Improvements in Weirs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
Improvements in Weirs.
We, MAX HILLER and MITAR DEMETER CZVETKOVICS, both of 3, Kolingasse,
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a weir which is adapted to be automatically turned
down at high-water.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice, the several figures of the said
drawings being hereinafter referred to.
Referring first to Figure 1 which is a section of a weir constructed according to
our said invention, the body A. is composed of longitudinal beams and transverse
ribs, and is connected by means of a rod D with a sill E let into the bed of a stream.
The lower edge of the body A bears either against a sill G in the bed of the stream
as in Figure or is held by a chain F attached to the sill E.
The height of the point. A where the said rod D and the body A of the weir are
connected is such, that under normal conditions the point of application of the
resultant of the water-pressure exerted upon the weir will be below the aforesaid
point A' and the water pressure will hold the weir upright; but as soon as in
consequence of high-water the point of application of the resultant of the pressure
exerted upon the weir passes above the said point A the weir will turn down to the
position shown in Figure 2, in which it will permit the high-water to flow off
imobstructed.
As difficulties are experienced in putting the weir thus turned down in an upright
position again, it is expedient to construct the weir as represented in Figures 3 to 7.
In this case the body of the weir comprises a lower part A the upper edge of
which is connected by rods D with a sill E let into the bed of the stream, and an
upper part which is pivoted to the upwardly prolonged vertical ribs of the aforesaid
lower part, and consists of two portions B and C which are pivoted together. The
parts A B and C are rendered water-tight in any suitable manner.
As the two portions B and C of the upper part and also the lower part of the
weir can only turn in the opposite direction to that of the pressure of the column of
water, the latter will under normal conditions hold the weir upright. But as soon
as the level of the water has risen to such an extent that the point of application of
the pressure exerted upon the surface of the weir passes above the upper edge of the
lower part A, that is to say above the point A¹ where the weir is connected with
the above mentioned rod D the entire weir will be turned down by the pressure of
the water as in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, and will no longer offer
any obstruction to the water, Figure 4.
In order to raise the turned-down weir again in this case it is merely necessary
to lift by hand the lower portion of the upper part of the weir through the medium
of a hook or the like (Figure 5). The pressure of the running water seizes the
upper part of the weir at the lower side, thereby lifting the whole weir to the
position shown in Figure 6.
In some cases we provide for the purpose of raising the weir a rod X connected
with the lower edge of part A as shown in Figure 5A which may be raised against
the pressure of the water into the position shown in Figure 64 when it is desired to
raise the weir. Then the pressure of the water completes the raising of the weir as
hereinbefore stated.
To the upper part B of the weir is pivoted a rod H. Figures 3 4 5 and 6 the free

page_text: end of which bears upon the bed of the stream whilst its upper end supports the
upper portion of B as indicated in Figure 6 thus preventing the turning of the
upper part of the weir in the wrong direction. In the lifting of the weir the lower
part A of the same passes to such a position that its lower edge will be displaced
by the pressure of the water until it strikes against the above mentioned sill or
until the chain is stretched and the lower part A. is vertical.
A stop on the back of the upper part of the weir holds up the said rods H when
the weir is raised (Figure 3).
The aforesaid rod will in this case bear against the lower part of the weir, and
the upper part of the latter, passing through the horizontal position (Figure 4) will
take up the position represented in Figure 3.
This movement is effected by the pressure of the water when the point of
application of the resultant of the pressure exerted upon the parts B and C sucks below
the joint between parts B and A.. In some cases the rod H may be dispensed with,
and substituting therefor a short chain Y connecting the upper edge of part C with
the vertical ribs of part B as shown in Figures 5 and 6^.
In this arrangement the weir will be automatically turned down if the water rises
above the height which is deemed admissable, and will be raised automatically or
with very little aid if the normal conditions of the water are restored; but the
height of the column of water would not be constant in the case of a mean or low
water-level, but, assuming the sectional area of the space for the passage of the
water to be always the same would depend upon the level of the water, in case this
flap weir did not operate as an overfall weir. For this reason the weir in cases
where great importance is attached to the constancy of the height of the water
column, is constructed so as to constitute an overfall-weir, and the point of the
connection between the lower part A of the weir and the above-mentioned rod D is
placed at such a height that the hydrostatic pressure can effect the turning down of
the weir only when a predetermined maximum height has been reached.
In cases where it may not be practicable to construct the weir as an overfall
weir a constant height of the column of water can be obtained by providing a
bevel K at the lower edge of the weir and placing the weir in an oblique position as
shown in Figure 8.
The pressure of the column of water then tends to raise the weir proportionally
to the level of the water and thus increase the sectional area of the space for the
passage of the excess of water which runs off below the weir so that the height of
the column of water will remain constant. To prevent the weir being raised too
high use may be made of a protecting rack or grid which also retains any material
which may have been carried away, or the lower edge of the lower part A is con-
nected by a small chain with the bed of the stream as shown in Fig. 8. Under
these circumstances the weir when the afflux of water is too great is automatically
turned down, and also subsequently raised, in the manner hereinbefore described. For
regulating the inclination of the flap weir the above mentioned chain F can be
shortened or lengthened by means of an adjusting screw L. On the outside of the
upper part of the weir can be arranged a bar M or the like for enabling the person
in charge to pass to any part of the weir.
For adjusting the inclination of the flap weir in some cases a lever O (Figures 34
and 38) may be used. Such lever is fulcrumed at its centre and connected with the
sill E, and its ends are connected to the lower edge of part A of the weir by chains
or ropes P P one of these ropes or chains P passes round a pulley Q secured to the
weir and a pulley R secured to the sill and there to some point on shore or other-
wise. By pulling this rope P the lower edge of the weir is moved toward the
lever O and thus the inclination of the weir to the horizontal is increased. When
the rope P is slackened the pressure of the water restores the weir to its former
position.
For broad beds of streams two or more independent weirs constructed in the
above-described manner can be placed side by side as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
First. A. weir connected by means of rods and chains to the bed of the stream,
which weir is arranged to be automatically turned down at high-water so as not to
form an obstruction to the water of the stream in the turned down position sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
Second. A. weir connected by means of rods and chains to the bed of the stream,
its body being composed of three pivoted or hinged parts A, B, C, through the
medium of which the turned down weir can be raised again by the water of the
stream, substantially as described with reference to Figures 3 to 7 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Third. A weir connected by means of rods and chains with the bed of the stream,
and which, by reason of its inclination and the bevel K is raised by the water-
pressure proportionally to the height of the column of the water, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 8 of the drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement of the adjusting screws L for adjusting the inclination
of the body of the weir, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Fifth. The combination of several independent weirs arranged side by side,
substantially as herein before described.
Sixth. The arrangement of the rod X in combination with the lower part A of
the weir substantially as and for the purpose described.
Seventh. The arrangement of lever O ropes or chains P P¹ and pulleys Q R
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.