Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOSÉ BARRUFET Y VECIANA, of Barcelona, in the Kingdom of Spain, 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:-
-
The base of my invention consists in a combination of mechanisms, which form,
what I call an element, which is composed of three essential parts, namely a driver
or motor proper, a receiver, and an accumulator, which is simultaneously a
compensator.
With these essential parts are connected other secondary and complementary
parts, intended to bring the accumulated force to the necessary or required intensity.
As the arrangement and form, in which the elements, employed in each particular
case, must move, vary according to the number of the elements, and according to
the local conditions of the place, where they are established, (in as much as they
all converge and direct their force towards a common axis) I shall not describe
here this complementary part but restrict the present description to the essential
parts of the invention.
Fig. 1 represents a side, elevation of an element in a direction perpendicular to
the sea-shore.
Fig. 2 shews the same element in front view, that is to say in a direction parallel
to the shore.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section and plan of the principal toothed pinion or friction
wheel, on a larger scale.
The first of the three essential parts, namely the driver, is formed by a floating
or buoyant body R¹, fixed to the frame T.
The
This buoy R is formed of two equal (truncated conical) vessels, united with
each other at their larger bases, traversed vertically by a tube in the centre
(near M) and another (near M¹) situated at a given distance from the first.
former tube is intended to allow a free passage of the guide and chain M, and the
latter tube only to the chain.
To the upper part of the buoy is attached the vertical frame or support T by
means of plates, through the centre of which descends vertically the chain M. The
Гомілл 071
'

page_text: stand or support T carries at its upper part two rollers U U, intended to pass up
and down along the flanges of the post G, serving as a guide and thus facilitating
the rising and lowering of the buoy.
In the lower part of the abovementioned stand T are situated two ratchet
wheels V Varranged so as to form between each other a perfect gearing for the
chain M. The stand also carries a pawl I, which allows and determines the
movement of the chain as may be required by acting on the said wheels V V₁.
The iron beam or post G, which may be U shaped in cross-section, is supported
with its lower extremity by the bottom of the sea and held at its other extremity
by means of a collar S, fixed to the lower cross-beam H'. The latter carries (at
such a distance, as not to impair the up and down motion of the buoy) a wheel R,
which maintains the chain M in the desired tension and simultaneously facilitates
its movement.
The second of the three essential parts of the new apparatus is the receiver,
which consists of a vertical wheel B, mounted loose on a horizontal shaft OO,
gearing into (or operating by friction on) the horizontal wheel A, supported by the
arm N, fixed to the same shaft O O. The wheel B is in gear with the chain M.
E
In the interior of the wheel A is situated a piece Ĕ (Fig. 3) which revolves
eccentrically on the same arm or beam N and is constantly pressed against or kept
in contact with the inner circumference of the wheel A. by means of a spring m¹.
The third of the three essential parts, namely the accumulator and compensator
comprises a loose wheel C on the shaft O O, which, by tooth gear or friction, is in
connection with the pins on A, and into which gears another chain M¹. The
wheel R maintains the chain M in the desired tension; the weight P compensates
and regulates the accumulated force..
A vertical toothed wheel D, keyed on the same shaft OO, serves for the
transmission of power; the axle O turns in the two bearings J J, which are
supported by the cross beams H H. This wheel D gears into another likewise
vertical wheel (not shown by the drawings) which imparts motion from the
common driving shaft to the organs, which are to be driven by the apparatus.
An endless chain M connects the wheel B with the wheel K¹; another chain M¹
connects the wheel C with the wheel R.
By means of the described apparatus, the waves are utilized as follows:
The continuous and irregular oscillation of the sea or movement of the waves,
produces continual changes of the water level, which changes are most exactly
followed by bodies floating on the water.
Supposing that a buoy R¹¹ has been lifted up to its highest position; owing to
the arrangement and form of the ratchet wheels V V, this movement is effected
without being communicated to other parts, than these wheels; the other parts
being at rest. When the level of the water descends, the buoy tends to fall into
its former position. In this case the wheel V₁ is stopped by the pawl I, and the
buoy tends with all its weight to draw the chain M, and as the latter gears into
the wheel B of the receiver, it causes the same to turn. This wheel B is in gear
with the horizontal wheel or pinion A, which gears into the wheel C, and as the
arm N, supporting the wheel or pinion A, is fixed to the horizontal shaft O, as well
as the tooth wheel D, the arm N and the wheel D turn equally with the shaft O;
consequently for imparting the motion to the accumulating wheel C, the angular
speed of the main shaft must be common to all the constituents of the apparatus.
If, however, the angular speed of the shaft, common to all the constituents, is
inferior to the speed, imparted to the wheel B, moved by the descent of the buoy
(speed calculated in a suitable manner), the force of the buoy is divided into two
parts, one of which is imparted to the accumulating wheel, and the other part of
the said force (which is always equal to the force necessary for lifting the weight P
at a speed equal to the difference between the calculated speed and that of the
accumulating wheel) serves to lift the weight P or to accumulate the force, which
the buoy, while falling down, has not been able to transmit to the accumulating
shaft

page_text: In such manner the driver takes up the work of the waves; the chain transmits
it to the receiver; the latter delivers the necessary force for the motion of the
general or common axle to all working parts and shares the exceeding force for
subsequently returning the same in a suitable manner. If the up and down motion
of the buoys is repeated, the common axle or driving shaft absorbs the work of
each of them, and when this effort is inferior to the work of the waves, the weights
are lifted until they are retained by the beam H; in this case the buoy is likewise
retained until the weight has restored the accumulated work; and in an inverse
manner, the contrary is produced, when the work, which is consumed or utilized, is
greater than that produced by the waves, as in this case the weight descends until
it is stopped by the support H¹; this arrangement, however, permitting to transmit
the work of the buoy directly to the accumulating wheel for being imparted to the
fly wheel D and being utilized for compressing air, owing to the immobility of the
weight and, therefore, of the wheel C.
The accumulating wheel C and the weight P can be suppressed; nevertheless in
this case the main driving shaft, common to all working parts of the same apparatus
and each of the tooth-wheels (not shown in the drawing) which gears into the
corresponding wheel D of each element, perform the function of accumulator and
compensator.
The details of construction of my wave-power motor may be varied without
departing from the invention, and it may be utilized for deriving motive power
from the wave motion or tidal motion of sea-water or of other fluids.
Having now particularly described and ascertained my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1.) In wave power or tidal motors, the combination of a driver, with a receiver,
and an accumulator substantially as described.
2.) The construction of the three essential parts described and their connection
by endless chains in the manner substantially as described.
3.) The application of the apparatus described for utilizing the wave power or
tidal motion of fluids as a motive power, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of December 1885.
JOSÉ BARRUFET Y VECIANA.
By Herbert & Co., Agents,
67, Strand.