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US 9,175,664 B2Granted
Wave energy conversion
AssigneeCETO IP Pty Ltd.
InventorsJonathan Pierre Fievez, Greg John Allen, Laurence Drew Mann
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AssigneeCETO IP Pty Ltd.
InventorsJonathan Pierre Fievez, Greg John Allen, Laurence Drew Mann
Estimating the term…
An apparatus is provided for harnessing ocean wave energy, wherein the apparatus relieves excessive loadings on components to avoid damage thereof in adverse wave conditions. The apparatus includes a buoyant actuator and a pump anchored within the body of water. Fluid at high pressure is pumped ashore by the pump, energy is extracted as useful work at an on-shore plant, and the resultant reduced pressure fluid is returned to the offshore pump to be re-energized. The buoyant actuator is operably connected to the pump by tether and is buoyantly suspended within the body of water above the pump. The buoyant actuator is provided with a connector that includes a damping mechanism configured to maintain a substantially rigid connection between the hollow body and the tether until such time as loading therebetween exceeds a prescribed load whereupon the damping mechanism facilitates limited relative movement therebetween to relieve the loading.
A buoyant apparatus comprising a hollow body presenting an exterior surface, the hollow body being adapted to be continuously located below a water surface during operation, a damping means associated with the hollow body for connecting the hollow body to a tether, the damping means providing a yieldingly resilient connection between the hollow body and the tether, the buoyant apparatus being operatively connectable to a separate pump by way of a coupling which includes the tether.
A wave energy conversion system comprising a buoyant apparatus comprising a hollow body presenting an exterior surface, the hollow body being adapted to be continuously located below a water surface during operation, one or more buoyancy chambers accommodated within the hollow body, and an opening means within the body permitting water to enter the hollow body, a pump operably connected to the buoyant apparatus to undergo a pumping action in response to wave motion, the pump being incorporated in a hydraulic circuit along which fluid is delivered by the pump, means associated with the hydraulic circuit for controlling characteristics of the fluid delivered by the pump, the pump having a first port and a second port, wherein the pump is configured to block communication between the second port and the working chamber as the working chamber approaches a minimum volume condition, whereby the rate at which the fluid can discharge from the contracting working chamber is restricted when the second port is blocked, thereby causing that portion of the fluid still remaining in the working chamber to be compressed at a far more rapid rate and so delivering far greater resistance to continued movement of the piston head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.