TIDE AND WAVE MOTORS

A tide-powered electrical generator wherein the energy from successive rising tides is stored in the form of potential energy for selective conversion to electricity. A float is constrained to vertical motion and it raises on successive tides a weight by means of a jack bar to reach a maximum predetermined...     

Method and apparatus wherein complex multiplanar surface motion of the sea or other fluid body is converted into usable energy. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a pair of flexible tubular pumping elements that pump a fluid, such as sea water, to load such as a storage means or an energy converter...     

In a preferred embodiment, a clamping structure is mounted around a drilling-bit tube and is structured for permitting the clamping structure to rotate in counter-clockwise direction slidably around the drilling-bit tube and to permit the clamping structure to slide upwardly on the drilling-bit tube...     

A device for utilizing energy stored in wave motion. A buoyant body on the water surface is anchored so as to permit free, unrestricted vertical movement when acted upon by a heaving wave. An energy collecting member connected to the buoyant body and including propeller blades is located at a depth where...     

An electrical generator is powered by the kinetic energy in ocean waves breaking at the shore. Waves are directed up an inclined surface through which an intake port is defined at a level substantially below the average wave height and extending across the entire length of the generator. Water entering...     

An electrical generating system in which a hermetically sealed flotation sphere, preferably constructed of plastic, is anchored to a sea bed. The sphere carries a circumferential fender on the outside thereof in which is located a plurality of screws open to sea water which generate electricity from...     

A breakwater apparatus for generating electrical power by extracting energy from sea waves. A novel array of subsurface fixed-position flexible-walled pneumatic bags or cells, in a closed cycle system, react to surface-wave-correlated static pressure variations by expiring compressed gas into a supply...     

A system for extracting power from the tides includes a dam constructed in a body of water subject to tidal flow for separating the body of water from a tidal basin between the dam and the shoreline. A plurality of water wheel assemblies are mounted on the dam and include mounting saddles for mounting...     

A plurality of base members are seated on an ocean bed adjacent the shore and they support at their shore ends normally expanded compression cylinders provided with fluid inlets and outlets controlled by check valves. The outlets are connected by conduits with the inlet of a turbine that is operatively...     

A motor, preferably in the form of a pump, is primarily designed to be activated by the oscillating motion of waves and has a paddle disposed to oscillate about a stationary horizontal axis located in the plane of the paddle. The paddle is placed in the surf and so positioned where the wave action is...     

A wave operated power plant is provided wherein a buoyant vessel is anchored on the ocean surface with the wave motion causing displacement of water carried in a chamber in the hull such that upon rocking motion the water is forced upwardly through pipes on one side of the vessel. The water contacts...     

A device and method of converting tidal currents into power. The device comprises a plurality of modules and is mounted in tidal water so that one face is presented inland and the opposite face is presented seaward. Each module comprises a turbine mounted on an elevator means which moves the turbine...     

A turbine for generating electric power when exposed to a fluid source, such as a liquid or gaseous current. The turbine has two substantially annular rotor housings spaced in parallel, horizontal planes. Each housing is provided with a plurality of radially extending blades which are connected to coaxial...     

A shaft-driven power device, such as an electric generator or pump, is mounted on a base which is subjected to fluctuating movements, such as those of waves in a body of water or those of an automotive vehicle. An input shaft at the upper end of the power device is connected by a rigid arm to an off-center...     

Submersible diffuser for a hydroelectric power plant includes chambers defined in its lateral wall and which can be filled with water to sink the diffuser or with gas to float it; additionally, the diffuser has lateral rollers. The hydroelectric power plant is provided with guide surfaces positioned...     

A submersible hydromotive assembly is provided for an energy storing dam and includes chambers defined in its structural body which can be filled with water to sink the assembly or with gas to float it. Additionally, the hydromotive assembly has a machine hall with auxiliary equipment required to start,...     

