AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING THE MOTIVE FORCE OF WAVES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE PRODUCTION AND STORAGE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY communicated him
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING THE MOTIVE
FORCE OF WAVES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE PRODUCTION AND STORAGE
OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY communicated to him from abroad by Antoine
de Souza, of Paris, Franco,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS
"
FOR, UTILIZING THE MOTIVE FORCE OF WAVES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE
PRODUCTION AND STORAGE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY [A communication to him
from abroad by Antoine de Souza, of Paris, France,]
The object of this invention is to apply the movement of translation of the
waves to the production of force, notwithstanding the irregularity of such motion,
for storing variable quantities of electricity in accumulators of any suitable
description, permitting of furnishing currents of electricity of a constant intensity,
either upon the spot, or at a distance.
•
The said invention is based upon the following principles, that is to say; first
the reception by means of suitable apparatus floating or not, of the force produced
by the alternative movement of translation of the waves in advancing and
retreating; second the action of this apparatus (floating or otherwise) in a similar
manner to that of pistons, upon a system of machines connected to the said
apparatus in any manner adaptable to the irregularities arising from the movement
of the waves and of the tides; and third, the application of this motive force,
thus regulated, for actuating powerful electric machines the currents from which
can be employed directly upon the spot or at a distance, or can be made to charge
accumulators to be employed for any desired purpose.

page_text: Before describing the apparatus which I employ in carrying the said invention
into practice, I would remark that the said apparatus is only described by way
of example, as its construction will necessarily be varied according to the nature
of the place where it is employed, the degree of force of the tides, the nature or
amount of force which it is desired to obtain, and other circumstances.
The accompanying drawing is intended to illustrate the principle of the said
apparatus.
One object of the said invention is to overcome the difficulties arising from the
irregularity in the movement of the waves. In the most favourable case, that
is to say that of a beach with a rapid incline, I arrange a floating apparatus a
(Figure 1) composed of two or more girders firmly secured to one another and
having a specific gravity very little greater than that of the water, so that
they will be only slightly immersed in the same. At the extremities of these
girders are fixed strong rollers b working upon articulated rails or upon metallic
cables. These rails or cables are fixed (in any suitable manner allowing of a
vertical movement corresponding to that of the differences of level of the sea)
to beds of masonry e in which are formed guideways d in which work the devices
for effecting the attachment, the latter being in the form of floats. The height of
the beds can be very much reduced and in this case the rails not being capablo
of rising higher than the said beds remain in an inclined position, together with
the receiving apparatus of the framework.
In the space included between two consecutive beds of masonry are arranged
bearings or supports c against which the rails or cables are placed. Oblique rollers
or other suitable devices serve to diminish the friction of the rails or cables on the
bearings c. These rails are adjustably fixed at one point to the beach or shore,
and can be raised or lowered by reason of the flow or cbb of the tide, being
guided vertically by their floating supports in the guideways d of the beds of
masonry e.
Figure 2 represents an end view of the floating apparatus. Above and below
the girders a constituting this apparatus are wings suitably pivotted, the height
of which, or rather the total surface of which, is proportional to the force to be
accumulated or collected. These wings are pivotted at the point g and their
movement of oscillation is limited by abutments h carried by springs. These
wings or frames therefore form a large portion of the surface acted upon by the
movement of the water, and by reason of their spring abutments they will be
inclined in proportion to the force exerted against their surface and consequently
they constitute means for regulating the continually varying force of the waves,
since they offer a greater or less surface to the action of the waves. The said
wings are regulated by the force of the spring abutments h, which are also
adjustable in such a manner as to resist the shock of a wave with little force
whilst they are inclined under the action of a wave with considerable force. With
these main wings or frames are combined smaller wings behind, and in front of, the
float so as to limit or augment the total stroke or travel. The wings ƒ can, if
desired, be mounted rigidly upon the float and actuated by a rack and pinion in
a similar manner to a sluice-valve. And the two methods of mounting the said
wings can be employed separately or combined.
