Improvements in Wave Motors.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wave Motors.
I, HENRY C. ESSINGTON, of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Wholesale Lumber Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to wave-motors, and has for its object to provide an
apparatus of this class including an automatical-adjustable compensating con-
nection between the driving and driven elements, whereby the driven element
is adapted to traverse a uniform terminally defined path, while the driving
element is adapted to traverse a variable path to suit the tidal variation of the
surface of the water.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description.
The motor embodying my invention comprises, essentially, an operating
element which is mounted for vibratory movement and includes a float, adapted
to ride upon the surface of the water, and a driven element also adapted for
vibratory movement and having connection with the driving element to receive
motion therefrom, said driven element being adapted for connection with
mechanism to be driven.
As illustrating the essential features of my invention, I describe one embodi-
ment thereof wherein the float is of spherical construction, such as a hollow
metallic ball mounted for oscillatory movement by means of a swinging arm,
connected with a shaft or spindle said shaft in turn being mounted in suitable
bearings in a supporting frame or structure. The receiving or driven element,
to which the driving element is adapted to impart motion, consists of a head
adapted for vibratory movement in a uniform path between fixed terminal points,
the extent of the path being subject to variation to suit the function of the
apparatus and the extent of throw desired for the elements by which motion is
communicated to the machinery to be driven. The said head is carried by and
may form a part of an oscillatory arm, fulcrumed coaxially with the float-carry-

page_text: ing arm upon the shaft or spindle of said arm. The means of connection between
the arm of the driving element and the vibratory head of the driven element,
particularly when the float is mounted for movement as described, may consist
of a toothed or notched segment or gear, carried by said float-operated arm, and
a moveable detent or pawl, carried by said head and adapted to engage either of a
series of seats or notches, formed in the segment or gear. This detent or pawl
is yieldingly held in engagement with the periphery of the segment, as by an
actuating spring, and by moving the detent or pawl in opposition to the yielding
force by which it is held in engagement with the segment the latter may be
released for independent movement.
It is obvious that as long as the clutch operates to connect the driving and
driven elements of the motor they will operate synchronously, the amplitude
of vibration of the driven element being proportionate to that of the driving
element and the relative lengths of the paths of movement being controlled by
the radius of the segment. Owing, however to the fact that the path of move-
ment of the driving element is variable and is controlled by tidal influences, and
as it is desirable that the driven element shall have a uniform path of movement
irrespective of variations in the path of movement of the driving element, I
have devised compensating means for controlling the clutch whereby connection
between the driving and driven elements is effected, such compensating device
in the construction described consisting of trip-levers, connected with the movable
element of the clutch, as the detent or pawl, and stops or trips, arranged in the
paths, respectively, of said trip-arms or at the limits of the path of the driven
element, whereby when a trip-arm comes in contact with a stop or trip it is
moved to disengage the clutch and release the driving element for independent
movement, but which automatically releases the movable member of the clutch
when relieved of strain, and thus allows the return of the said clutch member
to operative engagement to communicate motion in the opposite direction to the
driven element.
The trip-levers, which extend in opposite directions from the head of the
driven element, are connected by means of links with the detent or pawl, and in
the path of the extremities of these trip-arms are arranged stops, which are
spaced apart an interval designed to control the path of movement of the driven
element, and as the trip-arms successively come in contact with said stops the
detent or pawl is withdrawn from engagement with the seat or notch of the
segment in which it is fitted to allow any excess of movement of the driving
element to occur independently of the driven element, such excess of movement
being caused by a wave of greater amplitude than that necessary to cause the
desired movement of the driven element or by a change in the level of the water
due to tidal influences.
In a modified construction the trip-arms are provided with cam-faces for con-
tact with cam-faced trips or stops arranged in the paths, respectively, thereof
and designed to operate substantially as hereinbefore described.
It is also desirable in an apparatus of this class to provide opposing cushioning
devices for preventing a rebound of the driven element when the latter is dis-
engaged from the driving element, and hence I may employ oppositely-located
cylinders, in which operate pistons with piston-rods, carrying cross-heads, traver-
sing guides and pitmen, connecting said cross-heads with the reciprocatory head
of the driven element. The cushioning members consist, essentially of pumps
having suitable inlet-valves and exhaust-valves, and when the apparatus is to
be used for pumping liquid or as a compresser the cushioning elements may be
utilized as pumps, thus performing a dual function, as will be understood. Under
any circumstances the effect of these cushioning elements is as follows: If the
driving element receives motion through a path of an extent greater than is
necessary to bring one of the trip-arms into contact with the co-operating trip
or stop, the detent or pawl will be disengaged from the segment, and further
movement of the driving element will be accomplished independently of the

page_text: driving element. Upon the release of the driving element the tendency of the
compressed fluid in the cylinder toward which the driven element has been moving
will be to move the driven element in the opposite direction; but such movement
will be opposed by the resistance in the other cylinder, and hence the driven
element will remain approximately at that point in its path at which the dis-
engagement from the driving element occurred until upon the return vibration
of the driving element the pressure of the driven element towards the stop (with
which the trip arm is engaged) is relieved sufficiently by the action of the spring
to allow the re-engagement of the detent or pawl with a seat or notch in the
segment, when motion in the opposite direction will be communicated to the
driven element.
