IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LOCKS AND LOCK-GATES FOR CANALS OR OTHER WATER CHANNELS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine Lake
and Co, Patent Agents Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LOCKS AND LOCK-GATES FOR CANALS
OR OTHER WATER CHANNELS" communicated to him from abroad by Louis
Coiseau, of Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1883.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LOCKS
AND LOCK-GATES FOR CANALS OR OTHER WATER CHANNELS [A communication
to him from abroad by Louis Coiseau, of Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Engineer]
The manipulation of lock-gates, whether of iron or wood is often rendered
difficult for the following two reasons viz:-First the resistance which is offered
to their movement by the mud or sand of the floor, which resistance in many
cases causes the raising of the level of the floor when the requirements of
navigation on the contrary render a lowering thereof necessary. Secondly the
pressure exerted by the gates upon the collars of the pivot, which pressure is in
proportion to the size of the opening of the lock.
Heretofore various means have been adopted to remedy these defects, for
instance for the first case, dredging by means of steam dredgers and more frequently
by hand which means are very expensive and slow; and, for the second case,
either converting the sliding or frictional strains on the collars around the pivot
into rolling strains by introducing in them small friction rollers; adding, a bearing
roller in the mitre post or meeting post; or trying with iron gates to keep a part
of the said gates water-tight
All these means answer the purpose very well in general at the commencement
but after a certain time of use the iron gates become filled with water and the
lock-keepers have neither the time nor the power to keep them dry. Then the

page_text: joints open and the roller of the mitre post bears all the weight. Sand or other
material in some cases enters around the axis of the roller, the latter will no
longer turn, and the manipulation of the gate is rendered very difficult if not
impossible.
For wooden gates the difference between the specific gravity of the wood and
the water helps to reduce the friction on the collar at the commencement, but,
after a certain time the gate becomes impregnated with water and this difference
disappears entirely. Then the collar bears all the weight and the manipulation of
the gate becomes as difficult as with the iron gates
The present invention has for its object to remedy these two defects in the
manner hereinafter described, that is to say ;-
Firstly, as regards the mud and sand, by establishing in each gate of the lock a
pipe at the lower part thereof, either in the interior or on the exterior and parallel
with the bottom cross-piece, and making in the pipe openings directed towards the
floor. This pipe rises vertically along the heel post or quoin post and is in
communication with a machine for compressing air.
When the lock gate is opened, if the floor is covered with mud or sand it is only
necessary to cause the compressor to operate and immediately the air, escaping by
the openings made in the lower pipe, segregates the mud or the sand and places
the same in suspension in the water. The gate may then be operated easily.
It is evident that the lock chamber channels, and the chambers of the gate, can
be cleared, in the same manner, of mud or sand by combining therewith pipes in
communication with the compressor.
Secondly. As regards the friction upon the collar of the pivot, resulting from the
weight of the gate and the water which it may contain when it is of iron, I
remedy the said defect by the employment of compressed air for forcing the water
from one of the chambers, placed in such a manner that the displacement effected
will cause the gate to be in equilibrium.
In the case of wooden gates it is only necessary to add to them air-boxes or
casings for the purpose specified.
The employment of compressed air for forcing the water from the interior of
the gates has a very marked advantage over pumping it out; whatever be the size
of the aperture whereby the water enters the gates, and whatever be the depth of
the same under water, it is always possible to prevent the entrance of water
thereby, because the compressed air forces down the water as far as the level of
the aperture, whilst by suction the water would not be caused to change its level,
if the pump employed could not draw more than the aperture admitted.
Nearly all the gates heretofore made are furnished with hydraulic apparatus
distributing the power for operating the gates, bridges, capstans, or the like. The
adjunction of a compressor for facilitating the manipulation of the lock-gates will
not present any difficulty.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th October 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings; London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LOCKS
AND LOCK-GATES FOR CANALS OR OTHER WATER CHANNELS."-a communication
to me from abroad by Louis Coiseau, of Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Engineer.
The manipulation of lock-gates, whether of iron or wood, is often rendered
difficult for the following two reasons, vie:-Firstly, the resistance which is offered
to their movement by the mud or sand of the floor, which resistance in many cases,
causes the raising of the level of the floor when the requirements of navigation on
the contrary render a lowering thereof necessary. Secondly the pressure exerted by
the gates upon the collars of the pivot, which pressure is in proportion to the size
of the opening of the lock.
