PROVEMENTS IN LOCK GATES AND CAISSIONS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Percy Graham Buchanan Westmacott, of Elswick,
in the County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for the Invention of
PROVEMENTS IN LOCK GATES AND CAISSIONS."
66
IM-
Sealed the 16th October 1874, and dated the 9th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Percy Graham
Buchanan Westmacott at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th May 1874.
I, PERCY GRAHAM BUCHANAN WESTMACOTT, of Elswick, in the>
County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCK GATES AND CAISSONS," to be as
follows:
This Invention consists in an improved system of construction of lock
gates and caissons from wood.
When using wood for forming lock gates I construct the gates of
vertical balks or planks of timber, which are fitted together side by side
to form a gate of an arched form. The balks or planks are cut so that
their sides radiate as nearly as possible to the centre of the circular arc

page_text: to which the gate is formed, and the balks or planks are fastened
one to the other by screw bolts or barbed spikes passed sidewise through
them. The balks or planks of timber having been cut to the requisite
shape, and having had the holes for the screw bolts bored into
them at the spots required by the aid of templates, are afterwards where
required impregnated with creosote to preserve them, and are then
fastened up to one another as above described; each balk or plank as it
is put up into its place being screwed or spiked up tightly against the
balk or plank next to it by means of the screw bolts or barbed spikes in
order to form a water-tight joint between them to and take off all spring]
from the timbers. At the concave back of the gate horizontal beams,
either of wood, or metal, or a combination, may be fixed if desired.
The gate may also be provided with a strut or hanging tie, or both.
By thus constructing a timber gate there are no bolt holes passing
inwards from the convex face of the gate, and tight joints are secured ]
between the several upright balks or planks as they fit together, like the
staves of a cask, and are drawn into close contact with one another
by the screw bolts, as above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said Percy Graham Buchanan Westmacott in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 9th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PERCY
GRAHAM BUCHANAN WESTMACOTT, of Elswick, in the County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto the said Percy Graham Buchanan Westmacott, Her a
special license, that I, the said Percy Graham Buchanan Westmacott,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Percy Graham Buchanan Westmacott, my executors, administrators,
-

page_text: Figure 1 is an elevation of the gate; Figure 2, a plan view; Figure 3,.
a horizontal section; and Figures 4 and 5, vertical sections of the
same.
a, a, are the vertical balks or planks, connected together in the
manner above described; two sets or layers of balks, fixed one over the
other, are shewn in the Drawings, but this may be varied, and either
a single layer or more layers may be employed; b, b, is an iron frame-
work for strengthening the back of the gate; and c, c, are rollers for
supporting the gate at its outer end. By thus constructing a timber
gate there are no bolt holes passing inwards from the convex face of
the gate, and tight joints are secured between the several upright balks
or planks as they fit together like the staves of a cask and are drawn
into close contact with one another by the screw bolts, as above
described. The pressure of water upon the gates will also tend to
tighten these joints.
Caissons may be similarly constructed. I by preference form them
of two arched sides, each built up in the manner described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim tho
construction of lock gates and caissons, as herein-before. described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Percy Graham Buchanan West-
macott, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day
of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight.
hundred and seventy-four.