US960478A - Air-compressor. - Google Patents

Description

D. R. ALLARD. AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 6, 1909.

Patented June 7, 1910.

WITNESSES WW ATTORNEYS ANDREW a. GRAHAM 00.. PNOYOUNDGRAFHERS. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED ETATEE PATENT @FFIEE.

DAVID R. ALLARD, OF ARLETA, GREGSN.

AIR-COMPRESSOR.

Application filed May 6, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID R. Armani), a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Arleta, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for compressing air by water power and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

The main object of my invention is to provide means by which the force of the waves of the sea or other body of water maybe used to best advantage for compressing air.

A further object of my invention is to' provide a comparatively simple form of apparatus for accomplishing the above named object.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view partly in section showing one embodiment of my invention. ing the detail construction ofthe operating parts and Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the construction of the valves.

In carrying out my invention I select a site for the location of the apparatus which is preferably a clifi such as that shown at A, on the shore of the ocean B or other body of water in which there is a considerable wave motion. At a convenient place near the wa ters edge, I construct a frame C in which are located a series of cells D such as those shown in Fig. 2. These cells may be made of any material and are preferably of the shape shown in the figure. The cells are arranged in tiers in order to take advantage of the rise and fall of the tide as will be hereinafter explained.

From the rear end (Z of each cell, there extends a pipe E having a reduced diameter. All of the pipes E communicate with a common header F as shown in Fig. 2. Located in the pipes E are the air inlet valves G. lVhile these may be of any approved form, the form shown in Fig. 3 is preferable. In this figure the valve G is controlled by a Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view show- Patented June *7, 1910.

Serial No. 494,407.

spring S and is normally seated, being open only when the air pressure on the outside of the 'alve becomes greater than that on the inside. The pipe E between the valve G and the header F is also provided with a valve H which opens only toward the header when the pressure in the pipe E is greater than in the pipe F. A pipe K leads from the header directly into the air storage tank L and is provided with a valve M similar to the valves H in the pipes E.

From the foregoing description of the various parts, the operation may be readily understood. The device is placed where the waves will rush into the mouths of the cells I). The tremendous force of the oncoming wave traps the air of the cells and drives it upward through the pipes E. As the pressure in these pipes increases, the valve H will open allowing this increased pressure to be communicated to the header. F. .Vhen the pressure in this header becomes high enough, the valve M will be unseated and the pressure will be transmitted to the air in the storage tank L thereby compressing the latter. Each set of cells will act in the same manner and the pressure in the air tank L will rise to a considerable degree. hen the wave begins to recede the withdrawal of the water from the front part of the cells will cause a vacuum. The valves G will then open and allow the air to enter behind the water, while the valves H and M will remain closed.

The construction of the cells in different horizontal planes provides a device in which the waves at high tide or low tide may be equally effective in compressing the air.

It will be noted that the same action will take place from the rise and fall of the tide well as from the force of waves and hence the invention contemplates a tide power device as well as a wave power device.

The compressed air in the tank L may be used for any purpose to which compressed air is applicable.

I am aware that other forms of the de- Vice based upon the same general principle, might be made, but I consider as my own all such modifications as fairly fall within the spirit and the scope of the invention.

I claim:

In an air compressor, a casing provided with a series of cells, each of said cells having an open end directly facing a body of i taining the air in said air tank, and other Water and being provided. with a rear porvalves for permitting the entrance of air tion above the level of the front portion, into said cells. all of said cells being arranged to be subjected to the Waves of said body of Water, Witnesses:

- DAVID R. ALLARD.

air pipes connecting said air cells, with a CLARENCE E. HALE, common an tank, valves 1n sald plpe i01- re- J. R. DOUGLASS.

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