US1176283A - Flume. - Google Patents

Description

c. c. FOUTS & A. A. AMBLER.

FLUME.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-15,1915.

Patented Mar. 21,1916.

AMAMMMQ 'rmt coLummA PLANOGRAPH cn.. WASHING-TUN, n. c,

sra'ras Partnr orifice.

onnvnv o. ViaoU'rs .ann ARTHUR s. AMBER. oaiyrrnnnnrrown, -omo, AssIGNons :ro lcarin o. rows company, orlvrrnnnnfrown, toi-iro, a .conronafrron or cielo.

BLUME ,specifeaiion of Lederwaren. ,Patented Mar. 21, L191e.

yApplication ledrlanuary 15, 1915. SeralNn. 2,331.

T0. allfwtom t may concern.'

Be 1t knownthat we, CALVIN GHFOUTS and ARTHUR A. AMBLER, citizens ,of the -United States, residing at Middletown, in

the `county of Butler' and State of Ollio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flumes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had Vfew parts and ,having these parts of such a character that the `structure as a whole `may` be manufactured at a -low cost.

. A further object `of the `invention is lto provide a sectional structure of this kind in which-the sections may beconnected one to Vthe other without bending or changing the shape of the body portion thereof, thus avoidineinjurv tothe galvanized surface, where sheet metal is used.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for supporting a sheet metal-structureof this kind.

'In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partlv broken away, of a portion of a fiume constructed in accordance withour invention; Fig".` 2 isa transverse sectional view taken on the line a a of Fig. l; Fis. 3-is an enlarged section of the upper portion of one side of Vthefstructure shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line -b b of Fi'r. l: Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of the pressure plate; Vand Fig. 6 is a `horizontal section Vtaken on the line c c vof Fig. 8.

In these drawing-s we have illustrated one embodiment of our invention and have shown the same as applied to a fiume comprising a series of sections having their ad- 'jacent ends overlapping. In the-present instance all ofthe section-s are formed of sheet metal. preferably galvanized iron. although it -will be obvious that a part orl all of the sections may be formed of other material.

Each .ofthelsections of the Hume, which are shown at l, is trough-shaped and, inthe present instance, is substantially semicircular `1n cross section. As'here shown each trough-like section constitutes a part of the conducting surface of the fiume, but this is not essential, as a part of the sections may be connecting devices between other sections. The flume vis set at a slight, angle to cause the fluid to flow readily down the same and the lower end of each upper section thereof Aoverlaps and lies within the upper end of theinext lower section thereof. To form a tight joint between the two sections and to accomplish this without bending or changing the shape of the ends ofthe sections and without the use of clamping rods, `bars or the like, we have provided means to exert pressure on one of the sections in such a man-ner as torcause it to press 4firmly against the overlapping portion of the other section, therebv forming' a joint which will be tight Vand which will oder no obstruction to the flow ofthe water except a slight fall over the en d of the inner section and this fall being .only for the thickness of the sheet metal, or other material, is so small that it has no .appreciable effect upon the flow of the-water. `While thispressure mav be applied sin various ways wehave, in the present drawings, illustrated one form of device which is Averv efficient. As here shown the connection is made bv providing pressure devices Vat the opposite lateral edges of the overlapping portirns of the sections. which pressure .devices are connected with the JV outer section and are arranf'ed toact upon thelinner section to force the same toward and into firm engagement with the outer secticn throughout the vwidth of the sections between the two pressure devices, the pressure on the edges of the inner section being directed substantiallv -in line with the respective upper .portions of said sections, so

Y that there is no tendencvfto spring;- the sheets apart or distort the same. To accomplish this -we have provided Athe sections in their upper lateral portions -withsockets adapted to receive a bolt 2 which-isso connected with the outer section .as to lbe held normally against vertical movement relativelvthereto but which is disconnected from the'inner section so 'that the latter is free to move lengthwise thereof. In the present instance the adjacentnpperportions 4of the twozsections are provided with opposed grooves 3 and -fl which, when the two sectionsare their assembled positions form a socket for the bolt. The grooved portion i of the outersecton is of less length than the groovfed portion 3 of the inner section and. the outer section is provided'with an/ope'ning at the lower end of the groove 4, thereby permitting the lower edge of the grooved portion of the section to form a stop against which the head of the bolt 2 engages and which serves to hold the bolt against vertical movement relatively to the outer section. To enable the bolt to he placed in position without interfering with the vertical movement of the inner section we have cut away one side of the head of the bolt, but obviously other means could be provided which would permit of the necessary movement of the inner section relatively to the bolt, which movement is very slight. The grooves and aperture entering into the construction of Vthe socket may be formed in any suitable manner, as by pressing them into the sheet metal.`

