An Improved Means of Generating Electrical Energy.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means of Generating Electrical Energy.
We, THOMAS HOLMES, Clerk, ALBION HOLMES, Clerk, and GEORGE SOCKETT
HOLMES, Mineral Agent, all of 59A, Cliff Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to utilize the current existing in some rivers,
streams, and tidal waters, for the generation of electrical energy.
According to this invention we moor in a river, stream, or tidal water a vessel or
pontoon which carries electrical generating apparatus, storage apparatus, and other
electrical apparatus which may be necessary. Such generating apparatus is driven
by means of paddle wheels, which dip into and are rotated by the current of water
flowing past such vessel or pontoon.
Probably a series of pontoons or vessels will be coupled so as to lie parallel with
one another, and paddle wheels will be arranged in the race existing between each
vessel or pontoon.
In order to obtain a better hold of the water we may employ sprocket wheels, one
pair of which will be disposed towards the bow and the other toward the stern.
Coupling the two wheels on each side of a vessel is an endless chain which carries
buckets or paddles.
The shaft or shafts driven by the paddles is or are geared by belt or tooth gear-
ing with the electrical generating apparatus in such a manner that the latter
revolves at a high speed.
Our invention is particularly applicable for lighting buoys in tidal channels and
for light ships and lighthouses.
Suitable storage batteries or accumulators are carried by the vessel or pontoon
for the supply of electrical energy during slack water between the ebb and flow.
1000
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. George's ('rescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicants.
An Improved Means of Generating Electrical Energy.
We, THOMAS HOLMES, Clerk, ALBION HOLMES, Clerk, and GEORGE SOCKETT
HOLMES, Mineral Agent, all of 312, Kensington, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, formerly of 59A, Cliff Street, Liverpool, 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 has for its object to utilize the current existing in some rivers,
streams, and in tidal waters, for the generation of electrical energy.
According to this invention we moor in a river, stream, or tidal water, a vessel
or pontoon which carries electrical generating apparatus, storage apparatus, and
FPS17

page_text: other electrical apparatus which may be necessary for the control or distribution
of the electricity which is generated. Such generating apparatus is driven by
means of paddle wheels, which dip into and are rotated by the current of water
flowing past such vessel or pontoon.
In the drawing hereto annexed--which illustrates our invention diagrammatic-
ally--Figure 1 is a deck plan and Figure 2 is an end view of a vessel according
to our invention.
A series of pontoons, a, a, a, are coupled together by the stays band the bridges c
so as to lie parallel with one another. The pontoons a support a shaft d on which
are mounted four paddle wheels e which dip into the water upon each side of the
pontoons, two of the wheels being arranged in the two water-races which exist
between the three pontoons.
The shaft d is geared by the spur-wheel f and pinion f¹, and the spur and pinion
wheels g, and the driving belt h, to a dynamo i, upon the deck of the central
pontoon, whereby the rotation of the paddle wheels and shaft & causes the armature
of the dynamo to be rotated at a high speed. The electricity which is thus gener-
ated may be directly conducted to the work which it is required to perform, or it
may be stored in storage batteries disposed upon the vessel or ashore. Such
storage batteries or accumulators also serve to afford a continuous supply of current
when the flow of water past the vessel is suspended, as for instance during the slack
water between the ebb and flow of the tide.
Each paddle wheel e may possess separate arrangements for coupling with the
shaft d, and the latter may consist of separate lengths, one length for each wheel
or pair of wheels e, and each wheel or shaft may operate a separate dynamo, dis-
posed upon separate pontoons.
We prefer to employ paddle wheels constructed similarly to under-shot water-
wheels and in order that the water flowing through the races between the pontoons
may be directed against the floats of the wheels, we arrange the deflecting plates k
in the said races and we enclose the lower part of the races by the bottom plates 7.
In some cases we arrange sluice-gates in the said races, for the purpose shutting
off the water from the paddle wheels therein.
Instead of employing paddle wheels as above described, we may arrange an
endless chain or chains, carrying floats or buckets, to pass over sprocket wheels
arranged fore and aft upon the vessel, the said buckets dipping into the current
of water upon their lower line of travel. In this case the shafts which carry the
sprocket wheels will be the driving shafts which are geared to the electrical gener-
ating apparatus.
Our invention is particularly applicable for lighting buoys in tidal channels,
and for lightships and lighthouses.
A pontoon vessel arranged as illustrated in the drawing may be moored fore and
aft, or at the foreward end only when it is required to swing with the tide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
-
For the purpose of generating electrical energy, a vessel or vessels adapted to
be moored in Howing water and bearing paddle wheels or their equivalent which
dip into said water, such paddle wheels or their shafts being geared with electrical
generating apparatus, whereby the flow of water is utilized as herein set forth with
reference to the drawing.
Dated this 24th day of Nocambon 1800
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Chartered Patent Agent, 10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicants.