US655541A - Marine air-power apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

INiTnD 'STATES PATENT OFFICE..

AUGUST M. BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARTIN STEINTI-IAL, OF SAME PLACE.

MARINE AIR-POWER APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,541, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed April 3, 1900. Serial No. 11,301. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, AUGUST M. BECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county and State of `New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Air-Power Apparatus, of which the following is such .a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for utilizing the waves and the tides for the purpose ofcompressing air or exhausting it for such uses as compressed air or an exhaustair chamber may be applicable.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and at the same time efiicient and durable apparatus for those purposes 5 and to this end my invention consists in the various novel and peculiararrangements and combinations of the several parts of the apparatus, all as hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

I have illustrated a type of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus, the plane of the section being taken vertically, as indicated by line 2 2, Fig.V l. The broken lines in this figure represent the waves which act upon the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus, the plane of which is taken vertically on a line indicated by line 3 3, Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference designate like parts throughout, 2 is a casing formed with a set of superposed air- chambers 3 and 4, the lower one, 3, of which has the bottom entirely open, while the upper air-chamber 4has but a partial opening in the bottom thereof at 5. This openin g 5 in the upper air-chamber is located at one side thereof in a portion that overhangs the lower chamber, and the side 6 of the chamber 4 is inclined downwardly and outwardly, so as to give an easy passage to the water entering and leaving the air-chamber. The corresponding side 7 of the lower chamber is likewise inclined.

8 8 are a set of stationary posts placed in the water for supporting the casing 2, which at its base is provided with a ilange 9 for securing the casing to the posts by means of suitable bolts 10.

Each of the air- chambers 3 and 4 has connected with it a pipe 11, which runs from a point in the upper part thereof toward one side to a compressed-air reservoir 12, which may be located at any desired distance from the casing. The communication between the pipe connection 11 and the chamber 3 is controlled by an outwardlyopening valve 13, while the communication between the pipe 1l and the upper chamber 4 islikewise controlled by an outwardly-opening valve 14, so that a backiow of air from the compressed-air reservoir l2 into the air-chambers is prevented, While the valves permit of the air being forced from the air-chambers into the compressed-air reservoir. Each of the air- chambers 3 and 4 is also connected with apipe V15,which is like- Wise connected with the upper part of each airchamber toward one side thereof and leads to an exhaust-chamber 16, which may be located at any suitable point. Thel communication between the exhaust-airpipe l5 and t-he lower air-chamber 3 is Acon trolled by an inwardly-opening valve 17, While communication between the upper air-chamber 4 and the exhaust-air pipe 15v is controlled by an inwardly-opening valve 18, s o that the air maybe sucked from the exhaust-receptacle 16 through the pipe 15 and into the airfchambers; but no air is permitted to pass from the airchambers to the exhaust-receptacle. By virtue of this construction there is a tendency for the exhaust-air when presentl in either of the chambers 3 and 4 to `be driven-into the compressed-air reservoir 12, when compression takes place.

