Turn of the Century Wave Energy Patents

I found links to these patent drawings on Inventing Green.






















What is fascinating and relevant to a study of aesthetic infrastructure is that there are so many ways to harness a natural source of energy such as the ocean’s waves. Sometimes is is hard to think past the ubiquitous geometries of the pure utilitarian forms that have come to dominate the industry, especially in the case of wind power. But looking into these individual minds from 100+ years ago, it is exciting to see the vast expanse of creativity employed.
Never mind of course that the advent of cheap sources of fossil fuels snuffed out the ripening trajectory of this technology. It is only now that we are picking up this ball again…