US4568836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ocean wave electric generators
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-02-08
•
Granted: 1986-02-04
•
Expires: 2003-02-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for converting wave energy to electrical energy in a sea environment comprises a flotation duck anchored to the sea bottom and a turbine assembly pivotally connected thereto comprising an air chamber partially filled with liquid and/or granular particles having a turbine mounted on the upper portion thereof. The turbine is either self-rectifying or with a flap valve controlled entrance to the air chamber. A generator is coupled to the turbine and driven thereby. In operation, the motion of the waves causes the liquid and/or granular particles to compress the air within the chamber which is then used to drive the turbine. The spent air is fed back into the air chamber from the turbine as wave motion continues. In alternate embodiments the turbine generator assembly is mounted to the upper portion of an air chamber open to the sea on the bottom in an apparatus which rotates about a fixed or stable central axis. Gearing arrangements to drive the generator either alone or in combination with a liquid or air turbine drive are also disclosed. Compression of the air within the chamber or liquid, as the case may be, drives the turbine. Multiple assemblies may be readily coupled together to generate electrical energy in commercially practical quantities.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard R. Reenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:11
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03B; F03B13/00; F03B13/12; F03B13/14; F03B13/24; F03B13/16; F03B13/18; F03B13/1805; F03B13/181; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves comprising: a hollow buoyant duck positioned in the path of waves including a core about the center axis of which the duck rotates, a lower chamber portion having liquid therein and an upper chamber portion having air therein, said air being alternately compressed and expanded by the liquid in the chamber during the rotational motion of the duck caused by waves, a turbine mounted in the upper portion of the duck and driven by the compressed and expanded air, a generator coupled to the turbine and operated thereby to produce electrical energy and an air bulb having the generator mounted therein, and, a spine having a transverse axial shaft, means anchoring the spine to the ocean floor and means on the upper portion of the spine engaging the duck to maintain said duck in position, said spine having a curved configuration to concentrate and direct wave energy and wherein said spine configuration acts as a scoop to increase the height of wave peaks and as a foil to increase the depth of wave troughs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves comprising: a hollow buoyant duck positioned in the path of waves including a core about the center axis of which the duck rotates, a lower chamber portion having liquid therein and an upper chamber portion having air therein, said air being alternately compressed and expanded by the liquid in the chamber during the rotational motion of the duck caused by waves, a turbine mounted in the upper portion of the duck and driven by the compressed and expanded air, a generator coupled to the turbine and operated thereby to produce electrical energy and an air bulb having the generator mounted therein, and, a spine having a transverse axial shaft, means anchoring the spine to the ocean floor and means on the upper portion of the spine engaging the duck to maintain said duck in position, said spine having a curved configuration to concentrate and direct wave energy and wherein said spine configuration acts as a scoop to increase the height of wave peaks and as a foil to increase the depth of wave troughs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the lower chamber in the duck includes granular particles therein, and wherein the upper chamber includes an opening to the lower chamber portion whereby the granular particles move through the opening compressing the air during wave motion and further including means to prevent the granular particles from contacting the generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the spine comprises a transverse axial shaft for coupling to adjacent generating apparatus, an upwardly extending side wall for purposes of stability and a cable mounted to the spine, said cable being anchored at its other end to the ocean floor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the duck includes an enlarged curved forward portion and a rear portion tapering from the forward portion on top and bottom to enhance the rotational movement of the duck about the axis due to wave action.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 1 further including: a snorkel valve mounted on the upper portion of the duck for venting an intake of air through the turbine, said liquid chamber being open to the ocean on its bottom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 1 further including: foward, middle and rear portions to the air chamber and a pipe joining said middle and rear portions to vent air into the rear portion from the turbine, and, valve means regulating the level of water within the duck to prevent water entry to the turbine generator area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the apparatus includes a plurality of ducks coupled in an array, said adjacent spines being coupled together to form an integral group of units.