Ocean raft energy generator

A system for generating electricity contained within an ocean raft. The raft has a series of raceways for heavy metal balls, and, as they roll back and forth, they engage levers which reciprocate back-to-back paired pistons in opposite directions. Each pressurizing movement of a piston discharges a jet of fluid to a common pressure tank from which the pressurized fluid drives a turbine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many efforts have been made to convert the energy of ocean waves, currents 
and tides into a usable form of energy, such as electricity. For example, 
many have attempted to convert the rise and fall of floats or the like 
into rotary motion. However, they have met with considerable difficulties 
in that the movements of such floats are irregular, unpredictable and of 
varying duration and extent. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a system for generating a 
rotary drive, which is initiated by ocean waves. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a system for generating 
electricity from ocean waves. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from 
the description to follow, particularly when read in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In carrying out this invention, I provide an ocean raft in the interior of 
which are a series of raceways along which heavy metal balls roll back and 
forth with the ocean waves. The balls engage a plurality of levers, each 
operating an opposing pair of pistons to force quantities of pressurized 
liquid into a pressure tank from which the pressurized liquid can drive a 
turbine or the like to generate electricity. If a ball traverses the full 
length of the raceway, it engages a spring retracted piston to discharge 
an additional jet of pressurized fluid toward the pressure tank. 
Preferably, the raft is annular with spoke-like chambers containing 
electrical generators, and in each quadrant of the raft there may be 
several juxtaposed raceways in two or more tiers. Along the raceways may 
be several pairs of the pistons all discharging pressurized fluid into a 
common system including a single pressure tank.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 with greater particularity, the energy 
generating system 10 of this invention may be contained within a raft 12 
for flotation on the sea S. The raft 12 is preferably of annular 
configuration with a central hub 14 and four or more radial spokes 16. For 
stability, the raft 12 may include a depending ballast chamber 18 in which 
ballast water is maintained at a desired level by opening a sea cock 20 by 
valve actuator 21, or operating a bilge pump 22. Both the valve actuator 
21 and the bilge pump 22 may be operated remotely, as by means of the 
electricity generated aboard, with a battery standby. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the motion of the raft as it rides on 
the sea S is used to generate pressure in a fluid system to be described 
by reciprocation of a series of back to back piston pumps 24, which are 
tied together by a single piston rod 26 to which a lever arm 28 is 
pivoted. As will be later described, as each piston is forced to its 
compression position adjacent the head 24a of the piston, a jet of 
hydraulic fluid under pressure is introduced into the pressure system. 
As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the circular raft 12 is divided into 
quadrants by walls 30 between which are contained arcuate rows of paired 
piston 24 disposed end to end. There may be a series of such arcuate rows 
disposed coaxially, as well as two or more tiers thereof (FIG. 3). A 
hyraulically driven wheel, such as a turbine 32, is disposed in each 
quadrant for rotation by the hydraulic system contained therein, and a 
generator 34 is driven by the turbine 32 in a compartment 36 isolated 
thereform by means of an arcuate wall 38. 
Below each arcuate row of end to end paired pistons 24 is a raceway 40 in 
which a heavy ball 42 of steel or the like, e.g. in excess of one hundred 
pounds, is free to roll back and forth with a rolling motion of the raft 
12. Hence, as the heavy ball 42 rolls toward the left in FIG. 3 it will 
engage each lever 28 successively, to pivot it toward the left and force 
the associated paired pistons to the right. If the ball traverses the full 
length of the raceway 40 before reversing, it will engage a spring 
retracted piston rod 44 contained within a cylinder 46 to send an 
additional charge of pressurized fluid. On the other hand, if it does not 
traverse the full length of the raceway 40 it will simply roll back toward 
the right and pivot each lever 28 it engages in the opposite direction to 
discharge fluid from the other cylinder. 
Now referring more particularly to FIG. 6, the hydraulic systems of this 
invention includes a supply tank 48 from which fluid is driven through 
lines 50 and 52a, 52b to accumulators 54 and 55 to the two cylinders 56, 
57 making up each pair 24 thereof. A third line 52c delivers fluid to the 
accumulator 59 for the cylinder 61 of the spring actuated piston 44 at the 
end of each raceway 40. 
The accumulators 54, 55 and 59 ensure an adequate supply of hydraulic fluid 
for each cylinder 56, 57 and 61 and a float operated check valve 63 in the 
port of each accumulator allows flow of fluid into the appropriate 
cylinder until there is enough fluid in the chamber 64 to float the check 
valve 63 against its seal. 
Pressure ducts 66a, 66b and 66c, which open from each piston 56, 57 and 61 
through one-way check valves 69, are connected to main pressure line 68, 
which opens into a pressure tank 70. A safety valve 72 in a bleed line 74 
will relieve the tank 70 in the event of excessive pressure by dumping a 
quantity of fluid to the supply tank 48, which is vented at 76. The 
pressurized fluid in tank 70 is discharged at 78 to drive the turbine 32 
which, in turn, discharges into the supply tank 48. An over speed governor 
80 may be provided to dump fluid from the pressure line 78 in the event 
that the turbine rotates too fast. 
If desired, vacuum breakers 82 may be provided to relieve each cylinder 56, 
57 and 59 at the end of its power stroke. Each vacuum breaker 82 comprises 
a one-way check valve in a line 84, 86 which is opened to vent at 76 and a 
push rod 88 which is carried on the tie rod 26 of each piston pair 24 
engages a rod 90 on each vacuum breaker 82 to unseat the ball check and 
vent the cylinder 56 or 57. 
It is contemplated that the cylinders 56 and 57 of all paired pistons 24 in 
a quadrant of the raft 12 will be connected to a single pressure tank 70 
to drive a single turbine 32. Each turbine will drive a generator 34 to 
deliver electricity at 92 to a bank of transformers 94 and thence by 
suitable power lines (not shown) to an on-shore station. 
In a large raft, the hub 14 could be fitted with living quarters for 
operating personnel, and could even contain intercontinental missiles. 
While this invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred 
embodiment thereof it is obvious that modifications and changes therein 
may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit 
and scope of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.