Wave power components

• US 8,287,323 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liquid Robotics, Inc. (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Liquid Robotics, Inc. (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Hine, Roger G., Hine, Derek L., Rizzi, Joseph D., Kiesow, Kurt A. F., Burcham, Robert, Stutz, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Application Number:
  US12/082,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20080188150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 114/293, 440/3, 440/9, 440/13, 440/17, 440/18, 440/19, 440/20, 441/3, 441/12, 441/16, 441/23
• US Class Current: 440/9
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/006 Unmanned surface vessels, e.g. remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/36 swinging sideways, e.g. fishtail type
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 19/02 by using energy derived from movement of ambient water, e.g. from rolling or pitching of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 19/04 propelled by water current
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/028 using remote control means, e.g. wireless control; Equipment or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/045 making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

A wave-powered water vehicle includes a surface float, a submerged swimmer, and a tether which connects the float and the swimmer, so that the swimmer moves up and down as a result of wave motion. The swimmer includes one or more fins which interact with the water as the swimmer moves up and down, and generate forces which propel the vehicle forward. The vehicle, which need not be manned, can carry communication and control equipment so that it can follow a course directed by signals sent to it, and so that it can record or transmit data from sensors on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A wave-powered water vehicle which comprises

a float which

(A) when it is floating in still water, has a horizontal length and a horizontal breadth, the breadth being at most 0.3 times the length,

(B) comprises

(i) a satellite-referenced position sensor,

(ii) communications equipment for receiving signals, and

(iv) communications equipment for sending signals, and

(C) does not include any component for propelling the float forward,

a swimmer, and

a tether connecting the float and the swimmer,

the float, swimmer and tether being such that, when the vehicle is in still water,

(i) the float is on or near the surface of the water,

(ii) the swimmer is submerged below the float, and

(iii) the tether is under tension;

the swimmer, when the vehicle is in wave-bearing water, interacting with the water to generate forces which move the float horizontally.

2. A wave-powered water vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the float comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of devices to detect twisting of the tether and devices to correct twisting of the tether.

3. A float which

(A) when it is floating in still water, has a horizontal length and a horizontal breadth, the breadth being most 0.3 times the length,

(B) comprises

(i) a satellite-referenced position sensor,

(ii) communications equipment for receiving signals, and

(v) communications equipment for sending signals,

(C) does not include any component for propelling the float forward, and

(D) comprises an upper surface which, when the float is floating in still water, is substantially horizontal and exposed above the surface of the water.

4. A float according to claim 3 which has 20-500 lbs of buoyancy.

5. A float according to claim 3 which comprises solar cells.

6. A float according to claim 3 wherein the length of the float is 3 to 10 feet.

7. A float according to claim 3 which comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of compasses, gyroscopes, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, sensors of electromagnetic radiation, chemical sensors, magnetometers, biological sensors, geological sensors, water current sensors, depth sensors, speedometers, equipment for imaging the sea floor, sensors of climatic changes, and hydrophones.

8. A float according to claim 3 which comprises an outer shell comprising a polymeric composition.

9. A float which

(A) when it is floating in still water, has a horizontal length and a horizontal breadth, the breadth being at most 0.3 times the length,

(B) comprises

(i) a satellite-referenced position sensor,

(ii) communications equipment for receiving signals, and

(vi) communications equipment for sending signals,

(C) does not include any component for propelling the float forward, and

(D) comprises equipment for collecting samples of one or more of water, air, aquatic organisms, sea animals, vegetables and minerals.

10. A float which

(A) when it is floating in still water, has a horizontal length and a horizontal breadth, the breadth being at most 0.3 times the length,

(B) comprises

(i) a satellite-referenced position sensor,

(ii) communications equipment for receiving signals, and

(vii) communications equipment for sending signals,

(C) does not include any component for propelling the float forward, and

(D) comprises means for reversibly altering the buoyancy of the float, the means being selected from one or both of (i) chambers which can be inflated with air to increase buoyancy and deflated to reduce buoyancy, and (ii) chambers which can be filled with water to decrease buoyancy and evacuated to increase buoyancy.

11. A float which

(A) when it is floating in still water, has a horizontal length and a horizontal breadth, the breadth being at most 0.3 times the length,

(B) comprises

(i) a satellite-referenced position sensor,

(ii) communications equipment for receiving signals, and

(viii) communications equipment for sending signals,

(C) does not include any component for propelling the float forward, and

(D) comprises flaps which are folded in and have little effect on drag when the float is moving forward, but which fan out and increase drag when the float is moving backwards.

12. A wave-powered water vehicle which comprises

a float which

(A) when it is floating in still water, has a horizontal length and a horizontal breadth, the breadth being at most 0.3 times the length;

(B) comprises

(i) a satellite-referenced position sensor,

(ii) a computer system which is linked to the satellite-referenced position sensor,

(iii) communications equipment for receiving signals,

iv) communications equipment for sending signals,

(ix) solar cells,

(x) at least one device whose function is controlled by signals received by the communications equipment and which is selected from the group consisting of compasses, gyroscopes, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, sensors of electromagnetic radiation, chemical sensors, magnetometers, biological sensors, geological sensors, water current sensors, depth sensors, speedometers, equipment for imaging the sea floor, sensors of climatic changes, and hydrophones;

(C) does not include any component for propelling the float forward; and

(D) comprises an outer shell comprising a polymeric composition,

a swimmer, and

a tether connecting the float and the swimmer,

the float, swimmer and tether being such that, when the vehicle is in still water,

(i) the float is on or near the surface of the water,

(ii) the swimmer is submerged below the float, and

(iii) the tether is under tension;

the swimmer, when the vehicle is in wave-bearing water, interacting with the water to generate forces which move the float horizontally.

13. A wave-powered water vehicle which comprises

a float which

(A) when it is floating in still water, has a horizontal length and a horizontal breadth, the breadth being most 0.3 times the length,

(B) comprises

(i) a satellite-referenced position sensor,

(ii) communications equipment for receiving signals, and

(xi) communications equipment for sending signals,

(C) does not include any component for propelling the float forward, and

(D) comprises an upper surface which, when the float is floating in still water, is substantially horizontal and exposed above the surface of the water,

a swimmer, and

a tether connecting the float and the swimmer,

the float, swimmer and tether being such that, when the vehicle is in still water,

(i) the float is on the surface of the water,

(ii) the swimmer is submerged below the float, and

(iii) the tether is under tension;

the swimmer, when the vehicle is in wave-bearing water, interacting with the water to generate forces which move the float horizontally.