US4078871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sea wave energy conversion
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-08-28
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1995-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A fixed structure encloses a vertically spaced plurality of superimposed channels that are open at one end of the sea to receive deep sea waves approaching a shoreline. Each of the channels has an entrance ramp that slopes upwardly shorewardly to induce breaking of a wave at and over an apex of trailer service ramp that merges into a shorewardly downwardly sloping convergent conduit having fluid communication with a pressure chamber of the structure through a one-way valve controlled aperture at which the wave energy is concentrated. A portion of each ramp is overlain by a roof which may comprise the underside of a superimposed ramp of another channel. Each of the ramps is of upwardly convex configuration, transversely to the wave direction, and at opposite sides is provided with re-entrant scuppers for draining backwash from a receding wave. Wave focusing vanes or walls diverge seawardly from the open end of the fixed structure along an axis bisecting a submerged transverse wall member embedded on the sea floor, of a lens configuration for bending and focusing a given linear wave length into the convergent walls. Water is directed from the pressure chamber of the structure into energy recovery devices utilizing the kinetic, hydrostatic and pneumatic energy contained in the pressure chamber, which acts as an accumulator.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford A. Perkins, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:31
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B13/00; F03B13/12; F03B13/14; F03B13/141; F03B13/144; F03B13/147; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A sea wave surge pump energy converter comprising: a structure having an open rear end to receive incoming waves; a forwardly upwardly sloping intake ramp longitudinally aligned with said open end to receive incoming waves and of a longitudinal slope to induce wave breaking at a horizontally disposed apex of said ramp, said ramp comprising part of an intake channel including opposite side walls of said structure to occlude a horizontal segment of an incoming wave therebetween; a forwardly downwardly convergent conduit in said structure comprising a rigidly integrated continuation of said ramp to receive occluded wave segments breaking over said apex for accellerated forward fall into a pressure vessel in said structure, a rear end of said conduit contiguous to said apex defining an opening of horizontally elongate configuration to receive the occluded wave segment, said convergent conduit comprising forwardly convergent lateral side walls for focusing the force of the breaking occluded wave segment upon a forward narrow inner end of said conduit; an enclosed pressure vessel in said structure in communication with said narrow end of said conduit to contain pressurized sea water received from said conduit; and a non-return valve at the forward end of said convergent conduit to check the escape from said pressure vessel of water pumped through said valve by sea waves breaking over said apex of said ramp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
A sea wave surge pump energy converter comprising: a structure having an open rear end to receive incoming waves; a forwardly upwardly sloping intake ramp longitudinally aligned with said open end to receive incoming waves and of a longitudinal slope to induce wave breaking at a horizontally disposed apex of said ramp, said ramp comprising part of an intake channel including opposite side walls of said structure to occlude a horizontal segment of an incoming wave therebetween; a forwardly downwardly convergent conduit in said structure comprising a rigidly integrated continuation of said ramp to receive occluded wave segments breaking over said apex for accellerated forward fall into a pressure vessel in said structure, a rear end of said conduit contiguous to said apex defining an opening of horizontally elongate configuration to receive the occluded wave segment, said convergent conduit comprising forwardly convergent lateral side walls for focusing the force of the breaking occluded wave segment upon a forward narrow inner end of said conduit; an enclosed pressure vessel in said structure in communication with said narrow end of said conduit to contain pressurized sea water received from said conduit; and a non-return valve at the forward end of said convergent conduit to check the escape from said pressure vessel of water pumped through said valve by sea waves breaking over said apex of said ramp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 in which said ramp is of upwardly convex configuration, transversely to the direction of incoming waves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 in which said ramp and said convergent conduit are symmetrical in plan-form about a longitudinal axis corresponding to incoming wave direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 in which said ramp slopes transversely to the incoming wave direction and has scupper means closed on the seaward face of said means and open to flow receding from the apex of said ramp, adapted to drain seawater entrained in said scupper means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 that includes wave focusing vanes diverging seawardly from said structure and extending above sea level to laterally occlude an incoming wave segment as it approaches