Energy harnessing apparatus

Claim 1

In an apparatus for harnessing the energy derived from the undulatory motion of a body of water, including an assembly having a buoyancy sufficient for maintaining it afloat in the water, the improvement comprising (a) a first structure mounted on the assembly and substantially following therewith multidirectional undulatory motions of the water; said first structure having generally upwardly oriented beams having upper ends connected at least indirectly to one another; (b) a second structure mounted in said assembly for free movement in a plurality of planes with respect to said first structure; said second structure comprising a pendulum including a pendulum bar and a pendulum weight attached to the pedulum bar and a joint suspending said pendulum bar from the upper ends of said beams and permitting motion of said pendulum in said plurality of planes; said beams together enclosing said pendulum; each beam having an inward side oriented towards said pendulum; (c) a device connected to said pendulum and to at least some of said beams for generating a pressure output in response to the force derived from the relative motions between said pendulum and said beams; said device comprising hydraulic cylinder units, each including a cylinder and a piston slidable therein; each said cylinder and the associated piston defining a work chamber accommodating hydraulic liquid and having an outlet opening constituting said pressure output; each said cylinder being connected to a separate beam in an abutting relationship with said inward side thereof and each said piston being connected with said pendulum for causing said pistons to pressurize hydraulic liquid in respective said work chambers by the force derived from the motion of said pendulum relative to said beams; and (d) means coupled to said pressure output of said device for utilizing, at least indirectly, the energy derived from said pressure output.