Improvements in Floor Drains.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1897
Improvements in Floor Drains.
I, HERBERT PRENTICE CRANE, late of 2635 Michigan Avenue, in the City of
Chicago, in the County of Cook, now of St. Charles in the County of Kane and
State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction of floor
drains, applicable for use in animal stalls, wash-rooms of carriage houses and
for the floors of bottling etablishments, and in all situations where it is desired
to have a floor capable of draining liquids while leaving the upper or tread
surface of the floor comparatively dry.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a supporting frame, preferably of
cast-iron, which may be made in a single piece or section, large enough for an
animal stall or in sections of any size, joined together where it is to he used
to cover larger areas. Said skeleton frame has its upper surface provided with
longitudinal ribs which are comparatively thin, and between which are provided
grooves or channels of gradually increasing depth, all of the grooves or channels
having an outlet at their deeper ends into a common drain or gutter.
ends of this cast-iron frame work are elevated and are provided with spacing
lugs, between which are placed slats, said slats being arranged above and resting
upon the ribs defining the gutters. One end of the cast-iron frame work may
also be provided with end stops to prevent the displacement of the slats.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a plan view of the metallic frame work.
The
Figure 2 is an elevation in longitudinal section through the metallic frame
work and showing the abutting floor covering broken away.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 3-3, looking in the
direction of the arrow.
In the drawings, A represents the body of a cast-iron frame work or bed, which
may be of any suitable form or size and as shown, is rectangular in form and
intended to be of such size as to adapt it for use in a horse stall; said body
portion has its under surface hollowed out to reduce its weight and cost and its
upper surface provided with a series of longitudinal ribs B. At the upper end,
the body portion is provided with the transverse ledge or rest 1 having the pro-
jecting lugs & thereon. The opposite end of the body portion has the ledge E
with horizontal slots or perforations E, the end stripe and the spacing lugs e¹.
It will be observed that the lugs d and el are arranged at equal distances from
each other and intermediate the ribs B. F represents the slats which may be
strips of wood of appropriate width and length, which are placed between the
lugs, and rest upon the upper edges of the ribs and upon the ledges D and E.
By this means these slats are prevented from movement laterally or endwise in
one direction, while to securely hold them from endwise movement in the opposite
direction, the flooring G may be made to abut against them.
This frame work when placed in a stall may be inset in the surface of a lower

page_text: floor or sheathing, or a bed of concrete H, or notched into the upper edges of
floor joists, and the flooring G and G¹ will project over the frame work so as
to hold it in place and provide a level surface, slatted above the frame work,
and the latter providing parallel channels all discharging through the slots E¹
into a common gutter or drain I. In order to prevent the slats from being dis-
placed by use, a rod or rods J may be employed, extending through the series
of slats and binding them together.
For covering extended surfaces or floor areas, a number of these slatted frames
may be employed, and for a carriage house, a series of them may be arranged to
discharge to a depressed drain occupying a central position in the floor. The
arrangement of the section is, of course, to be determined in each case by the
use to which the invention is applied, by the extent of the surface to be covered
and by other conditions of use, none of which are essential features of my
invention.
My invention will be found especially adapted for use in horse stalls. The
slats are removably placed and may be turned over when worn and also reversed
or turned end for end, so that the same slat may be used in a number of different
positions, thus prolonging its usefulness. By this means also the surface of the
stall may be level. The slats are given an adequate support at their ends and
throughout their length, but are kept supported above and out of contact with
the liquids beneath so that they are preserved from decay.
a
It may be found expedient to alter the specific details of construction. For
example, the ribs B might be provided with intermediate lugs 6 affording
broader bearing for the middle portion of the slats, although I do not consider
this essential. The end strip e may be omitted when the flooring projects over
upon the ledge E, as shown in Figure 2. The material of the frame may be
other than that specified, for example, concrete, moulded to form and provided
with the end rests and longitudinal ribs. The frame should be of a material
impervious to moisture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A floor drain comprising in combination a metal frame having longitudinal
ribs on its upper surface providing channels between them, and transverse ledges
at its ends whose upper surfaces are in the plane of the bearing edges of the ribs,
spacing lugs on the ledges and slats resting at their ends upon the ledges between
the lugs, the bodies of said slats being supported upon the upper edges of the
longitudinal ribs, substantially as described.
2. A floor drain comprising in combination a metal frame having an inclined
upper surface and integral longitudinal parallel ribs upon said surface, pro-
viding channels of gradually increasing depth from end to end, transverse ledges
at its ends whose upper surfaces are in the plane of the bearing edges of the
ribs, the said ribs affording at their deeper ends, a seat for the lower ledge, and
thereby forming, in combination with the ledge and bottom, openings for the
escape of the liquids, lugs on said ledges alternating in position with the ribs,
and slats resting at their ends between said lugs and upon said ledges, and adapted
to bear throughout their length upon the ribs, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.