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| c.1865 - Two wonderful views from the sea lock westwards, through the basin and into the main dock just prior to completion of the works. The lock gates were opened and closed using hydraulic power which was generated in the hydraulic house; you can see its chimney to the right of the image. The pumps at the house were steam powered and pumped water into an accumulator. The accumulator is a large vertical water cylinder with a heavy cast iron weight inside which is slowly pumped to the top of its stroke, at which point, the inlet valve closes and the pumps are stopped. When hydraulic power is called for by the lock gates, coal tips or hoists, water at high pressure is available via a ring main; the power now being supplied by the mass of the weight in the accumulator pressing down under gravity onto the water stored in the cylinder below. Why have an accumulator? Simply to provide constant pressure throughout the system at peak demand i.e. when every hydraulic device on the docks is working at full pace. The lower images have been colourised. [007] [331] |
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