Patent ID: 6226989
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: F03B,Y02E

Abstract:
A wave energy converter (10) comprisinga buoyant body (11),an acceleration tube (14) dependent from and attached to the buoyant body (11) and having an upper end near the buoyant body and a lower end remote from the buoyant body, a section of the acceleration tube (14) intermediate the upper and lower ends of the acceleration tube defining a working cylinder (16),openings in the acceleration tube (14) above and below the working cylinder (16) to allow in operation of the wave energy converter substantially unobstructed water flow between the working cylinder (16) and a body of water in which the acceleration tube (14) is immersed,a working piston (17) which is reciprocable in the working cylinder (16),relief passage means at the ends of the working cylinder (16) controlled by the working piston (17) to allow substantially unrestricted flow of water past the working piston in response to the working piston moving past a predetermined position at said end, andan energy-absorbing device (19, 20, 24, 25) operatively connected with the working piston (17),characterised bya restoring device (19C, 20C, 26, 27) for applying to the working piston (17) an acceleration force directed towards the working cylinder (16) in response to the working piston (17) moving past said predetermined position.