Abutment Plate for Water Control Gate

Abstract

The invention relates to a friction reduced and ice resistant water control gate abutment plates that permit, without damage to the concrete, large relative thermal movement between the abutment plate assembly and the concrete abutment or pier to which the assembly is attached. Features that provide ease of maintenance, tight sealing and debris damage resistance are also disclosed.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . One or more friction reduced abutment plates against which a water control gate seal attaches to a concrete abutment by guide members, wherein said guide members engage at least one of the abutment plates in T slots in the at least one of the abutment plates, allowing sliding along one axis in response to thermal movement. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one or more friction reduced abutment plates are made of UHMW polyethylene. 
     
     
         14 . The abutment plates of  claim 12  further comprising gaps between the guide members and the corresponding grooves in the abutment plate sufficient to allow relative thermal movement along the axis in the plane of the abutment plate normal to the guide members. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein one or more friction reduced abutment plates are made of UHMW polyethylene. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the abutment plates is sealably attached to an underlying concrete abutment along an upstream edge. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one abutment plates is fixed, relative to the guide member axis, at its bottom edge. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said guide members are oriented generally parallel to a fully raised water control gate. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , a means for removal and replacement of individual abutment plates.