IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF MOVING POWER ARISING FROM THE TIDES, AND ITS APPLICATION TO MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURAL, AND OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Seguin, Doctor of Medicine, of 4, Grande'
Rue de Gravelle à St. Maurice (Seine), France, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF MOVING POWER ARISING
FROM THE TIDES, AND ITS APPLICATION TO MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURAL,
AND OTHER PURPOSES.".
Sealed the 12th May 1859, and dated the 16th February, 1859..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Seguin at the.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th February 1859.
I, JULES SEGUIN, Doctor of Medicine, of 4, Grande Rue de Gravelle,+
à St. Maurice (Seine), France, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention,
for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF MOVING POWER ARISING.
FROM THE TIDES, AND ITS APPLICATION TO MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURAL,. AND,
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in rendering, by the means I will describe,. the
oscillatory movements of the tides directly applicable to all kinds of hydraulic:
moving machines or apparatus.
This being the general character of my Invention, I will now describe the
modes I have improved to carry the same into effect.
I will call in the present description "spring of power" or merely "spring"
the point where my apparatus. is set in communication with the water
oscillating by effect of the tides. That apparatus is principally composed
of three basins, two. of which are at such a level that water may be admitted
during the period of high tides, and they may be emptied at the periods of low:

page_text: tides; the third basin, which will be further spoken of, is more properly called
a reservoir.
It is now to be observed, that what I call a "basin" is to be understood
any receptacle of water I may contrive, or that I may naturally find and
render applicable to my purpose, being directed, in each particular case, by
local and other circumstances. When I do not find natural basins I dig them
in the earth, or establish them in a place already occupied by waters, and I do
so by means of dams, barriers, or other kind of separations.
The third basin, more properly called a reservoir, as I have already said,
must be situated at such a level that its bottom is above the highest level of
the water. Between the first basin and the spring I establish a first conduit,
which, as well as the other several conduits, hereafter mentioned, may be covered
or not; in this first conduit I place one or more hydraulic moving machines.-
During the high tides the incoming water gives impulsion to these machines
in one direction, and the water running out at the low tides gives impulsion to
them in a contrary direction, and thus the apparatus receives an impulsion
forwards at one time, and backwards at another time. I may, by means of
sluices, interchange the action of high and low tides in such a manner as to
obtain an impulsion tending constantly in the same direction; for that purpose
I establish close to the machines four sluices, two of them facing the spring,
and two others facing the basin, superposed one on the other in both sides, the
highest being above the machines, and the other under the level of the said
machines; by due application of these sluices I give to the highest water of
the spring, or of the basin, the active direction I may please. A second
conduit, to which no machine is applied, and simply provided with sluices, is
affected to fill or to discharge the basin as may be wanted; I name it discharging"
conduit. Between the said basin and the spring 1 establish a third conduit,
which may be divided in two parts, in all its length, or only in its middle
part in this middle part, between the two divisions of that conduit, is situated a
suitable backing or construction in which are established 'one or several moving
machines. The first division, named the superior conduit, is provided with
two doors, of which the first on the side of the. spring is turned in such a
manner as to be set open during the high tide by the pressure of water, and
the second door on the side of the basin, owing to its contrary disposition, is:
closed also by the pressure of the water during the same time, so that the
waters go in the said division or higher conduit through its first.door when
they are higher in.the spring.than in the basin, and in the contrary direction.
through the second door, when they are higher in the basin than in the spring;
in the latter.case the second door is opened and the first is closed by the mère

