Improvements in Apparatus for Obtaining Motive Power from the waves.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1887
Complete Left, 24th Jan.. 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Obtaining Motive Power from
the waves.
1 ALFRED ALEXANDER CLARKE of 348 Hackney Road, London, E., Traveller do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new motive power and has for its object to utilize the
action of the waves for the propulsion of ships and boats and also for driving mills
and other machinery erected on the sea coast.
I will describe my invention as applied to a ship or boat.
Two or more cylinders are fitted to each side of the boat the bottom of such
cylinders being left open. Each of these cylinders are provided with tubes shut off
from the cylinders by means of valves for purpose hereinafter described.
By means of the open bottom of the cylinders the waves are enabled to surge into
the cylinder and force the air in the cylinder through one of the valves into its tube
which is connected with and operates machinery for driving the screw of the boat.
On the waves passing by and subsiding out of the cylinder a valve in the second tube
is opened and air rushes into and fills the cylinder. This operation is repeated with
every wave.
The object is to utilize these two currents of air created by the rising and falling of
the waves into the cylinder as a motive power to work machinery connected with the
driving part of the boat or mill.
HUGHES & Co.,
131, Fleet Street, E.C.,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Apparatus for Obtaining Motive Power from
the Waves.
1 ALFRED ALEXANDER CLARKE of 348 Hackney Road London E. Traveller 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 relates to improvements in motive power obtained by utilising the
action of the waves, or ripples of the waves as an auxiliary for the propulsion of
boats model yachts and ships especially for sailing vessels and other purposes, on
board of same and may be applied for driving mills and other machinery and purposes
erected by or on the sea coast, river banks, water-falls or elsewhere.
I will describe in the first instance my invention as applied to a ship or boat.
One or more cylinders or floats of suitable capacity are fitted or connected to each
side of the boat or vessel the bottom part of each cylinder or float being open.
Each of these cylinders or floats at the upper portion of their chambers are
suitably provided with two or more tubes for the purpose required and as in manner
hereafter described.
Where two tubes only are provided to each cylinder or chamber one at its upper
or highest part is provided with an inlet valve the other at its upper part is fitted
with an outlet valve. In the case of a greater number of tubes being used they would
be proportionaly fitted with inlet and outlet valves.
A vessel of sufficient size and tonnage in in ploughing or cutting through one, two.
or more waves and when provided with these cylinders or chambers provision should
be made that the cylinders or chambers are connected to the vessel in such a manner
as will allow of their being adjusted to suit a varying line of floatation when needed,
from the vessel having a lighter or heavier cargo, so that the open or grated bottom
part of the cylinders or chambers may always be a little above the line of floatation to
allow the waves to surge into the cylinders or chambers.
By means of the open bottom or hollow chamber of the said cylinders chambers or
floats the waves are enabled to surge into the cylinders or chambers and force or
compress the air contained therein into and through the tubes provided and in those
which have inlet valves suitably arranged therein the air is enabled to pass upward
or onward to be utilized for whatever purpose may be required but in those tubes
fitted with outlet valves the air is prevented by the closing of the valves from passing
onward.
On the waves receeding and passing away out of the cylinders or chambers the
inlet valves are closed and the air in the outlet valves connecting tubes are forced
through the valves into the cylinders to replace the water receeding or subsiding
therefrom this operation would be repeated with each successive or repeated action of
the wave or waves.

page_text: I thus obtain in the case of two or more separate sets of tubes an inward and
outward force of air which can be used separately or in conjunction to communicate
with or operate machinery as to produce motive power in the case of either Sailing
or Steam Vessels whether in progress or at anchor, these currents of air would be
well adapted for ventilating the hold or cargo, the inlet tubes delivering fresh air
at one part of the hold and the outlet tubes sucking out the foul or vitiated air at
another.
Apparatus according to my principle can be fitted by or on the sea coast, river
banks or elsewhere along side floating dummies or piers, and so prove of service for
distributing power to work machinery or otherwise.
Provision may also be made for the air forced through inlet connecting tubes to be
compressed and accumulated and stored up for whatever it may be applicable or
desired. Each cylinder or chamber may have a mesh or net-work of suitable material
or other provision made to prevent solid substances from entering therein.
It may he found desirable to have the interior of the cylinders or chambers fitted
with several horizontal rows of perforated material a short space above each other, or
a graduated row of horizontal partitions having larger holes in the lower rows and
gradually smaller holes in the upper tiers so as to prevent the waves from entering
into the cylinders or chambers and reaching the tubes too sudden or with a rush
before it had displaced and driven all the air into the tubes before it.
The cylinders or chambers instead of being placed at the side of the vessel
externally-I may by preference place the same inside the vessel (especially where
speed is an object so as not to binder or impede the progress) the bottom part or
bottom side alone being in contact with the water through openings formed in the
side of the vessel.
In the case of a greater number of tubes than as described being used fitted with
outlet valves or inlet valves I may vary the same as may be found most desirable that
is to say for instance if six tubes where applied to a cylinder, two may form or have
one class of valve and four with the other class of valve or otherwise as may be found
best suited for the particular purpose or case.
Suitable arrangements would be made for the necessary stop or other cocks or
valves to be employed as may be found most suitable in connection with the valve
tubes and their communications for the inlet and exit of the air, and provision made
for accumulating and storing the air under pressure in suitable chambers or vessels
provided with usual valves and gauges to regulate and indicate the pressure of air
therein ready to be utilized by the aid of a suitable Engine or Engines in manner
desired for the specific purpose.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 exhibits a longitudinal elevation of a portion
of a vessel as fitted with two chambers floats or cylinders. Fig. 2 and 3 are
midship sections of the vessel and Fig. 4 a detail view in section of one of the
chambers floats or cylinders in which the following letters refer to like or corre-
sponding parts.
A, A are the chambers floats or cylinders made of sufficient strength capacity and
suitable material and stiffened if necessary to resist the action of the waves and for
the purpose application and method desire I have shewn in the views thereof two
floats chambers or cylinders which may be built with either externally or internally
to the side of the ship or vessel or be so arranged as to be raised or lowered if
necessary suitable and adjustable to the floatation line of the ship or vessel should it
be so desired. C and E are tubes pipes or connections in relation to and connected
with the chambers floats or cylinders A, A and to the said tubes or pipes in connection
with the said chamber or chambers floats or cylinders I fit and provide at the upper
portion thereof a suitable valve or valves to each and either as the case may be acting
either and as for the purpose of an inlet and outlet valve or valves as shewn by the
figures D and B, the former of which enables the air contained or compressed therein
to pass upwards and onwards to be stored or utilized for whatever purposes may be
required. On the waves subsiding and passing away out of the chambers cylinders
or floats the inlet valves are closed and the air in the outlet valves and connecting

page_text: tubes is forced or exhausted into or through the cylinders or chambers to replace the
water subsiding and so repeating with each successive or repeated action of the wave
or waves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
Firstly. The application of apparatus in manner described whereby two opposite
forces or currents of air can be utilized for useful purposes.
Secondly. An Improved method for ventilating the holds of ships or vessels and
delivering fresh air thereto and withdrawing all foul or vitiated air therefrom and by
improved method or means of obtaining motive power through a number of cylinders,
the lower or open (or partially open) parts of which will always be a little above the
line of floatation and may be fitted to or form part of a floating dummy or dummies
attached to the shore so that upon the dummy lifting with the tide, the air is forced
through the connecting tubes and valves of the chambers floats or cylinders in manner
and for the purpose herein referred to.
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