GB1589256A

GB1589256A - Compression device using vertical motion of water

Info

Publication number: GB1589256A
Application number: GB16152/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-04-24
Filing date: 1978-04-24
Publication date: 1981-05-07

Description

(54) A COMPRESSION DEVICE USING VERTICAL MOTION OF WATER (71) I, DORWIN J. VINES, a citizen of the United States of America, of Tacoma, Washington, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a device for compression air or liquid in dependence upon the vertical motion of water such as waves or underwater swell.

A travelling wave has two components of energy: a vertical component and a horizontal component. The device set forth herein utilizes the vertical component.

Several prior U.S. Patents have attempted to utilize the horizontal component of energy in waves. Two of the early patents Matthews No. 965,208 and Bates No. 1,039,081 used the horizontal component directly. In the Matthews Patent the wave surges up a tube and drives an air compressing piston. In the Bates Patent a large circular head confronts the wave directly, whereby the horizontal energy of the waves pushes the head and the air compressing piston forward.

U.S. Patents Weems No. 755,728 and Tuch No. 1,267,936 use funnel-like mouths to collect the horizontal and vertical components of energy of incoming waves. In the Weems patent, a wave enters a funnel-like mouth, goes to the end of a tube and then forces a series of air compression pistons to move forward. In the Tuch Patent the wave is captured through the funnel-like mouth and pushes a piston forward compressing air. Unlike the disclosure set forth herein, the size of the piston is of one continuous size, there is no large float which can add to the pressure exerted by the piston. Also, all of the patents which utilize horizontal components of wave energy must be constructed to withstand the strength of incoming waves pounding their structures.

In the present structure, only the vertical component is used and the structure does not take the pounding that is found with those structures using the horizontal components of a wave.

In the Van Gils Patent No. 3,271,959 the difference in hydrostatic pressure of a wave crest and wave trough is utilized to circulate water and run a turbine.

The present disclosure differs from the above patents in that the vertical swell component of a wave is used exclusively.

According to this invention in its broadest aspect there is provided a device for compressing air or liquid using the vertical motion of water including a float chamber which is open at opposite ends and mounted between said opposite ends a movable float which is guidable by the chamber, one open end of the float chamber being of smaller diameter than the opposite end, said one open end being connected to a further chamber in which a piston connected to the float is movable, the further chamber at an end remote from the float being closed except for the provision of inlet and outlet ports whereby said further chamber and piston is arranged, in operation, to be above the float so that when the float is acted upon by the rise and fall of water motion the volume of the further chamber changes.

According to an aspect of this invention there is provided a device for compressing air or liquid using the vertical energy of waves comprising means for presenting the device to the path of waves, a compression shell, means for holding the compression shell at a given height relative to the height of on-coming waves, a float housed within the compression shell, a compression cylinder opening into and rising from the top, in operation, of the compression shell, a piston attached to the float at a point where the piston will be housed within the compression cylinder on the rise and fall of the float, two lines extending from the top of the compression cylinder, means for opening one line on the rise of the piston and closing said one line on the falling of the piston and means for closing the other of the two lines on the rising of the piston and opening said other line upon the fall of the piston, wherein said rise and fall of the piston being in dependence upon the rise and fall of the float with waves.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the compressor body of the air compression device as it would sit on the ocean floor.

Figure 2 is a side view of the compression shell chamber with a cutaway portion of the compression shell thereby showing the filler float. The piston portion of the filler float is also cutaway to show the air equalizing tubes.

Figure 3 is a side cutaway view of the compression shell chamber with an additional intake pipe.

Figure 4 is a side cutaway view of the compression shell chamber wherein a double action two stage device is used.

Figure 5 is a side view of the device illustrating the signals used to adjust the height of the compression shell and float with the varying height of the waves.

Figure 6 is a side view of an air compression shell shaped and affixed to the side of a boat.

Figure 7A is a bottom view of an air compression device similar to the ocean anchored device but instead, adapted to the bottom of a boat. Figure 7B illustrates a bottom view of the air compression shell shaped and affixed to the sides of the boat ilius- trated in Figure 6.

The air compression chamber detailed herein is designed to capture the energy in the vertical component of the swells. Figure 1 illustrates the air compression chamber 10 affixed to a ground foundation 12 anchored to the ocean floor.

The essentials of the concept disclosed are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Columns 14 rise from ground foundation 12. Supports 16 attach to the compression chamber 10 and columns 14 thereby holding the compression chamber 10 steady. Fig. 5 - illustrates devices used to adjust the chamber 10 to the changing depth of the tides and swells. Fig.

