WAVE POWERED GENERATION
First Claim
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1. A marine device comprising:
- a body, wherein the marine device is configured such that a portion of the body rests above a water surface level when the marine device floats;
a mechanical energy transmission system including a moving portion that is configured to move relative to the portion of the body that rests above the water surface level in response to a water surface level change; and
a generator mechanically coupled to the moving portion, mechanically coupled to the portion of the body that rests above the water surface level, and configured to produce electrical energy using movement of the moving portion.
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Abstract
Described herein are marine devices and methods that convert mechanical energy in one or more waves to mechanical energy that is better suited for conversion into electrical energy. The marine devices employ a mechanical energy conversion system that harnesses wave energy and converts it into limited motion that is suitable for input to an electrical energy generator.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A marine device comprising:
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a body, wherein the marine device is configured such that a portion of the body rests above a water surface level when the marine device floats; a mechanical energy transmission system including a moving portion that is configured to move relative to the portion of the body that rests above the water surface level in response to a water surface level change; and a generator mechanically coupled to the moving portion, mechanically coupled to the portion of the body that rests above the water surface level, and configured to produce electrical energy using movement of the moving portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A marine device comprising:
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a body, wherein the marine device is configured such that a portion of the body rests above a surface level of water when the marine device floats; a mechanical energy transmission system including a) an energy storage mass that is configured to move relative to the body in response to a water surface level change, and b) a spring mechanically coupled to the energy storage mass and mechanically coupled to the body, wherein the spring includes a stiffness that provides a resonant frequency for the mechanical energy transmission system within about 0.2 hertz of a resonant frequency for the marine device body; and a generator mechanically coupled to the energy storage mass and configured to produce electrical energy using kinetic energy of the energy storage mass. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A marine device comprising:
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a body, wherein the marine device is configured such that a portion of the body rests above a surface level of water when the marine device floats; a mechanical energy transmission system including a) a first energy storage mass that is configured to move relative to the body in response to a water surface level change that causes tilting of the body relative to the water surface level, and b) a second energy storage mass that is configured to move relative to the body in response to the water surface level change that causes tilting of the body relative to the water surface level; a generator mechanically coupled to the energy storage mass and configured to produce electrical energy using kinetic energy of the energy storage mass. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A buoy comprising:
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a body, wherein the buoy is configured such that a portion of the body rests above a surface level of water when the buoy floats; a mechanical energy transmission system including a moving portion that is configured to move relative to the body in response to a water surface level change that causes movement of the body relative to the water surface level; and a generator operably coupled to the moving portion and configured to produce electrical energy using movement of the moving portion; and a light adapted to use electrical energy produced by the generator. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of generating electrical energy in a marine device including a body and a mechanical energy transmission system, the method comprising:
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floating the marine device such that a portion of the body rests above a water surface level when the marine device floats on the water; moving a portion of the mechanical energy transmission system relative to the marine device body in response to a water surface level change; and generating electrical energy using movement of the moving portion. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification