IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUICES AND LOCK GATES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Lawrence and Alfred Lawrence, of
the City Iron Works, Pitfield Street, Old Street Road, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SLUICES AND LOCK GATES."
Scaled the 12th July 1858, and dated the 12th January 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Law-
rence and Alfred Lawrence at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th January 1853.
We, FREDERICK LAWRENCE and ALFRED LAWRENCE, of the City Iron
Works, Pitfield Street, Old Street Road, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SLUICES AND LOCK GATES" to be as follows:-
Heretofore sluices and lock gates have been opened or closed by ma-
chinery proportioned to their size and resistance; in the case of sluices,
the head of water against them retarding the opening.
This Invention consists of arranging apparatus so that the head of
water is made to assist in opening or closing such sluice or gate. To
accomplish this object a piston or pistons is or are connected with the
sluice or gate, against which piston or pistons the head of water acts
when communication is opened with the low level, and which commu-
nication may be regulated in its action by one or more valves. The
raising and lowering of the regulating vaives, and opening or closing

page_text: of the main sluice or gate, is effected by machinery so arranged that
their motions follow one another as may be required. This is accom-
plished by means of a pinion (the axis of which is moveable) with racks
on either side attached to the regulating and main sluice or gate re-
spectively, the upward or downward motion of the pinion producing
double the motion in one or other of the racks as may be necessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Lawrence and Alfred Lawrence in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc,
FREDERICK LAWRENCE and ALFRED LAWRENCE, of the City Iron Works,
Pitfield Street, Old Street Road, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her Reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Frederick Lawrence and Alfred Lawrence, Her
special licence that we, the said Frederick Lawrence and Alfred-Law-
rence, our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Frederick Lawrence and Alfred Lawrence, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no.
others, from time to time and at all times thercreafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN
SLUICES AND LOCK GATES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Frederick Lawrence and Alfred Lawrence, or one of us, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one. of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in- what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent..

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Lawrence, on behalf
of myself and the said Alfred Lawrence, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the samé is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statenient thereof, that is to say:
:
This Invention consists of arranging apparatus so that the head of
water is made to assist in opening or closing such sluice or gate. To
accomplish this object a piston or pistons is or are connected with the
sluice or gate, against which piston or pistons the head of water acts'
when communication is opened with the low level, and which commu-i
nication may be regulated in its action by one or more valves.
At present valves, sluices, and lock gates are opened and closed by
means of machinery proportioned to their size and resistance to bo over-
come; and in the case of sluices the greater the head of water the more
powerful must be the macliinery to be used. By the proposed Invention
the water is made to assist in opening and closing the sluices and gates,
so that the power required to raise under a head is no greater than
when there is not a head. The process of opening and closing is thus
much expedited.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew apparatus adapted to a sluice for a culvert,
drain, or any opening. Figure 1, is a cross section of sluice and
machinery; Figure 2, a longitudinal section of same; Figure 3, an
enlarged plan of machinery.
DESCRIPTION.
:
The letters in each Figure refer to the same parts. A, the paddle.
covering the opening B, (made buoyant or balanced as required,) the
upper part being made as a piston nearly fitting the chamber D; C,
partition dividing the chambers D, and E; F, lowering piston connected
with the paddle A, by the rod G, and nearly fitting the chamber E;"
H, channel to the low level,, whicli is made to communicate with the.
chambers D, and E, respectively, by raising or lowering, the small valve:
K, into the positions shewn by the black and red dotted lines; L,
rod connected to small valve by which the raising and lowering is
regulated: The chamber E, communicates with the high level by the
channel M, or by other means..

