How it Works

The design of the Diagonal Lock is based on the concept of a watertight, concrete chamber (the ‘Lock tube’) constructed on an incline. Varying the water level in this chamber enables a boat to traverse the incline inside the lock tube, creating an efficient method for boats to navigate undulating terrain.

Side pounds can be used to pump water into the lock tube, enabling the Diagonal Lock to recycle almost 100% of the water it uses.

Implementing side pounds will allow the Diagonal Lock to operate on waterways with limited water supplies – creating an environmentally friendly solution that can sustain a consistent volume of traffic.

The Diagonal Lock can be implemented on both rural and urban waterways. Despite being a modern technology, the construction can be implemented in a rural environment without compromising or impairing the surroundings. Side pounds can be submerged underground, and even the lock tube can be landscaped over.

A key attribute of the Diagonal Lock is the way in which safety has been integrated into the design. Internal steps in the lock tube enable users to exit safely in the event of an emergency. A critical component of the Diagonal Lock is the floating bollard. This is essentially a floating dock situated inside the lock tube – boats using the Diagonal Lock will be secured to the floating bollard, minimising movement during transit and allowing the boat to descend unmanned.

Further information can be found in the Diagonal Lock Brochure. This file is a pdf (file size: 2.6Mb)

Possible Applications

The Diagonal Lock technology has multiple applications which provide solutions to many waterways challenges.

During the early stages of design, the primary application was aimed at improving the canal and river network, ongoing research and development has enabled the vision of the inventor to identify further applications with massive potential benefits.

Some of these applications are:

For simulations of some of the above applications please see the Downloads section.

Potential Benefits

The Diagonal Lock provides multiple solutions to current environmental challenges, i.e.

• major improvements in the transport network
• the reduction of commercial traffic on the road systems
• the conservation of water and the preservation of delicate ecosystems.

The technology is exciting and would create massive opportunities for leading engineers to enhance the canal system, dramatically boosting the dwindling tourist industry and creating many job opportunities.

Capital construction costs would be a fraction of the cost of building a flight of traditional locks – and the pumped lockage water returns would benefit the overall water balance and may provide some off-set to the cost.

The speed of transit creates solutions where there is the need for faster passages of boats through the lock/lift system. Furthermore, the Diagonal Lock does will be able to accomodate larger vessels than conventional canal locks.

The lock is the most “user friendly” lock there is - enabling the elderly and disabled to enjoy the experience of the canals. In some cases traditional locks are physically too difficult to operate.

The Diagonal Lock is a novel concept, beautifully simplistic and environmentally friendly, providing engineers with the most flexible solution to overcome the challenges posed by the navigation of undulating terrain.