Surf-turbine generating system

Claim 1

In a generating system for deriving electricity from the kinetic energy in ocean waves, the combination comprising: a housing adapted to be positioned in surf proximate the ocean shore; a turbine located within said housing and including blades adapted to be rotatably driven by fluid flow about an axis extending generally parallel to the shore line; positioning means for controllably moving said housing closer to and further from said shore, whereby to permit said turbine to be maintained entirely above the normal water level and to permit said housing to be impacted by ocean waves for substantially all tide levels; an inclined surface of said housing directed upwardly toward said shore and positioned to be impacted by said ocean waves; a first intake port defined through said inclined surface at a first level below the height of the average wave in said surf, said intake port being oriented to receive wave water flowing up said inclined surface and to direct wave water flow into driving relationship with said turbine blades such that turbine blades below said axis are driven in the same direction as waves approaching said shore; a second intake port defined through said inclined surface at a level adjacent and above said first level, said second intake port being oriented to receive wave water flowing down said inclined surface from above said second level and to direct the received wave water against the turbine blades above said axis in a direction to aid the turbine drive imparted by flow through said first intake part; a flow reversing channel having an inlet opening positioned proximate the upper end of said inclined surface to receive wave water overshooting said upper end, said inlet part being substantially higher and further downstream of the wave flow than said turbine, said channel being oriented to direct wave water received by said inlet port back down toward the turbine to impact against turbine blades above said axis in a direction which aids turbine drive imparted by flow through said first and second intake ports; and wherein said housing includes a vent opening leading from generally below said turbine for permitting wave water used to drive said turbine to at all times drop back into the ocean beneath said housing.