Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing the Power of Waves.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 24th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing the Power of Waves.
I, BERNARD MORLEY FLETCHER, of 7, Victoria Street, Westininster, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to wave operated apparatus which may be used for various
purposes, say for the provision of power or for use with ordinary buoys, for fog signal
apparatus or otherwise indicating the presence of the buoy or other apparatus. We
will describe it as applied to a buoy for the purpose of giving an audible signal,
although it will also be employed for illuminating purposes with suitable
modifications.
In a simple form I take a buoy of ordinary construction say a Trinity House buoy
and through the bottom of this I introduce the end of a mast or column which is
intended to be to some extent at all events fixed relatively to the buoy so that as the
buoy rises and falls with the wave movement, the mast will remain entirely or
partially stationary. The portion of this mast (which inay be formed of a metal tube)
which is inside the buoy or casing is adapted to operate one or more pumps by means
of any suitable mechanism. One suitable apparatus would consist of a walking beam
having a connecting rod to the pump plunger or piston at the one end and at the
other end so placed as to engage with any suitable projection or equivalent upon or
of the mast so that as the buoy which carries the pump apparatus rises and falls
relatively to the mast the beam is oscillated and the pump operated as will be well
understood. A suitable tripping apparatus may be employed if necessary should it
be desired that the pump should be single acting. The lever may be connected by
links to the must if preferred and accommodation for lost motion may be provided
if required.
A portion of the buoy or casing preferably the lower part may be used as storage
for the air compressed therein by the pump and a tube may lead from this reservoir to
the fog horn or other equivalent apparatus, a suitable valve being employed so that
the fog lorn is only sounded at the requisite intervals. The valve is controlled by
suitable mechanism a simple form consisting of a ratchet wheel operated by a pawl
from the before mentioned walking beam, the ratchet wheel having a projection or
being otherwise arranged so as to engage with a lever or other mechanism which
operates the valve. By this means the ratchet wheel would be rotated once in so
miany reciprocations of the buoy upon the mast and at each revolution it would for
a certain period open the valve and allow the fog horn to sound. I find by experience
that the speed of the movement of the waves and consequently the number of reciproca-
tions per minute are sufficiently regular to allow this and provide a sufficiently
regular time interval so as to give a distinctive signal so that one buoy may not
be confused with another.
The ratchet wheel or other mechanism can be arranged so as to give more than one
note to each revolution for distinguishing purposes. For example the buoy first met
with upon entering a harbour might give one note, the second two, the third three,
and so on

page_text: Any desired springs or other controlling or connecting mechanism may be used and
in order to prevent undue shocks between the moving buoy and the must I prefer to
employ a buffer of any suitable description, a simple form being a helical or coiled
spring wrapped round the mast and adapted to be compressed between the buoy and
a collar, cap or equivalent upon the mast. Or the compressed air may be used for this
purpose, or a dash-pot arrangement or merely the presence of water in a suitable
cylinder or pipe with a checked orifice whether by mechanical means or the simple
weight of the water if the mouth of the pipe be carried to a sufficient depth.
The means for retaining the appropriate level of the mast in the water do not
form any part of the present invention but may if desired be such as are dis-
closed in the Specification to Letters Patent which have already been granted to me
No. 23920 of 1895; there is however a special mechanism for adjusting the position
of the mast in the water which will now describe. This consists of varying
the amount of water displaced by the mast and thus altering its level in the
water. A convenient way of effecting this is to make the mast telescopic so that
the movable portion can be moved in or out by hand gear from the top or inside the
buoy, and thus the necessary adjustment obtained.
As stated above the application of the various parts of this invention is not confined
to any particular buoy or other device but may be applied to light vessels, light buoys,
pumping apparatus, ships and other structures.
Dated this 30th day of March 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing the Power of Waves.
I, BERNARD MORLEY FLETCHER, of 7, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 wave operated apparatus which may be used for various
purposes, say for the provision of power or for use with ordinary buoys, for fog signal
apparatus or otherwise indicating the presence of the buoy or other apparatus. I will
describe it as applied to a buoy for the purpose of giving an audible signal,
although it will also be employed for illuminating purposes with suitable
modifications.
In a simple forin I take a buoy of ordinary construction say a Trinity House buoy
and through the bottom of this I introduce the end of a mast or column which is
intended to be to some extent at all events fixed relatively to the buoy so that as the
buoy rises and falls with the wave movement, the mast will remain entirely or
partially stationary. The portion of this mast (which may be formed of a metal tube
or of wood) which is inside the buoy or casing is adapted to operate one or more
pumps by means of any suitable mechanism. One suitable apparatus would consist
of a
a walking beam having a connecting rod to the pump plunger or piston at the
one end and at the other end so placed as to engage with any suitable projection or
equivalent upon or of the mast so that as the buoy which carries the pump apparatus
rises and falls relatively to the mast the benni is oscillated and the pump operated as
will be well understood. A suitable tripping apparatus may be employed whether
the pump be single or double acting in order that no more than a minimum
stroke may be used notwithstanding the height of wave. The lever may be connected
by links to the mast if preferred and accommodation for lost motion may be provided
if required.

