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US 8,508,063 B2Granted
Direct drive rotary wave energy conversion
AssigneeColumbia Power Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKenneth Edward Rhinefrank, Bradford Storrs Lamb, Joseph Horan Prudell, Alphonse Aloysius Schacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for converting wave energy using the relative rotational movement between two interconnected float assemblies and the relative rotational movement between each of the float assemblies and a spar which extends from a connection with the float assemblies at the water surface into the water.
Claims20
A wave energy converter comprising:
- i) a motor housing having a central longitudinal axis;
- ii) a spar mated with the motor housing and having a bottom end region for extension into a body of water;
- iii) a first float positioned to rotate about the central longitudinal axis;
- iv) a second float positioned to rotate about the central longitudinal axis;
- and
- v) a first power take off mounted within the motor housing, the first power take off being rotably coupled to the first float by a first drive shaft oriented along the central longitudinal axis;
- and
- vi) a second power take off mounted within the motor housing, the second power take off being rotably, coupled to the second float by a second drive shaft oriented along the central longitudinal axis.
5 more elements
A method for generating power comprising the steps of:
- i) providing a wave energy converter comprising:
- (1) a motor housing having a central longitudinal axis;
- (2) a spar mated with the motor housing and having a bottom end region for extension into a body of water;
- (3) a first float positioned to rotate about the central longitudinal axis;
- (4) a second float positioned to rotate about the central longitudinal axis;
- and
- (5) a first power take off mounted within the motor housing, the first power take off being rotably coupled to the first float by a first drive shaft oriented along the central longitudinal axis;
- and
- (6) a second power take off mounted within the motor housing, the second power take off being rotably coupled to the second float by a second drive shaft oriented along the central longitudinal axis coaxial with the first drive shaft;
- and
- ii) deploying the wave energy converter within a wave field.
8 more elements
A wave energy converter comprising:
- i) a motor housing having a central longitudinal axis;
- ii) a spar having a bottom end region for extension into a body of water;
- iii) a first float positioned to rotate about the central longitudinal axis;
- iv) a second float positioned to rotate about the central longitudinal axis;
- and
- v) a first power take off comprising a rotor and a stator section, the first power take off being mounted within the motor housing, the stator section being rotably coupled to the first float through a first drive shaft and the rotor section being rotably coupled to the second float through a second drive shaft.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.