Abstract An apparatus for the conversion of complex surface motion of the sea or other fluid body into useful energy, comprising a pair of floating bodies, each of which constitutes a wave motion pump; the pair of floating bodies being linked by a lever whose motion serves to initiate and multiply the pumping energy of each. Each floating body contains two piston operated water cylinders with water intake check valves at their bases and a third cylinder serving as a pressure chamber. Each floating body contains its own fulcrum such that it rocks about one end of the lever. The downward pivotal motion of the lever on the piston shaft of the piston in one of said water cylinders forces water out of the cylinder. Simultaneously, the upward motion of the lever on the other side of the fulcrum pulse the piston shaft of the other piston upward, causing water to be taken into the other cylinder through the intake check valve at its base. As the action of the lever reverses, the action of the pistons reverses, causing a constant flow of water under pressure into the pressure chamber from which it exhausts. The same sequence of events occurs in the second floating body, thus causing the effect of a dual pump. Air pressure is utilized to reinforce this process. Since the apparatus has four cylinders alternately and sequentially forcing water through defined channels, the effect of an efficient pump is created, which might be utilized for any normal purpose.
A dual wave motion pump for converting the wave motion of a fluid body into usable energy comprising: at least two hull structures connected together by means of a lever; each of said hull structures having at least one enclosed flotation compartment and a partially open pump compartment; each of said hull structures supporting a lever-activated pumping means in said pump compartment responsive to wave motion; said pumping means comprising: a pair of spaced apart cylinders, each of said cylinders having a fluid intake check valve at its base, an outlet means and a reciprocating piston with an elongated shaft operably connected to said lever; a fulcrum for said lever located between said piston shafts; a pressure chamber between said cylinders in fluid communication with the outlet means of both of said cylinders through pipe means having check valves therein; and outlet pipe means from said pressure chamber whereby fluid is delivered to a load; each end of said lever being pivotally connected to the pump compartment of one said hulls, including means for limiting the upward and downward pivotal motion of said lever, thereby converting the natural wave motion of a fluid body into leverage forces for activating said pumping means; said pumping means further comprising: two pairs of longitudinally disposed air bumpers, one pair on each side of said fulcrum, each of said air bumpers having a stiff backing to limit the upward and downward pivotal motion of said lever; each of said air bumpers having an air intake check valve; an air hose having check valve therein connecting each of the upper air bumpers to said pressure chamber such that when one end of said lever impacts an upper air bumper, air is forced out of said upper air bumper and into said pressure chamber; an air hose having a check valve therein connecting each of the lower air bumpers to said fluid outlet pipe means of said pressure chamber such that when one of said lever impacts a lower air bumper, air is forced out of said lower air bumper and into said outlet pipe means; means for transferring the pumped fluid from said pumping means to a load;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
363 words
A dual wave motion pump for converting the wave motion of a fluid body into usable energy comprising: at least two hull structures connected together by means of a lever; each of said hull structures having at least one enclosed flotation compartment and a partially open pump compartment; each of said hull structures supporting a lever-activated pumping means in said pump compartment responsive to wave motion; said pumping means comprising: a pair of spaced apart cylinders, each of said cylinders having a fluid intake check valve at its base, an outlet means and a reciprocating piston with an elongated shaft operably connected to said lever; a fulcrum for said lever located between said piston shafts; a pressure chamber between said cylinders in fluid communication with the outlet means of both of said cylinders through pipe means having check valves therein; and outlet pipe means from said pressure chamber whereby fluid is delivered to a load; each end of said lever being pivotally connected to the pump compartment of one said hulls, including means for limiting the upward and downward pivotal motion of said lever, thereby converting the natural wave motion of a fluid body into leverage forces for activating said pumping means; said pumping means further comprising: two pairs of longitudinally disposed air bumpers, one pair on each side of said fulcrum, each of said air bumpers having a stiff backing to limit the upward and downward pivotal motion of said lever; each of said air bumpers having an air intake check valve; an air hose having check valve therein connecting each of the upper air bumpers to said pressure chamber such that when one end of said lever impacts an upper air bumper, air is forced out of said upper air bumper and into said pressure chamber; an air hose having a check valve therein connecting each of the lower air bumpers to said fluid outlet pipe means of said pressure chamber such that when one of said lever impacts a lower air bumper, air is forced out of said lower air bumper and into said outlet pipe means; means for transferring the pumped fluid from said pumping means to a load;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The dual wave motion pump of claim 1 wherein each of said hulls further includes: two enclosed flotation compartments, one serving as the fore end of said hull and one serving as the aft end of said hull; said open pumping compartment being positioned between said flotation compartments.