Operations

BAM Nuttall’s Bristol City Docks current works can be split into five main operations.

1. Replacement of Junction Lock Back Up Flood Stop Mitre Gates.
These gates like the one’s recently replaced by Bam Nuttall at Junction Lock have also been in place for over a hundred and forty years and require replacement. BAM Nuttall will again be replacing pintels (hinges). We will need to remove the gates and install our limpet dam to the harbour wall. The water hydraulic system for these gates will also be upgraded to oil and connected to the recently installed network.

2. Up-grading of the Junction Lock Swing Bridge from water powered hydraulic system to an oil hydraulic system and replacing the centre press.
The old Junction Lock Swing Bridge was installed in 1925 and is currently powered by water pressure from the Underfall Yard hydraulic engine house. The tower houses a hydraulic accumulator which stores the hydraulic energy; however the system has a limited working pressure of 750 psi (52 bar). The electro-hydraulic system will have a working psi of 4000.

3. Up-grading of the Entrance Lock Inner & Outer Gates from water powered hydraulic system to an oil hydraulic system.
The gates are in need of upgrading & the water powered system requires updating to a new environmentally friendly hydraulic oil system. The installation of Ram Pits for the arms and cylinders will be required for the four gate leaves.

4. Up-grading of the Entrance Lock Inner & Outer Sluices.
This will involve the refurbishment of the sluices and re-instatement of new hydraulic connections.

5. Construction of five operating houses at Entrance Lock.
Each of gate leaves and sluices will require an independent operating system. The new control buildings will house the pumping systems and provide a work station for Bristol City Docks operators.