From the foregoing description the operation of my apparatus will be readily understood. In locating the apparatus in the water where waves occur I ,first ascertain the height of the tide and then place the air-chambers in fixed position at a level of about onethird the height of the tide, so that both the chambers will not be constantly submerged by the water. As the tide rises the action of the waves is first brought to play upon the IOO lower chamber 3, and the chamber 3 being filled with air such air is compressed by the water risingin the chamber, as indicated in Fig. 2 by the dotted lines 19, and the air thus compressed forces open valve 13 and passes by the same through the pipe 11 into the compressed-air reservoir 12, Where it is stored. As the Wave recedes and the water falls in the chamber 3 the air therein is rareiied, and this closes the valve 13, so that the previouslycompressed air which has passed into the compressed-air reservoir cannot pass back into the air-chamber. This operation being repeated by the rise and fall Yof the Water in the air-chamber 3 under the action of the waves, the air is again compressed and forced into the reservoir 12, so that the pressure therein is gradually increased. When the tide is high enough, or if the Wave itself is sufficiently high, the upper air-chamber et is filled with Water through the opening 5 and emptied through the same opening, so that the air in such chamber is compressed in the same Way as described in the reference to the other airchamber 3. The compressed air in air-chamber 4 forces open the valve la and enters the pipe 11 and thence the compressed-air reservoir 12. As the water begins to fall and run out of each of the air-chambers it thereby creates a suction, which opens the valves 17 and 18 of the chambers 3 and et, respectively, and sucks the air from the receptacle 16 through its connected pipe and continues to do so until the chambers are sufficiently emptied to permit the access thereto of the outer air, which then enters the chambers and closes the valves. This is repeated With each Wave,so that gradually the air is exhausted from the receptacle 16. When the air thus exhausted from the receptacle 16 enters either of the air- chambers 3 and 4, such exhaust-air is subsequently compressed by the action of the Waves and driven into the compressed-air reservoir l2.

While l have shown the set of chambers as superposed, such arrangement is not absolutely necessary, the purpose being to have the set of air-chambers arranged at different levels, so that some one or more of such airchambers may be in action constantly. Where one air-chamber only is used, it is liable to remain submerged for some long time, and thus be placed out of action. By superposing the air-chambers l am able to make a very compact device, and in arranging them in this way it is necessary to have those above the bottom formed with an overhanging end, so as to permit of an opening, such as 5, being formed in the bottom of the chamber. My improved apparatus can also be used in places where Waves do not occur, so that its operation' would depend on the tide; but its principal use Will be found Where there is a considerable wavemotion. l propose to use the compressed air, as Well as the exhaust, for any of the Well-known uses to which they are each applicable.

I wish to be understood as not confining myself to the specific form of apparatus here# with shown, as various modifications may be made in the same Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Of course any desired number of air-chambers may be used in the set, each one being placed above the level of the other.

Having thus described my invention, What l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A marine air-compressing apparatus the saine comprising the combination of a set of air-chambers arranged at different levels and open at the bottom only so that the Water may enter and leave such air-chambers through the bottom, and communicating with the outer air through the bottom only, a compressed-air reservoir and pipe connections leading from the upper part of each of said air-chambers to said reservoir, said pipe connections being provided with valves for preventing a backfiow of air from the said reservoir to the said air-chambers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A marine air-exhausting apparatus, the

same comprising the combination of a set of air-chambers arranged at different levels and open at the bottom only so that the water may enter and leave said air-chambers through the bottom, an exhaust-receptacle and pipe connections leading from the upper part of each of said air-chambers to the said exhaust receptacle, said pipe connections being pro vided with valves for preventing the iniiow of air from the said air-chambers to the ex haust-receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A combined marine air compressing and exhausting apparatus, the same comprising the combination of a set of air chambers arranged at different levels and each open only at the bottom, a compressed-air reservoir and an exhaust-air receptacle, pipe connections extending from said compressed-air reservoir to the upper part of each of said IIO air-chambers and provided with valves for preventing a backow of Aair from said reser-` at the bottom and the chambers above it be-V ing partially open at the bottom toward one side thereof at a point substantially at the level of the bottom, and valved pipe connections leading from the upper part of each of said air-chambers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A marine air-power apparatus comprising the combination of a set of superposed.

air-chambers, the lowermost one of. which is open at the bottom, the air-chamber above In testimony whereof I have hereunto set said lowerrnost one being partially opened at my hand in the presence of the two subserib- 1o the bottom toward one side thereof, the open ing Witnesses.

side of said second chamber bein@ inclined downwardly and outwardly, and Vlved pipe AUGUST M' BECKER' connections leading from the upper part of Witnesses: eaoh of said air-chambers, substantially as MARTIN SHIETHAL,

and for the purpose set forth. WILLIS FOWLER.

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