Improvements in Wave Motors.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
Improvements in Wave Motors.
I, WALLACE MCDONALD, of Chicago Park, County of Nevada, California, U.S.A.,
Lumberman, 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.;-
The wave motor of this invention comprises a rising and falling float with guide.
posts to keep the same in place and a mechanism by which the rise and fall of the
doat is caused to produce a continuous rotary motion.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of the motor of the invention.
Fig. 2 an elevation of one corner of the float. Fig. 3 a side view and Fig. 4 a
plan of one of the clutch gears, Fig. 4 a detail on an enlarged scale.
A is the float guided between the vertical posts B undue friction being prevented
by friction rollers P¹:
C are shafts carried in bearings fixed on the posts B adjacent to each end of
the float. These shafts are connected by a chain 1 passing over chain wheels on
the shafts and through this chain, the motion of either shaft may be transmitted
to the other.
Upon each of the shafts C are fixed gear wheels F engaging in vertical racks G
extending sufficiently above the gear wheels and held in contact with them by
guards H. The lower ends of the racks are connected by ball joints K with the
ends of the float, so that the float may move backward and forward or right and left
within the limits of the guiding posts without throwing the racks out of engage-
ment with the gear wheels and without interfering with their proper action as
the float rises and falls. Each of the wheels F consists of a hollow casing loose
upon the shaft C. Within this casing is a hub L fixed to the shaft C so as to turn
with it. This hub carries the pawls M the outer ends of which are in contact
with the interior of the rim of the gear wheel and may be retained in yielding
contact by springs or other means, so that when the rim of the wheel is turned in
one direction it will move over the ends of the pawls, which yield for this purpose,
and when turned in the other direction the ends of the pawls engage the inner
surfaces of the rims to cause them to rotate, and this movement is communicated
through the pawls to the hubs L and the shaft C. Each pair of the wheels have the
racks acting in opposite directions, so that when one end of the float A rises, one
of the racks G will act upon its wheel to rotate the shaft C in the desired direction,
and when the float again sinks by the recession of the wave or swell the other
rack G will act upon its gear wheel, so as to cause a continuous movement of the
shaft C in one direction. Both ends of the float are equipped with similar
mechanism, and the shafts C are, as before described connected by the chain D
and as each of the chain wheels E is provided with a similar clutchi mechanism
to that just described, it will be seen that all the movements of the float will be
communicated to rotate the shafts in one direction and that the movement of either
shaft may be effected while the other one is temporarily not being acted upon,

page_text: the pawls allowing each wheel to be acted upon and to communicate its motion
to the other.
By means of a pulley or chain wheel N upon one of the driving shafts C a belt
or chain O may be led to drive any other desired machinery.
The friction rollers P¹ which travel against the posts, are, mounted, in yokes or
frames P having arms Q extending inwardly and connecting with the float! These
arms have swivel joints formed, as shewn at R so as to allow the yokes P' a certain
amount of movement with relation to the float A as the latter is caused to swing
either longitudinally or sidewise within the space formed by the posts B by reason
of the movement of the waves. The inwardly projecting arms, Q pass through
suitable guides Q¹ on the float and are surrounded by springs S on each side of the
swivel joints R which are designed to yield and to allow the movements of the
float while maintaining the guide rollers in contact with the posts against which
they travel.
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:
1
1. In an apparatus for transmitting the movement of waves, a float, guide posts
whereby it is retained in position and its movements made approximately vertical,
shafts journalled upon the guide posts above opposite ends of the float, having
chain wheels connected by a chain, said shafts having clutch mechanisms and
pawls, gear wheels forming shells which cnclose the clutch mechanisms, racks
yieldingly connected with the float and yokes by which the teeth of the racks are
retained in contact with the toothed gear wheels whereby the rise of the float acts
through one of the gears to rotate the shaft in one direction and the fall of the float
acts through the other gear to rotate it in the same direction, substantially as
described and shewn.
2. In an apparatus for converting the vertical movements of waves to a rotary
movement, a float adapted to rise and fall between guide posts, shafts journalled
horizontally upon said posts above opposite ends of the float, and having gear
wheels, a chain and chain wheel connection from one shaft to the other, racks
with yokes whereby the teeth are maintained in contact and upon opposite sides of
the gear wheels respectively, said racks being flexibly connected with the float,
clutch mechanism by which the upward movement of the float is transmitted
through one of the gears to rotate the shafts in one direction, and the downward
movement is transmitted through the other gear to continue the motion in the same
direction, substantially as described and shewn.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the wave
motor, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 21st day of October 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.