US557564A

US557564A - Balance-lock for waterways

Info

Publication number: US557564A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1913-04-07

Description

'10 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) v

0. N. BUTT-0N. BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS.

Patented A r. '7, 1896.

.1 HQ 1 /N\/ENTOR WITNESSES ANDREW B.6RA"AN FHOTC-L|THD WASHINGTON DC (No Model.) 10 SheetsSheet 2.

G. N. DUTTON.

BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS.

No. 557,554. Paten ted Apr. 7, 1 896.

- Arinnzw sin/mm.wiidid-uniozwAsmns-m- 0c 3w t e e h s W e e h S m. N 0 m m D N C m d o M 0 W BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS.

Patented Apr. '7, 1896.

4. war/Mi /NVEN% duo ANDREW BGRMMM. PHOTB-U'I'NQWASKINGTDILDYC.

10 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Modl i) G.N.DU TTON. BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS.

6' WI 9 I m A I l I I I I ll 0 I. I I \1 l T |HlH 1 I l l I l t l l I- ww m Z a i I I I I 1 1 M e M 1 l I I I l I I I I 1 I l 1 1 1| m y P I I 1 i WITNESSES 6299M ANDREW B.GRAHAMJNUTUUDIQWASNING'WNJ C IO'SheetS Sheet 5.

No Modl.)

G. N. 'DUTTON.

BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS.

W/ TNES SE8 ANDREW B.GRAHAM. PHOTDUTHQWASHINGWMDO.

(No Model.) .10 Sheets-Sheet 6. C. N. BUTTON.

BALANCE LOGK FOR WATERWAYS.

VV/TNESSES NTDR I //v f/m @m 7/ m,

MM 0 W ANDREW B GRAHAM. PHOTOUMQWASHINGTDN. D C.

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 7.

0.. N. DUTTON. BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS.

No. 557,554. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

. 1 Fig.13.

WI TNESSQ-IS ANDREW KGBMMM. PHU'IUUTNQWASNINGTDMD C.

(No ModeL) 10 sheetssheet 8. G. N. DUTTON.

BALANCE LOGK FOR WATERWAYS. I

No; 557,564. v Patented Apr.- 7 1896.

WITNESSES R ANDREW BfiliAHAM. PNOTO-UTNDYWASNINGTUMD C.

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 9. C. N. DUTTON.

BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS. No. 557,564. 5 Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

WITNESSES (No Model.) IOSheets-Sheet 10.

0. N. BUTTON. BALANCE LOOK FOR WATERWAYS.

ented Apr. 7 1896.

NORM EGRMMM. PMOTOYIJTHQWASNI'NGTUND C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CIIAUNCEY N. DUTTON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALANCE-LOCK FOR WATERWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5 5'7,564, dated April '7, 1896.

Application filed November 24:, 1894. Serial No. 529,885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHAUNCEY N. DUTTON, engineer, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg,in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Balance-Locks for \Vaterways, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic balancelocks or elevators for raising and lowering vessels from one level to another in waterways, and is an improvement in the class or type thereof which is set forth in Letters Patent of the United States No. 457,528, granted and issued to me under date of August 11, 1891.

The object of my invention is to further facilitate and simplify the erection and operation of balance-locks of such type while retaining the structural and operative advantages incident thereto.

To this end my improvement consists in certain novel devices and combinations hereinafter fully set forth.

The principles of the pneumatic balance, as applied to looks in the patent above mentioned, satisfactorily meet and overcome all the principal difficulties heretofore encountered in their oonstructicn and operation. A lock wholly pneumatic in principle and operat-ion presents, however, in some cases certain difficulties in design and manipulation intimately associated with the delicacy of the balance obtained and the cushioned and yielding nature of the pneumatic support,

which, unless carefully guarded against, may cause such a lock to tend to sag and move downward or to vibrate under sudden increase of load and the wave action unavoidable in the exit and entry of vessels, while during the period of its traverse there may be a tendency to pitching, tilting, and misalinement. To neutralize these detrimental tendencies where suchmight otherwise prevail and to insure uniform motion and perfect alinement during the period of manipulation, as well as to resist adverse wind and wave action, is-the special object of my present in vention, theleading and characteristic features of which may be generally described as follows:

As set forth in the patent above mentioned, I provide at the lock-site a suitable partition or head wall dividing the waterway and retaining the water in the upper level, suitablygated openings being formed therein to permitpassage of vessels which are to be locked from one level to the other. Adjacent to the head-wall the lower level is expanded and deepened, forming a pit or water-well, in which the lock-chamber tanks are manipulated, being suitably moved up and down therein. The lock-chamber tanks are balanced open-bottomed eaissons constructed with gated lock-chambers for the reception of vessels and the necessary water to float them and open-bottomed lower chambers containing among the several tanks of the system a determined quantity of compressed air at substantially constant working pressure, which is retained in the air-chambers by a Water seal made by the permanent immersion of the lower walls of the tanks or caissons in the water of the canal or Waterway. The air- 7 5 chambers of the respective lock chamber tanks are connected one with the other or with a balance-tank by suitable air-conduits.

The balance-tank is weighted and gives a constant pressure to the buoyant charge of So compressed air, compensates for changes of density therein induced by thermometric and barometric changes in the adjacent atmosphere, and serves as an index to the manipulator, indicating by its position any excess or deficiency in the volume of the air charge due to leakage or other cause.

The lift or upward pressure of the compressed-air charge on a lock-chamber tank or caisson may be equal to, less than, or greater 0 than the downward effort of said tank or caisson, and I provide an auxiliary mechanical apparatus connected with each of the lockchamber tanks to hold it steady when desired to raise or lower it or to effect or control its 5 motion.

