Wave energy converter system of improved efficiency and survivability

An apparatus for use in a body of water for capturing energy from surface waves on said water body within a range of amplitudes up to a preselected maximum amplitude, the apparatus comprising a first member for being submerged a first depth beneath the water body surface and being reciprocally movable, in response to overpassing waves, relative to a second member and along a path the length of which is a function of the instantaneous amplitude of said overpassing waves;

• and
• a base member for anchoring the apparatus on a floor of said water body, said second member being fixedly attached to said base member, said base member having a weight sufficient for maintaining said base member in contact with said floor during the presence of surface waves up to said preselected amplitude while allowing lifting of said base member off said floor during the passage of surface waves having a preselected second amplitude in excess of said first amplitude.

An apparatus for use in a body of water for capturing energy from surface waves on said water body within a range of amplitudes up to a preselected maximum amplitude, the apparatus comprising a first member for being submerged a first depth beneath the water body surface and being reciprocally movable, in response to overpassing waves, relative to a second member and along a path the length of which is a function of the instantaneous amplitude of said overpassing waves;

• a base member for anchoring the apparatus on a floor of said water body;
• and
• said second member being pivotally mounted on said base member and being of such positive buoyancy as to extend substantially vertically upward from said base member.

An apparatus for use in a body of water for capturing energy from surface waves on said water body within a range of amplitudes up to a preselected maximum amplitude, the apparatus comprising a first member for being submerged a first depth beneath the water body surface and being reciprocally movable, in response to overpassing waves, relative to a second member and along a path the length of which is a function of the instantaneous amplitude of said overpassing waves;

• a transducer connected to said first member for converting kinetic energy of said first member to useful energy;
• and
• a force transfer linkage between said movable first member and a movable portion of said transducer, said transfer linkage providing a mechanical advantage for multiplying the force being transferred in inverse proportion to a reduction in the length of travel of said transducer movable portion compared to the path length of said first member.