A Method or Means of Deriving Continuous Power from the Rise and Fall of the Tide for Mechanical Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1900
A Method or Means of Deriving Continuous Power from the Rise and
Fall of the Tide for Mechanical Purposes.
We, THOMAS WHIMSTER, of 17, York Place, Perth, in the County of Perth,
Retired Gas Engineer, and THOMAS WILLIAMSON WHIMSTER, of 67, West Nile
Street, in the County of the City of Glasgow, Shipowner, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention has reference to a method or system of utilizing the automatic
power of the tides for mechanical purposes.
One method by which we propose to do this is by forming a large enclosure
taken by preference from the sea,-the bottom of it to be on the same level as
the tide at low water, and will itself be level. The enclosing wall will be about
fifteen feet high or of sufficient height from floor of enclosure to meet local
conditions. The purpose of this enclosure is to keep out the sea and to hold the
water from the wheels until it can be drawn off at low tide. A large opening
fitted with a water-tight sluice will be made in the wall on same level as floor
to allow of its being emptied at low tide. The water in it would preferably not
be allowed to accumulate to a greater depth than say four feet so as not to clog
the wheels, and it must have an area equal to this. Within said enclosure and
against the wall water wheels will be erected for the purpose of working pumps
or other suitable apparatus which will be attached to the water wheels by
shafting or other means, to raise and force water to a higher reservoir. The
pumps to be of ample power to accomplish the work required. Against each.
water wheel openings will be made in the wall fitted with 'shoots and sluices to
allow water to flow from the sea.
A tidal reservoir on the shore or inland will be formed, to be excavated say
to a depth of six feet below the level of full tide and large enough to contain
water to drive its necessary wheels for say seven consecutive hours: it will be
filied by the tide at its highest, and will have a suitable opening same level as
floor to allow the tide to flow into it fitted with a water tight sluice to be shut
when full, to prevent it flowing back when the tide recedes. Against the wall
of it but outside the reservoir water wheels will be erected with shafting and
pumps. Against each wheel openings will be made in the wall fitted with
shoots and sluices same as in enclosure. A high level reservoir inland will be
formed into which the water from the pumps aforesaid will be forced through
pipes connecting them. The bottom of this reservoir will be say forty feet
more or less above highest tide level: outside of reservoir and at any suitable
place, a large water wheel may be erected to which water may be conveyed either
from the reservoir or direct from the pumps: thus continuous power may be had
to generate electricity or drive other machinery provided sufficient pumping be
applied.
By an alternative method a larger enclosure will be formed by preference from
the sea combined with a larger tidal reservoir inland all as already described in
first plans. The tidal reservoir to be large enough to hold sufficient water to

page_text: drive the necessary wheels for thirteen consecutive hours, and the enclosure
large enough to hold the water from the wheels for ten consecutive hours with-
out clogging the wheels.
Deted the 20th November 1800
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
A Method or Means of Deriving Continuous Power from the Rise and
Fall of the Tide for Mechanical Purposes.
We, THOMAS WHIMSTER, of 17, York Place, Perth, in the County of Perth,
Retired Gas Engineer, and THOMAS WILLIAMSON WHIMSTER, of 67, West Nile
Street, in the County of the City of Glasgow, Shipowner, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in
writing:
This invention relates to a method or means of deriving continuous power
for mechanical purposes from the rise and fall of the tide.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of carrying same into
practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto appended a sheet of
explanatory drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation and Figure 2 a
plan view illustrating the application of our invention.
While Figure 3 is a transverse section to an enlarged scale at right angles to
Figure 1 illustrating the tidal enclosure.
Referring to these drawings:-
ENCLOSURE a.
One method by which we propose to carry our invention into effect is by con-
structing a wall, or barricade, a¹ from the shore out into the sea S or inland, the
former by preference; and along any required distance, and back again to the
shore, and along to join the wall from the shore, thus forming a large enclosure a.
The bottom of this enclosure will be on same level as the tide at low water, and
will itself be level. The enclosing wall a¹ will be about 15 feet high from
floor of enclosure, or of sufficient height to meet local conditions. A large
opening fitted with a water tight sluice 6 will be made in it on same level as
floor to allow of its being emptied at low tide. The purpose of this enclosure a
is to keep out the sea and to hold the surplus water from the wheels when they
are at work.
The water in it should not be allowed to accumulate to a greater
depth than four feet lest it should clog the wheels. It must be of an area
sufficient to ensure this.
