Water action powered pump

Abstract

Method and apparatus wherein complex multiplanar surface motion of the sea or other fluid body is converted into usable energy. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a pair of flexible tubular pumping elements that pump a fluid, such as sea water, to load such as a storage means or an energy converter such as a turbine driven prime mover. The apparatus makes use of multiplanar waves and surface currents that axially flex the pumping elements to provide hydraulic or pneumatic pressure for pumping the water. Floats distributed along the pumping elements support the apparatus horizontally at the surface of the sea and act as a breakwater. Lever arm struts, attached to the floats, are coupled together with swivel connector linkage to form a flexible beam or truss structure that permits the pumping elements to flex axially as complex wave systems and currents apply natural multiplanar forces to the floats. Protective chord segments, connected between adjacent strut ends, act as an expansion curb to prevent the pumping elements from flexing or expanding excessively due to strong surface currents and waves. Output tube segments connected to outlet valves on the pumping elements direct pumped fluid to a collector tube for transfer to the load. The output tube segments may be formed of flexible tubing or the lever arm struts may be tubular and adapted for delivering the pumped fluid to the collector tube. To maximize sensitivity of the apparatus and minimize vulnerability to damage the fluid carrying collector tube is maintained below the surface of the water and the apparatus is provided with an anti-fouling coating to prevent such resistance as barnacle build-up.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.