Methods or Means to be employed in Elevating and Storing the Water of the Sea for Use as a Motive Power, and for other purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Methods or Means to be employed in Elevating and Storing the
Water of the Sea for Use as a Motive Power, and for other
purposes.
I, GEORGE WALTER BLANKS of Toxteth Street, Glebe, Sydney, in the Colony
of New South Wales, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists in methods or means to be employed in elevating and
storing the water of the sea, for use as a motive power, and for other purposes.
I provide for elevating the water of the sea and storing same in a reservoir of
large capacity, and for using it as a motive power, for operating turbines or other
water motors; the power from the turbines or other water motors being utilized
for operating dynamos or other electric machines, for the generation of electricity,
which may be stored, distributed, measured and utilized for electric lighting, for
the operation of tramways, railways or as may be required.
Or I may use the power of the water motors for the compression of air for
distribution in mains for hydraulic power, or for refrigerating purposes, for
operating machinery, or for any other suitable purpose.
I may also use the water elevated from the ocean in the manner hereinafter
described, for canals, inland lakes, and the like, or for the production of salt by
evaporation or for any other purpose where the water may be profitably used.
In carrying my invention into practice, I select, preferably a rocky position
facing the sea, of suitable elevation, the water at the base of the rock being of
suitable depth. In the face of the rock 1 excavate a channel or a series of
channels, wide at the mouth and narrow at the back, the bottom being in the some
cases sufficiently below the sea level, to allow the waves or rollers to rise and fall
without breaking; and in other cases high enough to allow the waves or rollers to
break before entering the air compressing chambers hereinafter described.
At the back of the channel I cut a vertical uptake, and at the back or sides, or
at any suitable part of the uptake, I excavate an air compressing chamber (or
air compressing chambers) and shape it in such a manner that the entrance is
covered and uncovered intermittently by the waves or swell of the sea, and when
covered encloses and compresses air in the chambe.
The top of the uptake has a delivery bend, the mouth of the outlet being
constructed oblong, to prevent as much as possible the return of the water down
the uptake after each lift, and to secure as great a head of water in the storage
reservoir as possible. Or I may place a deflector plate at an angle, on top of the
uptake for the same purpose.
I sometimes, if the water in the sea is not of the requisite depth, build out in
the sea, the channel, uptake, and air compressing chamber (or air compressing
chambers) of concrete, stone or any other suitable material or materials, and
construct them strong enough to withstand the roughest seas; and lead the water
raised to a storage reservoir by means of a trough.
Immediately beneath the outlet of the uptake I provide a trough leading to &
storage reservoir, the latter being either a natural catchment or built at a suitable
elevation; I cut
a trough into which the water from a series of uptakes is
delivered, the trough being connected with the storage reservoir, into which the
water runs.
In most cases I prefer to have the storage reservoir at a low level, say about

page_text: twenty feet above high tide, but I sometimes provide a high level storage
reservoir, into which water may be raised by means of water motors operated by
the overflow from the low water reservoir, if a surplus of water obtains; the water
from the high level reservoir being used for high pressure water moters if at any
time there should not be sufficient water in the low level reservoir.
I sometimes construct a high level reservoir fed from uptakes, which in rough
seas will deliver large volumes of water to a great elevation.
I also make provision for different states of the tide, by constructing the air
compressing chambers at different levels.
The air compressing chambers may be of any suitable shape, but I prefer to
make them narrower at the back than the front, with the roof higher than the lip
at the entrance, and arched, and sloping to the back.
The uptakes may be of any shape in plan. I prefer to make them about ten
feet in diameter, the length of the channel being approximately 150 feet, but these
dimensions may be varied to suit requirements.
I also provide for the wear which would take place at the lip of the air
compressing chamber, and the bottom of the uptake, by cementing in or otherwise
securing at these places, metal pieces, preferably non-oxidisable.
I also provide in some cases, an adjustable lip of metal or any other suitable
material, at the mouth of the air compressing chambers, so that as the tide rises
or falls, the lip may be raised or lowered to the position most suitable for the
waves or rollers to alternately cover and uncover the entrance to the chamber.
In case repairs are necessary I provide a gate for shutting off the water at the
channel.
The annexed drawings will facilitate the explanation:
Fig. 1 is a bird's eye view of the general arrangement.
