US3683630A

US3683630A - Constant downstream level gate

Info

Publication number: US3683630A
Application number: US100046A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philippe Alexandre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-21
Filing date: 1970-12-21
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15

Abstract

The control gate disclosed herein is provided with two ballast holding containers, one of which is a sector float centered on the axis of rotation of the gate and constructed to maintain a constant water level on the downstream side of the gate, the other container being located above the axis of rotation of the gate in one position of the gate.

Description

United States Paten Alexandre [s41 CONSTANT DOWNSTREAM LEVEL GATE [ 72] Inventor: Philippe Alexandre, 17 Ter, route de Corenc, La Tronche, lsere, France 22 Filed: Dec.2l, 1970 21 App1.No.: 100,046

[52] US. Cl ..61/25 [51] Int. Cl. ..E02b 7/42 [58] Field of Search ..61/25, 23, 22

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,066,490 12/1962 Du Bouchet ..61/25 [451 Aug. 15,1972

Danel ..61/25 Ponsar ..6l/25 Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro Attorney-Sylvester J. Liddy, John .1. Hart, Joe E. Daniels and Charles F. Baxley ABSTRACT The control gate disclosed herein is provided with two ballast holding containers, one of which is a sector float centered on the axis of rotation of the gate and constructed to maintain a constant water level on the downstream side of the gate, the other container being located above the axis of rotation of the gate in one position of the gate.

4 Clains, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,630

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. F G. 2 Pl-l/L /PPE ALEXANDEE My? W A T TaR/VE Y Patented Aug 15, 1972 3,683,630

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

' INVENTOR. PH/L' lPPE ALEXANDRE I BY % A TrO/QNEY 1 CONSTANT DOWNSTREAM LEVEL GATE THE INVENTION This invention relates to gates for automatically controlling the flow of water in canals, streams, etc., and more particularly to control gates designed to maintain a constant water level downstream therefrom.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide an improved gate of the indicated type which is more compact than known gates of this type and cheaper to produce than the latter.

In accordance with the invention, the gate is made of unit construction and such unit comprises an upstream, arcuately-shaped, gate apron centered on the axis of rotation of the gate, a downstream sector-shaped, gate float centered on the same axis, and a frame connecting the gate apron and the float. The gate float is also utilized as a ballast container. The unit further includes a second ballast container which is located on the frame vertically above the pivotal axis of such unit in one position of the gate.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well 'as the features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof by way of example, and to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation showing a gate embodying the invention in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the gate in fully opened position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation showing a modified gate embodying the invention in fully opened position; and

FIG. 4 is a similar view of the gate of FIG. 3, but showing the gate in fully closed position.

In the following description of the gates illustrated in FIGS. 14, similar reference characters will be applied to similar parts in such drawings.

The gate unit comprises a framework arm 3 which extends upstream from the gate pivotal axis 2 and on the outer upstream end of which is mounted a sectorshaped apron l radially disposed to the pivotal axis 2. The unit further comprises a hollow sector float 4 which is centered on the pivotal axis 2 so as to be in opposing torque to the apron 1. In order to dampen the oscillation of the gate during itsoperation and to protect the sector float 4 against the effects of the tailrace, the float 4 is located within a fixed container 5 which is carefully matched to the float. The container 5 has a transverse opening 5' in its base to maintain contact with the tailrace.

It will be understood that the whole gate unit constituted of the apron 1, frame 3 and sector float 4, oscillates around the main pivot or pivotal axis 2 which is located at the elevation at which it is desired that the water level downstream of the gate is to be maintained.

