120 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[ACG. 8, 1884. 



chemical filtration will Le considered in due course when 

 we come to describe some of the contrivances which we 

 have carefully tested in the Exhibition. It seems desir- 

 able, however, that leaden pipes, as such, should not be 

 used, and we therefore suggest that the metal might be 

 coated in some way with a siliceous or earthenware glaze, 

 after having been suitably shaped to meet the wants of 

 aquiferous apparatus. It is a subject of such importance, 

 and is brought home to us so forcibly by the many 

 disastrous occurrences of poisonous contamination and the 

 spread of zymotic disease, that we consider it our bounden 

 duty to call the attention of practical workers to the diffi- 

 culty. We would strongly recommend experiments in this 

 direction to the notice of Messrs. Doulton &■ Co., of 

 Lambetb. 



The uncertainty of an adequate supply of rain-water is a 

 most serious drawback to manufactures in general ; but 

 even on a small scale the collection of rain is most desir- 

 able. Such water in London alone would save a large 

 annual expenditure for soap used in cleansing operations ; 

 and in all towns where the water is naturally very hard 

 rain-water reservoir.s must be looked upon as a boon. It 

 occurs, however, that wherever they have hitherto been 

 introduced, as in the Midland counties of England, they 

 are wofully neglected, and come to be, in time, little else 

 than the accumulated liquid filth of roof-drainage. 



In the East-central Gallery B, of the Exhibition, devoted 

 to " Water-supply and Puiification," Stand 416 has been 

 delegated to Mr. C. G. Roberts, of Haslemere, Surrey, for 

 his "Patent Rain-Water Separator." Fig. 19 shows where 



rig. 19. 



this instrument ought to be placed in relation to the 

 system of roof-pipes, etc., of a house ; and how provision 

 can be made for the efiicient storage of the practically pure 

 water. This innovation so thoroughly fulfils what it has 

 been designed to accomplish, and is moreover so useful an 

 adjunct to every modern dwelling, that we deem it worthy 

 of something more than a passing notice in these pages. 

 It is in reality what it pretends to be, a " water separator," 

 and not a filter ; inasmuch as through its action the impure 

 water is rejected and permitted to run to waste, whilst the 

 clear water, deprived of even minute suspended solids is 

 forced to pass to the storage tank or other receptacle. 



The water thus secured is well adapted to the wants of 

 the kitchen, laundry, for purposes of ablution and manu- 

 facturing processes, and, when filtered, for drinking. The 

 first portion of the rainfall passes into a preliminary box 



called a strainer, where all the coarser impurities, such as 

 leaves, twigs, i'c, are detained, and can be readily removed. 

 From thence the water passes into the first compartment of 

 the separator, through which it flows into the waste-pipe for 

 foul water. After a sufiicient time, the rain, which is now 

 considerably purified, owing to the cleaused state of the 

 roof, itc, collects in the second compartment of the 

 separator, which, in consequence, cants or is overturned, 

 so that the future discharge is directed to the pure water 

 reservoir-pipe, as shown in the subjoined explanatory 

 section (Fig. 20). 



Fig. 20. Section of separator No. 2a in action. Pure watci- 

 passing to storage. Detailed description of apparatus : — A. Re- 

 movable strainer with perforated plate to prevent rubbish passing 

 into the separator. B. Outlet for water to pass to separator. C. 

 separator balanced on pivot. D. Small compartment into which 

 the rain-water first falls. E. Small hole fitted with washer pro- 

 portioned to size of roof. F. Larger hole to take the overflow from 

 D dming moderate rain. G. Discharge pipe. In a storm the 

 water tills the compartment D and flows over the top of this pipe. 

 H. Small holes at back of G between compartments. When the 

 rainfall exceeds the discharging capacity of hole E the water rises 

 in compartment D and passing through holes H slowly fills compart- 

 ment J. When the height of water in J overbalances the separator, 

 it is canted (as shown in draw^ing) and the. water (by that time pure) 

 du-ected by the discharge-pipe G into the storage-pipe K. L, small 

 hole at bottom of compartment J. il il, auxiliary pipe for keeping 

 compartment J full after the separator is canted when the rain is 

 leaving off, 80 that the last drop of rain may be stored. By raising 

 the slide N, a thii-d and fourth hole can be opened at H ; this wiU 

 cause the compartment J to fill more rapidly. The whole of th 

 water passes through the discharge-pipe G which conveys it into 

 the waste-pipe so long as it i-emains uncanted. The length 

 of time it remains in this position, running the water to waste, is 

 regulated by the slide X to suit the smokiness of the locality. The 

 dotted lines down the centre indicate the position of the iron frame 

 to which the apparatus is attached, provided with holes for fixing to 

 the wall. 



