Improvements in Wave Motors.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept, 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wave Motors.
We, PARVEN WRIGHT, Electric and Hydraulic Engineer, of No. 1833, Hope
Street, SHIRLEY CHRISTOPHER WARD, Attorney-at-Law, of No. 1105, West 27th
Street, and Doctor CASIMIR VINCENT MIDOWICZ, Physician and Surgeon, of No.
1108, Olive Street, all in the City of Los Angeles, and State of California,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement: -
This invention is directed particularly to improvements in that type of wave
motors which utilizes the movements of rising and falling floats as they ride over
ocean waves; and its objects are-
First, to provide a wave motor adapted for use in connection with large power
plants where it is desired to utilize comparatively large areas of ocean surface
with a minimum amount of wharf structure; Second, to devise a wave motor
which will utilize the power developed by a number of independent floats and in
such manner that the same may be used under all conditions of wind and tide and
still develop, power at a substantially constant head or pressure; Third, to so devise
a wave motor of the type indicated that any or all of the floats may, during severe
storms, be disconnected from the plant and so arranged that it or they will not be
damaged by the severity of such storms; Fourth, to devise a wave motor with a
number of independent floats so interconnected with a common pressure regulating
mechanism that each float will operate independent of the others and the total
energy developed thereby will be delivered to the translating devices or mechanisms
utilizing the power at a substantially constant rate of supply or pressure; Fifth,
to provide pressure regulating mechanism for a multiple float wave motor of the
type indicated which shall enable the engineer or attendant to regulate at will
the pressure exerted by any part of the apparatus; and, Sixth, to support each
float upon a hollow or tubular piling properly anchored and constituting not only a
support but at the same time the pumping cylinder of an individual pump, the
piston of which is operated by the float which it supports.
For a full and exact understanding of this invention such as will enable others
skilled in the art to which it relates to construct and use the same, reference is
to be had to the following Specification and also to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 illustrates in part sectional part side elevational view a single float
wave motor embodying one form of the invention and the enclosing power house,
all supported upon piles anchored in the bottom of the ocean.
Figure illustrates a similar view of the power house and the mechanism in
connection therewith supported partly upon shore and partly upon piles, the pump-
ing mechanism not being shown in this view.
Figure 3 illustrates in plan view a complete system embodying my preferred
form of apparatus, illustrating also its application to a system of electrical genera-
tion

page_text: Figure 4 18 a sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale taken on the line,
Figure 3, and as seen looking at that figure from the bottom toward the top of the
drawing in the direction of the arrows, the floats, their supporting piles and the
pumping mechanism being shown in side elevational view.
Figure is a transverse sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale taken on the
line yy, Figure 3, and as seen looking at that figure of the drawings from right
to left in the direction of the arrows, the floats being seen in front elevational view
and one of the sustaining tubular piles being shown in part sectional view.
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of one of the floats and its
attachments, a part of the float being broken away to show the interior structure
thereof and also its roller bearing supports upon the tubular pile which sustains it.
Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of one of the tubular float sustaining
piles and a plan view of the float and its roller bearings in connection therewith.
Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the upper end of one of the tubular sustain-
ing piles, illustrating also in side elevational view the pumping piston and the
connecting rods between the cross-head at the upper end of said piston and one of
the floats.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, in all of which like letters of reference
represent like parts wherever used, and first to Figure 1 which represents one form
of the apparatus.
KKK represents piles secured in the bottom of the ocean by wedges to heavy
metallic anchor discs AD, AD, as shown. Upon the upper end of these piles is
built a power house A covering the operative parts of the mechanism, excepting
the float U which is provided with vertical standards St S¹ connected pivotally to
levers L L by pivot pins plp', which levers are in turn pivotally secured to the
inner piling K¹ by pivot pins pp, said float being provided with an inclined top
surface and an inclined outer bottom face such that the latter will receive the
lifting effects of incoming waves, while the former will disperse or carry off any
water which dashes over the front portion thereof. Near the middle of the lever L
is pivotally secured a rod R, the upper end of which is connected to a cross-head CH
adapted to move vertically in opposite directions the piston P¹ of a pump P firmly
secured to the piles K¹ K¹.
