\f\^mf:&i, ^^mmm^ ^fffV^^^^^ fmfiM iM tkik AmJ^ ^jy^FOSi lAAA^A^. A^* $rWM^ m mmw^ AAAa iWA/v^AA -y*«Avy4 ^^^fWfpm^^ W^SSft "^.^'^ ' p i-*»i ^^ n K LI BR ARY 4° Cf- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA GIFT OK J^eceived 9;^^^^,/^. Accessions No. ^_^^^^J^ Shelf No. 4iN>;'f' •30 •.y\-9f ml« ^"^^ •^C^-^J mm ■n ),.,J^M M-^^ ^f-m. IDTJIFIF'^^'S ^ SOURCE OF ^ ^or Various Purposes. Fr. Printers and Engravei-s, San Francisco, Cal. DUFFY'S Wave Motor AS A SOURCE OF POWER FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES. SAN FRANCISCO: PRANCIS, VALENTINE & CO., PRINTERS AND ENGRA^'ERS, No. 517 Clay Street, and 510-516 Commercial Street. 188 6. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/duffyswavemotoraOOduffrich DUFFY'S WAVE MOTOR AS A SOURCE OF POWER FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES. T purpose in this pamphlet to give a short description of my Wave Motor, and of its application for various practical uses. The text is^ illustrated by drawings in detail, so that the mechanism and its^ arrangement and operation may be understood by the ordinary reader.. The object of my invention is to utilize the enormous energy of water — especially when it is quick and waved, as in a bay or sea — to the uses of an active community. Our bays, rivers, and harbors^ to say nothing of the adjacent ocean, represent limitless power. This- power I propose to utilize as a motor for machinery for various- mechanical purposes, as well as for illumination. It may be applied in a bay, harbor, or river, to compress air for transmission ashore to machinery for any industry in vogue in a city or town; and, by th& addition of the nac^-ssary apparatus, this compressed air may h& employed to generate electricity for illumination, or for power for special purposes. To accomplish these objects it will be only neces- sary to anchor the buoy — which is illustrated on page 5 — at a con- venient distance from the shore, and to conduct the compressed air therefrom in a flexible tube to a reservoir or station ashore, whence it may be conveyed in pipes to the location of the machinery. And when electricity is generated for lighting a city, or any district thereof, the current may be conducted by cable, in the usual way, to a central station for distribution. If the current is to be used for power, it may also be conducted to and from a station, or directly to the machinery. I will now give a particular description of my Wave Motor, refer- ring to the illustrations, each figure being numbered, and having a letter for its different parts. Figure 1, on page 5, shows a vertical section of a metallic buoy. A, made preferably in spherical form, and of any required dimensions. The buoy is provided with a conical standard, C, which is bolted to the bottom of the buoy, as shown in the drawing. This standard is an important feature of the Wave Motor, as it supports the ballasted basin, B, on a level, maintaining it always on the plane of the hori- zon. To accomplish this purpose the standard is provided with a ball-shaped head,y*, on which the semi-spherical cap, b, of the basin iits. As the standard is bolted to the buoy and forms part of it, it ■will be seen that the buoy, reciprocating the motion of the waves, oscillates and swings on the ball-head in the cap of the basin. In order to fend off the swing of the buoy against the lower ends of the ibasin, heavy rubber bumpers, a, are secured to the lower outer sides ■of the standard. These bumpers prevent shocks and induce steadi- ness. The cap, b, is bolted to the annular top of the basin, and is provided with an oil-cup, c, for lubricating both cap and ball-head. The basin, B, is ballasted, as shown in the drawing, for the purpose ■of giving the required pressure to the air-pumps, which is at the rate of fifty pounds to the square inch for each pump. In the center of the basin there is a conical space for the standard. The air-pumps, D, one of which is shown in Figure 1, are bolted by a plate, r, to rthe sides of the basin, and are attached to the buoy in a manner •which will be described hereafter. The basin is provided with decks on which are arranged necessary apparatus and fixtures: on the lower deck, d, is the annular air chamber F, from which air-pipes ex- tend; and on the upper deck, e, are arranged theengine, I, and dynamo , J, and cabins and store-rooms, M. A stairway leads to a platform, N, placed over the basin cap, from which the tower is reached by a J spiral stairway. Figure 1 is a vertical section through the buoy and frame-work, showing the arrangement of the ballasted basin B, one of the air-pumps D, the air-reservoir E, the air-chamber F, the engine I and dynamo J, the guiding and braking device b^, &2, and the tower O, water-reser- voir R, whistle U, electric-light V, and bell VV. Figure 2 is a plan of the tower O, and water-reservoir R in four compartments. IFor the purpose of guiding the ballasted poised basin, and prevent- ing it from swinging round with the buoy, and