IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIRS AND SLUICES
Year: 1885

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by Mitar Demeter Czvetkovics, Merchant, Edmund
Horbaczewski, Captain in the Austrian Army, and Wilhelm von Kopal,
Lieutenant in the Austrian Army, all of Stadt Riemeryasse, 13, Vienna, in
the Empire of Austria.]
I ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE of the Office for Patents 6, Bream's
Buildings, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIRS AND SLUICES,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is-the construction of weirs and sluices in such a
manner that they will regulate the water-heights automatically; may be raised
or opened automatically like a fan by the pressure of the water, and yet be easily
pressed together or closed like a fan by slight mechanical pressure, and will not
obstruct either the passage of sand and gravel or floating bodies.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figs 1, 2, 3 and 4 show in diagram views the principle of construction and
operation of the Weir and
Figs 5 and 6 show in longitudinal section the details of the complete
construction on a larger scale.
Figs: 1 and 5 represent the weir or sluice opened or raised, and Figs: 2 and 6
show the same closed or lowered. Fig: 3 is a front view and Fig: 4 a plan of the
sluice.
The weir or sluice consists of any suitable number of sluice hatches or transverse
"paddles" A which are pivotted by means of rods B to a horizontal axis C firmly
anchored at the bottom of the stream. In Figs: 5 and 6 the hatches or paddles A
are numbered consecutively 1, 2, 34, 5 and 6. D D are the side walls or margins
of the cut in which the Weir is situate.
The uppermost hatch is connected to a grate E of wood or of hollow tubes which
serves as a float to make the uppermost hatch specifically lighter than water, and
give it a constant tendency to rise to the surface. This grate E also serves to
deflect floating bodies approaching the weir and cause them to pass over the edge
of the uppermost hatch, but allows sand and gravel to pass through.
The hatches are provided with projecting edges or flanges a which gear together
or interlock so that on raising the uppermost hatch (b Fig: 5) this hatch takes
with it the next hatch 5; and this one the next, 4, and so on. As soon as the
uppermost hatch is raised from the position shown in Figs 2 and 6 it creates an
obstacle to the flowing water and the pressure of the water beneath it raises it
further. The obstacle to the flow of water is thereby increased so that the water

page_text: pressure proceeds gradually to raise the next hatches Nos 5, 4 and 3 to the position
shown in Fig: 5. The hatch 2 is fastened by a chain to the bottom of the stream,
but the lowest hatch 1 is loose so as to be raised by the water pressure leaving a
space beneath it for the escape of superfluous water which carries with it the sand
and gravel and thereby prevents their accumulation.
The arrangement of water way and turbine G, H, J K shown in Fig: 5 serves
for lowering the weir or sluice. On opening the valve G the water passes through
the passage H to the water wheel J, to the shaft of which one end of a chain or
rope K is attached, the other end of which passes round a pulley and is attached
to the uppermost hatch. By the rotation of the water wheel J the rope K is
wound up and draws the hatch 6, and with it the other hatches, to the closed
position shown in Figs: 2 and 6.
The arrangement L M shown in Fig: 5 serves for automatically lowering the
weir or sluice in the case of a flood. The opening L which ordinarily is situated
above the level of the water, communicates through the chamber M with the
passage H leading to the above mentioned turbine or water wheel, J. In the case
of a flood the water rising above the normal height reaches the opening L and
flows through the passages M H to the water wheel J which by its rotation winds
up the rope K. and thus lowers the hatches of the weir A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my Foreign Correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
1. A sluice or weir consisting of a number of interlocking hatches or paddles.
such as A carried by rods or their equivalent pivotted at the bottom of the stream
as at C, and so fitted and arranged that when drawn down or closed the several
hatches or paddles will lie the one within the other, and offer little obstruction to
the flow of water, but which when the upper hatch or paddle is raised or rises
under the influence of a float, such as E, will open or rise automatically and
consecutively under the pressure of the water coming down stream, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
2. In a sluice or weir the combination with a series of interlocking hatches or
paddles arranged to open by water pressure automatically and in succession after
the manner of a fan, of a valve G, water way H, turbine or wheel J, and chain or
its equivalent, K, for drawing down or collapsing the said hatches or paddles when
required, as set forth.
3. In a sluice or weir, the combination with a series of interlocking hatches or
paddles A carried by rods B, pivotted as at C, of the overflow aperture L,
chamber M, passage H, water wheel J, and rope or chain K, for automatically
lowering or collapsing the several. hatches in succession in flood time substantially
as described.
4. In a sluice or weir the combination with a series of rising and falling
hatches A pivotally anchored at the bottom of the stream, of a buoyant grate or
grid, such as E, hinged below the water substantially as and for the purpose
described.
:
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5. In a sluice or weir comprising a series of interlocking hatches adapted to
open or close, the arrangement of the lower hatches 1 and 2, for the purpose of
preventing the accumulation of sand and gravel below the said hatches. -
1100-