Mermade 38" x 48" Centre Bottom Outlet, Leaf Only

The Mer-Made 38" × 48" Center Bottom Outlet — Leaf Only (cataloged as the Bare Leaf, Skeleton, or Core Assembly) consists of the fully assembled rigid structural perimeter 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 large municipal natatoriums, water park wave pools, resort competition facilities, and deep surge-tank vacuum filtration arrays measuring 38" wide horizontally along the base by 48" high vertically. It is specified when existing fabric jackets are being reused or sourced from bulk stock, or when replacing cracked, bowed, or calcified structural PVC/CPVC frames while maintaining the full 25.3 sq. ft. per-leaf filtration capacity.

Technical Specifications & Scope of Delivery

• Internal open-matrix polypropylene or ABS converging vertical 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

• Extended Vertical Drainage Matrix: Heavy-duty, open-profile polypropylene or ABS drainage core with structural cross-ribs engineered to resist negative vacuum collapse under draw up to 15" Hg. The internal drainage channels converge bilaterally from the upper 48" corners and inward from the 38" outer rails down toward the central bottom outlet port without fluid pinching.

• Torque-Resistant Perimeter Framing: Heavy-wall extruded rigid CPVC/PVC structural channels with thermo-welded corner miter joints. Internal corner gussets reinforce the wide 38" base and 48" vertical stiles to resist diagonal racking, twist, and bowing under heavy DE cake accumulation and pump startup surges.

• Molded Center Discharge Hub: Injection-molded, chemical-resistant Schedule 80 PVC spud thermo-welded directly to the center of the 38" 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 15.5 to 18.5 lbs (7.0 to 8.4 kg).

• Single Boxed Leaf Shipping Weight: Approximately 23.5 to 27.5 lbs (10.7 to 12.5 kg) in heavy-duty corrugated cartons with perimeter edge and corner protectors.

• Master Pallet Lot (10 to 20 Bare Frames): Approximately 245 to 420 lbs (111 to 191 kg) strapped to an oversized 42" × 54" 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 48" height of the frame along the 38" width, 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 upward evenly across the 38" × 48" face to eliminate wrinkles or bagging (loose fabric over a 4-foot height allows DE cakes to bridge, sag, and slough off under vacuum). Fasten the top closure flap (Velcro seam, clamp bar, or laces) across the 38" 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.