US1073682A - Wave-motor. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. HENDERSON.

WAVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 27, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'II Cu.,wAs|||NGToN, u. c

UNTTE STATE T ATENT FETCH.

JOHN H. HENDERSON, OF EAST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

'WAVEJVIOTOR.

To all 107mm- ??6 may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. Hnnnnnsow, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in i/Vave-h'lotors, of which the following is a specification.

An object of the invention is to utilize the impact power in addition to the descending weight of ocean waves.

The invention possesses other advantageous features that, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description, where I shall outline in full that form of invention selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. From this. it will be apparent that I do not restrict myself to the showing made by said drawings and description, as I may adopt many variations within the scope of my inventirm as expressed in said claims.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1, represents a wave motor installed in the surf and connected with an air con'ipressor installed on the shore in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view from below of the tipping frame. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the spring dash pot.

In detail the construction consists of the tipping frame 1, pivoted at 2 on the platform 3. This platform is supported upon the head of the hydraulic ram 4, operating in the cylinder 5, mounted upon the concrete pier 6. This pier is built upon the submerged beach, the proper distance out to derive the most power from the breakers rolling inward toward the shore. The platform is guided between the runways 7 embedded in the concrete on both sides of the platform and braced by the braces S and 9. The platform is raised and lowered by the pump 10, mounted in the pump house 11, located upon the beach, preferably beyond the surf line. The impulses of the hand pump 10 are communicated through the pipe 12 to the cylinder 5, to raise the ram in an obvious manner. The platform is lowered by opening the valve 13 that bleeds the contents of the cylinder back into the tank 1 1 under the pressure of the weight of the structure supported by the ram. The ram system may be filled with oil, water, or any suitable liquid.

The tipping frame 1 is poised on the piv- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 27, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1 913.

Serial No. 738,846.

otal center 2 by the counter weights 15, mounted on the bars 16 composing the frame 1, on the opposite side of the pivotal center. The frame is preferably poised at about the angle illustrated in the drawing. This angle is variable to best meet the particular surf conditions. The frame 1 is composed of T or angle bars 16, curved to the desired shape and duplicated at the necessary intervals in the frame and properly cross braced the curved end of the frame (in this instance the beach end of the frame) is covered with the sheet metal or other material 17 to act as the surface plane, to receive the impact of the successive waves and retain them during the downward swing of the tipping frame. d

The plane 17 ispreferably given a substantially inverted parabolic curve to receive the horizontal thrust of the wave and transform it into a downward vertical thrust. The edge 18 of the plane is preferably set below the tide level a: by the proper manipulation of the hydraulic ram mechanism. The onrush of the incoming wave causes it to divide on the edge 18; the upper or brealcer half travels up onto the curved plane, the peculiar curve of which causes it to be forced downward as the direction of the wave is transl'ormml from the horizontal to the vertical plane; simultaiwously with the thrust of the wave its weight also bears down upon the plane causing it to descend to or below the tide line referred to above.

The fall of the tipping frame is converted into available energy by attaching one end of a cable 15) to it at 20, that passes around the sheave 21, mounted on the shaft 29., ex tendingbetween the uprights 23) attached to the platform 23, and braced by the braces 24: and 2 t. Continuing, the cable passes inshore and around the sheave 25 and is fixed to the end of the piston rod 3 of the pump 27 at 26. Another cable 28 secured to the frame at 20 extends inshore and is fixed to the opposite end of said piston red at 2t). To maintain the cable taut, the sheave is mounted in the end of the piston rod of a piston 36 confined in a spring dash pot ill). The piston 36 is normally pressed bacluvard by means of the spring 3? and the rate of movement of the piston is controlled by a valve in the by-pass 38. This dash pot com-- pensates for any variation in the length of the cable in the rise and fall of the tipping frame.

The apparatus operates as follows: The

incoming wave dashes up onto the inclined plane'that is forced downward by it as described. The fall of the plane exerts a pull on the cable 19 that pulls the piston 39 within the pump 27 to the end of the cylinder Causing it to compress the air therein and force it past the check valve 31 and into the reservoir 32. After the wave has passed off of the plane, the counter-weight 1-5 restores it to. the normal position. The rise of the plane pulling on the cable 28 returns the piston to the normal position in the pump 27, ready for the next wave, to repeat the operation.

While I have shown and described a simple air compressing out-fit for utilizing the power of the wave motor, it is obvious that the power may be applied to other purposes without departure from the spirit of my invention.

To prevent the tilting frame from dropping too far I have provided the bumper L0, extending from the side thereof and adapted to engage the bracket 33 extended in its path and fixed to the platform. Means may be attached to the pump for automatically causing the platform to adjust itself to the variations in tide level.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A wave motor comprising a platform, means for raising and lowering said platform, a curved plane pivoted on said platform, a sheave mounted on said platform above the pivot of said plane, a resiliently mounted pulley, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, and a cable attached? to the end of said plane and extending around said sheave and pulley and attached to the opposite sides of said piston. 40

said pivotal point, counterbalancing means attached to said frame at the opposite side of said pivotal point, a sheave mounted on said platform above said pivotal point, a pulley mounted at a distance from said sheave, a cable attached to said tipping frame and extending around said sheave and pulley, a pump cylinder, and a piston in said cylinder to the opposite sides of which the ends of said cable are connected.

8. A wave motor comprising a vertically} adjustable plat-form mounted in the surf, means for raising and lowering said platform from the beach, ati'ppi-ng plane piV-. oted on said platform, a sheave mounted on said platform above the pivot of said plane, a pulley mounted on the beach, a cable attached to. the end of said plane, extending around said sheave and pulley, a pump cylinder, and a piston in said cylinder to the opposite sides of which the ends of said cable are connected.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 17th day of December 1912.

JOHN H. HENDERSQN.

In presence of BALDWIN VALE, P. S. PIDWELL.

Copies of thisv patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

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