# US 5,708,305 A · Ocean wave energy conversion system

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- Number: US 5,708,305 A
- Document ID: US5708305A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/624,258
- Filed: 1996-03-29
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1996-03-29
- Inventors: Douglas E. Wolfe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708305A

## CPC

- F03B 13/1815: {with an up-and-down movement}
- Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A multi-tiered support structure, with each of the tiers having a horizontally rotating pivoted arm having a float and paddle arrangement on one end and the opposite end is attached to an air compressor. As the waves hit the paddles the pivot arms will operate the compressors to store energy. This energy can then be used to produce electrical or other types of energy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wave energy conversion system for capturing the energy of ocean waves comprising:
a support platform having a base and tiers spaced at different heights above said base,
each tier having means for rotatably supporting a horizontal arm at one end of said arm,
said arms being of different lengths,
another end of said arm significantly extended from said support platform, and
having float means attached adjacent thereto,
said another end of said arm also having means for receiving the force of ocean waves and current for transferring said force to said arms,
said one end of said arms being attached to a compression means for compressing fluids, and having means for transferring said compressed fluids to a storage facility.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wave energy conversion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tiers have restraining means mounted thereon for limiting movement of said arms in one direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wave energy conversion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compression means is a dual action compression piston.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method of capturing wave energy utilizing the wave energy conversion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method comprises:
establishing a support structure adjacent an ocean,
providing different platforms at different heights on said support structure,
attaching a horizontal rotating arm to a pivot point on each of said platforms,
attaching a flotation means adjacent a distal end of each arm,
attaching a means for capturing wave and current energy to said distal end of each arm,
providing a fluid compression means adjacent said pivot point,
connecting said fluid compression means to said arms,
connecting said fluid compression means to a storage means.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A wave energy conversion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arms have a length and a width, and
said arms rotate in a horizontal plane which is substantially coextensive with said length.