Assembly for Harnessing a Pendulum Motion from Fluid Wave Energy for Conversion to Power

• US 20170067436A1
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiao Liang Li
• Original Assignee: Xiao Liang Li
• Inventors: Li, Xiao Liang
• Granted Patent: US 9,780,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2250/241 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/44 one element moving inside another one, e.g. wave-operated member (wom) moving inside another member (rem)
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1892 Generators with parts oscillating or vibrating about an axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

An assembly for harnessing a pendulum motion from fluid wave energy to convert to power. The assembly converts a fluid wave energy into electricity through a pendulum mechanism. The pendulum mechanism makes use of a buoyant sphere that floats in a fluid and absorbs wave energy, such as oscillations, vibrations, and disturbances known in wave energy, while floating in the fluid. A hemispherical pendulum swings in relation to the wave energy. The hemispherical pendulum transmits the swinging motion to an electrical generator for conversion to electricity. The harnessing of wave energy and swinging of the hemispherical pendulum is controlled through various components that balance and stabilize the assembly. The sphere comprises components to help control the irregularities from wave energy on the hemispherical pendulum through a directional guidance member, a velocity regulation member, and a stabilization member. A transmission cable transmits the electricity to a control center on shore.

Claims

1. An assembly for harnessing a pendulum motion from fluid wave energy to convert to power, the assembly comprising:

a sphere, the sphere defined by an outer surface, an inner surface, an interior region, a signal light, and an anchor, the sphere configured to have buoyancy for capturing wave energy;

a hemispherical pendulum, the hemispherical pendulum configured to swing freely in relation to the wave energy, the hemispherical pendulum further configured to alternate swinging between a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction;

an electrical generator, the electrical generator configured to operatively connect to the hemispherical pendulum, the electrical generator configured to convert the swinging motion of the hemispherical pendulum to electricity;

a first clutch, the first clutch configured to operatively connect the hemispherical pendulum to the electrical generator, the first clutch further configured to engage the hemispherical pendulum while swinging in the clockwise direction;

a first gear, the first gear configured to operatively connect to the first clutch, the first gear further configured to transmit a first rotational motion created by the engagement with the first clutch, wherein the first rotational motion actuates the electrical generator to at least partially generate electricity;

a second clutch, the second clutch configured to operatively connect the hemispherical pendulum to the electrical generator, the second clutch further configured to engage the hemispherical pendulum while swinging in the counter-clockwise direction;

a second gear, the second gear configured to operatively connect to the second clutch, the second gear further configured to transmit a second rotational motion created by the engagement with the second clutch, wherein the second rotational motion actuates the electrical generator to at least partially generate electricity;

a directional guidance member, the directional guidance member configured to help maintain the hemispherical pendulum in a substantially linear swinging path;

a velocity regulation member, the velocity regulation member configured to help maintain the hemispherical pendulum at a predetermined velocity while swinging;

a stabilization member, the stabilization member configured to stabilize the hemispherical pendulum while swinging;

a plurality of vinyl chained balance balls, the plurality of vinyl chained balance balls configured to help balance the sphere during rotation; and

a transmission cable, the transmission cable configured to carry the generated electricity.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sphere floats in a fluid.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the wave energy is generated by waves and current of the fluid.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sphere comprises two hemispherical-shaped halves that join together at a sealed junction.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sphere further includes a port, the port configured to enable access to the interior region of the sphere.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the signal light of the sphere is configured to blink, so as to alert to the location of the sphere.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor attaches the sphere to an ocean floor or a line.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sphere is fabricated from a buoyant material.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rate of the swing of the hemispherical pendulum is determined by the length of the connecting rod and the weight of the hemispherical pendulum.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the hemispherical pendulum crosses a central axis while swinging, the central axis representative of an equilibrium.

11. The assembly of claim 10, further including a rubber seal, the rubber seal configured to facilitate the swinging of the hemispherical pendulum about the central axis.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the stabilization member comprises a magnet mechanism that helps stabilize the hemispherical pendulum while swinging.

13. The assembly of claim 1, further including a horizontal axis slide, the horizontal axis slide configured to maintain the hemispherical pendulum in a linear pathway while swinging.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sphere comprises a transmission cable connector configured to join the transmission cable to the sphere.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the transmission cable is configured to carry the electricity to a control center on a shore.

16. An assembly for harnessing a pendulum motion from fluid wave energy to convert to power, the assembly comprising:

a sphere, the sphere defined by an outer surface, an inner surface, an interior region, a signal light, and an anchor, the sphere configured to have buoyancy for capturing wave energy;

a hemispherical pendulum, the hemispherical pendulum configured to swing freely in relation to the wave energy, the hemispherical pendulum further configured to alternate swinging between a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction, whereby the hemispherical pendulum is configured to cross a central axis while swinging;

a rubber seal, the rubber seal configured to facilitate the swinging of the hemispherical pendulum about the central axis;

a horizontal axis slide, the horizontal axis slide configured to maintain the hemispherical pendulum in a linear pathway while swinging;

a port, the port configured to enable access to the interior region of the sphere;

an electrical generator, the electrical generator configured to operatively connect to the hemispherical pendulum, the electrical generator configured to convert the swinging motion of the hemispherical pendulum to electricity;

a first clutch, the first clutch configured to operatively connect the hemispherical pendulum to the electrical generator, the first clutch further configured to engage the hemispherical pendulum while swinging in the clockwise direction;

a first gear, the first gear configured to operatively connect to the first clutch, the first gear further configured to transmit a first rotational motion created by the engagement with the first clutch, wherein the first rotational motion actuates the electrical generator to at least partially generate electricity;

a second clutch, the second clutch configured to operatively connect the hemispherical pendulum to the electrical generator, the second clutch further configured to engage the hemispherical pendulum while swinging in the counter-clockwise direction;

a second gear, the second gear configured to operatively connect to the second clutch, the second gear further configured to transmit a second rotational motion created by the engagement with the second clutch, wherein the second rotational motion actuates the electrical generator to at least partially generate electricity;

a directional guidance member, the directional guidance member configured to help maintain the hemispherical pendulum in a substantially linear swinging path;

a velocity regulation member, the velocity regulation member configured to help maintain the hemispherical pendulum at a predetermined velocity while swinging;

a stabilization member, the stabilization member configured to stabilize the hemispherical pendulum while swinging;

a plurality of vinyl chained balance balls, the plurality of vinyl chained balance balls configured to help balance the sphere during rotation; and

a transmission cable, the transmission cable configured to carry the generated electricity.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the wave energy is generated by waves and current of the ocean.

18. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the sphere comprises two hemispherical-shaped halves that join together at a sealed junction.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the signal light of the sphere is configured to blink, so as to alert to the location of the sphere.

20. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the stabilization member comprises a magnet mechanism that helps stabilize the hemispherical pendulum while swinging.