Wave activated power generation system with the rack and pinion mechanism

A system for wave activated power generation, comprising:

• a platform;
• and
• a plurality of buoys vertically positioned to rise and fall relative to motion of waves impacting the buoy and the platform, wherein each of the plurality of buoys includes
• a plurality of rack and pinion structures each operatively connected between a corresponding one of the buoys and the platform such that a pinion element of each rack and pinion structure generates rotating torque by moving along a corresponding rack element in response to the corresponding buoy rising and falling by the wave motion, and
• a plurality of power generator units each operative connected to a corresponding rack and pinion structure to generate electricity in response to rotating torque generated by the corresponding pinion element, and
• wherein each of the plurality of buoys includes a plurality of heatproof plastic tubes as internal pressure pillars, each of the plastic tubes having four walls and being square shaped in cross section, a hollow interior of each of the plastic tubes being filled with plastic foam particles, an external surface of each foam particle-filled plastic tube being wrapped with soft FRP prepreg material, and the plurality of foamed plastic tubes together being covered by soft FRP prepreg material.

A method of manufacturing a buoy for a wave activated power generation device, the buoy being formed so as to be vertically positioned to rise and fall relative to motion of waves impacting the buoy, the method comprising the steps of:

• forming a plurality of heatproof plastic tubes to be internal pressure pillars, each of the plastic tubes having four walls and being shaped square in cross section;
• filling a hollow interior of each of the plastic tubes with plastic foam particles;
• wrapping an external surface of each foam particle-filled plastic tube with soft FRP prepreg material;
• applying heat to each foam particle-filled plastic tube to cause the foam particles to foam in the plastic tube;
• assembling the plurality of foamed plastic tubes together and wrapping the plurality of foamed plastic tubes with the soft FRP prepreg material;
• operatively connecting the assembled plastic tubes to a rack and pinion structure positioned on a platform such that a pinion element of the rack and pinion structure generates rotating torque by moving along the rack element in response the assembled plastic tubes rising and falling by the wave motion;
• and
• operatively connecting a power generator unit to the rack and pinion structure to generate electricity in response to rotating torque generated by the pinion element.