Navigational bypass, gate and pump device for use in water

• US 5,678,956 A
• Filed: 02/07/1996
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth W. Freelain
• Original Assignee: Kenneth W. Freelain
• Inventors: Freelain, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAGMAN, FREDERICK LYNDON
• Application Number:
  US08/598,218
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 405/87, 405/95, 405/99, 405/80, 405/84, 415/149.2, 415/149.3, 415/149.1, 251/12
• US Class Current: 405/99
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/00 Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites barrages or weirs E02B7/00; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 9/00 Water-power plants; Layout, construction or equipment, methods of, or apparatus for, making same
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

A pump device includes a motor, a pump body having a first body portion and a second body portion, a shaft connected to the motor and extending into the pump body and an impeller mounted on the shaft between the first and second body portions. A four valve assembly is provided in the pump body. The first and second valves are provided in the first body portion, and the third and fourth valves are provided in the second body portion. This pump device may be used to move an attached gate through fluid. When the gate door is to be moved through the fluid in a first direction, the first valve and the fourth valve are opened (and the second and third valves are closed) so that the fluid moves through the pump body from the fourth valve to the first valve. When the gate door is to be moved in a second direction, the second valve and the third valve are opened (and the first and fourth valves are closed) so that the fluid moves through the pump body from the third valve to the second valve. This gate and pump arrangement may provide a navigational bypass in a body of water. Thus, electricity generating equipment can be included in and around the water body without closing the water to boats, ships and other water traffic.

Claims

1. A gate for use in a fluid, comprising:

a gate door including a first end and a second end, wherein a hinge mount area is provided at the first end of the gate door for mounting the gate door onto a hinge; and

a pump device mounted at a position along a longitudinal length of the gate door or at the second end of the gate door, wherein the pump device includes;

a motor;

a pump body including a first body portion and a second body portion;

a shaft connected to the motor and extending into the pump body;

an impeller mounted on the shaft in an area of the pump body between the first body portion and the second body portion;

a first valve provided in the first body portion;

a second valve provided in the first body portion;

a third valve provided in the second body portion; and

a fourth valve provided in the second body portion,

wherein, when the gate door is to be moved through the fluid in a first direction, the first valve and the fourth valve are open so that the fluid is pulled into the pump body by the impeller through the fourth valve and leaves the pump body through the first valve, and when the gate door is to be moved through the fluid in a second direction, the second valve and the third valve are open so that the fluid is pulled into the pump body by the impeller through the third valve and leaves the pump body through the second valve.

2. A gate as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one wheel is provided at a bottom of the gate door to facilitate movement of the gate door through the fluid.

3. A gate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is mounted on the gate door.

4. A navigational bypass system for use in conjunction with a body of water, comprising:

a structural island for defining a main water body and a bypass water body, wherein the bypass water body extends between the structural island and an edge of the body of water;

a first hinge post provided on either the structural island or on land along the body of water;

a first gate attached to the first hinge post, wherein the first gate extends at least partially across the bypass water body, wherein the first gate includes;

a first gate door having a first end and a second end, wherein a hinge mount area is provided at the first end of the first gate door for mounting the first gate door onto the first hinge post; and

a pump device mounted at a position along a longitudinal length of the first gate door or at the second end of the first gate door, wherein the pump device includes;

a motor;

a pump body including a first body portion and a second body portion;

a shaft connected to the motor and extending into the pump body;

an impeller mounted on the shaft in an area of the pump body between the first body portion and the second body portion;

a first valve provided in the first body portion;

a second valve provided in the first body portion;

a third valve provided in the second body portion; and

a fourth valve provided in the second body portion,

wherein, when the first gate door is to be moved through the water in a first direction, the first valve and the fourth valve are open so that water is pulled into the pump body by the impeller through the fourth valve and leaves the pump body through the first valve, and when the first gate door is to be moved through the water in a second direction, the second valve and the third valve are open so that water is pulled into the pump body by the impeller through the third valve and leaves the pump body through the second valve.

5. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one wheel is provided at a bottom of the first gate door to roll along a bottom of the bypass water body to facilitate movement of the first gate door through the bypass water body.

6. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 4, further including:

a gate post provided on either the structural island or at the edge of the body of water, and a second gate attached to the gate post, wherein the second gate extends partially across the bypass water body.

7. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 4, further including:

a second hinge post provided on either the structural island or on land along the water body, and a second gate attached to the second hinge post, wherein the second gate extends partially across the bypass water body.

8. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second gate includes:

a second gate door including a first end and a second end, wherein a second hinge mount area is provided at the first end of the second gate door for mounting the second gate door onto the second hinge post; and

a second pump device mounted at a position along a longitudinal length of the second gate door or at the second end of the second gate door.

9. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second pump device includes:

a motor;

a pump body including a first body portion and a second body portion;

a shaft connected to the motor and extending into the pump body;

an impeller mounted on the shaft in an area of the pump body between the first body portion and the second body portion;

a first valve provided in the first body portion;

a second valve provided in the first body portion;

a third valve provided in the second body portion; and

a fourth valve provided in the second body portion,

wherein, when the second gate door is to be moved through the water in a first direction, the first valve and the fourth valve are open so that water is pulled into the pump body by the impeller through the fourth valve and leaves the pump body through the first valve, and when the second gate door is to be moved through the water in a second direction, the second valve and the third valve are open so that water is pulled into the pump body by the impeller through the third valve and leaves the pump body through the second valve.

10. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one wheel is provided at a bottom of the second gate door to roll along a bottom of the bypass water body to facilitate movement of the second gate door through the bypass water body.

11. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first gate extends essentially completely across the bypass water body.

12. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one wheel is provided at a bottom of the first gate door to roll alone a bottom of the bypass water body to facilitate movement of the first gate door through the bypass water body.

13. A gate for use in a fluid, comprising:

a gate door including a first end and a second end, wherein a hinge mount area is provided at the first end of the gate door for mounting the gate door onto a hinge; and

a pump device mounted at a position along a longitudinal length of the gate door or at the second end of the gate door;

a latching mechanism connected to the gate door such that the latching mechanism extends from a bottom of the gate door;

means for moving the latching mechanism; and

pressure reducing means provided on the gate door to thereby reduce power required to move the gate in the fluid.

14. A gate as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for moving the latching mechanism includes a motor connected to a shaft, wherein the shaft is movable to raise and lower the latching mechanism.

15. A gate as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pressure reducing means includes a plurality of blades provided across an opening defined in the gate door.

16. A gate as claimed in claim 15, further including a blade control means to selectively move the blades to open and close the opening.

17. A navigational bypass system for use in conjunction with a body of water, comprising:

a structural island for defining a main water body and a bypass water body, wherein the bypass water body extends between the structural island and an edge of the body of water, and wherein at least one cavity is defined in a bottom of the bypass water body;

a first hinge post provided on either the structural island or on land along the body of water; and

a first gate attached to the first hinge post, wherein the first gate extends at least partially across the bypass water body, wherein the first gate includes;

a first gate door having a first end and a second end, wherein a hinge mount area is provided at the first end of the first gate door for mounting the first gate door onto the first hinge post; and

a pump device mounted at a position along a longitudinal length of the first gate door or at the second end of the first gate door;

a latching mechanism connected to the gate door such that the latching mechanism may be extended from a bottom of the gate door and into the cavity in the bottom of the bypass water body;

means for moving the latching mechanism into and out of the cavity; and

pressure reducing means provided on the gate door to thereby reduce power required to move the gate in the water.

18. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the means for moving the latching mechanism includes a motor connected to a shaft, wherein the shaft is movable to raise and lower the latching mechanism.

19. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pressure reducing means includes a plurality of blades provided across an opening defined in the first gate door.

20. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 19, further including a blade control means to selectively move the blades to open and close the opening.

21. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 17, further including a seal to prevent water leakage between the structural island and the first gate.

22. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 17, further including a second gate which extends at least partially across the bypass water body toward the first gate, wherein a seal is provided to prevent water leakage through a gap between the first gate and the second gate.

23. A navigational bypass system as claimed in claim 17, further including a seal to prevent water leakage between the edge of the body of water and the first gate.