page_text: A portion of the buoy or casing preferably the lower part may be used as storage
for the air compressed therein by the pump and a tube may lead from this reservoir
to the fog horn or other equivalent apparatus, a suitable valve being employed so
that the fog horn is only sounded at the requisite intervals. The valve is controlled
by suitable mechanisin a simple form consisting of a ratchet wheel operated by a
pawl from the before-mentioned walking beam, the ratchet wheel having a projection
or being otherwise arranged so as to engage with a lever or other mechanism which
operates the valve. By this means the ratchet wheel would be rotated ouce in so
many reciprocations of the buoy upou the mast and at each revolution it would for a
certain period open the valve and allow the fog horn to sound. I find by experience
that the speed of the movement of the waves and consequently the number of
reciprocations per minute are sufficiently regular to allow this and provide a
Bufficiently regular time interval so as to give a distinctive signal so that one buoy
may not be confused with another.
The ratchet wheel or other mechanism can be arranged so as to give more than
one note to each revolution for distinguishing purposes. For example the buoy first
met with upon entering a barbour might give one note, the second two, the third
three, and so on.
Any desired springs or other controlling or connecting mechanism may be used
and in order to prevent undue shocks between the moving buoy and the mast. I
prefer to employ a buffer of any suitable description, a simple form being a helical
or coiled spring wrapped round the mast and adapted to be compressed between the
buoy and a collar, cap or equivalent upon the mast. Or compressed air may be used
for this purpose, or a dash-pot arrangement or merely the presence of water in a
suitable cylinder or pipe with a checked orifice whether by mechanical means or the
simple weight of the water if the mouth of the pipe be carried to a sufficient depth.
The means for retaining the appropriate level of the mast in the water do not form
any part of the present invention but may if desired be such as are disclosed in the
Specification to Letters Patent which have already been granted to me No. 23920
of 1895; there is however a special mechanism for adjusting the position of the mast
in the water which I will now describe. This consists of varying the amount of
water displaced by the mast and thus altering its level in the water. A convenient
way of effecting this is to make the mast telescopic so that the movable portion can
be moved in or out by hand gear from the top or inside the buoy, and thus the
necessary adjustment obtained.
As stated above the application of the various parts of this invention is not
confined to any particular buoy or other device but may be applied to light vessels,
light buoys, pumping apparatus, ships and other structures.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the audible signalling apparatus applied to a
buoy.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the telescopic mast.
Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section of one form of buffer device.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a buoy provided with apparatus for illuminating
purposes.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A buoy A of usual construction bas passing through the underside a mast or
column B, which is fixed relatively to the buoy so that as the latter rises and falls
with the wave movement the mast will remain more or less etationary. The head of
the mast B carries a projecting flange B' which as the mast reciprocates strikes a
trip device C at one end of a walking beam D carried in bearings E on a framing F
suitably arranged within the buoy A, the other end of the walking beam is connected
through a connecting rod G with the piston H of a single-acting air pump Jarranged
to suck air through the valve J¹ and deliver it through the valve J into the
receptacle K. From the latter a pipe L leads to a fog horn M, a suitable spring-
controlled valve N being so arranged in the tube L that the blast to the fog horn
may be turned off or on at the required times. This valve may conveniently be

page_text: arranged to be automatically operated by the mast as it reciprocates in the following
manner: A rod O connects the lever N and the valve N with a lever P pivolted on
the frame F. Oue end of this lever projects into the path of a pin Qarranged upon
the face of a ratchet wheel Q carried by the frame F. A pawl R carried by a pivotted
rod R', the free end of which is connected by a rod R2 to the walking beam D, causes
the ratchet wheel Q to rotato one tooth at every reciprocation of the must B aud
consequent movement of the walking beam. It will be seen that as the ratchet
wheel Q rotates the pin Q¹ will at stated intervals come in contact with the end of
the lever P, and by moving it will open the valve N and allow a blast of air to pass
to the fog horn M.
A spring S returns the walking beam D and piston H to their starting points after
each stroke of the mast B. The trip device C may consist of a short, pivotted,
weighted lever as shown, or may be otherwise arranged as desired.
The object of this device is to ensure a uniform stroke the length of which is equal
to the minimum relative movement of the buoy and mast, any farther movement,
owing to increase in the height of the waves, being wasted.
