System for converting tidal wave energy into electric energy

A system for converting marine surface wave energy into electric energy, said system comprising:

• (a) a barrier disposed in a generally vertical position and having at least a portion thereof disposed above a surface of said body of water, said portion having a substantially planar surface disposed substantially transverse to direction of marine surface waves;
• (b) means for pivotally connecting a bottom edge of said barrier to at least one of a floor bed, rigid formation and a rigid structure;
• (c) at least one vertical chamber disposed within said barrier;
• (d) at least one electric generator positioned within said at least one vertical chamber and coupled to a storage of electric energy;
• and
• (e) means for enacting rotational movement of a stator disposed within said at least one electric generator during pivotal movement of said barrier.

A system for converting marine surface wave energy into electric energy, said system comprising:

• (a) a barrier disposed generally vertically and having at least a portion thereof disposed above a surface of said body of water, said portion having a substantially planar surface disposed substantially transverse to direction of marine surface waves;
• (b) a predetermined plurality of spaced apart pylons at least partially disposed in a vertical direction within said floor bed and aligned in a first linear pattern substantially transverse to direction of marine surface waves;
• (c) a predetermined plurality of elongated members, each of said predetermined plurality of elongated members having each of a hollow interior and one end thereof disposed on and secured to said bottom edge of said barrier;
• (d) a hinge assembly pivotally connecting an opposed end of said each of said predetermined plurality of elongated members to an exposed end of a respective one of said predetermined plurality of first pylons;
• (e) a predetermined plurality of elongated chambers disposed within said barrier, each of said predetermined plurality of elongated chambers having a longitudinal axis thereof aligned in vertical direction;
• (f) a predetermined plurality of first electric generators, each of said predetermined plurality of first electric generators mounted within a respective elongated chamber and coupled to a storage of electric energy, said each of said predetermined plurality of first electric generators having a stator mounted for a rotational movement;
• (g) means for imparting said rotational movement of said stator;
• (h) a predetermined plurality of first air passages, each of said predetermined plurality of first air passages formed through a top end of a respective one of said predetermined plurality of first electric generators;
• (i) a predetermined plurality of second air passages, each of said predetermined plurality of second air passages formed through a bottom end of said respective one of said predetermined plurality of first electric generators;
• (j) a source of pressurized air supply, said source having at least an air pump;
• (k) an air manifold connecting an output of said air pump with each of said predetermined plurality of first air passages;
• (l) at least one column having a bottom end imbedded in said floor bed and having an opposed second end thereof positioned above said surface of said body of water;
• (m) a base member secured in a substantially horizontal plane to said at least one column;
• (n) a predetermined plurality of second electric generators supported above said surface of said body of water in said substantially horizontal plane on at least one of said at least one column and said base member;
• (o) means for pivotally connecting a distal end of a movable portion of each of said predetermined plurality of second electric generators to an inner surface of said barrier;
• (p) wherein each of said predetermined plurality of second electric generators disposed and coupled to said storage of electric energy;
• (q) at least one stop mounted on a selected one of said predetermined plurality of columns;
• (r) at least one powered attenuator having a stationary member thereof supported above said surface of said body of water in said substantially horizontal plane on said at least one of said at least one column and said base member and having a movable member thereof reciprocally movable in said substantially horizontal plane in a linear direction generally transverse to said inner surface of said barrier;
• (s) means for pivotally connecting a distal end of said movable member of said at least one attenuator to said inner surface of said barrier;
• and
• (t) a control means for controlling movement of said movable member of said at least one attenuator.

A system for converting marine surface wave energy into electric energy, said system comprising:

• (a) a barrier disposed generally vertically and having at least a portion thereof disposed above a surface of said body of water, said portion having a substantially planar surface disposed substantially transverse to direction of marine surface waves;
• (b) means for pivotally connecting a bottom edge of said barrier to at least one of a floor bed, a rigid formation and a rigid structure;
• and
• (c) a baffle mounted on said substantially planar surface of said barrier at or adjacent to a top edge thereof, said baffle having a continuous surface shaped and disposed to receive, in a generally transverse manner, said marine surface waves recoiling from said substantially planar surface of said barrier.

An electric generator comprising:

• (a) a housing having a hollow tubular cross section in a plane transverse to a length thereof, said housing having a helical thread formed on each end portion of an inner peripheral surface;
• (b) a first end member closing one end of said housing and having a helical thread formed on an outer surface thereof and operatively engaging a helical thread formed on one end of said housing;
• (c) a second end member closing an axially opposed end of said housing and having a helical thread formed on an outer surface thereof and operatively engaging a helical thread formed on an opposed end of said housing;
• (d) a center aperture formed through a thickness of said first end member;
• (e) an annular coil stack mounted within a hollow interior of said housing mediate said first and second end members;
• (f) a shaft centrally disposed within said housing, said shaft having a threaded end portion thereof extending outwardly from outer surface of said first end member through said center aperture;
• (g) a seal seated on said shaft in abutting engagement with said outer surface of said first end member and covering said aperture thereof;
• (h) nut fastener operatively engaging said threaded end portion of said shaft and biasing said seal against said outer surface of said first end member;
• (i) a pair of bearings, each of said pair of bearings bearing secured inwardly of a respective end member;
• (j) a pair of collars, each of said pair of collars secured to said outer surface of said shaft in operative alignment with a respective bearing;
• (k) a first annular gap formed between an inner peripheral surface of said each bearing and an outer peripheral surface of a respective collar;
• (l) a plurality of annular permanent magnets secured in series on an outer surface of said shaft;
• (m) a second annular gap formed between an inner peripheral surface of said coil stack and an outer peripheral surface of said magnets;
• and
• (n) a bearing mounted within a center cavity formed in said second end member and operatively receiving a lower end of said shaft.

An electric generator comprising:

• (a) an elongated housing having each of a tubular cross section in a plane transverse to a length thereof, a closed front end and an axially opposed closed rear end;
• (b) a center aperture formed through a thickness of the front end;
• (c) at least one annular coil stack mounted within a hollow interior of said housing mediate ends thereof;
• (d) a shaft centrally disposed within said housing;
• (e) a plurality of annular permanent magnets secured in series on an outer surface of said shaft;
• (f) a plurality of annular spacers secured on said outer surface of said shaft and interposed with said plurality of annular permanent magnets;
• (g) a second annular gap formed between an inner peripheral surface of said coil stack and an outer peripheral surface of said magnets and said spacers;
• (h) a sliding bearing mounted at each end of said shaft;
• (i) a centering block mounted at said each of said shaft adjacent to a respective sliding bearing;
• (j) a resilient bumper mounted on and surface of each end of said shaft;
• (k) a seal mounted internal to said housing adjacent said front end thereof;
• (l) a drive rod having a proximal end thereof secured to a front end of said shaft, said drive rod extending outwardly from outer surface of said front end through said center aperture;
• (m) an annular flange secured to said drive rod adjacent to a distal end thereof;
• (n) bellows having one end thereof secured to said annular flange and having an opposed end thereof secured to said front end of said housing;
• (o) a coiled attenuating compression spring caged within said bellows between said closed front end of said housing and said annular flange;
• and
• (p) a pivot mounted said distal end of said drive rod.