Improvements in Means for the Utilization of the Motive Force of Currents of Water.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for the Utilization of the Motive Force of
Currents of Water.
I, GEORGE WILSON, of 36, Basinghall Street, in the City of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide means by which power can be obtained
from running or tidal waters and this I effect by arranging for the water to enter
a channel or passage from which the water can only escape past a wheel or equiva-
lent device which it operates the said channel or passage being gradually
contracted from the place of entrance of the water to the wheel or equivalent
device to be operated.
I may in carrying out my invention employ a vessel moored in the water
whose flow is to be utilized the said vessel being provided with a paddle wheel or
paddle wheels or equivalent device, capable of being rotated by the action of the
water, and of communicating its energy to dynamos by means of any suitable
gear, the electricity produced being transmitted by conductors to the desired
places.
The channel or passage by which the water is conducted to the wheel or wheels
or equivalent device is closed at the sides and bottom and also, if necessary, at
the top, with the entrance enlarged and the channel or passage contracted at the
point or points where the wheel or wheels or equivalent device is or are situated,
so that the flow of the water may be concentrated at the points of impact on the
wheel or wheels or equivalent device. In the case of tidal waters whose flow
alternates in direction the channels or passages should be enlarged at the entrance
and at the exit side of the wheel or wheels or equivalent device so that the water
may enter and leave either end of the channel or passage alternately, as it changes
its direction of flow, so avoiding necessity for changing the moorings or position
of the vessel. The side of the channel or passage next the vessel may be formed
by the skin of the vessel itself.
Doted this 22nd day of Nawamban 1908
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX.
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for the Utilization of the Motive Force of
Currents of Water.
I, GEORGE WILSON, of 36, Basinghall Street, in the City of London, 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 follow-
ing statement:―
The object of my invention is to provide means by which power can be obtained

page_text: from running, or tidal, waters or currents and this I effect by arranging for the
water to enter a channel, or passage, from which the water can only escape past
a wheel, or equivalent device, which it operates, the said channel, or passage, being
gradually contracted from the place of entrance of the water to the wheel, or equiva-
lent device, to be operated.
I may, in carrying out my invention, employ a vessel, moored in the water
whose flow is to be utilized, the said vessel being provided with a paddle wheel (or
paddle wheels) or equivalent device, situated on one or both sides or in the middle
of the vessel, capable of being rotated by the action of the water. and of communi-
cating its energy to dynamos or other objects desired to be moved by means of any
suitable gear or belting.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn in elevation in Figure 1 and in plan
in Figure 2 an arrangement according to my invention. A is a vessel which is
moored in the water whose flow is to be utilized, B is the channel, or passage. by
which the water is conducted to the wheel C (or wheels) or equivalent device, the
said channel is shewn as being closed at the sides and bottom. it may also be closed
at the top or the sides may be made sufficiently high to render such top closure
unnecessary. The entrance is enlarged and the channel, or passage, contracted
at the point, or points. where the wheel C, or wheels, or equivalent device. is. or
are, situated, so that the flow of the water may be concentrated at the points of
impact on the said wheel, or wheels, or equivalent device. The motion of the said
wheel or equivalent device may be conveved by the gear or by belting driven by
plain or by reversed cone pulleys to the dynamo D. By the use of reversed cone
nulleys and the rosition of the belt thereon being regulated by a
irregularities of speed in the prime motor shaft may be remedied as is well under-
stood.
governor.
In the case of waters whose flow alternates in direction the channels, or passages.
may proceed to and from the wheel, or wheels, or equivalent device in both
directions and be contracted from their outer ends to the wheel, or wheels, or
equivalent device, so that the water may enter and leave either end of the channel.
or passage, alternately, as the current changes its direction of flow, and in either
case be concentrated on the wheel, wheels or equivalent device. so avoiding
necessity for changing the moorings. or position. of the vessel. The gearing or
belting may be so arranged by any well known means as to be capable of driving
the dynamo or other desired object. uniformly in the same direction. although the
direction of the motion of the prime motor shaft alternates, as the flow of the
current changes. The side of the channel. or passage, next the vessel may be
formed by the skin of the vessel itself. In the arrangement shown one side of the
channel, or passage, is so made in part, the other part being made of plates or
the like b
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Means for utilizing and concentrating the motive force of currents of water
consisting of or comprising a passage or passages which is or are provided with an
enlarged mouth or with enlarged mouths and which lessens or lessen in area to a
point whereat a wheel (or wheels) or equivalent device, is situated, substantially
as herein before described.
2. The combined arrangement for utilizing the motive force of currents of
water substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
1
1000
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX.
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.