Mermade 39" x 50" Bottom Outlet (Keene-Bowser Replacement), Leaf Only

The Mer-Made 39" × 50" Bottom Outlet (Keene-Bowser Replacement) — Leaf Only (also cataloged as the Bare Leaf, Skeleton, or Core Assembly) includes the fully assembled rigid structural frame, internal high-flow drainage grid, and welded bottom-discharge hub, excluding the fabric filter jacket (cover) and felt compression sealing collar.

This configuration is engineered for large-format commercial and municipal vacuum DE filter pits retrofitting legacy Keene-Bowser (Bowser-Briggs / Keene Corporation) installations. It is specified when existing cloth covers are being transferred or sourced from bulk stock, or when replacing cracked, warped, or calcified PVC frames while maintaining the existing filtration footprint.

Technical Specifications & Scope of Delivery

• Internal open-matrix polypropylene or ABS high-flow drainage grid core

• Molded, gusset-reinforced bottom discharge hub with integral stop shoulder | | Excluded Components | • Fabric filter jacket / cloth bag (Cover Only)

• Top closure hardware / ties

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

Structural Design & Internal Core

• High-Flow Drainage Matrix: A heavy-gauge, open-profile polypropylene or ABS drainage core with rigid cross-ribs. It withstands deep vacuum loads (up to 15" Hg) without deflecting inward or pinching the internal channels, allowing unobstructed effluent flow from the upper 50" corners directly down to the bottom outlet.

• Perimeter Framing: Extruded rigid CPVC/PVC outer border channel with reinforced, solvent- or hot-gas-welded mitered corners. Designed to resist diagonal racking, twist, and bowing under hydraulic turbulence in large surge vaults.

• Gusseted Bottom Discharge Hub: An injection-molded, chemical-resistant PVC spud welded into the bottom rail. Includes an integral stop shoulder to establish positive seat depth within the Keene-Bowser manifold receiver and maintain correct compression on the felt collar.

Physical Dimensions & Weight Estimates

• Individual Bare Leaf Net Weight: Approximately 17.0 to 20.5 lbs (7.7 to 9.3 kg).

• Single Boxed Leaf Shipping Weight: Approximately 25.0 to 30.0 lbs (11.3 to 13.6 kg) in heavy-duty oversized corrugated packaging with corner edge protectors.

• Master Pallet Lot (10 to 20 Bare Frames): Approximately 280 to 460 lbs (127 to 209 kg) freight-strapped to an oversized 44" × 56" wooden pallet.

Field Clothing & Installation Steps

1. Frame Surface Check: Inspect the bare grid faces and perimeter channel borders for transport cracks, burrs, or rough weld beads that could tear replacement fabric during installation.

2. Sleeving the Jacket: Slide the open envelope of the replacement cloth bag over the top of the frame, pulling it downward evenly toward the 39" bottom rail.

3. Aligning Bottom Spud: Guide the bottom discharge hub through the reinforced cutout opening at the base of the bag, ensuring the fabric sits flush against the molded locating shoulder without bunching.

4. Tensioning & Closure: Pull the bag taut across the 39" × 50" face from both sides to eliminate loose fabric or wrinkles (loose cloth allows DE cakes to bridge and crack under suction). Secure the top closure flap (Velcro seam or clamp bar).

5. Seating in Manifold: Slide a new felt compression collar over the bottom spud against the locating stop shoulder. Lower the assembly vertically into the Keene-Bowser floor manifold receiver and tighten the overhead tie-down channel.