An Apparatus for Utilising the Force of the Waves.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Utilising the Force of the Waves.
I, ALBERTO DE SAN ROMAN, Hidalgo, of San Sebastian, in the Kingdom of
Spain, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an apparatus for utilising the force of the waves.
The apparatus comprises a vessel the upper part of which is of conical shape and
the lower part rectangular in cross section and tapering; the said vessel being
open at its larger end and having three valves in its other end as well as two
openings at each side through which pass pipes for conveying water from an inner
chamber to the place where the power is to be applied. In the said chamber are
a number of valves opening inwards and arranged to close by their own weight.
The apparatus is secured in any suitable manner on the surface of the sea with
its axis as nearly as possible in a line with the direction of travel of the waves, its
open end or mouth placed in position to receive them and its closed end at a lower
level than its mouth. The water travelling for example at a speed of about
5 metres per second (which is the medium speed of the waves of a comparatively
calm or only slightly agitated sea) increases its speed as it passes from the entrance
of the apparatus to the other or closed end. The three valves at the closed end
are at once shut by the pressure and the valves in the said chamber open and admit
the water so long as the pressure outside the chamber is greater than that inside.
The air in the chamber has a tendency to react against the water and when
the chamber valves are shut it forces part of the water out through the pipes.
The said valves, being relieved from pressure, then open and allow the remainder
of the water to escape until the arrival of another wave when a similar action
takes place and so on.
The apparatus may be fixed or movable.
If it is to remain fixed it can be laid or let into the masonry of a pier, breakwater
or the like or into the rocks on the shore. This method of using the apparatus
although inexpensive is open to the objection that a series of apparatuses would be
required placed one above another where frequent spring tides occur or when it
is required that the effect shall not be intermittent.
If the apparatus is to be movable it can be carried on a lighter or other floating
structure.
Or I can adapt the apparatus to be moved on racks supported by cables through
the medium of an arrangement of pivotted arms carrying studs engaging in the
said racks whereby the apparatus can be lifted and lowered by means of a cable
from the shore.
The lifting and lowering cable can advantageously be automatically operated by
electricity (supplied from a motor on shore) by means of an arrangement of floats
and levers adapted to the apparatus and actuating contact pieces and closing and
opening two electric circuits. On the shore are two wheels which actuate in either
direction the shaft of the drum round which the lifting and lowering cable is
wound.
The engagement of the said wheels with the shaft is effected by a fork actuated
by two powerful electro-magnets introduced into the two circuits respectively so
that the apparatus is raised or lowered according to which circuit is opened or

page_text: closed. The disengagement of the wheels with the shaft is effected by a spring
directly the current of the corresponding circuit is interrupted.
Dated the 6th day of July 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Utilising the Force of the Waves.
1, ALBERTO DE SAN ROMAN, Hidalgo, of San Sebastian, in the Kingdom of
Spain, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an apparatus for utilising the force of the waves.
The apparatus comprises a vessel the upper part of which is of conical shape
and the lower part rectangular in cross section and tapering; the said vessel being
open at its larger end and having three valves in its other end as well as an
opening at each side through which openings pass pipes for conveying water from
an inner chamber to the place where the power is to be applied. In the said
chamber are a number of valves opening inwards and arranged to close by their
own weight.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for utilising the force of the
waves constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the apparatus in section through the
centre of its length.
Figures 3 and 4 are views of details to be hereinafter described.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
a is the vessel the upper part of which is of conical shape and the lower part
rectangular in cross section and tapering from the front or open end to the rear or
closed end as shewn, the said vessel in order to enable it to resist the violent action
of the sea and the high pressure to which it is intended to be submitted being
advantageously constructed of sheet metal strengthened with ribs.
b, b indicate two of the three valves in the rear end of the vessel a; c is the
inner chamber of semi-cylindrical shape secured to the bottom of the vessel a and
having its front end d semi-conical and its rear end e semi-circular; are the
pipes each passing from the inner chamber c through an opening at the side of the
vessel a to the place where the power is to be applied; 9, 9, 9 are the valves in
the chamber c, the said valves opening inwards and arranged to close by their own
weight.
The apparatus thus constructed is secured in any suitable manner (such as that
hereinafter described and illustrated) on the surface of the sea with its axis as
nearly as possible in a line with the direction of travel of the waves, its open end
or mouth placed in position to receive them and its closed end at a lower level than
its mouth. The water travelling for example at a speed of about 5 metres per
second (which is the medium speed of the waves of a comparatively calm or only
slightly agitated sea) increases its speed as it passes from the entrance of the
apparatus to the other or closed end. The three valves b at the closed end are at
once shut by the pressure and the valves g in the said chamber c open and admit
the water so long as the pressure outside the chamber is greater than that inside.
