Improvements in the Utilization of Tides for the Production of Motive Power.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 14th May,
1898
Improvements in the Utilization of Tides for the Production of
Motive Power.
I, JOHN MEULI-HILTY, of 118, Maerstetten Strasse, Thurgau, Switzerland, Doctor
of Medicine and Physician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention consists in the construction in the vicinity of the sea or of a tidal
river of a reservoir preferably in the form of a tower formed with inlet apertures
fitted with inwardly opening valves so that as the tide rises the water can easily
flow into said reservoir or tower within which it will rise till it reaches the eleva-
tion or level of the flood tide; the water in the tower or reservoir is retained therein
by the action of the aforesaid valves and cannot therefore fall with the ebb tide. The
water may be led from this tower or reservoir into another tower or reservoir through
a tube whence it can be conducted to turbines, hydraulic presses or other machines
utilizing the same.
20
1007
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in the Utilization of Tides for the Production of
Motive Power.
I, JOHN MEULI-HILTY, of 118, Maerstetten-Station, Canton of Thurgau, Switzer-
land, Doctor of Medicine and Physician, 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:-
My invention consists in the construction in the vicinity of the sea or of a tidal
river, of a reservoir, preferably in the form of a tower open at the top and formed
with inlet apertures at its base fitted with inwardly opening valves, so that as
the tide rises the water can easily flow into said reservoir or tower, within which
it will rise till it reaches the elevation or level of the flood tide; the water in the
tower or reservoir is retained therein by the action of the aforesaid valves and
cannot therefore fall with the ebb tide. The water may be led from this tower
or reservoir into another tower or reservoir through a tube, whence it can be con-
ducted to turbines, hydraulic presses or other machines utilizing the same, or the
Price &dl

page_text: water may be conducted direct from the first mentioned tower to said machinery.
As the tower is open at the top, the power of the waves may also be used; the
waves fall partly through the upper part of the tower into this latter.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of two communicating tubes.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the tower having somewhat the form
of a light-house, the syphon tube, the air pump and machinery.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the partition wall with the valves.
In the diagrammatic view, Fig. 1, A is the larger tube of two communicating
tubes. This tube A represents the sea, whilst the smaller tube B represents the
tower of my system. It will be seen that the level of the water is the same in
both the tubes A and B.
Referring to Fig. 2 A likewise represents the level of the sea during the flood
tide, and B represents a tower having somewhat the form of a light-house and
open at the top. The lower part B of this tower is provided with a series of
apertures, b, covered by sieve-like plates b¹ in order to prevent the entrance of sea
organisms, plants or the like.
C is a horizontal partition wall having apertures c therein and fitted into the
side walls of the tower. Each aperture c is provided on its upper side with a
valve D opening only upwards, so that the tide may open these valves but when
the water has entered into the upper part of the tower B above the wall C, it
.cannot fall with the ebb.
The leg e of the syphon E enters the said upper part B2, and is maintained
therein by means of the guide el secured to the interior wall of the tower.
The outer leg e² of the syphon E enters into a chamber F, at a suitable distance
from the tower.
In the chamber F is placed a hydraulic motor G and an air pump H, by means
of which latter the air contained in the leg of the syphon may be exhausted.
When this has been done, the water falls down upon the motor G, which preferably
actuates a dynamo J. The current produced by the dynamo J may easily be
transmitted to the place where it is desired to use it.
The leg e may be made telescopic (not shown) and be provided with a floating
plate K as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. As the tide rises it will thus raise
the lower end of the syphon tube e and the height of fall will be increased in the
same proportion as the water level rises in the tower. Of course the leg e will
ascend and descend whilst the mouth of the leg e² is stationary.
It is obvious that the construction of the tower, of the valves, of the syphon,
and of the hydraulic motor, may vary without altering the principle of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. The employment of towers or other buildings into which the flood tide or
waves may enter but cannot flow back therefrom into the sea or tidal river owing
to valves placed in a partition wall of the buildings, substantially as herein shown
and described.
2. The combination with a tower or building into which the flood tide and waves
enter but cannot flow back therefrom into the sea, of a syphon, one leg of
may
which enters the tower or building, and the other leg conveys the water contained
in the tower or building to a hydraulic motor, substantially as herein shown and
described.
3. The combination with a tower or building into which the flood tide and waves
may enter but cannot flow back therefrom into the sea, of a floating syphon
capable of being raised and lowered by the water contained in the tower or building

page_text: in order to increase the height of fall of the water, substantially as herein shown
and described.
Dated this 29th day of March 1898.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.