A fixed structure encloses a vertically spaced plurality of superimposed channels that are open at one end of the sea to receive deep sea waves approaching a shoreline. Each of the channels has an entrance ramp that slopes upwardly shorewardly to induce breaking of a wave at and over an apex of trailer...     

A wave powered electric generator using direct energy conversion is described which includes, within a water and airtight, buoyant envelope tethered to a fixed point relative to the sea bottom, one or more stators and one or more elements moveable by the force of inertia, the relative motion of the moveable...     

A wave energy generator produces electric power from wave motion by means of a distortable underwater section thereof which has a plurality of flexible compartments containing liquid and gas and equipped with flexible internal one-way flow walls separating the compartments, so that in response to wave...     

This relates to an electric power generating system particularly adapted for use in locals where there is an absence of a water supply with sufficient elevation to supply the required power for an electrical energy generating system, or the water supply is insufficient for the required generating system....     

A motor having an upright shaft with vanes driven by different, simultaneous, multidirectional, generally horizontal currents, for ocean offshore or beach installation, the vertical height, measured by the operative vertical span of the vanes, being significantly much greater than any known prior art...     

A prime mover has a number of bladed rotors supported on a drive shaft over the surface of a wave-generating body of water for rotating the shafts by action of waves against the rotors. Unique planetary gearing assemblies coupling each rotor to the shaft provide necessary torque conversion for rotating...     

Movable hydroelectric assembly for a water storing dam, having means for movably permitting positioning respective with the main body of said dam, in a downwardly/upwardly pattern displacement being coplanarly arranged or rotatably arranged. Additionally, the hydroelectric assembly has a machine hall...     

A device for deriving power from the energy of moving water waves includes a bag of flexible, impervious and inelastic material filled with a liquid to at least half but less than full capacity thereof and being adapted for submergence below the surface of a body of water parallel to the principle direction...     

A wave motor is described comprising a float, a displaceable member coupled to the float so as to be displaced by the ascent and descent of the float, a pair of shafts, and a transmission including a pair of one-way clutches coupling the displaceable member to the shafts to rotate one in one direction...     

A reversible hydroelectric station associated with a dam having a water passageway includes shiftable components selective displaceable to achieve alternately, either an energy generation or an energy accumulation mode. One or more rotatable hydromotive assemblies is provided each having an integral...     

A water storing dam body with means for directing a water flow therethrough includes one or more hydromotive assemblies suspended adjacent said dam water directing means. Each hydromotive assembly comprises a unitary assembly including an energy generation unit associated with a machine hall and buoyancy...     

A device for deriving power from the energy of water waves, such as ocean waves, includes a buoyant support base, such as a raft, adapted for floating in open waters and having a keel extending from its bottom surface for stabilizing same in a horizontal position. A plurality of open funnels are mounted...     

An energy conversion apparatus is disclosed in which a stator, fixed relative to a watertight housing, is coupled to a rotor by a helical spring which suspends the rotor from the housing. Natural turbulence of a fluid, such as water or air, causes acceleration of the housing, and hence, acceleration...     

A continuous water flow from selected ones of a plurality of reservoirs passes through turbines or the like within an hydroelectric power station to produce electrical power. The reservoirs are cyclically filled and evacuated through the power station by operation of a plurality of gates interconnecting...     

A device for efficiently extracting hydrodynamic energy from ocean waves, comprising a floating platform structure, an anchoring means which is connected to piston shafts of an array of hydraulic cylinders having pistons therein within the platform structure which act through a network of check valves...     

A tide motor energy source includes a tidal piston with a valved chamber. The piston drives a hydraulic ram to generate electrical power through a pressure accumulator and hydraulic motor. The ram can be locked hydraulically to enable the tidal piston to be held fixed at a desired elevation and the valves...     

This wave-operated power plant comprises a perforated caisson breakwater in which propellers, or turbines, are mounted in the perforations or openings and drives hydraulic pumps connected thereto, which in turn drives a hydraulic motor coupled to an electric generator. One-way flap valves are mounted...     