The air in the chamber c has a tendency to react against the water and when the
chamber valves g are shut it forces part of the water out through the pipes f to
the place where the power is to be applied.

page_text: The valves in the vessel a being relieved from pressure, then open and allow the
remainder of the water to escape until the arrival of another wave when a similar
action takes place and so on, the apparatus thus acting in a similar manner to a
hydraulic ram.
When the sea is very calm the useful effect of the waves can be increased by
increasing the inclination of the vessel a and securing one edge of a board to the
front edge of the floor of the vessel such board resting in an oblique position on a
bar a' carried by the racks hereinafter described or supported by any other suitable
means so as to provide an inclined platform up which the waves can pass into the
mouth of the vessel a.
The apparatus may be fixed or movable.
In the drawings I have shewn it adapted to be automatically lifted and lowered
as the tide flows and ebbs, on inclined racks h, h supported by cables i, i', the
cables i being secured to a bar i over which (as shewn in plan in Figure 3) a plate k
of elliptical shape is bent or doubled across its minor diameter, slots being cut in
the plate k to admit the ends of the cables, and the said plate being secured to the
bottom of the sea by anchors 1, 1, 1 or by means of piles, similar to those employed
for securing buoys, or by any other suitable means. The other cables are fixed
by any convenient means to the shore.
The rear end of the apparatus is suspended upon the racks h, Figure 1, by means
of a bar m having a cross-head n carrying rollers o, o running over the racks. On
the cross-head n are fixed frames p, p forming bearings for rollers 9, 9 beneath the
racks, for preventing the rollers o from leaving the racks; r, r,r are braces for
ensuring the stability of the apparatus.
The front end of the apparatus is supported on the racks h by means of rollers s, s
the spindles t,t of which are located in brackets u, u on the bottom of the
vessel a.
On the spindles t, t oscillate arms v, v having studs w and x on their outer faces,
the studs w engaging in the teeth of the racks h and the studs being located in
eyes in the lateral arms y of a bar z, Figures 1 and 2, on which freely works a
lever a', Figure 2, pivotted at 6' to the bottom of the vessel a and having fixed
thereto a float c'. Another float d' having greater power of flotation than the
float c is fixed on a rod e¹ the upper end of which is guided in the end of an arm f¹,
Figure 1, fixed to the bar m, and the lower end carried by one end of a lever g
fulcrummed at h¹ to a frame j fixed to the rear end of the bottom of the vessel a,
the other end of the lever g' being located vertically over the rear end of the
lever a', as shewn in Figure 2.
k³, Figure 1, is the traction cable for raising and lowering the apparatus as the
tide flows and ebbs respectively, the cable being spliced to the bar m and passing
direct to the shore where it is passed round a pulley of a windlass shewn in plan
at Figure 4 thence under a pulley (not shewn) secured to the bottom of the sea in
any suitable manner and round a pulley n' mounted on the bar j, Figure 3, to the
front of the vessel a where it is secured as shewn in Figure 1.
The pulley shaft o' of the windlass is actuated in one or the other direction as
required from a suitable motor (not shewn) through the medium of a strap p' and
driving pulley q¹ on a shaft r¹ on which slides a sleeve s¹ carrying two toothed
wheels t, ul arranged to be brought into gear respectively with a spur wheel v¹ on
the shaft o' and an intermediate wheel to geared to a pinion r¹ on the shaft o¹.
The sleeve s' is moved along the shaft in either direction by means of a fork y'
pivotted at 2 and carrying at its tail end an armature a' adapted to be attracted
by either of two electro-magnets 62, c3 by the means hereinafter described the said
tork being moved to the central position shewn in the drawing, when the armature
is not attracted by either magnet, by means of springs d², e².
The upper end of the rod e', Figure 1, carries a V-shaped contact piece f
adapted when the float d' rises to embrace a wedge-shaped contact piece g³ carried
by a bracket a³ on the cross-head n thereby closing an electric circuit in which one
of the magnets (say 62) is included. A similar V-shaped contact piece h³ is

page_text: provided on the upper end of a rod connected at its lower end to one end of a
lever pivotted at 2 to the frame and having its other end placed in a
vertical line beneath the rear end of the float c', Figure 2; the upper end of the
rod 2 is carried by arms 2 pivotally connected with the bar m; the cable k' carries
a wedge-shaped contact piece m² which is embraced by the piece 2 when the float c
impinges on the lever and raises the rod thereby closing a circuit in which the
other magnet c² is included.
n is a cable passing through the eye or loop 02, Figure 2, formed by the lower
end of the bar m and round pulleys fixed to the bottom of the sea and secured (in
any suitable manner so that it can be drawn in or let out as the vessel a is moved
over the racks h) on the shore for the purpose of further ensuring the stability of
the apparatus.
p², p² are two springs fixed at a short distance from each other on the bar m and
which in conjunction with an india rubber washer 2 on the upper valve b serve to
soften the shock of the said valve; a similar result being obtained in respect of the
two side valves 6 by means of spiral springs ² on their spindles and a similar washer
on each valve.
