Engineering Marvel, rotating boat canal elevator

[saaber1]

Powered by only a 30 hp motor

At the beginning there were two canals:
Canal Forth and Clyde was built in 1777 between harbors Grangemouth and Falkirk connecting Glasgow with west cost of Scotland.

Canal Union between Falkirk and Edinburgh was finished in 1822.
Because of geographical difficulties, which created a difference of 79ft.in elevation, the two canals were connected by 11 locks.

1963 In, after 150 yrs of existence of this water way with 11 locks the construction of a huge water carousel started. This extraordinary idea was finished in 2002 and became a symbol of Scotland. This invention saves not only time but also energy

This is the only rotational boat transporter in the world. It has two arms and each arm forms a kind of huge tub filled with water. Boats enter the tub, then the tub locks up and the huge arm starts rotating.

Closing the gate , regulation of level of water and “tubs” rotation Takes 15 min. only.
The “tubs” are filled according the Archimedes’ Law. So the weight of “tubs” are balanced.

To open the upper and lower lock and turn the whole system by 180,
they need an engine of 22.5 kW which only use 1.5 kWh

More photos here:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/canal-elevator-rotational-boat-transport-21519.html

 

[moribundman]

Talk about the Scottish spending a pretty penny!

 

[NJC]

Great engineering. Thanks for posting.

 

[oilboy123]

Pretty cool!

 

[Liquid_Turbo]

It is very unique, but I must say, the engineering for such a device is relatively simple... one must not confuse uniqueness with greatness.

The canal is much more impressive, in my opinion..

 

[Steve S]

magnificent.

 

[sciphi]

Neat-o!

Such a simple idea that they finally figured they'd try it.

 

[Cogito]

It's very cool, but one question. They started building it in 1963 and finished in 2002. 39 years seems like an awfully long time?

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Cogito
It's very cool, but one question. They started building it in 1963 and finished in 2002. 39 years seems like an awfully long time?


Well, you know the Scottish have a reputation for being rather thrifty. Building this contraption took a lot of pennies, all of which had to be pried laboriously with very short arms from very deep pockets over the course of almost half a century.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Well, you know the Scottish have a reputation for being rather thrifty.


Being of Scottish lineage, I find that both deeply hurtful and entirely accurate.

I am the second cheapest person I know, preceded only and closely by my dad.

Back on topic; that is the most Euro-looking thing I've seen in a while.

 

[crinkles]

if only all engineering things were that glamorous.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: Liquid_Turbo
It is very unique, but I must say, the engineering for such a device is relatively simple... one must not confuse uniqueness with greatness.


Well that rules out any engineering feat as great.

Everything is built on principals that have been learned before, and improved/fine tuned

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Originally Posted By: saaber1
Powered by only a 30 hp motor



The burning question: what kind of oil is this motor using?

 

[Shannow]

Prolly grease at two points.

 

[PandaBear]

They can probably make the device running even more efficient by always filling the top with more water and let the counter weight shift the top / bottom tube, without any external power other than to regulate the friction and speed.

Come to think of it, maybe they are already doing that with the 30hp energy.