page_text: pressure of the water. According to these arrangements the higher division
or conduit is always in communication with the highest water. The other
division or conduit, named the low conduit, is provided in like manner with
two doors, and is always in communication with the lowest water, that is to
say, with the basin during the high tides, and with the spring during the low
tides, for the reason, that its first door on the side of the spring is turned at
the same time as the second door of the higher division or conduit, and its
second door on the side of the basin at the same time as the first door of the
higher division or conduit. I thus obtain an intermittent current always in
the same direction through the backings of the machines, and consequently an
impulsion constantly tending in the same direction. The discharging conduit
already described may be used also as a regulating apparatus in reference to
the working of these last machines.
The third basin or reservoir is employed to receive, through a pipe, a supply
of water brought up into it by pumps, or other suitable engines, moved by one
or other of the machines,, herein-before described. These waters return directly
or indirectly into the spring at any time through a fourth conduit, in which are
situated other moving machines, and give them a continual impulsion, tending
always in the same direction. I employ also the first basin together with the
second for the purpose of obtaining directly a permanent moving power, and
consequently a continual impulsion of machines always tending in the same
direction. To that effect I establish between these two basins a com-
munication by means of a channel, covered or not, in which are situated the
machines. I establish also between every one of these basins and the spring
a communication, the first of which, connected with the first basin, I name the
entrance conduit, and the second, connected with the second basin, I name the
running off conduit. When I intend to proceed, as hereafter described, I shut
off all the other conduits by means of sluices or otherwise, so that the basins
communicate with the spring only by means of the last-mentioned conduits.
The entrance conduit is provided with a sluice which is open. When I wish
to set to work that part of my apparatus, it is also provided with one, or
preferably with several doors, turned in such a manner as to permit the
entrance of water into the first basin, which I name in that case the entrance
basin, whenever the level of the spring is superior to the level of the basin;
on the other hand the same doors' will never permit the water to flow out.
The action of opening and closing is obtained by the variations of pressure on
one side or other of the doors, so that the entrance basin contains always water
at the highest level possible, and for that reason I name it the superior basin.
One of these doors is composed of one or many moveable parts, provided with

page_text: a vertical axis fixed on one of their edges. The moveable part or parts of
another door are provided with vertical axes, fixed not on the edge but on an
excentric line, and so divided into unequal parts. The axis of a third system of
door is horizontal or oblique, fixed either on the edge or in an excentric line,
so that in every case the pressure of the water is sufficient for opening and
closing these different arrangements of doors; in the last case, the largest side
or all the width of the moveable part or parts being situated under the axis,
their gravity contributes to close the door. The departure conduit connected
to the second basin is also provided with a sluice which is open when I wish to
set to work that part of my apparatus; it is provided also with one or several
doors as the entrance conduit, but every one of them is turned in a contrary
direction, so that, being opened by the pressure coming from the second basin
and closed by the pressure coming from the spring, they will permit the
departure of the water, but never its entrance into the second basin; for that
reason the second basin contains always the water on the lowest level possible,
and consequently I name it the inferior or departure basin. I have before said
that there was a channel of communication between the two basins just spoken
of. It is obvious that by opening or closing that channel by sluices or by
other means, I render it serviceable or not for the purpose described in case of
opening a current of water, is acting from the higher basin to the lower one,
and gives a continuous impulsion to the moving machines tending always in
the same direction.
It is useless to explain, that in every part of the described arrangements I
apply ordinary sluices to every moving machine for regulating its velocity.
And, lastly, I will observe, that when availing myself of any one of the
arrangements previously described, in certain circumstances I set the other at
rest, and I substitute or add to the opening and closing means I have described.
Between every orifice of the conduits and the spring I establish a break-
water, which allows the water to flow, but protects the apparatus against all
foreign bodies.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jules Seguin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th August 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULES
SEGUIN, Doctor of Medicine, of 4, Grande Rue de Graville à St. Maurice
(Seine), France, send greeting..

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Jules Seguin, Her special licence that I, the said Jules Seguin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Jules Seguin, my executors,' administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend,, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF MOVING POWER ARISING FROM THE TIDES,
AND ITS APPLICATION TO MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURAL, AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jules Seguin, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jules Seguin, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in obtaining by the means herein described from the
oscillatory movement of waters known under the name of tides, a power
directly applicable to all kinds of hydraulic moving machines or apparatus.
This being the general character of my Invention, I will now describe the
mode or modes I have improved to carry the same into effect.
I choose a spot, by preference a spot near the sea, where masses of water
are affected by the tides; the points where these masses of water are set in
communication with my apparatus are marked A in the Drawing.
My apparatus is principally composed of three basins; if I employ any.
others they áré additional, and are similar to those I will describe, and work in
a similar manner to them. The first basin D, D, D, D', shall be named D or
basin D; the second H, H, H, H', shall be named H or basin H; the third
T, T, T, T, according to its particular destination, shall be named reservoir T,
or merely reservoir or T; it must be able to contain waters on a level superior
to the highest tides, the degree of which level to be regulated by circumstances.

page_text: The basins D and H must be situated on such a level and disposed in such
a manner that the water may be admitted therein during the period of high
tides, and that they may be emptied at the period of low tide; the bottom of
them must be lower than the lowest level of A. in the country.
It is here to be observed that what I name basin may be any receptacle of
water I may contrive, or I may naturally 'find, and render applicable to my
purposes, being directed in each particular case by local or other circumstances.
When I do not find natural basins I dig them in the earth, or I establish
them in a place already occupied by waters, and I do so by means of a dam or
barrier, or by suitable separations when it is necessary. ; I may also obtain.the
oscillating waters that I name A or basins, or both of them together, by means
of separations purposely made or occasionally found in the bed of a river or
canal, sea shores, or in any water where the effects of tides may be made
available. Such are the preliminary dispositions to carry my Invention into
effect.
. Between the oscillating waters that I name A. and the basin D,.I establish
a pipe or channel or conduit 0, 0¹, covered or not, in which a sufficient place
or spot N, N¹, is reserved to admit one or several bydraulic moving machines.
It is scarcely necessary to observe that things being in that state, the two
different currents would naturally impel a motion to the machines in: one
direction at the high tide and in another direction at the low tide, but I
interchange the action of high and low tides in such a manner as to obtain in
the spot N¹, N', a falling constantly tending in the same direction. For
that purpose between A and N¹, N', I establish in a suitable dam f, in which.
a superior orifice h is opened for the entrance of high water; during the same
time an inferior orifice i¹ situated in the same dam is kept closed. On the
other side between N¹, N¹, and D are established in another dam f', two such
orifices h', i; the lowest of them i is kept opened during the high tide, so that
the coming-in waters go through the spot N', N¹, occupied by the moving
machines in falling downwards; during the low tide the orifices h', ', are kept
opened and the others are kept closed, so that the coming-out waters go
through the same spot occupied by the machines always in falling downwards,
and thus is produced an intermittent power constantly tending in the same
direction, and that effect is obtained by means of sluices applied to the said
orifices, or by other analogous engines governed at will. By the said. closing
means may be determined the resting, working, and velocity of the machines,
and the amount of water used by them. A second conduit, channel, or pipe
R, R, R., to which no machine is applied, and simply provided with a sluice d
is made in order to fill or to discharge the basin as may be wanted for:

