Drivetrain for a wave energy converter
AssigneeOscilla Power Inc.
InventorTimothy R Mundon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for WEC system for a wave energy converter. The system includes a buoyant object, a reaction body and a line coupling the reaction body and the buoyant object. The system further includes a drivetrain coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body. The drivetrain includes a sheave coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body and an actuator coupled to the sheave. The line is coupled to the sheave, wherein movement of the buoyant object relative to the reaction body applies a force to the sheave. The force on the sheave drives the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to apply a spring force.
Claims20
A wave energy converter system, comprising:
- a buoyant object;
- a reaction body coupled to the buoyant object by one or more lines;
- one or more drivetrains coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body, wherein the one or more drivetrains comprise:
- a sheave coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body, wherein the one or more lines are coupled to the sheave, wherein movement of the buoyant object relative to the reaction body applies a force to the sheave.
A drivetrain for a wave energy converter, comprising:
- a sheave coupled to a buoyant object, wherein the buoyant object is coupled to a reaction body by one or more lines, wherein the line is coupled to the sheave, wherein movement of the buoyant object relative to the reaction body applies a force to the sheave.
A wave energy converter system, comprising:
- a buoyant object, wherein the buoyant object is a surface float;
- a reaction body coupled to the buoyant object by two or more lines and the lines are flexible;
- a drivetrain coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body, wherein the drivetrain comprises:
- a sheave coupled to one of the buoyant object or reaction body, wherein two or more lines are coupled to the sheave, wherein movement of the buoyant object relative to the reaction body applies a force to the sheave;
- an actuator coupled to the sheave, wherein the force on the sheave drives the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to apply a spring force;
- and
- a generator, wherein the sheave is configured to drive the generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.