Installation generating power from tidal energy - has vertically reciprocating ratchet rod carried on pontoon and received in machine room to drive shaft through gear train

摘要

A casing (5) is partly submerged in an estuary or other suitable stretch of tidal water. There is a machine room (8) above it. The inside of the casing is open to the tide (5) and contains a pontoon (1) which has suitable ballast (10) to make it float. The pontoon rises and falls inside the casing as tide flows and ebbs. It carries a vertical rod (2) which projects into the machine room. The rod has ratchet gears on both sides which mesh with gear wheels on a stationary shaft (3). The rotation imparted to these is very slow and is magnified by a gear train of seven gears. The resulting output is unidirectional and rapid enough to be a useful source of energy.