page_text: The action of the apparatus is a follows:-When the high and low
level waters are the same level, i.e., when there is no head, the buoy-
ancy of the paddle A, enables the sluice to be raised with but little
power; and when there is a head of water, and the sluice is required
to be opened, the small valve being first raised into the position shewn
by the dotted lines, a communication is formed between the chamber
D, and the low level by means of the chaunel H. The pressure on the
top of the paddle piston A, is thus reduced to the low level, while the
pressure on the under side is that of the high level. An upward power
is thus obtained equal to the difference of the two heads, and pro-
portional to the width or projection of the paddle A, which may be
made of such dimensions as the resistance or friction of the sluice sur-
faces and size of opening may require.
The lowering or retarding piston F, having equal pressure on either
side, exerts no power in either direction, but prevents, by its passage
through the water, the too rapid rising of the sluice or paddle A.
In the case of locks the sluice is seldom required to be lowered
until the high and low level have obtained the same level, in which
case the paddle A, can be lowered down with case, the valve K,
resuming its original position. Should, however, it be required to
lower the sluice down under a head, it is accomplished in the following
manner: The small valve K, is lowered into the position shewn by the
red dotted lines in Figure 1. The communication is thus stopped between
the chambers D, and low level; and the high level water rushes through
the spaces between the piston paddle A, and the sides of the chamber
(the piston not being made water-tight), thus producing an equilibrium
of pressures on the upper and lower parts of the paddle A; and at the
.same time, as will be seen by referrin to the Drawings, communication
is made with the under side of the lowering piston F, and the low level
by means of the channel H; and the high level pressing on the top of
the piston F, a lowering power is obtained, and the paddle descends
and closes the opening B, as required.
The machinery attached to the sluice is one of the forms proposed to
be used for sluices of large size, shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3. O, rack
connected to rod L, and small valve K. P, rack attached to large
paddle A. Q, pinion gearing into the racks O, and P, and lowered or

page_text: raised by the winch I, by means of the pinion S, and rack R. v, v, v,
rollers for guiding racks. V, stop to prevent small valve rod rising too
high. V, stop to prevent it being lowered too far.
Supposing there be a head of water against the paddle A, the small
sluice will be easier raised than the large. Accordingly, on raising the
pinion Q by means of the winch I, the rack O and small valve K are
raised into the position shewn by dotted lines on Figure 1, and are pre-
vented from rising higher by the stop V. The communication with the
low level being thus formed, the raising of the large sluice is assisted by
the head of water, as before explained; and small power applied to the
winch I, raises the rack P, and sluice A, into the dotted position.
The lowering is accomplished with similar facility. Should there be
a head, the small sluice lowers first into the position shown by red
dotted lines on Figure 1, and then the large sluice descends, and may
be assisted, if required, by the machinery.
Figure 4, shows a modification of the apparatus adapted to situations
where it is not required to lower the sluice under a head, or where
the head is so small that very little power besides the weight of the sluice
is required.
DESCRIPTION.
A, paddle or sluice, as before, over opening B, nearly fitting chamber
D; K small valve covering channel H, communicating with low level.
The operation is as before. On opening the small valve K. the
pressure on top of the paddle A, is reduced to the low level, and the
pressure of the high head against the under side raises the paddle. On
the heads being brought to the same level, when it is required to lower
the sluice, the weight of the sluice, regulated by the machinery, closes
the opening. The pinion Q acts as in Figure 1, on the racks O and
P, but is raised by a lever and bell crank S, instead of a winch and
pinion, as in Figure 1.
Figs. 7, and 8, shew application of principle to sluices in lock gates.
Figure 7, is a section; Figure 8, an elevation.

