Caisson lock Lock (water navigation)

operation of caisson lock

around 1800 use of caisson locks proposed robert weldon somerset coal canal in england. in underwater lift, chamber 80 ft long , 60 ft (18 m) deep , contained enclosed wooden box big enough take barge. box moved , down in 60 ft (18 m) deep pool of water. apart inevitable leakage, water never left chamber, , using lock wasted no water. instead, boat entered box , sealed in door closing behind it, , box moved or down through water. when box @ bottom of chamber, under 60 feet (18 m) of water – @ pressure of 3 atmospheres, in total. 1 of these locks built , demonstrated prince regent (later george iv), had various engineering problems , design not put use on coal canal.