In order that each receiving apparatus may always be at a suitable distance
from the line of the breaking of the waves, the floating apparatus a is connected
with the receiver or shaft i carrying the fly wheel j, by an arin with sliding
portions . The details of construction which I prefer to employ are represented
by way of example in Figures 3 and 4. The said arms are constructed with a
central portion of larger size than the extremities at each of which there is a
sliding portion capable of moving freely to-and-fro, and thus determining the
lengthening or shortening of the arins for transmitting the force, according to the
space between the high and low water levels.
The fitting of these sliding parts into the central portion is automatically
regulated as represented in Figure 4, that is to say to the four straight rods,

page_text: the combination of which constitutes the transmitter arms, are fixed strong clicks
or detents . Near the upper end of the metal rod connecting each pair of these
clicks or detents are arranged electro-magnets m which attract the said clicks or
detents when a current of medium intensity is passed through the coils of the said
magnets, the force to be overcome in this case being very slight.
If, for example the current excites the magnets placed in the plano perpen-
dicular to the axis of the arm, the corresponding clicks will be disengaged and
as soon as required the apparatus will move in the direction of the arrows, passing
over the clicks thus disengaged. The transmitter arm is thereby shortened by a
certain amount, and the inverse movement will take place in a similar manner.
It is evident that the system above described could be greatly simplified if it were
applied to a sea without ebb or flow such as the Mediterranean, for example; in
such a case I modify the method of transmission as hereinafter described.
The movement of the transmitter arm is communicated to the motor shaft i
by a connecting rod n to which it is connected by a piece which should also be
capable of sliding and the point of attachment of which to the connecting rod is
removable, and can consequently be detached automatically according to the extent
of the movement of the waves, and this shaft carries one or more fly wheels
suitable for permitting the apparatus to work during the intervals of rest between
one wave and the succeeding one; cranks keyed on at suitable angles permit of
attaining the same result.
In order that the waves, notwithstanding their difference of force, may act freely,
the connecting rod n is jointed directly to the fly-wheel (Figure 5) by means of
a frictional sliding piece o working in a guide, the friction of which can be
increased by making the frictional surfaces more undulated so that this arrange-
ment will influence the movement of the fly-wheel as the force will act normally
or in the direction of the piece o.
I sometimes substitute for this arrangement or combine with it, the arrangement
shewn in Figure 6. The point of articulation p is arrested at various points
by supports capable of being attracted by electro-magnets suitably arranged.
I provide a small table r in which slides a piece 8 carrying two commutators of
different lengths. According to the general condition of the sea the piece sis
placed so that the current acts upon the required electro magnets in order that the
point p will be held between the stops in the desired position relatively to the sea.
The fly-wheel is connected by an extension or arm upon its shaft, with a wheel t
carrying two separate sectors arranged to correspond with different positions of the
flywheel. Upon these sectors are metal ares communicating with the electro-
magnets which actuate the stops or supports q. When these ares pass under the
rods which receive the current flowing from the commutator table r; this current,
during the rotation of the fly wheel through a given length of arc, actuates the
electro-magnets which depress the stops or supports q, until the point of articulation p
comes into position relatively to the motion of the waves at that moment. The
automatic shifting of the point of articulation of the connecting rod u upon the
piece o, takes place according to the variations of the waves modifying its action
upon the fly-wheel accordingly.
The wheel will actuate powerful electric machines which will charge accu-
mulators either upon the spot or at a distance.
I sometimes mount upon the shaft driven by each float a very strong fly-wheel
and a lighter one capable of being successively thrown out of gear according to
the condition of the sea In certain cases it may be necessary to modify the
various arrangements above described, for example, as hereinafter set forth.
Figure 7 represents the receiving apparatus composed of vertical frames 1 in:
place of being a floating apparatus as above described. These frames are carried
by rails 2. All, or a part, of these frames can be made in the form of wings jointed
as herein before described. They are arranged in such a manner as to receive the
shock of the wave nearly at the place where it breaks, and to always present a
sufficient surface to the waves, even when they arrive laterally. In this arrangement

page_text: the transmission can be effected by a long arm, as above described, or by a
column of water passing into pipes suitably arranged (Figure 8).
The various parts of the apparatus above described can be made of metal, wood,
or other suitable material either hollow or solid. A regulator of any suitable
description is arranged to interrupt the communication when the tension of the
current supplied is not greater than that of the accumulators to which it is
transmitted.
I can combine with the improved receiving apparatus motors of any kind for
assisting in, or supplementing, the working of any of the devices or apparatus above
described
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters-Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th May 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
"
FOR UTILIZING THE MOTIVE FORCE OF WAVES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE
PRODUCTION AND STORAGE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY A communication to ine
from abroad by Antoine de Souza of Paris France
The object of this invention is to apply the movement of translation of the
waves to the production of force, notwithstanding the irregularity of such motion,
by storing electricity in accumulators of any suitable description, capable of
supplying electric currents of constant intensity, either upon the spot or at a
distanco.
The said invention is based upon the following principles, that is to say; First,
the reception by means of suitable apparatus of the force produced by the
alternativo movement of translation of the waves forward and backward; Secondly,
the action of these apparatuses, in a similar manner to that of pistons, upon a system
of machines connected to them in any manner adaptable to the irregularities arising
from the movement of the waves and of the tides; and, third the application of
this motive force, for actuating powerful electric machines or for producing other
work if desired.
Before describing the apparatus which I employ in carrying the said invention
into practice, I would remark that the said apparatus is only described by way of
example as its construction will necessarily be varied according to the nature of
the place where it is employed, the degree of force of the waves, and the nature or
amount of force which is required.
The accompanying drawing is intended to illustrate the principle of the said
apparatus.
Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of the apparatus (the rigid transmitter
being omitted to simplify the drawing).
..Figure 2.is.a. plan thereof. (with the transmitter).

page_text: Rails R or other means for the guidance or support of the carriage are so fixed
as to obtain as far as possible a satisfactory incline, upon which the carriago c,
Figures 3 and 4, carrying the frames, may roll. These carriages are provided with
floats of any suitable description properly placed so as to nearly counterbalance or
overcome the weight of the apparatus thereby facilitating the ascension of the
incline of the beach when the receiver is pushed towards the shore.
The carriage is prevented from running off the rails by the cables a and also by
wheels resting under the head of the rails. The receiving apparatus is composed of
vertical frames or flaps fixed upon the carriage. All or part of these frames may
be made to form articulated wings or flaps as hereinafter described.
Figure 9 shows the details of the receiving apparatus. Above and below the
beams 7 there are wings or flaps m the total surface of which is proportionate to
the force they have to receive. These flaps are articulated, by a hinge, to the
carriage and their oscillation is limited by stop pieces n carried by strong
springs o.
These flaps or hinged frames form a large part of the surface acted upon by the
movement of the water and, by means of their spring stop-pieces, they yield pro-
portionally to the force exerted on their surface and consequently constitute a
primary means for regulating the constantly varying force of the waves, since they
offer a smaller or larger surface of resistance to their action.
The said flaps or frames are therefore regulated by the power of the springs of
the stop-pieces n, the springs themselves being adjustable so as to resist the shock
of a weak wave but to yield to the action of a strong one.
With the principal frames or flaps are combined smaller ones in front, and at the
back, of the float so as to limit the initial shock and increase the total stroke or
travel.
The frames or flaps m can also be mounted rigidly on some part of the carriage
and acted upon by means of a rack and pinion in a similar manner to sluico-gates
or valves. These two methods of mounting the frames or flaps may either be
combined or applied alone. This apparatus runs on rails fixed on the ground and
resting on carriages Figure. 3. The surfaces of these frames or flaps are made
uneven by means of grooves, holes or other contrivances in order to increase their
resistance to the shock of the water. For the same reason their edges are bent
towards each face, or else additional frames (a a¹) are fixed by hinges so as to be
alternately inclined in one direction or the other as shown in Figure 14; a, b, a', b¹,
being simply stop rods.
The above described conditions being fulfilled the frames or flaps can be made to
float by attaching thereto floats of any kind below and above them so that the
upper part will be generally level with the water. With this arrangement a
maximum effect will be obtained from the water as well as a decrease in the dead
weight of the frames or flaps. The frames or flaps act, by means of rollers Figure 3,
upon vertical guides fixed to the carriage c or integral therewith. The carriage and
the frames or flaps are connected to the rod by chains or cables and by a rigid
transmitter (Figure 5) hereinafter described.