also to hold it rigid to the buoy and to stop the operation of the air-pumps while luaking repairs or for other cause, there is provided a guiding and braking device, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. A brake, b^, having a jawed recess in its end, is secured to the top of the basin on its four sides; and shoes, b^, are attached to the shell of the buoy. The recess in the brake fits loosely on the shoe, and guides the basin and prevents it from swinging; and when it is necessary to hold the basin rigid to the buoy, the brake is screwed inward to impinge on the shoe. Encircling the buoy above the water-line is a great reservoir, E, for storing the compressed air received from the air-chamber, F. The reservoir is divided by a number of partitions, each of which is pro- vided with an automatic valve for the purpose of preventing the air from returning and to force it forward to the point of delivery. It is provided also with the necessary escape-valves. In addition to its purpose for storing compressed air, the reservoir serves to impart steadiness to the buoy. The air chamber, F, which has been described as arranged on the lower deck of the basin, receives compressed air from the air-pumps through the pipe G, and delivers it to the reservoir through the pipe K, which extends upward to the reservoir in the manner shown in Figure 1. The air-pipe, K, is provided with a stop-cock, v, to regu- late the passage of compressed air; and in order to secure it from in- jury or breaking, it is provided with a flexible tube, L, which recip- rocates the motions of the buoy. Compressed air is conveyed from the chamber, F, to the engine by a pipe, H; and air escapes from the engine by pipes, w. The buoy is supplied with fresh air through pipes, T, as well as through port-holes in the upper segments and through the tower, O. The air-pumps, D, are of peculiar construction and arrangement, and are secured in such a manner as to reduce the probability of an accident to them to the minimum. Each pump is bolted to the side of the basin by a plate, r, which is attached to the pump-barrel or forms part of it, as shown in Figure 6; and it is secured to the shell Fljfure 3 is a plan of the buoy, showing the arrangement of air-pumps D and air-pipe G, the guiding and braking device 6', b'^, cabins and store-rooms M, engine I and djnanio J, standard C, reservoir E, and main-deck X. 8 of the buoy, on the ribs of which there are higs, jt?, by the piston- rod, 0, which is held loosely on a bolt which passes through and is secured to the lugs. From the center upward the pump-barrel i& graduated in sections, and each section is provided with a receding valve. Each of the four receding valves shown, g^, /, /, g\ has re- cesses or gi'ooves, j, in the rim, into which guide-bars, k, enter, and on which the valves move up and down. The guide-bars are secured to the pump-barrel by screws. Each of tJie receding valves increases in diameter corresponding to the sections of the pump-barrel, as shown in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and is provided with a rubber cap, h, which is attached to the valve by a screw, i. The cap is counter- sunk for the head of the screw, the shank of which is loose in the cap, by which means the cap rises to the pressure of the air and permits it to pass into the upper section of the pump. The check-valve, g, and the piston, m, are each provided with a like rubber cap, having similar action. The piston-rod is connected with the piston by an universal joint, n, which acts reciprocally to the motions of the buoy. For the purpose of lubricating the guide-bars, k, an oil-cup, t, placed on the top of the pump-barrel, supplies oil to holes, q, in the check- valve, through which it flows to the bars. In Figure 1, the dotted lines, z^, show the movement of tl^e buoy in imparting a full stroke to the pump. A full up-stroke will dis- charge the compressed air out of the pump, leaving the valves massed in the upper section; and on the down-stroke each valve will fall and seat in its proper section. The object of the sections in the pump-barrel is to store the air received from imperfect strokes of the piston caused by the irregular action of the waves; and, whether the stroke is short or long, the air received is stored in the sections until it is discharged into the air-chamber. The basin, B, to which the pumps are attached, imparts to the pumps the wave-power received from the buoy — the weight of the ballast in the basin being the equivalent of the pressure exerted on the pumps. In adapting the Wave Motor for service as a signal, relief, or light station, a heavy iron frame- work, Q, is attached to the upper segment of the buoy, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. In this frame- work there Figure 4 is a view of the buoy anchored at sea for service as a relief or light-station. 