IP Library Granted Patent US 12680526
Granted Patent B2
US 12680526 · App. 18/754,482 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Sustainable energy and agricultural systems

Inventor: Richard A. Carmody, III (Ringgold, GA)
F03B13/1835F03B13/24F05B2220/705F05B2220/708
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680526
App. No.
18/754,482
Filed
Jun 26, 2024
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2831
USPC
290/53
Abstract

Renewable energy systems can be deployed on water or with agricultural systems including solar energy panels and wind turbines of various types. Vertically oriented wind turbines may be combined with systems to maintain them vertical, air directors which may also have venturi effect turbines, or not. Wave energy may be captured from roll or pitch energy capture devices or even piston operated anchored systems for various embodiments. Agricultural facilities may combine various technologies to dramatically increase crop yield.

Claims (29)

1 . A waterborne energy capture device comprising:

a track supported buoyantly by water;

a magnet constrained to move along the track along a path of the track;

an inductor connected to the track converting motion of the magnet along the track into electrical energy;

a float, said float supporting a plurality of energy capture devices;

radially disposed vertical wind turbines above the float;

directors radially disposed externally to the vertical wind turbines focusing air flow towards the vertical wind turbines; and

a platform above at least one of the directors and the vertical wind turbines, said platform supporting solar panels thereon;

wherein the wave motion of the water imparts motion to the track thereby moving the track relative to the magnet generating electrical energy.

2 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 1 wherein the solar panels are angled at least 10 degrees relative to the platform.

3 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 2 wherein the platform extends cantileveredly beyond a radial perimeter of the float and at least some solar panels extend radially beyond the perimeter of the float.

4 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 1 wherein the float supports a plurality of energy capture devices.

5 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 4 wherein at least some of the plurality of energy capture devices are first wave energy capture devices and are radially oriented about the float.

6 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 5 wherein at least some of the first wave energy capture devices are stacked vertically along the float.

7 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 1 wherein the float has a round radial circumference.

8 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 7 wherein the float has a circular cross section and the track is located within the cross section.

9 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 8 further comprising a deck on the float, said deck supporting at least one of the solar panels and at least one wind turbine.

10 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 9 further comprising a central wind turbine supported by a bearing ring which maintains the central wind turbine in a vertical position.

11 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 1 further comprising directors radially disposed externally to the vertical wind turbines focusing air flow towards the vertical wind turbines.

12 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 11 wherein the directors have openings on side surfaces which pull air from within the directors through a wind turbine generator having an inlet on a radially inward side of the directors.

13 . A waterborne energy capture device comprising:

a track supported buoyantly by water;

a magnet constrained to move along the track along a path of the track;

an inductor connected to the track converting motion of the magnet along the track into electrical energy;

a float, said float supporting a plurality of energy capture devices;

a deck on the float, said deck supporting at least one of the solar panels and at least one wind turbine;

a central wind turbine supported by a bearing ring which maintains the central wind turbine in a vertical position; and

a wave energy generator disposed within a ball supporting the central wind turbine, said ball supported by the bearing ring.

14 . The waterborne energy capture device of claim 13 wherein the wave energy generator has a magnet disposed between inner and outer shells of the ball.