Compressed air producing, tidal and wave-power collection apparatus for installation in large bodies of water

A wave-power collection apparatus for installation in a large body of water for converting wave energy into high pressure compressed air, for collecting said air in said apparatus, and for transmitting said compressed air to a preselected consumption site, comprising:

• (a) at least three power collection means, each of which is embedded in the floor of said body of water and extends to protrude for a preselected distance above the high water line thereof, said power collection means further comprising a pilaster, one end of which is embedded in said floor and the other end of which protrudes above said high water line, said power collection means further comprising a float means trackingly mounted on said pilaster for floating at the water's surface, and an air compressor means for compressing air, said air compressor means being disposed within said pilaster, and said power collection means further comprising power transmission means for converting and transmitting the movement of said float means resulting from variations in the level of said water to said compressor means to drive the compressor means, an output of said compressor means being in fluid communication with said conduit means, said conduit means and said output being disposed in fluid communication with the fluid-tight gas chamber defined within said float means, whereby said float means may act as a reservoir for compressed air produced by said compressor means;
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• (b) bridging means engaging portions of said power collection means above said high water line for rigidly interconnecting said power collection means said bridging means extending from each of said power collection means to at least two adjacent ones of said power collection means to create a rigid collection module.

A wave-power collection apparatus for installation in a large body of water for converting wave energy into high pressure compressed air, for collecting said air in said apparatus, and for transmitting said compressed air to a preselected consumption site, comprising:

• (a) at least three power collection means, each of which is embedded in the floor of said body of water and extends to protrude for a preselected distance above the high water line thereof, said power collection means further comprising a pilaster, one end of which is embedded in said floor and the other end of which protrudes above said high water line, said power collection means further comprising a float means trackingly mounted on said pilaster for floating at the water's surface, said power collection means further comprising track means disposed substantially between said float means and said pilaster, for guiding the movement of said float means with respect to said pilaster, said tracking means further comprising a plurality of inwardly depending wheels mounted on said float means, and said pilaster having disposed on an outer surface thereof at least one track for receiving and guiding said wheels along a preselected axis with respect to said pilaster, said float means comprising a plurality of arcuate, tubular sections, each of said sections being fluid-sealed with respect to its adjacent sections to form a fluid-tight chamber therein, each of said tubular sections terminating in outwardly depending flanges, spaced apart portions of each of said flanges comprising wheel mounting means for mounting one of said tracking wheels on said float means;
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• (b) bridging means engaging portions of said power collection means above said high water line for rigidly interconnecting said power collection means said bridging means extending from each of said power collection means to at least two adjacent ones of said power collection means to create a rigid collection module.

A wave-power collection apparatus for installation in a large body of water for converting wave energy into high pressure compressed air, for collecting said air in said apparatus, and for transmitting said compressed air to a preselected consumption site, comprising:

• (a) at least three power collection means, each of which is embedded in the floor of said body of water and extends to protrude for a preselected distance above the high water line thereof, said power collection means further comprising a pilaster, one end of which is embedded in said floor and the other end of which protrudes above said high water line, said power collection means further comprising a float means trackingly mounted on said pilaster for floating at the water's surface, and an air compressor means for compressing air, said air compressor means being disposed within said pilaster, and said power collection means further comprising power transmission means for converting and transmitting the movement of said float means resulting from variations in the level of said water to said compressor means to drive the compressor means, said power transmission means further comprising a drive shaft mounted for rotation in a preselected rotational direction, swell drive means for driving said drive shaft in said rotational direction in response to the ascension of said float with respect to said pilaster, and gravitational drive means for driving said drive shaft in said rotational direction in response to descension of said float relative to said pilaster, said swell drive means and said gravitational drive means each comprising a rack, a shaft mounted pinion, and a unidirectional clutch mounted on said main drive shaft, said power transmission further comprising a flywheel mounted on said shaft, said compressor means, said flywheel and at least portions of said drive shaft being disposed within said pilaster;
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• (b) bridging means engaging portions of said power colllection means above said high water line for rigidly interconnecting said power collection means, said bridging means extending from each of said power collection means to at least two adjacent ones of said power collection means to create a rigid collection module.

A wave-power collection apparatus for installation in a large body of water for converting wave energy into high pressure compressed air, for collecting said air in said apparatus, and for transmitting said compressed air to a preselected consumption site, comprising:

• (a) at least three power collection means, each of which is embedded in the floor of said body of water and extends to protrude for a preselected distance above the high water line thereof, said power collection means further comprising a pilaster, one end of which is embedded in said floor and the other end of which protrudes above said high water line, said power collection means further comprising a float means trackingly mounted on said pilaster for floating at the water's surface, and an air compressor means for compressing air, said air compressor means being disposed within said pilaster, and said power collection means further comprising power transmission means for converting and transmitting the movement of said float means resulting from variations in the level of said water to said compressor means to drive the compressor means, said power transmission means further comprising a drive shaft mounted for rotation in a preselected rotational direction, swell drive means for driving said shaft in said rotational direction in response to the ascension of said float with respect to said pilaster, and gravitational drive means for driving said drive shaft in said rotational direction in response to descension of said float relative to said pilaster, said swell drive means and said gravitational drive means each comprising a rack, a shaft mounted pinion, and unidirectional clutch mounted on said main drive shaft, said rack being pivotally attached to at least a portion of said float means;
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• (b) bridging means engaging portions of said power collection means above said high water line for rigidly interconnecting said power collection means said bridging means extending from each of said power collection means to at least two adjacent ones of said power collection means to create a rigid collection module.