Process and device for harnessing wave energy

#Prior to the present invention it had been the common belief tht if a series of rows of spaced-apart floats were subjected to waves hitting consecutively the floats in the consecutive ones of the series, that the first would drain the major amount of energy from the wave and subsequent ones would have solely residual energy of the wave and not be of much benefit in so far as any energy that might be captured from the upward and downward reciprocation of the subsequent floats. Also, according to very sophisticated mathematics, diminishing returns were obtained by any such system, and also by such mathematics, the amount of energy that could foreseeably be obtained was expected to be inconsequential to a degree of insignificance, in so far as having any commercial potential to industry and public utilities or the like.

#Objects of the present invention, when experimentation was begun with controlled man-made waves fully simulative of sea and ocean waves, were to discover new methods and combinations of equipment for enhancing the harnessing of wave energy.

#Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

#FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically in perspective view a vast area of the sea or ocean having floats mounted on typically upright upwardly extending levers reciprocatable along the elongated axes thereof by action of the waves and water pressure waves acting upon the floats individually and as a unit to pool harnessed energy. There are illustrated sea bottom wave and turbulence devices, as well as deflectors of the main body of water, variably mounted as to the direction of adjustment.

#FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 each illustrate diagrammatically differing arrangements and shapes, respectively, of a plurality of floats relative to known directions of waves and/or tides, or the like, in elevation plan.

#FIG. 5 illustrates the position of a float as the water recedes therefrom leaving the float partially suspended until the water has receded sufficiently for the mass of the float and other associated mass to cause the float to surge downwardly, showing direction typically of water currents as substantially has been verified by photography, shown in side view diagrammatically.

#FIG. 1 illustrates a set of plurality of floats as set 7 of floats 10 including forward float 11 and rearward float 12, and a sea bottom deflector 13 shown in underwater 9 of water body 8, and other turbulance producers 14 and 15, and variable horizontal deflector 16 motored by diagrammatic control and motor 19, and the float levers 20, and the common drive shaft 21 and further common machinery 22 on the land 37; the main body of water 8 normally flows in direction 23 but at other times in direction 24 whereupon water in direction of flow direction 24 is deflected in direction 25 by the deflectors, the set 17 including individual deflectors 18. Water flowing beneath the surface as direction 26 is deflected into direction 27 upwardly angularly; water moving in direction 30 and 28 generally, is beneath the surface deflected by the deflector 14 in direction 31 and deflector 15 in direction 29. Surface water waves moving in direction 32 results in residual water pressure waves 33 and 34 to strike surfaces 35 and 36 respectively.

#FIG. 2 illustrates the shore 37' and the body of water 8' having the spherical floats' set 38 in the arrangement shown relative to the arrow direction of waves/current or the like.

#FIG. 3 illustrates the shore 37" with the body 8" having the set 39 of floats relative to the main body of water flow shown and with the already explained residual deflected waves.