Improvements in Wave Motors.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wave Motors.
I, ROBERT BALLARD DAVY, M.D., of San Diego, in the County of San.
Diego, California, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the present invention is to utilize the force of waves for operating
machinery for industrial purposes. To this end I employ two or more connected
floats the relative movement between which, as they ride the waves is made use
of for compressing air, the compressed air being stored up in a suitable reservoir
whence it is piped off for use.
The invention consists in certain features of novelty that are particularly
pointed out in the claims hereafter.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this.Specification:-
Figure 1. is a sectional elevation.
Figure 2. is a plan view of the improved motor, the planes of the section being
indicated by the line 1-1.
Figures 3 and 4. are respectively a side elevation and plan view of a modification,
drawn to an enlarged scale.
A. and A represent a pair of floats which are preferably constructed of sheet-
iron and air-tight so that their interiors may be used as reservoirs in which to store
up compressed air. They are shaped somewhat like a boat and are suitably
braced interiorly so as to give them the required rigidity, but the braces and other
details of construction are not shown in the drawings as the present invention is
not limited thereto. On the contrary so far as this invention is concerned the
floats may be of any construction. They may be of wood and provided with
suitable reservoirs for receiving compressed air. However they may be con-
structed they are hinged together so as to be incapable of horizontal movement
relatively to each other while at the same time their outer onds are perfectly free
to rise and fall independently of each other; the movement being of course, in an
arc about the pintle a by which they are connected. As wave after wave passes
there is a constant relative movement of the floats about this pintle and to utilize
this movement for industrial purposes it is only necessary to add suitable trans-
lating devices many forms of which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled
in the art. The translating devices which I have shown in the drawings are
simple and effective but I desire to have it understood that in its broadest sense
my present invention includes translating devices of any construction.
B. is a heavy shaft or roller which is journaled upon pintlo a. so that its axis is
coincident with the axis of motion of the floats. Upon this shaft are ratchet
teeth b. which are engaged by pawls C. and C' fixed to the floats A. and A'
respectively. The teeth are all presented in the same direction and are engaged
by the extremity of pawl C. and by a beam or hook c' on pawl C₁ so that both
pawls oppose the rotation of the shaft in one direction and cause it to turn in the
other direction as the floats move relatively to each other. To the shaft is secured
also a pulley or sprocket-wheel D. over which passes a belt or drive chain E.
which belt or chain embraces also a pulley or sprocket-wheel F. which is secured
to a shaft journaled in the frame of the compressor. To this shaft is secured also
a fly-wheel G and a crank H the latter being connected by a pitman I. to the
upper end of the piston-rod J. of the compressor. The compressor cylinder is
shown at K. and its piston at L. M. is a T-pipe or a pipe having three branches -
one of which branches communicates with the atmosphere and is provided with a
valve that opens inward and closes outward, said valve being normally held upon

page_text: 17
its sent by a light spring. A second branch communicates with the interior of the
cylinder K, near its upper end, and the third branch communicates with the air
reservoir in the interior of the float and is provided with a valve that opens
outward and closes inward, said valve being normally held upon its seat by a light
spring. N. is a second T-pipe similar in construction and. having valves similar to
pipe M, this second pipe being so arranged that its second branch communicates
with the cylinder K. near the bottom. These parts F. N. constitute a double
acting air, compressor that sucks in air from the outside, compresses it and dis-
charges it into the air, reservoir. I desire to have it understood that the present
invention is not limited to, an air compressor of this or any other particular
construction.
1.91
1
"
"O. represents a pneumatic engine which is secured, to the deck of the float A.
and may be of any desired construction, compressed air for running it being
conveyed to it, from the reservoir through pipe P.
Q. represents a dynamo which is secured to the deck of float A. and is driven
by a belt R. from the engine.
The generated electricity is either stored in batteries located on one or both of
the floats, or else; conducted by a suitably insulated wire to shore where it may be
either stored or used directly.
