IMPROVEMENTS IN GULLEYS OR TRAPS FOR DRAINS, AND IN THE MODE OF CASTING THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Armstrong at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1877.
THOMAS ARMSTRONG, of 5, South Crescent Chambers, Liverpool, and of Broad-
heath, in the County of Chester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GULLEYS OR TRAPS FOR
DRAINS, AND IN THE MODE OF CASTING THE SAME."
In gulley traps as ordinarily constructed they have to be cored out in casting, the
water lute arranged by burning in the diaphragms, which leave it very weak.
Now my Invention is designed with a view to cheapness in casting, and after
efficiency.
It consists,-
Ist. In a gulley with a sloping bottom, on which I place, occupying about half its
area, a tank suspended preferably from above, and not coming down to the bottom
of the tank, but only to about the level of the outlet. Below the grid I place two
sloping loose edges, projecting from the sides. One of them entirely covers the
space not occupied by the tank, and sloping down dips into the tank. It can be
hinged to the upper end. The other ledge is placed merely to keep the water from
being seen, and can if desirable be made a portion of the tank itself. The grid I
form touching the sides at the four corners only, and bevel these slightly, so that it
cannot easily stick fast. It covers the entire area of the gulley, with the exception
of the narrow slits or entrance spaces in and around it. Over the exit pipe I cast a
projecting ledge, dipping obliquely downward into the water to act as a trap; this
I call the water lute.
2nd. My Invention consists also in the manner of casting the gulley. The box is
a simple green sand casting, without core, there being no projecting pieces cast or
burnt on, except the water lute above described, and which has a separate pattern
withdrawn obliquely from the sand, leaving its own core as the exit spout, which
can be cast fast in a three-part box or otherwise.
As in casting large gulleys the casting is very apt to crack and give way through
shrinking round a solid core. I form the interior green sand filling in the following
manner :-I construct a pattern of such shape and dimensions that when placed in
the centre of the box there will be a clear space of about three inches all round it. I
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page_text: ram in the sand all round this pattern, which has projecting lugs on the top, and when
well rammed draw the pattern, and place a cast-iron plate over the hollow, with
lugs fitting the spaces left by the pattern's lugs. I now ram in and complete the
mould in the usual manner. When cast the hollow coreing of green sand allows of
any amount of contraction. When in use the hinged ledge carries all the drip into
the tank, where it settles. From this it overflows into the covered portion, from
which it escapes by means of the exit pipe in such manner that the lowest point of
the exit is higher than the bottom of the water lute, thus forming a trap.
I place a flap or clack valve on the exit pipe when desirable to prevent the
entrance of flood water.
I prefer to suspend the tank to the top of the gulley by three hooks, one on the
side and two at each end.