US651305A - Flood-gate. - Google Patents

Description

No. 051,305. Patented June 5, I900.

' H. FUNK.

FLOOD GATE. Application filed Mar. 1, 1906.: v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.-

No. 623L305. v Patented June 5, I900.

H. FUNK, FLOOD GATE.

Applica tion filed Mar. 1, 1900.) (No Model.)

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Q v N V glwuawto'n flak /uni,

B x a Z 7) aFl'M/flmfi J I THE NORRIS PETERS CO, FNOTDLITHQ, WASHANGYON. B C. v

5o hereto attached.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY FUNK, OF PANA, ILLINOIS.

FLOOD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,305, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed March 1,1900. Serial No. 7,008. (No model.)

T0 atZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY FUNK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pana, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flood-Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In inclosing farms and parcels of ground through which a gully extends or stream runs provision must be had for rising water and the escape of drift, trash, and the like at the point where the fence crosses the gullyor stream; otherwise the portion of fence spanning the gully will be carried away. It is customary to hinge the fence-panel extending overthe channel and to secure it by. fastenings which are automatically released either by pressure or a rise of water due to rain, a sudden thaw, or from any cause to permit the panel or gate to swing open and not obstruct the passage of the waters and drift,said panel closing automatically when the waters have subsided and all danger has passed.

This invention aims to improve, increase the efliciency, and render more certain and definite flood-fences of the character aforesaid and to provide fastenings adjustable in nature to release the hinged panel or gate when the Water has risen to any given height and capable of application to any fence or gate no matter what may be its style of construction and whether thehinged section be single or double.

The invention therefore relates more particularly to the instrumentalities resorted to for securing the gate or gates and actuated by the rising waters to automatically release the gate or gates when the waters rise to a predetermined height to permit them to swing open out of harms way and to close and become locked after all danger has passed.

For-a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings While the essential and characteristic feawhich the vane is pivoted. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the arm and vane, show ing the parts relatively adjustable. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the catch when constructed to form a pivotal support for the vane. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective View of a simple form of catch. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the adjustable bar to which the latch is pivoted. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the keeper, omitting the lug. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the gate, showing one way of adj ustably connecting the latch thereto. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of a different form of latch.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description andindicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The portion of the fence extending across the gully, channel, or stream will he designated hereinafter as the gate or gates, according as the part is single or double. The instrumentalities for securing the gate or gates when closed are substantially alike for either single or double gates, the arrangement only being somewhat different according to the relative location of the parts.

The posts at opposite sides of the gully or stream are indicated at 1 and 2, the latter constituting the hinge-post and the former the latch-post when a single gate 3 is em- I ends rise and when released, as by the waters subsiding, they gravitate and automatically close, as will be readily understood.

The latch 9 consists of a bar pivoted at one end to either the gate 3 or the gate 7 and is adapted to engage with a catch 10, applied to either the post 1 or the gate 8. A keeper 11, applied to a batten of the gate to which the latch is pivoted, holds the same in proper position for cooperation with the catch 10. A vane 12, applied to the free end of the pivoted arm 13, is disposed to release the latch and liberate the gate or gates when the water rises to a dangerous point. A cam 14 is provided at the pivoted end of the arm 13 and is arranged to engage with the latch and actuate it when the water rises and lifts the vane 12. The vane consists of two blades disposed relatively at an obtuse angle and joined at their longitudinal edges and in its simplest form may consist of a plate of metal bent intermediate of its longitudinal edges. This form of vane has been found to give the best results, since it presents an inclined surface to the flowing water, which causes the vane to rise by a wedging action, as will be readily comprehended. By having the vane adjustably connected with the arm 13 provision is had for releasing the latch at any predetermined rise in the level of the water. All the parts forming elements of the locking mechanism are vertically adjustable, so as to effect a release of the gate or gates when the waters reach any desired height.

