Improvements in or relating to Wave Motors.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1898
10
1
1000
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Wave Motors.
1, WILLIAM SPURGEON, of 9, Mill Close, Lakenham, Norwich, in the County
of Norfolk. Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to wave motors, its object being the construction of an
apparatus which, stationed in the sea or on the fore-shore where suitable, will
be operated by the waves or swell independently of the rise and fall of the tide,
and may be employed to perform useful work such as the operation of a pump
to raise sea-water to a higher level than that from which it is drawn.
It is an
important feature of this invention that the apparatus is screened from liability
to injury by the shock of heavy seas.
In one construction of apparatus according to this invention a chamber is
erected, say on the fore-shore and preferably in connection with a pier, groyne
or other suitable projection in the sea; the lower portion of this chamber is
open to the surrounding water. Within this chamber is a float, which is prefer-
ably rectangular, arranged to encircle a long vertical cylinder and suspended
from or otherwise connected to a cross-head at the end of a vertical ram.
Waves or other alterations of level of water surrounding the chamber produce
variations of head under which the water within the chamber rises and falls,
causing the float to reciprocate vertically and to impart a similar movement of
reciprocation to the ram in the cylinder. The cylinder can be fitted with pump
valves and pipe connections so that the ram in its reciprocation will draw water
from the sea and deliver it to a higher level as aforesaid; or a hydraulic moter
might be driven by this water or other mechanism could be operated by suitably
connecting the ram with it.
The apparatus can be employed in places at which there is a considerable range
of tidal rise and fall; for such situations the cylinder and ram are made sufficiently
long to enable the float to rise upon the tide without drawing the ram out of
the cylinder, so that the ram will be capable of operating through the desired
range on either side of the mean height of the tide at any moment.
Anti-friction rollers or other guiding devices may be employed between the
float and the interior of the chamber to facilitate its easy movement therein.
Dated this 16th day of Sentember 1898
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to wave motors.
1, WILLIAM SPURGEON, of 9, Mill Close, Lakenham, Norwich, in the County
of Norfolk, Works Manager, 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:-
--
This invention relates to wave motors, its object being the construction of an
apparatus which, stationed in the sea or on the fore-shore where suitable, will
be operated by the waves or swell independently of the rise and fall of the tide,
and may be employed to perform useful work such as the operation of a pump
to raise sea-water to a higher level than that from which it is drawn.
It is an
important feature of this invention that the apparatus is screened from liability
to injury by the shock of heavy seas.
In one construction of apparatus according to this invention a chamber is
erected, say on the fore-shore and preferably in connection with a pier, groyne
or other suitable projection in the sea; the lower portion of this chamber is
open to the surrounding water. Within this chamber is a float, which is prefer-
ably rectangular, arranged to encircle a long vertical cylinder and suspended
from or otherwise connected to a cross-head at the end of a vertical ram.
Waves or other alterations of level of water surrounding the chamber produce
variations of head under which the water within the chamber rises and falls,
causing the float to reciprocate vertically and to impart a similar movement of
reciprocation to the ram in the cylinder. The cylinder can be fitted with pump
valves and pipe connections so that the ram in its reciprocation will draw water
from the sea and deliver it to a higher level as aforesaid; or a hydraulic motor
might be driven by this water or other mechanism could be operated by suitably
connecting the ram with it.
The apparatus can be employed in places at which there is a considerable range
of tidal rise and fall; for such situations the cylinder and ram are made sufficiently
long to enable the float to rise upon the tide without drawing the ram out of
the cylinder, so that the ram will be capable of operating through the desired
range on either side of the mean height of the tide at any moment.
Anti-friction rollers or other guiding devices may be employed between the
float and the interior of the chamber to facilitate its easy movement therein.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a wave motor constructed according
to this invention; and
Figure 2 is a plan of the same in part section on the line 2-2 of Figure J;
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The apparatus is shown as arranged within a chamber A, supported from the
sea floor and placed in close proximity to the wall A of a pier or other structure
projecting into the sea. The chamber A-preferably constructed of wood-is
rectangular in shape and is built up of vertical members A2, and horizonta!
members A. The vertical members are sunk into the sea floor and serve to
support the structure whilst the members A3 form the walls of the chamber, the
whole being strengthened by external trusses or cross stays A. The chamber
i4
open at its upper and lower ends and although supported from the sea floor
as above described the surrounding water is permitted free access to its interior.
In the centre of the chamber is a vertically arranged cylinder B secured to a
concrete or other foundation B1 on the sea floor. In the case illustrated the
cylinder B is held in position by the foundation B₁ alone but if necessary it may
be provided at its upper end with stays by which it may be secured to the wall

page_text: of the chamber A or to the sea wall A¹. The cylinder B is provided at its upper
end with a stuffing box B2 through which passes a ram B3 provided with a cross
head B. A rectangular float or air chamber C is arranged around the cylinder B
and is free to rise and fall within the chamber A. The float C is suspended
from or connected to the cross head B by means of vertical stays or rods C¹.
At the lower end of the cylinder 15 is provided a non-return inlet valve 1)
surrounded by a strainer or grating D¹ and at the upper end of the cylinder B
is an outlet E having a non-return valve El. To enable the float C to readily
rise and fall within the chamber A it is provided at its sides with anti-friction
rollers Carranged to bear upon the walls of the chamber A.
The operaton of the apparatus is as follows:-
The chamber A is supported from the sea floor by its vertical members A²
and is sheltered by its near proximity to the structure 1. By this means the
mechanism within the chamber A is effectually protected from damage owing
to any undue violence of the waves. As the water surrounding it rises and
falls, owing to the action of the waves, the water within the chamber will also
be made to rise and fall, thus raising and lowering the float C. The float C
by means of its connection with the ram B3 in the cylinder B will cause the
ram to be reciprocated within the cylinder, and, as the ram rises water is drawn
As the water
in through the grating or other device D' and non-return valve D.
recedes from the chamber A', so that the float or air chamber C falls, the ram B3
also descends within the cylinder B and the water being unable to pass out of
the cylinder by means of the valve 1, will rise in the cylinder B and pass out
by way of the outlet E with its non-return valve E. The apparatus can thus
be used to continually raise a supply of water which may afterwards be utilised
for motive purposes.
It will be understood that the chamber A is so arranged that its lower end is
always submerged, and the chamber together with the cylinder B, is of such a
length, that the float is not carried out of the chamber, or the ram 13 lifted out
of the cylinder B when the water is at high tide level. As the chamber A and
eylinder B may be made of considerable length the apparatus can be adapted for
use at any place irrespective of the difference between the levels of high and
low tide at the locality being great or small.
It is obvious that if preferred the ram 133 may be connected to a system of
levers or to some pawl and ratchet mechanism instead of being used to pump up
water as described. In this case the system of levers or other mechanism would
be utilized to perform any useful work the wave-motor is intended to effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a wave motor the combination with a float operatively connected to the
ram of a pump or other power device of an enclosing chamber which serves to
protect the apparatus from any undue violence of the waves.
2. In a wave motor the combination of a float surrounding a fixed cylinder B
and connected to a ram B3 within the said cylinder an inlet valve 1) at the lower
end of the cylinder an outlet valve E at the upper end of the cylinder and a
protecting chamber enclosing the cylinder and float substantially as described.
3. The complete wave motor substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
1 1.
J f 11000
WILLIAM SPURGEON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.