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US 6,476,512 B1Granted
Electricity generating wave pipe (or EGWaP)
OwnerStanley Ruttainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention produces electrical or other types of energy using ocean waves and a hollow pipe (tube or container) system with an internal float that uses a counter weight to work gears that turn a generator.
Claims6
A system, apparatus and method for the transformation of wave motion to useful energy such as electricity, comprising:
- at least one hollow pipe, tube or other hollowed out container with an end anchored to the floor of the ocean, sea or other wave producing entity whose length reaches and is significantly extended above the highest wave peak;
- said pipe (or tube or container) having apertures that provide uninhibited water flow and said pipe (or tube or container) also containing:
- an electro-mechanical chassis box or housing, also called the generator and drive assembly box, that houses and protects a generator and drive assembly and whose parts convert bi-directional movement (clockwise and counter-clockwise) into unidirectional movement, comprising:
- said generator,
- said drive assembly comprising:
- a generator drive gear,
- a main drive gear,
- a reverse gear that rides on said generator drive gear,
- a large counter-clockwise ratchet gear assembly that rides on said main drive gear and is ratcheted for counter-clockwise movement and also rides on said reverse gear,
- a large clockwise ratchet gear assembly that rides on said main drive gear and is ratcheted for clockwise movement and also rides on said generator drive gear,
- a belt whose course threads around said main drive gear and whose one end enters the said pipe's chamber through a small hole at the bottom of the said generator and drive assembly box and whose end on this side is attached to a float and whose other end leads from said main drive gear, exits the said generator and drive assembly box through a small opening and enters said pipe's chamber through a counter weight stop and terminates at this end with an attached counter weight;
- said counter weight is of sufficient weight to apply sufficient belt tension to said main drive gear as said float rises and descends with the waves while not impeding the said float's up and down movement within said pipe's chamber;
- said counter weight stop prevents damage to the said generator and drive assembly box from said counter weight;
- said float is kept from float skew by walls of said pipe and said float is kept from interfering with the said counter weight by float limit stops placed in the said pipe;
- and
- wherein said pipe is covered by a pipe cover which is attached and secured by a cover locking latch and hinge;
- and
- a protected electrical plug connects the electrical output of said generator to the transmission line.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.