Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Obtaining Power from the Motion of Floating Bodies.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1898—Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Obtaining Power
from the Motion of Floating Bodies.
I, HUGO BRINKHAUS, Manufacturer, of No. 39, West 132nd Street, in the City of
New York, State of New York, 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 ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to means for utilizing the power of the waves of the ocean
and other large bodies of water, and has for its objects to provide means which will
resist the rolling or pitching motion of vessels or floating constructions due to the
waves and wind and will apply, store, convert into other forms of energy or otherwise
utilize the energy developed in the act of resisting. The energy thus developed may,
for example, be converted into electricity to be conveyed by conductors to cities or
towns or other places where it may be utilized for light, heat, power or other purposes.
It may also be used for the propulsion of vessels by the movements of which it is
developed.
As long as navigation has been carried on the keel of a vessel has afforded an
efficient means of resisting and checking excessive rolling and pitching of vessels and
thereby increasing the stability of the vessel. Of late additional or bilge keels have
been applied to vessels for the same purpose. According to my invention one or more
movable keels are provided to constitute the resisting device or devices, and I
preferably arrange these keels along the side of the vessel but a considerable distance.
below the water line, and divide each keel into several separate sections, movably
attached or pivoted to the lower part of the body of the vessel.
These projecting resisting devices I designate power plates. Upon a moving vessel
the power plates may be arranged longitudinally or parallel to the direction of motion
of the vessel and will not therefore offer material resistance to the forward motion of
the vessel, but upon a stationary or anchored vessel or floating construction the
power plates may extend transversely or in any other direction as desired.
According to my invention each power plate is permitted to oscillate under
the pressure upon its surface due to the resistance of the water to the motion
of the vessel, the normal position of each power plate being about at right
angles to the adjacent outer surface of the vessel, and each power plate being
controlled by powerful springs or other resisting devices to return it to normal
position when displaced therefrom in either direction.
According to my invention the power plates are connected with mechanism
within the vessel for producing rotation in one direction of one or more power
transmitting shafts whereby the energy developed by the resistance of the power
plates is applied stored or converted into other forms of energy or otherwise
utilized. I can also connect the mechanism with any other body outside of the
vessel capable of resisting the motion of the vessel, such as an anchor, which
may be connected to power springs or other resisting devices, so that the motion
of the vessel puts the springs under tension, and by proper mechanism engaging
such springs the energy thus stored may be utilized.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of my invention.

page_text: Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of a vessel showing one of the
power plates and mechanism whereby, the energy developed by its resistance is applied
to the propeller shaft of the vessel.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a part sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-3,
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism at one end of a power
transmitting shaft for converting the oscillating motion of the power plate into a
rotary motion in one direction, and for returning the power plate to normal
position.
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the lock or back stop to prevent retrograde
movement of a power transmitting shaft..
Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the storing or power spring on a power
transmitting shaft.
Figure 7 is a reduced elevation of a vessel provided with power plates indicating
the positions assumed by the several power plates as the vessel. pitches or rises and.
falls in the direction of its length.
A complete line of power plates 9 arranged as a lateral keel on the vessel 8 is shown
in Figure 7, and it is proposed to duplicate this lateral keel of power plates.upon the
opposite side of the vessel so as to balance the weight of the power plates and their
attendant mechanişin relatively to the longitudinal central axis of the vessel. Each
power plate 9 is journaled to the side of the vessel and is normally held about at-
right angles to the outer surface of the vessel and is capable of an oscillating
movement in either direction from its normal position. One power plate 9 and its
mechanism is completely shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, and it will of course be
understood that exactly similar mechanism may be employed for each power plate
and that the particular description may be confined to one power plate. and its
mechanism.
