Patent ID: 9145866
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An energy conversion system for ocean surface waves comprises: a buoyant platform; a plurality of wave-energy capturing (WEC) units; each of said plurality of WEC units comprises a cam mechanism, a recoiling mechanism, a cable, an anchor, a pinion, a transmission, a rotational energy storage mechanism, a tension/slack generating mechanism and a generator; said plurality of WEC units being peripherally distributed about said buoyant platform; said cam mechanism being tethered to said anchor by said cable; said cam mechanism being mounted onto said buoyant platform, wherein the cam mechanism is actuated by linear motion of said buoyant platform; said recoiling mechanism being operatively coupled to said cam mechanism, wherein said recoiling mechanism recoils said cam mechanism after said cam mechanism is actuated by said linear motion of said buoyant platform; said cam mechanism being operatively engaged to said pinion, wherein said cam mechanism converts said linear motion of said buoyant platform into rotational motion in order to rotate said pinion; said pinion being torsionally connected into said transmission; said transmission being torsionally connected into said generator; said cam mechanism comprises a lever arm and a fulcrum; said recoiling mechanism being a tension spring; said lever arm comprises a protruding end and a racked gear end; said fulcrum being connected onto said buoyant platform; said lever arm being pivotally mounted to said fulcrum between said protruding end and said racked gear end; said tension spring being operatively coupled to said racked gear end, wherein said tension spring recoils said racked gear end towards said buoyant platform; said anchor being tethered to said protruding end by said cable; said racked gear end being engaged to said pinion; said tension/slack generating mechanism comprises a bracket, a connecting rod, a length adjusting spring, and a locking spring; said bracket comprises a clamping end and an actuation end; said cable traversing about said protruding end and along a top surface of said lever arm; said cable being tethered to said lever arm by said length adjusting spring; said clamping end being positioned around said cable and said top surface; said bracket being pivotally mounted to said lever arm in between said clamping end and said actuation end; said actuation end being tethered to said lever arm by said locking spring; said actuation end being slidably engaged along a railed end of said connecting rod; and a fixed end of said connecting rod being pivotally connected to said fulcrum.