Improvements in Air-compressors.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Air-compressors.
I, JOHN WILLIAM ELOHEIMO, of Red Jacket, in the County of Houghton and State
of Michigan, United States of America, Minister of the Gospel, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC AIR-COMPRESSORS, and in
what manner the same is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic air-
compressors designed to be actuated by the movement of the waves; and it has for
its object to provide a simple, cheap, efficient, and durable device of this character by
which air may be automatically compressed and stored for any desired use.
The novelty resides in the peculiar combinations and the construction, arrangement,
and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawing,
and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which, with the
letters of reference marked thereon, forms a part of this Specification, and in which
is shown, partly in side elevation and partly in section, with other parts broken
away, my device set up and ready for action.
Referring to the details of the drawing by letter, A designates suitable framing
or supports for the various parts. This may be of metal, wood, or part metal and
part wood, and arranged in any desired manner. That shown in the drawing has
proved to be well adapted for the purpose. It is secured in position at the bottom of
the sea or other body of water the force of which it is designed to utilize. This
may be done in any of the ways known.
B is the storage-reservoir, supported in the framing at any desired point, and is
provided with an outlet-pipe by which the compressed air may be conducted to the
place of use. This pipe is shown at a, and may be flexible or otherwise.
C is a depending frame carried by the tubular axle D E, which is supported in
suitable bearings or boxes b in the framing, as shown, and free to revolve therein.
The outer end of this axle is bell-shaped or flaring, as shown at c, and the other end
communicates with the interior of the storage-reservoir by means of any well-
known form of hermetical joint which will allow of the desired rotary movement
thereof.
G is a cylinder carried by this depending frame and suitably held thereto. It
bas communication with the two parts of the tubular axle by means of the openings d
and e-one upon each side of the cylinder-and these openings are closed by the
flap-valves fand g, which open in the direction of the storage reservoir, as shown.
Between the mouth end of the tubular axis and the cylinder G is a diaphragm h in
the said axis, which diaphragm is provided with an opening i, which is closed by
a flap-valve j, opening in the same direction as the valves f and 9, as shown.
There is also a similar valve k at the entrance of the axis into the storage-reservoir,
opening in the same direction as the other valves.

page_text: H is a cylindrical vessel carried by the framing I, the ends of which are provided
with anti-friction rollers 1, which are designed to ride upon the vertical timbers of the
depending frame, as shown. This cylinder is buoyant and has connected therewith
the piston-rod J, which carries the piston K, which works in the cylinder G, as
shown, and is provided with a flap-valve m, opening in the direction of the upward
movement of the piston. The parts being thus constructed and arranged, as shown,
the cylinder H being so arranged as to be partially beneath the surface of the water,
but not sufficient to come in contact with the bottom of the sea, the motion of the
waves from any cause, either natural or artificial, causes the cylinder H to move, and
its movement actuates the piston. As the piston moves upward it compresses the
air in the cylinder G and drives the air in the direction of the arrows in the
drawing. When the cylinder H, and consequently the piston, descends, the flap-
valves will be automatically closed and the air rarefied. Continual movement of
the cylinder H and piston compresses the air, fresh air being admitted through the
mouth of the axis, and the compressed air is stored in the storage-reservoir, from
whence it may be conducted as required. Providing rotary movement of the
cylinder H and axis guard against injury to the device which would be very likely
to occur if the same were rigidly supported.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination, with the storage-reservoir and supports, of the oscillating
and vertically-movable cylinder, the tubular axis, and the piston actuated by the
movement of said cylinder and controlling the movement of air through said axis,
as set forth.
•
2. The combination, with the oscillatory and vertically-movable cylinder, of the
cylinder G, the piston therein actuated by the movement of the first-mentioned
cylinder, the tubular axis having communication with the cylinder G, and the flap-
valves in the axis and piston, substantially as specified.
3. The combination, with the framing, the depending frame, the vertically-movable
cylinder, the rotary tubular axis and the flap-valves in said axis, of the piston
actuated by the vertically-movable cylinder, and the cylinder G, with which the axis
communicates, and the storage-reservoir, also having communication with the tubular
axis, substantially as specified.
4. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with the framing, the
storage-reservoir supported thereby, the tubular axis rotatably held in bearings in
the framing, the cylinder G, and depending frame carried by the axis, of the connection
between the axis and storage-reservoir, the flap-valves in said axis, the cylinder H,
provided with a piston-rod and anti-friction rollers vertically movable on the vertical
portions of the depending frame; and the piston carried by the piston-rod and working
in the cylinder G and provided with a flap-valve, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 4th day of October 1890.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.