Improvements in and relating to Gates for Water Ways, Sluice Ways, and like Conduits.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Gates for Water Ways, Sluice
Ways, and like Conduits.
1, JOSEPH CRAWHALL CHAPMAN, C.E., and Chartered Patent Agent, of
70, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, which has been communicated to me by Frederick Robert Stent,
Engineer, of the Public Works Department, Helouan, Egypt, to be as follows:-
The class of gates to which my invention relates is that in which the gate is
placed transversely across a water way, sluice way or like conduit for the purpose
of confining the head water and regulating the flow of same when required for
irrigation and other purposes. Such gates are usually constructed with parallel
faces and arranged to stand vertically when closed, being supported at either end
against vertical abutments. They are usually made heavier than their displacement
of water to prevent floatage, and they are adapted to be vertically raised and
lowered when required by chains passing over suitable pulleys and actuated by
windlasses, counter balance weights, or analogous means, friction between the gate
and its bearing, sliding or supporting and guiding surfaces being generally reduced
by the interposition of anti-friction rollers.
With such arrangements it is plain that when closed the gate is subject to the full
horizontal pressure of the head of water acting on the whole area of its face and
tending to force or jamb its extremities against the bearing surfaces or rollers, and
so increasing the power required to work the gate.
The object of the present invention is to facilitate the working of such gates,
and this I accomplish by so constructing the gate, or arranging its bearing
surfaces, or by a combination of the two, as to reduce the friction to a
minimum.
To this end, firstly, I construct the gate with its face inclined forwards from the
bottom to the top at a suitable angle, and by thus altering the angle at which the
water pressure acts upon it (from a horizontal to a suitable upward direction) I
secure the advantage of the displacement which is transferred to the friction
surfaces or rollers at the back; or, secondly, I may equivalently leave the face of
the gate vertical or practically so and incline the bearing surfaces or paths of the
anti-friction rollers at the back of the gate to a suitable backward inclination from
the vertical. In this case I may obviously so far increase the angle of obliquity of
the roller paths and rollers fixed to the back of the gate and pressing upon said
paths that the mechanical advantage of the inclined plane will overcome the weight
of gate and so cause floatage; and to prevent this I either balance one force
against the other, or I arrange suitable valved orifices in the face and back of the
gate by which I am enabled to admit water thereto or release it therefrom as
required to balance the varying pressures due to the head of water at any time
acting externally on the gate. Thirdly, I may construct the gate with a forwardly
inclined face as first above described and also dispose the rollers and roller paths
with suitable backward inclinations as secondly above described, thereby combining
in one gate the advantages derived from displacement and from the inclined plane,
when subjected to the pressure of the head of water. The structure of the gate is a
frame covered with any suitable water-proof material, or it may be built of iron
in the usual manner, and the lifting and operative arrangements remain unaltered.
Dated this 13th day of December 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Gates for Water Ways, Sluice
Ways, and like Conduits.
I, JOSEPH CRAWHALL CHAPMAN, C.E., and Chartered Patent Agent, of
70, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention which has been communicated to me by Frederick Robert Stent,
Engineer, of the Public Works Department, Helouan, Egypt, and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The class of gates to which my invention relates is that in which the gate is
placed transversely across a water way, sluice way, or like conduit for the purpose
of confining the headwater and regulating the flow of same when required for
irrigation and other purposes. Such gates are usually constructed with parallel
faces and arranged to stand vertically when closed, being supported at either end
against vertical abutments, and friction between same and the gate being generally
reduced by the interposition of antifriction rollers.
With such arrangements it is plain that when closed the gate is subject to the
full horizontal pressure of the head of water acting on the whole area of its face
and tending to force or jamb its extremities against the bearing surfaces or rollers,
and so increasing the power required to work the gate.
I will now proceed to fully describe my invention in reference to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate gates adapted to be raised and lowered
and in which like letters of reference indicate like or analogous parts.
The object of the present invention is to facilitate the working of gates such as
are above referred to and this I accomplish by constructing the gate or arranging
its bearing surfaces, or by a combination of the two in such manner as to counteract
friction, either by water displacement or by the advantage of an inclined planc, or
both combined, when the gate is subjected to the pressure of a head of water.
In carrying out my invention I may proceed in the following ways:-
Firstly, I may construct the gate A as illustrated in Fig. 1 with its face a
inclined forward from the bottom to the top at a suitable angle, for example of
about 80, and its back vertical or approximately so and provided with any
convenient number of antifriction rollers R R2 R3 bearing against vertical
surfaces R. R.
