Ship lift system and method for transportation of ships with recycling water system in canal

Abstract

A process for raising or lowering ships from one elevation to another within a locks chambers and simultaneously recycling the water using a hydraulic storage tank. The hydraulic storage tank is located adjacent to the locks chambers and below the minimum level that the ship is to be lowered to within the locks structures. The hydraulically pressurized water storage tank system fills the locks chambers and raises the ship. The ship is lowered in the locks chambers by water flowing by gravity back into the empty water storage tank. The water flow is directed by an energy system that applies hydraulic power, compressed air or any other device that is capable of moving a stainless steel plate or similar device inside the storage tank. The energy system directs the flow of water from the storage tank to the locks chamber to raise the water level. The empty hydraulic storage tank will then receive the flow of water from the locks chamber by gravity when a ship is lowered. The water-saving ship-lift system represented in this invention is beneficial because it achieves the vertical movement of vessels within a canal lock chamber in a safe and efficient manner while, at the same time, recycling precious fresh water for use over and over again with little or no waste.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A water delivery system for vehicle transportation locks chamber, comprising: 
 a series of locks chambers;    at least one water storage tank for storing water to be delivered to said locks chambers;    a piping system linking said storage tank to said locks chambers, and    an energy system for forcing water out of said storage tank through said piping system and into said locks chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said series of locks chambers are arranged in parallel for vehicle transportation.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said series of locks chambers are formed by two side-walls and at least one miter gate.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said water storage tank is located beside and parallel to said locks chambers.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said water storage tanks uppermost surface is no higher than the minimum water draw down for a transiting ship in the locks chambers.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said water storage tank comprise a series of modular storage tanks that are internally linked to one another to equalize water disbursement.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a piping system in which said pipes are linked to a culvert system that acts to neutralize forces created by said energy system.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said piping system carries water from the pressurized water storage tanks to the sidewall and headwall culverts simultaneously, through pipes that run along the foundation of the locks chamber.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said energy system is regulated by a control system that utilizes a computer program or programmable logic control to simultaneously synchronize magnetic system within the locks chambers used to guide the movement of a vessel and the flow of water to and from the water storage tank.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an energy system to pressurize said water storage tank that is powered by at least one hydraulic pistons, electromagnetic forces, compressed air, counterweights, floating tanks in shafts, and other means to transfer the mass of water from the storage tank to the locks chambers.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for regulating the water intake and water discharge from the storage tank into the locks chamber, thereby regulating the flow rate by which the ships ascend or descend in the locks chamber  
     
     
         12 . A method of vehicle transportation, comprising the steps of: providing at least one locks chamber for transiting a vessel through a canal system; 
 actuating an energy system to move stored water from storage tanks to the locks chamber and vice versa;    delivering an amount of water to the storage tanks to facilitate vessel transit;    providing a control system to synchronize disbursement of stored water to the locks chamber and magnetic positioning of the ship in the locks chamber.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of isolating a first locks chamber from a second locks chamber via a series of miter gates.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of synchronizing water flow and ship position via a control system that utilizes a computer program or programmable logic.