In the event of the buoy A rising upon a higher wave than usual and the mast B
being consequently drawn out to almost its fullest extent, in order to prevent a
sudden shock between the end B of the mast and the portion A¹ of the framing of
the buoy through which the mast passes, a buffer is preferably arranged to moderate
this shock. This buffer may comprise a simple spring T coiled round the mast B in
such a manner that the flange B' will come down upon the end of it, and compress it
when the mast is withdrawn to its fullest extent. Or an air cylinder buffer inay be
employed constructed somewhat in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. Here the
framing A carries two or more cylinders U, in each of which can reciprocate a
piston, the piston rods U2 of which are connected by a cross head L³ provided with
a central opening U through which the mast B passes. As the mast B descends
the flange B coining in contact with the cross head U³ will force the pistons down
into the cylinders U, the air cushion thus formed lessening the shock between the
mast and the buoy. A spring IJ within each cylinder U returns the pistons to their
raised position, when the mast once more rises; cocks U afford menus of regulating
the resistance of the air in the cylinders.
If desired a similar buffer device may be arranged to employ water or other liquid
in place of air, or an annular cylinder and piston may be utilised.
In order to adjust the position of the mast in the water by varying the amount of
water displaced by it, the mast may be made telescopic in the manner illustrated in
Figure 2. The main portion of the mast B is formed hollow, its lower end being
provided with a stuffing box B through which passes the preferably tubular exten-
Bion B³. To the upper end of the latter is connected a rod 13 which passes through
the whole length of the main portion of the mast B and out through the cap B
which closes the upper end of the tube B, the portion of the rod B5 which passes
through this cap being screw-threaded. By means of a key or other device engaging
the projecting end B of the rod B, the latter may be rotated and thus screwed
further in or out of the cap B5, this movement being imparted to the extension B³,
whereby the total length of the mast is altered. Other means may however be
adopted for this purpose.
For illuminating purposes the arrangement shown in Figure 4 may conveniently
be employed. The pistou rod V₁ of a double acting pump V is connected to a cross
head B on the upper end of the mast B.
The pump is preferably provided with an air chamber W and delivers water to a
turbine X by means of which a dynamo Y is driven. The current from the latter is
taken by the wires Z to the beacon lamp x.
In Figure 4 the turbine is shown at the lowest level with the other beavy pieces,
but where it is preferred or necessary to facilitate the discharge of the exhaust above
the water level, the turbine with or without the other parts may be raised to the
required extent,

page_text: If desired accumulators may be employed and the circuit regulated by suitable
charge and discharge cut-outs and regulating switches.
If desired inore than one pump inay be employed suitably placed in relation to the
central mast B, also the pump may be provided with necessary valves and a relief
valve to blow off with excessive pressure connected with a by-pass pipe so as to convey
away any excess of water delivered.
The above described apparatus for maintaining a beacon light may, if desired, be
combined with a audible signalling device by arranging a centrifugal air-blower b
to deliver air into a receptacle K the blower being driven by an electro-motor c the
necessary current for which is obtained from the turbine driven dynamo Y. A pipe L
conducts the air from the chamber K to the fog-horn M a suitable valve or valves
being, if necessary, interposed and operated intermittently, if so desired, in a manner
similar to that described in reference to the audible signalling apparatus shown in
Figure 1. If desired the air blower inay be geared or coupled direct to the turbine
shaft.
The illuminating signalling device may be arranged to give intermittent flashes
oither by making and breaking the circuit or by eclipsing the lamp these operations
being brought about by suitable means either in the form of clock-work or by power
obtained from the motion of the floating body itself.
The buoy may be arranged to carry more than one beacon lamp or other forms of
visible signal may be employed, if desired. It is obvious that if desired the dynamo
may be driven by an air instead of a water operated turbine, the air being compressed
by the action of pumps in a manner similar to that described above or as shown in
Figure 1.
It must be understood that the details of the apparatus described above may be
varied considerably without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In apparatus for utilizing the power of waves the combination with an annular
buoy a floating mast and submerged resistance of automatic signalling apparatus.
2. In apparatus for utilizing the power of waves the combination with an annular
buoy a floating mast and submerged resistance of pumping and automatic signalling
apparatus.
3. In an apparatus for utilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
movable body and a relatively fixed mast of an air pump and a walking beam
operated by the mast substantially as described.
4. In au apparatus for utilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
buoy or vessel of pumping apparatus and a turbine driven by or from the pump.
5. In an apparatus for utilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
buoy or vessel of pumping apparatus a turbine driven by or from the pump and a
dynamo.
6. In an apparatus for ntilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
buoy or vessel of pumping apparatus a turbine driven by or from the pump a dynamo
and a motor.
7. In an apparatus for utilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
body of a telescopic mast for the purpose described.
8. In an apparatus for utilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
movable body of a relatively fixed mast and a buffer, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
9. In an apparatus for utilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
movable body of a relatively fixed mast and an air cylinder buffer for the purpose
described.
10. In an apparatus for utilising the power of waves the combination with a floating
movable body of a relatively fixed mast and an air cylinder buffer substantially as and
for the purpose described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 11. The complete apparatus for utilising the power of waves to give an audible
signal substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
12. The complete apparatus for utilising the power of waves to give a visible or
an audible signal or both substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of December 1897.
B. MORLEY FLETCHER.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.