Heretofore various means have been adopted to remedy these defects, for instance,
for the first case, dredging by means of steam dredges and more frequently by
hand, which means are very expensive and slow; and for the second case either
converting the sliding or frictional strains on the collars around the pivot into
rolling strains, by introducing into them small friction rollers; adding a bearing
roller in the mitre post or meeting post; or trying, with iron gates, to keep a part
of the said gates water-tight.
All these means answer the purpose very well, in general, at the commencement,
but after a certain period of use, the iron gates become filled with water and the
lock-keepers have neither the time nor the power to keep them dry. Then the
joints open and the roller of the mitre post bears all the weight. Sand or other
material in some cases enters around the axis of the roller, the latter will no longer
turn, and the manipulation of the gate is rendered very difficult, if not impossible.
For wooden gates, the difference in the specific gravity of the wood and the
water helps to reduce the friction on the collar at the commencement, but, after
a certain time, the gate becomes impregnated with water, and this difference
disappears entirely. Then the collar bears all the weight, and the manipulation of
the gate becomes as difficult as with the iron gates.
The said invention may be applied to remedy these defects in the manner herein-
after described, that is to say:-Firstly as regards the mud and sand, by fitting a pipe
in the lower part of each gate of the lock, either in the interior or on the exterior
thereof and parallel with the bottom cross-piece, and making in the pipe openings
directed towards the floor of the lock. This pipe rises vertically, along the heck
post or quoin post and is in communication with an air-compressor.
When the lock-gate is opened, if the floor is covered with mud or sand, it is only
necessary to cause the compressor to operate and immediately the air, escaping by
the openings made in the lower pipe, disaggregates or separates the mud or sand
and places the same in suspension in the water. The gate may then be operated
easily.
It is evident that the lock-chamber, channels and the chambers of the gate, can
be cleared in the same manner of mud or sand by combining therewith pipes in
communication with the air-compressor.
Secondly, as regards the friction upon the collar of the pivot resulting from the
weight of the gate, and the water which it may contain when it is of iron, I remedy
the said defect by the employment of compressed air, for forcing the water from

page_text: one or more of the chambers of the gate so situated that the displacement effected
will cause the gate to be in equilibrium.
In the case of wooden gates, it is only necessary to add to them air-boxes or
casings for the purpose specified.
The employment of compressed air for forcing the water from the interior of the
gates has a very marked advantage over pumping it out; whatever be the size of
the aperture whereby the water enters the gates, and whatever be the depth of the
same under water, it is always possible to prevent the entrance of water thereby,
because the compressed air forces down the water as far as the level of the aperture,
whilst by suction the water would not be caused to change its level, if the pump
employed could not draw more than the aperture admitted.
Nearly all the gates heretofore made are furnished with hydraulic apparatus
distributing the power for operating the gates, bridges, capstans or the like. The
adjunction of a compressor for facilitating the manipulation of the lock-gates will
not present any difficulty.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a plan showing the application of my invention to locks and
lock-gates.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the same
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a lock-gate with my invention applied thereto.
Figure 4 is a section on the line K, L. Figure 3.
Figure 5, is a section on the line G. H. Figure 3.
a, a, indicate the pipes for the supply of compressed air to the locks or lock-gates,
and b, b, indicate perforated pipes for the delivery of the compressed air. cc indicate
the air-compressors having a reservoir d connected therewith.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign Correspondent and the manner of performning the same I wish it understood
that I Claim.
First. The above described improvements in lock-gates which improvements
consist in fitting within each part of the lock-gate, at its lower end and parallel
with the bottom cross-piece, a pipe perforated with holes directed towards the floor
of the lock, and the introduction into the said pipes of compressed air by means of
an air-compressor on the land, for the purpose specified.
Second. The employment, under the conditions above specified, of compressed air
for removing water from the interior of lock-gates and thereby diminishing the
friction which offers resistance to their manipulation.
Third. The employment of compressed air for the purpose of cleaning the floors
of locks and lock-chambers or channels by means of perforated pipes placed in the
required positions, substantially as set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
WM RORT LAKE (20)