Water vehicle-actuated air compressor and system therefor

Claim 1

A water wave actuated system for compressing air and thereby generating electrical energy comprising: an electricity generator operated by compressed air to generate electricity; air storage means operatively connected to said generator to supply compressed air to said generator for operating the same; underwater actuator means for actuation in response to waves in a body of water; a plurality cylinders; a plurality of pistons having forward and reverse strokes respectively in said cylinders and movable in response to actuation of said actuator means by waves for compressing air in said cylinders; vent means for each said cylinder communicating with one side of said piston therein for introducing air at atmospheric pressure into said cylinder behind said piston during a forward stroke of said piston; valve-controlled vent means for each said cylinder communicating with the other side of said piston therein for introducing air at atmospheric pressure into said cylinder on the side of said piston during a reverse stroke thereof; outlet means communicating with said other side of each said piston for supplying air compressed by said piston during a forward stroke thereof to said air storage means enroute to said electricity generator; said actuator means comprising a plurality of first paddles totally submerged in the water and horizontally pivoted less than 45 degrees from the horizontal position for up and down movement by waves in the water and operatively coupled to certain of said pistons for reciprocating the latter in the corresponding cylinders; and said actuator means further comprising a plurality of second paddles totally submerged in the water and horizontally pivoted less than 45 degrees from the vertical position for horizontal back and forth movement by waves in the water and operatively coupled to the remaining pistons for reciprocating the latter in the corresponding cylinders.