It should be borne in mind that the exigencies of practical operations will present conditions of infinite variety, and the arrangement of apparatus suitable in one case may be undesirable in another. For instance, in

one case the conditions may be best met by providing an excess of buoyancy in the air charge over the effort of the weight of the charge upon the lock-chamber tanks some what less than the normal downward effort of the latter when loaded, and staying them upon and raising them by the auxiliary apparatus.

The pneumatic lock, and in fact a balancelock of any type, except those suspended on cables, is a structure naturally in unstable equilibrium, because the center of gravity is very much above the point of support. It is therefore necessary to control the locks either by. guides or by a suitable auxiliary apparatus. Owing to the great length of the structure it is impracticable to use guides anywhere, except upon the transverse central plane, to control the tank endwise, and because of the great weights handled the use of such guides entails a cost which is practically prohibitory.

and that this apparatus be automatic in its operations during the period of manipulation,

and that itshall at such times maintain the proper level and alinement of the moving locks and instantly arrest any tendency to misalinement, for the weights being so great,,

running to fifty thousand tons and upward, and the load being the unstable element water, a slight departure from alinement would cause the water in the lock-chamber to surge to one end thereof, and the detrimental action would be cumulative and so swift in its action and destructive in its nature that hand regulation, which could not be applied until the mischief was done, is out of the question.

As indicated in the patent above mentioned and as heretofore described and constructed in balance-locks operated by hydraulics or means other than pneumatics, balance-locks have always been placed side by side or on one and the same level-i. (3., connecting and lockin g vessels between the same pair of adjacent levels of a waterway. lVhile this is desirable where the traffic is great enough to justify such an arrangement, there are many cases in which the requirements of commerce may be fully met by balancing one look against another 011 a different level of the waterway, either above or below the first- "i. e., each lock member of the balance'lock system operatingbetween a different pair of levelsin the waterway one in advance of the otheror by balancing several locks of a flight, as two, three, four, or more, at suc- It is therefore necessary to the successful operation of the looks that. they be controlled by an auxiliary apparatus, 1

cessive levels of the waterway against one another and a common balance member of suitable dimensions. hen a balance-lock system embodies three or more movable looking members, the several air-chambers thereof are connected one with the other by an airconduit, and said members are similar in structure and functions to those described as provided in caseswhere only two movable locking members are embodied in the balance-lock system. Such a construction would be obviously impracticable where the locks were separated by great distances, but in many instances it would be the cheapest possible, and ample for the traffic. Such a case would be presented in a waterway connecting lakes Erie and Ontario, where the total fall could be profitably overcome with four locks, each of eighty (80) feet lift, or two of one hundred and sixty (160) feet, set each at a different level and balanced against one another and a common balance-tank.

WVith locks five hundred feet long separated by basins seven hundred feet long the total length of four locks and the intermediate basins would be about four thousand five hundred feet, and the compressed air could be interchanged freely among the lock-chamber tanks andthe balance-tank without exceeding the limits of good engineering practice or entailing any considerable loss in traversing the necessary distances. 7

The above-described relative arrangement of locks will be herein termed locks in tandem.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general plan view of a pair of balance-locks located side by side, with balance-tank and hydraulic auxiliary operating and synchronizing apparatus; Fig. 2, an enlarged plan view, in fuller detail, of the balance-locks of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section at the line 03 c of Figs. 1, 2, and Fig. 4, a side view, and Fig. 5 a transverse section, of the same at the line y g of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 0, an isometrical view on an enlarged scale, showing the engagement of a lock-chamber tank with ahead-wall Fig. 7, a plan, Fig. 8 atransverse section, and Figs. 9 and 10 side views, of an auxiliary synchronizing or parallel-motion apparatus, the principal elements of which are cables and sheaves. Fig. 11 is a plan, and Fig. 12 is a side view, partly in section, of a differential hydraulic parallel-motion auxiliary apparatus. Figs. 13 and 14 are enlarged plan Views of a hydraulic parallelmotion auxiliary apparatus consisting in a battery of pumps witha common crank-shaft and independent hydraulic connections. Figs. 15 and 16 are plan and side views, re spectively, of apair of looks set tandem with an intermediate basin. Figs. 17 and 18 are a plan View and a longitudinal section, respectively, of a pair of locks set tandem without intermediate devices; Fig. 19, a top view, partly in section, and Fig. 20 a transverse section, of an improved pontoon-gate for looks. Fig. 21 is a plan view of the main airvalve, and Figs. 22, 23, and 24 are sections showing the water-supply valve thereto. Fig. 25 is a bottom plan View of the water-supply valve.

In the practice of my invention I locate my improved balance-lock system as may best suit the conditions of the case, providing suitable structures, as head-walls 8, separating the several levels 1 2 200 of the canal or other waterway, and provided with channels or openings 4 of suitable dimensions,which channels are provided with gates 4 for retaining water in the levels of the waterway at periods other than those when vessels are being passed into and out of the said levels, and with safety-gates 4 to be closed in case of accident to the operating-gates 4. The lower level adjacent to the head-wall is enlarged to form a water well or pit 5 for the reception of a movable locking member or members, in this instance a lock-chamber tank or tanks A, according as the same may be worked in connection solely with a balance-tank or in tandem, or in pairs side by side.

1 "provide interlocking parallel guides 28 upon the head-wall 3 and the tank or tanks A, by which the latter are retained in the desired relation to the former and guided in their vertical movements.

The balance-tank B may be set in the well 5 or in any convenient location in a receptacle especially provided.

Each eifective locking member or lockchamber tank A consists in the following essential elements: In its upper portion is formed a lock-chamber or trough 17 having end openings or mouths 18 and gates 18, adapted to close the same and retain water in the trough or lock-chamber 17, and its lower Y part is formed into a downwardly-opening air-chamber 7, or a series of such chambers if the tank be cellular in structure, and a compressed-air charge is retained in such airchamber 7 or series of chambers by sealiug or immersing the lower walls of the tank A in the water of the canal in the pit 5, in which the tank A operates.