Within the said enclosure a and against the wall, water wheels c about 12 feet
in diameter will be erected, for the purpose of working pumps d to raise and
force water. The lowest point in the periphery of these wheels will be 2 feet
above the floor level. Troughs will be formed below the wheels by a thin wall e
2 feet high, and about 10 feet from the sea wall a¹ having cross walls enclosing
each wheel and its pumps, into which the water from the wheels will fall, thus
retaining a continual supply of water for the pumps. A strong buttress a² on
the enclosure wall opposite each water wheel having its face curved and troughed
to the size of the wheel, will be made from the upper shoot to the lowest portion
of the periphery of the wheel.
Against each water wheel aforesaid, openings ƒ will be made in the wall say

page_text: three openings to each wheel all fitted with shoots, and sluices f¹, to allow
water to flow in from the sea to drive the wheels as required. The lowest shoot
in each case may be about six inches above the level of half tide, the second
about twenty one inches higher, and the third about twenty one inches above
the second. The sluices f¹ to be opened and shut as found suitable.
To the water wheels will be attached shafting c¹ by couplings or other advis-
able means for the purpose of working pumps & to raise water from the trough
aforesaid, and force it through branch pipes d¹ and a main pipe to a higher
level reservoir g or otherwise. Pumps of ample capacity to accomplish the work
required, will be erected, and fitted to this shafting.
TIDAL RESERVOIR h.
A tidal reservoir h, by preference inland, will be formed; to be excavated
say to a depth of six feet (or to suit local conditions) below the level of full tide,
or as low as half tide, and large enough to contain water to drive its necessary
wheels for seven consecutive hours. It will be filled by the tide at its highest
and will have a suitable opening same level as floor to allow the water to flow
into it; fitted with a water-tight sluice to be shut when full to prevent it
flowing back when the tide recedes. This reservoir to be formed by walls as
found necessary; the top of the walls to be 15 feet above level of low tide, or
on the same level as top of enclosure walls. Against the reservoir, but outside
of it, water wheels k and buttresses as aforesaid, will also be erected, and fitted
with shafting and pumps 7 as in the enclosure. The wheels will be driven by
water from this reservoir h. Against each water wheel three openings m may be
made in the wall same as in enclosure to be fitted with shoots, and sluices, m¹ to
allow water to flow out to drive the wheels as required. The lowest shoot may
be at the level of half tide, the second eighteen inches higher, and the third
eighteen inches higher still, or at distances so arranged as to take the fullest
advantage of the rise of tide. These to be opened and shut by sluices as found
suitable. The same provision of pumps and troughs for pumping will be made,
but the overflow water, that drives the wheels will in this case flow back into the
sea, not into the enclosure. Also, the wheels will require to be two feet above
the bottom as in the enclosure. In every case, all sluices and shoots should
have protecting gratings provided, to prevent floating debris-(as wood or other
solid matter) from getting in and jamming or obstructing the wheels.
HIGH LEVEL RESERVOIR .
A reservoir g inland, will be formed, into which all the water that is pumped
by the water wheels aforesaid may be forced or otherwise by means of pipes d'
connecting them. The bottom of this reservoir will be say 40 feet more or
less, above highest tide level. A large water wheel n may be erected outside of
reservoir, at any suitable place near it, or at a distance from it, as may be desired,
to actuate which, water from the reservoir will be conveyed by pipes or shoots g¹
controlled by valves g³ or otherwise. Thus continuous power may be had to
drive machinery. provided sufficient pumping power is supplied to keep this
reservoir full. The reservoir must be of ample area or capacity. By this
method, viz. The enclosure a tidal reservoir h and high level reservoir g, a
continuous power may be derived, of invariable strength, easily regulated, and
which can be increased as required, such as is necessary for generating electricity.
If for driving machinery which is not necessarily continuous, the high level
reservoir g might be dispensed with, in which case a large wheel like n might be
erected upon walls at the sea-side, or at any suitable place, and the water direct
from the pumps be taken through pipes such as and a shoot such as g¹, or
either method may be used if a duplex controlling valve be fitted at .
The mode of working enclosure, and tidal, and high level reservoirs is as
follows:

page_text: When the rising tide has covered the first shoots f their sluices f¹ will be
opened, allowing the water from the sea S to flow in and drive the wheels; when
it has risen and covered the second shoots, their sluices will be opened, and the
first sluices shut; and when it has risen and covered the upper shoots, their
sluices will be opened, and the second shut. The upper sluices will remain
open till the tide recedes to them; then, the second will be opened, and the
upper shut, till the tide falls to them, then, the lowest will be opened, and the
second shut. When the tide falls to the lowest shoots they must be shut. This
will drive wheels c within the enclosure six hours each tide namely: from half
tide rising to half tide, receding. In applying the water from the tidal reser-
voir when the ebbing tide has fallen to half tide, the upper shoot m will be
opened, allowing the water from the reservoir to drive the wheels k. When
the water in the reservoir has fallen to these, then the second will be opened,
and the upper shut; then the lowest will be opened, and the second shut, till
the returning tide has risen to half tide, when they will be shut. This will
drive the wheels by means of the reservoir, six hours each tide, namely:.
from receding half to rising half tide, or, including enclosure, twelve hours each
tide.