Apparatus for producing useful work from wave motion in a body of water. The apparatus translates wave motions of varying periods to continuous rotational kinetic energy which is then available to perform useful work. A float assembly is anchored off shore and communicates with the shore via a steel...     

A modular assembly of reciprocating electric generators with respective movable floats and a common submerged damper plate and buoyancy chamber produces electricity from wave motion on a body of water.

By means of Water Wave Power acting upon floats, attached to and made part of mechanical contrivances devised within the context of this invention for which the name of HYDRO-UNDULATORY POWER ARRESTERS has appropriately been chosen, water surrounding the structure is to be pumped positively or forcefully...     

An improved tide operated power generating apparatus is disclosed in which a hollow float, rising and falling with the ocean tide, transmits energy to a power generator. The improvement comprises means for filling the float with water during the incoming tide to provide a substantial increase in the...     

A power unit comprises a resonator having a mouth located in the sea and containing a body of water and an air cushion above the body of water. This resonator can have a neck defining a relatively small flow area compared with the surface area of the body of water immediately below the cushion. The air...     

A power generator which uses the motion of water waves to drive liquid through an impulse turbine. A housing is located in a body of water such as an ocean, or a lake, or the like, which is subject to waves. One form of the generator includes chambers fixed within the housing and another form includes...     

A marine wave power plant includes interconnected, swingable, floating basic units with anchoring means. Each unit consists of bearing displacement tubes, a stationary member and a displacement body movably joined thereto and moving with the waves. The wave movements are converted to electrical energy...     

A system for converting the mechanical energy in the wave motion of a body of water into electrical energy. A frame is fixed with respect to the wave motion of the water. A flotation element is buoyantly supported by the water and constrained to follow only the vertical component of the wave motion....     

A breakwater for breakwater for breaking the force of waves to protect harbors and beaches and generating electrical power from the waves. The breakwater includes a sloped front wall so that the waves break upwardly along the wall. One or more passages extend through the breakwaver to a lower elevation...     

An improved water powered electric generating device which comprises a buoyant platform and a plurality of pylons fixedly mounted in the ocean or riverbed and which slidingly engages the buoyant platform, and a tower means fixedly mounted to the buoyant platform and upwardly extending therefrom. Axle...     

A tidewater power system consisting of a high tide reservoir and a low tide reservoir. The high tide reservoir has an inlet adapted to be supported at high tide level and an outlet with a water wheel and generator between the outlet of the high tide reservoir and the low tide reservoir. The low tide...     

A plant for utilizing kinetic energy inherent in the wave movement of water or heaving of the sea. The plant comprises a float unit and energy absorption apparatus connected to the unit. The absorption apparatus comprises an immersed piston built into an elongate acceleration pipe, which is open at both...     

Transformable hydroenergetic arrangement for a fluid storing dam having a conduit for directing passage of fluid flows therethrough, said fluid directing conduit being dually shaped as a frustum spatial geometrical configuration flaring from the center line of the dam to both of the dam's opposing faces...     

A machine that includes a tank in which air is compressed so the air is used to drive an electricity generating mechanism that includes an air grinder or air turbine powering an alternator in an electric circuit, and the air compressor being driven by natural forces such as ocean waves.

An electric generating system relying on wave action forces, wherein a shallow reservoir is provided and confined by a cofferdam or silo so as to provide a hydrostatic head between the reservoir and the open body of water exterior to the cofferdam or silo. The hydrostatic head drives turbine generators,...     

This invention relates to a method of and device for generating energy from waves in water. The device includes a cylindrical buoyant body which has a regular shape in cross-section and annular tracks on its end faces. Gears adapted to constrain the body for rotation about its axis in one direction only...     

Apparatus for generating electricity including a chamber with a top opening, anchoring mechanism for positioning the chamber in a body of water with wave movement, mechanism for generating an electrical current disposed within the chamber, and mechanism for transferring the electrical current from the...     