In order to provide for the passage of air to and from the air-chambers 7 in manipulating the looks, I form an air-conduit 9, or pref erably two conduits on the opposite sides of the tank A and extending from the air-chambers 7 upwardly and outwardly and each provided with a valve 11 to close in case of accident, and terminating in a flanged downward outlet 9, overhanging the side of the tank A and adapted to connect with one end of a flexible pipe or suspended loop of hose 16, the other end of which may connect with a similar downward opening on the air-pipe of another lock-tank A or the balance-tank B. In the practice of large and important work, however, I shall provide on the banks of the waterway adjacent to the lock-tank A an air-main 13, which will have downward openin gs 13 similar and adjacent to and adapted to connect with those 9 on the tank A by means of the loop of flexible pipe 16 above described. In the pipe 13 I may place a valve 14. In ship-canals this valve becomes so large as to require special design. I have therefore designed the valve shown in detail in Figs. 21 to 25, inclusive. To make a valve suited to any size pipe whatever, Iform in the air-main 13 a trap-say a vertical return-bend 14 and connect therewith a water-supply pipe 14 and a waste-pipe 14, the two being valve-controlled preferably by a specially-designed three-way valve 14. Normally this valve 14 stands in such a position that all its ports are closed and there is free passage for air through the return-bend 14. When it is desired to shut ofl the air connection, the water-valve 14 is manipulated and a sufficient quantity of water admitted to the return-bend to fill its lower part and trap it, as shown in Fig. 23, and thus close the air-main 13. When it is desired to open the air-main, the valve 14 is manipulated to open the waste-pipe 14 and allow the water to escape from the return bend. The valve 14 is then returned to its first or normal position.

Figs. 22 to 25, inclusive, show the valve 14 in its three positions and show a hollow piston-valve 14 of such length and stroke that it may uncover the ports of either the inlet water-pipe 14 or those of the waste-pipe 14 or entirely close both of them. The valvepiston 14 is adapted to be moved by a crank 14 and-connecting-rod 14 The shaft 14 of the crank l4 extends through the wall of the valve-shell, so that power may be applied to move the valve-piston 14. It will be seen that the valve is perfectly balanced and can be driven to do its full work properly with the crank 14 rotated always in the same direction. I

In manipulating the looks it is desirable that the balance-tank B shall always connect with that lock-chamber tank A which is at the time elevated. To accomplish this, I bring a pipe 16 from the balance-tank to the vicinity of the return-bend 14 and there provide a three-way valve 16 and branches 16, connecting with the air-main on each side of the valve 14, so that the balance-tank may be readily put in connection with the pipe 13 on either side of the valve 14.

In my Patent No. 457,528, hereinbefore referred to, the lock system is described as controlled and manipulated by the operation of a valve located in the air-conduit. Under my present invention this valve may be retained, its casing being marked 14 in the drawings; but I may dispense with its use except in emergencies, as derangement of the auxiliary operating apparatus 0.

My balance-lock system may be operated with the valve 14 wide open and the air-pressure practically uniform throughout the system, only varying in pressure in the several IIO parts thereof sufficiently to overcome the frietion incident to moving it in the manipulation of the locks.

The upward reaction of the air on a lock chamber tank A in the construction herein described and deemed generally most desirable will be less than the downward effort of the tank A and its load, and a part of such eifort will be permanently borne on the auxiliary apparatus 0.

In Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the auxiliary apparatus O is shown as consisting in chains or cables 36, their ends being attached to opposite corners of the lock-tank A and passing; around sheaves 37, supported on

shafts

38,3 which are suitably carried in frames secured on term firma or vice versa-i. e., the cables may be anchored to term fi rma and the sheaves attached to the tank A. The shaft 38 adjacent to the head-wall reaches from side to side of the tank A, so as to synchronize the systems on the two sides thereof. It will be seen that this arrangement of sheaves: and cables constitutes a well-known an d perfeet parallel motion. If it be used in its sim ple form, as shown in Fig. 9, the inner end of the lock-tank A must be overweighted and the outer end thereof permanently superbuoyant, so that the cables will be always in tension. If the duplex arrangement shown; in Fig. 10 be used, no such precaution will be necessary. In either case, however, the auxiliary apparatus is entirely automatic in its operations during the manipulation of the locks, keeping them at such times in perfect alinement, for as fast as the cables are taken up on the sheaves at one end of the lock they are paid out from the sheaves at the other end, according to the principles of this parallel motion. Thus the locks are kept level during their motion, and any tendency to misalinement in them is automatically arrested in its incipiency by the auxiliary apparatus.

Band-brakes 39, suitably operated, on the shafts 38 are provided to control the apparatus G and steady or hold stationary the tank A. The auxiliary apparatus 0 of the tank A may be operated by a suitable connection; with a similar apparatus on another tank A1 of the balance-lock system, the tank or lock-l ing member which is overweighted and descending operating both the tanks and their auxiliaries, the descending member directly operating its own auxiliaries and by trans fer of air at a pressure above the normal to the air-chamber of the lighter depressed member overcoming its downward eifort and rais-l ing it by the upward pressure of the contained air in its air-chamber, said member operating its own auxiliary, the brakes of both auxiliaries being at such time released, and the auxiliaries serving to synchronize the motions and maintain levels and alinement in the moving locking members or tanks. When the traverse is completed, the brakes are applied to the auxiliaries and the locks are case it would be generally undesirable to overweight a locking member A, and the weight of such member or members, when loaded, would be uniform and practically in balance with the lift of the compressed air thereon, and therefore normally with no tendency to move either way, except when powerwas applied to the auxiliary through the motor 40. WVhen a locking member A .was elevated or depressed, it would he stayed from undesired motions by the application of the brakes 39. lVhen it was desired to manipulate the locks, the brakes 39 would be released andpower applied through the motor to the auxiliaries, the air being simply transferred from one memberto another and the motion due wholly to the auxiliary systems.

hen used as above described,the auxiliary apparatus has a double function, as follows: first, it automatically levels and preserves the alineinent of the locks and instantly neutralizes any tendency in them to depart from alinement, and, secondly, it serves to transmit to the locks the power necessary to cause them to move.

