Wave activated generator

• US 4,539,485 A
• Filed: 10/07/1983
• Issued: 09/03/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victor L. Neuenschwander
• Original Assignee: Victor L. Neuenschwander
• Inventors: Neuenschwander, Victor L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duncanson, Jr., W. E.
• Application Number:
  US06/540,602
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 290/42, 290/53, 417/100, 417/330, 417/331, 417/333, 60/497, 60/501, 60/502
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/187 and the wom directly actuates the piston of a pump
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/707 of the linear type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A wave activated generator utilizes the principle of providing relative movement between a permanent magnet and a coil to induce an electrical current in the coil. The coil is situated in a static tube anchored to the sea bed by means of a ballast tank at the base of the tube and guy wires extending from the tube. A plunger with permanent magnets is mounted in the tube for vertical reciprocation of the plunger, the plunger projecting outwardly from the upper end of the tube and terminating in a hull-shaped float which rides the water surface and provides vertical reciprocation of the plunger responsive to wave motion in order to move the magnets relative to the coil and generate current in the coil.

Claims

1. An electrical generator structure adapted to be mounted in the sea for actuation by wave motion comprising an elongate static tube assembly, means for anchoring the tube assembly in vertically extending relation on a seabed, an electrical induction coil extending lengthwise within the tube assembly, means for providing connection of the respective ends of the coil with electrical apparatus external to the tube assembly, a rod vertically reciprocably received within the tube assembly, the rod having an upper end portion projecting from an upper end of the tube assembly, at least one magnet on the rod internally of the coil, and a float on the upper end portion of the rod adapted to be located at the water surface so as to rise and fall responsive to wave motion thereby providing vertical reciprocation of the magnet effective to induce an electrical current in the coil, wherein the float is of elongate navicular hull-shaped form, having a lenticular-shaped upper surface and a hull-shaped lower surface and the rod is freely rotatably mounted in the tube structure.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the float is flat.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the rod is received in the tube assembly through liquid-excluding and rod-locating and supporting sealing means contained in a fitting at the top of the tube assembly.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the tube assembly comprises an outer tube and an inner non-magnetic, self-lubricating tube around which the coil is located, the rod and magnet being received plunger-wise in the inner tube.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the anchoring means includes a ballast foot on the base of the tube assembly.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the anchoring means includes means for securing guy wires to the tube assembly for anchoring in the seabed.

5. The invention of claim 5 including air circulation vents in the inner tube.

8. An undersea electrical generator comprising a static tube assembly, means for anchoring the assembly on the seabed, a float assembly extending from the tube assembly and including a freely rotatable elongate hull-shaped float for location at the water surface, the float being adapted to rise and fall responsive to wave motion and to self-align with respect to incoming waves, magnetic induction means within the tube assembly having components associated with the float and tube assemblies, respectively, for generating electrical current by magnetic induction responsive to rising and falling movements of the float, and means for providing a flow path for current produced by said induction means to the exterior of the tube assembly.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the induction means comprises an induction coil associated with the tube assembly and magnet means carried by the float assembly within the coil.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the length of the coil is sufficient to accommodate reciprocation of the magnet means through tidal and wave height variations so that the generator is substantially continuously current producing.

11. The invention of claim 8 wherein the anchoring means comprises a ballast foot on the base of the tube assembly and guy wires extending from the tube assembly for anchoring to the seabed and providing lateral stability to the generator.

12. The invention of claim 8 wherein the float has a flat lenticular-shaped upper surface and a hull-shaped lower surface.