page_text: abridging the intermissions of action. By means of any full additional basins
I may send water at the equilibrium of low tide in the superior part of N', N¹;
by means of any empty additional basin I may receive the water coming from
the inferior part of N', N', at the equilibrium of high tide. During both
equilibriums I may keep up the falling by water derived from a reservoir as T;
by effect of these different means the intermissions may be corrected.and the
movement produced in N', N¹, may be converted into a continual
power. It
will be seen in the sequel by what means a basin or a reservoir may be filled
or emptied.
t
It is obvious that what I have just described owes its character of improve-
ments to the modes herein described to render it available. Such is the
proceeding I name system N', N¹, it may be applied to the basin H as well as
to the basin D. The moving power obtained in that system when its inter-
missions are not availably corrected, is not properly a manufacturing power,
it is then to be principally employed for raising water, draining lands and
mines, &c., and as a transitory mode of obtaining an indirect effect by
supplying power, and especially as it will be explained subsequently.
Before I describe the other systems applied to my said basins, it is necessary.
to say how the doors I employ for the working of these systems are constructed
and established; the door a or a¹ is made with a moveable part, the axis of
which may be either horizontal or oblique, and is fixed on its superior edge or
on an excentric line, so that all the width or the largest side of the moveable
part is situated under the axis, so that the moveable part closes by its gravity;
the door b or b¹ is. provided with a vertical axis fixed on an excentric line of
the moveable part; the doors c, c', j, j, k, l, are provided with a vertical axis
fixed on one of their vertical edges. Every one of the said doors may be
composed with one, two, or several moveable parts; the moveable parts and the
corresponding orifices may be either round, square, or of any other figure; in
overy case the mere pressure of water will govern them, and will so close or
open the conduits or pipes in which they will be established. Every door
fixed with a vertical axis must be provided with stops, and be disposed in such
a manner as never to become or remain parallel to the direction in which the
water is running, so that the pressure of the water may easily push, back and
close it; the stops applied to the doors c, c¹, j, j, k, k, for that purpose may
be seen on the plans, and the door b¹ is shown as much opened as it may be,
the door 6 may not be opened more than the door b'. There is a door
established in a pipe or conduit between A and a basin, and-turned in such a
manner as to be opened on the side of the basin; it will never permit the
departure of water from the basin through that conduit, it will be properly. an

page_text: •
entrance door and will be named so. There is a door established in a pipe or
conduit between A and a basin, and turned in such a manner as to be opened
on the side of A, it will never permit the entrance of water from A in the
basin through that conduit, it will be properly a going-out or discharging or
departure door and will be named so; consequently a, b, c, j, k, are entrance
doors, and a, b, c, j, k, are departure doors.
. My second system I will presently describe is also applied to a suitable
basin D; between it and A I establish a pipe or conduit P, Q, Q, P, which
must be divided in two parts in all its length, or only in its middle part as it is
represented on my plans. Between the two divisions of that pipe or conduit,
in a spot N, N", reserved for that purpose, are situated one or several
hydraulic moving machines. The first division pipe or conduit P¹, Q', is pro-
vided with an entrance door j on the side of A, and with a departure door j',
on the side of D, and so the said division pipe or conduit 'communicates always
with the highest waters through the door j, when the highest level is in A, and
through the door when the highest level is in D. The second division pipe
or conduit P, Q", is on the contrary provided with an entrance door k on the
side of D, and with a departure door k¹ on the side of A, and so that last
division pipe or conduit may never communicate with the highest waters, the
door k¹ being closed by the pressure prevailing in A, and the door k being
closed by the pressure prevailing in D; consequently the level of waters, is
always higher in P, Q, than in P, Q", thus the going-in waters are obliged
to follow the direction P, P¹, P", P, and the going out waters the direction
Q, Q, Q", Q, and so a similar running or falling is produced at any time
through the spot N", N", where are situated the moving machines, and impels
them always in the same direction.
Every one of the four offices performed in this system by one door, may be
performed by several doors similar to those I have described, or by any other,
closing doors.
By this means is established the second proceeding that I name system
N, N; its effect is primitively intermittent, but it may be regulated
and become continual by the same means indicated for that purpose for the,
previous system; it may be employed for any use, and more especially like the
system N¹, N¹, for raising waters and for producing an indirect effect.
The reservoir T is employed to receive, through a conduit or pipe S, S, S¹, S",
S¹¹, appropriated to that purpose, a supply of water brought up in it by pumps.
or whatever analogous engines moved by the machines established in the
system N¹, N¹, or in the system N", N", and even according to circumstances
in the system N, N, that I will describe in the sequel, that conduit or pipe will