In small locks of low lift I may use in lieu of the above-described auxiliary of cables and sheaves a differential hydraulic synchroniz ing auxiliary similar to that shown in the accompanyin g drawings in Figs. 11 and 12. In this auxiliary the synchroniZing-engines of the auxiliary C are in duplicate on the two sides of the tank A. Each engine consists in two main elements-namely, a governing member 41 and a subordinate member 46. The governing member 41 consists in a hydraulic cylinder 42, connected by a pipe 43 with a source of hydraulic power-as, for example, an accumulator-and contains a combined piston-ram 44 44, the effective area of the ram 44 being one unit and the effective area of the piston 44 and cylinder 42 being each two units. The sectional area of the annular space 45 between the ram 44 and the intrados of the cylinder 42 is therefore one unit. The subordinate member 46 consists in a hydraulic cylinder 47 and ram 48, the effective area of which is one unit, equal to that of the annular space 45. A pipe 49 connects the annular space 45 with the cylinder 47. From this construction it follows that when the piston 44 of the governing member 41 advances one unit, one unit of liquid is forced out of the annular space 45 into the cylinder 47 of the subordinate member 46, and its ram 48 is moved synchronously with the piston.-

ram 44 44 of the governing member, and vice versa. 'The'cylinders of the engine G being suitably supported on piers or otherwise and the rams 44 48 being suitably connected with the tank A, it is obvious that the motions of the tank A will be controlled and synchronized by the auxiliary herein described, which is also entirely automatic in its operation while the locks are in motion, and instantly controls any tendency to misalinem ent,for the governed members being hydraulically dependent upon the governing members cannot advance or retract at different speeds therefrom, but must always move synchronously therewith. Therefore the points of the lock at which the hydraulic engines are applied are automatically controlled during their traverse and must move synchronously, thus automatically preserving the necessary alinement. This form of the auxiliary apparatus is capable of the double function of automatically preserving the alinement of the locks and instantly neutralizing any tendency to pitch, and, further, of transmitting to them the power necessary to move them in cases where it is undesirable to surcharge the elevated lock with water.

The abovedescribed auxiliaries are more or less limited in their use by the mechanical diiiiculties of their construction and maintenance in good working order. A preferred construction, especially for locks of considerable lift, is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, and 14. In this auxiliary Othe essential elements are governed by hydraulic members 50, located adjacent to the lock-chamber tank A and suitably connected therewith, a governing member, in this case a battery of pumps 57, and hydraulic pipes 55 55 55, connecting the governed and governing members. The operation of the governing member is controlled by the connection of its moving parts with a positive mechanical apparatus, in this case a crank shaft 58 common to all the pumps of the battery, which are connected to it, as shown. The mechanical controllin g apparatusi. e., the crank-shaft 58causes all the pumps in the battery to move synchronou sly. Therefore the liquid in the hydraulic system moves between the governing and governed members through the hydraulic connections in volumes dependent upon the rate of speed of the governing member, and the motions of the governed members are thus made synchronous and parallel.

As illustrated in the auxiliary C, the hydraulic governed members are cylinders 50 50 50 50 located on term firma, being suitably supported and stayed by structures 51 to that end provided. Pistons 52 work in the cylinders 50, and piston-rods 53 extend from the pistons 52 to pins 54: on the tank A and engage therewith. The cylinders and pistons are provided with suit-able glands and packing, as is usual in such apparatus, and hydraulic pipes'55 55 55 55, controlled by a and all connected with a crank-sh aft 58, which synchronizes their motions. I provide a motor or motors 59, also connected with the crankshaft 58. Preferably this motor is apositive three-throw motor and the pumps are threethrow pumps.

The motor 59 has a hydraulic supply-pipe 6O controlled by a valve 61 and an exhaust-pipe 62 controlled by a valve 63.

The cylinders connected with a tank A are arrangedand hydraulically connected in pairs or sets, and each such pair or set of cylinders is hydraulically connected independently of the other sets with one of the pumps in the battery 57. Thus the cylinders 50 adjacent to the head-wall 3 are connected by the pipe 55*" with the pump 57. The outer pair of cylinders 5O are connected by the pipe 55 with the pump 57- and the intermediate cylinders 50 are connected by the pipe 55 with the pump 57. The cylinders and pumps of the several sets being suitably proportioned it follows that when the pumps 57 a 57 57 57 are operated, they being all connected with the same crank-shaft 58, the several pistons 53 will all move synchronously.

The duty of synchronizing the movements of the tank A falls on the cylinders of the end pairs 50 adjacent to the head-wall and the outer pair 50 for the intermediate cylinders act with a neutral resultant force at the center of the tank A and merely lift or support, while the end cylinders, by keeping the ends of the tank moving synchronously, maintain the alinement during manipulation. The intermediate cylinders are introduced to relieve the tank of strain.