An apparatus for harnessing the energy derived from the undulatory motion of a body of water includes an assembly having a buoyancy sufficient for maintaining it afloat in the water, a first structure substantially following multidirectional undulatory motions of the water and a second structure mounted...     

An energy conversion apparatus and method for the transfer and utilization of kinetic energy received by one or more natural kinetic energy receptors from one or more "natural kinetic energy source" such as for example solar energy, wind energy, water currents and tides, geothermal energy and the like,...     

A hydrostation installation includes a dam body with a fluid flow conduit therethrough cooperating with a displaceable hydromotive set provided with a conduit containing a generator set therein. A separate, gated assembly is insertable intermediate the dam body and hydromotive set to complete a fluid...     

A dome-shaped atoll structure (12) having a central aperture at its apex is secured to a station-keeping structure (11, or 40, or 52) positioned on the ocean bottom. The atoll structure (12) is moveable through a range of vertical positions relative to the ocean bottom. Sea waves impinging on the atoll...     

Apparatus for harnessing wave energy comprises a buoyant support structure with various pumps to be operated by the wave action or the reaction from the wave action. One type of pump is actuated by a disc that depends to a depth below the apparatus, and that is hollow and air-filled so as to have a buoyancy...     

A wave energy power station comprises two water-filled chambers in communication at the bottom, wherein a first chamber is in communication with the sea at the upper end thereof and the second chamber is defined by one or more walls which project above the surface of the sea, such that pressure variations...     

A hydromotive assembly for installation adjacent the water passage through a damming structure includes a main body component having an internal draft tube and provided with external guide and support elements allowing displacement of the assembly alternately in a vertical direction or angularly about...     

A wave motor comprising flotation means, a ramp carried by said flotation means to convert waves into breakers and means to cause the water in approximately the top half of the breakers to be moving horizontally forward at the time of impact against an energy conversion vane. The vane drives an electric...     

A water power generator for generating electrical energy from a moving body of water comprising structural means interposed in the path of water flow. The structural means includes at least one side wall which is longitudinally curved from a diverting point at the outer end thereof to a gradually flattened...     

In a stationary wave-motion-driven power generator station, a rotatable cylindrical steel structural body is mounted, with its axis substantially horizontal. The ends of the axle of the body are located in bearings which can move up and down to immerse the lower portion of the body in the sea. Vanes...     

A system for generation of power from tidal changes which comprises: (A) two or more chambers positioned in proximity to tidally influenced water, each chamber being of a height greater than the maximum tidal height difference, each chamber being capable of being filled with water, and each chamber having...     

A wave motion motor is disclosed with an impeller moved by a float. The float is coupled to a swivel arrangement to turn in the direction of wave current and has an inclined underside. Also disclosed are means to adjust to tide level and triangular coupling means between the float and a flywheel.

A wave-operated generator system utilizes flotation means for coupling the vertical movement of waves to an electrical generator using a rack and pinion assembly. Ratcheted pairs of gears convert the upward and the downward movement of the flotation means to unidirectional rotation. Supplemental generating...     

A wave activated power generation system of the float type comprising at least one piston-cylinder device having an anchored cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder and cooperating with the cylinder to form a pumping chamber above the piston and a low pressure chamber below the piston. The cylinder...     

An apparatus to generate electricity. There is a first cylinder having an open end and containing a first piston. A second cylinder has an open end and contains a second piston. A pipe communicates the two cylinders at the ends remote from their open ends. A closure can be moved to close and open the...     

A wave-power generator assembly including a pair of one-way turbines symmetrically mounted on a common rotating shaft is provided. Because of the symmetrical arrangement of the one-way turbines, the rotating shaft and, therefore, bearings to rotatably support the rotating shaft are prevented from receiving...     

Electrical energy is generated from waves in a body of water employing a support member, buoyant vanes connected to a shaft and rotated by the waves, and a generator coupled to the shaft. Each vane has an elongated slot that the shaft extends through. Cooperating gear teeth around the periphery of the...     