Figs. 2 and
represent a vertical side section and plan, showing the method
adopted for compressing air in the chamber by the waves or swell of the ocean in
deep water.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent a vertical side section and plan, showing water from the
storage reservoir operating turbines, the latter being used for operating dynamos
for generating electricity.
Figs. 6 and 7 represent a vertical side section and plan, shewing waves breaking
over a barrier, and three air compressing chambers.
Fig. 8 is a plan showing two air compressing chambers, on an enlarged scale.
Figs. 9 and 10 represent a section and plan showing an air compressing chamber
with the roof not higher than the lip at the entrance, which I prefer in rough
seas.
Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a series of channels and air compressing chambers
at different levels to suit various tides.
In Fig. 1a, a represent a series of channels, excavated in the rock, the
uptakes, at the bottom of which are the air compressing chambers, c are troughs
which receive the water from the delivery bends d and deliver it into the storage
reservoir e, fare turbines for operating the dynamos g from which the electricity
generated is distributed by the cables h.
In Figs. 2 and 3, a is a channel excavated in the rock in deep water, narrow at
the back, b the uptake, e the air compressing chamber, the roof of which is higher
than the lip d at the entrance, the bottom e of the uptake is made as low as
possible, but not low enough to interfere with the entrance of water into the
chamber; is the delivery bend at top of the uptake, b, made oblong to prevent
as much as possible, water from returning down the uptake, after each lift, and to
secure as high a level as possible in the storage reservoir. is the trough to
receive water from a series of uptakes, whence it falls into a storage reservoir by
means of the troughs h. A gate is provided for shutting off the water if repairs
are needed. In this case but one air compressing chamber is shewn.
In Figs. 4 and 5, a is a channel in deep water, wide at the front and narrow at
the back, the uptake, c the air compressing chamber, the roof of which is higher

page_text: than the lip d at the entrance, f is the oblong outlet of delivery bend at top of the
uptake, is the trough to receive water from uptakes, which travels by means of
troughs to a storage reservoir.
g
Water from the storage reservoir is shewn entering the pipes; by means of the
races k, which after operating the turbines or water motors 1, is delivered in the
tail race m which is preferably below the level of the sea. n, n, represent
dynamos operated by means of shafting and belting from the water motors 1, the
electricity generated being utilized as required.
In Figs. 6 and 7, a represents a channel, wide at the front and narrow at the
back, 6 the uptake; c, c, c, air compressing chambers, da lip at the entrance of
each chamber, the oblong outlet or delivery bend at top of the uptake, g the
trough to receive water from the uptakes, which is lead to the storage reservoir.
h is a gate for shutting off the sea in case repairs are needed. In this case I have
shewn a barrier across the channel a, for rollers or waves to break before
reaching the compressing chambers. Fig. 8 is a plan, in which two air
compressing chambers c, c, are shewn, the lips d at the entrance of each being
protected by metal or other suitable material e. The bottom of the front of the
uptake being protected in a similar manner by the metal plate f, which is built
in or otherwise secured.
In Figs. 9 and 10, the air compressing chamber c is shewn with the roof level
with the lip d at the entrance the reference letters for similar parts are the same as
in Figs. 2 and 3.
In Fig. 11, a are the channels, 6 the uptakes and c the air compressing chambers
at different levels, to suit various tides.
I will further explain the invention.
In Figs. 2 and 3, and 4 and 5 the waves or rollers, do not break in the channel a
but rise and fall, and rapidly concentrate their energy beneath the uptake b and
inside the air compressing chamber c, the air being driven out of the chamber
until the water rises above the lip d, when the top of the wave or roller is
retarded, and the heavy body of water beneath, travels quickly forward inside the
chamber e, compressing the enclosed air, until the pressure is so great, that it
suddenly expands or explodes, and forces water out of the chamber c, which,
meeting the incoming wave or roller, displaces and lifts with great velocity, a large
body of water through the uptake b, where there is the least resistance; and
delivers it into the trough g, whence it gravitates to a storage reservoir by means
of the troughs h.
As the wave or roller recedes, the lip d, of the compressing chamber C, is
uncovered, leaving it open for a fresh charge of air and water.
This operation is repeated intermittently and rapidly.
In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shewn water from the storage reservoir operating the
turbines or water motors i and returning to the ocean by the tail race m, which is
preferably below the level of the ocean level.
The turbines or water motors are shewn driving dynamos by means of inter-
mediate gear, the electricity generated may be used for electric lighting, operating
tramways, railways or for any other suitable purpose.