10 are arranged and secured a signal-whistle, U, which is operated by compressed air conveyed by a pipe, Z^, from the reservoir, E; an electric light, V, and a bell W; and at the top there is a step for a flag-staff. Extending from the top of the buoy to about the middle of the frame-work there is a cylindrical iron tower, O, having port- hole lights and a door opening from the hurricane-deck, Z. The tower is also entered from the inside of the buoy by a spiral stair- way, P, for the purpose of arranging or repairing the electric lights, and for a lookout. Surrounding the buoy above the reservoir, E, there is a main-deck, X, from which a companion-ladder extends to the hurricane-deck. The anchor-chain, to which the buoy is at- tached, is made fast to the main-deck, and may be slipped in an instant on an emergency. Whenever the water at the station is temporarily too quiet to give the required action to the buoy, there is provided an auxiliary means for imparting motion to the buoy. This is accomplished by attaching round the tower a water-reservoir, E,, subdivided into four compart- ments, as shown in Figure 2. The compartments are hlled and discharged through branch pipes, cc, which connect with supply-pipe S, which also discharges the water. All of the compartments can be filled by a force-pump operated by the engine, or any two of them on the line of equilibrium as may be required; and when the action of the buoy becomes sufficiently energetic from the motion of the waves, the water is discharged from the reservoir. In applying the Wave Motor to a vessel as a means of projmlsion, the arrangement and operation of the apparatus are similar to those already described. The vessel, of course, represents the buoy, and reciprocates the motion of the waves, by which the air-pumps are operated and compress the air. The vessel will be divided, according to its size, by strong bulkheads into several compartments. In each compartment there will be a ballasted basin, B, arranged on a stand- ard, C, in the same manner as shown for the buoy. The form of the basin will conform in some degree to that of the vessel, or, prefera- bly, will be made square, with obtuse or rounded corners, and will have a cone-shaped space in the center for the conical standard, which 11 Figure 5 is a vertical section of one of the air-pumps D, and part of an air-pipe G, showintf the check- valve g and recedinu: valves jr', g'^, g'^^, g\, the guide-bars k, and the universal joint n, connecting piston m and piston-rod o. Figure 6 is an elevation of one of the air-pumps, show- ing plate r for attaching it to the basin. Figures 7 and 8 are views of the piston-rod. Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 are views of the receding valves, showing the grooves in their rim. Figure 13 is a plan of the piston. Figure 14 is the same, looking from underneath. Figure 15 is a plan of the check-valve g, sh )wing oil-holes and channel. Figure 16 is a plan of the air-pump, showing the guide-bar ■<, Ar, and the valve-seats. 12 will be bolted to the keelson. The ballast in the basin Avill be cargo^ and will be adjusted to represent a pressure on each pump of fifty pounds per square inch. The required number of air-pumps, D, will be secured to each basin, and each pump will be connected by the piston-rod to the side of the vessel, the connection between rod and piston being an universal joint. The air-chamber, F, receiving com- pressed air from the air-pumps, will be arranged on the deck of es ch basin, and compressed air will be conducted from this chamber to the storage-reservoir, E, by flexible tubes, which will reciprocate the motion of the vessel. The storage -reservoir — the counterpart of reservoir, E, on the buoy — will be arranged round the vessel under the plank-sheer, and will be divided amidships by a solid partition, forming a fore-and-aft chamber in the reservoir — the chamber aft receiving air only from the after pumps, and the forward chamber only from the forward pumps. Each chamber of the reservoir is subdivided by partitions, each of which is provided with an automatic valve which pre- vents the air from returning and forces it forward to the point of delivery. Compressed air will be conveyed from the reservoir by suitably arranged pipes to the engine, which will connect with a dynamo, for service in propelling the vessel, generating electricity for illumina- tion or other purposes, for receiving or discharging cargo, or for any service requiring power. The Wave Motor may also be applied to a sailing-vessel as an auxiliary means of propulsion. For this purpose the compressed air would be applied directly to the water through a large pipe leading from the air-reservoir through the stern of the vessel near the keel. Applied in this manner, the pressure of the compressed air on the water, combined with the force exerted by the expansion of the air, will serve to drive the vessel ahead at a fair rate of speed. On page 9 the Wave Motor is illustrated as a signal, relief, or light station, on a buoy anchored at sea. The buoy is provided with a heavy iron frame-work which secures the