It will be understood, furthermore, that various means may be employed for
relieving the float of strains tending to affect the stability of the supporting-
frame and in the construction described I provide the float with a diametrical
sleeve, provided with counterbored terminals forming seats in which are fitted
relatively-adjustable collars carried by the oscillatory arm, the collar preferably
being fixed while the collar is fitted for axial adjustment upon the arm, which is
elongated vertically in cross-section to strengthen it suitably against upward
strain, and is held at the desired adjustment by means of a nut or the equivalent
thereof. Said manner of mounting the float allows the revoluble movement
thereof upon the float-supporting arm, whereby waves coming in contact with
the float other than in a direction parallel with the axis thereof will cause the
turning of the float upon its axis, and thus will relieve the lateral strain upon
the float while not affecting the upward pressure thereof. This mounting of
the float at the terminals of its axis upon the bearing-collars reduces the frictional
contact of the float with the supporting-arm and allows the free rotation of the
float to efficiently neutralize the side strains applied thereto. Furthermore, the
free end of the float-supporting arm is preferably braced against lateral strain
by means of a swinging yoke, of which the terminals may be rigidly attached
to the extremities of the shaft or spindle, whereby the yoke vibrates in a vertical
plane with the float-supporting arm. Also the float-supporting arm may be
strengthened laterally by means of side braces, extending rearwardly from inter-
mediate points of the float-supporting arm and attached to the shaft or spindle
at opposite sides of the plane of the segment. It will be understood from the
foregoing description that various kinds of machinery may be driven by means
of a motor constructed in accordance with my invention, proper connections
being established between the driven element and such machinery; but as the
construction of the connections will depend upon the apparatus to be driven I
have deemed it unnecessary to describe any form thereof other than the described
oppositely-located pumping devices, which, however have the further function,
in connection with the apparatus described, of cushioning the strokes of the
driven element, and thus preventing the disarrangement of the driven element
with relation to the driving element by reason of shocks resulting from an
unusually rapid or extended vibration of the driving element.
Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor detail of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of the invention.
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Wave Motors.
I, HENRY C. ESSINGTON, of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Wholesale Lumber Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention 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 wave-motors, and has for its object to provide an
apparatus of this class including an automatically-adjustable compensating con-
nection between the driving and driven elements, whereby the driven element
is adapted to traverse a uniform terminally defined path, while the driving
element is adapted to traverse a variable path to suit the tidal variation of the
surface of the water.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in
the appended claims.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure is a detail view showing a slightly-modified construction of trip
mechanism.
Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
of the drawings.
The motor embodying my invention comprises, essentially, an operating element
which is mounted for vibratory movement and includes a Hoat 1, adapted to ride
upon the surface of the water, and a driven element also adapted for vibratory
movement and having connection with the driving element to receive motion
therefrom, said driven element being adapted for connection with mechanism
to be driven.
As illustrating the essential features of my invention, I have shown in the
drawings one embodiment thereof wherein the float 1 is of spherical construction,
such as a hollow metallic ball mounted for oscillatory movement by means of
a swinging arm 2, connected with a shaft or spindle 3, said shaft in turn being
mounted in suitable bearings in a supporting frame or structure 4. The re-
ceiving or driven element, to which the driving element is adapted to impart
motion, consists of a head 5, adapted for vibratory movement in a uniform path
between fixed terminal points, the extent of the path being subject to variation
to suit the function of the apparatus and the extent of throw desired for the
elements by which motion is communicated to the machinery to be driven. In
the construction illustrated said head is carried by and may form a part of an
oscillatory arm 6, fulcrumed coaxially with the float-carrying arm, as upon the
shaft or spindle of said arm. The means of connection between the arm of the
driving element and the vibratory head of the driven element, particularly when
the float is mounted for movement as described may consist of a toothed or notched
segment or gear 7, carried by said float-operated arm, and a movable detent or
pawl S, carried by said head and adapted to engage either of a series of seats or
notches 9, formed in the segment or gear, This detent or pawl, as illustrated
in the drawings, is yieldingly held in engagement with the periphery of the
segment, as by an actuating-spring 10, and by moving the detent or pawl in

page_text: opposition to the yielding force by which it is held in engagement with The
segment the latter may be released for independent movement.