In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shewn a barrier across the channel a to break waves
or rollers, before reaching the entrance of the air compressing chambers c, c, c,
waves of oscillation being thus converted into waves of translation, in this case too
the lips d are covered as the water rises, and air is compressed in the chambers.
When three air compressing chambers are used, at the bottom of the uptake b
the expansion of the compressed air enclosed in the chambers forces water towards
the centre of the uptake; and meeting the incoming wave or roller displaces and
raises a large body of water through the uptake where there is the least
resistance. The object of this arrangement is to obviate loss of effect which may
happen by water being injected from the back air compressing chamber into the
channel a instead of through the uptake. The water raised is delivered into the
trough g from the bent delivery and gravitates to the storage reservoir, for use as

page_text: required. I have shewn a. gate h for shutting off the sea, if repairs should be
needed.
In Fig. 8 two air compressing chambers c are shewn at the bottom of the
uptake b, the lips d at the entrance of each chamber being protected by metal or
other suitable material e to prevent as much as possible the wear which would take
place at these places. The bottom of the front of the uptake b is similarly
protected by the plate f which is built in the rock or otherwise secured.
In Figs. 9 and 10, the roof of the air compressing chamber c is shewn level with
the lip dat the entrance this form of chamber is used for high seas, which
travelling in the channel a with great velocity, cover the mouth of the chamber
before the air can escape, when the water is forced through the uptake bas before
described.
In Fig. 11 I have shewn a series of air compressing chambers c at different
levels, with their respective channels a and uptakes b. I make this provision so
that if the tide is at any level, one or more of the air compressing chambers c will
be charged, and water lifted through the uptake b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An uptake having a delivery bend at the top in conjunction with an air
compressing chamber or air compressing chambers substantially as described and
shewn on the drawings and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. A channel wide at the mouth and narrow at the back in conjunction with an
uptake having a delivery bend at the top and with an air compressing chamber or
chambers, substantially as described and shewn on the drawings and for the purpose
specified.
3. A channel wide at the mouth and narrow at the back, an uptake having a
delivery bend at the top and an air compressing chamber or air compressing
chambers, in combination with a storage reservoir, substantially as described and
shewn on the drawings and for the purpose herein set forth.
4. The system employed for elevating the water of the sea, for use as a motive
power, and for the purposes specified herein, in which a single channel wide at the
mouth and narrow at the back, concentrates the force of the waves or swell of the
sea beneath an uptake having a delivery bend at the top, and inside an air com-
pressing chamber, or air compressing chambers, where by its means air is sharply
compressed which on expansion raises a large volume of water through the uptake
into a storage reservoir, substantially as described and shewn on the drawings.
5. The system, employed for elevating the water of the sea, for use as a motive
power, and for the purposes specified, in which a series of channels, wide at the
inouth and narrow at the back, concentrate the force of the waves or swell of the
sea beneath uptakes having delivery bends at top and inside air compressing
chambers, which are at one level, or at different levels to suit various tides, where
air is compressed which on expansion raises a large volume of sea water by means
of the uptakes into a storage reservoir, substantially as described and shewn in the
drawings.
6. An adjustable lip in combination with an air compressing chamber, substan-
tially as described and for the purpose herein set forth.
7. An air compressing chamber the lip of which, and an uptake the bottom of
which is protected by metal or other suitable material, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
8. A channel wide at the mouth and narrow at the back, an air compressing
chamber or air compressing chambers and an uptake, in combination with a gate for
shutting out the sea, if repairs are necessary.
9. A channel wide at the mouth and narrow at the back, across which is a
barrier, for breaking the waves or swell of the sea before reaching the compressing
chamber or compressing chambers, in combination with an air compressing chamber

page_text: or air compressing chambers, an uptake having a delivery bend at the top and a
storage reservoir substantially as and described and shewn on the drawings.
10. The construction or use of a channel wide at the mouth and narrow at the
back, an air compressing chamber or air compressing chambers, and an uptake
having a delivery bend at the top, built out in the sea, of concrete stone or any
other suitable material, in combination with a storage reservoir, substantially as
described and for the purpose herein set forth.
11. The use of sea water elevated into a storage reservoir, by the means herein
described, as a motive power, and for the purposes specified, substantially as herein.
set forth.
Dated this 28th day of July 1894.
GEORGE WALTER BLANKS.