US 5,473,892 AGranted

Apparatus for generating high pressure fluid in response to water weight changes caused by waves

OwnerThomas B. Margittaiinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A fluid pressurizing unit for generating high pressure fluid by utilizing the water weight changes caused by the presence of a wave crest or wave trough directly above the apparatus. The apparatus is positioned under the surface of a body of water having waves and has a plunger having a flat disk at its upper end. The plunger moves vertically with respect to a rigidly mounted cylinder, which defines a fluid chamber having a cross sectional area less than the surface area of the flat disk. A conduit, in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, conducts water from the body of water, or fluid from an inlet tank, to the fluid chamber and pressurized fluid to a collection tank. Inlet and outlet check valves insure that fluid does not flow from the collection tank to the fluid chamber, or from the fluid chamber to the water source or inlet tank. Preferably, a plurality of such units are arranged hydraulically in parallel with one another. In this embodiment, a single collection tank collects pressurized fluid from the individual units.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for pressurizing fluid from a source of unpressurized fluid and collecting the pressurized fluid in a collection tank, said apparatus comprising:

a stable base adapted to be positioned below the surface of a body of water having waves;
a cylinder mounted to said base and defining a fluid chamber having a cross-sectional area;
fluid conducting means for conducting fluid from the source of unpressurized fluid to the collection tank and having:
(a) an inlet portion adapted for conducting fluid from the source of unpressurized fluid,
(b) an outlet portion adapted for conducting fluid to the collection tank, and
(c) a central portion disposed between said inlet portion and said outlet portion and in fluid communication with said fluid chamber;
a plunger movable within said cylinder and sealingly engaging the inside of said cylinder and having:
(a) a lower end which further defines said fluid chamber, and
(b) an upper end;
a flat disk, having a surface area greater than said cross-sectional area of said fluid chamber, disposed parallel to the surface of the body of water and coupled to said upper end of said plunger;
means for:
(a) driving said plunger upward to an extended position in response to the presence of a wave trough above said flat disk, and
(b) permitting said plunger to be driven downward to a compressed position in response to the presence of a wave crest above said flat disk;
first flow control means, disposed in the inlet portion of said fluid conducting means, for:
(a) permitting fluid flow from the source of unpressurized fluid to said fluid chamber as said plunger is moved upward, and
(b) preventing fluid flow from said fluid chamber to the source of unpressurized fluid as said plunger is moved downward;
and
second flow control means, disposed in the outlet portion of said fluid conducting means, for:
(a) permitting fluid flow from said fluid chamber to the collection tank as said plunger is moved downward, and
(b) preventing fluid flow from the collection tank to said fluid chamber as said plunger is moved upwards.

17 more elements

An apparatus for pressurizing fluid from a source of unpressurized fluid and collecting the pressurized fluid in a collection tank, said apparatus comprising:

a stable base adapted to be positioned below the surface of a body of water having waves;
a cylinder mounted to said base and defining a fluid chamber having a cross-sectional area;
a conduit, extending through said base, for conducting fluid from the source of unpressurized fluid to the collection tank and having:
(a) an inlet portion adapted for conducting fluid from the source of unpressurized fluid,
(b) an outlet portion adapted for conducting fluid to the collection tank, and
(c) a central portion disposed between said inlet portion and said outlet portion and in fluid communication with said fluid chamber;
a plunger movable within said cylinder and sealingly engaging the inside of said cylinder and having:
(a) a lower end which further defines said fluid chamber, and
(b) an upper end;
a flat disk, having a surface area greater than said cross-sectional area of said fluid chamber, disposed parallel to the surface of the body of water and coupled to said upper end of said plunger;
a flexible member coupled to said base and said flat disk and enclosing an air chamber isolated from said fluid chamber and inflated with air to a pressure sufficient to:
(a) drive said plunger upward to an extended position in response to the presence of a wave trough above said flat disk, and
(b) permit said plunger to be driven downward to a compressed position in response to the presence of a wave crest above said flat disk;
an inlet check valve, disposed in the inlet portion of said conduit, having means for:
(a) permitting fluid flow from the source of unpressurized fluid to said fluid chamber as said plunger is moved upward, and
(b) preventing fluid flow from said fluid chamber to the source of unpressurized fluid as said plunger is moved downward;
and
an outlet check valve, disposed in the outlet portion of said conduit, having means for:
(a) permitting fluid flow from said fluid chamber to the collection tank as said plunger is moved downward, and
(b) preventing fluid flow from the collection tank to said fluid chamber as said plunger is moved upwards.

17 more elements

A system for collecting pressurized fluid comprising:

a source of unpressurized fluid;
a collection tank for collecting pressurized fluid;
and
a plurality of fluid pressurizing units, hydraulically connected in parallel with one another and each comprising:
(a) a stable base adapted to be positioned below the surface of a body of water having waves,
(b) a cylinder mounted to said base and defining a fluid chamber having a cross-sectional area,
(c) a conduit, extending through said base, for conducting fluid from the source of unpressurized fluid to the collection tank and having:
(i) an inlet portion adapted for conducting fluid from the source of unpressurized fluid,
(ii) an outlet portion adapted for conducting fluid to the collection tank, and
(iii) a central portion disposed between said inlet portion and said outlet portion and in fluid communication with said fluid chamber,
(d) a plunger movable within said cylinder and sealingly engaging the inside of said cylinder and having:
(i) a lower end which further defines said fluid chamber, and
(ii) an upper end,
(e) a flat disk, having a surface area greater than said cross-sectional area of said fluid chamber, disposed parallel to the surface of the body of water and coupled to said upper end of said plunger,
(f) a flexible member coupled to said base and said flat disk and enclosing an air chamber isolated from said fluid chamber and inflated with air to a pressure sufficient to:
(i) drive said plunger upward to an extended position in response to the presence of a wave trough above said flat disk, and
(ii) permit said plunger to be driven downward to a compressed position in response to the presence of a wave crest above said flat disk,
(g) an inlet check valve, disposed in the inlet portion of said conduit, having means for:
(i) permitting fluid flow from the source of unpressurized fluid to said fluid chamber as said plunger is moved upward, and
(ii) preventing fluid flow from said fluid chamber to the source of unpressurized fluid as said plunger is moved downward, and
(h) an outlet check valve, disposed in the outlet portion of said conduit, having means for:
(i) permitting fluid flow from said fluid chamber to said collection tank as said plunger is moved downward, and
(ii) preventing fluid flow from said collection tank to said fluid chamber as said plunger is moved upwards.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/293,587Filed 22 Aug 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 15 Sep 1993
Granted: 12 Dec 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F03B 13/148
Using wave energy: using the static pressure increase due to the wave
F03B 13/187
And the wom slides relative to the rem: and the wom directly actuates the piston of a pump
F05B 2240/40
Components: use of a multiplicity of similar components
F05B 2280/5001
Intrinsic material properties or characteristics: elasticity