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US 4,729,692 AGranted
Apparatus and method for quieting flowing waters
AssigneeIntrusion-Prepakt Incorporated
InventorTerrence N. Tucker
Life of this patent
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AssigneeIntrusion-Prepakt Incorporated
InventorTerrence N. Tucker
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus for quieting flowing waters in which a wall supported by a barge crosswise of water flow with structural members of the wall engaging an underwater obstruction to prevent the wall and barge from moving with the flow of water whereby the wall is adapted to divert water flow around the wall to provide a quiet water working area ahead of the wall. The wall comprises a plurality of gates supported by the structural members for movement relative thereto so that the wall may be raised under adverse conditions to allow the floating platform to rise with high waters with the structural members of the wall being maintained in engagement with the obstruction to prevent or aid in preventing the floating platform from moving with the flow. Under normal conditions, the floating platform will rise and fall with the wall in its water quieting position and the structural members of the wall maintaining engagement with the underwater obstructon. The apparatus and method may be used in conjunction with a dam having a vertical upstream face engaged by the structural members and the underwater wall being such as to quiet waters on the downstream side of the dam to provide a safe working area for workmen repairing or modifying the downstream or spillway of the dam or modifying the dam surface or spillway.
An apparatus for use in moving water to quiet water in a work area comprising a float providing a work platform having water-flow-blocking means for quieting water in the work area, means mounting said water-flow-blocking means on said float to extend downwardly therefrom in a position crosswise of the water flow to substantially block the flow of water toward the work area from the position of the water blocking means, and to divert the water flow around the water-flow-blocking means, said water-flow-blocking means comprising an open ended wall to be positioned below the float crosswise of the water flowing to the work area and structural means connected to said float for supporting said wall and for engaging a fixed underwater obstruction to prevent movement of said float by the water and having a length for maintaining engagement with said obstruction as the float rises and falls with the water level.
A method of quieting flowing water in a work area comprising the steps of lowering a wall supported by a float into the water flow crosswise of the water flow ahead of the work area to divert flowing waters, preventing movement of the float and wall with the water flow by engaging depending structural means connected to the float with an underwater fixed obstruction and maintaining engagement with the obstruction as the float rises and falls with the level of the water and raising at least part of the wall from its position for blocking the water flow when conditions are such that the water flow blocked by the part is to be allowed to proceed, but maintaining engagement of said structural means with said obstruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.