Apparatus and method for converting wave energy into electrical energy

Claim 2

Energy conversion apparatus, comprising: an expandable, electrically conductive coil having an end supported by said platform; means for providing a magnetic field having flux lines which pass through said coil; and means for expanding and compressing said coil responsive to wave action on a fluid body, such that said coil is moved by said platform in said magnetic field to produce an electromotive force through said coil.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnetic field means comprises at least one magnet carried by said platform.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said magnet comprises one pole extending substantially normal to said platform and into said coil, and another pole of a polarity opposite to said one pole extending alongside said coil and substantially parallel to said one pole.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said magnet comprises a bar magnet extending substantially normal to said platform with one pole of said magnet being adjacent to said platform.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said coil expansion and compression means comprises: means for maintaining another end of said coil in fixed relation; and means for moving said platform in response to wave action on a fluid body.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said platform moving means comprises: a base member supported in a fixed relation above said fluid body; a shaft slideably mounted through said base member and substantially normal to said fluid body; a buoyant member affixed to one of said shaft and supported by said fluid body; and wherein said platform is mounted on the other end of said shaft.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said means for maintaining said another coil end in fixed relation comprises means mounted on said base member.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a tube mounted on said base member and surrounding said buoyant meMber and said shaft.

Claim 10

Energy conversion apparatus, comprising: a. a base member supported in fixed relation above a fluid body; b. a shaft extending through said base member and substantially normal to said fluid body; c. a buoyant member affixed to one end of said shaft and supported by said fluid body; d. a platform mounted on the other end of said shaft; e. an electrically conductive coil comprising a plurality of turns; f. a magnet having a magnetic field with flux lines which pass through said coil; g. one of said coil and said magnet being carried by said platform; and wherein h. said shaft and platform reciprocate in response to wave action on said fluid body, causing said flux lines to be moved along said coil and generate an electromotive force therein.

Claim 11

Energy conversion apparatus, comprising: a. a base member supported in fixed relation above a fluid body; b. a shaft extending through said base member and substantially normal to said fluid body; c. a buoyant member affixed to one end of said shaft and supported by said fluid body; d. a platform mounted on the other end of said shaft; e. an electrically conductive coil comprising a plurality of turns; f. a magnet having a magnetic field with flux lines which pass through said coil; g. one of said coil and said magnet being carried by said platform; and wherein h. said shaft and platform reciprocate in response to wave action on said fluid body, causing said flux lines to be moved along said coil and generate an electromotive force therein.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said coil comprises an expandable coil having one end carried by said platform and another end supported in fixed relation thereto.

Claim 13

Apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising said magnet carried by said platform.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said magnet is carried by said platform, further comprising: a support member having a surface; said coil mounted on said surface and juxtaposed over said magnet, so that when said platform reciprocates in response to wave action, said magnet moves into said coil to generate said electromotive force.

Claim 15

Apparatus for converting wave energy to electrical energy, comprising: a. a base member having two opposed surfaces; b. means for supporting said base member with a first one of said surfaces adjacent and in fixed relation to a body of water; c. a shaft slideably mounted between said two surfaces in a direction substantially normal to said body of water; d. a tube mounted on said first surface and extending into said water about said shaft; e. a buoyant member slidably mounted within said tube and affixed to one end of said shaft; f. a movable platform on the other end of said shaft; g. a fixed platform on the other end of said shaft; h. an expandable, electrically conductive coil comprising a plurality of turns and having two ends, each of said ends being supported by one of said platforms; and i. at least one magnet mounted on each of said platforms, one pole of said magnet extending normal to said platform and into said coil and the other pole extending alongside said coil and substantially parallel to said other pole, the pole orientation being reversed on one of said platform relative to the other platform.

Claim 16

Apparatus for converting wave energy to electrical energy, comprising: a. a base member having two opposed surfaces; b. means for supporting said base member with a first one of said surfaces adjacent and in fixed relation to a body of water; c. a shaft slideably mounted between said two surfaces in a direction substantially normal to said body of water; d. a tube mounted on said first surface and extending into said water about said shaft; e. a buoyant member slidably mounted within said tube and affixed to one end of said shaft; f. a movable platform on the other end of said shaft; g. a fixed platform on the other end of said shaft; h. an expandable, electrically conductive coil comprising a plurality of turns and having two ends, each of said ends being supported by one of said platforms; and i. at least one magnet mounted on each of said platforms, one pole of said magnet extending normal to said platform and into said coil and the other pole extending alongside said coil and substantially parallel to said other pole, the pole orientation being reversed on one of said platform relative to the other platform.

Claim 17

An energy conversion method, comprising the steps of: providing a magnetic field; providing an expandable coil; and expanding and comprising said coil responsive to wave action on a fluid body such that said coil is moved in said magnetic field to generate an electromotive force therein.

Claim 18

An energy conversion method, comprising the steps of: providing a magnetic field; providing an expandable coil; and expanding and comprising said coil responsive to wave action on a fluid body such that said coil is moved in said magnetic field to generate an electromotive force therein.