said ramp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 that includes a submerged wall fixed on the sea floor at a location spaced seawardly from said structure, said submerged wall being disposed transversely to wave direction and having an upwardly convergent oppositely sloping profile, in elevation, said submerged wall being oriented, relative to the open end of said structure, to induce shoreward concavity in waves passing thereover, to increase the linear extent of waves directed into said open end of said structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 in which a rigid roof overhangs a portion of said ramp adjacent said apex and defines a conduit with said ramp and said opposite side walls of said structure, the underside of said roof being of a slope substantially conforming to the slope of said ramp, at least in the direction of incoming waves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
An energy convertor as in claim 7 having a plurality of superimposed sea wave surge pump channels each comprising a ramp, a convergent conduit and a non-return valve, the roof of lower ones of said ramps being defined by the underside of a ramp superimposed thereabove.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 having a plurality of superimposed sea wave surge pump channels each comprising a ramp, a convergent conduit and a non-return valve, each of said ramps having different upwardly forwardly slopes, the lowest ramp having the steepest slope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An energy convertor as in claim 1 wherein said ramp is extended seaward beyond said structure to form an artifical beach.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The energy convertor of claim 1 wherein an elevated holding tank is provided, interconnected with said pressure chamber by a conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The energy convertor of claim 11 wherein a further conduit interconnects said holding tank with the intake of a turbine and wherein non-return valves are provided in said conduit between said pressure chamber and said holding tank and in said further conduit to prevent reverse flow of seawater from said holding tank into said pressure chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A sea wave-energy converter, comprising: a water tight hull open to the sea at a rear end thereof; a plurality of wave intake channels in said open end, in vertically superimposed relationship to one another, each one defined by: an upwardly forwardly sloping intake ramp, opposite side walls, and a roof; the apex of each of said channels being in communication with a downwardly forwardly sloping laterally convergent conduit comprising a longitudinal extension of the corresponding one of said channels; a non-return valve at the narrow forward downward end of each of said downwardly sloping conduits; a pressure chamber communicating with said narrow downward end of each of said downwardly sloping conduits; and means for conveying pressurized sea water pumped into said pressure chamber through said non-return valves to a device adapted to recover the potential energy thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
A sea wave-energy converter, comprising: a water tight hull open to the sea at a rear end thereof; a plurality of wave intake channels in said open end, in vertically superimposed relationship to one another, each one defined by: an upwardly forwardly sloping intake ramp, opposite side walls, and a roof; the apex of each of said channels being in communication with a downwardly forwardly sloping laterally convergent conduit comprising a longitudinal extension of the corresponding one of said channels; a non-return valve at the narrow forward downward end of each of said downwardly sloping conduits; a pressure chamber communicating with said narrow downward end of each of said downwardly sloping conduits; and means for conveying pressurized sea water pumped into said pressure chamber through said non-return valves to a device adapted to recover the potential energy thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The wave-energy convertor of claim 13, wherein the roof of lower ones of said superimposed channels is formed by the underside of the intake ramp of the overlying channel, and the roof of the uppermost of said plurality of such channels is formed by the deck of said watertight hull.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wave-energy convertor of claim 13, wherein said hull is constructed in the form of an open-ended prefabricated barge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wave-energy convertor of claim 13, wherein the upwardly sloping intake ramp of the lowermost of said plurality of channels is extended seaward to form an artifical beach.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wave-energy convertor of claim 15, wherein said walls of said channels are also divergently extended seaward to form wave-refracting vanes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wave-energy convertor of claim 13, wherein an elevated holding tank is provided, interconnected with said pressure chamber by a conduit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The wave-energy convertor of claim 18, wherein a further conduit interconnects said holding tank with the intake of a turbine, and wherein non-return valves are provided in said conduit between said pressure chamber and said holding tank, and in said further conduit, to prevent reverse flow of seawater from said holding tank into said pressure chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |