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    Tower Bridge in London was constructed in 1892 with two road decks that could be raised using hydraulic pressure to allow ships to pass through. Originally, steam pumping engines powered by coal-fired boilers operated hydraulic pumps to store water under high pressure in accumulators to raise and lower the decks. In the 1970s, the system was modernized so that electric motors now drive high pressure oil pumps to operate the bascules.

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    Toer Bridge Document

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    Tower Bridge in London was constructed in 1892 with two road decks that could be raised using hydraulic pressure to allow ships to pass through. Originally, steam pumping engines powered by coal-fired boilers operated hydraulic pumps to store water under high pressure in accumulators to raise and lower the decks. In the 1970s, the system was modernized so that electric motors now drive high pressure oil pumps to operate the bascules.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    22 views5 pages

    Tower Bridge

    Uploaded by

    Buen Vecino
    Tower Bridge in London was constructed in 1892 with two road decks that could be raised using hydraulic pressure to allow ships to pass through. Originally, steam pumping engines powered by coal-fired boilers operated hydraulic pumps to store water under high pressure in accumulators to raise and lower the decks. In the 1970s, the system was modernized so that electric motors now drive high pressure oil pumps to operate the bascules.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    TOWER BRIDGE, LONDON

    Tower Bridge under construction in 1892


    The two road decks (bascules) were raised by hydraulic pressure at up to 750 lb per
    square inch to allow the passage of shipping.. Two steam pumping engines fed from
    Lancashire boilers operated the hydraulic pumps which supplied water under
    pressure to be stored in six accumulators. The system was extensively revised in the
    1970s and now electric motors drive high pressure oil pumps to operate the
    bascules.
    Above and next two illustrations Tower Bridge, Honor Godfrey, 1988
    (CIBSE Heritage Group Collection)

    Elevations of the east and west fronts of the main towers

    Machinery of Tower Bridge in the engine house and piers

    Two of the six Lancashire coal-fired boilers which operated at 75 psi


    This and following illustrations from London Revealed,
    John Freeman, 1989 (CIBSE Heritage Group Collection)

    Steam-driven hydraulic pumping engine

    The accumulator tower where water was stored under high pressure

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