The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-09
Inventions in the Depart
ment Of AQuatiCS.
Devices That Teach SWIM
ming and Help Swimmers.
Contriysnces for Harvesting Oceans
lIlimitable Power.

Some OF the most CURIOUS ueVices iof
which patents are asked for come under
the head Of aquatics. For example. Il.
Ashman of Cincinnati. has Invented what
he calls an aquatic glove. which Is In
tended to be worn In swimming. The
fingers of the glove are connected by
web like the toes of a duck, so as 20 OK
pand when opposed 20 the water in max
ing the stroke. Wolf Adelman, OF Jersey
City, Is the originator OF swimming
shoe with rubber sole that spreads out
when the foot strikes the water, and col
lapses when the leg is drawn up toward
the body. One OF the queerest Of devices
is credited to w. III. Richardson, of
Mobile, Ala. 1t is swimming machine,
the operator being held up by an Inflated
rubber bag on which he lies, at the same
time turning a wheel. This wheel actu-
nres propeller, and thus ne Is supposed
to progress through the water at sur
prising rate Of speed.
There are dozens of kinds OF bicycles
that run on water instead OF on lnnd.
One OF them has been patented I'm ms
country by Spaniard named Fernandez.
The wheels of this machine are big hol-
low discs OF copper. provided with rubber
tires, and weights are carried below &c
prevent capsizing. Tho rear, or driving
wheel. Is provided with blades that catch
the water A very clever idea is that OF
John j. Bamber of San Francisco, who
has invented what he calls deep-water
safety bathhouse. This contrivance pro.
vidcs for deep water bathing In such
way that timId persons and poor swim
mers may be safe from drowning and the
attacks of sharks. The hathhouse Ia
anchored out In the ocean, large iron
cage icing suspended beneath it In such
way to provide an enclosure for bathers
.x.I hn
cage is reinforced by wire netting. so
that crabs, cells, seaweed, ETC., are kept
out
Most interesting Of all inventions in the
class of aquatics are those that propose TO
utilize the waves of tho ocean for produc-
ing power A patent has been taken out
by Capt. Alvin ID. Brock of Washington,
ID. c.. for contrivance that has for its
object the harnesssing OF the ocean. lt Is
designed for the utilization OF sea waves
TO run all sorts of machinery on land. In
short, it aims to solve problem that has
PUZZLED Investigators for centuries. In
vain, hitherto, have they sought to- Crap
pIe with the secret, which has always
eluded them just at the moment when II
seemed TO be within grasp. When IL Is
considered that the tossing billows OF
every square mile % ocean surface repro.
sent an amount of energy equal to that of
Niagara's cataract, it will be seen how
illimitable Is the store OF force waiting TO
be drawn from natures great storehouse.
This according to Captain Brooks idea
Is to be accomplished by means OF gigan-
t'c floats. anchored not far from the shore
in q se way, o as to b, ex osod o action
pl the waves. The float mas somewhat the
shape OF boat being made of wood aud
very solid so as To be able to withstand the
elements. Its interior is mainly occupied
by q big air tight tank of metal. At either
end OF the strange looking craft Is a huge
puipr, consisting of n cylinder and p on.
Each Of the two cylinders extends verti.
caliy from the top of the float far down
into the water beneath. On the lower end
Of 1t is attached great piece Of frame
work twenty feet across. When wave
fits the bow of the flat boat. the borizon-
tai framework mt the bottom end OF the
front cylinder must be raised proportion
ately. OF course the resistance Is enor-
nous This resistance ouerates the pump,
which forces water into the tank. On
goes the wave, lifting up tho stern Of tho
float and by the same means operating a
pump az that end, which forces water
into the tank. The water forced into the
tank condenses the air in the tank. and
O. Q condensed air passes upward 10 the
deck Of the flont and causes heel 10
revolye. The wheel operates n dynamo.
which is connected by wires with the
shore.
Tho Chinese have primitive but very
Interesting way or making the tides lift
things. In bailuing a big bridge or fortih-
cation, they bring huge pieces of stone UP
tho river on lighter and then proceed TO
elevate them TO any height desired. When
tho tide Is at its highest they fasten the
stones by means OF ropes tn tall wooden
shear legs, which are stuck In the mud
and tied together ut the top. BY the aid
of this simple contriyance the stones are
left hanging in the air when the lighter
which carried them sinks with the tide.
A structure is then built up from the
deck of the lighter strong enough 20 sUs
tain tho stones which are lifted into the
air when the tide rises again. In this way,
II tho tide rises and falls ton feet in the
river. the stones may be lifted just that
much with every ebD and flow. Iho water
does It NIL IN fact "A practically unlimited
force Is doing the work. IGo whole
moon Is pulling Given Lighter big
enough. shear logs tall enough and ropes
strong enough, the higGos store might
be lifted "a high as the moon. On one
occasicn tig cannon was sunk Nv an
accident in Chinese river. An American