Printer Friendly
Email a Friend
Enhanced Access to Brunel's Kingdom
01 Sep 2005
The installation of new inner lock gates for the Bristol Port Company in the UK, following the earlier installation of similar outer lock gates, has given the port enhanced flexibility with equipment which is operational through its considerable full tidal range. The innovative gates were designed, constructed, installed, tested and commissioned by Ravestein BV of the Netherlands.
Each gate leaf is 17.18m long, with the inner gates having a height of 14.85m while the outer gates measure 16.65m high. Each inner gate leaf weighs 190 tons while the outer gate units are even heftier at 230 tons.
The unique design provides low maintenance lock gates with a single skin construction incorporating self cleaning decks sloped at a 150 angle for reduced silt build up. As there are no buoyancy chambers, the gates can be operational without water in the lock. Low draft ships can enter the lock at a suitable lower tide for longer periods.
The single skin is a major advantage for inspection and maintenance, allowing access and reducing confined space entry requirements.
The gate heels are faced with Orcot pads which are designed to reduce the rate of heel wear. To minimise wear at the quoin when the gate is swinging, the gate pintles are fitted excentrically. When closing or opening the lock, the heel posts are pushed out of the quoin.
The pintles are constructed with a replaceable cap which divers can install without the requirement for a limpet dam.
MJ Information No: 21006
Images for this article - click to enlarge
Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2008. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
Related products
For more information on products mentioned within this article visit