Y Mounted upon the upper end of the bolt 2 Vandnoverlapping the upper edges of the two sectionsA of thev structure is a pressure plate or washer-5 which engages the upper edge of the inner section, which, because of the overlapping arrangement of the sections, projects a 'short distance above the adjacent portion of the outer section. A nutk 6 is screw-tlireaded onto the outer end of the bolt and serves to force the clamping plate downward and thus press the inner section firmly against the overlapping portion of the outer section.l Preferably, the pressure plate isU-shaped in cross section, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, this construction serving both to hold the plate in its proper position relative to the edges of the two sections and alsov serving to prevent the lateral displacement of the upper portion ofthe sections themselves. In the present construction we have shownone of these adjustable' pressure devices Vat each lateral edge of the Y flume but it will be understood that an adjustable pressure device may be applied to one edge only lof the Hume and a fixed pressure device or stop applied to the other edge t and. that the adjustment of the adjustable device will exert the desired pressure on the overlapping portion of the inner section and that i this pressure will be distributed throughout the width of the section.V The pressure device here shown constitutes such a fixedstop when itis applied to one side of the'flume and all the pressure on the inner section is secured by the adjustment of the device on the other side of the flume. However, the Ypresent adjustable pressure device is soinexnensive in its construction that it ispreferahle to'use one on' each side of the tlume,as this simplifies the assembling and connection of the sections.V It Vwill vbe notedthat toassemble the flume or other structure it is only necessary to place the sections in their overlapping'positions,gthe groovesY '3 and 4 having been previouslyV formed therein.` As soon as these grooves have been brought into registration to form the socket the bolt 2 may be inserted in the socket, the outer section being bent inward to provide a recess, as shown at 7, to facilitate the insertion of the bolt. Either before or after the bolt is inserted the pressure plate 5 is placed. in position and theV nutV issthen applied to the end of the bolt and onel or both nutsV will quickly fill up any small spaces or open-V ings which mayeXist and make 'thejoint a perfectly water tight'one. If desired, a

layer of oilor white lead may 'be applied to the overlapping portions of the two sections.

When the structure isused to contain or`V conduct certain fluids, however it is desirable that a sealing agent should be einployed and we have therefore shown the.V

outer section, in Fig. 1, as provided Vwith a shallow groove 8, which is not deep eno'ugh nor thecornersthereof sharp enough to injure the galvanized surface of the metal,

and Vin this groove we haveA shown a cement V10, which may be `of any suitable character. supported on Fluines are commonly wooden trestlesor frames and for this purpose vwe Yhave provided the structure 'onV` either side with a series of brackets 11 which are rigidlvsecuredto the upper lateral portions of theiseveralsections Aand are adapted to be secured to the supporting frame. To,

provide a strong rigidV connection between the bracket and the flume the ysection to which the bracket is to be attached is prof vided with a boss 12, the lower portion of which forms a shoulder extending outwardly from the upper portion of the section, Where thedevice is formed of sheet metal, as inthe present instance` this boss also forms a recessto receive the head 13 of a fasteningbol'tlll which extends through ,bolt holes in the boss and a downwardly extendingportion l5 of the'bracket, The head 13 is square and the bottom'surface of the recess is flat, whereby when said recessreceives the head thelatter is prevented from i rotating and is securely connected to' the bracket v11 by means of its nu t.f rlfhis downwardly extendingV portion of the' bracketis4 also recessed, as shown at 16. to receive the boss 1 2 aii'd to provide ashoulder which wilt coperate' 'with the 'shoulder of the boss.V

When the bolt is inposition and its ,nut jhas been tightened rdownthe bracket is rigidly secured to the Wall of the section and the `veightis carried by the interlocking bosses of the bracket and thevlume section, thus relieving thebolts oi' the strain and avoiding any tendency onthe part of the bolts to shear. While We have shown the boss as a means of attaching a s heet vmetal bracket to the flume it Will be apparent that the shoulder which is formed by theboss may copeiate\vith a bracketofany kind or that it may coperate directly with the -Wooden traine, in Which latter case anail or screw Will be substitutedi'or thebolt.

We v,are -avvare that sectional ,flames have beenV provided in which the ends of adjacent sections overlap and are provided with grooves to receive a clamping rod, but this l constructionhas been Jfound tobe objection able because of the necessity of using a clamping rod on the `inside of the ume which makesit impossible to provide a smooth continuous surface and which further requires a distorting of the sections with the consequent liability of injuring the galvanized surface ofthe metal.

While-ive have shown and described 4one 'embodiment of `our invention it Will be understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of illustration only and that We do not desire tobe limited to the detailsof construction -shoivn and described, for obvious modifications will occur'to a person skilled -in `the art. j Y

Having thus fully described our inven-Y tion, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a structure of the .character described, the combination, with trough-like sections having theirV adjacent ends overlapped, of a connecting member arranged betiveenthe upper edges ot said overlapping portions ot' said sections and projecting above said edges, saidY connecting member being held against longitudinal movement in one direction relatively to said outer section, and a. pressure plate adjustably mounted on said connecting meinberand arranged to engage the upper edge of the inner seotion and exert pressure thereon in substantial alinement therewith. l

2. In a structure of the character described, the combination, Vwith trough-like sections having their adjacent ends overlapped, of a connecting member arranged between the upper edges of said overlapping portions of said sections and projecting above'said edges, saidconnecting member being held against longitudinal movement in one direction relatively to said outer section, a pressure plate mounted for longitudinal movement on said connecting member and arranged to engage the upper edge ot the inner section, and means carried by said scribed, the combination, with trough-like sections having their adjacent ends overlapped, of a bolt arranged between thev upper edges of the overlapping portions of said Asections and projecting above said sections, said bolt being held against longitu i dinal movement in an upward direction relatively to said outer section, a pressure plate loosely mounted on said connecting member and arranged to engage the upper edge of the inner section, and a nut mounted on said bolt to fi'orceV said pressure plate against the upper edge of said inner section.

