US1256106A - Wave-motor. - Google Patents

Description

W. J. CALLAWAY.

wAvE Moo. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2|, |916.

l 2256, IG, I Patented Feb.; I2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I INVENTOR ATTORNEY W, 1. CALLAWAY.

WAVE MOTOR. APmcAnoN mEu Nov. 21, 191e.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNEssEs ATTORNEY WAVE-Moron.

Diego, in the county of San iego and State of California, have 1nvented new and useful Improvements in ave-Motors, of which the following is a specication.

his invention relates to wave motors, contemplates certain improvements in patent on a similar debearing Serial Number 838,545 and allowed April 11, 1916.

One of the chief characteristics vention resides in the provision of ed element adapted of the in- More specifically stated, the weighted. element 1s in the nature of a receptacle divided designed 5 means for regulating the quantity of water in its respective compartment.

he invention further embodies a toothed wheel fixed upon the shaft mounted for rotation, with a chain connecting the toothed W eel with the weighted element, the teeth o the sprocket wheel being disposed so that he waves but engage the fan of the shaft with the ment.

sha t 1n a manner whereby they are c apable operation with a view of shaft in continuous rotathe latter is in need of other purpose. This means is also susceptible for use in'connection with any one ot' the weighted elements to hold the latter out 'repairs or for any i Specification of Letters Patent. Application led November 21, 1916. Serial No.

Patentenv ren. ia, rois.. 132,638.

parts as claimed n t e drawings forming part of this specication like numerals of reference inicate similar parts in the several views and w ereinsig'ure 1 is a cross section taken through a power house wherein the present invention has been installed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the weighted elements. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section showmg the means for locking the elements in their elevated position.

1g. 4 is an elevation of the beam supporting the mechanism.

efore entering into of what as properly fallwithin the is claimed.

.Referring tothe drawings in detail A indicates generally the power house which may be of any sultable dimensions, and built upon pilings B a requlslte distance from the sh are arranged in pairs on each side of the power house, and

any number of pairs of these pilingsmay be provided and are connected by a beam 1l which passes through the upper portion of e power house. Preferably there are several rows of the pilings 10 on each side of t. e power house which are connected by the beams 11.

Arranged between each pair ofthe pilings 10 is a weighted element, preferably in the nature of a tank 12 divided by a partition 13 into an upper compartment compartment 15. toslide between the the roller ty e, the chain passing over an idler pulley l? journaled in a suitable opening 18 inthe beam 11, the chain eX- tending across the top of the beam into the ower house A where it is trained over a toothed wheel 19 with its free end supporting a weight 20. It is to be borne in min that the tanks 12 rise with the waves, the

teeth of the wheel 19 being so disposed to ermit the cha-in to pass freely over said wheel during the upward movement of the tanks, while the weight 20 tends to hold the flexible element or chain taut during this movement of the tank. As the tank 12 falls or gravitates with the fall of the body of water, the flexible element or chain 16 engages the teeth on the wheel 19 to impart a rotary movement to the shaft 21 upon which the wheel 19 is keyed. The shaft 21 as will be noted is journaled in an opening 22 in the beam 11, and with the chain or flexible element 16 operates through the respective openings 18 and 22. There are of course two of the shafts 21 journaled on each beam and arranged within the power house, with the free terminals of the chains or exible elements from the opposite sides of the power house trained over the wheels .19 so that these respective shafts are rotated in opposite directions. Attention is directed to the fact that the periphery of the toothed wheels 19 are arrange substantially in a plane with the upper surface of the beam 11r so that the cross run of the flexible element or chain 15 is supported upon the beam and thereby prevented from sagging. The shaft upon which the toothed wheels 19 are fixed may be of any suitable length, and of a suficient len th to accommodate as many toothed w eels as there are tanks or weights in operation on that particular side of the power house. While as above stated the power house ma be of any suitable dimensions it is preferable to have the latter two hundred or more feet long so that there will bc two or more waves passing at all times thereby keeping the number of tanks or weights in action all the time which imparts a constant Vpower to each shaft. It 1s of course understood that the power developed in this manner ma be utilized for various purposes such as for instance for operating cynamos and other machinery.

The tank or weighted elements 12 on opposite sides is provided with upper and lower spaced pairs of rollers 25 which en- *gage the pilin to facilitate the adjustment of said e ements with the rise and fal of the body of water.

As above stated theA compartment 14 is adapted to contain water to supply the desired weight to the tank, while the lower compartment is filled with air, so that when the tank is s bmerged in the water it possesses the proper buoyancy to rise instantly with each incoming wave. It is of course to be borne in mind that the quantity of water in the compartment 14 is changed 65 from time to time according to the height of lthereby holding the ta whereby all of the tanks may the wavesv from day to da and for which purpose the tank is provi ed with an inlet opening 26 in the top thereof which is normally sealed by means of a closure 27 of any suitable character, while an outlet valve 28 is provided adjacent the bottom of the compartment 14. The compartment 15- isalso provided with a valve 29- as shown. It is of course to be understood that the weight of the {ioat will be made proportionate to the work to be done, the float bein just buoyant enou h at all times to be raise by the waves.- With a view of locking any one of the tanks 12 at the -highest point to which the waves will raise sald tank at an time during the operation of the device, preferably emplo a bolt 30 carried by the end of a vertically disposed rod 31 with which it has a hinged connection as at 32. ing element is mounte for vertical sliding movement through a bracket 33 arranged within the power house, while the bolt 30 is also arranged for a similar movement within a slot in the beam position of the device the bolt 30 rests upon the bracket 33 with its beveled extremity below the upper surface of the beam 11. In use the bolt 30 is moved upwardly through the slot in the beam 11 with its beveled surface projected above the beam, and held in this position by arranging the rod 31 upon ride over the bolt when vated, but the instant thetank starts to descend or gravitate to its lowermost position the chain 16 will be en aged by the bolt 30 in the highest position that any wave may lift it. It isof course understood that one of these locking devices is provided for each of the tanks 12, be held in their highest position with a view of stopping the machinery of the plant, or in ase any one articular tank or its associated parts require attention or repair this articular tank can be held elevated out of t 1e water while the remainin tanks continue in` operation. While it is elieved that from the foregoing description the nature an advantages of the invention will be readily apparent desire to have hat what is herein shown and describedis merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention to which I do -not limit myself and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a wave motor, a supporting structure embodying spaced parallel uprights, a float slidably fitted between said uprights to rise and fall with a body of water, a shaft journaled on the support' g structure,

The lock- In the normal within the scope of what is a sprocket wheelifxed thereon, a flexible elesuspending Said float and trained over said ment suspending the float and trained over Sprocket to engage the latter and rotate said said Wheel to engage the latter and rotate shaft with the fall of the float, a weight the shaft with the fall of the float, a weight on the opposite end of the chain for holdon the opposite end of the element for hold-l ingthedatter taut with the .rise of the float, 45

, a pair of spaced brackets, a vertically ada. locking element adapted to be supported justable element adapted to alternately enclement to passfreelyt ereover during the in active position being adapted to auto- 50 rise of the o'at, and adapted to engage the matically engage the chain to prevent the feXible element to prevent the fall of the fall of the lioat` from the highest point to oat from the highest point to which the lwhich the wave will elevate the latter. waves will elevate the latter. Y 4. In a wave motor, a supporting strucn a wave motor, a supporting structure embodying spaced parallel uprights, a 55 ture embodying spaced parallel uprights, a oat slidably litted between said uprights to float slidably fitted between said uprights to rise and fall with a body of water, a shaft rise and fall with a body of water, a shaft journaled upon said supportinfr structure,

C! Journaled on the supporting structure, a a sprocketvwheel fixed thereon, a chain sussprocket 4wheel Xed thereon, a chain suspending said float and trained over said 60 pending Said float and trained over said sprocket to engage the latter to rotate .said wheel t0 engage the latter and rotate said shaft with the fall of the float, a welght shaft with the fall of the float, a weight on v on the opposite end ofthe chain for holdthe opposite end of the chain for holding ing the latter taut with the rise of the float,

e latter taut with the rise o f the float, an a pair of spaced brackets, an element nor- G5 the chain will pass over the element with an active posltion whereby it automatically the rise of the float and be engaged by the engages the chain to prevent the fall of the latter ata predetermined interval. float from the highest polnt to which the ,A n a wave motor, a supporting strucwaves will elevate the latter, and 'said rod f5 ture embodying spacedparallel uprights, a eing hingedly connected wlth sald element float slidably fitted between said uprights to to permit the rod to be moved to an active x rise and fall with the body of'water, a shaft or inactive position. I journaled on the supporting structure, a In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

sprocket wheel l'lXed upon the shaft, a chain WILLIAM J. CALLAWAY.

Images