Wave energy recovery system
AssigneeWave Energy Recovery Inc.
InventorsAlexander Greenspan, Greg Greenspan, Gene Alter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention includes novel apparatus and methods for recovering energy from water waves. An embodiment of the present invention includes a buoy, a shaft, and an electric power generating device. The shaft is coupled to the buoy such that when the buoy moves vertically in response to a passing wave, the shaft rotates. The shaft is coupled to the electric power generating device such that when the shaft rotates, the generating device produces electric power. Once electric power is generated, it is delivered to shore, where it is stored, used to power a device, or delivered to a power distribution grid.
Claims20
A wave energy recovery system comprising:
- a motion translating assembly comprising;
- a main buoy;
- and
- a shaft coupled to said main buoy, wherein vertical motion of said main buoy is translated into rotational motion of said shaft;
- and
- an electric power generating device coupled to said shaft, wherein rotational motion of said shaft results in said electric power generating device generating electric power.
A wave energy recovery system comprising:
- a motion translating assembly comprising;
- a main buoy;
- and
- a shaft coupled to said main buoy, wherein vertical motion of said main buoy is translated into rotational motion of said shaft;
- a pump coupled to said shaft, wherein rotational motion of said shaft results in said pump generating pressure;
- a pressure line coupled to said pump;
- and
- an electric power generating device coupled to said pressure line.
A method for recovering energy from waves comprising:
- positioning a plurality of buoys in a body of water;
- positioning a shaft in said body of water;
- positioning an electric power generating device in said body of water or proximate to said body of water;
- coupling each of said plurality of buoys to said shaft;
- coupling said shaft to said electric power generating device;
- translating vertical motion of said buoy to rotational motion of said shaft;
- and
- engaging rotational motion of said shaft to said electric power generating device to generate electric power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.