Set out herein is an electrical generator conformed for installation in a buoy, the generator comprising an inverted pendulum having two windings formed at the free end thereof and aligned to articulate between two end stops each provided with a magnetic circuit. As the loops thus pass through the magnetic...     

A power generation system for converting the motion of waves on a body of water such as a lake or sea to drive pumps, electrical generators or the like. A weighted float rides on the waves. A cable and pulley arrangement changes the direction, travel and force of the wave energy action imparted on the...     

Apparatus for the electrolysis of water comprises an elongated tube and an electrolysis assembly provided at one end of the tube defining an interior chamber which constitutes an extension thereof. The electrolysis assembly includes at least one fixed stator and at least one rotatably mounted rotor and...     

An apparatus for converting the wave motion of a body of water to electrical energy includes a housing having a pair of opposed counter rotating shafts mounted to a common output shaft for driving the output shaft in a single direction and includes counterweights for restraining the shafts against rotation...     

A wave energy conversion system is disclosed and comprises a spine and a plurality of wave driven pump units each comprising a pillow shaped flexible bag arranged with its length direction horizontal and mounted on the spine so that the water in which the system is located flows to both sides of the...     

A wave responsive generator comprises a buoyant float having an outer fixed shaft downwardly depending from the float with an inner rotatable drive shaft movably mounted within the outer shaft. At the lower most portion of the shaft opposite the float is a turbine affixed to the inner drive shaft opposite...     

An apparatus for converting the periodic undulations of a body of water into electrical energy includes a support structure adapted to be mounted in a substantially fixed position relative to the surface of the body of water and extending a substantial distance above the surface. The apparatus also includes...     

A wave energy converter comprising a float group including at least two floats connected by elongated rigid links disposed at a right angle to the direction of incidence of waves, which floats are free from the coastal ground and sea bed and allowed to heave, to sway, and to roll. A dynamic system of...     

A water engine has a barrage with a differential head of water on an upstream and downstream side. The engine has a working chamber and a double acting piston member in the chamber. Valves admit water into the working chamber from the upstream side of the barrage to the two working faces of the piston...     

A current-driven power generating apparatus including a water wheel having a transversely extending axle on which are fixedly mounted a plurality of paddles. Also mounted on the axially outer ends of this axle are gears. The water wheel is anchored against downstream movement by guide wires attached...     

The invention pertains to a hydroelectric generating system for use with low-head dam and spillway installations. A vessel in the form of a barge contains ballast tanks, pumps and associated structure permitting the vessel to selectively float or to be submerged at a spillway. The vessel contains a plurality...     

Apparatus for converting fluid energy into mechanical energy may include a sail and a mast carried by a pivotally mounted support. The sail is mounted both directly to the mast and indirectly to the mast through a boom, which is pivotally mounted at its center or along its length about the mast, and...     

A fluid motor consisting essentially of a housing mounted on a water pipe and containing a vaned disc which functions as a paddle wheel whereby fluid moving through the conduit engages the vanes driving the disc and an output shaft associated therewith which in turn is utilized to drive a generator and...     

An offshore water electrolysis plant which produces pressurized gas by electrolysis of fresh water and wave power includes the combination of a wave-powered electric generator at the ocean surface, an electrolyzer and storage vessels located on the ocean bottom for providing gas under pressure, and a...     

The wave powered buoy generator includes a hollow buoy which has inner and uter surfaces. The buoy is preferably spherical in shape. One or more windings are mounted to the buoy parallel to its surfaces with each winding having a pair of ends. A magnetized device which, is preferably a ball, is located...     

The invention provides a device for converting wave energy into useful work, and comprises a body adapted to be moved to and fro by waves on a liquid, and means such as a hydraulic piston in a cylinder for converting this movement of the body into a power output. The body may be disposed about a horizontal...     

