Patent ID: 8713928
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: F03B,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A wave energy converter (hereinafter WEC), comprising: (a) a floating vessel arranged to pitch on ocean swell; (b) means for varying continuously the immersed length of said vessel in the pitching plane, whereby wave-bridging can be controlled and whereby the added mass moment of inertia of said vessel can be varied; (c) within said vessel, a plurality of ballast masses; (d) means for varying continuously the distance in the pitching plane of said ballast masses from the center of gravity of said vessel, whereby the mass moment of inertia of said vessel can be varied; (e) within said, vessel, a moving pendulum mass; (f) means for moving said pendulum mass along a circular path in the vertical plane, said means requiring a vertical space that is significantly less than the radius of said circular path at periods of oscillation typical of high-energy ocean swells, whereby the cost and obtrusiveness of the structure of said apparatus is reduced; (g) means for varying continuously the circular radius of said path; (h) means for converting the relative motion of said pendulum mass and said vessel to electrical power; whereby the oscillation period of said vessel and the oscillation period of said pendulum mass can be simultaneously and continuously varied to resonate with the ocean swell, so improving the efficiency of wave energy conversion.