IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING MACHINERY FROM THE RISE AND FALL OF TIDES OR WATER LEVELS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Allix at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 6th June 1879.
GEORGE ALLIX, of No. 9, Church Terrace, Cubitt's Town, in the County of
Middlesex, Shipwright. "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING
MACHINERY FROM THE RISE AND FALL OF TIDES OR WATER LEVELS."
This Invention relates to special means and arrangement of apparatus for utilizing
the rise and fall of tides or water levels in rivers, docks, and other like places, for
operating machinery for lifting, hauling, hoisting, and other purposes for which
steam and like power is now employed.
According to my Invention I excavate the earth close to, say, the bank of a
river. Into this excavation I arrange a tank or holder, into which (through pipes
provided with suitable valves) the water as the tide rises is permitted to enter.
Within this tank or holder is fitted loosely another tank, which is free to rise and
fall therein. This inner tank gets its supply from the outer one when the tide
rises to a certain point, the water then flowing into the inner tank, which causes
the inner tank to become submerged to any desired depth by the weight of water
within it. This inner tank is provided with a second pipe, which when a valve is
opened allows the water to flow from the inner tank into a reservoir, the inner
tank rising by its buoyancy as the water flows from it. This inner tank has a
horizontal partition, that its upper part may carry a quantity of water in bulk up
with it, which water becomes transferred to a third tank fitted above the level of
the first named tank when it has lifted sufficiently high for the pipe outlet to give
the fall therefrom.
The third mentioned tank has within it a floating tank, whose lower end has
attached a ram or piston working within a hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder taking
its supply of water from the third tank. The floating tank in its rise, consequent
upon the change of level of water in the third tank, acts upon the body of water
above the piston within the cylinder, the lift force of the piston being of such a
character that heavy machinery, lifts, hoists, and other necessary operations can be
effected. The floating tank is charged with the water from the third tank to enable
it to be submerged, the upper part of the hydraulic cylinder being also charged for
the next lift. The floating tank is provided with a pipe leading to the reservoir
to admit of its contents being discharged when desired, and when ready for another
lift of the hydraulic piston.
The several pipes before mentioned are articulated or provided with leather or

page_text: rubber connections, joints, or couplings, to enable them to take up the various
positions during the movements of the tanks during their rise or fall.
One end of each of the pipes is connected to a kind of cylinder, within which a
piston is placed, and capable of being moved up or down to open or close the
necessary apertures for the passage of the water in the required direction. If
necessary the hydraulic ram may be in connection with the inner tank before
referred to.
By my Invention the rise of a tide can be used to work hydraulic machinery by
the admission of water into the apparatus, a corresponding working taking place
on the tide receding by the outflow of water from the reservoir.
I have referred to my Invention as being applied in connection with the bank of
a river, but it will be understood that it is applicable to open docks, and also to
floating docks or pontoons, on or within which machinery is arranged for discharging
ships or otherwise.