page_text: be modified according to the description of the engines employed to raise water
and their mode of operating. From the reservoir T the waters return directly
or indirectly in A at any time of high or low tides, through a fourth conduit
or pipe U, U', in which is situated a reserved spot for other hydraulic moving
machines, and give them a continual impulsion tending, always in the same
direction, the conduit U, U', may discharge in D or in H, when it is preferred,
or even be divided in two or several directions. The part of conduit or
pipe S, S¹, S, might communicate only with A or D, it might even receive
other water; if it communicates with A and with.D, it must be provided with
two sluices div, div, which determine the point where water is taken for the
reservoir, and permit the communication between A and the basin only when
it is necessary, and thus the special conduit R, R, R, may become useless.
By this means is established the third proceeding that I will name system
N, N; beside all the other applications, the continual running obtained by
méans of the reservoir T may be employed not only for rendering continual
the other systems previously mentioned, but as an augmenting or regulating
agent for the fourth running or falling, I will now describe.
I employ also the basin D, together with the basin H, for the purpose of
obtaining directly a permanent power, and consequently a continual impulsion
of machine or machines constantly tending in the same direction. To that
effect I establish between D and H a communicating channel or pipe F, G,
in which is reserved a spot N, N, to establish hydraulic moving machine or
machines of any description. I establish also between every one of these
basins, and the oscillating waters that I name A, a conduit of communication;
the first of them B, C, connected to the basin D, being provided with entrance
doors a, b, c, is properly an entrance conduit, and the second J, K, connected
to the basin H, being provided with departure doors a, b, c, is, properly a
departure or discharging conduit.
When I intend to proceed as will hereafter describe, and to obtain all the
possible effect of that last system, I shut off the other communications between
A and the basins by means of the sluices with which these communications
are provided, or by whatever analogous dispositions, so that the basins D and H
communicate with A only by means of the conduits B, C, and J, K. At the
same time I open the sluices d, d, with which the said last conduits are pro-
vided. Things being so placed, the waters go into D through the conduit B, C,
when they are higher in A than in D, and never will return into A through
that conduit contrarily; the basin H will discharge itself through the departure
conduit J, K, when the level is higher in it than in A, but it will never receive
water coming from A through that conduit, and so, by the mere effect of the

page_text: pressure on the doors is maintained a continual difference of levels between
these two basins, and is procured consequently through the communicating
channel F, G, a continual running or falling, and thereby the required impulsion
is given to the moving machines established in the spot N, N; the resting,
working, and velocity of these machines, as well as of the other moving
machines previously mentioned, and the amount of water used by them may
be governed by sluices or other analogous engines. The closing and opening
offices performed in that system by three doors of different descriptions esta-.
blished in every conduit might be performed by one door only, or by two or
three similar doors established in every conduit and duly turned, or even by
sluices or any analogous mechanism governed at will.
By this means is established the fourth proceeding, that I will name system
N, N. In that system, the basin D, if it is destined to no other functions
than that lately assigned to it, may be dug only to a depth between the lowest
tides and the middle level of waters in A; that basin might be also supplied in
every system when the highest level is wanted in it with other masses of
liquid than the water coming from A, H; being always discharged in A by
effect of low tides.
The general character of the four systems I have described, is such that in
every one of them the running or falling water has always in the place occupied
by the moving machines the same point of introduction, and tends to tho
same direction at any time that observation is applicable, even to the first
system; in effect after the said interchange, the arrival is at any time in the
superior part, and the departure in the inferior part of the precise place
occupied in the spot N¹, N¹, by the moving machines. These four systems
constitute in my description and plans a whole, of which all the parts are
united; they may, however, be employed separately by the modes I have
described, and by the modes which I will now mention. The system N', N',
by means of one basin communicating with A, to which is added or not as a
correcting agent the intervention of other waters as I have described. The
system N, N", by means of one basin communicating with A, to which are
added or not the said correcting dispositions. The system N, N", by means
of a reservoir receiving a supply of water and discharging itself as I have
before said. The system N, N, by means of two basins, one of them being
filled and the other being emptied as I have described, the first discharging in
the second, and the second discharging in A, as I have already said. I may
also realize two or three of them as well as the four systems together; two,
three, or four systems being established together, they may work separately or
at once.