The power plate 9 completely shown in Figures 1 and 2 is journaled in bearing
blocks 10, 10, respectively secured upon the outside of the bull of the vessel and is
connected at each end by mitre gears 11, 11, with rock shafts 12 extending outwardly
through the hull of the vessel. A water tight casing 13 may be provided extending over
said gears and between the bearing blocks 10 of the adjacent ends of adjacent, power
plates, such casing. being shown in Figure 1 and at the left hand end of Figure 2, but
being. merely indicated by broken lines at the right hand end of Figure 2 to more
clearly show the mitre gears. The bearings of the power plates and also, if desired,
of the rock shafts 12, may be suitably packed to prevent possibility of leakage, as-is
well understood. At the inner end of each rock shaft 12 a bevel gear 14 is provided
and meshes with an oscillating plate or bevel. sector fitted loosely upon the power
transmitting shaft 16, the gear 14 at the front end of the power plate meshing with
the bevel sector 17 at the front end of the power shaft, and the gear. 14 at the rear
end of the power plate meshing with the bevel sector 15 at the rear end of this power
shaft. As each bevel sector engages the front edge of its bevel gear 14, and as the
front and rear bevel gears 14 are actuated in opposite directions by the power plate,
the bevel sectors 15 and 17 will be actuated in opposite directions by the movement
of the power plate.
The bevel sectors 15 and 17 being thus geared to the power plate so as to take up
the movements thereof, the yielding means for restoring the power plates to normal
position are constructed to be actuated by these bevel sectors. An enlarged view of
such yielding means at the rear end of the power-shaft is shown in Figure 4. An.
arm 25 loosely fitted upon the power shaft 16 is connected by a rope or cable 28,
running over a pulley. 29, with a strong helical restoring spring 30. shown as held
within a casing 24. The bevel sector 15 is shown in middle position, which
corresponds to the normal position of the power plate .9, (see Figure 1) and the
extreme positions of the bevel sector in either direction are indicated by broken
lines. A fixed stop 26 is shown.against which the arm 25 is held by the restoring
spring in the normal position shown. A projecting stud 27 is provided upon the
:

page_text: Vector WRICD In the normal.or middle position sДown is in contact with the
arm 25.
When the bevel sector 15 is actuated so that its lower end moves to the left of the
normal position shown, the stud 27 of the bevel sector compels the arm 25 to move
with the bevel sector and thereby the restoring spring 30 is put under tension and
compressed. When the bevel sector 15 returns toward normal position the restoring
spring 30 expands and imparts to the bevel sector the power which was exerted in
compressing the spring. At the normal position the movement of the arm 25 is
arrested by the fixed stop 26 and the further movement in the same direction of the
bevel sector and power plate. connected thereto and the return to normal position are
uncontrolled by this restoring spring 30. Thus that part of the movement of the
bevel sector 15 in which its lower portion moves to the left of the normal position
shown is under. the control of the restoring spring 30, while that part of the
movement of the bevel sector 15 in which its lower portion moves to the right of
the norinal position shown is entirely relieved of such control. As the front bevél
sector 17 and the rear bevel sector 15 move always in opposite directions, it is only
necessary to duplicate the mechanism above described at the front bevel sector 17 to
introduce a corresponding control by another similar restoring spring of the portion
of the movement of the power plate not controlled by the. restoring. spring 30, at
the rear bevel sector, and such duplicate mechanism is shown in Figures 2 and 3.
Thus the power plates are yieldingly held in the normal position and any
movement in either direction from normal position is resisted by one or the other
of the restoring springs, and the power exerted by either restoring spring is given
back to the plate and its mechanism during the return to normal position.
The direction of rotation of the power shaft is indicated by the arrow .18.in
Figure 1, and two similar ratchet wheels 19, 19, are secured upon the power shaft,
one at each end thereof, and are engaged by pawls 20, 20, on the respective bevel
sectors 15 and 17. The movement of the power plate toward the central axis of
the vessel will cause a backward movement of the pawl 20 of the rear bevel sector-15
and a forward movement of the pawl. 20 of the front bevel sector.17, and thus the
power shaft will be actuated in a forward direction at its front end only, while the
movement of the power plate in the opposite direction or away from the central axis
of the vessel will cause a forward movement of the pawl 20 of the rear bevel sector 15
and a backward movement of the pawl 20 of the front bevel sector 17, and thus the
power shaft will be actuated in a forward direction at its rear end only, and as the
power plate oscillates relatively to the vessel, its motion in opposite directions
actuates the power shaft always in the one direction and its oscillating movement is
converted into a substantially continuous forward movement of the power shaft.
