Energy generating and storing assembly for marine structure

Claim 1

A device for use in transforming the pitch and roll motion of a buoyant marine structure into storage battery contained electrical energy for future use, said device including: a. a base; b. first means for securing said base in a fixed position relative to said structure; c. a rigid plate; d. second means for holding said plate at a fixed elevated position above said base and substantially parallel thereto; e. first, second and third spaced shafts normally disposed to said base and situated between said base and plate, said first and third shafts being stub shafts supported from said base, and said second shaft having the end portions thereof rotatably supported by said base and plate; f. first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth gears, said first, sixth and eighth gears being rotatably supported on said first shaft, said second, third, fifth and seventh gears mounted on said second shaft but only said seventh gear being rotatable in two opposite directions relative thereto, said fifth gear being keyed to said second shaft, said sixth and seventh gears including externally toothed hubs that are engaged by said fifth and sixth gears, said fourth gear being rotatably supported on said third shaft and in engagement with both said first gear and said third gear, said first gear being in engagement with said second gear and said seventh gear in engagement with said eighth gear, said first, fifth, sixth and seventh gears being of substantially greater diameter than said second gear; g. third and fourth means interposed between said second shaft and said second and third gears for allowing said second and third gears to rotate in first and second opposite directions, but with said third and fourth means permitting said second and third gears to drive said second shaft and fifth gear only when said second or third gear rotates in a first direction, said second gear rotating in said first direction when said first gear so rotates, and said third gear rotating in said first direction when said first gear rotates in a second direction; h. a weight eccentrically supported on said first gear that oscillates said first gear in first and second directions as said structure pitches and rolls, with said oscillating movement of said first gear being transformed into rotational movement of said second shaft in a single direction by said second and third gears and said third and fourth means, and said fifth gear transferring said rotary motion of said second shaft to said eighth gear through driving rotation of said sixth and and seventh gears; i. fifth means for generating an electric current when a shaft that Forms a part thereof is rotated, said fifth means occupying a fixed position relative to said plate; j. sixth means for connecting said shaft of said fifth means to said eighth gear to drive said shaft of said fifth means in a single direction as said first gear oscillates, with said seventh gear being of sufficient weight to act as a flywheel to minimize variations in the rate of rotation of said shaft of said fifth means; and k. electrical conducting means through which an electrical current generated by said fifth means flows to charge storage battery means as a future source of stored electrical energy.

Claim 2

A device for use in transforming the pitch and roll motion of a buoyant marine structure into storage battery contained electrical energy for future use, said device including: a. a base; b. first means for securing said base in a fixed position relative to said structure; c. a rigid plate; d. second means for holding said plate at a fixed elevated position above said base and substantially parallel thereto; e. first, second and third spaced shafts normally disposed to said base and situated between said base and plate, said first and third shafts being stub shafts supported from said base, and said second shaft having the end portions thereof rotatably supported by said base and plate; f. first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth gears, said first, sixth and eighth gears being rotatably supported on said first shaft, said second, third, fifth and seventh gears mounted on said second shaft but only said seventh gear being rotatable in two opposite directions relative thereto, said fifth gear being keyed to said second shaft, said sixth and seventh gears including externally toothed hubs that are engaged by said fifth and sixth gears, said fourth gear being rotatably supported on said third shaft and in engagement with both said first gear and said third gear, said first gear being in engagement with said second gear and said seventh gear in engagement with said eighth gear, said first, fifth, sixth and seventh gears being of substantially greater diameter than said second gear; g. third and fourth means interposed between said second shaft and said second and third gears for allowing said second and third gears to rotate in first and second opposite directions, but with said third and fourth means permitting said second and third gears to drive said second shaft and fifth gear only when said second or third gear rotates in a first direction, said second gear rotating in said first direction when said first gear so rotates, and said third gear rotating in said first direction when said first gear rotates in a second direction; h. a weight eccentrically supported on said first gear that oscillates said first gear in first and second directions as said structure pitches and rolls, with said oscillating movement of said first gear being transformed into rotational movement of said second shaft in a single direction by said second and third gears and said third and fourth means, and said fifth gear transferring said rotary motion of said second shaft to said eighth gear through driving rotation of said sixth and and seventh gears; i. fifth means for generating an electric current when a shaft that Forms a part thereof is rotated, said fifth means occupying a fixed position relative to said plate; j. sixth means for connecting said shaft of said fifth means to said eighth gear to drive said shaft of said fifth means in a single direction as said first gear oscillates, with said seventh gear being of sufficient weight to act as a flywheel to minimize variations in the rate of rotation of said shaft of said fifth means; and k. electrical conducting means through which an electrical current generated by said fifth means flows to charge storage battery means as a future source of stored electrical energy.