page_text: That last proposition needs some explanation. The systems N', N¹, and
N", N", may work together, even with the same basin. They may work
while the system N, N, is at rest, especially during the night; they may also
work during the time of activity of N, N, but in that case the disposable
power is necessarily divided between the co-acting systems.
The system
NN, may work at all times either alone or together with one or any part
of the others, provided the reservoir be duly supplied with water.
When I intend setting at work one of the several systems therein men-
tioned, I close all the conduits, pipes, or communications which are unnecessary:
to its acting, and contrariwise; when I intend setting at rest one, two, or three
of the said systems, I close the conduits, pipes, and communications, which by
being opened would determine their acting; these functions may be performed
by the sluices d, d, d¹, d", d, d, d, d, or by other analogous closing.
mechanism; such closing mechanism, established in whatever channel, pipe, or
conduit in which moving machines receive impulsion, may determine the:
resting, working, and velocity of them, and the quantity of water used as I
have already said, but these offices may be also performed by any closing and
regulating apparatus usually annexed to these machines.
When I purpose to set in communication the spot assigned to the machines,
of whatever system, with additional basins or a reservoir as T, I provide the
channel, pipe, or conduit where the said spot is affixed with sluices or analogous
mechanism at every one of its extremities.
Between A and every orifice of conduit or pipe, I establish breakwaters as
L, L', allowing the water to flow, but protecting the apparatus against all
violence or perturbation. When it is necessary these breakwaters may be.
constructed in any suitable manner and with any suitable materials.
I indicate on my plans at M, M', hollows which may be established near.
every conduit door, and machines for receiving the sediments or heavy bodies of
any kind. Excepting the system N', N', of which I have already mentioned
the special applications when its intermissions are not availably corrected
each one of my systems may be applied according to its particular nature to
all kinds of hydraulic moving machines, and produce all the different works
that may be obtained by effect of any hydraulic power.
I adopt no particular moving machine preferably to others, because in
every case the preference is to be given to various kinds of machines, according*
to the proposed employment and other motives; the mode of fixing in position
each moving machine, and the spot reserved for it will. be such as is required
by its nature, the work to be performed, and other circumstances.
The dimensions of all the parts of my apparatus are indicated for the sake

page_text: of illustration in my plans, on the scale or proportion of two thousandths, but
they must be in practice determined by the quantity of power required, and
local circumstances, also the form of the basins and reservoir, the distance
between them and A, or between two basins or between a reservoir and a
basin are indifferent, provided the requisite effect may be conveniently produced,
so that a conduit or channel or pipe may be much extended, it may be also
much enlarged.
A large or extended conduit when placed between A and a basin becomes
an available regulator; it may, by its capacity and by effect of closing and
opening apparatus as I have previously described, fulfil the duty of a basin,
and applied to the system N¹, N¹, or N", N", such contrivance would render
them analogous to my system N, N. The nature and form and positions of
the basins, reservoirs, channels, pipes, or conduits are absolutely optional,
provided the offices of them may be duly performed; it is, however, preferable
to establish the communication between two basins as F, G, far from the
entrance and the going out conduits. Every communication pipe or conduit
provided with doors or moving machines must be accorded with the description
of them. Different conduits or parts of them may be united together when
their functions are compatible; as an example, the conduits B, C, and J, K,
may be joined together in the same orifice communicating with A, and to be
divided only near the closing engines, which determine the special functions of
one and the other.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the mode or modes
of carrying the same into effect, I would have it clearly understood that I do
not confine myself to the details berein described; but what I claim are the
improved means herein described for obtaining power from waters acted on
by tides.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Seguin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 11th day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
.
Witness,
T. BASSET.
JULES SEGUIN. (L.S.)