signal-whistle, bell, and electric lights. It encloses also the auxiliary water-reservoir for increas- 13 ing the energy of the buoy in smooth water; and the tower, having a stairway leading from the inside of the buoy for the purpose of arranging or repairing the electric lights, or for observation. The buoy is also provided with a main-deck for landing from or going off in boats, and above the main-deck there is a hurricane-deck. Each anchor-chain is provided with a buoy, so that in case the chain is slipped in any emergency it may readily be picked up. The buoy- station will be provided with cabins for the crew, and with store- rooms for provisions and all needed supplies. In case a wreck was discovered from the buoy, or the buoy was reached by a wrecked crew, or in any incident arising from stress of weather, the station would be prepared to give succor and relief. The construction of the buoy and the arrangement of the appa- ratus would make it a st^,un(^h and comfortable craft even in the most boisterous sea. The deck, on which the cabins will be placed, will be arranged on the ballasted and poised basin in such a manner as to keep them always level. As has been shown in the foregoing description, a standard is bolted to the bottom of the buoy and is provided with a ball-shaped head, in which the semi-spherical cap of the basin fits; and on this standard the buoy oscillates and swings, while the basin is always on the plane of the horizon: while the sides of the craft — that is to say, the buoy — were constantly inclining at different angles, the decks would be level. Sea-sickness would be unknown to the occupants of the buoy, who would always be in a fairly comfortable and safe condition. When employed as a signal, relief, or light station, the buoy would necessarily be of large dimensions — say 30, 60 or 90 feet in diam- eter — and in every case built and braced in the mostskillful manner. Its si»herical shape would offer the least resistance to the action of the waves ; while the great air-reservoir which encircles it above the water-line would render it a veritable life-boat. In an exposed and unusually dangerous position my Wave Motor buoy-station would be, beyond all odds, safer than the ordinary light-ship. Employed as a relief-station at a distance from land, and anchored in water broken at intervals into an angry surf, or in the vicinity of perilous 14 reefs or hentllands; or stretched in a line of stations, at convenient distances in practicable anchorage, over a great ocean highway — as, for example, between New York and Liverpool — these great buoy- stations, provided with persistent and unfailing power for light, and signals, and every purpose, and with provisions and supplies, and equipped to relieve and succor vessels in distress, would render incal- culable service to commerce and to the traveling public. In every case where the station was unusually exposed to the action of high winds and the consequent rough water, the buoy would be provided with means for discharging oil overboard to smooth the surrounding water. Cumulative experience goes to prove that oil has this effect upon water; for the oil spreads over the water and c«:)vers it with a film, and upon this viscous surface the wind has little, or, at least, less effect in raising waves. The observed effect of the oil-film is to diminish the " combing " of the waves, and to pre- vent the formation of small waves, and the growth and sharpening of large ones, by the continued action of the wind. This theory re- specting the effect of oil on water is fast forming into science, and its truth is borne out by every-day experience, as the reports from observant seafaring men to the hydrogi'aphic bureau at Washington clearly show. And thus, provided with a supply of oil, the relief or light buoy would ride securely in relatively smooth water sur- rounded by an enridged and angry surf. In conclusion, I may be permitted to say that the claim of the great utility of my Wave Motor appears to be reasonable and well- founded. It has a broad field for application, in which its advan- tages are as numerous as they are obvious. Its utility as a relief O)- light station at sea has been briefly shown. Its advantages for home use — that is to say, employed in an adjacent bay, harbor, or river, or near the sea-shore, as a source of power to be transmitted ashore to various machinery; or to generate electricity for lighting a 15 city, or for power for special purposes — are so evident as to require no detailed account of the manner of application. TERRENCE DUFFY. San Francisco, Cal. N. B. — Correspondents desiring further information respecting my Wave Motor will please direct to my address, T. DUFFY, 948 Geary Street, San Francisco. -njuWiTiV v^^wvijWUv ^^^i^m mm'^^m ^n- iwri^i mmsm^ m»^^®:smm ^vv^rii lilYi wvwuwyf (^b^« u^Vi^ Vl wmi ayscov Uff' i^yv,v >^s*i/v ^«^^i wMw fs^'ifSimN i&&S^kjuPI^SSKi m^0^^-^m \[A iwyp^^y,^ vwww^ Mi£^«^^^ vvvw- ^w,:vv\; 'V'^VMi^ '|yiiv/.\^'.::MMV ill ik h\J. ^^^1