Wave motor

Claim 2

A wave motor comprising an offshore support, multiple wave energy conversion units on the support, each conversion unit embodying at least one float-weight assembly adapted to be suspended in the surf, suspension and guidance means for said float-weight assembly of each conversion unit on the support enabling each float-weight assembly to be elevated by waves and to descend under the influence of gravity in a constrained path after the passage of each wave, and power transmission means on said support common to the wave energy conversion units and including one-way active and one-way free wheeling transmission elements one for each said conversion unit, whereby the floatweight assembly of each unit is first elevated by each wave and then released for falling gravity and such falling motion is transmitted through said one-way active transmission elements into useful work energy, and said multiple wave energy conversion units arranged in laterally spaced and stepped relation on said support, whereby progressing laterally each unit is arranged successively closer to the shore in relation to oncoming waves, whereby the wave energy of each wave may be utilized by the wave motor over an extended time interval.

Claim 3

A wave motor as defined by claim 1, and said suspension and guidance means comprising an upright frame attached to said support and extending above and below the support and including a vertical guide component arranged in close relation to one side of said float weight assembly and preventing rotation of the latter on the axis of its suspension cable or swinging movement of the float weight assembly in one direction.

Claim 4

A wave motor comprising an offshore support, multiple wave energy conversion units on the support, each conversion unit embodying at least one float-weight assembly adapted to be suspended in the surf, suspension and guidance means for said float-weight assembly of each conversion unit on the support enabling each float-weight assembly to be elevated by waves and to descend under the influence of gravity in a constrained path after the passage of each wave, and power transmission means on said support common to the wave energy conversion units and including one-way active and one-way free wheeling transmission elements one for each said conversion unit, whereby the float-weight assembly of each unit is first elevated by each wave and then released for falling by gravity and such falling motion is transmitted through said one-way active transmission elements into useful work energy, and each conversion unit comprising an upright frame secured to said offshore support, a pair of independently operable float-weight assemblies having guided engagement with a vertical portion of said frame, suspension cable means for each float-weight assembly having guided engagement with said frame, a rotary transmission shaft extending adjacent said conversion units and carrying spools for engagement with said suspension cable means, and one-way active clutch devices serving to interconnect said spools with said transmission shaft whereby descending movement of said float-weight assemblies will produce incremental rotation of said shaft in one direction.

Claim 5

A wave motor comprising an offshore support, multiple wave energy conversion units on the support, each conversion unit embodying at least one float-weight assembly adapted to be suspended in the surf, suspension and guidance means for said float-weight assembly of each conversion unit on the support enabling each float-weight assembly to be elevated by waves and to descend under the influence of gravity in a constrained path after the passage of each wave, and power transmission means on said support common to the wave energy conversion units and including one-way active and one-way free wheeling transmission elements one for each said conversion unit, whereby the float-weight assembly of each unit is first elevated by each wave and then released for falling by gravity and such falling motion is transmitted through said one-way active transmission elements into useful work energy, and each conversion unit comprising an upright frame secured to said offshore support, a pair of independently operable float-weight assemblies having guided engagement with a vertical portion of said frame, suspension cable means for each float-weight assembly having guided engagement with said frame, a rotary transmission shaft extending adjacent said conversion units and carrying spools for engagement with said suspension cable means, and one-way active clutch devices serving to interconnect said spools with said transmission shaft whereby descending movement of said float-weight assemblies will produce incremental rotation of said shaft in one direction.

Claim 6

A wave motor as defined in claim 3, and slack-inhibiting weights freely suspended on the ends of said cable means of each conversion unit.

Claim 7

A wave motor as defined in claim 3, and a wind rudder on said platform for keeping said conversion units headed directly into the paths of waves rolling toward the shore.

Claim 8

A wave motor as defined by claim 3, and a guidance sub-frame attached to each upright frame in right angular relationship thereto and disposed between said pair of float weight assemblies to restrain and guide the movements thereof and to prevent colliding of said assemblies in their independent vertical movements.

Claim 9

A wave motor as defined by claim 3, and said multiple conversion units arranged in staggered relation on said support, said support comprising a plaTform float, a pair of spaced parallel line shafts journaled on said platform float and each being common to a group of said conversion units, said spools and one-way active clutch devices being on said spaced parallel line shafts, a transmission shaft operatively interconnecting said line shafts and driven thereby in one direction, and a power generator coupled with said transmission shaft.