US1027627A - Flume. - Google Patents

Description

o. H. RAMSDEN.

PLUMB. APPLICATION FILED QOT. 3, 1911.

Patented May 28, 1912.

. WITNESSES: 7%; W

c? 2% $17 75 bE/J.

UMBIA PLANOORAPH C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oI-IARLEs H. RAMsnEN, E SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR. To wEsTERN PIPE AND STEEL coMPAEY or c'ALIEoRNIA, A coRPoRATIoN or cALIPoRivIA.

FLUME.

Patented May 28, 1912.

7 Application filed October 3, 1911. Serial No. 652,569.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs H. RAMSDEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flumes, of which the following is a specifidescription where I cation.

The invention relates to flumes used for conducting water or other liquids and especially to flumes made of sheet met-a1.

The object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal flume of cheaper construction than has heretofore been considered possible.

Another object of the invention is to pro 'vide a sheet metal flume having a smooth interior surface, free of all projections or obstructions at the 'pointswhere the sections of the flume are joined. I

Another object of the invention is to provide. a sheet metal flume in'which the sections of metal are not permanently attached to each other.

The construction possesses other advantageous features, which, with vthe foregoing will be set forth at lengthin the following form of embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

The novelty of the invention will beincluded in the claims succeeding said description. I

From this it will be apparent that I do not restrict myself to the showing made by such drawings and descriptions, as I may adopt many variations within the scope of the invention, as expressed in said claims.

Referring to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a cross section of the flume, showing a supporting structure; the drawing being formed in two parts showingtwolmeans of tightening the joint between two sections of the flume. Fig. 2 is a side view of theflume showing the tightening'means illustrated on the left side of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the flume showing the tightening means illustrated onthe right side of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken through two sections of the flume at a joint. Fig. 5 is a side view of the flume illustrating a modified form of tightening means.

Sheet metal fl'umes consist of a plurality of relatively short sections joined together this description are tactor approximately in contact.

shall outline in full that Various means may ample,

at their ends, the number of sections depending upon the length of the flume. These sections have heretofore generally been 0011-. nected by a lap joint, either by bolting or riveting or by means of clamps lying inside and outside of the flume and acting conomtly. The objection to the bolted or riveted construction is the high cost of manufacture and the fact that it cannot be practically taken apart and setup in another. 10-

cation. The objection to the other construction is that it presents an obstacle at each joint to the flow of the water. Flumes of generally made semicircular in cross section and are supported by a suitable trestle or frame, so that they are held above the'ground. v

According to my invention, the plates or sections 2 are placed end to end with the ends of the plates alined and lying in, con- On the outside of the flume at each joint is arranged a sheet metal band 3' preferably of heavier material than the material of the plates. This band 3 overlies the abutting ends of the plates 2 forming a butt joint. The band is drawn up tightly around the fiume so that a water tight joint is obtained. In order to insure a more positive water joint, a packing 4 is inserted between the band 3 and the plates 2. This packing matight terial preferably consists of a strip of paper or rubber or a coatingof asphaltum material or sheet solder placed on the band before it is put into place. When such fusible material is used the band is heated by:a gasolene torch or similar means after it has been placed and drawn tight, causing the asphaltum or solder to melt and conform to any irregularities in the band or plates at the joint and thereby form a tight joint. be employed for drawing the band tightly around the flume and in the drawings I have shown, as an ex several means, either of which may be employed. The trestle or supporting frame is provided with a cross timber 5 directly above each joint in the flume and the band 3 is tightened by drawing it toward such cross timber. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the band 3 is provided with a loop or eye 6 at each end which is engaged by means passing over the timber 5. In Fig. 2 the band is drawn tight by means of the wedges 7 engaging the link 8 which passes through the eye 6 and over the timber 5. In Fig. 3 the pressure is applied by means of the double bolt 9 passing through the eye 6 and being provided with nuts engaging a bearing plate lying on the timber. In Fig. 5 the band 3 is pressed against the flume by means of the rods 12 passing around the band and through the cross timber and provided on their ends with nuts. Some means should also be employed for holding the upper edges of the plates in line and prevent them from moving when pressure isapplied to the band. In Fig. 1, I have shown two means of accomplishing this purpose. In the left hand part of the figure a spacing timber 13 secured to the cross timber is shown. This member may extend across the flume and engage the opposite edge or it may comprise a block attached at each side. In the right hand side of the figure I have shown a block 14 nailed to the cross timber and provided with a slot to receive the upper edges of the two plates. This method of securing the plates in place by a butt joint, has also the advantage that it readily allows the variation in length due to changes in temperature to be taken up. This variation in length will reach an appreciable amount in a long flume, and in the constructions heretofore employed some special means were necessary to accommodate it. In order to prevent this variation from localizing itself at one particular joint and thereby causing a break in the flume, I prefer to loosely connect the adjacent sections by a wire 15 passing through holes in the plates. This wire connection allows the ends of the plates to move a slight distance with respect to each other, but not enough to impair the joint.

I claim:

1. In a sheet metal flume composed of a plurality of plates placed end to end with their adjacent edges in line, a band surrounding the flume at the juncture of two adjacent plates, a cross timber supported above the flume at said juncture and means engaging the band and the timber for pressing the band against the flume.

2. A joint for a sheet metal flume composed of a plurality of sections arranged with their adjacent ends abutting, consisting of a band surrounding the flume at the juncture of two sections, a packing between said. band and said plates and means for drawing said band tightly against said plates.

3. In a sheet metal flume adapted to be supported above the ground and composed of a plurality of sections arranged with their adjacent ends abutting, a supporting framework, a cross piece on said framework at the juncture of two sections, a metallic band surrounding the flume and engaging the sections adjacent their ends, a packing between said band and the flume and means engaging the band and the cross piece for drawing the flume toward the cross piece.

4. The combination with the flume sections abutting at their adjacent ends, of a clamping means consisting of an outer band surrounding the sections at the joint, a cross beam above the flume at the joint, means engaging the band and the beam for drawing the flume sections up against the cross beam, means for holding the upper edges of the sections in line on the cross beam and means for allowing only a limited longitudinal motion of the flume sections with respect to each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 22d day of September 1911.

CHARLES H. RAMSDEN.

In presence of H. G. Pnosr, R. HEFFERNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0.

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