An Improved Self-acting Flood-gate.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Self-acting Flood-gate.
JOHN MOSS FLETCHER of Cheadle, in the County of Chester, Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A door, gate or similar and suitable contrivance for the purpose of damming up
water in brooks, rivers, reservoirs cisterns or other apparatus wherein liquids are retained,
which contrivance is provided with hinges, suitably adjusted, so that it shall turn
when and how required; also with a slot, holes or similar arrangement near the top
or upper part of said gate for regulating the overflow or flood-flow, when the
impounded water or other liquid is above it's normal height.
A telegraphic arrangement is connected with the apparatus to give notice when it
is in motion.
Dated this 28th day of June 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Self-acting Flood-gate.
I, JOHN MOSS FLETCHER, of Cheadle, in the County of Chester, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention consists of a door, gate or similar contrivance, suitably mounted upon
horizontal pivots, for the purpose of damming up water in brooks, rivers, reservoirs,
and the like; and which contrivance is suitably adjusted, so that it may turn auto-
matically upon its pivots, in case of the water rising above a specified level, and
afterwards close itself when the extra flow has ceased.
The gate is formed with a slot or other opening or openings near the upper part,
for regulating and securing the water level at its normal height. When the
impounded water rises considerably above its, usual height the gate turns bodily
upon its horizontal axis, and, in this position, offers no appreciable impediment to
the escape of the water." A telegraphic or electric arrangement may be connected
with the apparatus to give notice when the gate has turned upon its pivots.
My invention is also applicable to cisterns, or other apparatus wherein liquids are
retained, and which require to be drawn off periodically, or in given quantities.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved flood-gate; Fig. 2 is a perspective'
view of a conduit or channel having my improved flood-gate applied and shown in
section in the closed position; and Fig. 3 shows the same channel with the flood-gate
open.
As illustrated, my invention consists of a door, gate, or similar contrivance a, con-
structed of wood, iron, or other suitable material, and having projecting at each side a
metallic trunnion or pivot b, which forms the horizontal axis upon which the gate turns
in opening and closing. These pivots work in suitable sockets or bearings. c is an
opening or aperture formed through the gate, near the upper part thereof, as shown,
and which may be fitted with a sliding door d for regulating the area of the opening
by means of the bolt and nut e. This opening c controls the normal overflow, and
regulates the height or level at which the water (marked g) is kept impounded or
dammed up. Weights ff are fitted to the lower end of the gate to assist its
return to the vertical position, when the water level is lowered to its normal height.
DQ77

page_text: In order to impart stability to the gate, and prevent oscillation, when in the
position shown in Fig. 3, the upper edge a! of the gate is curved, as shown in the
drawings. The flowing water impinges against this curved portion, and keeps
the gate steadily in the position shown in Fig. 3, until the water level is sufficiently
reduced to allow the gate to return to a vertical position.
The action of my improved self-acting flood-gate may be described as follows:-
So long as the water g, impounded by the swing gate, does not rise higher than the
overflow opening c, the gate a remains in the closed position indicated in Fig. 2;
but should the water rise in the conduit, say for instance in case of a storm or flood
occurring, and, as a consequence, the centre of pressure of the water on the area of
the gate above the pivots, be raised to such a height as to overcome the pressure
upon the area below the pivots; the gate a would then immediately revolve upon its
horizontal axis, and assume the position indicated in Fig. 3; and so permit the storm
or flood water to pass freely, without material obstruction. This would continue
until the flood had been so far reduced as to lower the level of the water again to
its normal height, when, the pressure being relieved above the pivots, the gate
would automatically close again.
It will thus be observed that my improved.flood-gate is not only automatic in
its action, by opening. when releasing storm water, but also by closing when the
water has regained its normal level.
his a draw gate, which is held in position by suitable guides at each end.
Hooks are fitted to this gate, whereby it can be raised when silted up, to allow the
water to scour away the obstruction.
By having an electric "tell-tale" arrangement notice may be given of the rising
of the water and precautions may be taken in advance to guard against a flood.
Protection to fisheries.-By the use of this flood-gate, rivers in mountainous
districts may in time of drought be kept with pools for every mile or so of their
length, which pools will harbour the spawning and other fish, and protect them from
the river poacher and other enemies.
Fish passes. This automatic apparatus may also be used as a fish-pass in salmon
rivers, allowing fish to pass up with the greatest ease in times of flood, and out of
sight of man, and the water gate can be made to work artificially, viz.: by lowering
the door d, thereby closing the aperture c, and causing the gate to work whenever
the water is at a certain defined height, when the gate would tilt, and the fish pass
up stream under it.
Although only hereinbefore described as a flood-gate, it will be obvious that the
same principle is applicable to cisterns for various sanitary purposes; for instance,
it may be used for automatically emptying a cistern once in every five minutes or
other stated period, so as to send a flush of water down a drain, sewer, or urinal;
and other similar operations. For breweries and other establishments where large
quantities of fluids are in constant use, it may be utilised, as, for instance, in a
cooling vat of 1000 gallons capacity, it may be so arranged as to open at any increase
over the 1000 gallons, one side ringing an electric bell, to draw the attention of the
attendant, the other ringing a bell in the clerk's office, and dropping a disc indicating
that (say) No. 2 vat was emptying itself, and had stopped the outflow from No. 1
vat into it, thus checking quantities; and being capable of acting in various other
useful ways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is =
1. The improved construction and arrangement of self-acting flood-gate, mounted
and operating substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated by the
drawings.
2. In a self-acting flood-gate, the employment of horizontal axes, in combination
with an aperture capable of heing regulated, all mounted and operating substantially.
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.

page_text: 3. In combination with a self-acting flood-gate as aforesaid, the application and
use of an electric tell-tale substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore.
described.
4. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of an improved self-acting flood-gate,.
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
T
Local ML1000
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for Applicant..