It is obvious that as long as the clutch operates to connect the driving and
driven elements of the motor they will operate synchronously, the amplitude of
vibration of the driven element being proportionate to that of the driving
element and the relative lengths of the paths of movement being controlled by
the radius of the segment. Owing, however, to the fact that the path of move-
ment of the driving element is variable and is controlled by tidal influences.
and as it is desirable that the driven element shall have a uniform path of
movement irrespective of variations in the path of movement of the driving
element, I have devised compensating means for controlling the clutch whereby
connection between the driving and driven elements is effected, such compen-
sating device in the construction illustrated consisting of trip-levers 11, connected
with the movable element of the clutch, as the detent or pawl, and stops or
trips 12, arranged in the paths, respectively, of said trip-arms or at the limits
of the path of the driven element, whereby when a trip-arm comes in contact
with a stop or trip it is moved to disengage the clutch and release the driving
element for independent movement, but which automatically releases the movable
member of the clutch when relieved of strain, and thus allows the return of the
said clutch member to operative engagement to communicate motion in the
opposite direction to the driven element.
In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the trip-levers, which ex-
tend in opposite directions from the head of the driven element, are connected
by means of links 13 with the detent or pawl, and in the paths of the extremities
of these trip-arms are arranged stops 12, which are spaced apart an interval
designed to control the path of movement of the driven element, and as the trip-
arms successively come in contact with said stops the detent or pawl is with-
drawn from engagement with the seat or notch of the segment in which it is
fitted to allow any excess of movement of the driving element to occur inde-
pendently of the driven element, such excess of movement being caused by a
wave of greater amplitude than that necessary to cause the desired movement
of the driven element or by a change in the level of the water due to tidal
influences.
In the modified construction illustrated in Figure 3 the trip-arms 11* are pro-
vided with cam-faces 11b for contact with cam-faced trips or stops 12, arranged
in the paths, respectively, thereof and designed to operate substantially as here-
inbefore described.
It is also desirable in an apparatus of this class to provide opposing cushioning
devices for preventing a rebound of the driven element when the latter is dis-
engaged from the driving element, and hence I may employ oppositely-located
cylinders 14, in which operate pistons 15, with the piston-rods 16, carrying cross-
heads 17, traversing guides 18, and pitmen 19, connecting said cross-heads with
the reciprocatory head of the driven element. The cushioning members shown
in the drawings consist, essentially, of pumps having suitable inlet-valves 20
and exhaust-valves 21, and when the apparatus is to be used for pumping liquid
or as a compressor the cushioning elements may be utilized as pumps, thus per-
forming a dual function. as will be understood. Under any circumstances the
effect of these cushioning elements is as follows: If the driving element
receives motion through a path of an extent greater than is necessary to bring
one of the trip-arms into contact with the co-operating trip or stop, the detent
or pawl will be disengaged from the segment, and further movement of the
driving element will be accomplished independently of the driven element. Upon
the release of the driving element the tendency of the compressed fluid in the
evlinder toward which the driven element has been moving will be to move the
driven element in the opposite direction: but such movement will he opposed
by the resistance in the other cylinder, and hence the driven element will remain
approximately at that point in its path at which the disengagement from the

page_text: driving element occurred until upon the return vibration of the driving element
the pressure of the driven element toward the stop (with which the trip-arm is
engaged) is relieved sufficiently by the action of the spring 10 to allow the re-
engagement of the detent or pawl with a seat or notch in the segment, when
motion in the opposite direction will be communicated to the driven element.
It will be understood, furthermore, that various means may be employed for
relieving the float of strains tending to affect the stability of the supporting-
frame, and in the construction illustrated I have provided the float with a dia-
metrical sleeve 22, provided with counterbored terminals forming seats 23, in
which are fitted relatively-adjustable collars 24 and 25, carried by the oscillatory
arm 2, the collar 24 preferably being fixed, while the collar 25 is fitted for axial
adjustment upon the arm, which is elongated vertically in cross-section to
strengthen it suitably against upward strain, and is held at the desired adjust-
ment by means of a nut 26 or the equivalent thereof. Said manner of mounting
the float allows the revoluble movement thereof upon the float-supporting arm,
whereby waves coming in contact with the float other than in a direction parallel
with the axis thereof will cause the turning of the float upon its axis, and thus
will: relieve the lateral strain upon the float, while not affecting the upward
pressure thereof. This mounting of the float at the terminals of its axis upon the
bearing-collars reduces the frictional contact of the float with the supporting-arm
and allows the free rotation of the float to efficiently neutralize the side strains
applied thereto. Furthermore, the free end of the float-supporting arm is pre-
ferably braced against lateral strain by means of a swinging yoke 27, of which the
terminals may be rigidly attached to the extremities of the shaft or spindle 3,
whereby the yoke vibrates in a vertical plane with the float-supporting arm.
