Wave energy converter utilizing internal reaction mass and spring

A wave energy converter (WEC) system comprising:

• a shell responsive to wave motion in a body of water;
• an internal oscillator including a reaction mass and a spring mechanism comprising a hydraulic cylinder and accumulator for coupling the reaction mass to the shell, said internal oscillator mounted within the shell and designed to move out of phase relative to the shell and wherein the shell and oscillator, being constructed such that, when placed in the body of water and in response to waves in the body of water, there is relative motion between the shell and the internal oscillator;
• a power take-off (PTO) device coupled between the shell and the internal oscillator for converting the motion between the shell and the internal oscillator into electrical energy;
• wherein the PTO and internal oscillator are located within the shell so as to be generally insulated from the body of water;
• and
• wherein the shell is designed to be submerged and to include a waterproof cavity in which the PTO and the internal oscillator are contained.

A wave energy converter (WEC) system comprising:

• a shell responsive to wave motion in a body of water;
• an internal oscillator including a reaction mass and a spring mechanism for coupling the reaction mass to the shell, said internal oscillator coupled to the shell and designed to move out of phase relative to the shell and wherein the shell and oscillator, being constructed such that, when placed in the body of water and in response to waves in the body of water, there is relative motion between the shell and the internal oscillator;
• a power take-off (PTO) device coupled between the shell and the internal oscillator for converting the motion between the shell and the internal oscillator into electrical energy;
• and
• wherein the spring mechanism is formed such that for a given linear displacement of the reaction mass the effective displacement of the spring mechanism is less than that of the reaction mass.

A wave energy converter (WEC) system comprising:

• a shell responsive to wave motion in a body of water;
• the combination of a reaction mass and a spring mechanism coupling the reaction mass to the shell, said combination mounted within the shell and designed to move out of phase relative to the shell and wherein when the shell and the combination are placed in the body of water and in response to waves in the body of water, there is relative motion between the shell and the combination;
• a power take-off (PTO) device, located within the shell, coupled between the shell and the reaction mass for converting their relative motion into electrical energy;
• and
• the spring mechanism being coupled to the reaction mass such that the effective displacement of the spring mechanism is less than the linear displacement of the reaction mass.