Sluice gate

In a sluice gate apparatus including drawing means energizable to operate the apparatus, a gate disc adapted to open and close a gate opening, frame means defining the gate opening, including guide means adapted to retain the disc in slidable relation with respect to said opening, means connecting the disc with the drawing means for laterally displacing the disc relative to the opening when the drawing means are energized, said drawing means comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a long axis aligned with the connecting means, a closed end facing the disc and an open end facing away from the disc, a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder along said axis and a piston rod extending outwardly of the open end and connecting said piston to the connecting means, lever means having long and short ends and a fulcrum therebetween pivotably connected to the disc, the short end being disposed to bear against a fixed portion of at least one of the guide means and said frame when the disc is in closed relation with the opening, and the long end being connected to the connecting means to obtain a mechanical advantage in drawing pressure when displacing the disc to a partially open position, an improvement comprising a bulkhead isolating the open end from the disc, said bulkhead retaining the cylinder in fixed relation to the frame means and having walls defining at least one passage through which at least one tail rod of the connecting means is adapted to pass and sealing means for slidably sealing said at least one tail rod in said at least one passage.