This pump P is connected by a pipe and a check valve chamber CV at the
upper end of a suction pipe S, the free end of which extends to the bottom of a
water tank DT containing a supply of water. The check valve chamber CV is
provided with two check valves of the ordinary type, such that during the upward
movement of the cross-head CH the pump will draw water into the cylinder P
and during its downward movement will force the water forward through a pipe D
into a compression tank T connected in turn by a second pipe D to a nozzle
designed to drive a Pelton water wheel W.
HV¹ is a hand valve for controlling the operation of the float, and HV a second
hand valve in the pipe D³ for controlling the supply of water to be delivered to
the Pelton water wheel or other water motor W.
The operation of this form of the apparatus is as follows:-The hand valve HV
is normally closed and the hand valve H¹ V₁ is then opened. As the float U rises
through the action of the incoming waves upon the outer inclined surface F the
lever L causes the rod R to lift the piston of the pump P through the agency of
the cross-head CH and thereby draw a supply of water from the chamber DT
into said pump. As the float descends, therefore, the lower check valve in the
chamber CV will be closed and the upper one opened, thereby forcing water
through the pipe D into the compression chamber T. The float will gradually
descend until the next wave approaches, when it will in like manner be lifted and
the operation repeated. This operation is continued until the pressure in the tank T
becomes sufficient to hold the float in its upper position or until the desired pres-
sure is reached, as indicated by any well known form of pressure-gauge upon the
tank T. The hand valve HV is now opened and the water allowed to flow through
the pipe Ds to nozzle N to the water wheel W. Owing to the expansive nature

page_text: of the air in the compression chamber T the rate of flow of water through the pipe D*
and nozzle N will be comparatively constant, no matter what may be the action
of the float, as operated by waves of either long or short intervals. When it is
desired to elevate the float U out of action during severe storms, the hand
valve HV is closed by the engineer and when the float reaches its highest
altitude, thereby causing it, the float, to be held suspended in the air by the action
of the pump upon the water confined in the check valve chamber CV. It will
be understood of course that the parts of the pump P and the piping and attach-
ments between it and the hand valve H¹ VI should be of such strength and so
proportioned with relation to the float U that they will withstand at all times,
without injury, the pressure due to said float when sustained in the air. This form
of structure is adapted for use in positions where piling may be readily located
or in positions adjacent to bluffs where the levers L and L' may be pivotally con-
nected to a permanent structure on shore.
Where it is desired to make a structure having large capacity and extending over
relatively larger areas of ocean surface, the preferred structure which is disclosed
in Figures 2 to 8 inclusive is used.
In Figure 2 of the drawings is shown a power house A. located on shore and
closely adjacent to a sea-wall SW, K¹ K¹ being ordinary iron piles adapted to
sustain at their upper ends by cross-timbers & and longitudinal beams Othe
flooring W near shore. A series of tubular piles KKK located further seaward
sustain the outer portion of said structure and act also as individual supports for
vertically moving floats U U10%, said piles being anchored by anchor disks AD,
as before, in the bed of the ocean and firmly secured together at their upper ends
by girders EEE and tie-rods RRR provided with turn-buckles TB, TB in a
manner well understood by those versed in engineering structures, and as clearly
shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the arrangement being such that the
entire structure possesses great strength.
DT is the water tank located in the basement of the power house A and having
sufficient capacity to fill all of the outlying water pipes and the compression
chambers when acting at full load. S is the main suction pipe running from the
bottom of the tank DT downward and seaward beneath the entire wharf structure,
said pipe branching or radiating and decreasing in size in its branches, there being
ultimately one special branch pipe for each float U, U¹ or U³ and pump connected
thereto, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4.
