US3993913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tidewater power system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-28
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Granted: 1976-11-23
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Expires: 1995-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A system for extracting power from the tides includes a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow for separating the body of water from a tidal basin between the dam and the shoreline. A plurality of water wheel assemblies are mounted on the dam and include mounting saddles for mounting water wheels for rotation about a horizontal axis at a level about the high tide level of the body of water and with the bottom of the water wheel at substantially the low tide level of the body of water. Each saddle includes a pair of vertical wall members, between which the water wheel is mounted for rotation, and a horizontal wall portion below the water wheel provided with a concave recess receiving the water wheel. The saddle is so constructed that substantially all of the water flowing from the body of water to the tidal reservoir and vice versa will flow through the water wheels. In order to control this flow, a brake is provided to block rotation of the water wheels at the discretion of an operator. The dam is constructed from a plurality of spaced vertical I-beams and a plurality of horizontal slabs which extend between successive I-beams. A saddle extension mounts the saddle on the dam by fitting vertical arm members between the flanges of successive I-beams. The water wheel includes a plurality of radially extending paddles and may have its ends closed by end walls; vent apertures are provided, either in the paddles adjacent the shaft or in the end walls adjacent the shaft. In one embodiment, a gate is provided and is moved in response to the speed of rotation of the water wheel to maintain the speed of rotation substantially constant.
Inventors
- 👤 Smith V. Dickman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:57
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B9/00; E02B9/08; F; F03; F03B; F03B13/00; F03B13/12; F03B13/26; F03B13/268; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/20; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A tidewater power system, comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir between a shoreline and said dam from said body of water; a plurality of water wheel assemblies mounted on said dam, each including a water wheel, means directing water flow to said water wheel from one of said reservoir and said body of water, and means mounting said water wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis positioned above the high tide level of said body of water with the bottom of said water wheel being positioned at substantially low tide level of said body of water, said water wheel being so mounted that said water flow is substantially restricted to flow through said water wheel; and brake means for selectively precluding rotation of said water wheel to control said water flow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A tidewater power system, comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir between a shoreline and said dam from said body of water; a plurality of water wheel assemblies mounted on said dam, each including a water wheel, means directing water flow to said water wheel from one of said reservoir and said body of water, and means mounting said water wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis positioned above the high tide level of said body of water with the bottom of said water wheel being positioned at substantially low tide level of said body of water, said water wheel being so mounted that said water flow is substantially restricted to flow through said water wheel; and brake means for selectively precluding rotation of said water wheel to control said water flow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, further comprising double universal joint means coupling said water wheels of adjacent water wheel assemblies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 2, further comprising electrical generating means comprising a generator housing positioned between a pair of said water wheel assemblies, an electrical generator within said housing, and double universal joint means coupling said electrical generator to said pair of water wheel assemblies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 3, further comprising V-shaped flow deflection means for directing water flow from said generator housing to said pair of water wheel assemblies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means mounting the water wheel comprises saddle means including a pair of vertical walls closely adjacent opposite ends of said water wheel, a pair of bearings for said water wheel mounted on said pair of vertical walls, a horizontal wall extending between said vertical walls beneath said water, wheel said horizontal wall having a concave recess complimentary to said water wheel and snugly receiving said bottom of said water wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 5, wherein said means directing water flow to said water wheel comprises a pair of aprons in the plane of said horizontal wall between said concave recess and said body of water and said concave recess and said tidal reservoir, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 5, wherein said dam includes vertical I-beams, each positioned in alignment with the ends of said saddle means, and said means includes a saddle extension, including a pair of vertical arms at said ends dimensioned to fit between the flanges of one of said vertical I-beams.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 7, wherein said dam further includes a plurality of slabs extending between adjacent vertical I-beams, adjacent edges of said slabs being lapped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, wherein said dam comprises a plurality of spaced vertical I-beams and a plurality of slabs extending between succesive verrical I-beams, adjacent surfaces of said slabs being lapped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, wherein said water wheel comprises a shaft and a plurality of radially extending paddles, each of said paddles being provided with vent apertures adjacent said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, wherein said water wheel comprises a shaft, a plurality of radially extending paddles, and a pair of end plates concentric with said shaft closing the ends of said paddles, said end plates being provided with vent apertures adjacent said shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, further comprising gate means on the side of said dam facing said body of water, means for lowering said gate means to protect said water wheel from said body of water when desired.