Apparatus for extracting power from water waves

An apparatus for extracting power from water waves comprising:

• a first member pivotally connectable to an adjacent member about a first axis of rotation for relative movement between the first member and the adjacent member when the apparatus is subjected to kinetic energy of a water wave,
• the apparatus further comprising two pairs of coaxial bevel gears arranged to rotate about the first axis of rotation, wherein rotation of a first bevel gear of each pair of the two pairs of bevel gears is permitted in a first direction and restricted in a second direction opposite the first direction, and rotation of the second bevel gear of each pair of the two pairs bevel gears is permitted in the second direction and restricted in the first direction opposite the second direction,
• the apparatus further comprising a first set of two rotatable shafts each arranged to extend in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the first axis of rotation, each rotatable shaft of the first set having a pinion at one end meshing with each bevel gear of a corresponding pair of bevel gears of the two pairs of bevel gears, the end of each rotatable shaft of the first set opposite the pinion end connected to a first gear system such that the two pairs of bevel gears are each linked to the first gear system by a corresponding rotatable shaft of the first set, said first gear system configured, in use, to increase a rotational velocity input to the first gear system by the connected rotatable shafts of the first set,
• the first gear system connected to a drive shaft housed within the first member, said drive shaft operable to rotate about an axis of rotation upon rotation of the first set of rotatable shafts and activation of the first gear system so as to drive an electric generator connected to the drive shaft,
• the apparatus further comprising a first plurality of coaxial flywheels housed within the first member and rotatable about the axis of rotation of the drive shaft, each flywheel of the first plurality connectable to the drive shaft and configured to store rotational energy upon rotation of the drive shaft,
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in use, upon relative movement between the first member and the adjacent member, one of the bevel gears of each pair of bevel gears associated with the first axis of rotation freewheels and the other bevel gear of each pair of the two pairs of bevel gears engages with the corresponding pinion to drive each rotatable shaft of the first set in a same direction regardless of a direction of rotation of the first member relative to the second member about the first axis of rotation so as to drive the first gear system, the first plurality of flywheels and the electric generator for the generation of electricity.