hydrostatic lock

plural hydrostatic locks

1. uncountableusuallyengineeringA condition that arises when a device which compresses gases seizes up because of the infiltration of liquid, which prevents further compression.

   When hydrostatic lock is suspected or exists, stop cranking immediately and notify unit maintenance.

   1992, US Department of the Army, Operator's Manual: Armored Reconnaissance/airborne Assault Vehicle, Full-Tracked 152-mm Gun/Launcher

   2 more examples

   If the engine does not rotate, it may be seized due to its being operated with no oil, broken engine components, or hydrostatic lock.

   2014, Barry Hollembeak, Today's Technician, →ISBN

   Cavitated liners can also leak combustion gases into the cooling system, but they tend to produce hydrostatic locks after the engine is shut down when hot.

   2015, Gus Wright, Fundamentals of Medium/Heavy Duty Diesel Engines, →ISBN, page 328

2. countableA lock for raising and lowering boats on a canal or waterway that operates by using pressurized water to flood or drain the level inside the lock.

   After an empty boat has been once weighed, she is numbered, and her weight is registered at the several hydrostatic locks.

   1830, Theodore Dwight, Henry Dilworth Gilpin, The northern traveller, and Northern tour

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   This navigation system was possible due to Josiah White's invention of hydrostatic locks, which increased the river depth by creating small artificial floods.

   2005, Diane Goodspeed, Family-Friendly Biking in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania, →ISBN

   The canal employed a series of hydrostatic locks—also called bear traps—that would create an “artificial flood” that changed water levels, allowing the barges to flow freely in either direction.

   2007, Marie Murphy Duess, Colonial Inns and Taverns of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, →ISBN

3. countableA locking mechanism that uses hydrostatic pressure in order to achieve a seal.

   The different systems are :—The set screw, lead rivet, padlock, pneumatic lock, magnetic lock, cryptograph lock, and hydrostatic lock.

   1894, William Williamson, Mining Notes and Formulæ for Students Preparing for the Colliery Manager's And Science and Art Department Examinations

   2 more examples

   Hydrostatic locks are being successfully employed in tower cookers, and have been demonstrated to be sound in reduced size form from an engineering standpoint.

   1973, Food Engineering - Volume 45, page 68

   Vertical sterilizers use hydrostatic locks on inlet and outlet sides. Packages are placed in transverse carriers attached to twin roller-chains, which move through the sections of the hydrostatic sterilizer.

   2010, Ryzhard Pohorecki, John Bridgwater, M. Molzahn, Rafiqul Gani, Crispulo Gallegos, Chemical Engineering and Chemical Process Technology - Volume V, →ISBN

present singular third person hydrostatic locks · participle present hydrostatic locking · participle past hydrostatic locked · past hydrostatic locked

1. To seize up because liquid has infiltrated a mechanism for compressing gasses.

   Do not pour the top lube into the carburetor too rapidly because hydrostatic locking can occur.

   1990 November-December, Jack Chamberlain, “Bedding Your Boat Down For The Winter”, in WaterSki, volume 12, number 9

2. To form a seal by employing a mechanism that uses hydrostatic pressure.

   It allows a very precise positioning of the light source, thanks to its hydrostatic locking mechanism.

   2010, Enrico Savazzi, Digital Photography for Science, →ISBN, page 191