Flow control of diluted polymer solutions is effected by utilizing positive-displacement flow devices such as gear pumps to withdraw flow energy in the form of shaft work. Control is obtained by varying the nature and amount of shaft work withdrawn, such as by operation of an electrical generating system,...     

A pumping unit suitable for driving an electric generator and which is powered by ocean surf and waves. The unit includes a tower which is located on an ocean beach, and which includes a generally horizontal boom. The boom includes two forward sections disposed at right angles to one another. Two blades...     

Described herein is a device for converting such forms of mechanical energy that comprise even slow and random movements, such as the waves of the sea, the flow of a river, the blowing of the wind, and the thermal expansion caused by the radiation of the sun, to a more useful form of high-speed rotation....     

A wave activated generator utilizes the principle of providing relative movement between a permanent magnet and a coil to induce an electrical current in the coil. The coil is situated in a static tube anchored to the sea bed by means of a ballast tank at the base of the tube and guy wires extending...     

A power generating apparatus utilizing wave motion which includes a float pivotally connected to the underside of a stationary platform by an elongated arm, the arm connected intermediate its end with the piston rod of a cylinder-piston assembly on the upper side of the platform. The cylinder-piston...     

Apparatus and process for use in converting the energy of ocean waves to useful power form wherein two floats supporting a rigid structure are spaced apart to maximize the end movement of said rigid structure, and an energy extraction device preferably of the cylinder and piston type is operated by the...     

An apparatus for converting wave energy to electrical energy in a sea environment comprises a flotation duck anchored to the sea bottom and a turbine assembly pivotally connected thereto comprising an air chamber partially filled with liquid and/or granular particles having a turbine mounted on the upper...     

Float/weights are positioned in the tidal water, arranged to rise and fall with the tides. A power unit including a cylinder and piston is arranged with the piston connected with the float/weights, and draws water into it upon the float/weights rising and forcing it into a storage unit upon the float/weights...     

A buoy type wave energy extraction construction in which the natural frequency of vertical oscillation of the buoy is mechanically altered to at least partially conform to the wave frequency occurring during a period of operation, whereby the maximum amount of energy available from each successive wave...     

An ocean wave energy converting vessel which can remain perpendicular to the ocean waves for maximum energy conversion, regardless of its direction of travel. As either end of the quadrapod is lifted by a wave and the pendulum deck tends toward the center of the earth, force is applied to the generator...     

A plurality of unidirectional valved intake gate units are essentially horizontally disposed, operate independently, and are located upstream of an input penstock. They are adapted to intercept waves and convert their kinetic energy to drive a turbine. Each gate unit comprises a movable gate that is...     

An off-shore platform is provided with a power grid comprised of a plurality of depending float members which are buoyant and weighted sufficiently to rise vertically in response to the buoyant energy of the wave action and to fall in response to gravity. A reciprocating piston member disposed in a cylinder...     

A wave powered engine including a float that rises and falls by wave action and which is guided by rails attached to the sea bed to restrict the motion of the float to vertical motion. The float having variable buoyancy and a depending skirt to increase the thrust of the float on upward and downward...     

A small-scale hydroelectric generator has a micro-hydro axial-flow turbine mounted in a lower end of a penstock, preferrably of the siphon type, through which water is diverted from an intake basin. The turbine comprises a stator section formed with an axial core providing an annular passageway having...     

A self-stabilized and modularly expandable system of independently operative point absorbers with respective drive transmissions and electrical generators produces electricity from wave motion on a body of water.

A float mechanism for generating energy from waves. Floats are coupled together such that they can pivot about a horizontal axis relative to one another. Hydraulic cylinders on either side of the attachment points compress and extend with the wave motion. Check valves control flow to and from the cylinders....     

An ocean and river water power generator has a plurality of water wheel power generators. Said water wheel power generator includes a common concrete base, a water wheel having a main shaft thereof and a plurality of water wheel impellers fixedly and radially attached to said main shaft for transforming...