SLUICE WITH AUTOMATIC GATE

Abstract: The invention concerns an under opening automatic sluice with a cylinder shaped gate (1) tilting around a horizontal axis which is positioned in the centre of the shaft (3). The size of the opening of the gate is controlled by one or more floating counterweight(s) (17) which is (are) positioned in (a) housing(s) (18) and which is (are) in open connection with the upper or lower water level. Because the centre of gravity of the gate (1) changes place horizontally with the gate movement, it is possible to maintain a preadjusted level. By adjustment of the bow-formed cylinder wall (2) with respect to shaft (3) it is possible to influence the operation characteristic of the gate.

Description: Sluice with automatic gate. The invention concerns a sluice with an automatic working cylinder shaped gate (1) around a horizontal axis of rotation. The size of the opening of the gate is controlled with one or more floating counterweights (17) which via a transmission mechanism operates the gate movement. Each floating counterweight (17) is positioned in a housing (18) which is in connection either with the upstream (8) or downstream (7)_ water level. Because the centre of gravity of the gate (1) changes place with the gate movement, a differentiated working can be obtained during changing water supplies or discharges. A sector formed gate is known from application EP-A-249558. This gate is dependant on an adequate difference of the level to obtain the necessary vacuum to allow regulation. Because the adjustment openings are in direct contact with the outside water they can easily be choked. The invention provides a reliable and simple gate (1) with special advantageous properties with regard to the quantities of water to be passed. This is obtained by making use of a cylinder formed gate (1) wich can rotate on a horizontal axis. The gate opens on the underside and is adjusted with the help of a floating counterweight (17). Through adjustment of the bow-formed cylinder wall (2) with respect to the axis of rotation of the gate (1), it is possible with the help of the resultant (34) of the hydrostatic forces to influence the characteristic of the gate (1) . The invention is described with the use of drawings which include the following: fig. 1 shows a section of the gate lengthways to the water¬ course seen according to letters B-B from fig. 2. fig. 2 shows a cross section of the gate as seen according to letters A-A from fig. 1. fig. 3 shows the construction in the case of regulation being dependant on the upstream water level, fig. 4 shows the construction of the adjustable cylinder wall . The gate (1) consists of a bent plate (2) in the form of a part of a cylinder, named cylindrical wall (2), which is fixed to a revolving horizontal shaft (3) mounted in bearings (4). The centerline of the cylindrical wall (2) lies in or close to the rotating shaft (3). The gate (1) can be fitted with a plating (5). This plating is fitted with openings (6) in order to have an open connection between the space in the gate (1) with the downstream water level (7). The gate (1) has such a diameter that the gate is on level with or above that of the highest acceptable or allowable upstream water level (8). On the bottom of the watercourse (9) is a threshold (10) placed, against which the under edge (11) of the gate (1) can strike. The watercourse on the spot of the gate is bordered by two vertical walls (12), (13). A bridge (14) connects both walls. The gate (1) is sidelong sealed with two plates (15), which connect the shaft (3) with the cylindrical wall (2). Sealing strips (16) form the seal between the vertical walls (12), (13) and the gate (1). The floating counterweight (17) is suspended in a housing (18) with an inspection trap (19). The shaft (3) extends beyond the wall of the housing (18) and is fitted with a disk (20) . The disk (20) is driven with the help of a cable (21) by disk (22). Disk (22) is permanently fitted up to shaft (23) which is mounted in bearings (24). On shaft (23) is fitted up a disk (25) which is to be connected with a disk (26) which is permanently fitted up to the shaft (23) . The floating counterweight (17) is fixed to disk (25) by means of a cable (27) . The opening (28) connects the housing (18) with the downstream level (7). The transmission between disk (22) and (20) can also be achieved by a chain or roothed belt. Because of the asymmetrical form of the gate (1) the centre of the gravity of the gate (1) will lay somewhere between the cylindrical wall (2) and the shaft (3). The weight of the gate (1) will cause it to close. Because of the cylinder form of the wall (2), the resultant of the hydrostatic forces will be going through the axis of the gate (1) and by that not cause a couple on the gate (1). The floating counterweight (17) is through disks (25), (26), (22) and (20) and via shaft (23) and cables (27) and (21) joined to the shaft (3) of the gate (1). By adjustment of the coupling between disk (25) and (26), the floating counterweight (17) can be pulled so far out of the water that the gate (1) becomes balanced. When the downstream water level (7) falls, the floating counterweight (17) will open the gate (1) allowing water to flow from upstream level to downstream level. During the opening of the gate (1) the centre of gravity of the gate (1) will move in horizontal direction towards the axis of rotation by which the inbalance of the gate reduces and the floating counterweight opens the gate (1) still further. In this way during a continuing, though small lowering of the water level, the gate (1) will progressively open and adjust itself thus to a new position of balance. The adjustment for the downstream water level (7) takes place by a coupling between disk (25) and (26). The adjustment can take place for example with a (not drawn) worm/wormwheel transmission. The gate adjustment is dependant on the diameter relations of the cable/disks (20), (22) and (25). In figure 3 a construction is shown in case of the upstream water level (8) is used to determine the opening of the gate (1). The floating counterweight (17) is connected to a strut (35) to which two cable connectors (36) are fixed. On the shaft (23) is a disk (37) which is adjustible connected with disk (26). Between the cable connectors (36) is a cable (38) tightened and fixed around disk (37) and fixed with it slip-free. The flanges (39) serves to lead the strut (35). The floating counterweight (17) is pushed so. far in the water, that its floating power compensate the inbalance of the gate (1). When the upstream water level (8) rises, the floating counterweight (17) wil open the gate (1). The cable construction as here described can also be achieved with a toothed bar or toothed belt. In figure 4 a variant is shown. It is possible with this to alter the characteristics of the sluice during operation. The wall (2) is hingeing fixed to the plating (5) with hinge (29). At (30) is an adjustment mechanism with hinge points (31) and (32). Through a movement of the centerline of the cylinder to (33) the resultant of the hydrostatic forces (34) on the gate (1) will co-operate to open the gate. This means that the upstream water level (8) influences the operating of the gate too. During a large water supply, the increased upstream water level (8) will open the gate (1) further. This design makes it possible to maintain a nearly constant water level difference between downstream (7) and upstream water level (8) . The simple form of the threshold (10) and gate (1) prevents accumulation of dirt and obstructions. It is not necessary to fit grates, through which maintenance reduces, and the reliability increases.