In the arrangement above described dependence is placed on the guides 28 to keep the tank from tilting sidewise. If no guides were introduced, each of the end cylinders controlling a tank A would have to be independently connected by a separate hydraulic pipewith a separate pump. Such an arrangement is shown in diagram in Fig. 14. The use of guides is preferable, and other guides 69 are introduced at convenient points to steady the tank sidewise. This auxiliary apparatus is entirely automatic in its operation during the manipulation of the locks, and at such times automatically controls their alinement and instantly arrests any tendency in them to misalinement, for all the governed cylinders connected with a locking member being independently hydraulically connected with the governing member it follows that no governed member can advance faster or slower than another. Each point of the looking member to which a governed hydraulic member of the hydraulic apparatus is connected moves equally with all the other such points, maintaining the alinement automatically without care at such times from the manipulator.

The above-described auxiliary gives very great freedom in manipulating the lock-chamber tanks A.

\Vhere the tanks A are arranged in pairs, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and 13 and 14, with the similarly located and designated pairs or sets of cylinders connected with the similarly-designated pumps, if it be desired to exactly balance the tanks one with the other and maintain an unvarying depth of water in their respective lock-chambers 17 the tanks are actuated and controlled by the pumps in the battery 57, power being applied to the motor 59, which rotates the shaft 58 and drives the pumps, exhausting liquid from the auxiliary C of one tank A and pumping it into the auxiliary C of the other tank A of the pair, lowering the one and raising the other. When a single tank A is used in connection with a balance-tank, the operation is similar except that the hydraulic supply is pumped from some other sourceas, for example, from a reservoir. It will be seen that this auxiliary apparatus, like those heretofore described, is capable of the double function of automatically preserving the alinement of the locks during their translation and instantly arresting any tendency in them to pitching, and, further, of causing their translation by transferring to them the power necessary to cause them to move in cases where it is undesirable to surcharge the elevated lock.

If it be desired to overweight one tank of a pair by admitting an excessive draft of water to its lock-chamber 17 the power to drive the pumps 57 and shaft 58 is derived from the excessive pressure on that side of the pumps connected with the auxiliary C of the overweighted tank A. hen the valves in the hydraulic connecting-pipes are opened, admitting this excessive pressure to the pumps, the said excessive pressure sets them in motion and they practically become motors, driving the shaft which synchronizes them. In this case the motor 59 becomes an idle member or a brake. Obviously if its hydraulic supply-valve (31 and exhaust-valve 63 be manipulated the motion of the tank A can be controlled thereby, being arrested when the exhaust-valve 63 is closed, free when it is wide open, and reduced when it is partly closed. Thus, it will be seen, the exhaust-valve 03 of the motor 59 can be used as the master hydraulic valve of the system, all the other hydraulic valves in such case being left open and an adequate supply of liquid being made to the motor 59, for if the motor were not adequately supplied with liquid avacuum would be made in its cylinders and the motor would fail to control the tank A.

In the case of apair of lock-chamber tanks provided with the above-described auxiliary apparatus normally one tank will be elevated and contain an excess of weight of water.

The other will be depressed and contain a minimum weight. Solong as the valve 63 remains closed (all the other hydraulic valves being open) the balance-lock system will remain stationary. If now the gates be closed, retaining the water in the lock-chambers ot' the respective tanks, the elevated tank detached from the head-wall, and the valve 63 be opened, the excess of weightin the elevated tank, inducing an excess of pressure in the liquid of its auxiliary apparatus over the pres sure in the auxiliary apparatus of the de pressed tank, will cause liquid to flow from the cylinders 50 of the elevated tank through the pipes 55 55 55 to the corresponding connected cylinders of the depressed tank, and the overweighted elevated tank will descend and raise the lighter depressed tank by fluid pressure transmitted to the auxiliary apparatus of the latter, and as the rate of flow of liquid from each cylinder of the descending tank to its connected cylinder of the ascending tank is controlled by the corresponding pump in the battery 57 such motions will be absolutely synchronized and level and alinement will be perfectly maintained. When the traverse of the lock-chamber tanks is completed, the valve 63 is closed, and they are firmly held in position until it is again desired to manipulate them.

As described and shown, using a balancetank in connection with the look-chamber tanks and an air-pressure less than would balance the downward efiort ofthe loaded lock-chamber tank, the depressed tank has no tendency to rise, except when so desired and effected by the manipulation of the valve 63, and the motion of the tanks is obviously due to the auxiliary apparatus, for the air charge being freely connected in all parts of the balance-lock system can never be subjected to a pressure in one part substantially in excess of the normal pressure, for a very slight difference, enough to overcome the friction of the air in the conduits, causes it to flow from one part to the other, as from a descending to an ascending tank, or to the balance-tank, and in a well-designed lock such difference in pressure or head can never be enough to do the work properly belonging to the auxiliary apparatus.

here the lock-ch amber tanks are designed to work independently one of another, as in a series, or in case of a single lock-chamber tank in connection with a balance-tank, the hydraulic auxiliary apparatus of a lock-chamber tank may be directly connected with an accumulator or pump and operated by an independent valve, and, if a pump be used,without necessarily varying the depth and weight of the water in the lock-chamber, the pump being driven by a motor directly connected with a source of power. A mechanism or organization of such character should in any case be provided to make good any leakage, and one is shown in Figs. 2 and 14, in which a pump Si is driven by a motor (.55 and supplies an accumulator 66, which is connected with the auxiliary apparatus 0 by pipes 67, so controlled by valves 68 that liquid from the pump and accumulator can be admitted to any part of the system. WVhile the primary object of this organizationis to make good any accidental leakage, it is obviously equally adapted, if made sufficientlylarge and powerful, to move the lock-chamber tank by the direct application of power to the pump 64 without varying the load of the tank A.

The hydraulic auxiliary apparatus has been described as applied to a lock-chamber tank in connection with an air charge less than sufficient to balance the same when loaded and adapted to raise and support the lockchamber tank. If so desired, the mode of application may be varied to actuate a lockchamber tank in equilibrium with its air-pressure or to depress and hold down a lock-chamber tank rendered superbuoyant by the excess of lift in its air charge over the downward effort of its weight.