T is a compression chamber located preferably at a point near the power house A
and connected at one end by a delivery pipe D which runs seaward above the
flooring W of the structure and has branches in all respects similar to the branches
of the suction pipe S. In other words, said delivery pipe is provided with a branch
running to the pump of each individual float. D' is a second delivery pipe running
from the shoreward end of the compression chamber T to the bottom of a distri-
bution chamber T¹, and D Da Da a series of delivery pipes, see Figure 4, running
from said distribution chamber to four individual nozzles NNNN adapted to
supply water to four individual Pelton water wheels connected to a common shaft,
which shaft in turn is connected to the armature of a dynamo electric machine D M
having its poles connected by conductors ww with the primary of a converter CV,
the secondary of which is connected by conductors owl to a switchboard SB
designed to furnish current to consumers through conducting leads ог
mains www are similar conductors running to an electric motor EM de-
signed to operate an air pump AP which supplies air under pressure through a
pipe t to an air compression chamber T.
HV, HV, HV, are hand valves located in the pipes Ds for regulating the flow
of water to the water wheels W. H¹ V¹ is an additional hand valve located between
the compression chamber T and the distribution chamber T¹ for regulating the flow
between said chambers. H*V*, HV, HV are similar hand valves located in
the various radiating branches of the delivery pipe D for varying at will the supply
of water from any or all of the pumps.

page_text: t' is an air pipe running from the air compression chamber Ta to the compres-
sion chamber T and having radiating branches running to the several air chambers
and pump cylinders throughout the system; hv, hv, hv, being hand valves for
regulating the flow of air into the various parts of the system in accordance with
the necessities of the case, the function of these parts being to restore any air which 5
may escape from the compression chambers and air chambers and pump cylinders
of the system.
CK, CK, CK, are double check valves of well known structure, one for each
pump, located in the branch pipes S at points near the pumps, the seats of said
valves being so arranged that the pressure of the water from the tank DT will
unseat the lower valves as the pistons of the pumps move upward and that they will
be seated as said pistons move downward, while the upper valves will be un-
seated and permit the passage of water into the compression chamber T.
SP, SP, SP, are shunt pipes, one for each pump, running entirely around
the double check valves CK, and HV, H*V*, HV, are hand valves located 1
therein, see Figure 4, the function of said shunt pipes and hand valves being to
aid in the holding of the floats at their upper positions when desired.
Ts is an air chamber located above and connected with the main delivery pipe D,
there being preferably a number of such air chambers distributed throughout the
system and similarly connected, but only one shown for the purpose of avoiding 2
unnecessary complication of the drawings, the function of said chambers being
to distribute the elastic medium such as air confined therein, at various points
throughout the system.
Referring now to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 for a detailed description of the floats
and pumping apparatus; U represents in side elevational view one of the floats
which is so constructed as to have an opening through its centre of sufficient size
to admit of its free up and down movement about the tubular pile K, as clearly
shown in Figure 7. RR are T-rails firmly secured on opposite sides to each of
the tubular piles K and adapted to act as guides or runways for guiding rollers rrr,
two of said rollers being secured to the float by vertical timbers HH and
braces HH on one side, and a third at the free end of an elastic of yielding
timber Hs secured to the float and provided near its upper end with an adjusting
screw SK for regulating the pressure of its roller upon the rail, and hence the
adjustment of the entire float.
which
QQQ are strong timbers secured to the body of the float U and securing in
turn the lower ends of vertically arranged rods ZZ, the upper ends of which are
secured by nuts nn to a cross-head CH attached to the upper end of a plunger
piston rod P R extending downward through a packing ring PH secured by bolts ff
to the upper end of the hollow or tubular pile K, PK being water and air tight
packing of the usual form. This form of plunger pump in which the packing PK
is all put in position from the exterior affords a simple and efficient pump
is rarely out of repair and in which the packing may be quickly and effectually put
in place without disturbing any portion of the apparatus other than the packing
ring PH and bolts ff. The hollow or tubular pile K constitutes the pumping
cylinder of each pump and its lower end is filled with cement C, as clearly indicated
in Figure 5. The upper end of the pile K is provided with an opening or outlet
operatively connected by a junction pipe with the chamber of the double check
valve CK, the arrangement being such that as the float rises and falls water is
drawn from the suction pipe into the pumping cylinder at the upper end of the
pile K and then forced forward through discharge pipe D and ultimately into the
compression chamber T through the main discharge pipe, as will be more par-
ticularly described in connection with the description of the mode of operation.
