Sealing system for a water flow control gate

Abstract

A sealing system for a water flow control gate is provided. Each of a plurality of panels has an upper edge extending the length of the panel with a flat surface rounded upward to a wall at the rear side of the panel. The lower edge of each panel has a central perpendicular foot extending the length of the panel with side flanges and a neck between the central perpendicular foot and the rest of the panel. At each end of each panel is a vertical channel extending across the end of the panel. A horizontal sealing strip on each panel surrounds the central perpendicular foot and extending the length of the panel and a vertical sealing strip is positioned within each vertical channel, so that water flow through the water flow control gate is prevented by the horizontal sealing strips between adjacent stacked panels and by the vertical sealing strips between the ends of each panel and the frame.

1 . A sealing system for a water flow control gate having multiple removable panels and a frame for holding the panels, the sealing system comprising:
 a) a plurality of panels, each panel having:
 (i) an upper edge extending the length of the panel, and having a flat upper surface rounded upward to a wall formed on the rear side of the panel; 
 (ii) a lower edge extending the length of the panel and having a central perpendicular foot with side flanges and a neck between the central perpendicular foot and the rest of the panel; and 
 (iii) two ends, each of the ends having a vertical channel extending across the end of the panel; 
   b) a horizontal sealing strip on each panel, surrounding the central perpendicular foot and extending the length of the panel; and   c) a vertical sealing strip positioned within each vertical channel, wherein when water presses against panels that are stacked adjacently in the frame for holding panels, the vertical sealing strip on the bottom of each stacked panel rests on the upper edge of the panel beneath it and is pushed against the wall of the panel below; and
 wherein water flow through the water flow control gate is prevented by the horizontal sealing strips between adjacent stacked panels and by the vertical sealing strips between the ends of each panel and the frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sealing system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal sealing strips and the vertical sealing strips are made of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of NEOPRENE™ and SANIPRENE™. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing system of  claim 2 , wherein the horizontal sealing strips and the vertical sealing strips are made of SANIPRENE™. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing system of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are made of wood. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing system of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are made of plastic. 
     
     
         6 . A water flow control gate comprising multiple removable panels, a frame for holding the panels, and a sealing system according to  claim 1 .