Watercraft equipped with a hybrid wave-powered electricity generating and propulsion system

• US 10,549,832 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liquid Robotics, Inc. (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Liquid Robotics, Inc. (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Hine, Roger G., Hine, Derek L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Application Number:
  US16/213,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20190106187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 440 9
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/15 for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/32 Flaps, pistons, or the like, reciprocating in propulsive direction
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 19/02 by using energy derived from movement of ambient water, e.g. from rolling or pitching of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/003 using photovoltaic power generation, e.g. using solar panels
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/02 from propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/16 using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/1815 with an up-and-down movement
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/20 wherein both members , i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/931 which is a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

This disclosure provides improved nautical craft that can travel and navigate on their own. A hybrid vessel is described that converts wave motion to locomotive thrust by mechanical means, and also converts wave motion to electrical power for storage in a battery. The electrical power can then be tapped to provide locomotive power during periods where wave motion is inadequate and during deployment. The electrical power can also be tapped to even out the undulating thrust that is created when locomotion of the vessel is powered by wave motion alone.

Claims

1. A wave powered vessel, comprising:

a buoyant vessel body;

a swimmer body, mechanically coupled to the vessel body;

a generating system structured to convert at least a portion of movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by wave motion into electrical power, the generating system comprising;

a tether winch, coupled between the buoyant vessel body and the swimmer body;

a pressure generation device, coupled to the tether winch, for generating pressure from motion of the tether winch from the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by the wave motion;

a turbine generator, coupled to the pressure generation device, for generating the electrical power.

2. The wave powered vessel of claim 1, wherein the pressure generation device comprises a piston.

3. The wave powered vessel of claim 2, wherein the pressure generation device further comprises a linear hydraulic cylinder.

4. The wave powered vessel of claim 3, wherein the pressure generation device is coupled between the tether winch and the buoyant vessel body and a link arm of the tether winch.

5. The wave powered vessel of claim 3, further comprising:

a second tether winch, communicatively coupled between the buoyant vessel body and the swimmer body;

a second pressure generation device, coupled to the tether winch, for generating pressure from motion of the tether winch from the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by the wave motion, the second pressure generation device coupled to the turbine generator for generating electrical power.

6. The wave powered vessel of claim 1, further comprising:

a propulsion system that is structured to mechanically convert at least a further portion of a movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by wave motion into locomotive thrust.

7. The wave powered vessel of claim 6, wherein:

the swimmer body comprises fin surfaces that mechanically provide forward thrust when actuated by the at least the further portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body.

8. The wave powered vessel of claim 7, wherein:

the fin surfaces are variably damped, the variable damping selected to control a proportion of the at least the further portion movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to the locomotive thrust to the at least the portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to electrical power.

9. The wave powered vessel of claim 8, wherein the proportion of the at least the further portion movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to the locomotive thrust to the at least the portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to electrical power is controlled to regulate a speed of the vessel.

10. The wave powered vessel of claim 8, wherein the proportion of the at least the further portion movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to the locomotive thrust to the at least the portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to electrical power is controlled to retain the vessel at a position.

11. A method of powering a vessel comprising buoyant vessel body mechanically coupled to a swimmer body, comprising:

mechanically converting, with a generating system, at least a portion of a movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by wave motion into electrical power, comprising;

generating pressure from motion of a tether winch coupled between the buoyant vessel body and the swimmer body; and

providing the generated pressure to a turbine generator to generate the electrical power.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein generating pressure from motion of a tether winch coupled between the buoyant vessel body and the swimmer body comprises:

generating pressure from motion of a piston and hydraulic cylinder coupled between the tether winch and the buoyant vessel.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating pressure from motion of a second tether winch coupled between the buoyant vessel body and the swimmer body.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating pressure from motion of a second tether winch coupled between the buoyant vessel body and the swimmer body comprises:

generating pressure from motion of a second piston and second hydraulic cylinder coupled between the second tether winch and the buoyant vessel.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

mechanically converting, with a propulsion system, at least a further portion a movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by wave motion into locomotive thrust.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein mechanically converting, with the propulsion system, at least the further portion a movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by wave motion into locomotive thrust comprises:

mechanically providing forward thrust via fin surfaces actuated by the at least the further portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the fin surfaces are variably damped, the variable damping selected to control a proportion of the at least the further portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to the locomotive thrust to the at least the portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to electrical power.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein a proportion of the at least the further portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to the locomotive thrust to the at least the portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to electrical power is controlled to regulate a speed of the vessel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the proportion of the at least the further portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to the locomotive thrust to the at least the portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body converted to electrical power is controlled to retain the vessel at a position.

20. A wave powered vessel, comprising:

a buoyant vessel body;

a swimmer body, mechanically coupled to the vessel body;

a generating system structured to convert at least a portion of the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by wave motion into electrical power, the generating system comprising;

a tether winch, coupled between the buoyant vessel body and the swimmer body;

means for generating pressure from motion of the tether winch from the movement of the vessel body relative to the swimmer body caused by the wave motion;

a turbine generator, coupled to the pressure generating means, for generating the electrical power.