A storing spring or power spring 21 is shown as connected at its inner end to the
power shaft 16 (see Figure 6) and at its outer end to a drum or housing 22 mounted
loosely upon the power shaft, and the rotation of the main shaft winds this power
spring and thus stores up the energy developed by the power plates. Retrograde move-
ment of the power shaft 16 is prevented by a friction stop pawl 32 engaging a diso. 31
secured upon the power shaft 16 (see Figure 5).
In the construction shown the housing 22 of the power spring 21 is con-
nected through intermediate gearing to the screw propeller shaft 28, the con
necting means including a gear wheel 23 secured to or in one piece with the
housing 22, and meshing into a smaller gear or pinion 33 to which is secured a larger
gear wheel 34 which meshes into a pinion 35 shown as connected by a clutch 29 with
a larger gear wheel 36 which meshes into a pinion 37 on the screw propeller shaft 38.
A fly wheel 41 is shown on the same shaft with the gears 35 and 36 and clutch 39.
The power spring regulates and renders uniform the application of power to the screw
propeller shaft, and is assisted in this function by the fly wheel. Other devices may
be used for this purpose, if necessary, such as a centrifugal governor or devices similar
to those used in watches and clocks for retarding and controlling the movement, so
that the screw propeller shaft is actuated uniformly and continuously.
When the connection between the screw propeller shaft and the power spring is

page_text: to be broken the arm 40 of the clutch 39 is actuated and the clutch thrown out of
engagement. If, for example, the energy developed at each power plate is such that
less than the full number will supply the necessary power to propel the vessel, several
of the power plates may be disconnected from the propeller shaft, it being of course
understood that each power plate is provided with a separate mechanism such as
above described for one power plate.. The storing of power in the power springs of
the disconnected power plates may, however, be continued and any part of the
mechanism connected to the outer end of the power spring, preferably the shaft of
the gear 35 or the fly wheel 41, may be locked by any suitable means, or the gearing
may be connected with any suitable means for storing or utilizing the energy
developed by the power plates. The gearing may be directly connected to the shaft
of a dynamo-electric machine and the electric current developed thereby may be
utilized on the vessel or conveyed by conductors to any suitable place ashore and
there utilized or may be stored by charging secondary batteries or otherwise.
The mechanism above particularly described is capable of modification in many
particulars, as for example, friction pawls and ratchets may replace the toothed
pawls and ratchets shown or vice versa, other connecting means may replace
the gears and cables shown; separate power springs may be provided at
each end of the power plates, or a number of power springs may be operated
successively to separately store the energy developed where it is not desired
to immediately utilize this energy. So also, when the vessel or floating con-
struction is at anchor, one or more cables may be connected to anchors or other
bodies outside of the vessel capable of resisting the motion of the vessel, and these
cables connected to power shafts 16, so that the strain exerted upon the cables by
the pitching and tossing and rolling of the vessel may rotate the shafts 16 and wind
power springs, while the cables may be kept taut by restoring springs such as the
springs 30 above described.
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 a vessel or floating construction of a body outside the
vessel or floating construction adapted to resist the motion of the vessel or floating
construction due to the commotion of wind and water, mechanism within the vessel
or floating construction to store or utilize the energy thus developed, and means
connecting the exterior resisting body to the mechanism within the vessel or floating
construction, substantially as set forth.
2. A power plate suitably connected to a vessel or floating construction and
movable relatively thereto under the direct pressure of the water due to the rolling
or pitching of the vessel or floating construction, and a suitable mechanism within
the vessel connected to such power plate and adapted to store and utilize the energy
developed by the resistance of the power plate, substantially as set forth.
