Mermade 36" Tubular Keene-Bowser, Complete

The Mer-Made 36" Tubular Vacuum DE Filter Element (Keene-Bowser Replacement) — Complete is a cylindrical/tubular drop-in replacement assembly engineered for legacy Keene-Bowser (Bowser-Briggs / Keene Corporation) tubular commercial vacuum DE filtration systems, pressure-leaf conversions, and industrial process vaults.

Rather than the flat, rectangular panel leaves typical of standard vacuum pits, the Tubular Keene-Bowser design utilizes a rigid cylindrical support core (tube/candle) wrapped in a tubular woven synthetic septum sleeve. Effluent flows radially inward through the cylindrical wall into an open central drainage conduit, exiting through a threaded or push-in base connection into the bottom manifold pipe.

Technical Specifications & Dimensions

Structural Architecture & Construction Details

• Rigid Perforated/Slotted Support Tube: Heavy-wall Schedule 80 PVC or polypropylene extruded cylinder with precision radial perforations or continuous axial slots. Engineered to withstand high external vacuum loads and compression without collapsing or pinching the internal hydraulic corridor.

• Top End-Cap Assembly: Molded solid thermoplastic top cap hot-gas or solvent-welded to the cylinder. May include a locating boss or through-hole guide for overhead tube-sheet tie rods and stability spacers.

• Base Discharge Adapter: Injection-molded PVC base hub with external male NPT threads or a smooth spud profile with machined O-ring grooves. Includes an integrated stop shoulder to ensure proper seating torque and positive fluid sealing against the tube sheet or manifold.

• Pre-Fitted Tubular Cloth Sleeve (Sock): Seamless or flat-stitched high-tenacity woven monofilament polypropylene sleeve calibrated for 20–30 micron diatomaceous earth pre-coat retention. Secured at both ends with heavy-duty corrosion-proof banding clamps or elastomeric retention collars.

Weights & Packaging Estimates

• Individual Complete Tube Net Weight: Approximately 3.5 to 5.0 lbs (1.6 to 2.3 kg).

• Single Boxed Tube Shipping Weight: Approximately 5.5 to 7.5 lbs (2.5 to 3.4 kg) in heavy-duty triangular or square shipping tubes/cartons.

• Master Carton / Tube Bank Lot (12 to 24 Tubes): Approximately 50 to 95 lbs (23 to 43 kg) in bulk reinforced multi-pack cartons.

Field Installation & Header Seating Guidelines

1. Clean Header Ports: Inspect and wire-brush or ream legacy Keene-Bowser tube-sheet receiver threads or socket ports to eliminate calcified DE residue, scale, and thread galling.

2. Inspect Base Seal: For threaded models, apply PTFE thread sealant tape or marine-grade paste approved for potable/pool water. For push-in spuds, seat a new Buna-N/EPDM O-ring or felt compression collar against the base shoulder.

3. Thread / Seat Tube: Hand-thread the tubular element into the manifold receiver until hand-tight, then apply an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn using an adjustable strap wrench on the base fitting (never torque by twisting the center body of the tube or cloth).

4. Align Top Spacer Rack: If the vault uses an upper tube-alignment grid or tie-down spider, ensure the top blind-cap locating pins engage squarely to prevent lateral swaying or element contact during pump surge cycles.