GB2140487A

GB2140487A - Improvements relating to penstocks

Info

Publication number: GB2140487A
Application number: GB08314525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Aston; Peter David Line
Original assignee: Ham Baker and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ham Baker and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1983-05-25
Filing date: 1983-05-25
Publication date: 1984-11-28
Also published as: GB2140487B; GB8314525D0

Abstract

A penstock frame (10) has a seat (16) for a closure member (15) and pivotally adjustable locating elements for maintaining the closure element in proper contact with the seat, when the penstock is closed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to penstocks The present invention relates to penstocks, which are also referred to as sluice gates.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a penstock comprising a frame defining an opening, a closure member movable relative to the frame along a path between an open position and a closed position with respect to the opening, the frame presenting a seat which faces in a direction transverse to said path and which is engaged by the closure member, at least when in the closed position, and the frame and closure member having respective locating elements which co-operate with each other when the closure member is in the closed position to restrain movement of the closure member away from the seat, characterised in that at least one of th locating elements is mounted on the closure member or on the frame, as the case may be, for adjustment relative thereto.

The penstock preferably includes a number of adjustable locating elements, each of these adjustable elements being pivotally mounted and having settable means for restraining pivoting.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of constructing a penstock wherein there is formed a frame defining an opening and a closure member for closing the opening, the frame is provided with a seat for engagement by the closure member when the latter closes the opening, one of the frame and the closure member is provided with a plurality of adjustable locating elements, the other of the frame and closure member is provided with fixed locating elements, the closure member is assembled with the frame so that the fixed and adjustable locating elements are mutually engageable and wherein the adjustable locating elements are then adjusted to establish a required positional relation between the closure member and the seat.

An example of a penstock embodying the first aspect of the invention and constructed by a method in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a perspective view of the penstock; Figure 2 shows a fragmentary cross-section on the line ll-ll of Figurel; and Figure 3 shows a fragmentary view of a frame of the penstock in the direction of the arrow Ill on Figure 2.

The penstockcomprises a rectangularframe 10 having opposite side members 11 and 12, an upper cross member 14. In the frame there is mounted a rectangular closure member 15 having lateral margins engaged with the sides 11 and 12 of the frame.

The depth of the closure member is approximately one half the separation between the cross members 13 and 14. A screw and nut mechanism is provided for moving the closure member up and down within the frame. Thus, the closure member can be moved along the side members between a closed position, in which it engages the lower cross member 14, and an open position in which it engages the upper cross member 13. The frame 10 is installed in a channel or in an opening in the wall so that the closure member can be used to control the flow of liquid through the opening defined by the lower half of the frame.

Each of the side members 11 and 12 of the frame presents a flat seat 16 which faces along the channel, the seats being coplanar and facing in the same direction. The frame 10 is formed mainly of metal, for example cast iron orfabircated steel. The frame may alternatively be formed of a plastics material.

The seat 16 of each of the side members 11 and 12 also may be formed of metal. Alternatively, this seat may be formed of a plastics material, preferably a thermoplastic or an elastomer, rigidly secured to the metal part of the frame. For co-operation with the seat 16, the closure member 15 may be provided with seals 17 which extend without interruption along a corresponding margin of the closure member. A similar seal is provided at the other lateral margin of the closure member and a further seal may be provided for sealing a lower margin of the closure member to the lower cross member 14, when the penstock is closed. The lower cross member 14 may define a recess for receiving a lower marginal portion of the closure member 15. The seals may be elastomeric or thermoplastic.

Afurther seal may be carried on an intermediate cross member to engage the closure member.

For restraining movement of the closure member 15 away from the seat 16 when the penstock is closed, there are provided on the closure member and on the frame respective locating elements. The locating element provided at the lateral margin of the closure member 15 adjacent to the side member 12 is a flange 18 which projects into a recess defined by the side member 12. This flange extends without interruption along the lateral margin of the closure member. For co-operation with the flange 18, there is provided on the frame 10 a plurality of adjustable locating elements 19. These locating elements are spaced apart along the side member 12. The side member 11 is provided with corresponding locating elements (not shown) for co-operation with a further flange on the closure member corresponding to the flange 18.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of the locating elements 19 is mounted on the frame 10 for pivoting relative thereto about a respective pivot axis 20 which is perpendicular to the path of movement of the closure member 15 between the open and closed positions and is perpendicular to the length of the channel in which the penstock is disposed. The locating element is preferably elongated and the pivot axis 20 is conveniently defined by a fastener which extends with a small clearance through an aperture near to one end of the locating element and is fixed into the frame 10. The locating element presents towards the flange 18 a convex face 22 which has a large radius of curvature, relative to the length of the locating element 19. The face 22 is preferably part-cylindrical.

For restraining pivoting of the locating element 19 about the axis 20, there is provided a settable stop in the form of a screw 23, the shank of which is screwed into a threaded bore formed in the locating element at a position remote from the axis 20 and a head of which abuts a flange 24 on the side member 12. A locknut is provided on the screw.

Priortoassemblyofth closure member 15 with the frame 10, each screw 23 may be screwed fully into the corresponding locating element 19. When the penstock has been assembled, the closure member is moved to the closed position and the screws 23 and then screwed out of their respective locating elements to adjustthe locating elements in a manner two force the closure member 15 towards the seat 16 until the seal 17 is subjected to the required pressure. The flange 18 and the seal 17 may diverge in the upward direction so that, when the closure member is moved from the closed position, the pressure on the seal, the pressure on the seal 17 is relieved.

Alternatively, the settable stop may be screwed into the flange 24 and abut the locating element.

The locating elements 19 are preferably formed of metal or thermoplastic material.

Claims

1. A penstock comprising a frame defining an opening and a closure member movable relative to the frame along a path between open and closed positions with respect to the opening, the frame presenting a seat which faces in a direction transverse to said path and is engaged with the closure member, at least when in the closed position, and the frame and closure member having respective locating elements which co-operate with each other when the closure member is in the closed position to restrain movement of the closure member away from the seat, characterised in that at least one of the locating elements is mounted on the closure member or on the frame, as the case may be, for adjustment relative thereto.

2. A penstock according to Claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of adjustable locating elements, each being pivotally mounted and having settable means for restraining pivoting.

3. A penstock according to Claim 1 wherein the adjustable locating elements ae on the frame and the closure member has, at each of two opposite margins, a respective single locating element for co-operation with a plurality of adjustable locating elements on the frame.

4. A method of constructing a penstockwherein there is formed a frame defining an opening and a closure member for closing the opening, the frame is formed with a seat for engagement by the closure member, the frame and the closure member are provided with respective locating elements which co-operate with each other when the closure member is in the closed position to restrain movement of the closure member away from the seat, the closure member is assembled with the frame and one or more of the locating elements is then adjusted to establish the required positional relation between the closure member and the seat, when the opening is closed.

5. A penstock substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.