3. Means for utilizing the power of waves comprising a vessel or floating
construction, a movable keel thereon adapted to resist the rolling or pitching thereof
and means for storing or utilizing the energy developed by the resistance of such
movable keel, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a vessel or floating construction of a power plate pivotally
connected to the vessel or floating construction and adapted to oscillate relatively
to the vessel or floating construction under the direct pressure of the water due to
the rolling or pitching of the vessel or floating construction, and mechanism within
the vessel or floating construction whereby such oscillating movement of the power
plate is converted into a movement in one direction, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a vessel or floating construction of a power plate pivotally
connected to the vessel or floating construction and adapted to oscillate relatively
to the vessel or floating construction under the direct pressure of the water due to
the rolling or pitching of the vessel or floating construction, yielding restoring
devices tending to hold the power plate in normal middle position, and mechanism

page_text: within the vessel or floating construction whereby such oscillating movement of the
power plate is converted into a rotary movement in one direction, substantially as
Bet forth.
6. The combination with a vessel or floating construction of a power plate pivotally
connected to the vessel or floating construction and adapted to oscillate relatively
to the vessel or floating construction under the direct pressure of the water due to
the rolling or pitching of the vessel or floating construction, yielding restoring
devices tending to hold the power plate in normal middle position, a power shaft
within the vessel and connecting means whereby-the-eccillating movement of the
power plate is converted into a rotary movement in one direction of said shaft, and
one or more springs connected to said shaft so as to be put under tension by the
motion of said shaft, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with a vessel or floating construction of a body outside the
vessel or floating construction adapted to resist the rolling, heaving or pitching of
the vessel, a power shaft within the vessel, means connecting said power shaft to
said outside body whereby the strain exerted upon such connecting means imparts
motion in one direction, to said shaft, and restoring means whereby said connecting
means are returned to normal position, substantially as set forth.
8. Means for utilizing the power of waves comprising a vessel or floating
construction, a number of independent power plates movable relatively to the vessel
or floating construction under the direct pressure of the water due to the rolling or
pitching of the vessel or floating construction, suitable independent mechanisms
within the vessel or floating construction actuated by such power plates, and means
whereby several of said separate mechanisms may be connected to or disconnected
from a single power utilizing device, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with a vessel or floating construction of a power plate pivotally
connected to the vessel or floating construction and adapted to oscillate relatively to
the vessel or floating construction under the direct pressure of the water due to the
rolling or pitching of the vessel or floating construction, a rock shaft connected to
said power plate, yielding restoring means connected to said rock shaft, a power shaft,
and connecting means whereby the oscillating movement of the rock shaft is
converted into a movement in one direction of the power shaft, substantially as
described.
10. The combination with a vessel or floating construction, of a submerged power
plate pivotally connected exteriorly thereto, a power shaft within the vessel and
connecting means whereby oscillating movements of said power plate are converted
into movements in one direction of said power shaft, and means for storing or
utilizing the energy developed by the movements of said power shaft, substantially
as set forth.
11. The combination with a vessel or floating construction, of a submerged power
plate pivotally connected exteriorly thereto, two rock shafts extending outwardly
through the hull and connected to said power plate, two oscillating plates, one
connected to each of said rock shafts, a power shaft within the vessel or floating
construction, and a pawl and ratchet connection between said power shaft and each of
said oscillating plates, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with a vessel or floating construction, of a submerged power
plate pivotally connected exteriorly thereto, two rock shafts extending outwardly
through the hull and connected to said power plate, two oscillating plates one
connected to each of said rock shafts, two yielding restoring devices, one connected
to each of said oscillating plates and tending to hold the power plate in normal
middle position, a power shaft within the vessel or floating construction, and a pawl
and ratchet connection between said power shaft and each of said oscillating
plates, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with a vessel or floating construction, of a submerged power
plate movable relatively thereto, and mechanism including a power spring connecting
said power plate to a shaft within the vessel whereby the irregular movements of

page_text: said power plate are converted into continuous rotation of said shaft, substantially as
set forth.
14. The means for utilizing the power of waves consisting of the mechanism
substantially as shown and described.