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, further comprising gate means and means responsive to the speed of rotation of said water wheel for controlling the position of said gate means to control said water flow to said water wheel to maintain the speed of rotation of said water wheel substantially constant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 1, wherein said dam is so constructed that water flow to and from said body of water and said tidal reservoir is restricted to flow through said water wheel assemblies.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A tidewater power system, comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir between a shoreline and said dam from said body of water, said dam including a plurality of vertical I-beams, each beam having a pair of flanges connected by a web, the webs of said I-beams being parallel, and a plurality of slabs extending between the webs of successive I-beams, the ends of said slabs being dimensioned to fit between the flanges of said I-beams; a water wheel; and means mounting said water wheel on said dam, said means comprising a pair of downwardly extending arms, one of which is received between the flanges of one of said I-beams and the other of which is received between the flanges of an adjacent one of said I-beams.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A tidewater power system, comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir between a shoreline and said dam from said body of water, said dam including a plurality of vertical I-beams, each beam having a pair of flanges connected by a web, the webs of said I-beams being parallel, and a plurality of slabs extending between the webs of successive I-beams, the ends of said slabs being dimensioned to fit between the flanges of said I-beams; a water wheel; and means mounting said water wheel on said dam, said means comprising a pair of downwardly extending arms, one of which is received between the flanges of one of said I-beams and the other of which is received between the flanges of an adjacent one of said I-beams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a generator housing enclosing an electric generator coupled to said water wheel, said generator housing comprising a pair of downwardly extending arms, one of which is received between the flanges of one of said I-beams and the other of which is received between the flanges of an adjacent one of said I-beams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
A tidewater power system, comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir from said body of water; a pluralty of water wheels mounted on said dam; means confining water flow to and from said body of water and reservoir through said water wheels; and brake means for selectively precluding rotation of said water wheels to control said water flow, said brake means including a first part mounted for rotation with said water wheels and a second part engageable with said first part to brake to said water wheels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
A tidewater power system, comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir from said body of water; a pluralty of water wheels mounted on said dam; means confining water flow to and from said body of water and reservoir through said water wheels; and brake means for selectively precluding rotation of said water wheels to control said water flow, said brake means including a first part mounted for rotation with said water wheels and a second part engageable with said first part to brake to said water wheels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 15, further comprising plurality of said water wheel, universal joint means coupling adjacent water wheels, and a coupling housing positioned over said universal joint means, said coupling housing comprising a pair of downwardly extending arms, one of which is received between the flanges of one of said I-beams and the other of which is received between the flanges of an adjacent one of said I-beams.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 15, wherein said system comprises a plurality of said water wheel and wherein said dam supports a track on each side of said wheels, and said system comprises a crane support extending over said wheel, said crane support including wheels engaging said tracks whereby said crane support may be moved along said dam to enable a crane mounted on said crane support to lift a said water wheel and said means mounting said water wheel from said dam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a pair of catwalks, one on each side of the dam, extending lengthwise of the dam, means for supporting said catwalks on said dam, and a protective railing supported on the outward side of one of said catwalks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 20, further comprising a second protective railing on the inward side of said one of said catwalks.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
90 words
A tidewater power system comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir between a shoreline and said dam from said body of water; a plurality of water wheel assemblies mounted on said dam, each including a water wheel, means directing water flow to said water wheel from one of said reservoir and said body of water, and means mounting said wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis; and double universal joint means coupling said water wheels of adjacent water wheel assemblies.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
90 words
A tidewater power system comprising: a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow separating a tidal reservoir between a shoreline and said dam from said body of water; a plurality of water wheel assemblies mounted on said dam, each including a water wheel, means directing water flow to said water wheel from one of said reservoir and said body of water, and means mounting said wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis; and double universal joint means coupling said water wheels of adjacent water wheel assemblies.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
75 words
A tidewater power system as recited in claim 22, wherein said double universal joint means includes a first shaft section extending from a first said wheel, a first universal joint coupling said first shaft section to a second shaft section, a sliding coupling between said second shaft section and a third shaft section, and a second universal joint coupling said third shaft section to a fourth shaft section extending to an adjacent said water wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-23 | 1980-05-24 | 1980-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-23 | 1984-05-24 | 1984-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-23 | 1988-05-24 | 1988-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |