US729629A - Tide and wave power. - Google Patents

Description

No. 729,629. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

F. MERZIGER. TIDE AND WAVE POWER.

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NiTED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

ATENT tries.

TIDE AND WAVE POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,629, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed February 5, 1902. Serial No. 92,646- (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ .MERZIGER, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Trier, in the Rhineland, Prussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements "in Tide and Wave Power, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to driving apparatus for power-shafts in which the driving-power is derived from the movements of a boat caused by the ebb and flow of the tide, the roll of the sea, and the wind. 1

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevationof mechanism embodying one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a like side elevation of mechanism embodying an alternative form thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail; Fig. 4., an end view of the boat with laterally-outsetting leveragecheeks sectioned to show their conformation; and Fig. 5 is a top plan view illustrating a method of anchoring the boat, permitting its position to be automatically altered while still fast to its moorings.

The two ends of a rope, chain, or the like .9, passing over and secured to a pulley fixed to the shaft w to be driven, are fastened to a suitably-shaped boat a, Figs. 1 and 2, furnished with a wave-resisting contrivance, which boat is so moored that its position can easily be altered. The boat mustbe moored in such a way that it can rock freely up and down and from stem to stern,'and vice versa,

and so that it can be placed as nearly as pos-f sible at right angles to the approaching waves. This is effected by ramming in posts a by the side of the boat and providing them with rings o whichare connected with the boat by means of ropes d or the like. These ropes are kept horizontal by means of floats a and by hauling in one and paying out another of the ropes the position of the boat can be changed as desired. The rope s, Fig. 1, is passed over the rollers 19, and a spring f is attached to the pulley t, to which pulley the rope s is fastened, the said pulley being situated on an arm i on the boat, hinged at i to flex with the stress of the tension, whereby the said rope is always kept taut. A weight 9 may also be hung onto the spring f to increase the tension. When the boat is moved, as it will be, by the ebb and flow of the tide, by the rolling of the waves, and by fected in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

cal axis like a capstan.

feet, the boat may also be provided with latthe wind, one end or the other of the rope s is pulled, the'pulley, and with it the shaft 10,

both mounted on a fixed support, being thus turned in one direction or the other.

The transmission to the shaft w of the energy imparted to the boat a can also be .ef I11 this case a frame or block 0, which carries two small rollers (Z, (see Fig. 3,) is secured at each end to the endless rope s, which rope passes over two tension-rollers g and over a pulley situated on the shaft w to be driven. Between these two small rollers lies a pole e, fastened to the boat. The up and down movements of the said boat, which are followed by the said pole, cause the block 0 to rise and fall, the rope, chain, or the like .9 being thus moved one way or the other, thereby turning the pulley, and with it the shaft '10, in the corresponding direction. The boat has sufiicient ballast to enable it always to right itself.

For the purpose of transmitting the force of the wind, a sail n, Fig. 2, is provided at each end of the boat, only one of which, and that in accordance with the direction of the wind, is used at any given time. This sail is located 011 an axle 7c, borne by the bearingblock Z, and consists of a frame covered with sail-cloth,which frame can be directed against winds blowing from the sides by rotating the block Z, and can likewise be coupled and uncoupled, so as to put it in or out of operation. In order to render it possible to adjust the sail in accordance with the direction of the wind, the bearing-block and, in fact, the whole support or stand are rotatable about a verti- To increase the eferal projecting checks or ledges m. (Shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, Fig. 4 being a cross-section.) These cheeks or led ge s,which run right around the boat above the water-Line and are undercupped, act as levers when awave gets beneath them and increase the power of the roll, and they can be easily removed or interchanged, so that their width, projection, and shape can be altered.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 several boats can of course be adapted to act on the driving-rope in unison.

The oscillatory movementsof the shaft w are converted into a uniform rotary movement by means of suitable gearing.

' In the arrangements hereinbefore described the boat is adjusted according to the direction of wind and waves by hand. This can, however, be done automatically, and Fig. 5 gives a plan view of a form of construction for the purpose, by way of example. The boat a,furnished with lateral leverage-cheeks, as mentioned above, is fastened in a suitable manner to a floating frame r. The pole e is in this case passed through an oscillatory bearing 0, coincident with the axis of the curved beam 19, to transmit the movements of the boat to the driving-rope or the like connected thereto. connected with the boat a, lies up against the curved guide-beam p, which is ring-connected to several posts 13, rammed in for the purpose about a vertical aXle i, always adjusts itself to the direction of the waves and transmits In this arrangement the frame 0 its movements through the tiller t and link connection 1; to the frame 1' and the boat a, connected with the frame. The said frame 0* when thus moved glides along the beam 19, and to reduce the friction guide-rollers as are provided.

Having now fully described inyinvention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is In apparatus for utilizing tide and wave power, the combination of a boat, a floating frame surrounding it and to which it is fiexi bly connected, a semicircular floating guidebeam moored to piles so as to rise and fall therealong, a connection between said guidebeam and frame, holding the latter to the beam and permittin g it to travel therearound as a track.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

FRANZ BIERZIGER.

\Vitnesses:

JOH'ANN XVEL ER, CARL SCHMITT.

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