Wave responsive electrical generator
View Patent ↗A wave responsive electrical generator device having a buoyant member connected to an anchor by a tether line member, the line member passing through a sheave mounted within the buoyant member and descending to a counterweight, whereby vertical motion of the buoyant member results in rotation of the sheave, which in turn operates hydraulic cylinders to deliver hydraulic fluid under pressure to an hydraulic motor, which drives an electrical generator, wherein the line member is a plurality of belts mechanically interlocking with the sheave.
1. A wave responsive electrical generator device comprising:
an anchor member;
a buoyant member comprising a rotatable main drive sheave, an hydraulic motor operated by said main drive sheave, an electric generator operated by said hydraulic motor, and an hydraulic reservoir containing hydraulic fluid;
a counterweight member; and
a line member extending from said anchor member through said buoyant member and to said counterweight member, said line member being received by said main drive sheave and comprising a plurality of belts mounted onto said main drive sheave;
whereby movement of said line member resulting from up and down movement of said buoyant member relative to said anchor member causes rotation of said main drive sheave, operation of said hydraulic motor and operation of said electrical generator to produce electricity.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said main drive sheave and said plurality of belts mechanically interlock.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein said main drive sheave and said plurality of belts comprise transverse ridges.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein said main drive sheave and said plurality of belts comprise transverse grooves.
5. The device of claim 2 , wherein said main drive sheave and said plurality of belts comprise teeth.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said main drive sheave comprises a plurality of sheaves connected so as to operate as a single sheave.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said main drive sheave comprises a plurality of sheaves formed as a single body.
8. The device of claim 2 , wherein said main drive sheave comprises a plurality of sheaves connected so as to operate as a single sheave.
9. The device of claim 2 , wherein said main drive sheave comprises a plurality of sheaves formed as a single body.
10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising hydraulic cylinders connected to said main drive sheave, gas pressurized hydraulic fluid accumulator tanks, and hydraulic fluid conduits connecting said hydraulic cylinders to said accumulator tanks and said accumulator tanks to said hydraulic motor.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said buoyant member comprises a disk-shaped upper body and a cylindrical lower body, the width of the lower body being less than the width of the upper body.
12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a belt adjustment mechanism mounted on said counterweight.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein said upper body comprises radially extending internal reinforcing members.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein said upper body comprises a peripheral lower angled rim.
15. The device of claim 11 , said buoyant member further comprising a descent restrictor member positioned on the underside of said buoyant member.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein said descent restrictor member comprises an apertured frame.
17. The device of claim 1 , said counterweight member further comprising a line encircling assembly connecting said counterweight member to said line member between said anchor member and said buoyant member, said line encircling assembly allowing vertical movement of said counterweight along said line member between said anchor member and said buoyant member in response to vertical movement of said buoyant member.
18. The device of claim 17 , wherein said line encircling assembly comprises a channeled guide rack.
19. A wave responsive electrical generator device comprising:
an anchor member;
a buoyant member comprising a rotatable main drive sheave, hydraulic cylinders connected to said main drive sheave by a sheave crank arm, said hydraulic cylinders delivering hydraulic fluid through hydraulic conduits to a plurality of gas pressurized hydraulic fluid accumulator tanks, said accumulator tanks delivering hydraulic fluid to an hydraulic motor, said hydraulic motor driving an electric generator;
said buoyant member further comprising a disk-shaped upper body and a lower body, the width of the lower body being less than the width of the upper body;
a counterweight member;
a line member extending from said anchor member through said buoyant member and to said counterweight member, said line member being received around and mechanically interlocking with said main drive sheave and comprising a plurality of belts mounted onto said main drive sheave, whereby movement of said line member resulting from up and down movement of said buoyant member relative to said anchor member causes rotation of said main drive sheave such that said hydraulic cylinders deliver hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic motor, which in turn drives said electric generator to produce electricity; and
a line encircling assembly connecting said counterweight member to said line member between said anchor member and said buoyant member, said line encircling assembly allowing vertical movement of said counterweight along said line member between said anchor member and said buoyant member in response to vertical movement of said buoyant member.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein said line encircling assembly comprises a channeled guide rack.