Improvements in or connected with Swimming Baths.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 25th Sept., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Swimming Baths.
I, ALFRED HESSELL TILTMAN, Architect, of 6 John Street, Bedford Row, in
the County of London, 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 invention has for its object an improved construction and arrangement of
trough or channel for carrying off the scum water of swimming baths.
Heretofore a metal scum trough has been fixed to the exterior of the masonry of
a swimming bath so as to project therefrom, which was unsightly, inconvenient,
liable to foul, and to cause and receive damage.
According to my invention I construct the scum trough or channel preferably of
earthenware built into the substance of the bath masonry and flush with the face of
the latter with the exception, if desired, of an ornamental nosing.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a face view of part of a swimming bath wall and Fig. 2 is a cross
section of the same drawn on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
a is the ordinary wall masonry and b is a scum channel or trough constructed
preferably of earthenware in suitable lengths and built into the substance of the
wall so as to be flush with the face thereof except so far as the nosing b¹ is
concerned. On the front lip of the trough or channel are placed, at convenient
distances apart, corbels c, which are preferably of V shape on their front edge so
as to form a kind of cut-water and thereby prevent splashing. These corbels
support the front edge of earthenware or stone slabs d which support the top course
or courses of masonry; the rear edge of these stone or earthenware slabs rest, on
masonry built partly on the rear lip of the trough and preferably flush with the
internal face of the latter; the wall masonry is built to a suitable height above the
slabs and the upper surface thereof is finished in any ordinary or convenient
manner; in the drawing the front portion of the upper surface is shown formed of
cement or stone slabs e while the other part of such surface is of tiling f. By the
use of the corbels c, slabs d and masonry above the rear lip of the trough or
channel b, a space is formed above the latter into which the scum water can freely
enter through the spaces between the corbels c.
To drain the trough or channel b one or more of the sections of the latter may
be formed with an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, in which case said
opening is connected, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, with a trap communi-
cating with a suitable outflow pipe; or if desired the trough or channel 6 may
communicate at one or both ends with an outflow pipe or channel.
By these means I obtain a cleanly and neat construction of scum trough or
channel, devoid of inconvenience and secure against causing or receiving injury.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1. The peculiar construction and arrangement of scum trough or channel for a
swimming bath substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A swimming bath scum trough or channel consisting of lengths of a suitable
section built into the masonry of the bath so as to leave a longitudinal space in
said masonry above said trough or channel and spaces in the front of said masonry

page_text: for the passage of the scum water from the bath to the trough or channel,
substantially as herein shown and described.
3. A swimming bath scum trough or channel consisting of lengths of earthenware
of the required section, a longitudinal space above said trough or channel, and
spaces in the front of the wall communicating with said longitudinal space formed
by corbels resting on front lip of trough or channel, and slabs supported by said
corbels at the front and by masonry at the rear, substantially as herein shown and
.described.
Dated this 24th day of August 1895.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.