In order that the receiving apparatus shall be always level with the line of
breaking of the waves it is fixed to an axle or shaft, carrying a fly-wheel, by
means of an arm with sliding parts k, the details of the construction of which are
shown in Figure 5. This arm is composed of a middle part slightly enlarged at
its centre, and at each end thereof is a sliding part which is capable of moving
freely in and out of the middle part, thus lengthening or shortening the transmission
rod according to the interval between high and low tide.
The sliding parts k are fitted into the median part in the following manner, that
is to say:-To the four straight rods, the union of which by means of cross-bars
forms the median part of the transmitting arm, strong clicks are attached. The
raising of these clicks, which are held in their place by springs, is effected by
metallic wires or cables e acting upon all the rows in the same direction (thero
being four distinct wires or cables) and operated by hand from the works in a

page_text: similar manner to that hereinafter described, that is, automatically. The transmitter
might be simple as shown in Figures 15 which is a transverse section.
The rigid transmitter will be useful especially during quiet weather and on shores
where the receding of the waves is very slight. In stormy weather it will have to
be omitted, and, in that case, the cables or chains a will be sufficient.
It is evident that the apparatus might be simplified, if applied to a sea without
tides like the Mediterranean, for example. The rigid transmitter is assisted by
cables or chains acted upon in the same manner.
Figure 2 is a plan of the general arrangement illustrating these two simultaneous
transmissions. Figure 1 is a side view of the transmission by cables and Figure 6
is a side view of the transmission by the rigid transmitter.
The apparatus thus simplified is preferable where scarcity of resources prevails.
The cables (of which there may be any desired number) are fixed to the carriage c,
being wound around suitable drums T, Figures 2 and 3, by the side of which another
drum is fixed on the same shaft and used as a stop-drum.
The cable is provided with two fast pulleys fixed at X and V and its ends are fixed
to a sliding metallic piece v Figure 6 to which is connected, so as to be movable,
the end of the rod n capable of being detached as hereinafter described.
The regulating drum is used to give the cable the proper tension and
direction.
The stopping of the stop-drum (Figures 7 and 8) is effected by means of clicks
acting on the axle of the drum Figure 8. The click ƒ can be raised by means of a
chain g wound at the works around a drum h provided with a spring strong enough
to keep it tight but not strong enough to raise the click. which is kept down by a
suitable spring. The chain is previously engaged with a toothed wheel k, on the
axle of which a brake is made to act.
There are two clicks and two devices of this kind which act in contrary
directions.
When the brake is acting, the traction given to the chain raises the click, the drum
revolves and the receiving apparatus, frames or flaps and carriages (without acting
upon the cables) move forward or backward, thus moving over a certain space of
ground regulated by the circumference of the drum or the number of revolutions.
performed. As soon as the apparatus has progressed sufficiently, the brake is released
and the click falls back again.
This can also be effected automatically, the toothed wheel revolving according to
the progression of the receiving apparatus. It will, therefore, be readily understood
that the frames or flaps can be made to move forward or backward from time to
time according to the tide and so as to be always well situated to receive the action
of the waves.
The movement of the brakes may be regulated automatically by electric currents
acting upon electro-magnets. These currents being furnished at intervals
regulated or determined by means of a cylinder (actuated by clock-work) which
carries contact pieces arranged according to the tides.
If the cables and the rigid transmitter with the sliding parts are used together,
the sliding arrangement is effected in a similar manner and the distance moved is
equal to the length of the circumference of the drums.
There may be one or more drums for each receiving apparatus all acting on the
same fly-wheel or each acting on a separate fly-wheel. The general operation of
the apparatus is as follows, that is to say-The movement of the transmitting arın
is communicated to the motor shaft i by a connecting rod n to which it is connected
by a lengthening piece v which is free to slide and whose point of attachment to
the connecting rod is movable and can be detached automatically when the
movement of the waves is too great.
In order to allow the waves to act freely, notwithstanding any difference in their
intensity, the connecting rod n is coupled directly to the fly-wheel by means of a
piece p sliding with a certain amount of friction in a groove, this friction may be
increased by making the sides of the groove uneven so that this arrangement will

page_text: influence the movement of the fly-wheel according to whether the force acts
normally, or in the direction of the piece p.
