weirplate

From weir +‎ plate.

weirplate (plural weirplates)

1. A metal plate that forms an obstruction to adjust the flow of a weir.
   • 1927, Russell Julius Piltz, Triangular Weir Coefficients and Discharge Tables, page 98:

     Why a difference in temperature between the water and the weirplate should cause the water to spring clear at low heads cannot very well be explained.

   • 1988, Paolo Zannetti, Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies, page 28:

     The final solution adopted was to measure flow indirectly using an ultrasonic level sensor to record depths of discharge over a weirplate set at a level to exclude tidal ingress into the sewerage system.

   • 2011, Robert G. Kunz, Environmental Calculations: A Multimedia Approach:

     The liquid is forced to flow over the restriction, and the effluent flow rate is a function of the measured height of liquid above this sharp-edged obstruction, or weirplate.

2. (by extension) An adjustable plate that controls the amount of liquid held in a chamber of a machine.
   • 1912 January 26, William J. Gee, “A New Process for the Separation and Grading of Solids Suspended in Liquids”, in Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, volume 60, page 282:

     The weirplate at the bottom, inside the drum at F, serves the same purpose as in the machine you have seen — namely, to provide an inner wall of water of the desired thickness within the drum.

   • 1982, Research and Industry, volume 27, page 161:

     The heat of hydration evolved inside the main hydrating chamber evaporates the excess water and the lighter hydrate flows out over an adjustable weirplate as dry powder from the outlet of the finishing chamber.

   • 1993, Vertical-shaft Limekiln Technology, page 50:

     Retention period (generally 25 minutes) available for the reaction between lime and water can be adjusted by varying the height of the weirplate […]