1 in conjunction with Fig. 2, however, illustrate the essentials of the concept, and Fig. 1 is essentially a side view of Fig. 5 not showing tide depth controls.

Fig. 2 illustrates the compression chamber 10 with the compression shell 20 cutaway thereby illustrating the float 22 directly. The float 22 must be constructed of a material which has a high degree of floatation and is also sufficiently strong to withstand the pressures of the action of the swells.

The contours of the float 22 are the same as compression shell 20 but the exact dimensions are such that the float 22 fits easily within the compression shell 20.

Affixed at the bottom of the compression shell 20 are float stops 24 which prevent the float 22 from leaving the compression chamber 10. In Fig. 2 guide rods 26 rise from the float stops 24 to the roof of the compression shell 20. The guide rods 26 aid in the rise and fall of the float 22. However, the guides 26 are not absolutely needed, for the float guide rings 28 may slide against the compression shell directly.

Rising from the top of the float 22 is the piston ram 30. Circumferencing the piston ram 30 is the piston ram ring 32 which aids in guiding of the piston ram 30 within the cylinder compression chamber 34.

In Fig. 2 the float 22 is almost resting on float stops 24. When a swell develops the float 22 is lifted to a position illustrated by the dotted lines. As the float 22 rises, the piston ram 30 compresses the air in the cylinder compression chamber 34, forcing the compressed air out the compressed air pipe 38. When the float reaches the top of the compression chamber, the float is cushioned by top cushion stops 40. Also, as the piston ram 30 reaches the roof of the cylinder chamber 42, the pressure is vented down air vent tubes 44 thereby roughly equalizing the pressure between the piston and the float, excluding the need for venting the space between the float 22 and compression shell 20.

As the wave raises the float 22, the compressed air valve 46 allows the compressed air to escape while the air intake valve 48 prevents air from escaping out the air intake pipe 50.

After the wave begins to recede, the float 22 recedes. This concludes the forcing of compressed air out the compressed air pipe 38, and the compressed air valve 46 closes preventing air from flowing through the compressed air pipe 38 back into the compression cylinder 34. However, upon the receding of the piston ram 30, the air intake valve 48 opens thereby allowing air to flow through air intake pipe into the air compression cylinder 34. The flow of air and the consequent pressure in conjunction with gravity against a vacuum forces the float to recede.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a supply of compressed air is created by the vertical rising and falling of the float 22.

Fig. 3 illustrates a refinement of the basic design. An additional air intake pipe 52 is added so that air will be vented to the falling float 22 to aid its receding.

When a swell lifts the float 22 vertically, air intake valve 54 and valve 56 in addition to air intake pipe 52 are shut. Valve 62 opens in cross vent pipe 58 allowing air between the float and compression shell to enter the air intake pipe 50 on a lifting swell.

The valve 60 in cross vent pipe 58 is manually operated and may be used to reinforce the other valves. In addition, valve 60 is shut when pumping water or oil.

On a receding wave, valves 56 and 54 open, thereby allowing air to enter the space between the compression shell 20 and float 22 aiding in the receding of the float 22.

Further modifications in Fig. 3 are seen in spring stop cushion 64 and modified stops 66 which meet float stops 24. In addition more than one piston ram ring 32 is attached to the piston ram 30.

Figure 4 illustrates a further refinement of the basic concept wherein the air is compressed both on the rise and the fall of the swell.

The piston ram 30 is replaced by piston head 98 and piston shaft 96. In order to prevent air from escaping into the cylinder compression chamber 34 from the space between the compression shell chamber 20 and float 22, piston shaft bushing and seal 94 is secured about piston shaft 96. Thus, when the wave reaches its apex, the piston head 98 is near the cylinder compression chamber roof 42 leaving a large unfilled space towards the bottom of the compression chamber.

When the swell is rising, compressed air is pushed through air exhaust pipe 68 through open exhaust air valve 84. In addition, air passes out vent pipe 72 and through valve 88 into air intake pipe 70. Valve 92 is closed preventing the escape of air though vent pipe 72.

On the rising wave, intake- valve 86 is allowed to open. Thus, when the piston head 98 reaches near the cylinder chamber roof 42, air is found filling the void below the piston head 98 and between compression cylinder floor 102.

When the swell recedes, air intake - valve 80 (which was shut on the compression stroke) opens and air flows through air intake pipe 70, thereby exerting a downward force on piston head 98. The air intake extension pipe 76 which opens at the bottom of the cylinder compression chamber 34, has its air intake valve 86 closed. However, air exhaust valve 82 opens and allows air forced down by the piston head 98 to escape out the exhaust extension pipe 74 and consequently out exhaust pipe 68 for utilisation.

