IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS BY WAVE AND TIDAL POWER, AND IN APPLYING POWER THUS OBTAINED FOR PUMPING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard James Meek at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1881.
RICHARD JAMES MEEK, of Southend on Sea, in the County of Essex, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS BY WAVE
AND TIDAL POWER, AND IN APPLYING POWER THUS OBTAINED FOR PUMPING AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for propelling
vessels by wave and tidal power, and in applying power thus obtained for
pumping and other purposes.
For this purpose the character of the engine which I find it advantageous to
employ in carrying out my Invention to drive the screw paddle or other propeller,
or to transmit power for pumping and other purposes, is a modified arrangement of
the high pressure engine as used for steam. Compressed air is also employed as a
means to obtain force on the water as hereinafter explained.
A tank or reservoir for water is arranged suited to the size and shape of the
véssel to which my improvements are applied. This tank is provided with one
primary supply of water, and advantageously fresh water, which with small
additions at suitable periods to make up for any deficiency that may arise from
any naturel cause, such as evaporation or loss by any other cause, so as to ensure &
permanent supply.
A vessel is also fitted inside some convenient part of the ship of suitable size,
made either of rolled plates rivetted together to shape, but advantageously of
copper, and laced with iron band, so as to make it secure against great pressure,
which vessel I call the accumulator.
An air pump is fixed near to the accumulator which is employed to force air
into the accumulator when required.
A suitable number of hydraulic pumps are fitted and arranged around the inside
of the ship of the size required to obtain a sufficient force and supply from the
reservoir to the accumulator.
Hollow air cubes or chambers are fitted on the outside and around the ship's
sides, of a size and shape suited to the power required, being so fitted to the sides
as to allow them to rise and fall freely upon the waves or irregularities of the
surface of the water.

page_text: A connection is made between the buoyant air cubes and the pumps by means
of a shaft, upon which is mounted the crank of the pump ram, passing through
the sides of the vessel and through stuffing boxes or any other suitable means to
prevent the entry of water from the outside to the inside of the vessel.
The buoyant cubes or chambers by rising and falling upon the minor waves or
tidal waves as they pass by the ship's side, cause them to rise and fall accordingly
as well also the rocking of the vessel, the effect being transmitted to the pumps
which force the water from the reservoir into the accumulator, which, as the
volume increases will compress the air inside the accumulator until the entire force
to be got from the cubes or air tight chambers is exhausted, which force will be
continually accumulating as exhausted by the engines, which can be made and
arranged to suit any size of ship or vessel as the pressure is required to be increased
or diminished.
I further utilize the pressure upon a valve or air chamber at either the bow or
stern of the vessel to be acted upon by the rise and fall respectively of the bow
and stern, which will also act upon hydraulic pumps to force water into the
accumulator to be consumed by the engines for propelling, puinping, and other
purposes, the size and form of the accumulator being arranged to suit the vessel to
be propelled.
The air tight chambers or cubes may be of any suitable shape or form as most
convenient to obtain the desired effect, and of such form and fitted in such manner
as will not impede the progress of the vessel.