Also the float-supporting arm may be strengthened laterally by means of side
braces 28, extending rearwardly from intermediate points of the float-supporting
arm and attached to the shaft or spindle at opposite sides of the plane of the
segment.
It will be understood from the foregoing description that various kinds of
machinery may be driven by means of a motor constructed in accordance with
my invention, proper connections being established between the driven element
and such machinery: but as the construction of the connections will depend
upon the apparatus to be driven I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate any
form thereof other than the described oppositely-located pumping devices, which,
however, have the further function, in connection with the apparatus described,
of cushioning the strokes of the driven element, and thus preventing the dis-
arrangement of the driven element with relation to the driving element by reason
of shocks resulting from an unusually rapid or extended vibration of the driving
element.
Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :
1. A wave-motor consisting of driving and driven elements respectively having
variable and fixed paths of movement, connections including a clutch, between
said elements, trip mechanism for disengaging the clutch to release the driving
element at the limits of movement of the driven element and cushioning devices
for the driven element consisting of opposite cylinders and co-operating pistons
connected with the driven element, substantially as specified.
2. A wave-motor consisting of oscillatory driving and driven elements re-
spectively having variable and fixed paths of movement and provided with
interlocking clutch-faces of which one is constructed to form a plurality of en-
gaging points in a series concentric with the axis of its movement and means

page_text: for disengaging said inter-locked faces at the limits of movement of the driven
elenient, substantially as specified.
3. A wave-motor consisting of driving and driven elements respectively having
variable and fixed paths of movement, connections between said elements, con-
sisting of an oscillatory segment carried by one of the elements and a detent or
pawl carried by the other element to engage one of the seats in said segment
and trip mechanism to disengage the detent from its seat when the driven element
reaches the limits of its path of movement, substantially as specified.
4. A wave-motor consisting of a driving element having an oscillatory float-
carrying arm, and capable of a variable path of movement, and a driven element
having a terminally-fixed path of movement, a segment actuated by said float-
carrying arm and provided with spaced seats, a yielding detent carried by the
driven element for engagement with one of said seats, and trip mechanism for
disengaging the detent from its seat at the limits of the path of movement of
the driven element, substantially as specified.
5. In a wave-motor, the combination with a driven element of a movable
driving element consisting of an arm and a spherical float having a diametrical
bearing-sleeve revolubly mounted upon said arm, and connections between said
driving and driven elements, substantially as specified.
6. In a wave-motor, the combination with a driven element of a movable driving
element consisting of an arm having spaced bearing-collars, and a superficially,
rounded float having bearings for the reception of said collars, and connections
between said driving and driven elements, substantially as specified.
7. In a wave-motor, the combination with a driven element of a driving
element having a movable arm, relatively adjustable collars carried by said arm,
and a spherical float having an axial sleeve mounted upon said collars for re-
voluble movement, and connections between the driving and driven elements,
substantially as specified.
8. In a wave-motor, the combination with a driven element of a driving
clement having a movable arm, relatively adjustable collars carried by said arm,
and a spherical float having an axial bore terminally counterbored to form seats
to receive said collars, and connections between the driving and driven elements,
substantially as specified.
9. A wave-motor consisting of a driving element having an oscillatory float-
carrying arm, a driven element having a limited path of movement and provided
with an arm mounted coaxially with the float-carrying arm, a clutch connection
between the float-carrying arm and the driven element, and trip mechanism for
disengaging the clutch to release the float-carrying arm at the limits of movement
of the driven element, substantially as specified.
10. A wave-motor consisting of a driving element having a float-carrying arm,
a driven element having an arm mounted coaxially with the float-carrying arm,
a segment carried by the float-carrying arm and provided with peripheral seats,
a yielding pawl carried by the driven element for engagement with one of said
seats, and trip mechanism for disengaging said pawl, to release the float-carrying
arm, at the limits of movement of the driven element, substantially as specified.
11. A wave-motor consisting of a driving element having an oscillatory
float-carrying arm, a swinging yoke connected with the free end of said arm
and mounted coaxially therewith, a driven element having a limited path of
movement, a clutch connection between the float-carrying arm and said driven
element, and trip mechanism for disengaging the clutch to release the float-
carrying arm, substantially as specified.
12. A wave-motor consisting of a driving element having an oscillatory float-
carrying arm provided with a toothed segment, a spindle mounted in suitable
bearings, and lateral braces connecting the body portion of said arm with the
spindle, a yoke terminally connected to said spindle and centrally connected to
the extremity of the float-carrying arm, a driving element having a limited path
of movement and provided with an oscillatory arm mounted upon said spindle,

page_text: a pawl carried by said driven element for engaging the toothed segment, and a
trip mechanism for disengaging the pawl from the segment at the limits of
movement of the driven element, substantially as specified.
Dated this 26th day of April 1900.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.