Watercraft equipped with a wave-powered electricity generating system and a deployable tow buoy

• US 9,688,373 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Application Number:
  US14/975,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 440 6, 440 9, 440 10
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/15 for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/32 Flaps, pistons, or the like, reciprocating in propulsive direction
• 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: B63J 2003/003 using photovoltaic power generation, e.g. using solar panels
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/02 from propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/16 using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/1815 with an up-and-down movement
• 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 2240/931 which is a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

This disclosure provides improved nautical craft that can travel and navigate on their own. A hybrid vessel is described that converts wave motion to locomotive thrust by mechanical means, and also converts wave motion to electrical power for storage in a battery. The electrical power can then be tapped to provide locomotive power during periods where wave motion is inadequate and during deployment. The electrical power can also be tapped to even out the undulating thrust that is created when locomotion of the vessel is powered by wave motion alone.

Claims

1. A wave-powered apparatus configured for deployment on a body of water, comprising:

(a) a mechanically powered propulsion system comprising a surface component that is buoyant, a separate underwater component configured and weighted to be suspended underwater, and one or more tethers that connect the underwater component to the surface component;

wherein the propulsion system is configured to produce locomotive thrust that propels the apparatus horizontally through the water by harvesting energy caused by waves lifting and lowering the surface component in relation to the underwater component, and mechanically converting the harvested energy into the locomotive thrust;

(b) a generating system configured to generate electrical power from movement of the apparatus in the water; and

(c) a control system configured to adjust the proportion of force used by the propulsion system to produce locomotive thrust in relation to the proportion of force used by the generating system to generate electrical power.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to dampen the propulsion system, thereby decreasing the proportion of force used by the propulsion system to produce locomotive thrust in relation to the proportion of force used by the generating system to generate electrical power.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to dampen the generation system, thereby increasing the proportion of force used by the propulsion system to produce locomotive thrust in relation to the proportion of force used by the generating system to generate electrical power.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to mechanically and reciprocally adjust the amount of locomotive thrust generated by the propulsion system and the amount of electrical power generated by the generating system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system comprises a plurality of fins mounted on the underwater component that mechanically provide the locomotive thrust when actuated by rising and falling of the underwater component in the water.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generating system is structured to harvest energy caused by vertical movement of the surface component relative to the underwater component and to mechanically convert the harvested energy into the electrical power.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tether(s) connect the surface component to the underwater component through a corresponding swing arm mounted to the surface component or the underwater component;

wherein motion imparted on the swing arms by the lifting and lowering of the surface component drives the generating system to produce the electrical power.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein swing arms(s) are pivotally mounted and spring loaded so as to assume a neutral position in the absence of tension on the respective tether, but to assume a spring-loaded position when the tether is under tension, whereby potential energy released by the swing arm(s) when returning from the spring-loaded position to the neutral position is converted by the generating system to electrical power.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generating system is structured to harvest energy caused by movement of the apparatus horizontally in water and to mechanically convert the harvested energy into the electrical power.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the generating system comprises a fin or turbine that is situated so that it is made to rotate when the apparatus moves horizontally in the water, and is configured to harvest energy from rotation of the fin or turbine and to convert the energy into the electrical power.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control system is configured to variably dampen movement of the fins of the propulsion system caused by waves lifting and lowering the surface component, whereby the proportion of motion of the apparatus that is used to generate propulsive force can be reduced in favor of electrical power generation.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control system is configured to variably dampen movement of the fin or turbine of the generating system, whereby the proportion of wave motion used for electrical power generation can be reduced in favor of generating locomotive thrust.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control system is configured to dampen movement of the swing arms of the generating system, whereby the proportion of wave motion used for electrical power generation can be reduced in favor of generating locomotive thrust.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein operation of the control system is directed by a microprocessor.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) an electrically powered propulsion system configured to propel the apparatus horizontally through the water; and

(e) a battery configured to store electrical power generated by the electrical generator and to feed electrical power to the motor to provide horizontal thrust to the apparatus through the water.

16. A wave-powered apparatus configured for deployment on a body of water, comprising:

(a) a mechanically powered propulsion system comprising a surface component that is buoyant, a separate underwater component configured and weighted to be suspended underwater, and one or more tethers that connect the underwater component to the surface component;

wherein the propulsion system is configured to produce locomotive thrust that propels the apparatus horizontally through the water by harvesting energy caused by waves lifting and lowering the surface component in relation to the underwater component, and mechanically converting the harvested energy into the locomotive thrust; and

(b) a generating system that is separate and operates independently from the propulsion system, wherein the generating system is configured to generate electrical power from movement of the apparatus in the water.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the generating system comprises a fin or turbine that is situated so that it is made to rotate when the apparatus moves horizontally in the water, and is configured to harvest energy from rotation of the fin or turbine and to convert the energy into the electrical power.

18. A wave-powered watercraft, comprising:

(a) a surface component that is buoyant;

(b) a propulsion system configured to mechanically convert wave motion to locomotive thrust of the watercraft;

(c) a hollow of a particular shape located within the surface component;

(d) a tow buoy that is sized and shaped to fit securely and releasably within the hollow;

(e) a tow rope connecting the tow buoy to the surface component;

(f) a microprocessor that controls and navigates the watercraft; and

(g) a tow-buoy deploying system;

wherein the watercraft is configured and programmed to navigate to a launch site, and upon reaching the launch site to deploy the tow buoy out of the surface component by way of the deploying system, and thereafter to tow the tow-buoy behind the surface component by way of the tow rope.

19. The watercraft of claim 18, further comprising one or more underwater components connected to the surface component by way of one or more tethers, whereby the watercraft is configured to harvest energy caused by waves lifting and lowering the surface component and to mechanically convert the harvested energy into the locomotive thrust.

20. The watercraft of claim 19, wherein the underwater component(s) are configured to nest securely against the bottom of the surface component during travel to the launch site, and to be deployed downwards upon reaching the launch site.

21. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the deploying system comprises one or more ramps inside the hollow that are complementary in shape to the tow buoy, and rollers that are situated to guide the tow buoy along the ramps.

22. The watercraft of claim 21, wherein the rollers are situated on the tow buoy.

23. The watercraft of claim 18, further comprising a battery connected to an electrically powered motor configured to power the watercraft to the launch site.

24. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the tow buoy comprises elevator fins configured to alter the pitch of the tow buoy, thereby controlling depth of the tow buoy while it is being pulled.

25. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the tow buoy is configured to contain and distribute fertilizer or another substance into water in which the watercraft is situated.

26. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the tow buoy is equipped with sensors to determine one or more aspects of its surroundings, selected from weather, marine life, activities on shore, behavior of other watercraft, and chemical characteristics of water or air.