Mermade 36" x 24" Centre Bottom Outlet, Leaf Only

The Mer-Made 36" × 24" Center Bottom Outlet — Leaf Only (also cataloged as the Bare Leaf, Skeleton, or Core Assembly) consists of the fully assembled rigid structural frame, internal high-flow drainage grid, and center-bottom discharge hub, excluding the fabric filter jacket (cover) and compression felt sealing collar/gasket.

This configuration is engineered for shallow-depth commercial vacuum DE pits, surge-tank filter arrays, institutional therapy pools, and compact mechanical rooms. It is specified when existing cloth covers are being reused or sourced from bulk stock, or when replacing cracked, bowed, or calcified PVC frames while maintaining the existing 12.0 sq. ft. per-leaf filtration capacity.

Technical Specifications & Scope of Delivery

• Internal open-matrix polypropylene or ABS converging drainage grid core

• Molded, chemical-resistant center-bottom discharge hub with integrated stop shoulder | | Excluded Components | • Fabric filter bag / cloth jacket (Cover Only)

• Top closure hardware, laces, or Velcro flap

• High-density felt compression collar (Part # FELTCOLLAR) |

Structural Design & Internal Core Mechanics

• Converging Flow Drainage Matrix: A high-rigidity, open-profile polypropylene or ABS drainage core with structural ribbing engineered to prevent negative vacuum collapse under draw up to 15" Hg. The internal drainage channels converge bilaterally from the upper 36" corners down toward the central bottom outlet port.

• Rigid Perimeter Framing: Heavy-wall extruded rigid CPVC/PVC structural channels with thermo-welded corner miter joints. Designed to resist lateral racking, diagonal twist, and vertical distortion under hydraulic turbulence across the 3-foot base.

• Molded Center Discharge Hub: Injection-molded, chemical-resistant Schedule 80 PVC spud thermo-welded directly to the center of the 36" bottom rail. An integrated locating stop shoulder establishes uniform seating depth in the floor manifold receiver and ensures proper compression on the sealing gasket.

Physical Dimensions & Weight Estimates

• Individual Bare Leaf Net Weight: Approximately 9.5 to 11.8 lbs (4.3 to 5.4 kg).

• Single Boxed Leaf Shipping Weight: Approximately 14.5 to 18.0 lbs (6.6 to 8.2 kg) in heavy-duty corrugated cartons with perimeter edge protectors.

• Master Pallet Lot (10 to 20 Bare Frames): Approximately 150 to 280 lbs (68 to 127 kg) strapped to a standard 40" × 48" wooden skid.

Field Clothing & Installation Steps

1. Inspect Core Surface: Check the outer channel borders and bare grid faces for sharp burrs, rough weld beads, or cracks that could puncture a replacement fabric jacket during installation.

2. Slide the Cover: Slide the replacement fabric envelope down over the 24" height of the frame along the 36" span, guiding the reinforced center opening over the protruding bottom discharge spud.

3. Seat the Spud Cutout: Pull the reinforced collar of the cover snugly around the base of the outlet hub until seated flush against the molded locating shoulder without bunching or twisting.

4. Tension & Close: Pull the fabric taut across the 36" × 24" face to eliminate wrinkles or bagging, then fasten the top closure flap (Velcro seam, clamp bar, or laces) across the upper rail.

5. Mount Gasket & Seat: Slide a fresh high-density felt compression collar (Part # FELTCOLLAR) over the center spud against the locating shoulder. Guide the spud into the floor manifold receiver socket, apply firm downward pressure to compress the seal, and secure the overhead hold-down beam.