:-
The operation of the automatic lifting and lowering mechanism is as follows :-
Suppose the tide to be rising, the float d' will gradually become immersed and
will depress the free end of the lever g' which, by reason of the superior power of
flotation of the float d' over the float c', will force down the lever a', thereby lowering
the bar z and lifting the studs w clear of the teeth of the racks h. At the same time
the float d' in rising will make contact between f' and g², the magnet 62 will attract the
armature a² and the wheel t¹ will thereby be moved into gear with the wheel v¹.
Assuming the motor to be actuating the shaft in the direction of the arrow, the
pulley will then haul in the vessel a until the float d¹ in emerging from the water
breaks contact between 2 and 92 so as to open the circuit, whereupon the
armature a² being no longer attracted by the magnet 2 will be moved by the
springs d, es into the middle position as shewn in Figure 4 and the hauling in of
the vessel a will discontinue. The float d¹ at the same time removes the lever g¹
from contact with the lever a when the studs w will again enter the teeth of the
racks and lock the vessel a in position.
If on the other hand the tide be ebbing, the float c' will descend with the
receding water and will carry down with it the lever a' thereby freeing the studs w
from the racks h and the rear end of the float c¹ will bear upon the lever so as to
lift the rod and make contact between 2 and m². The magnet will attract the
armature a' and the wheel u will be moved into gear with the wheel w' which will
actuate the wheel shaft o' and pulley so as to cause the latter to haul out the
vessel until the float c¹ being again borne up by the water will be lifted from the
lever Contact between 2 and m² will be thereby broken and the gearing of
the windlass being consequently disengaged, the hauling out of the vessel a will be
discontinued. The lever a' will at the same time be lifted so as to again bring the
studs w into the racks h.
If it be required to haul in the vessel a independently of the action of the floats
contact can be made between 2 and 2 by pulling a line or cord s² attached to the
rode and leading to the shore, the said cord at the same time moving the lever g',
thereby disengaging the studs w from the racks.
If the hauling in and out of the vessel a is not to be automatically effected the
arrangement of electrical apparatus is dispensed with, the disengagement of the
studs w from the racks being effected by the action of the floats c and d as
before described and a suitable windlass being employed actuated by a motor or by
hand power, to haul on the traction cable k¹.
Instead of supporting the vessel a by racks and cables as herein before described
and illustrated it can be carried on a lighter or other floating structure which can
serve as a store for the water raised by the apparatus or even as a factory or works
requiring to utilize the power.
If the vessel a is to remain fixed it can be laid or let into the masonry of a pier,

page_text: breakwater or the like or into the rocks on the shore. This method of using the
apparatus although inexpensive is open to the objection that a series of apparatuses
would be required placed one above another where frequent spring tides occur or
when it is required that the effect shall not be intermittent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An apparatus for utilizing the force of the waves consisting essentially of a
taper vessel open at its larger end and having valves in its other or closed end, and
pipes for conveying water from an inner chamber to the place where the power is
to be applied, the said chamber having a number of inwardly opening valves,
arranged to close by their own weight and serving to admit the water. from the
outer vessel the said apparatus operating substantially in the manner set forth.
2. The apparatus for utilizing the force of the waves hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing and consisting of the
taper vessel a provided with valves b, of the chamber e provided with valves g and
of the pipes, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with apparatus for utilizing the force of the waves, such as
is claimed in the first claiming clause, of the herein described means for supporting
and securing the apparatus comprising the cables i, a secured as described, racks i,
bar cross-head
112,
rollers
n,
8, 0, q, oscillating arms v having studs w engaging in the
teeth of the racks, bar having lateral arms y engaging with studs on the
arms v, lever a¹ connected to the bar z, and floats c, d and lever g' serving to raise
and depress the lever a¹ the whole being arranged and operating for the purposes
as set forth.
4. The combination with apparatus for utilizing the force of the waves, such as
is claimed in the first claiming clause, of the mechanism for automatically lifting and
lowering the apparatus as the tide flows and ebbs, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11
Lona 1001
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.