Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-04
WAVES MADE USEFUL.
A Novel Method of Pumping EMPLOYED at
Ocean Grove.
NAV York Ttfnesl
New York Iimes.I

Ocean Grove, y. j., il Just now rejoicing
in new mOtive-power for raising water te
sprinkle its streets and make them FREQ
from the slmOOns of New Jersey dust
which have hitherto dotracted from the
charms of that religious place of pasrme.
For wonder, too, the authorities OF Ocean
Grove permit IL 10 work Sundays. 50 that
the motor never ceases any more than do
the waves which roll in upon the beach (;
for the waves themselves are the source
of power, and they are used by an ingenious
device invented by \. .. Bond, of Fairfax
Courthouse, Va. For some time Nh. Bond
has been experimenting with his invention
and last week had 10 80 perfected that It
WAS put into practical use.
Last April work was begun upon a pier
having eight gates, each of which swung
upon steel rod SO that the lower part of
the gate should bc submerged at all tides
two feet at low and seven feet az high tide.
The waves, as they struck the gate, swung
II inward, and a. TO the top was attached
a rod which served as the angle bar Tor the
pistOn-rOd of force-pump placed IN "a
horizontal position, the force OF each wave
sufhced for a stroke of the piston and the
consequent suction of a quantity of water
from the ocean. IL was discovered that
the power of each gate when the wave
forced IT inward was equal to 500 pounds
III u cam 10 0.UVJ IlOAuiN III - NAVY NAA t
A. each gate is thirteen feet long the force
which the wave engenders may easily be
understood SO great Is the constant
working of the pump that the water X
forced forty feet high into tanks, whence
il is taken into the watering-carts and sub
seauently sprinkled over the roadway.
The gates as well as the pier are substan-
italy built one of them working success
fully through the great May storm; when
SO much damage WAS done along the Jer-
sey coast and when the Fifth-avenue paw
lion at Ocean Grove was swept away. The
first practical test was made last week
under peculiarly trying circumstances. for
the supply of water from the Artesian
wells, which have been used for spTlnklIng
purposes. gave out and new source had
To be supplied at once. Two gates of the
eight were put into requisltlon, and last
Friday, when the surf was by no means
heavy. 40 900 gallons of water We're raised
TO the requisite height and used.
A sOmeW hat interesting incident N con-
nection with the development of power
was also discovered. As has been SAID
each gate is swung on a polished steel bar.
The ends OF each of these are set IN two
inch pine spiles. Mr.. Bond provided o
quantity of axle grease with the intention
of keeping the sockets thoroughly lubri-
Gated. After the gates had been working
for some time Mr.. Bond prOceeuedt 70 apply
the grease. but he was astonished TO find
that none of the original lubricator had
been used up. the rods working perfectly
without artificial aid. The extreme ecOnO-
my OF this system of generating power Is
very evident therefore, for not even grease
is needed to keep the gates inceSsantly
working.
Another advantage which the authori-
tics of Ocean Grove claim for the use of
salt water in sprngtime instead of fresh
water is that in equal quantities the former
keeps the ground moist for twice the length
of time.
The new power may be used, too for me-
chanical purposes. for the weight OF 10000
gallons acting upon turbine wheel would
be sufficient 10 work dynamo or do con-
siderable manufacturing. Mr.. Bond has
under consideration an improvement upon
the gates blythe use of big floats, the rising
and falling of which upon the waves, he
says, will give forth a power SIX times as
great as is secured by the present system.
Il IL more than probable that this system
of using power will be introduced in
most Of the seaside resorts along the Jersey
coast and elsewhere.