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What’s the connection between multifaceted genius Leonardo DaVinci and the great Panama Canal? Interestingly his centuries old invention – the Miter Lock – is still getting utilised in the majority of the canal locks. Its design is simple, yet Miter locks form a perfect water-tight lock.
People before DaVinci were using heavy, inefficient locks that worked against gravity.
Now, let’s assume you are the DaVinci and you installed two V shaped wooden gates in a flowing river. Note that the gate is hinged, and this is its open position. What do you think will happen? You’re right – the flowing water will force the gate to automatically close. Let’s re-watch this animation, and notice how the angled edges of the gate ensure that after the closure the joint formed is a neat one.
The V shape serves yet another purpose. After the gate closes, can you guess what will happen to the water level? The water level will rise on the right side, and there will be a small amount of water leakage on the other side. However, as the water level rises further, the pressure on the gate increases. The gates will press against each other and will seal the gate connection tightly. Now, there won't be any water leakage through the joint. That's a perfect and easy mechanism to achieve a water tight joint!
The Miter Lock gates form a perfect watertight lock automatically, but how do we open them? Let’s introduce balance beams on both sides. Even if 3-4 people push from both the sides, the water pressure is so tremendous that this gate won’t open. Before manually opening it, one should make sure that the water level is the same at both the sides - just open the sluice valves of the Miter Lock. Now that the water level has become even on both sides, just one person at each side can easily open the gate.
The gate should be completely open like this. So that the boats can easily pass through.
Here comes a small challenge. When the gate angle is a perfect 90 degrees, closing of the gates will not happen automatically. This is why the operator has to pull the balance arm – after a small angle, the water force will assist to form an automatic water-tight lock.
People before DaVinci were using heavy, inefficient locks that worked against gravity.
Now, let’s assume you are the DaVinci and you installed two V shaped wooden gates in a flowing river. Note that the gate is hinged, and this is its open position. What do you think will happen? You’re right – the flowing water will force the gate to automatically close. Let’s re-watch this animation, and notice how the angled edges of the gate ensure that after the closure the joint formed is a neat one.
The V shape serves yet another purpose. After the gate closes, can you guess what will happen to the water level? The water level will rise on the right side, and there will be a small amount of water leakage on the other side. However, as the water level rises further, the pressure on the gate increases. The gates will press against each other and will seal the gate connection tightly. Now, there won't be any water leakage through the joint. That's a perfect and easy mechanism to achieve a water tight joint!
The Miter Lock gates form a perfect watertight lock automatically, but how do we open them? Let’s introduce balance beams on both sides. Even if 3-4 people push from both the sides, the water pressure is so tremendous that this gate won’t open. Before manually opening it, one should make sure that the water level is the same at both the sides - just open the sluice valves of the Miter Lock. Now that the water level has become even on both sides, just one person at each side can easily open the gate.
The gate should be completely open like this. So that the boats can easily pass through.
Here comes a small challenge. When the gate angle is a perfect 90 degrees, closing of the gates will not happen automatically. This is why the operator has to pull the balance arm – after a small angle, the water force will assist to form an automatic water-tight lock.
If you have ever witnessed the engineering marvel Panama Canal, you might have seen this ingenious invention of Da Vinci in action. The Panama Miter Locks are an advanced version of the original Da Vinci model. The heaviest gate leaf weighs up to 730 tonnes.
In order to operate such a gigantic gate, a powerful motorized mechanism was installed. A strut steel arm connects the gate with a giant bullwheel. The motor drives this bullwheel via a set of gears and pinions to multiply the torque. This bull wheel's rotational motion opens and closes the gate’s leaf perfectly. In fact, this geared system supported the operation of the Panama locks for 84 years! After that they were replaced by hydraulic cylinders, making the locks more simple and efficient.
Another great challenge the American engineers faced was the tremendous weight of these steel gates. Look at these poor hinges – they have to withstand the heavy weight of the Miter Locks. The most efficient solution was to design the gate with a hollow structure. The gates are always immersed in water. The hollow gate design generates buoyancy force and reduces the force on the hinges, thus saving the hinges from premature failures.
The Mitered gates design successfully prevents water leakage between the gates, but what about the leakage between the ground and gate? Da Vinci even had a solution for this problem: place a step at the non-openable region of the gate. Now, please observe the movement of the gate cross section. Due to the same water force, the gates will almost be able to touch the step, and the leakage through the bottom of the gate will be negligible.
Have you ever noticed why the Panama Canal lock gates have narrow edges? The reason is similar to this example. With the same applied force, the pressure multiplies at the narrow edges. This ensures better material compression and a stronger water tight joint.
In order to operate such a gigantic gate, a powerful motorized mechanism was installed. A strut steel arm connects the gate with a giant bullwheel. The motor drives this bullwheel via a set of gears and pinions to multiply the torque. This bull wheel's rotational motion opens and closes the gate’s leaf perfectly. In fact, this geared system supported the operation of the Panama locks for 84 years! After that they were replaced by hydraulic cylinders, making the locks more simple and efficient.
Another great challenge the American engineers faced was the tremendous weight of these steel gates. Look at these poor hinges – they have to withstand the heavy weight of the Miter Locks. The most efficient solution was to design the gate with a hollow structure. The gates are always immersed in water. The hollow gate design generates buoyancy force and reduces the force on the hinges, thus saving the hinges from premature failures.
The Mitered gates design successfully prevents water leakage between the gates, but what about the leakage between the ground and gate? Da Vinci even had a solution for this problem: place a step at the non-openable region of the gate. Now, please observe the movement of the gate cross section. Due to the same water force, the gates will almost be able to touch the step, and the leakage through the bottom of the gate will be negligible.
Have you ever noticed why the Panama Canal lock gates have narrow edges? The reason is similar to this example. With the same applied force, the pressure multiplies at the narrow edges. This ensures better material compression and a stronger water tight joint.