The above-described hydraulic engine may also be applied in the form of a parallel-motion apparatus to looks other than pneumatic balance-locks of the type herein described. VVind-pressure on the side of a lock will induce increased pressure in the auxiliary apparatus on the lee side and be transmitted thereby as a torsional strain tending to twist the lock-chamber upon the guides 28 and 69.

Figs. 15 and 16 show balance-locks set tandem, the movable locking member A in the intermediate level 2 of the canal balancing with the movable locking member A in the lower level 200, and, if desired, with a balance member 13. The water-well 5 in which the upper lock-chamber tank A operates is connected with a basin 2 between it and the pierced and gated head-wall 3, adjacent to and below which the other movable locking member A operates. By this arrangement vessels can descend in the upper locking member A and ascend in the lower one A simultaneously, pass one another in the basin 2, and continue their journey with minimum detention at the looks.

The lock-chamber tanks could obviously be drawn close together with or without a headwall between them; but such an arrangement would be only half as efiieient as that shown in Figs. 15 and 16, as in the former case one lock-chamber tank must move with out carrying a vessel (unless the locks be made wide enough to accommodate two vessels side by side) to meet its fellow which is doing useful work, whereas in the other arrangement both tanks can do useful work at every traverse.

Figs. 17 and 18 show a pair of movable looking members set tandem, as described, without an intermediate head-wall, both tanks working in the one well 5 of the lower level 2 of the waterway. The movable looking member A adjacent to the head-wall is held by interlocking parallel guides 28 attached to the head-wall and to the member A. The outer member A is held and guided by the interlocking parallel guides 28 on the adjacent ends of the two tanks. The upper member A adjacent to the head-wall is made higher than the lower one A by half the height of the total lift, and the system is adapted to receive a vessel from the upper level 1 of the waterway into the adjacent member A, which lowers it half-way. the two members are connected, the vessel is passed into the other member A and lowered into the lower level 9 of the waterway, or vice versa.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the lock-chamber tank embodies a type of structure adapted to the largest locks for ship-canals. The structure is designed to be built of steel with the members necessary to the successful manipulation of the lock and its use by vessels so arranged and combined that in addition to their operative functions they also constitute the main elements of the frame or truss work of the structure, which is in two main structural divisions, of which the upper G constitutes a box-girder and is adapted to sustain all strains and shocks which may come upon it from accidents or unequal loading, while the lower division H, not being exposed to accidental strains, is adapted simply to sustain the normal internal stresses due to the functions and manipulation of the tanks. The outer walls 6 of the air-chamber cells 7 are disposed in curved surfaces in equilibrium with the internal air-pressure, being segments of cylinders with nearly vertical axes, suspended from the upper division or box-girder structure G above described and united at their lines of intersection with the transverse partitions 8, which form ties sustaining the resultant tensile stresses of the curvilinear walls 6. This form of structure being practically an assemblage of pipes onend and subject only to tensile strain requires no framing.

The upper division or box-girder Ghas for webs the side walls 7 O of the lock-chamber 17, for flanges the floor 71 thereof and top plates 72 and fenders 7 3, united with the walls and extending lengthwise of the look, while the stiffeners are formed of upward extensions of the curvilinear outer walls 6 and girder constructions 7 4;, uniting the said curvilinear walls with the walls 70 of the lockchamber and conveying strains between them. The side walls 70 of the lock-chamber 17 are cut away at the ends adjacent to the end openings 18 to allow the gates 18 to run behind them when opened. At these places the strains are carried along the box-girder division G by the top plates 7 2, which bridge over the openings made for the passage of the gates, and by plate-girder constructions 70 beneath the floor 71 of the lock-chamber 17. I propose to use a working air-pressure, such that when a lock-chamber tank A is in its lowest position there will still be an air-cushion of several feet between the floor 71 of the hen I lock-chamber 17 and the surface of the water within the airchamber 7. Hence it follows that the upward air-pressure on the floor of the lock-chamber exceeds the downward effort of the floor and its load, and the floor must be held down; also, the water in the loelechamber 17 exerts hydrostatic pressure on the side walls thereof when the tank A is elevated and tends to overturn them, and in looks designed for ships it is impracticable to tie them together above the floor-line. To hold down the floor 71, I provide transverse girder constructions 7a, of which those 74E above referred to are upward extensions, and longitudinal Z-bars 75, united with the floor 71 and girders 74.

I provide eantaliver-girders 7 6, the axes of which are coincident with the planes of the partitions 8, and which extend downwardly as columns to sustain the strains due to the connections with the hydraulic piston-rods 53 and upwardly as cantalivers to sustain the hydrostatic overturning moment on the sides of the lock-chamber. Y

The cantaliver-girders 7 t5, the transverse girders 74:, and the upward extensions 7 4: thereof, together with the floor 71 and side walls of the lock-chamber, the top plates 72, and fenders 7 3, and the connected upper parts of the curvilinear outer walls 6 are all united to form a troughshaped framed structure constituting the box-girder G and adapted to sustain the stresses due to the functions and manipulations of the lock and all accidental strains and shocks that may come upon it.

Figs. 19 and 20 show in detail the lock-gate 80, which is employed in the balance-lock construction herein set forth and which is an improvement on the well-known pontoongate. The contact or seating face 81 of this gate is a surface of revolution about a vertical axis, preferably a segment of a vertical cylinder, as is the contact or seating face 82 on the seat 83, against which the gate fits to make a joint and retain the water. The gate is preferably built hollow, and its back wall 8i may be a vertical cylindrical segment forming a gate, crescent-shaped in plan, with easy lines for cleaving the water, and the best form to eombinestrength with lightness and mobility.

