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US 10,082,127 B2Granted
Wave energy converter with negative spring
AssigneeNorweigian University of Science and Technology
InventorJørgen Hals Todalshaug
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wave energy convertor for extracting energy from ocean waves. The wave energy convertor may include a buoy arranged to oscillate relative to a reference point about an equilibrium position and a negative spring device connected between the buoy and the reference point, wherein the negative spring device is for applying a positive force in the direction of displacement when the buoy moves away from the equilibrium position.
Claims18
A wave energy convertor for extracting energy from ocean waves comprising:
- a buoy arranged to oscillate relative to a reference point about an equilibrium position;
- and a negative spring device connected between the buoy and the reference point, wherein the negative spring device is for applying a positive force in the direction of displacement when the buoy moves away from the equilibrium position and wherein the negative spring device includes a plurality of negative springs arranged circumferentially about an axis along the direction of movement and in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement, with each negative spring applying a positive force in the direction of displacement when the buoy moves away from the equilibrium position.
A method of extracting energy from ocean waves comprising:
- allowing a buoy to oscillate, due to wave motion, about an equilibrium position relative to a reference point;
- and using a negative spring device, providing a positive force between the buoy and the reference point when the buoy moves away from the equilibrium position, the positive force being in the direction of displacement between the buoy and the equilibrium position and wherein the negative spring device includes a plurality of negative springs arranged circumferentially about an axis along the direction of movement and in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement, with each negative spring applying a positive force in the direction of displacement when the buoy moves away from the equilibrium position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.