IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RIVER AND OTHER WEIRS AND SLUICE GATES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Wiswall and William Henry Collier, both of
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RIVER AND OTHER WEIRS AND SLUICE GATES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said cis Wiswall and
William Henry Collier at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
6th July 1882.
FRANCIS WISWALL and WILLIAM HENRY COLLIER both of Manchester in the
County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RIVER AND OTHER
WEIRS AND SLUICE GATES
"
The object of this invention is so to construct weirs and sluice gates for navigable
rivers and other purposes that they shall be self acting and open automatically
whenever the water rises above its normal level or above a certain defined limit
and thus allow the water to escape in time of floods, and at the same time to
provide means whereby one or more of the sluice gates of a weir can be opened
from the banks whenever circumstances render it desirable.
A river weir constructed according to our invention consists principally of a
series of rectangular sluice gates extending in a line across the river and capable of
turning or tilting on a common horizontal axis.
When closed the gates are inclined at an angle of about thirty five degrees, and
when open they are suspended in a horizontal plane in a line with their common
axis.
Each gate is independent of all the remainder.
We are aware that it has been proposed to construct a weir of a series of gates
turning on centres but the difficulty of bringing their edges into watertight contact
has hitherto prevented the practical application of the idea.
It is obvious that round three of its edges each gate must make a water-tight
joint and this we effect in the following manner.
The lower edge is made to rest upon a prepared level bed.

page_text: The side edges below the axis rest against projecting flanges or ribs on the
upright piers or frames which support the gates; and the side edges above the axis
are made rather wider and fit edge to edge.
A tie-beam runs from shore to shore and connects all the upright piers together
at the same time that it protects the edges of the sluices, when open, from damage
by floating matter.
The position of the axis of the gates is such that the pressure of the water when
at its normal level keeps them in their inclined or closed position and thus
impounds the water for the purposes of agriculture manufactures, or navigation,
the surplus water flowing over the top or crest of the gates; but as soon as the
level of the water rises above certain defined limits the pressure of the same
against that part of the area of the gates above the centre becomes increased so
that the gates are thereby tilted automatically into the horizontal position and thus
allow of the free flow of the flood water, the backwater below the gates acting in
the reverse direction against that portion of the same below the axis and assisting
in the tilting operation.
It will be evident that as the river bed is quite level and unobstructed by any
sill or chamber there is no tendency to catch silt or other matter in suspension, and
as the edges of the gates are presented to the stream and as there is an absence of
all head gear the water and floating matter is uninterrupted in its passage.
As soon as the flood has subsided and the stream falls to its normal level the
pressure upon the upper part of the sluices becomes reduced and they fall back into
their inclined or closed position - by the joint action of their own weight assisted
by the pressure of the stream on the lower part below the axis.
The automatic action of the sluice gates, though valuable as a safeguard in times
of sudden floods is not always desirable as the sudden discharge of a great body of
water might cause serious erosion of the river banks, we therefore provide draw
chains worked by multiple crabs, whereby any or all of the sluice gates can be
opened at will from the banks and the impounded water thus gradually released.
Each chain is fastened to its own respective gate and passes round guide pulleys
to its own barrel on the multiple crab. And for each chain barrel there is provided
a sliding pinion by means of which it can be thrown into or out of gear with the
first motion shaft to which the handles are attached.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Wiswall & William Henry Collier in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th January 1883.
FRANCIS WISWALL and WILLIAM HENRY COLLIER both of Manchester in the
County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RIVER AND OTHER
WEIRS AND SLUICE GAȚES”
The object of this invention is so to construct weirs and sluice gates for navigable
rivers and other purposes that they shall be self-acting and open automatically
whenever the water rises above its normal level or above a certain defined limit
and thus allow the water to escape in time of floods and at the same time to
provide means whereby one or more of the sluice gates of a weir can be opened
from the banks whenever circumstances render it desirable
Fig. 1.-in the annexed drawing represents a plan view and Fig. 2. an elevation of
a river weir constructed according to our invention the right hand half being
represented as with the sluice gates closed, and the left hand half with the gates
open.
Fig. 3. is a back view of a single sluice or flood gate. Fig. 4 is a front elevation
of a sluice showing part of the tie-beam and three of the upright piers.
Fig. 5. is an enlarged section showing a side view of one of the piers with the
sluice or flood gate closed and the water just flowing over the top. Fig. 6
is a similar view (reversed) with the sluice or flood gate open or in the
horizontal position showing also a front view of the multiple crab. Fig. 7. is a
plan view of the multiple crab (enlarged).
Our improved weir consists principally of a series of rectangular sluice gates a, a
extending in a line across the river and capable of turning or tilting on a common
horizontal axis at b, b (see also enlarged detail views Figs 3 to 7.). When closed
the gates a a are inclined at an angle of about thirty five degrees from the
perpendicular (see Fig. 5) and when open they are suspended in a horizontal plane
in a line with their common axis (see Fig 6.) Each gate is independent of all the
remainder.
We are aware that it has been proposed to construct sluice gates turning on
horizontal centres but the difficulty of bringing their edges into watertight contact
has hitherto prevented the practical application of the idea.
It is obvious that round three of its edges each gate a, a must make a water-
tight joint and this we effect in the following-manner.
•
The lower edge is made to rest upon a prepared level bed c, c
The side edges below the axis rest against projecting flanges or ribs d, d on the
upright piers or frames e, e which support the gates; and the side edges f, fabove
the axis b, b are made rather wider and fit edge to edge.
The side edges of the sluices (below the pivots) are kept water tight by fitting
against the projecting flanges or ribs d, d of the piers, the part immediately round
the pivot being kept tight by the bearing d*, (see Fig. 5) which is of such a depth
and width as to fill up the gap exactly. This is the only point where there is any
friction.
•
A tie beam g, g runs from shore to shore and connects all the upright piers.
together at the same time that it protects the edges of the sluices when open from
damage by floating matter.
The position of the axis of the gates is such that the pressure of the water
whi'st-a' its normal level keeps them in their inclined or closed position (Fig. 5),
"

