Dynamic breakwater and pumping system

A system for pumping water in response to motion of a body of water, the system comprising:

• a member displaceable within the body of water in response to the motion;
• a pump comprising a housing defining a chamber, a water inlet and a water outlet each attached to the housing and communicating with the chamber, a piston located within the chamber and displaceable along a predetermined axis to pump water received at the inlet to the outlet, and valve means coupling the inlet and the outlet to the chamber such that displacement of the piston along the predetermined axis pumps water from the inlet to the outlet;
• means connecting the piston to the member such that displacement of the member displaces the piston along the predetermined axis;
• and,
• a plurality of roller assemblies spacing the piston from the housing, each of the roller assemblies comprising an elongate roller and means mounting the roller to one of the housing and the piston for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the predetermined axis, each of the rollers contacting a flat surface defined by the other of the housing and the piston and oriented substantially parallel to the predetermined axis.

A breakwater system adapted to pump water from a body of water, comprising:

• an underwater stationary base fixed to a solid subsurface supporting the body of water;
• a breakwater comprising a portion located below a surface of the body of water and a portion protruding upwardly through the surface;
• means supporting the breakwater on the base for displacement along a generally horizontal displacement axis;
• spring means connected between the base and the breakwater for urging the breakwater toward a predetermined rest position such that wave action against the breakwater produces a reciprocating movement of the breakwater along the displacement axis to and from the rest position;
• a pump comprising a water inlet immersed in the water and a water outlet;
• and,
• means connecting the pump to the breakwater such that the reciprocating movement operates the pump to pump water from the inlet to the outlet.