Method and apparatus for deriving useful energy from sea waves

Claim 1

An apparatus for converting ocean wave motion into useful energy, said apparatus comprising: a converging horizontal dam open to the ocean for magnifying the amplitude of sea waves and terminating in an exit portion; a pressure chamber coupled to said exit portion and rising vertically to form a pneumatic chamber portion above the ocean water received from said dam, whereby a standing wave is maintained within the pressure chamber and transformed to a surging wave by normal wave motion and to thereby effect cyclic compression and suction of the air within the pressure chamber above the standing wave; a double-acting air turbine operatively mounted within said pressure chamber above the ocean wave therefor for transforming pneumatic suction and compression pressure of the air resulting from the wave surge into mechanical energy; window means within said pressure chamber above said double-acting turbine for permitting air flow to and from said double-acting turbine; and wherein said double-acting turbine comprises a shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within said pressure chamber, a plurality of arcuate turbine blades extending radially outwardly of the vertical shaft, being connected at their edges to form a serpentine configuration in vertical cross-section with alternating blades having horizontal openings adjacent their upper edges and other alternating blades having openings adjacent their bottom edges, and wherein adjacent blades are angled with respect to each other such that both during compression and suction of the air within said pressure chamber, additive force components are transmitted through the blades for rotation of the turbine in a given direction.

Claim 2

An apparatus for converting ocean wave motion into useful energy, said apparatus comprising: a converging horizontal dam open to the ocean for magnifying the amplitude of sea waves and terminating in an exit portion; a pressure chamber coupled to said exit portion and rising vertically to form a pneumatic chamber portion above the ocean water received from said dam, whereby a standing wave is maintained within the pressure chamber and transformed to a surging wave by normal wave motion and to thereby effect cyclic compression and suction of the air within the pressure chamber above the standing wave; a double-acting air turbine operatively mounted within said pressure chamber above the ocean wave therefor for transforming pneumatic suction and compression pressure of the air resulting from the wave surge into mechanical energy; window means within said pressure chamber above said double-acting turbine for permitting air flow to and from said double-acting turbine; and wherein said double-acting turbine comprises a shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within said pressure chamber, a plurality of arcuate turbine blades extending radially outwardly of the vertical shaft, being connected at their edges to form a serpentine configuration in vertical cross-section with alternating blades having horizontal openings adjacent their upper edges and other alternating blades having openings adjacent their bottom edges, and wherein adjacent blades are angled with respect to each other such that both during compression and suction of the air within said pressure chamber, additive force components are transmitted through the blades for rotation of the turbine in a given direction.