The rise of the tide has been estimated at 12 feet, and the water wheels at
12 feet in diameter: but, as the rise of the tide exceeds this in different localities
the diameter of the water wheels might be made greater proportionally to suit
rise of tide.
In some cases the enclosure a may be dispensed with and the tidal reservoir
be male large enough to work sufficient pumps to fill the high level reservoir
in six hours with sufficient water to work the large wheel for about twelve hours.
ALTERNATIVE PLAN.
Should it be judged advisable to take the power from the lower wheels direct,
instead of from the high level reservoir, then, all the pumps, also the high level
reservoir, may be dispensed with, in which case a larger enclosure will be
formed, (by preference from the sea) combined with a larger tidal reservoir (by
preference inland), all as already described in first plan. The tidal reservoir
to be large enough to hold sufficient water to drive the necessary wheels for
twelve consecutive hours, and the enclosure large enough to hold the water
from the wheels for nine consecutive hours. In no case should there be more
than four feet depth of water in the enclosure.
Water wheels about 12 feet in diameter, or to suit range of tide, and having
toothed wheels or pulleys fixed on axles as desired, will be erected, inside the
enclosure, against the wall of tidal reservoir. Troughs under water wheels will
not be required. There will be no other water wheels in this enclosure. Pro-
tecting gratings to be used in this case also. This plan might be altered. to
provide for raising water to drive direct, wheels of larger diameter than 12 feet,
in which case, pumps would take the place of the toothed wheels and troughs
would be required as in first plan.
MODE OF WORKING ALTERNATIVE PLAN.
When the receding tide has reached the same level as the water within the
enclosures the let off sluice b b should be opened, so that the enclosure may
he emptied by the time the tide has reached its lowest, and then he shut. When
the tide has risen to its full, it will have filled the reservoir; then the upper
shoots should be opened to drive the wheels, and, as the water in the reservoir
falls, the under shoots should be opened, as in first plan.
In view of the foregoing, the reservoir will be filled every twelve hours, and
the enclosure emptied every twelve hours, thus securing a continuous power,
if required. It will be seen, that, as the supply from the shoots falls below
When the receding tide has reached the same level as the water within the
enclosures the let off sluice b b should be opened, so that the enclosure may
he emptied by the time the tide has reached its lowest, and then he shut. When
the tide has risen to its full, it will have filled the reservoir; then the upper
shoots should be opened to drive the wheels, and, as the water in the reservoir
falls, the under shoots should be opened, as in first plan.
In view of the foregoing, the reservoir will be filled every twelve hours, and
the enclosure emptied every twelve hours, thus securing a continuous power,
if required. It will be seen, that, as the supply from the shoots falls below

page_text: the centres of the wheels the power derived will be lessened and to provide for
this there should be reserve wheels or pumps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. The method herein described for deriving continuous power for
mechanical purposes from the rise and fall of the tide, substantially as herein
set forth in reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In a method for deriving continuous power for mechanical purposes
from the rise and fall of the tide, the application and use of an enclosure with
water wheels or driving motors and inlet and outlet water passages by which
power is derived from half flowing to half ebbing tide, and in which the water
that drives the wheels or motors in the enclosure is retained until it can he
let back into the sea at low tide, substantially as set forth.
Third.. In a method for deriving continuous power for mechanical purposes
from the rise and fall of the tide, an enclosure by which power is derived from
half flowing to half ebbing tide, in combination with a tidal reservoir by which
power is derived from half ebbing to half flowing tide, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a method for deriving continuous power for mechanical purposes
from the rise and fall of the tide, the enclosure and tidal reservoir described in
Claim 3, in combination with a high level reservoir, and means for forcing and
carrying the water to said high level reservoir, substantially as set forth."
Fifth. In a method for deriving continuous power for mechanical purposes
from the rise and fall of the tide, the tidal reservoir alone in combination with
a high level reservoir and means for forcing and carrying the water to said high
level reservoir, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In a method for deriving continuous power for mechanical purposes
from the rise and fall of the tide, the enclosure and tidal reservoir described
in Claim 3, in which are fitted driving motors, in combination with wheels or
like organs to which water is carried by piping or like medium, substantially
as set forth.
Seventh. In a method for deriving continuous power for mechanical purposes
from the rise and fall of the tide, the arrangement in combination of the parts of
enclosure or reservoirs and operating devices by any of the alternative ways
herein set forth.