Let the horizontal arrow z represent the direction of water, pressure upon a
vertical face (as shown dotted in Fig. 1), and the arrow ¹ that upon a face inclined
as a (such pressure being in either case constantly perpendicular to the surface with
which it is in contact); in the latter case the angle of the inclined face a with the
water surface is changed from 90° to a more obtuse angle, or 90° +2. Again
produce the arrows until they meet the vertical roller path R (as dotted). It
is evident that whilst the direction of pressure indicated by the arrow = tends to
jamb the gate against its abutments, that indicated by the arrow ¹ tends to lift the
gate. Hence it follows that by inclining the face a as above described, the angle at
which the pressure of the displaced water acts (through the rollers) upon the path R
is also altered, and the force thereof is so upwardly directed as to be available for
use in lifting or opening the gate.
Secondly, I may equivalently construct the gate as illustrated in Fig. 2 in which
both the face a and back bare or may be vertical or practically so, and the bearing
surfaces or paths R of the antifriction rollers R' R2 R³ at the back of the gate are
inclined to a suitable backward inclination, for example, 8° from the vertical, and
thus utilise the horizontal pressure of water against an inclined plane. In this
case I may obviously so far increase the angle of obliquity of the roller paths R and
rollers fixed to the back of the gate and pressing upon said paths that the horizontal
water pressure acting on the inclined plane will overcome the weight of gate and so

page_text: cause it to lift, and to prevent this I either balance one force against the other, or I
arrange suitable valved orifices such as are indicated at V. V in the face and back
of the gate by which I am enabled to admit water thereto or release it there-
from as required to balance the varying pressures due to the head of water at any
time acting externally on the gate.
Thirdly I may construct the gate as illustrated in Fig. 3 with a forwardly
inclined face a as first above described in reference to Fig. 1, and also dispose the
rollers R R2 R3 and roller paths R with suitable backward inclinations as secondly
above described in reference to Fig. 2, thereby combining in one gate the advantages
derived both from water displacement and from the inclined plane when subjected
to the pressure of the head of water.
With gates constructed as described in reference to Fig. 1, during closing the
water pressure would tend to counteract its movement in the same measure as it
facilitates opening; therefore in order to assist the closing in cases where the
weight of the gate is insufficient to overcome the resistance of the water and it is
inconvenient to add weight, I temporarily incline or tilt the base of the gate forward
so as to obtain the advantage of the water pressure. This may be effected in any
convenient manner, but I will describe two methods of so doing which I have found
to be effective, and will also refer to the mechanical details I have designed to
perfect my invention.
Fig. 4 is a section showing a gate closed; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a gate
and its setting showing gate ascending; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing same
descending; Fig. 7 is to the left a half-front and to the right a half-back elevation
of same gate; and Fig. 8 is a half plan of same.
The figures also show one simple arrangement of lifting and lowering gear,
though any other may be substituted.
The gate is of the construction first above described (i.e. with inclined face). At
either side of the gate, in or on the side walls an auxiliary groove or path P is
formed, the figure of which should be such as will afford in lowering the maximum
advantage and minimum disadvantage of the water pressure. It may be of cast
iron fixed to the masonry as indicated in Fig. 5, or built of solid masonry as in
Fig. 8; or it may be of wood or other suitable material. Projecting beyond either
side of the gate about its base so as to roll on the said path P a roller D is mounted
upon a horizontal shaft E which is slung upon vertical links such as E' connected
to levers e fixed on shaft G mounted in bearings g upon the top of the gate. This
shaft G is capable of part rotation by means of a lever or levers such as K, so that
the rollers D can be raised or lowered when required; and the lever K is normally
fixed in the upward position of the rollers D when the gate is going down by a
pink, see Figs. 6 and 8. Then the shaft E is drawn up into and engages with open
bearings H which are fixed upon the gate for that purpose; or any other convenient
kind of operating gear may be used for the above described purpose. M, Figs. 4,
7, and 8 are adjustable eyes for securing the lifting chains N, set upon screwed
bolts m for regulating the balance of the gate when required.
When the gate is closed all the parts take the positions shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 8,
the lever K being fixed down by the pin k or otherwise so as to engage shaft E of
the rollers D in the open bearings H, and the back rollers R R R³ are pressed
against the roller path R by the pressure of the water acting on the face a of the
gate. In this position water-tightness is ensured by a suitable bottom cill such as S
and the well known "gas pipe water joints" at the sides, or in other suitable known
manner.
When the gate is to be lifted, first the lever K is liberated, then the spindle E
and its roller D fall out of engagement with the open bearings Hand swing out
by gravity clear of the gate, then on operating the lifting gear L the gate is
raised by the power applied plus the counter balance weights W. The rollers D
travel up the auxiliary path P but do no work. The back rollers R' R³ pass up
the main roller path R being pressed against same by the water pressure.
When the gate is fully up, the shaft E will fall below the open bearings H

page_text: and be secured therein by lever K and fixed as described in position for going
down when required.
