which gas jets are kept continually burning in order to prevent the accumulation of noxious gases therein. The water that is employed to work the pumping engine is forced afterwards by 35 the pump into the sew7age main, and thus assists in keeping the same flushed. Ibis system which may be termed the “ pneumatic drainage system” has the advantage of being equally applicable to waterclosets and to privies, no water beyond that supplied by the sewage matter being actually requisite to insure
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