The drawings show only, one of the floats provided with a compressor, an engine
and a dynamo, but if desired both of the floats may have them. Preferably both
are provided with compressors, but only one with an engine and dynamo, the air
reservoirs of both being connected by a flexible pipe S. so that air may pass
from, one to the other. If desired both floats may be without an engine and
dynamo, in which case, the compressed air would be conveyed ashore by a suitable
pipe.
Instead of using the engine for driving the dynamo, one or both of the floats may
be provided, with a propeller and the engine may be used for driving it for moving
the device from place to place.
It is obvious that instead of an air compressor, any other piece of machinery may
be driven directly by the belt or chain E-
'
Referring to Figures 3 and 4. In this form the teeth of the ratchet-wheels.
are set in opposite directions so that the pawl, being provided at its free end with
hook, engages the teeth of the wheel only while the arms KK are descending;
and the pawl g' which is substantially straight, engages the teeth of the wheel
while the arms K' K' are ascending. The ratchet wheel and gear wheel or
pinion are rigidly keyed or secured to the shaft while the ratchet wheel and
gear wheel as are mounted loosely on the shaft h, but are secured rigidly together;
the wheels bande mounted on the shaft are secured rigidly together but
preferably revolve, loosely, on said shaft With this arrangement the vibration of
the arms K causes the pawl' to engage the teeth of the wheel thus causing the
latter to revolve and communicate its motion through shaft 2 to the gear wheel c³,
which latter in turn continues the motion through idle pinion to the
wheels and thence back to the wheels a and: The object of this arrange
ment as will readily be seen, is to reverse the motion of the wheel before such
motion reaches the wheels a and for inasmuch as the ratchet wheels revolve
in opposite directions, the pawl of one would retard the movement of the other.
.
Having now particularly, described, and ascertained the nature of my said, inven-
tion, and in, what manner the same is to be performed, 1, declare, that what I
claim is.
1. A wave motor, substantially as hereinbefore described-and-shown.
2. In a wave motor, the combination of a float, a shaft on which said float is
pivoted at one end, a ratchet wheel secured on said shaft, two pivoted pawls
engaging said ratchet wheel for rotating the shaft in one direction only when the
float rises, and falls, and means for applying the motion, thus derived, substantially
as set forth..

page_text: 3. In a wave motor, the combination with two hinged floats, of a ratchet wheel,
a pawl carried by one of the floats and engaging said ratchet wheel and means for
applying the motion thus derived, substantially as set forth.
4. In a a wave motor, the combination with two hinged floats of a shaft, ratchet
teeth carried thereby, a pawl carried by each of the floats and engaging said teeth,
and means for applying the motion thus derived, substantially as set forth.
5. In a wave motor, the combination with two hinged floats, of a shaft journaled
with its axis coincident with the axis of the hinge, ratchets carried thereby, pawls
carried by the floats, and engaging said shaft, and a belt for applying the motion
thus derived, substantially as set forth.
6. In a wave motor, the combination with a pair of hinged floats, of an air
compressor, means for transmitting the motion of said floats to the piston of said
compressor and an air reservoir into which said compressor discharges, substantially
as set forth.
7. The combination with the floats A and A¹ hinged together at a, of the shaft B.
journaled with its axis coincident with the axis of said hinge, the ratchets b, the
pawls D. and D' secured to floats A. and A' respectively and engaging said ratchets,
the pulley E. on said shaft, the belt F. embracing said pulley and a machine adapted
to be driven by said belt, substantially as set forth.
8. In a wave motor, the combination of a float, a shaft on which said float is
pivoted at one end, ratchet wheels on said shaft, pawls for rotating said wheels as
the float rises and falls, and mechanism for transmitting the power thus derived,
substantially as set forth.
9. In a wave motor, the combination of a float, a shaft on which said float is
pivoted, ratchet wheels on said shaft, the pawls for rotating one of said wheels when
the float moves in either direction and transmitting gearing adapted to reverse the
motion of one of the ratchet wheels, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of July 1891.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.