Bulkhead for and method for dry isolation of dam gates
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorMichael G. Mills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bulkhead for dry isolation of dam gates, the bulkhead comprising a plurty of tubular log members bound together to form a platform assembly adapted to float in a horizontal attitude on a water body surface. Water and air conduits are in communication with one or more of the log members to cause the platform selectively to move between the horizontal attitude and a vertical attitude in the water body, and selectively to reduce and increase buoyancy of the platform. A conduit and valve is disposed in one of the log members for selectively permitting flow of water from the water body through the bulkhead. The invention further comprises a method for isolating a dam gate from an adjacent body of water.
Claims11
A bulkhead for dry isolation of dam gates, said bulkhead comprising:
- a plurality of tubular log members bound together to form a platform assembly adapted to float in a horizontal attitude on a water body surface;
- water and air conduit means in fluid communication with a selected one or more of said log members to flood and evacuate said log members to cause said platform selectively to move between said horizontal attitude and a vertical attitude in said water body, and selectively to reduce and increase buoyancy of said platform;
- and
- conduit and valve means in one of said log members for selectively permitting flow of water from said water body through said bulkhead.
A method for isolating a dam gate from a body of water, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of tubular log members;
- connecting together said log members to form a platform assembly adapted to float in a horizontal attitude on the surface of said body of water;
- flooding one or more of said log members to cause said platform assembly to move from said horizontal attitude to a vertical attitude in said body of water;
- moving said platform assembly in said vertical attitude to a position contacting dam piers on either side of said dam gate;
- holding said platform assembly against said piers and further flooding said one or more of said log members to reduce buoyancy of said platform assembly to cause said platform assembly to sink to a dam seat structure;
- and
- evacuating water from an area between said dam gate and said platform assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.