page_text: to the paddle by rod D, and working in chamber E. The chamber E
has two openings to the low level at G and F, and also two openings
to the high level at H, and I, covered by two valves or sluices regulated
by the rod K, and lever M.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Should it be required to
raise the large sluice A, the rod K is raised (by hand or by machinery
similar to that shewn in Figures 1, 2, or 4), and brings the lever M;
into the position shewn by the dotted lines, thus raising the lower
sluice I, and forming a communication between the under side of the
piston C, and the high level; and although some water will run out at
the opening to low level F, the opening I, being much larger than F,
will cause a pressure on the under side of piston equal to the high
fevel head or nearly so; and the opening G, communicating with low
level will drain off nearly all the water on the top of the piston C. An
upward power will thus be produced proportional to the head of water
and size of piston C.
In ordinary cases the sluice will not be required to be lowered until
the waters on cach side of gate are of the same level, in which case the,
pressure on C, being removed, the sluice descends by its own weight,
and the small sluice I, resumes its original position.
Should it be required to lower the sluice A, under a head, when of
course power would be required, the rod K is lowered into the position
shewn by red dotted lines, and raises the upper sluice H, the lower one
I, remaining closed. A lowering pressure is thus produced on top of
piston C, while the opening F, drains the water from the under side.
The chamber E, can be fixed between the ribs of-the gate, and placed.
either above the sluice, as shown, or below, as may be most convenient.
Figures 5 and 6, shew application to sluices in pipes or sluice cocks,
where the sluice may be required to hold up water in citlier side.
Figure 5, is a section; Figure 6, a plan: A, is the sluice paddle nourly
fitting at top the chamber B; C, D, openings to the high and low levels
respectively covered with self-acting flap valves; E, small sluice or
valve which when down .covers. both openings C, and D; F; rod for
raising sluices.
Suppose the high level to be on side G, of the paddle, and the low
level on side H, then pressure of water will keep flap C, closed.

page_text: When it is required to raise the sluice, the valve E is first raised;
the water in the chamber B, is thus discharged to the low level through
opening D, reducing the pressure on the top of sluice I, L, to the low
level; and there being a pressure upwards on account of the slanting
form of paddle equal to the high level, and proportional to projection
I, K, the sluice A may be made to ascend with ease by making I, K,
largo enough to overcome friction of surfaces, &c.
To lower the sluice the valve E, is first lowered, which closes the
small opening D, and the chamber B fills with high level water from
leakage at I, thus producing a downward pressure on an area propor-
tional to I, L, and there is only an upward pressure on account of slant
side equal to I, K; hence a downward pressure is obtained equal to
K, L.
The rod F, may either be raised by hand, or by such machinery as
may be required. If the high level be on H side, instead of G, a pre-
cisely similar action takes place. If the high level be always on the
same side of sluice only, the opening to low level is required, and the
flap valves are not needed.
Figures 9, 10, 11, shew apparatus for opening and closing lock gates.
Figure 9, is a general plan; Figure 10, a section of the apparatus ;
Figure 11, plan of same.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGURE 9.
A, apparatus for opening gate E; C, an apparatus for opening gate
F; B, apparatus for closing gate F; D, apparatus for closing gate E;
G, G, pipes from high level communicating with each apparatus; H, H,
pipes to low level communicating with each-apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS.
Figures 10, and 11.
M, circular chamber in which the piston N, fixed to axle O, moves;
K, fixed partition in chamber M; P, pipe from high level; Q, pipe
to low level; R, valve over low level pipe raised by rod S, and screw T;
V, barrel attached to axle O, round which the chain Z attached to the
.

page_text: The action is as follows:-On turning the rod S, the small sluice R
is raised by means of the screw T, and a communication is thus formed
on one side of the piston N, with the low level; and the high level acting
on the other side through pipe P, causes the piston and axle and barrel
V, to revolve in the direction of the arrow, thus winding up the chain
Z, and opening the gate. On lowering the sluice, and opening sluice of
a closing apparatus on the other side of the lock, the gate may be closed
again, and similarly for the other gates, cach gate requiring two
apparatus.
Should the pressure be barely sufficient to open the gato, it can be
assisted by the pinion and spur wheel W, which are attached to the
axle and barrel; since the rod S, after it has raised the valve R, acts
upon the pinion X, as will be seen by referring to Figures 10 and 11.
The above action is on the supposition that the waters at the head
and tail of the lock are of different levels, which is the case with canals;
but in docks the water at the head and tail are sometimes the same
level; in such cases it is necessary to form a communication from the
low level pipe either with a sewer at low level, or with a low reservoir,
which must be discharged when the tide will permit.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Lawrence, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, the Twelfth day of July, in the year of
our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and fifty-threc.
Witness,
FRED HARRIS.
FREDERICK LAWRENCE. (L.S.)