I-provide wheels 101, set horizontally 011 vertical axes, on the bottom of the gate 80,which retain the gate in its circular path when opened by their engagement with the convex surface of a track or rail 96 on the lock-floor. This arrangementis used in the movable looking member A. For the gates at in the head wall openings 4:, and generally when the structure of the lock does not prevent it, I prefer to use the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5,

inclusive, and by the dotted lines in the lefthand side of Fig. 19 and in full lines in the right-hand side of said figure and in Fig. 20, in which cases I provide an arm 85, which may be bifurcated, attached to the bottom of the gate at one or more points and extend ing horizontally to the axis of the cylinder of which the contact or seating face 81 is a segment, and on the arm 85 a bearing 80 engaging with a stud 87 attached to the bottom of the lock, with its axis coincident with the axis of the face 82 of the seat 83, against which the gate is to rest when closed.

The back wall 84: of the gate 80 is always submerged while the lock is in operation, but the outer face is dry each time that the lock is manipulated. I take advantage of this fact to perforate the outer face of the gate with an opening or openings 88, at such height relatively to the surface of the water in the levels in the waterway when the lock-ehamber tank iselevated or depressed that when the outer face of the gate is dry the openings 88 are exposed and that part of the interior of the gate above said openings becomes filled with air, while when the gate has water at the same level on each side, as must be the case when it is to be opened, either when the lock chamber tank is raised and connected to the head-wall with its mouth 18 registering with the gated opening 4 thereof, in which case water is admitted to thespace between the gate of the lock and that of the head-wall to equalize the pressure on the gates, or when the lock-chamber tank is at the lower level, if the gate be at the outer end thereof. Then, however the gate be placed, when the water is at a normal level on both sides thereof, the openings 88 are trapped by the water and a buoyant charge of air is caught and retained in the upper part of the interior of the hollow pontoon-gate 80, excluding water therefrom and giving the gate buoyancy, so that it can be moved with minimum effort, the motion being concentric about the axis of the contact-surfaces.

To move the gate rapidly, I provide awhee1- segment 89 on the top thereof and a suitablyrotated meshing member, as a pinion 90 on the lock or wall, said pinion being provided with hearings in a suitable frame 92 and adapted to be rotated by a motor 93, or by hand, as may be desired. To provide means to move the gates, in case of accident to the pinion 90, I also provide sockets 94:, in which bars or levers may be inserted to move the gate by manual power should it be necessary to do so. I also provide wheels 95 in the bottom of the gate and a curved track or tread 90 on the lock, on which the wheels 95 may run, so that the gate may be readily opened, if desired, when the lock is emptied of water.

In practice it will probably be found best to provide buoyancy in the gate, as above described, somewhat less than the weight of the gateas, say, nine-tenths of its weight-putting a permanent load on the wheels 95 sufficient to keep the gate from moving vertically. A valve 97, in or attached to the top member of the gate, is provided in connection with its interior, so that the air contained therein may be drawn out, if desired.

ICO

The above-described gate is preferably made of steel or iron, with forged or east end posts 98 and top and bottom plate members 99 and intermediate horizontal girders 100 to give the necessary strength. It may, however, be built of wood or other material and be loaded to the desired extent to give -the requisite stability and evenness of motion. As will be readily understood, this gate has a crank motion about the axis of the socket 86 and pin 87, concentric with the faces 82 of the seat 83, and its motion is confined to such a concentric path by the arm 85 and the engagement of the pin and socket 87 and 86.

I have described my balance-lock system as embodying in each case a balance-tank, which is the most advantageous arrangement. The balance-tank may, however, in some cases be dispensed with, if economy is imperative, and the lock-chamber tanks provided with a seal deep enough to permit considerable variations in the volume of the aircharge, the buoyant effect of which will vary correspondingly and throw a greater or less part of the weight on the auxiliary apparatus. In such case a pressure-gage should be provided to show the air-charge, so that in case the air-charge varies in pressure beyond the limits of safety the manipulator can blow out or pump in air to restore normal conditions of pressure and volume in the air charged.

To clean out the water well or pit 5, I may provide a pump 3%. To restore air lost by leakage, I may provide a small blower or blastengine These and a motor 32 to drive them, which may also actuate the high-pressure pump 64: of the auxiliary hydraulic syn chronizing and operating apparatus, and the accumulator 06 may be located at any convenient place, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, I will now explain its operation, first describing the mode of manipulating a pair of tanks balanced one against the other, either side by side or tandem, with a small balance-tank.

One of the lock-chamber tanks is elevated and connected to the head-wall, its mouth registering with and making a tight joint against the adjacent mouth of the head-wall, and the adjacent gates in the head-wall and lock-chamber are opened to admit a vessel to the latter. The other lock-chamber tank is lowered in the water-well and its outer gate is opened, permitting its lock-chamber to communicate freely with the lower level of the waterway.

The lock-chamber tanks are held firmly in position by the combined buoyant-air charge and the auxiliary apparatus, the valve 63, controlling the latter, being closed to that end. The vertical movements of the lock-chamber tanks are so adjusted that at such time the depressed tank contains a minimum depth of water-say twenty-nine feetand the elevated tank contains a maximum depth of watersay thirty and a half feet. The elevated tank, therefore, exerts an excess of pressure over the pressure of the depressed tank upon the auxiliary apparatus, the air being kept at constant pressure and uniform liftingpower by the free communication of the airchambers of the lock-chamber tanks with one another and with the balance-tank. If now the adjacent gates in the head-wall and elevated tank and the gate of the depressed tank be closed, the elevated tank released from the head-wall, and the valve 63 controlling the auxiliary apparatus be opened, the excess of weight in the elevated tank, its liquid positive support being released, will sufficiently compress the air in the air-chamber thereof to expel it into the air-chamber of the depressed tank, and will induce a pressure and lifting effort in the auxiliary apparatusin excess of the effort on said apparatus of the lighter depressed tank, and the elevated tank will descend and raise the depressed tank, reversing their relative positions. Where the hydraulic auxiliary apparatus is used, the liquid thereof is forced out of the cylinders thereof on the elevated tank by the excess of weight thereon and passes through the connected pipes 55 55 55 and the pumps of the battery 57, transmitting power in controlled form to the cylinders of the auxiliary apparatus of the depressed tank, exerting a lifting power thereon and raising it. Thus the lock-chamber tanks descend and ascend uniformly and in perfect level and alinement. Vhen the traverse of the tanks is complete the valve (33 is closed, the newly elevated or raised tank is connected to the adjacent mouth of the head-wall, the gates are opened, additional water to the maximum depth is admitted to the raised tank, the vessels just looked proceed on their journey, and the system is ready for another lockage.