Claims: Claims . Claim 1. Sluice with automatic working gate (1) characterised in that the wall (2) of the, on a horizontal axis tilting, under opening gate (1) consists of a part of a cylinder by which the centerline of the cylinder is situated close to the axis of rotation and having its convex side of the cylinder wall (2) faced the upstream water level (8) and the gate (1) is held in balance by a, via an adjustable transmission mechanism with the gate (1) connected, floating counterweight (17) and that through the level differences in the housing (18) where the floating counterweight (17) is positioned, the gate (1) is adjusted. Claim 2. Sluice with automatic working gate (1) according to claim 1. , characterised in that the cylinder wall (2) is hingeable on the underside and is adjustable with an adjustment mechanism. Claim 3. Sluice with automatic working gate (1) according to claim 1. and 2., characterised in that one or more floating counterweight(s) (17) is (are) situated in a housing (18) which is in connection with the downstream water level (7) . Claim 4. Sluice with automatic working gate (1) according to claim 1., 2. and 3. characterised in that one or more floating counterweight(s) (17) is (are) situated in a housing (18) which is in connection with the upstream water level (8). Claim 5. Sluice with automatic working gate (1) according to claim 1., 2., 3. and 4., characterised in that the cylinder wall (2) is less than a half a cylinder and that the centre of gravity of the gate construction is situated between the cylinder wall (2) and the shaft (3).

Inventors: DE WIT WILHELMUS GIJSBERTUS JO, DE WIT, WILHELMUS, GIJSBERTUS, JOZEF
Applicants: WATERSCHAP KROMME RIJN
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E02B7
IPC codes: E02B7