Improved Method of and Apparatus for Utilising the Power of Tidal and other Waters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 18th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Utilising the Power of Tidal
and other Waters.
I JOHN EVELYN LIARDET of 37, Russell Road, Kensington in the County of
Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is the utilization of the motive power stored up in the
tides and in running water generally for various purposes more particularly to
generate electrical energy.
According to this invention I arrange between suitable training walls placed in the
direction of the current one or more screws preferably horizontal and of the type
known as "Archimedean" the shafts of these screws are supported in suitable bearings
at each end, and may be provided with suitable pulleys or other means of transmitting
the rotation of the screw shaft to drive dynamos or other machinery. In a stream
of water constantly flowing in one direction, I prefer to construct the screws with an
increasing twist towards the end of the screws where the water leaves them.
In a tideway I use screws of constant pitch and provide a means whereby the
direction of rotation of the dynamo or other machinery is kept constant no matter in
which direction the screws rotate this may be accomplished by means of a float which
actuates a belt shifting device at the turn of the tide an open and crossed belt
being provided, the belt shifting device throwing one or other on the driving pulley
as required.
I prefer to use only one screw between each pair of training walls in shallow waters,
but when the depth admits a series one above the other; and where large power is
required I arrange a series of training walls across the stream with a screw in the
space left between each pair of walls.
In places where it is not desirable to block up the waterway with the training walls
I construct a by-pass or canal communicating at each end with the main stream or
tideway and in this by-pass I place my training walls and screws.
I prefer to transmit the power from the screw shafts by means of wire ropes made
of suitable non-corrodible metal such as phosphor-bronze.
If preferred the screws may be placed in a tunnel or other suitable method of
receiving and ejecting the water instead of between training walls this method
being particularly applicable to ships and other vessels the motion of the vessel
through the water or the tide water running through the tunnel when the vessel
is at anchor causing the screw to rotate which rotation may be utilised for driving
a dynamo for lighting the vessel or for other purposes.
Dated this 6th day of December 1889.
BROWNE & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Utilising the Power of Tidal
and other Waters.
I JOHN EVELYN LIARDET of 37, Russell Road Kensington in the County of
Middlesex Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is the utilization of the motive power stored up in
the tides and in running water generally for various purposes more particularly to
generate electrical energy.

page_text: According to this invention I arrange between suitable training walls placed in
the direction of the current one or more screws preferably horizontal and of the
type known as "Archimedean" the shafts of these screws are supported in suitable
bearings at each end and may be provided with suitable palleys or other means of
transmitting the rotation of the screw shaft to drive dynamos or other machinery.
In a stream of water constantly flowing in one direction, I prefer to construct
the screws with an increasing twist towards the end of the screws where the water
leaves them.
In a tideway I use screws of constant pitch and provide a means whereby the
direction of rotation of the dynamo or other machinery is kept constant no matter
in which direction the screws rotate, this may be accomplished by means of a
float which actuates a belt shifting device at the turn of the tide an open and
crossed belt being provided, the belt shifting device throwing one or other on the
driving pulley as required.
I prefer to use only one screw between each pair of training walls in shallow
waters but when the depth admits a series one above the other; and where large
power is required I arrange a series of training walls across the stream with a
screw in the space left between each pair of walls.
In places where it is not desirable to block up the waterway with the training
walls, I construct a by-pass or canal communicating at each end with the main
stream or tideway and in this by-pass I place my training walls and screws.
I prefer to transmit the power from the screw shaft by means of wire ropes
made of suitable non-corrodible metal such as phosphor-bronze.
If preferred the screws may be placed in a tunnel or other suitable method of
receiving and ejecting the water instead of between training walls this method
being particularly applicable to ships and other vessels the motion of the vessel
through the water or the water running through the tunnel when the vessel is at
anchor causing the screw to rotate which rotation may be utilised for driving a
dynamo for lighting the vessel or for other purposes.
And in order that my said invention may be better understood I will proceed to
explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents longitudinal section through an apparatus constructed according
to this invention suitable for working in tidal or other imoving waters.
Fig. 2 cross section of same.
Hi 3 nart plan of some

page_text: pontoons e as shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the pontoons e. e. being connected by girders
covered with plates forming a sloping water way f. see Fig. 1. The pontoons are
connected to a suitable anchorage g. by means of girders h. I provide also a tunnel
or sluice i closed by a floating caisson or pontoon; so that at high water a portion of
the water flows through the sluice i and under the pontoons e. e. thus keeping the depth
of water flowing over the sill k. practically constant.
.
In shallow waters instead of the arrangement of pontoons shewn in Figs. 1 and 2
I may surround the screw either wholly or partly with a metal or other suitable casing
as shewn in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 in which the casing 1. is shewn extending only half way
round the screw.
In situations where it is not desirable to block up the waterway with the training
walls I construct a by-pass or canal communicating at each end with the main stream
or tideway and in this by-pass I place my training walls and screws or the alternative
arrangement shewn at Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 or I may use the vertical arrangement
shewn at Figs. 8 and 9 in which the screw is surrounded by a casing b. of metal or
other suitable material placed below the water level in the main stream the water
being conducted from the main stream to the motor by means of the pipes m. n. through
the jets o. p. q. r. to the wheel. In some cases I provide also a second series of jets s. t.
below the first named jets water being supplied to the jets s. t. by the pipe u. to a
circular pipe w. surrounding the casing 1. to which pipe the jets s. t. are attached and
communicate therewith.
To prevent the water running past the screws without exerting its full power thereon
I provide a series of vanes or baffles A A'A" A at the periphery of the screw blades
whereof one is shewn in detail at Fig. 11, and a series of smaller vanes B B¹ B¹¹ B
at the centre of the blades. These vanes which are formed of angle iron or other
suitable material suitably curved to fit the screw blades serve to retain the water and
so increase the efficiency of the motor.
The vanes at the periphery of the screw have their greatest width outwards and the
vanes at the centre of the screw are widest next the shaft and diminish in width
towards their outer edge. I transmit the power from the screws by means of chains
or wire ropes made of suitable non-corrodible metal such as phosphor-bronze driven by
sprocket wheels C of grooved wheels D keyed or otherwise suitably attached to the
screw shafts.
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 :-
I. In apparatus for utilizing the power of tidal and other waters the use of a rotating
screw or screws placed in the direction of the current between suitable training walls
substantially as described.
II. In apparatus for utilizing the power of tidal and other waters the use of a
rotating screw or screws placed in the direction of the current such screw or screws
being supported in bearings attached to a floating water course or courses substantially
as described and shewn at sheet 1. of the accompanying drawings.
III. In apparatus for utilizing the power of tidal and other waters the rotating
screw or screws constructed as described and shewn at sheets 2 and 3, of the accom-
panying drawings.
IV. The modification of the above apparatus claimed in claims I and II.
substantially as described and shewn on sheets 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.