When the gate is descending, the rollers D. D. fixed in the bearings H as
described and illustrated follow the figure of the auxiliary path P and so cause
the foot of the gate to be tilted forward. In this case while the upper back
rollers R' press against the path R, the lower rollers R³ are inoperative, the work
being done by the rollers D. D. Before the base of the gate arrives at the cill S
the rollers D. D. return down the slope p at the foot of path P and allow the
rollers R³ to take against the main path R gradually, and thus shock is prevented.
The arrows in the figures illustrate the directions of motion.
Another method of constructing the gate whereby its angle of inclination can
be mechanically changed in direction as required either for lifting, lowering, or
when at rest in closed position, is illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 which are
respectively a half-back and half-front elevation, plan of same, and a section.
Here, according to my invention the upper and lower back rollers R¹ R³ at
either side of the gate are centred on a vibratory roller frame F which is pivotted
to the gate A at or about the centre of pressure.
Behind each roller frame F a recess Y is formed in the back of the gate at
each side for housing either end of said frame when required. To the upper
and lower extremities of the frame F are pivotted respectively racked thrust
bars T T extending forward through slots in the gate. Gear pinions L L'
engaging with each of these racks T T are fixed to vertical spindles 11
carried in bearings fixed to the front side of the gate and adapted to be
rotated for example by worm gear 7. and hand power such as a double-acting
ratchet as illustrated at Q or otherwise. The three back rollers R' R² R³ always
bear against the path R and the angle of inclination of the gate whether going up
or down can be readily changed by the gear actuating the roller frames. This
arrangement and action are clearly illustrated in Fig. 11 wherein the normal
position of the gate A, frame F, and thrust bars T T are shown in hard lines
and marked 1. 1. 1. The changed position of these same parts when the gate is
to be raised is shown in broken lines and marked 2. 2. 2. It will be seen here
that the lower ends of the side roller frames F F are drawn forward and housed in
their recesses Y, so that the face a of the gate is inclined forwards from the vertical
as first above set forth. The position of the same parts when the gate is to be
lowered is shown in dotted lines and marked 3. 3. 3., the upper part of the side
roller frames being drawn back and housed in their recesses, and the face a of the
gate assuming a position inclined back from the vertical as above set forth.
The gas pipe water joints are here shown by the reference letters g' g' and at the
base they are disposed loosely on pins 92, Fig. 11, substantially in the known
manner.
It will be readily understood that the principle of my invention as above set
forth may be applied to gates arranged to close and open by sliding horizontally
to and fro. By constructing them with their faces inclined outwards at suitable
angles from the heelposts to the centre posts, (or as it were a gate such as is
illustrated in Fig. laid on its side,) and allowing the head water pressure to
act fully on the inclined surfaces when in their open position the closing of the
gates by sliding towards one another would be greatly facilitated, and the change
of positions for opening would be accomplished by thrust bars and gear or other
means equivalent to those above set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Constructing gates for water ways, sluice ways, and like conduits in such
manner that the pressure of the water acting on the face of the gate is utilised to
counteract friction during working of the gate substantially in the manner above
set forth.
2. Constructing a gate for water ways, sluice ways, and like conduits with its

page_text: face inclined forwards at a suitable angle, anti-friction rollers being provided
between its back and the bearing surfaces whereby opening is facilitated by the
water pressure acting on the inclined face and by the water displacement thereof
substantially as above set forth.
3. Constructing a gate for water ways, sluice ways and like conduits with its
antifriction rollers and their paths inclined backwards at a suitable angle whereby
the opening is facilitated by the water pressure acting on the inclined planes of the
rollers and their paths, substantially as above set forth.
4. Constructing a gate for the purposes specified with an inclined face as first
above claimed and with inclined rollers and their paths at suitable angles as second
above claimed, whereby opening is facilitated by water pressure acting on the two
inclined planes in front and behind substantially as above set forth.
5. The means for facilitating closing of gates constructed with forwardly inclined
faces as first above described and claimed, consisting in the arrangement of supple-
mentary side rollers D. D. and fixed side projecting paths or grooves for same such
as P. P. adapted to tilt the foot of the gate forward during its closing, but to allow
it to resume normal position when closed, substantially as set forth.
6. In a gate for water ways, sluice ways, and like conduits, the mechanical means
for altering the inclination of the gate to the most favourable angles for obtaining
the full advantage of the water pressure upon it during its operation, consisting in
the combination with the gate of vibratory side frames such as F. F. carrying the
back antifriction rollers R R2 R3 and adapted to house in recesses in the gate and
arranged and operated by thrust bars and gearing substantially in the manner set
forth in reference to Figs. 9. 10 and 11.
ليمي
1
1000
J. C. CHAPMAN.