3433 Oakwood Hills Pkwy Eau Claire , WI 54701-7698
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Merrill WI PERMIT NO 24
A LOOK BACK : HINGED FLOATING BULKHEADS THEN AND NOW
An innovative , cost-effective device known as a hinged floating bulkhead has been making dam repairs easier and more efficient for more than 30 years now . Ayres ’ engineers designed the first hinged floating bulkhead for Northern States Power Company , now Xcel Energy , in 1986 – and , to this day , it ’ s still in use and just as effective as it was then .
Over the last three decades , Ayres has installed 12 of the dewatering systems across the country and even in Puerto Rico , finished design on 15 , and is working on a 16th out East that ’ s scheduled to be installed this fall .
Many changes and refinements have occurred through the last 30 years , including improving fabrication techniques and enhancing the bulkheads ’ sealing system to allow for a sturdier seal with a more variable sealing surface . Ayres ’ engineers have also modified existing bulkheads for reuse at other facilities and improved the bulkheads ’ installation . Where they were once exclusively installed as a garage door-style system , they can now also be designed in an alternative manner – as a one-piece system – if the project calls for it , which is easier to install .
The dewatering system is comprised of individual , floating caissons pinned together at hinges . To place the floating bulkhead , selected caisson chambers are filled with water to sink the assembly into place . The gate is then opened for dewatering . To remove the bulkhead , the water is evacuated from the chambers , and the assembly floats away from the pier noses , leaving it ready for use at the next bay .