Vent valve 92 opens allowing intake air to flow down vent pipe 72 to the space between the float 22 and the compression shell 20.

Vent valve 88 is closed on the receding swell.

In the preferred embodiment the compression chamber is anchored to the ocean bottom. Since tides vary the hight of waves, it is necessary to change the position of the compression shell 20 and float 22. Fig. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a system which keeps the compression chamber 10 in alignment with the varying height of waves.

In order to keep alignment with the changing depth, a high tide control float 108 and low tide control float 106 are connected to a motor 104. Upon waves consistently contacting the high tide control float 108, signal rod 110 causes the motor 104 to rotate rod 112 which thereby causes gears 114 to climb up tracts 116. Feed line 111 directs compressed air for use by the motor 104.

Similarly, if low tide control float 106 comes out of contact with water, signal rod 118 causes the motor 104 to move gears 114 to go down tracks 116 until the low water float 106 comes into continuous contact with the water. Many different systems may be employed to keep the proper alignment in connection with the rise and fall of the tides.

Although in the preferred embodiment the compression chamber 10 is anchored to the ocean floor, the air compressor can be mounted on pilings, ship side, ocean oil drilling derricks, built permanently in the hull of a boat, or placed on other positions which have constant contact with the rise and fall of waves.

Figures 7A and 7B illustrate the use of the compression chamber 10 as it fits on the hull of a boat 120. As illustrated in Figure 6 as the hull approaches and progresses through rising waves, the compression chamber located in the hull of the boat is acted upon similarly to the compression chamber anchored to the ocean floor. The compression chamber 10 when placed in a boat is located towards the bow of the boat thereby taking advantage of the income wave action.

A further application of a compression chamber for use with a boat is illustrated in Figure 6. The compression chamber 124, which operates in the same manner as the chamber shown in Fig. 1, 2, 3 or 4, is affixed to the side of a boat. As illustrated in Figure 6 as the hull approaches rising aves, the compression chamber 124 is also acted upon similarly to the compression chamber 10 due to the rising ;and falling swells. Figure 7B is a view taken from the bottom of the boat and illustrates the shape of the compression chambers 10 and compression chamber 124 which fits the sides of the boat.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A device for compressing air or liquid using the vertical motion of water including a float chamber which is open at opposite ends and mounted between said opposite ends a movable float which is guidable by the chamber, one open end of the float chamber being of smaller diameter than the opposite end, said one open end being connected to a further chamber in which a piston connected to the float is movable, the further chamber at an end remote from the float being closed except for the provision of inlet and outlet ports whereby said further

