US4001597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric power generating system
Assignee: GRAFF ALBERT J
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Filing: 1975-06-20
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Granted: 1977-01-04
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Expires: 1995-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of base members are seated on an ocean bed adjacent the shore and they support at their shore ends normally expanded compression cylinders provided with fluid inlets and outlets controlled by check valves. The outlets are connected by conduits with the inlet of a turbine that is operatively connected with an electric generator. Rigid pressure plates are disposed above the base members and the cylinders thereon and are inclined downwardly from their shore ends to their opposite ends, where they are hinged to the off-shore ends of the base members. Waves passing over the pressure plates will force their upper ends down to compress the cylinders to force fluid through the conduits to the turbine, after which spring means will expand the cylinders and raise the pressure plates. The base members are located in such positions on the ocean bed that the pressure plates will be depressed in succession to provide substantially constant flow of fluid to the turbine. The turbine can be a water turbine alone, or there can be both a water turbine and an air turbine.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert L. Graff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:27
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B13/00; F03B13/12; F03B13/14; F03B13/22; F03B13/16; F03B13/18; F03B13/1805; F03B13/181; F05; F05B; F05B2280/00; F05B2280/50; F05B2280/5001; F05C; F05C2251/00; F05C2251/02; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An electric power generating system comprising an electric generator, a turbine operatively connected with the generator for driving it and having an inlet, a plurality of base members seated on an ocean bed adjacent the shore and having shore ends and off-shore ends, normally expanded upright compression cylinders mounted on the shore ends of said base members, each cylinder having a fluid inlet and an outlet, check valves for the cylinder inlets and outlets to direct flow of fluid through the cylinders in only one direction, conduits connecting the cylinder outlets with said turbine inlet, rigid pressure plates above said base members and the cylinders thereon and inclined downwardly from their shore ends to their opposite ends, means hinging the lower end of each pressure plate to the underlying base member on a horizontal axis, whereby waves passing over the pressure plates will force their upper ends down to compress the cylinders to force fluid through said conduits to said turbine, and means including a coil spring inside each cylinder for expanding it and raising the overlying pressure plate after each wave has passed over them, said base members being located in such positions on the ocean bed that said pressure plates will be depressed in succession to provide substantially constant flow of fluid to the turbine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
An electric power generating system comprising an electric generator, a turbine operatively connected with the generator for driving it and having an inlet, a plurality of base members seated on an ocean bed adjacent the shore and having shore ends and off-shore ends, normally expanded upright compression cylinders mounted on the shore ends of said base members, each cylinder having a fluid inlet and an outlet, check valves for the cylinder inlets and outlets to direct flow of fluid through the cylinders in only one direction, conduits connecting the cylinder outlets with said turbine inlet, rigid pressure plates above said base members and the cylinders thereon and inclined downwardly from their shore ends to their opposite ends, means hinging the lower end of each pressure plate to the underlying base member on a horizontal axis, whereby waves passing over the pressure plates will force their upper ends down to compress the cylinders to force fluid through said conduits to said turbine, and means including a coil spring inside each cylinder for expanding it and raising the overlying pressure plate after each wave has passed over them, said base members being located in such positions on the ocean bed that said pressure plates will be depressed in succession to provide substantially constant flow of fluid to the turbine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electric power generating system according to claim 1, in which the shore end of each of said pressure plates is curved upwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electric power generating system according to claim 1, including a roller above each cylinder rotatable on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the adjacent pressure plate, and means secured to the bottom of the plates for supporting the rollers, whereby when the plates are depressed by waves the rollers will compress the cylinders.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electric power generating system according to claim 1, in which each of said base members extends outwardly beyond said hinging means and is provided with an opening, there being a pile driven through said opening and into the ocean bed to stabilize the base member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electric power generating system according to claim 1, in which said turbine is a water turbine, and said cylinder inlets are water inlets, said system including an air turbine operatively connected with said generator to help drive it and having an air inlet, an air pressure tank having an inlet and an outlet, means including a throttle valve connecting the tank outlet with the air turbine inlet, normally expanded upright air cylinders mounted on at least some of said base members and having inlets and outlets provided with check valves, conduits connecting the air cylinder outlets with said tank inlet, and air inlet pipes connected to the air cylinder inlets and extending up above the surrounding water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-04 | 1980-07-05 | 1981-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-04 | 1984-07-05 | 1985-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-04 | 1988-07-05 | 1989-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |