Granted Patent B2

US 12,196,171 · App. 18/162,815 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventor: Loubert S. Suddaby (Orchard Park, NY)

F03B13/142

Abstract

Claims (62)

1. A wave energy capture and conversion assembly, comprising:

a tube forming a chamber; and

a point absorber arranged in the chamber, the point absorber including:

a float;

a wheel;

a reciprocating element pivotably connected to the float, the reciprocating element being displaceable generally in a first linear direction toward the wheel and a second linear direction away from the wheel; and

a line at least partially wrapped around the wheel and engaged with the reciprocating element;

wherein:

the tube is operatively arranged to engage water to form an oscillating water column within the chamber; and

the oscillating water column engages the point absorber to displace a first shaft in a first circumferential direction.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises:

a first section comprising an opening; and

a second section connected and arranged substantially perpendicular to the first section, the point absorber being arranged in the second section.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first section is arranged substantially horizontal and the second section is arranged substantially vertical.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first section decreases in width in a first direction from the opening.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first section decreases in height in the first direction.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein the opening comprises an ovular geometry.

7. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the float is operatively arranged to engage the oscillating water column and displace axially in the chamber.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a linear generator including:

a magnet arranged in or on the float; and

a coil concentrically arranged around the magnet.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating element comprises at least one pawl operatively arranged to:

engage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in a first direction; and

disengage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the reciprocating element comprises:

a first pawl operatively arranged to:

engage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in the first direction; and

disengage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in the second direction; and

a second pawl operatively arranged to:

disengage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in the first direction; and

engage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in the second direction.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one pawl engages a radially outward facing surface of the line.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the point absorber further comprises a spacer engaged with a radially inward facing surface of the line.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one pawl engages a radially inward facing surface of the line.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first shaft is connected to a rotary generator.

15. The assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a motion conversion device including:

a plurality of propellers arranged in the chamber, wherein the plurality of propellers are operatively arranged to displace a second shaft circumferentially.

16. A wave energy capture and conversion assembly, comprising:

a tube forming a chamber, the chamber including a first section comprising an opening and a second section; and

a point absorber arranged in the second section, the point absorber including:

a float axially displaceable within the second section, the float connected to a first end of a first shaft;

a reciprocating element pivotably connected to a second end of the first shaft;

a wheel connected to a second shaft; and

a line engaged with the wheel and the reciprocating element;

wherein:

the tube is operatively arranged to engage water to form an oscillating water column within the chamber; and

the oscillating water column is operatively arranged to displace the point absorber axially to displace the second shaft in a first circumferential direction.

17. The assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first section decreases in geometry in a first direction from the opening.

18. The assembly as recited in claim 16 , wherein the second section is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first section.

19. A wave energy capture and conversion assembly, comprising:

a tube forming a chamber; and

a point absorber arranged in the chamber, the point absorber including:

a float;

a reciprocating element pivotably connected to the float;

a wheel; and

a line engaged with the reciprocating element and the wheel;

wherein:

the tube is operatively arranged to engage water to form an oscillating water column within the chamber;

the oscillating water column engages the point absorber to displace a first shaft in a first circumferential direction; and

the reciprocating element comprises at least one pawl operatively arranged to:

engage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in a first direction; and

disengage the line as the reciprocating element is displaced in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (86)