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. On a receding wave, valves 56 and 54 open, thereby allowing air to enter the space between the compression shell 20 and float 22 aiding in the receding of the float 22. Further modifications in Fig. 3 are seen in spring stop cushion 64 and modified stops 66 which meet float stops 24. In addition more than one piston ram ring 32 is attached to the piston ram 30. Figure 4 illustrates a further refinement of the basic concept wherein the air is compressed both on the rise and the fall of the swell. The piston ram 30 is replaced by piston head 98 and piston shaft 96. In order to prevent air from escaping into the cylinder compression chamber 34 from the space between the compression shell chamber 20 and float 22, piston shaft bushing and seal 94 is secured about piston shaft 96. Thus, when the wave reaches its apex, the piston head 98 is near the cylinder compression chamber roof 42 leaving a large unfilled space towards the bottom of the compression chamber. When the swell is rising, compressed air is pushed through air exhaust pipe 68 through open exhaust air valve 84. In addition, air passes out vent pipe 72 and through valve 88 into air intake pipe 70. Valve 92 is closed preventing the escape of air though vent pipe 72. On the rising wave, intake- valve 86 is allowed to open. Thus, when the piston head 98 reaches near the cylinder chamber roof 42, air is found filling the void below the piston head 98 and between compression cylinder floor 102. When the swell recedes, air intake - valve 80 (which was shut on the compression stroke) opens and air flows through air intake pipe 70, thereby exerting a downward force on piston head 98. The air intake extension pipe 76 which opens at the bottom of the cylinder compression chamber 34, has its air intake valve 86 closed. However, air exhaust valve 82 opens and allows air forced down by the piston head 98 to escape out the exhaust extension pipe 74 and consequently out exhaust pipe 68 for utilisation. Vent valve 92 opens allowing intake air to flow down vent pipe 72 to the space between the float 22 and the compression shell 20. Vent valve 88 is closed on the receding swell. In the preferred embodiment the compression chamber is anchored to the ocean bottom. Since tides vary the hight of waves, it is necessary to change the position of the compression shell 20 and float 22. Fig. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a system which keeps the compression chamber 10 in alignment with the varying height of waves. In order to keep alignment with the changing depth, a high tide control float 108 and low tide control float 106 are connected to a motor 104. Upon waves consistently contacting the high tide control float 108, signal rod 110 causes the motor 104 to rotate rod 112 which thereby causes gears 114 to climb up tracts 116. Feed line 111 directs compressed air for use by the motor 104. Similarly, if low tide control float 106 comes out of contact with water, signal rod 118 causes the motor 104 to move gears 114 to go down tracks 116 until the low water float 106 comes into continuous contact with the water. Many different systems may be employed to keep the proper alignment in connection with the rise and fall of the tides. Although in the preferred embodiment the compression chamber 10 is anchored to the ocean floor, the air compressor can be mounted on pilings, ship side, ocean oil drilling derricks, built permanently in the hull of a boat, or placed on other positions which have constant contact with the rise and fall of waves. Figures 7A and 7B illustrate the use of the compression chamber 10 as it fits on the hull of a boat 120. As illustrated in Figure 6 as the hull approaches and progresses through rising waves, the compression chamber located in the hull of the boat is acted upon similarly to the compression chamber anchored to the ocean floor. The compression chamber 10 when placed in a boat is located towards the bow of the boat thereby taking advantage of the income wave action. A further application of a compression chamber for use with a boat is illustrated in Figure 6. The compression chamber 124, which operates in the same manner as the chamber shown in Fig. 1, 2, 3 or 4, is affixed to the side of a boat. As illustrated in Figure 6 as the hull approaches rising aves, the compression chamber 124 is also acted upon similarly to the compression chamber 10 due to the rising ;and falling swells. Figure 7B is a view taken from the bottom of the boat and illustrates the shape of the compression chambers 10 and compression chamber 124 which fits the sides of the boat. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A device for compressing air or liquid using the vertical motion of water including a float chamber which is open at opposite ends and mounted between said opposite ends a movable float which is guidable by the chamber, one open end of the float chamber being of smaller diameter than the opposite end, said one open end being connected to a further chamber in which a piston connected to the float is movable, the further chamber at an end remote from the float being closed except for the provision of inlet and outlet ports whereby said further

chamber and piston is arranged, in operation, to be above the float so that when the float is acted upon by the rise and fall of water motion the volume of the further chamber changes.

2. A device for compressing air or liquid using the vertical energy of waves comprising means for presenting the device to the path of waves, a compression shell, means for holding the compression shell at a given height relative to the height of on-coming waves, a float housed within the compression shell, a compression cylinder opening into and rising from the top, in operation, of the compression shell, a piston lattached to the float at a point where the piston will be housed within the compression cylinder on the rise and fall of the float, two lines extending from the top of the compression cylinder, means for opening one line on the rise of the piston and closing said one line on the falling of the piston and means for closing the other of the two lines on the rising of the piston and opening said other line upon the fall of the piston, wherein said rise and fall of the piston being in dependence upon the rise and fall of the float with waves.

3. The device as set forth in Claim 2 wherein the float housed within the compression shell has a ring around the circumference of the float which slides within the compression shell.

4. The device as set forth in Claim 2 wherein the means for closing and opening the lines comprise valves.

5. The device as set forth in Claim 4 comprising an additional air intake line opening in the compression shell allowing for additional air to enter into the space between the compression shell and the float on a receding swell thereby aiding the fall of the float.

6. The device as set forth in Claim 2 wherein a vent line is provided between the piston crown and the side of the piston to assist equalization of pressure in the space between the top of the piston and the roof of the compression cylinder and the space between the float and the compression shell.

7. The device as set forth in Claim 2 wherein the device is adapted to be anchored to the ocean floor.

8. The device as set forth in Claim 7 wherein the means for holding the compression shell a given height above the ocean floor comprises supports attached to the ocean floor.

9. The device as set forth in Claim 8 wherein means for adjusting the height of the compression shell in direct relation to the height of the oncoming waves is employed.

10. The device as set forth in Claim 2 wherein the device is attached to the bow of a boat.

11. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figs. 1 and 3 or Figs.

1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figs. 1 to 4 in combination with Fig. 5.

13. A device substantially as herein described in any of Figs. 1 to 4 in combination with Figs. 6 or 7.