\Vhen the locks are not worked in pairs, but with independently-connected auxiliary apparatuses, the operation is the same, except that the power is derived from a motor or accumulator and pump, and the liquid from and to the cylinders of the auxiliary is pumped in or extracted by that means.

here the members of a flight of looks set tandem with large balance-tank are connected together, the operation of the several auxiliary apparatuses is preferably independent one of the other and worked in connection with a pump or accumulator, the load of the tanks being varied or not, as the experience of the manipulator may dictate. Any one lookchamber tank or a number of them in such a flight may move quite independently of the others, the large balance-tank serving as a pneumatic accumulator to supply or receive the air-charge when another look is not moving, and the accumulator receiving the liquid from or supplying it to the cylinders of the auxiliary apparatus or the pumps operating them directly, as may be desired.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent I 1. In a balance-lock system for waterways the combination of a movable member provided with a lock-chamber and a downwardlyopening air chamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level of the waterway and which is connected by a conduit with a source of compressed air, and an auxiliary apparatus automaticallycontrolling the motions thereof substantially as set forth.

2. In a balance-lock system for waterways the combination of a movable member having a gated lock-chamber and a downwardlyopening air chamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level of the waterway, a second movable member having a downwardly-opening air-chamber with its lower walls similarly sealed, a conduit connecting the air-chambers of the said members and an auxiliary apparatus automatically controlling the locking member, sub stantially as set forth.

3. In a balance-lock system for waterways the combination of a structure retaining water at a desired higher level in a section of a waterway, a gated mouth therein, a movable member provided with a gated lock-chamber and a downwardly-opening air-chamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level of the waterway, a second movable member provided with a downwardly-openin g airchamber with its lower walls similarly sealed, a conduit connecting the air-chambers of the two members, and an auxiliary apparatus automatically controlling the lockin g members, substantially as set forth.

4. In a balance-lock system for waterways the combination of a structure retaining water at a desired upper level in a section of a waterway, a gated mouth therein, a movable member provided with a gated lock-chamber, and a downwardlyopening air-chamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level of i the waterway, guides retaining the said member laterally, a second movable member provided with a downwardly-opening air-chamber with its lower walls similarly sealed, a conduit connecting the air-chambers of the two members, and an auxiliary automatically-controlling apparatus, substantially as set forth.

5. In a balance-lock system for waterways the combination of a movable member provided with a gated lock-chamber and a downwardly-opening. air-chamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level of the Waterway, a second movable member with a downwardly-opening air-chamber and its lower walls similarly sealed, a conduit connecting the air-chambers of the two members, the second member inducing a practically uniform pressure upon the air-charge which pressure is not sufficient to balance the first-named member when loaded, and an automatically-controllin g apparatus connected with the first-named member, substantially as set forth.

6. In a balance-lock system for waterways the combination with waterway-sections located at higher and lower levels respectively, of a structure retaining the upper level, a gated mouth therein, a movable member adjacent thereto, interlocking parallel guides on said structure and on the movable member, a gated lock-chamber and a downwardlyopening air'chamber provided in the movable member, said air-chamber having its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level, a second movable member provided with a downwardly-opening air-chamber with similarly-sealed lower walls, a conduit connecting the air-chambers of the two members, and auxiliary automatically-controlling apparatus connected with the first-named member, substantially as set forth.

7. In a balance-lock system for waterways, the combination of a structure retaining water at a desired higher level in a section of a waterway, a gated mouth therein, a movable member adjacent thereto, and provided with a gated lockchamber and a downwardlyopening airchamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level, a second and similarly-constructed movable member located adjacent to a structure retaining a higher level in the waterway, a conduit connecting the air-chambers thereof, and auXil-.

iary automatically-controllin g apparatus substantially as set forth.

8. In a balance-lock system for waterways, the combination of a structure retaining water at a desired higher level in a section of a waterway, a gated mouth therein, a movable member adjacent thereto provided with a gated lock-chamber and a downwardly-openin g air-chamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level, a second and similarlyconstructed movable member located adjacent to a structure retaining water at a desired level of the waterway, and a balance member with a downwardly-opening airchamber with its lower walls similarly sealed, conduits connecting the air-chambers of the several members and an auxiliary automatically-controlling apparatus, substantially as set forth.

9. In a balance-lock system for waterways, the combination of a structure retaining water at a desired higher level in a section of a waterway, a gated mouth therein, a movable member provided with a gated lock-chamber and a downwardly-openingair-chamber with its lower walls sealed in the water of the lower level, a second and similarlyconstructed movable member located adjacent toa structure. retaining water at a desired level of the waterway, a movable balance member with a downwardly-opening air-chamber and similarly-sealed lower walls, a conduit or conduits connecting the air-chambers of the movable members, the balance-member being adapted to induce a practically uniform pressure in the air-charge not sufficient to balance the loaded movable lock members first described, and automatically-controllin g apparatus con-