The latch 9 may be pivoted directly to a cleat 15 of the gate, the pivot fastening adapted to be applied to said cleat at any point in its length. This construction is the most simple; but in some instances it is preferred to pivotally connect the latch to a vertically-adjustable bar 16, which is adapted to be secured to the longitudinal rails of the gate or to the cleat 15 thereof in an adjusted position by means of a clamp-bolt 17, passing through a slot 18, formed in the bar 16. A keeper 19 cooperates with the bar 16 to prevent its turning upon the clamp-bolt 17 and insures a vertical movement of the bar 16 when adjusting it either up or down.

The catch 10, applied to either the post 1 or gate 8, is vertically adjustable and differently constructed, according to its location, and comprises an offstanding catch portion 25 and base 20. In the form shown in Fig. 1 the catch extension 25 is centrally disposed with reference to the base 20, which has its lower end vertically slotted, as at 21, to receive a clamp-bolt 22, and its upper end slotted vertically, as at 23, to receive the guide pin or bolt 24. The catch shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has the catch extension 25 at the upper end of the base-plate, which is slotted at 21 to receive a clamp-bolt, (not shown,) and the form shown in Fig. 5 is provided with a lug 30 to receive the pivot-fastening when it is desired to attach the arm 13 thereto and with spurs a projecting from the rear side of the plate to enter the post and prevent the catch from turning on its securing-bolt. The catch shown in Figs. 2 and 10 is best adapted to one of two cooperating gates, since it can be secured to an edge of a cleat or batten l) by means of a bolt 22, passing through the slot 21 of its base 20, the rear edge of the base resting against one or more of the rails of the gate and preventing the catch from turning upon its fastening-bolt 22. Alug 30" is formed in the angle between the catch extension 25 and plate 20 and -is apertured to receive the pivot-fastening 0, upon which the arm 13 of the vane is mounted. The catch shown in Figs. 1 and 6 is used when the vane is pivoted to the gate, and when the vane is to be appliedto the latch-post the form of catch shown in Fig. 5 is preferred.

The keeper 11 has its end portions longitudinally slotted, one of the slots receiving a headed fastening 26 and the other slot having a clamp-bolt 27 passing therethrough and adapted to secure the keeper in an adjusted position. A lug 28 projects laterally from the lower end portion of the keeper 11, and the arm 13 is pivoted thereto. Hence the cam 14 maintains a determinate relation with reference to the latch 9, since the parts 11, 9, and 13 move together when effecting an adjustment thereof.

The single gate 3 is limited in its closing movement by the projecting end of the latch 9 engaging with the post 1. When double gates are employed, it is necessary to provide a stub-post 29 about midway of the bed of the stream, gully, or channel to limit the movement of the gate 8 when closing, the gate 7 being limited when swinging shut by the projecting portion of the latch 9 engaging with the gate 8. The best results are obtained by locating the catch remote from the swing end of the gate 8, as shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a flood-gate and in combination with the latch mechanism, a pivoted arm having a cam portion disposed to engage with and effect a release of the latch, and a vane having adjustable connection with the pivoted arm and comprising blades disposed relatively at an obtuse angle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a flood-gate and in combination with the latch mechanism, a keeper for the latchbar, means for securing the keeper in an adjusted position, and a vane having pivotal connection with the keeper and constructed to be actuated by the rising water so as to effect a release of the latch, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a flood-gate, a vertically-adjustable catch, a correspondingly adjustable latch, a keeper for the latch adjustable vertically, and avane pivoted to the pivoted to the said keeper, substantially as keeper and adapted to eflect a release of the set forth. 1o latch, and to be actuated by the rising water, In testimony whereof I affix my signature substantially as set forth. in presence of two Witnesses.

4. In combination with aflood-gate, a catch, HENRY FUNK. [L. s.] a latch to cooperate with the catch, a keeper, Witnesses: means for securing the catch, keeper and D. M. WHITE, latch when adjusted vertically, and a vane D. M. KEYES.

Images