Waved-powered driving apparatus

Claim 2

Wave-powered driving apparatus comprising anchor means adapted to be supported in a body of water the surface of which is subject to wave action, a rotatable device secured to the anchor means, a flexible member having an intermediate portion thereof in driving engagement with the rotatable device, a first and a second float secured to opposite ends of the flexible member and cooperating with the rotatable device whereby said flexible member normally is supported in a substantially U-shaped configuration, said first float riding on the water surface and having greater buoyancy than the second float whereby said second float is maintained submerged below the surface of the water and above the rotatable device during variations in tide and wave actions, and power take-off means operatively connected to the rotatably device.

Claim 3

Wave-powered driving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and including another rotatable device secured to the anchor means spaced on the first-mentioned rotatable device and engaged by the flexible member whereby said intermediate portion is disposed substantially normal to generally upright portions of the flexible member extending downwardly from the first and second floats.

Claim 4

Wave-powered driving apparatus as claimed in claim 2, and including guide means for limiting transverse swing of the generally upright portions of the flexible member.

Claim 5

Wave-powered driving apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which each of said guide means comprises a frame supported by the anchor means to surmount a rotatable device, and a plurality of rollers mounted on the frame to be engaged by the flexible member.

Claim 6

Wave-powered driving apparatus comprising an anchor block adapted to rest on an ocean floor near the shore, first and second shafts journalled on the anchor block in spaced and parallel relation, aligned pulleys mounted one on each of the first and second shafts, a length of chain in driving engagement with the aligned pulleys, a subsurface float secured to one end of the chain, a surface float secured to an opposite end of the chain and having greater buoyancy than the subsurface float whereby said subsurface float is maintained submerged between the anchor block and the surface of the body of water, said chain being reciprocated as the floats alternately rise and fall in response to wave action whereby the pulleys are rotated first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, power take-off means adapted to connect one of the pulleys to a machine, and guide means limiting transverse swing of generally upright portions of the flexible member.

Claim 7

Wave-powered driving apparatus comprising an anchor block adapted to rest on an ocean floor near the shore, first and second shafts journalled on the anchor block in spaced and parallel relation, aligned pulleys mounted one on each of the first and second shafts, a length of chain in driving engagement with the aligned pulleys, a subsurface float secured to one end of the chain, a surface float secured to an opposite end of the chain and having greater buoyancy than the subsurface float whereby said subsurface float is maintained submerged between the anchor block and the surface of the body of water, said chain being reciprocated as the floats alternately rise and fall in response to wave action whereby the pulleys are rotated first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, power take-off means adapted to connect one of the pulleys to a machine, and guide means limiting transverse swing of generally upright portions of the flexible member.