Energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy

• US 8,242,621 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Toby D., Tate, Ralph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/543,905
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 290/42, 290/43, 290/53, 290/54, 417/331
• US Class Current: 290/53
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/048 with hull extending principally vertically
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/4466 for converting water energy into electric energy, e.g. from tidal flows, waves or currents
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/18 having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 11/107 Direction control of propulsive fluid B63H11/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/46 Steering or dynamic anchoring by jets or by rudders carrying jets steering or dynamic anchoring by deflecting or directing main propulsion jets B63H11/00
• 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 2220/707 of the linear type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

An energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy includes a housing, an inertial power pump for converting wave motion to electrical energy, an electrical energy storage pod operably associated with the inertial power pump, and a propulsion unit for propelling the buoy. The inertial power pump is extensible from the housing.

Claims

1. An energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy, comprising:

a housing;

an inertial power pump for converting wave motion to electrical energy, the inertial power pump extensible from the housing;

an electrical energy storage pod operably associated with the inertial power pump; and

a water driven propulsion unit for propelling the buoy;

wherein the inertial power pump comprises;

a plurality of electrical coils; and

one or more magnets configured to be urged by wave motion to move along the plurality of coils.

2. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, the inertial power pump further comprising:

a cylinder defining a cavity;

a rod;

a piston disposed at a first end of the rod, the piston disposed in the cavity; and

a member disposed at a second end of the rod;

wherein the one or more magnets are affixed to the rod between the piston and the member.

3. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 2, the inertial power pump further comprising:

a fluid disposed in the cavity about the piston;

wherein the piston defines at least one opening therethrough for flow of the fluid.

4. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 3, wherein the openings are adjustable openings.

5. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, further comprising:

a navigation system.

6. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a receiver and a transmitter; and

an antenna for receiving or transmitting at least one of global positioning system data, differential global positioning system data, and radio frequency data.

7. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, further comprising:

a hydrophone.

8. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, wherein the buoy is configured to operate in at least one of a pre-programmed mode, an autonomous mode, and a real-time direction mode.

9. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, wherein the propulsion unit comprises:

a Y-shaped tube having an inlet leg and two outlet legs;

a pump disposed in the inlet leg; and

a valve for adjusting outputs of the outlet legs.

10. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a metrology sensor, a sonar unit, a spoofing unit, a jamming unit, and an anti-tamper unit.

11. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, further comprising:

a power management system for managing power generated by the inertial power pump.

12. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 11, wherein the power management system is operable to manage power stored in the electrical energy storage pod.

13. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, wherein mechanical operation of the inertial power pump is damped by mechanical biasing devices.

14. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, wherein the buoy is operably associated with a drag-inducing device for retarding a speed of the buoy as the buoy is dropped in a body of water.

15. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 14, wherein the drag-inducing device is a parachute.

16. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 15, wherein the parachute is a ballute.

17. The energy-harvesting, self-propelled buoy of claim 1, wherein the buoy is capable of maintaining a position within a body of water during use within a predetermined zone.