Tidal energy converter apparatus

An apparatus, comprising:

• a buoyant body configured to float on a body of water;
• and
• a cylinder assembly comprising:
• a cylinder housing;
• and
• a piston in the cylinder housing, wherein:
• the cylinder housing defines a first chamber on a first side of the piston and a second chamber on a second side of the piston;
• the cylinder housing defines a fluid inlet connected to the first chamber and a fluid outlet connected to the first chamber;
• the piston is coupled to the buoyant body;
• upward movement of the buoyant body during a rising tide phase of the body of water induces a first movement of the piston in a first direction;
• the first movement of the piston induces transfer of a fluid from a fluid source into the first chamber through the fluid inlet;
• downward movement of the buoyant body during a falling tide phase of the body of water induces second movement of the piston in a second direction different than the first direction;
• and
• the second movement of the piston induces transfer of the fluid from the first chamber to outside the first chamber through the fluid outlet.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a buoyant body configured to float on a body of water;
• a weighted structure;
• a weighted structure support assembly comprising a lock mechanism and a release mechanism;
• and
• a cylinder assembly comprising:
• a cylinder housing;
• and
• a piston in the cylinder housing, wherein:
• the cylinder housing defines a first chamber on a first side of the piston and a second chamber on a second side of the piston;
• the cylinder housing defines a fluid inlet fluidly connected to the first chamber and a fluid outlet fluidly connected to the first chamber;
• the piston is coupled to the weighted structure;
• upward movement of a surface of the body of water associated with a rising tide phase of the body of water induces upward movement of the buoyant body from a first buoyant body elevation to a second buoyant body elevation;
• the upward movement of the buoyant body from the first buoyant body elevation to the second buoyant body elevation induces upward movement of the weighted structure from a first weighted structure elevation to a second weighted structure elevation;
• the upward movement of the weighted structure from the first weighted structure elevation to the second weighted structure elevation induces a first movement of the piston in a first direction;
• the first movement of the piston induces transfer of a fluid from a fluid source into the first chamber through the fluid inlet;
• the lock mechanism engages the weighted structure to support the weighted structure at the second weighted structure elevation in response to the weighted structure reaching the second weighted structure elevation;
• downward movement of the surface of the body of water associated with a falling tide phase of the body of water induces downward movement of the buoyant body from the second buoyant body elevation to the first buoyant body elevation;
• during the downward movement of the buoyant body from the second buoyant body elevation to the first buoyant body elevation, the buoyant body engages the release mechanism;
• the engagement of the buoyant body with the release mechanism disengages the lock mechanism from the weighted structure to allow downward movement of the weighted structure from the second weighted structure elevation to the first weighted structure elevation;
• the downward movement of the weighted structure induces a second movement of the piston in a second direction different than the first direction;
• and
• the second movement of the piston induces transfer of the fluid from the first chamber to outside the first chamber through the fluid outlet.