page_text: and thus impounds the water for the purpose of agriculture manufactures or
navigation, the surplus water flowing over the top or crest of the gates; but as
soon as the level of the water rises above certain defined limits the pressure of the
same against that part of the area of the gates a, a above the centre axis b, b.
becomes increased so that the gates are thereby tilted automatically into the
horizontal position shown at Fig. 6 and thus allow of the free flow of the flood
water, the back water below the gates acting in the reverse direction against that
portion of the same below the axis and assisting in the tilting operation.
-
It will be evident that as the river bed is quite level and unobstructed by any
sill or chamber there is no tendency to catch silt or other matter in suspension, and
as the edges of the gates are presented to-the stream and as there is an absence of
all head gear, the water and all floating matter is uninterrupted in its passage.
: As soon as the flood has subsided and the stream falls to or below its natural
level, the pressure upon the upper part of the sluices becomes reduced, and they
fall back into their inclined or closed position (Fig. 5) by the joint action of their
own weight assisted by the pressure of the stream on the lower part below the
axis. The automatic action of the sluice gates a, a though valuable as a safeguard
in times of sudden floods is not always desirable as the sudden discharge of a great
body of water might under some conditions be objectionable, we therefore provide
draw chains h, h worked by multiple crabs i, i (see also enlarged plan Fig. 7.)
whereby any one or more of the sluice gates can be opened at will from the banks
and the impounded water thus gradually released.
Each chain is fastened to its own respective gate and passes round guide pulleys
to its own barrel on the multiple crab i, i and for each chain barrel there is
provided a sliding pinion by means of which it can be thrown into or out of gear
with the first motion shaft to which the handles k, k are attached. 1, (see Fig. 7.)
are levers by means of which the sliding pinions can be thrown into and out of
gear.
The chain barrel and all the wheels run loose upon their shafts, except the first
motion-pinions which are feather keyed. The horizontal portion, which lies between
the masonry on each side and the last pulley over which it turns to be attached to
the gate, runs in grooves between planking 9*, g* shown in section at Figs 5
and 6 and in plan view at the right hand side in Fig. 1. This middle portion may
be principally in the form of a rod in which case it would be supported upon hard
wood chocks (instead of pulleys) as shown at Fig. 5.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention.
First. The combination with a self acting sluice or flood gate (of the con-
struction herein before referred to) of piers provided with projecting flanges or ribs
placed in a diagonal position against which the sides of the sluices or gates close,
so as to make a water-tight joint, and also of a tie beam or breast beam so placed
as to protect the lower edges of the said sluices (when open) from damage by
floating timber or other bodies, all constructed and arranged substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
Secondly. The construction of a weir by combining together side by side a series
of sluices or floodgates separated by piers provided with projecting flanges or ribs
placed in a diagonal position against which the sides of the sluices or gates close
so as to make a water-tight joint substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
Thirdly. The combination with a weir composed of sluices or gates acting upon
horizontal pivots, of a tie beam or breast beam attached to the piers and so placed
as to protect the edge of the sluices or gates (when open or in the horizontal
position) from damage by floating timber or other bodies substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Fourthly. The combination with the draw chains of a weir, consisting of a series
of sluice gates acting upon horizontal pivots, of a multiple crab wherein each chain

page_text: is connected to its own separate chain barrel, and each chain barrel with its
intermediate gear is provided with a sliding pinion by means of which it can be
thrown into or out of gear with the first motion shaft to which the handles are
attached.
In witness whereof I the said Francis Wiswall (on behalf of myself and the
said William Henry Collier) have hereunto set my hand and seal this
fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty three.
FRANCIS WISWALL (L.S.)