Patent ID: 7141888
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: B60L,F03B,F05B,H02K,H02P,Y02E,Y02P,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A wave energy converter (WEC) comprising: a shell and a non-circular column; said shell having an outer wall and a central opening with a non-circular inner surface shaped to conform to the non-circular outer surface of the column for the positioning therein and the passing therethrough of said non-circular column and the shell and column being spaced apart to permit the shell and column to move up and down relative to each other when placed in a body of water and in response to the waves present in said body of water; said non-circular column positioned within, and extending along, the central opening of the shell, the non-circular inner surfaces of the shell and the non-circular outer surfaces of the column being formed and shaped such that, when placed in a body of water and in response to waves in the body of water, rotational and twisting motion between the shell and the column is inhibited while the inner surfaces of the shell and the outer surfaces are spaced apart and extend along parallel spaced apart planes to permit unhindered vertical up and down motion of the shell relative to the column and a power take off (PTO) device connected between the shell and column to convert the relative vertical motion between the shell and column due to the waves into electrical energy.