An arrangement based upon this principle is shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12,
with the following addition which may be made if desired. The point of articulation
p is held at intervals by supports 9 capable of being attracted by electro-magnets
suitably arranged. There is a stand in which slides a pieco s carrying two
commutators acting upon two series of contact pieces of different lengths.
According to the general state of the sea, the sliding piece s is placed so that the
electric current may act upon the requisite electro-magnets in such a manner that
the point p is held between the stop-picces in the desired position.
The fly-wheel is connected by an extension of its axle to a wheel t carrying two
insulated sectors u so arranged as to correspond with two opposite positions of the
fly-wheel. Upon these sectors are metallic arcs communicating with the electro-
magnets which act upon the stop pieces or supports q.
When these ares pass under the bar which receives the currents from the
coinmutator tablet r, this current, during the rotation of the fly-wheel, according to
a determined length of arc, acts upon the electro-magnets which depress the stop-
picces or supports q and the point of articulation p is placed in a position which is
in accordance with the movement of the wave at the time.
The displacement of the point of articulation of the connecting rod n upon the
piece o takes place automatically according to the variations in the action of the
waves, thus modifying its action upon the fly-wheel according to the said
variations.
Instead of using electricity to cause the automatic displacement of the head of
the connecting rod upon the fly-wheel, the same result may be obtained by a
inechanical contrivance as shown in Figure 13. The head of the connecting rod is
fixed so as to cause friction between two surfaces a, b, revolving with the fly-
wheel; one of these surfaces a is corrugated or uneven, as shown, and the other b
carries an adjustable piece c which receives a movement of translation by means of
a screw d for which it forms a scrow-nut. This screw d is actuated by a whicel e
which is moved either by hand or automatically by another wheel, forming part
of the mechanism. The head of the connecting rod n is held by means of two
clicks articulated upon the movable piece c, which by means of the screw d,
permits the head of the connecting rod to be placed where required. The two
clicks are held in place by two springs g and are disengaged near the dead points
by means of levers.
The long arm of the lever h, which is provided with rack-tecth, is engaged by a
toothed wheel which is held fast by a brake whose axle i slides in a fixed disc
having a groove
this groove forming a cam and being fixed, whilst the whole of
the said mechanism revolves with the fly-wheel, the result being that, in the
depressed portions of the groove which nearly correspond with the passage of the
clead points, the large sliding lever is drawn and this movement being transmitted
to the clicks, the head of the connecting rod n becomes disengaged. When the
piece c is displaced, the brake of the wheel is loosened to allow the arm of the
lever h to follow the piece c.
The wheel tacts upon electric machines which charge accumulators, either on the
spot or at a distance therefrom, with the electricity required.
I sometimes mount upon the axle or shaft driven by each float a strong and
light fly-wheel capable of being successively put in, or out of, gear according to the
state of the sea.
There may be reasons, in certain cases, to modify the apparatus above described
according to the place where it is intended to be used. There may be any number
of the said apparatuses along the shore and next to one another. The floating
apparatus may be constructed in any suitable manner, that is to say, the beams and
frames or flaps of which it is composed may be made of iron, wood or other suitable
material hollow or solid.
I provide a regulator so arranged as to stop or interrupt the communication

page_text: when the intensity of the current sent ceases to be superior to that of the
accumulators which receive it.
.
Motors of different nature may be combined with the receiving apparatus for the
purpose of assisting the operation of the apparatus above described.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim.
First In an apparatus for collecting the force of the waves, the combination of
the carriage c with the drums upon which the cables are wound and the frames
or flaps, substantially as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Second-In an apparatus for collecting and transmitting the force of the waves,
the sliding arm k with stop-clicks operated as described by means of ropes or chains,
in combination with the cables, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 5, 7, and 8.
Third The mode of attaching the connecting rod n to the fly-wheel, with- or
without the stop pieces q actuated by the electrical arrangement, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 10, 11 and 12.
Fourth. The floating apparatus carrying the hinged frames or flaps m combined
with spring stops, substantially as described with reference to Figure 9, for the
purpose specified.
Fifth. The combination of the carriage c, the cables, the arm or rigid transmitter k,
the connecting rod n coupled as described to the fly-wheel, and the electric
apparatus acting upon the point of attachment of the said rod and-fly-wheel, all
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three