Wave and wind motion energy transducer

• US 4,256,971 A
• Filed: 11/16/1979
• Issued: 03/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rodney Griffith
• Original Assignee: Rodney Griffith
• Inventors: Griffith, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rebsch, D. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/095,509
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 290/53, 290/42, 290/43, 114/39, 115/4, 417/330, 417/331, 417/332, 417/333
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/009 Wind propelled vessels comprising arrangements, installations or devices specially adapted therefor, other than wind propulsion arrangements, installations, or devices, such as sails, running rigging, or the like, and other than sailboards or the like or related equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/002 by using electric power
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/04 from power plant other than propulsion power plant
• 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 2210/16 Air or water being indistinctly used as working fluid, i.e. the machine can work equally with air or water without any modification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

At least two spaced apart eccentric weights are rotatably mounted about vertical axles. The weights are coupled to advance a drive mechanism in a single direction when the weights move about their respective axles in either direction of rotation. The drive mechanism is coupled to a flywheel mounted upon a vertical axle and rotatable therewith. The transducer may be mounted athwartship in a floating vessel or supported on a mast or other support which is subjected to wind or wave motion. The eccentric weights oscillate irregularly about their axles under the influence of the rolling and pitching motion imparted by wind or waves. The motion of the eccentric weights thereby drives the flywheel in a single direction to provide useful power.

Claims

1. An energy transducer comprising a plurality of laterally spaced apart eccentric weights mounted for rotation upon vertical drive axles, a flywheel coupled for rotation with a vertical flywheel shaft, interconnecting drive linkage means, for driving said flywheel in response to movement of said eccentric weights, and clutch means engageable by said eccentric weights as said weights rotate in either direction to advance said drive linkage means to rotate said flywheel and said flywheel shaft in a single direction of rotation.

2. An energy transducer according to claim 1 mounted in a floating structure.

3. An energy transducer according to claim 2 further characterized in that said vertical drive axles are located near the lateral periphery of said floating structure and on opposite sides of the center of gravity thereof.

4. An energy transducer according to claim 1 further characterized in that said flywheel axle is coupled to drive an electrical generator.

5. An energy transducer according to claim 1 further characterized in that the degree of eccentricity of the mass of said eccentric weights relative to said vertical drive axles is adjustable.

6. An energy transducer according to claim 1 further characterized in that said drive axles and said flywheel axle are carried in a rigid framework which is supported in a flowing fluid upon an upright support which responds elastically to changes in fluid motion.

7. An energy transducer according to claim 6 further characterized in that said transducer is pole mounted in the air and exposed to the wind.