US 9,909,554 B2Granted

Device and method for converting wave motion energy into electric power

AssigneesFederico Ghiringhelli, Giuseppe Andrea Varlonga

InventorFederico Ghiringhelli

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A device and a method for converting wave motion energy into electric power are described. The device includes at least one support structure and a support frame to connect the floating element to the support structure. A linear element of motive power mounted on the support frame is movable with respect to the floating element and transfers motion to a motion conversion and transmission unit that converts linear motion into rotary motion, which drives kinetic energy accumulation elements and one or more electric power generators. The motion conversion and transmission unit, the kinetic energy accumulation elements and the electric power generators are all incorporated in the floating element.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A device (1) for converting wave motion into electric power, comprising at least one floating element (1b), at least one floating support structure (1a) and a support frame to connect said floating element to said support structure, said support frame comprising at least one hanger rod (5a) supporting a linear element of motive power and being movable with respect to said floating element, the device further comprising a motion conversion and transmission unit that converts linear motion into rotary motion and at least one electric power generator that can be operated directly or indirectly by said motion conversion and transmission unit, wherein the device comprises means of kinetic energy accumulation and stabilization of the position of the floating element (1b) in water, defined by at least two contrarotating flywheels (2a, 2b) coaxial with an axis parallel to the linear element of motive power and incorporated together with said motion conversion and transmission unit and said at least one electric power generator in said floating element (1b), arranged at an adjustable distance with respect to said support structure (1a) along said hanger rod (5a) fastened to and integral with said support structure (1a).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/103,944Filed 9 Dec 2014
Priority: IT MI13A206411 Dec 2013
Published: US 2016/0377047 A129 Dec 2016
Granted: 6 Mar 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F03B 13/20
Using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem": wherein both members…
F03B 13/186
Where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression: the connection being of the rack-and-pinion type
F03B 13/1885
Where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore: and the wom is tied to the rem
H02K 7/025
Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels: for power storage

Family

US 2016/0377047 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Dec 2016
US 9,909,554 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Abstract

Facts

Application

15/103,944Filed 9 Dec 2014

Priority

IT MI13A206411 Dec 2013

Published

US 2016/0377047 A129 Dec 2016

Granted

6 Mar 2018

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F03B 13/20
Using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem": wherein both members…
F03B 13/186
Where the connection between wom and conversion system takes tension and compression: the connection being of the rack-and-pinion type
F03B 13/1885
Where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore: and the wom is tied to the rem
H02K 7/025
Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels: for power storage