US978117A - Tide-motor. - Google Patents

Description

G. DEGAGNE.

TIDE MOTOR.

I APPLICATION FILED DEO.31.1909.

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G. DEGAGNE. 'rmnmowon. APPLICATION FILED 1120.31.1909.

978,1 17. Patented Dec. 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE DEGAGNE, OF HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN.

TIDE-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen DEGAGNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houghton, in the county of I-Ioughton and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tide -Motors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for utilizing the tidal flow of the sea and for converting the same into power in such a manner that the power thus derived shall be available for manufacturing and other purposes.

The invention consists in suitable basins or reservoirs adapted to receive and confine the tide water as it rises; in connection with a dry basin disposed in suitable proximity to said reservoirs for the purpose of receiving the discharge from the latter which is utilized for the purpose of driving suitable hydraulic motors.

The invention further consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being however understood, that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modificationswithin the scope of the invention, may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the plant constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view enlarged taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view enlarged taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig.

1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view enlarged taken on the plane indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken horizontally through the side and rear walls of the dry basin.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

In carrying this invention into practical operation, a sea wall A of massive dimensions is suitably constructed of masonry, concrete or other material or materials. Said wall comprising a front wall 6 facing the sea and side walls or wings 7-7 extending from the ends of said front wall toward the shore. The entire wall is made of such a Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicationfiled December 31, 1909.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Serial No. 535,865.

height that the top thereof shall be somewhat elevated above normal high tide, and the base of the front wall of said wall shall be slightly elevated above normal low tide; the bases of the wings 77 of the wall obviously following the shore line until they merge with the latter. The area confined within the sea wall and its arms or wings may be excavated to any desired depth, it being understood that the foundations of the wall are to extend below any such excavation and the excavation may be floored with a suitable concrete or cement composition.

A back wall 8 approximately parallel to the front wall 6 is constructed intermediate the terminal ends of the side walls 7 and said back wall is connected with the front wall by partition walls 99 whereby an inclosure which I describe as the dry basin 10 1s partitioned off from the end basins or reservoirs 11. The front wall 6 and the side walls 7 are provided with tunnels or passages 12 arranged at various levels and coinmunicating at their inner ends with the reservoirs 11; said tunnels constituting water passages which may be closed by means of gates or cutoffs 13, said gates or cut-offs be ing controlled by operating mechanism including for each gate, a drum 14, a flexible member such as a chain 15 connecting the gate with the drum and adapted to be wound upon the latter, and drum operating mechanism comprising suitable gearing 16, and a shaft 17 having a hand wheel 18. The top of the wall constitutes a walk or driveway, the same being protected by a railing 19. Similar ducts or tunnels 20 having gates or closures adapted to be operated by hand wheels 21 extend through the front wall and connect the faces of the latter with the dry basin 10; said front wall is also provided with a large opening 22 controlled by massive gates 23 opening outward.

The partition walls 9 and the back wall 8 are provided with pits 24; wherein water wheels 25 of the turbine type are supported for operation; said pits being provided with discharge apertures 26 communicating with the dry basin. The turbines are supplied with water from a flue or passageway 27 which communicates with the reservoirs 11 through arch passages 28. Storage cavities 29 are formed in the back wall 8 directly opposite to each turbine supported in said back wall; the turbine pits being connected with the supply flue 27 through passages 30, the

walls of which are preferably inclined in such a manner as to project the Water 111' the direction of the turbine at the most advantageous angle.

The partition walls 9 are provided with exit ducts 33 which communicate with the bottom of the dry basin through passages 34 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings; said exit ducts being provided with outlets as will be best seen at 35 in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

In operation, when the tide is flowing water is admitted through the tunnels or passages 12 into the reservoirs 11, the gates at the different levels being successively closed so as to confine water within the reservoirs. lVhen the tide has reached its maximum height and the water in the reservoirs is at the maximum level, the inlet gates have all been closed and water will now be admitted through the passages 28 to the flue 30 and thence to the turbine pits from which it escapes into the dry basin through the openings 26. Suitable mechanism including gearing 36 and shafts 37 may be used for transmitting the power deflected by the turbines to the point of utilization. The water accumulated in the dry basin may, when the tide recedes, be permitted to escape through the tunnels 20 and the gate protected opening 22.

It will be seen from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, that a simple and effective plant has been provided for utilizing the power of the tides and that apart from the cost of installation, a practically unlimited amount of power may be deflected at a nominal expense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A device of the character described, comprising walls forming a dry basin and a reservoir, tunnels or passages connecting said basin and reservoir with the tidal flow, turbine pits in the walls confining the dry basin and having outlets into the latter, a flue extending through said walls, and passages connecting said flue with the reservoir and with the turbine.

2. In a device of the character described, walls forming a reservoir and a dry basin, tunnels extending at various levels through the wall and communicating at their inner ends with the reservoir, gates adapted to obstruct said tunnels, passages extending through the wall and communicating with the dry basin, means for obstructing said passages, turbine pits in the walls adjacent to the dry basin, and having discharge passages communicating with the dry basin, a flue in the walls surrounding the dry basin and having passages communicating with the turbine pits and with the reservoir, and storage cavities in the walls communicating with the flue adjacent to the turbine pits.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE DEG-AGNE. lVitnesses:

PAUL Tron, It. T. LooNEY.

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