Claim 9

A device for use in transforming the pitch and roll motion of a buoyant marine structure into storage battery contained electrical energy for future use, said device including: a. a base; b. first means for securing said base in a fixed position relative to said structure; c. a rigid plate; d. second means for holding said plate at a fixed elevation above said base and substantially parallel thereto; e. first and second shafts normally disposed to said base and situated between said base and plate, said first shaft being a stub shaft supported from said base, and said second shaft having the end portions thereof rotatably supported by said base and plate; f. first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth sheaves, said first, fourth and sixth sheaves rotatably supported on said first shaft and said second, third and fifth sheaves mounted on said second shaft, said third sheave keyed to said second shaft, and said fifth sheave being freely rotatable on said second shaft; g. a ring gear supported from said first sheave; h. a first gear mounted on said second shaft and in engagement with said ring gear; i. first, second, third and fourth endless belts, said first belt drivingly engaging said first and second sheaves, said second belt drivingly engaging said third and fourth sheaves, said third belt drivingly engaging said fourth and fifth sheaves, and said fourth belt drivingly engaging said fifth and sixth sheaves; j. a non-magnetic weight eccentrically supported on said first sheave that oscillates said first sheave in opposite directions as said structure pitches and rolls; k. third and fourth means interposed between said second shaft and said first gear and said second sheave for allowing said first gear and second sheave to rotate in first and second directions, but said third and fourth means permitting said first gear and second sheave to drive said second shaft only in a first direction when said second sheave and first gear rotate in said first direction, said second sheave rotating in said first direction when said first sheave so rotates, and said first gear rotating in said first direction whEn said first sheave rotates in a second direction due to the pitch and roll of said structure; l. fifth means for generating an electric current when a shaft that forms a part thereof is rotated, said fifth means occupying a fixed position relative to said plate; m. sixth means for connecting said shaft of said fifth means to said sixth sheave to drive said shaft of said fifth means in a single direction as the weight supporting first sheave oscillates and transmits rotary motion in a single direction through said second to fifth sheaves inclusive and said first gear to said sixth sheave; n. storage battery means on said structure; and o. electrical conducting means through which electric energy generated by said fifth means flows to storage battery means on said structure for future use.

Claim 10

A device for use in transforming the pitch and roll motion of a buoyant marine structure into storage battery contained electrical energy for future use, said device including: a. a base; b. first means for securing said base in a fixed position relative to said structure; c. a rigid plate; d. second means for holding said plate at a fixed elevation above said base and substantially parallel thereto; e. first and second shafts normally disposed to said base and situated between said base and plate, said first shaft being a stub shaft supported from said base, and said second shaft having the end portions thereof rotatably supported by said base and plate; f. first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth sheaves, said first, fourth and sixth sheaves rotatably supported on said first shaft and said second, third and fifth sheaves mounted on said second shaft, said third sheave keyed to said second shaft, and said fifth sheave being freely rotatable on said second shaft; g. a ring gear supported from said first sheave; h. a first gear mounted on said second shaft and in engagement with said ring gear; i. first, second, third and fourth endless belts, said first belt drivingly engaging said first and second sheaves, said second belt drivingly engaging said third and fourth sheaves, said third belt drivingly engaging said fourth and fifth sheaves, and said fourth belt drivingly engaging said fifth and sixth sheaves; j. a non-magnetic weight eccentrically supported on said first sheave that oscillates said first sheave in opposite directions as said structure pitches and rolls; k. third and fourth means interposed between said second shaft and said first gear and said second sheave for allowing said first gear and second sheave to rotate in first and second directions, but said third and fourth means permitting said first gear and second sheave to drive said second shaft only in a first direction when said second sheave and first gear rotate in said first direction, said second sheave rotating in said first direction when said first sheave so rotates, and said first gear rotating in said first direction whEn said first sheave rotates in a second direction due to the pitch and roll of said structure; l. fifth means for generating an electric current when a shaft that forms a part thereof is rotated, said fifth means occupying a fixed position relative to said plate; m. sixth means for connecting said shaft of said fifth means to said sixth sheave to drive said shaft of said fifth means in a single direction as the weight supporting first sheave oscillates and transmits rotary motion in a single direction through said second to fifth sheaves inclusive and said first gear to said sixth sheave; n. storage battery means on said structure; and o. electrical conducting means through which electric energy generated by said fifth means flows to storage battery means on said structure for future use.