Reciprocating generator wave power buoy

• US 6,791,205 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aqua Magnetics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aqua Magnetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Woodbridge, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/255,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 290/42, 290/53, 310/17, 441/16
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/1845 and the wom slides relative to the rem
• 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 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A Reciprocating Generator Wave Power Buoy consists of a reciprocating generator rigidly attached to the underside of an ocean buoy and creates electric power from the surface ocean swells. The generator coil maintains a stable position beneath the ocean surface while the magnetic field housing reciprocates with the vertical motion of the buoy in response to interaction with swell and waves on the surface of the ocean. Damping plates attached to the generator coil inhibit the motion of the generator coil, thus keeping it in a stable position relative to the motion of the magnetic housing. The magnetic housing focuses the magnetic field through the generator coil and the relative motion between the magnetic housing and generator coil creates an electromotive force in the coil. The design of the generator provides a uniform field of single magnetic orientation throughout the entire stroke of the generator. Permanent magnets and electromagnet windings create and enhance the magnetic field of the reciprocating generator.

Claims

1. A reciprocating electric generator for use in an oscillating fluid comprising:

a magnetic core having a magnetic center pole and radially configured outer poles to form an elongated annular bore extending thereinto and capped on both ends, said magnetic core being adapted to be submerged in an oscillating fluid;

a plurality of permanent magnets mounted in said magnetic core along the outside diameter of said annular bore;

a generator coil formed on a bobbin and slidably mounted in said annular bore;

damping plates rigidly attached to the upper and lower ends of said generator coil at a minimum of three equally spaced angular locations and extending out from said generator coil for resisting the movement of generator coil to applied forces on the coil, thereby maintaining the generator coil in a stable position;

said magnetic core having at least three linear spaces in the outside diameter of said annular bore to allow said damping plates to extend out from the said generator coil;

vertical structural members connecting said upper and lower damping plates to form a rigid structure;

buoy member floating on the surface of an oscillating fluid; and

a rigid structure rigidly attached to the underside of said buoy member to hold said magnetic core and said generator coil at a predetermined fixed distance beneath said buoy member;

whereby said magnetic core moves responsive to movement of said buoy on an oscillating fluid and said generator coil remains in a steady position with respect to the moving magnetic core to thereby produce electric power responsive to the movement of a buoy when positioning said buoy to float on an oscillating fluid.

2. The reciprocating electric generator for use in an oscillating fluid in accordance with claim 1 having linear bearing material mounted linearly along the sides of said gaps in said annular bore to aid in the slidability of the magnetic core damping plates.

3. The reciprocating electric generator for use in an oscillating fluid in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of permanent magnets mounted along the inside diameter of said annular bore.

4. The reciprocating electric generator for use in an oscillating fluid in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality of electromagnetic windings mounted in series with said permanent magnets along the outside diameter of said annular bore and being electrically coupled to said generator coil to thereby generate an electromagnetic field within said annular bore when said magnetic core moves relative to said generator coil and permanent magnet magnetic field, thereby increasing the magnetic field in the magnetic core.

5. The reciprocating electric generator for use in an oscillating fluid in accordance with claim 1 in which the upper damping plates extend out from the top of the generator coil and connect to a flat ring encircling the outside of said generator and the lower generator coil damping plates connect to a flat ring that encircles the outside of the generator and said structural members connect the upper and lower damping plates and rings to provide structural strength where said rings increase the damping plate surface area and create more resistance to the generator coil movement in the still fluid.

6. A reciprocating electric generator for use in an oscillating fluid in accordance with claim 1 including a plurality of neutral buoyancy tanks attached to said generator coil such that said generator coil is suspended in a fluid at a depth below the buoy in the vertical center location of said annular bore during times when the oscillating fluid has no oscillations on its surface.

7. A reciprocating electric generator for use in an oscillating fluid in accordance with claim 1 including energy absorbers mounted at each end of said generator to cushion the impact when said generator housing makes contact with the generator coil during large swells that exceed the maximum stroke length of the generator.