Compliant, scalable systems for capturing wave energy in two modes of wave motions

A wave energy harnessing and conversion system, comprising:

• a flexible membrane adapted to be disposed within an amount of water, the flexible membrane including a skeleton of flexible tubing to ensure that the flexible membrane retains its approximate overall form, the flexible membrane being vertically disposed to engage a horizontal component of the wave energy;
• a flotation component coupled to at least a top edge of the flexible membrane, the floatation component having an associated density less than a density of water, such that the flotation component is adapted to be disposed at or near the surface of the water;
• a plurality of intermediary cables each having one end secured to the flexible membrane or flotation component;
• a plurality of power generation systems positioned on a sea floor in proximity to the flexible membrane, wherein each of the plurality of intermediary cables is connected on its opposite end to one of the power generation systems,
• wherein each power generation system includes:
• a self-reeling line handling component that removes any slack of a corresponding line during a portion of the wave cycle in which motion is directed toward a corresponding power generation system;
• a reel that spins a shaft when a wave pulls the corresponding lines to or from the corresponding power generation system;
• and
• a gear coupled to the shaft that turns a rotator within a generator, thus harnessing energy;
• wherein energy is collected when the wave pulls the flexible membrane to one or more corresponding power generation systems,
• whereby each power generation system is prepared to harness energy from the wave motions.

A wave energy harnessing and conversion system comprising:

• a flexible membrane adapted to be disposed within an amount of water, the flexible membrane being vertically disposed to engage a horizontal component of the wave energy;
• at least two power generation systems positioned on a sea floor in proximity to the flexible membrane, with the at least two power generation systems being disposed on opposing sides of the flexible membrane,
• wherein each power generation system includes:
• a self-reeling line handling component that removes any slack of a corresponding line during a portion of the wave cycle in which motion is directed toward a corresponding power generation system;
• a reel that spins a shaft when a wave pulls the corresponding lines to or from the corresponding power generation system;
• and
• a gear coupled to the shaft that turns a rotator within a generator, thus harnessing energy;
• a first wheel assembly disposed proximate to one of the at least two power generation systems and a second wheel assembly disposed proximate to the other of the at least two power generation systems, each of the first and second wheel assemblies secured to the flexible membrane and to the respective at least two power generation systems, such that the first and second wheel assemblies are intermediary components of the system between the membrane and the at least two power generation systems,
• wherein each of the first and second wheel assemblies includes:
• an inner wheel disposed between and secured to a first outer wheel and a second outer wheel, the inner wheel having a diameter smaller than a diameter of each of the outer wheels, such that a rotation of the inner wheel rotates each of the outer wheels;
• and
• a plurality of intermediary cables forming a closed loop for the wave energy harnessing and conversion system, the plurality of intermediary cables securing the flexible membrane to each of the first and second wheel assemblies, the first wheel assembly to one of the at least two power generation systems, the second wheel assembly to the other of the at least two power generation systems, and the first wheel assembly to the second wheel assembly,
• wherein energy is collected when the wave pulls the flexible membrane to one or more corresponding power generation systems,
• whereby each power generation system is prepared to harness energy from the wave motions.