The floats UU are provided with holes or openings in their bottoms so as to
admit water thereinto as they settle by their own weight, the weight of said water
being utilized in action in connection with the weight of the floats themselves.
The pumping chamber or pile K of each pump is also connected with the air pres
sure tank T by the multiple branch pipe t', as is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4

page_text: of the drawings, the arrangement being such that air, under pressure, is admitted
in the top of each pump cylinder for the purpose of elevating the floats above
the wave when the power is not needed during storms or for repairs, it being
apparent that as the back pressure from the tank T is exerted upon any pump
its float will tend to rise, and as it rises, the water therein will gradually flow out
until the back pressure from the pressure tank is simply called upon to exert such
force as to lift that float clear of the water. When the valve H³ ³ is opened
again this air is excluded from the cylinders as the pistons descend, the air thus
excluded passing out of the cylinders by way of pipe D to any of the supply
tanks T, T, T3 dispersing any water that may have accumulated therein, it being
understood that the pressure in the air chamber or tank T is usually much greater
than that of any of the other chambers.
The operation of the apparatus is very simple, it being understood that, when
the floats UU settle in the water the air will be compressed in their upper right
hand portions and there will come a time when they will float only with sufficient
water in them to give the best results.
It will of course be appreciable that the united weights of the floats and their
contained water is much greater than that of the floats alone, and that as they are
lifted gradually by the back pressure when the valves are properly turned the
water contained therein will gradually flow out and consequently the back pressure
will lift them to points as much higher than the surface of the water as the amount
of energy attributable to the weight of the water utilized in the floats will justify.
The mode of operation of this preferred form of apparatus illustrated in
Figures 2 to 8 inclusive will now be described. Upon the supposition that the
apparatus is to be started anew, it will be understood that all of the water is in the
tank DT, the suction pipes S and pump cylinders K. The hand valves HV in
the discharge pipes D2 D2 D2 are closed and the hand valves H¹ V, H V², H³ Vº,
H³ ³, HV, are all open, while the hand valves HV, HV, in the shunt
pipes SP, SP, and the additional hand valves hv, hv, hv, in the air supply pipes t¹
are all closed. Under this condition of affairs the incoming waves WA will
strike the first series of floats U8, see Figure 4, thereby lifting the same. Con-
sequently the plunger piston rods PR are elevated and as they are elevated
the water flows into the pump cylinders K out of the suction pipes S. As the
wave passes forward to the next succeeding series of floats U¹ they are elevated in
a like manner and the first series of floats are now left free to descend by their own
weight. In so descending, the valves in the check valve CK act in a manner
well understood to cut off the supply of water from the suction pipes and to allow
the water in the delivery pipes to be forced forward into the main pipes and ulti-
mately into the compression chamber T. The next set of floats now descends and
the third set U is lifted in like manner, the action taking place simultaneously
or dissimultaneously in accordance with the conditions or peculiarity of the waves
by which they, the floats, are actuated, each float being absolutely independent in
its action of every other float, its pumping action correspondingly independent and
the total effect such as to force the water continuously forward through the
system of delivery pipes D into the compression chamber T where the air in the
upper portion of said chamber is necessarily highly compressed.
When the pressure-gauge upon the compression chamber T indicates the de-
sired pressure the hand valve HV is opened and the water in said compression
chamber allowed to flow forward through the pipe D into the distribution
chamber T¹ and from thence into the delivery pipes D2 Ds D³ ³ where it is held in
check by the hand valves HV, HV, HV. These valves are opened after the
pressure indicator upon the distribution chamber T indicates the necessary pres-
sure and the water is allowed to flow upon the buckets of the Pelton water wheels W,
thereby setting in motion the armature of the dynamo DM and generating the
necessary current through the primaries of the converters CV and the secondaries
thereof to the working circuits 10 10. The current now set up in the con-
ductors sets in motion the electric motor EM which in turn puts in motion

page_text: the air pump AP, and the hand valve he in the pipe t having been turned to the
proper position air is now compressed in the air chamber T to the desired degree,
as will be indicated by the pressure indicator thereof. As the operation continues
the engineer or attendant may now regulate the pressure of air in the compression
chamber T and in all of the air chambers T located above the system of delivery
pipes by turning the proper hand valves hv and supplying air to any of said
chambers or to the upper portions of the pump cylinders K, these matters being
entirely within his control by virtue of the independent hand valves hv, hv, it
being understood that there is provided with each of said chambers the necessary
water gauges for indicating the height of the water therein.
Should the attendant fail to turn the hand valve H¹ V the pumps will of course
continue to pump water into the compression chamber T until the pressure reaches
such a height that the back pressure will maintain the floats in an elevated position
approximating the tops of the highest waves over which they ride, but this will
not cause serious inconvenience of the system by virtue of the fact that each plunger
pump is connected with the air chambers T and T3, the elasticity of which is sufficient
to maintain the entire system intact from wrecking influences. As a means of con-
trolling individually the lifting of any float entirely out of the reach of the waves
the hand valve H3 Vs is closed and the hand valve HV in the relatively small
shunt pipe SP opened, thereby establishing a back pressure of water from the
delivery pipes D into the pump tending to slowly lift the plunger thereof and at
the same time the float. As the float is thus lifted the water therein is released
thereby materially lightening it so that ultimately the back pressure is sufficient
to lift it to its extreme limit where it may be held by the water confined in the
cylinder and secured by ropes or otherwise to the upper portion of the framework.
Such an arrangement makes it possible to lift all of the floats entirely free of the
water after the pressure has, reached the maximum in the compression tank T,
pressure pipes D and air chambers T3, a feature of very great importance in the
event of storms and destructive high tides.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a wave motor a float provided with an inclined top surface and an inclined
outer bottom face, said float being pivotally connected to one or more stationary
points of support in such manner that it maintains its top surface at a constant
inclination for all conditions of tide and wind.
2. A wave motor provided with an inclined face for receiving the force of
incoming waves, said motor being secured to a stationary support in such manner
that the aforesaid inclined face presents the same angle of inclination to the waves
for all conditions of tide and wind.
3. In a wave motor system a number of floats having independent movement
and each operatively connected with a pump, in combination with a compression
chamber operatively connected with all of said pumps, said compression chamber
being in turn connected to a water motor as a Pelton water wheel.
4. In a wave motor system a number of floats having independent movement
and each operatively connected with a pump, a water tank connected by suction
pipes with all of said pumps, a compression chamber connected by discharge pipes
with all of said pumps, and a water motor operatively connected in turn with
said compression chamber and adapted to discharge the water therefrom into said
water tank.
5. A wave motor consisting of a float operatively connected with a pump which
in turn is connected by a discharge pipe to a compression chamber, in combination
with means for controlling the back flow of water from the compression chamber
to the pumps and in such manner that the float may be elevated above or out of
reach of the waves when desired.
6. A wave motor consisting of a float operatively connected with a pump which

page_text: in turn is connected by a discharge pipe to a compression chamber, in combination
with one or more hand valves operatively connected with the discharge pipe and
adapted, when actuated, to so regulate the flow of the water as to hold the float
at its upper position.
7. A wave motor consisting of a float operatively connected with a pump
which in turn is connected by a discharge pipe to a compression chamber, a hand
valve for closing the discharge pipe, in combination with a shunt pipe shunting
the valves of the pump, and a second hand valve for controlling the flow of water
therethrough, the arrangement being such that the back flow of water through
the shunt pipe from the compression chamber will lift the float out of the reach of
the waves.
8. In a wave motor system a series of independent floats each operatively .con-
nected with an individual pump, a pipe operatively connecting a water supply
tank through branch pipes with said pumps, a series of discharge pipes operatively
connecting said pumps with a main discharge pipe connected in turn to a com-
pression chamber, a hand valve for each pump adapted to regulate the flow of
water therethrough into its corresponding discharge pipe, a shunt pipe shunting
the valves of each pump and a hand valve located in each shunt pipe, in combina-
tion with a discharge pipe running from the compression chamber to a water motor
which in turn discharges the water into the aforesaid water tank, the arrangement
being such that all of said floats may be operated or any or all of them lifted out
of reach of the waves.