The gate may be balanced so that when the downstream water level N is at the elevation of the gate pivotal axis 2 and the gate is completely closed, as in FIG. 1, the torque generated by the hydraulic thrust on the float 4 will balance the torque generated by the weight of the gate. So long as these conditions are maintained the gate will remain closed. When, however, the downstream water level falls, say to the position N' indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the gate will automatically, immediately open to its fully opened position to permit a larger discharge therethrough until the downstream water level is restored to the level N which is the elevation of the main pivot 2, whereupon the gate apron 1 will move to fully closed position. With this method of operation the gate should be balanced for each of its positions, i.e., its open position and its closed position. In accordance with the invention, this two stage adjustment of the gate is accomplished by ballasting two containers, both of which are fixedly secured in suitable positions on the gate unit, and one of which is so located on the unit that in one of the adjustment positends to open and will be just on balance in its immediate closed condition. The opening 7 in the float 4 is closed and the gate is then balanced in its fully open position for a level lower than N, the level N indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. This second adjustment operation involves loading ballast 9 through the opening 10 of an upper container 6 which is mounted on the frame 3 so that it is located vertically above the pivotal axis 2 of the gate when the gate is in the closed position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The container 6 is supported on the frame 3 by a base 11 located directly over the pivotal axis 2 and disposed radially with respect to such axis and substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the frame 3. This second loading operation may be carried out while the gate is in fully opened position as is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and if so, is continued while increasing the downstream water level to the level designated N. The loading of container 6 is continued until the gate unit just moves to closed position with the downstream water at the level N. This second adjustment accomplished by the loading of ballast in container 6, will not modify the balance of the gate when it moves to its primary closed position since the container 6 will in this position of the gate be located vertically above the gates pivotal axis 2.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the balancing operations are reversed from that described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the first adjustment operation is carried out by loading ballast 8 into the float sector 4 while the gate is in open position with the downstream water at level N as is shown in FIG. 3, and is continued until the gate tends to close and will be just on balance in its immediate open condition. The second adjustment operation involves loading container 6 when the gate is in closed position for a higher downstream water level N in FIG. 4 and is continued until the gated unit just moves to open position while decreasing the downstream water level to the designated level N. It

described and illustrated in the drawings gate constructions which are balanced in their extreme open and closed positions, with the container 6 vertical to the pivotal means for the gate in one of the extreme open or closed positions, such balancing operations may be carried out in the same manner with the gate in any two positions intermediate the two extreme closed and opened positions thereof. In carrying out the balancing operations for any two selected intermediate positions of the gate, the container 6 should be arranged on the frame so that in one of such intermediate positions it will be located vertically above the pivotal means. Hence, I do not intend to limit myself to the particular embodiments disclosed for purposes of illustration, and intend to cover all constructions coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic control gate for maintaining a constant downstream water level comprising a frame, means on said frame for mounting said frame for pivotal movement about an axis located at the elevation at which such water level is to be maintained, a sector-shaped gate apron radially disposed to said pivotal means mounted on the upstream end of said frame, a sector float on said frame centered on said pivotal means and extending downstream therefrom, and means for causing said gate to move automatically to open and closed positions depending on the downstream water level, including said sector float which is formed to provide a container for ballast material balancing the gate in one position when the downstream water level is at the said elevation, and a second ballast container mounted on said frame for movement about said pivotal means, said second container being arranged on said frame to be aligned vertically above said pivotal means in said one position of the gate and to be offset from such location in the other position of the gate.

2. A control gate such as defined in claim 1, including means mounted on said frame for supporting said second container in spaced relation thereto, said supporting means being so disposed with respect to said pivotal means that in the fully closed condition of said gate said second container is located vertically above said pivotal means.

3. A control gate such as defined in claim 1, including means mounted on said frame for supporting said second container in spaced relation thereto, said supporting means being so disposed with respect to said pivotal means that in the fully open condition of said gate said second container is located vertically above said pivotal means.

4. A control gate as defined in claim 1, including a container fixed with relation to said sector float and adapted to be submerged in the water downstream of said pivotal means, said fixed container having an u er 0 en end rec ivin said sector fl at and havin a c iitour substantial g fire y matching that 0 said float, lower end of said fixed container having an opening bringing the interior thereof into communication with the downstream water to enable the latter to produce a dampening action on the oscillations of said sector float and gate apron.

Claims

4. A control gate as defined in claim 1, including a container fixed with relation to said sector float and adapted to be submerged in the water downstream of said pivotal means, said fixed container having an upper open end receiving said sector float and having a contour substantially matching that of said float, the lower end of said fixed container having an opening bringing the interior thereof into communication with the downstream water to enable the latter to produce a dampening action on the oscillations of said sector float and gate apron.