4l. In a structure of the character described, the combination, With trough-like sections having their adjacent edgesoverlapped, of a connecting member arranged betiveenthe upper edges ot said overlapping portions oi said sections and projecting above said edges, said connecting member and said outer section having cooperating parts to hold said connecting member against upward movement relatively tosaid outer section, and a pressure plate adjustably `mounted on .said connecting member and arranged to engage the upper edee of saidinner sectionand exert pressure thereon in substantial alineinent therewith.

5. In a structure of the character described, the combination, with troughlike sections having their adjacent ends overlapped, a connecting member arranged between the upper edges of said overlapping portions of said sections and projecting above said edges,the outer section having an opening adjacent to said connecting member and said connectingmember having a lateral projection entering saidlopening and serving tohold said connecting member against up- Ward movement, and a pressure plate adjustably mounted on said connecting mem- I.

ber and having depending portions to enibracethe upper portions of said sections.

6. In a structure of the character described, the combination, with trough-like sections having their adjacent ends `overlapped, of a bolt secured to the upper portion of the outer section and extending above the edge thereof in substantial alinenient therewith. a pressure plate mounted on said bolt and capable of movement longitudinally thereof, and means carried by said bolt to force said pressure plate against the upper edge of the inner section.

7. In a structure of the character described, the combination, With trough-like sections having theirradjacent ends overlapped, oi a bolt connected with the upper portion of the outer section and projecting above the upper edge thereof in substantial alinement with the upper portion thereof, a

pressure plate substantially U-sliaped, in cross section'and arranged to embrace the upper portions of the two sections and to rest upon the upper edge of the inner section, anda nut on'said bolt to press said plate into engagement with the upper edge of said inner section. Y

8. In a structure of the character described, tlie combination, with trough-like sections having their adjacent ends overlapped, the overlapped portions of said sections having opposed grooves arranged at substantially right angles tothe edges of said sections and the outer section having a part forming a stop, of a bolt mounted in said grooves between said sections with its head in engagement with said stop, a pressure plate mounted-on said bolt and extending across the upper edge of the inner section, 'and a nut mounted on said bolt above the pressure plate.

Vso

9. In a structure of the character described, the combination, with trough-like sections having their adjacent ends over# lapped, the overlapping portions of said sections having opposed grooves arranged at substantially right angles to the lateral edges thereof and adapted to form a socket between said sections, of a bolt mounted in said socket, the outer section having an aperture near the lower end of its groove to permit the insertion of said bolt and to form a shoulder to engage the head of said bolt and limit the upward movement thereof relatively to said outer section, the inner secf tion being free to move relatively to said bolt, a'pressure plate mounted on said bolt in engagement with the upper ,edge of the inner section, and a nut mounted on .said bolt above said pressure plate.

l0. In a structure of the character'described, the combination, with trough-like sections having their adjacent ends overlapped, tlie overlapping portions of said sections having opposed grooves arranged at substantially right angles to the lateral edges thereof and adapted to form a socket, ofa bolt mounted in said socket, the outer section having an aperture near the lower endV of its groove to` permit the insertion of said bolt and to forma shoulder to engage theV head of said bolt and limit the upward movement thereof relativelyto said outer section, the innerV section being free. to move rela-` tively to said bolt, a pressure plate substantially U-shapediii cross section mounted on Y said bolt and having its side vportions ein-` bracing tlie upper edges of the two sections,

and a nut mounted on said bolt toV force saidV pressure plate against tlie-upper edge of the:

inner section. Y

v ll. A sheet metal flume orY the like-having a bossstruck out therefrom near the upper edge thereof, said boss constituting a recess ing through said apertures, said head ex- Y tending into the first-mentionedVV recess,

whe'rebysaid bracket and flume are fastened' together and the bolt ispreventedV from ro: tating in said apertures. I

12. In afs'tructurev ofthecharacter de# scribed, the combination, with trough-likesectionshaving their adjacent edges overlapped, anddevices connected with the over- Y lapping portions `of the respective Asections to keep the said sections in engagement with.

each other, of supporting devices rigidly securedto the respective sections between the ends thereof, said supporting devices comprising bosses struck outward from the sec tions of a fiume near the upper edges` thereof, supporting bracketsfliaving depending portions provided with recesses Yto receive said bosses, said bosses and the walls of said recesses forming coperating shoulders, said bosses and said brackets having apertures,

and bolts extending through 'said apertures to fasten'said brackets to said fiume.

In testimony whereof, we aiiix our signae tures in presence of two witnesses.

' CALVIN CQFOUTS. ARTHUR AIAMBLER. `Witnessesz Y 1 W. T. HARRISON, MARGARET ENRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may` be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofllaitents,V

Washington, D. C.

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