9. In a wave motor system a series of independent floats operatively connected
each with an individual pump, said pumps being provided with suction and dis-
charge pipes, in combination with a compression chamber operatively connected
with a main discharge pipe and an air compression chamber provided with
means for compressing air, said air compression chamber being interconnected
with the different parts of the apparatus so as to constitute a pressure regulating
mechanism therefore.
10. In a wave motor system provided with a series of independent floats opera-
tively connected with pumping mechanism, in combination with a pressure
regulating apparatus adapted to supply air under pressure to the different parts
of the system, together with a water motor operatively connected to a compression
chamber into which water is pumped by the united action of all of the pumps.
11. A wave motor system consisting of a series of floats each operatively connected
with an individual pump, a series of suction and discharge pipes connected to said
pumps, a compression chamber connected to said discharge pipes and a distri-
bution chamber connected to said compression chamber, in combination with a
series of discharge pipes and a series of Pelton water wheels adapted to receive
water from said discharge pipes, together with a water tank adapted to supply
water to the suction pipes and to receive the discharged water from the water
wheels.
12. In a wave motor a tubular pile, the upper end of which constitutes a pump
cylinder, its bottom end being closed to form a cylinder head and the top end pro-
vided with a detachable packing ring and packing, in combination with a
reciprocating plunger piston.
13. In a wave motor a tubular pile the upper end of which constitutes a pump
cylinder, its bottom end being closed to form a cylinder head and the top end pro
vided with a detachable packing ring and packing, in combination with a
reciprocating piston operatively connected by a cross-head to a pair of rods which
in turn are secured to a float surrounding the pile.
14. In a wave motor a wharf structive consisting of a series of tubular piles
secured together at their upper ends, said tubes constituting the cylinders of a
series of pumps, the top ends being provided with removable packing rings and
packing adapted to receive reciprocating plunger pistons operatively connected
with floats which surround the piles.
15. In a wave motor a series of tubular piles secured together at their upper ends

page_text: series
and supporting the mechanism of a pumping plant, in combination with
of floats having each an inclined outer face adapted to receive the force of incoming
waves and an inclined top surface adapted to shed or dissipate any overflowing
water, together with means for guiding it in its vertical movement.
16. In a wave motor a vertical tubular pump cylinder secured at its lower end
in the ocean bed and supporting pumping mechanism at its upper end, in combina-
tion with a float surrounding said pumping cylinder, said float having an inclined
outer face adapted to receive the force of incoming waves and an inclined top
surface adapted to shed or dissipate any overflowing water, together with means
for guiding said float in its vertical movement.
17. In a wave motor system two or more tubular piles, the upper end of which
constitutes cylinders of independent pumps, a wave motor or float for each pump,
in combination with pipe connections between said pumps and a compression
chamber.
18. In a wave motor system two or more independent floats operatively connected
to force pumps, said pumps being in turn connected to a pressure tank or tanks,
in combination with a supplemental air tank having circulating pipes operatively
connected with air chambers and a compression chamber and means for supplying
air under pressure.
19. In a wave motor a tubular pile the upper end of which constitutes a pump
cylinder, the bottom end thereof being closed to form a cylinder head and the top
end provided with a detachable packing ring, in combination with a plunger
piston operatively connected with a float which surrounds the tubular pile and is
provided with guide wheels adapted to guide the float in its vertical movement
upon rails secured to the pile.
20. In a wave motor a tubular pile the upper end of which constitutes a pump
cylinder and is provided with a detachable packing ring having packing therefor,
in combination with a plunger piston adapted to reciprocate through said packing
ring, said piston being operatively connected to a float which surrounds the tubular
pil and is provided with guide rollers having means for adjusting said roller
relative to their supports upon the pile.
L
1907
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.