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves comprising: a hollow buoyant duck positioned in the path of waves including a core about the center axis of which the duck rotates, a lower chamber portion having liquid therein and an upper chamber portion having air therein, said air being alternately compressed and expanded by the liquid in the chamber during the rotational motion of the duck caused by waves, a turbine mounted in the upper portion of the duck and driven by the compressed and expanded air, a generator coupled to the turbine and operated thereby to produce electrical energy and an air bulb having the generator mounted therein, and, a spine having a transverse axial shaft, means anchoring the spine to the ocean floor and means on the upper portion of the spine engaging the duck to maintain said duck in position, said spine having a curved configuration to concentrate and direct wave energy and wherein said spine configuration acts as a scoop to increase the height of wave peaks and as a foil to increase the depth of wave troughs, and, wherein the duck further includes a lower ring portion, said ring portion being engaged and driving means on the upper portion of the spine and a generator located on the spine to be driven by the means on the upper portion as the duck rotates about the axis.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves comprising: a hollow buoyant duck positioned in the path of waves including a core about the center axis of which the duck rotates, a lower chamber portion having liquid therein and an upper chamber portion having air therein, said air being alternately compressed and expanded by the liquid in the chamber during the rotational motion of the duck caused by waves, a turbine mounted in the upper portion of the duck and driven by the compressed and expanded air, a generator coupled to the turbine and operated thereby to produce electrical energy and an air bulb having the generator mounted therein, and, a spine having a transverse axial shaft, means anchoring the spine to the ocean floor and means on the upper portion of the spine engaging the duck to maintain said duck in position, said spine having a curved configuration to concentrate and direct wave energy and wherein said spine configuration acts as a scoop to increase the height of wave peaks and as a foil to increase the depth of wave troughs, and, wherein the duck further includes a lower ring portion, said ring portion being engaged and driving means on the upper portion of the spine and a generator located on the spine to be driven by the means on the upper portion as the duck rotates about the axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 8 wherein: the duck includes a ring gear section on the lower surface thereof, and, the spine includes gears on the upper portion thereof engaging the ring gear section to drive the generator as the duck rotates due to wave action.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the duck includes a second generator, and, the spine further includes an upper ring portion having gears associated therewith, said ring portion being engaged by means on the lower portion of the duck to drive the second generator as the duck rotates about the axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 10 wherein: the spine includes a ring gear section on the upper surface thereof, and the duck includes gears on the lower portion thereof engaging the ring gear section to drive the second generator as the duck rotates due to wave action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 10 wherein: the duck and spine include first and second generators respectively with the first generator being connected to the air operated turbine in the duck to be driven thereby and the second generator in the duck being connected to the gears associated with the ring portion to be driven thereby.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 10 wherein: the spine includes a stationary coupling extending outwardly therefrom and having a ring or gear section on the other end thereof and the duck includes gear means on the upper surface thereof engaging and being driven by the spine ring gear section as the duck rotates back and forth, said gear means being coupled to the generator and an air bulb or air bell housing within which said gear means and generator are mounted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 8 wherein: the duck and spine include first and second generators with the first generator located on the duck being connected to the air operated turbine in the duck to be driven thereby and the second generator located on the spine being connected to the gears associated with the ring portion to be driven thereby.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 8 wherein: the spine includes a stationary coupling extending outwardly therefrom and having gear means on the other end thereof and the duck includes ring gear section on the upper surface thereof engaging and driving the spine gear means as the duck rotates back and forth, said gear means being coupled to the generator and an air bulb or air bell housing within which said generator and gears are mounted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 15 further including: a buoyant flexible flap or buoyant sliding gate mounted to the spine and extending upwardly therefrom to slide along the duck and prevent water leakage between the spine and duck.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves in accordance with claim 8 wherein: the duck further includes a liquid driven turbine mounted in the lower portion of the duck to be operated by the movement of water therein as the duck rotates, said turbine being coupled to the generator to produce electrical energy.
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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) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |