Abstract:
A machine which capitalizes on the descent of water which has been elevated by making use of the random use of waves and or the velocity of the waters. 
     A device which determines the true surface level in spite of random motions of the waters such as waves, surges and etc. by establishing the theory that water seeks its own level. 
     A device which capitalizes on the velocity and weight of water, such as is present in waves and river waters, wherein the current has sufficient velocity to depress a ramp and produce useful energy.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application No. 61/137,315. Filed Jul. 30, 2008 entitled WAVE CATCHER. Conformation #8917 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This device (ELECTROWAVE) makes use or the speed, motion and weight of wave waters to produce a steady and uninterrupted supply of electricity. It uses a base which is well anchored to the ocean floor so that the devise is maintained in a secure position except for upward and downward motion. The devise is maintained at levels corresponding to the levels of the rising and falling tides by a devise which will be referred to as a “Surface Finder.” Maintaining a constant positioning of the ElectroWave enable it to better capitalize on the random motions of the surf. Also the devise is constructed primarily of plastics, fiberglass and other materials that can better withstand the caustic effects of ocean water. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As a wave moves up and forward it is ushered up a ramp and into a bucket-like structure. As the water moves up the ramp it presses the ramp downward and proceeds onward to fill the bucket-like structure (which will be referred to as the bucket). When the bucket has been filled with water a float that is located in the upper area of the bucket moves upward moving a lever which causes a snap which holds the bucket up to be released. The bucket then plunges downward. When the bucket arrives at the lower level one or more of the walls of the bucket and or the floor of the bucket is opened by releasing a snap which holds the walls and or the floor of the bucked in a closed position. The water then gushes out of the bucket. Weights which are located on the opposite end of the fulcrum then cause the bucket to rise once again to the uppermost position. The ramp is also located on a fulcrum with weights on the opposite end that return it to the uppermost position after it has been depressed. Also compressed air cylinders are located on the opposite ends of both fulcrums. They are attached to a lower base. The rods of the pistons are attached to an upper frame which moves them up and down in response to the upward and downward motions of the bucket and ramp. The air is then compressed by the compressed air cylinders and transferred to compressed air tanks. The air is then transferred to a compressed air motor which turns an electric generator producing an electric current 
         [0004]    The ElectroWave device is maneuvered to match the changing surface levels by rolling upward and downward on two tracts which rise upward from a stationary platform. The platform is submerged but floats toward the surface via floats which are attached to it. It is located at a level that is beneath the level of the lowest ebb tide. The platform is attached to cables which are anchored to an ocean (or lake) floor. Also there is a tract which rises upward between one or both of the dual tracts described above. It has notches on it to which the devise attaches on order to prevent random upward movements that would be caused by the effect of the waves on the floats attached to the lower frame of the device. The tracts rise upward to the highest known level of the highest of the high tides including surges caused by wind. 
         [0005]    As the device moves up and down the lower frame is kept on the same level as the surface of the waters by a mechanism called a SURFACE FINDER. This mechanism determines the surface level by using the familiar principle that water seeks it own level. The upward movements of the devise are determined by this surface finder which causes it to lock onto the notches as it moves upward in measured increments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an electrowave device according to a preferred embodiment 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a repeat of  FIG. 1  with a ramp in a downward position 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a  3  dimensional view of  FIG. 2   
           [0009]      FIG. 4   a  shows a bucket in a locked position.  FIG. 4   b  shows a bucket in an unlocked position ready to descend. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5   a  shows top view of a float and locking mechanism.  FIG. 5   b  side views of  FIG. 5   a,  locked and unlocked. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6   a  shows the bucket in a lower position  FIG. 6   b  shows the bucket in the lowermost position with a snap released so that a door is opened and the water in the bucket is released.  FIG. 6   c  bucket resumes upper position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a joint ( 19   c ) that permits accommodation between the relative changes of position between the upper and lower frames. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows an anchored platform that floats upward toward the surface while remaining submerged. It supports the tracts on which the ElectroWave device rolls up and down and also enables the device to remain on the level of the surface of the tides. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows wheels that are mounted on the lower frame. They roll on tracts tracks described in  FIG. 8 . Also there is a track with notches that are locked into to permit the device to remain at the level of the surface. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows a composite view of the base which supports the ElectroWave devise as described in  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows a view which demonstrates the relationship between the device and its supporting structures. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12   a  shows the SurfaceFinder mechanism ( 57 ) which enables the ElectroWave device to accommodate the changing surface levels which are due to tides, surges &amp; etc. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12   b  shows the Surface Finder in the process of changing and locking into a different position to keep the ElectroWave device in accord with the changing surface levels. It also shows a pipe ( 50 ) which extends at least down to the still water level. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  shows the SurfaceFinder as it is positioned on the lower frame of the ElectroWave device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  which is a side view of a portion on the ElectroWave device. It demonstrates the following items: a float  34  which is attached to the lower frame  18 . An upper frame  21 , an axle joint  22  which supports the upper frame  21  and a ramp  11  with sides  9 , a bucket  10  is located on the front end of the upper frame  21 , on top of the bucket is a rod  12 . In front of the box is an emptying mechanism  13 - 17  it has wheels  14 , a flexible support  15  and or a spring  5 , and a joint  16  that enables the mechanism to lean forward and backward. There are also supports  6 , weights  20  that enable both the ramp and bucket to return to uppermost position after the water is no longer present Eg. the bucket has released its water and there is no water on the ramp. Compressed air cylinders  19  supply compressed air to a main tank  36  shown in  FIG. 8 . Note that the ramp  11  is shown in its uppermost position. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 2  is the same as  FIG. 1  except that the ramp  11  is in a downward position. Not that the rod of the compressed air cylinder  19  has engaged the plunger so as to compress the air in the cylinder. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3  shows a composite 3-D view for clarification. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4   a  shows a release mechanism which consists of a float  24  attached to a rod  12  with a joint  16 . When the bucket is full the float rises and the wheel  23  is moved outward by a rod  12 . A support  13  with a joint  16  is pushed outward releasing a snap  7  which enables the bucket to fall downward from the position seen in  FIG. 4   a.  The float  24  rests on ledge  25  when the water in the bucket is at a lower level. The support  13  and joint  16  are attached to the lower frame  18 . The bucket  10  rests on the upper frame  21 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5   a  shows a top view of a release mechanism described in  FIGS. 4   a  &amp;  4   b.  Eg. a float  24  a rod  12 , a wheel  23 , joints  28  and a support  13 .  FIG. 5   b  is a side view. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6   a  shows is a side view of the bucket in descent. A front wall  3  is kept closed by a snap  30 .  FIG. 6   b  shows the bucket in final descent. The snap  30  is forced into an open position by a protruding rod  31  attached to the base causing the door  3  to open releasing the water from the bucket.  FIG. 6   c  shows the bucket once again in the uppermost position. A protruding rod  32  forces the snap  30  into a closed position. A wheel  29  insures that the wall  3  is closed prior to snap  32  returning to a locked position. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7   a  Shows a side view of a joint  19   a  that enables the compressed air cylinder  19   a  swing back and forth in a front to back direction and vice versa. This enables the cylinder to maintain a more vertical position while the upper frame moves up and down moving the rod and plunger of the cylinder up and down. Other items shown are: a tube  35  to transfer air to a compressed air tank, a joint  22  which forms a fulcrum, a support  6 , ends of a lower frame  18  and an upper frame  21  and also a float  34 .  FIG. 7   b  shows a side view of the mechanism described in  FIG. 7   a.    FIG. 7   c  demonstrates an air tube  35 , a compressed air tank  36 . a compressed air motor  37  and an electric generator  38 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 8  Shows a composite view for orientation. A base platform  45  is located beneath the surface and waves  48  it has multiple floats on the underside  44  and is attached to cables on the underside which are attached to cement blocks or an or a different type of anchor located on the ocean floor  47  (or a lake floor). Located just above the waves is an ElectroWave device  44 . Also there are wheels  40  on which the devise rolls up and down on tracts  41 . Cables  42  can be attached from the support on top  43  as needed. 
         [0028]      FIG. 9  Shows a side view of the base platform  45  as it relates to the wheels  20  which are mounted on the lower frame  18  of the ElectroWave device. The wheels roll up and down on the tract  41  as shown in  FIG. 10. 44  are floats. 
         [0029]      FIG. 10  Is a front view of the side view shown in  FIG. 9 . A notched tract  55  which is located in between the double tract  41  which rises up from the base platform  45 . The Surface Finder mechanism (shown in  FIG. 12 ) locks into the notches on this tract to enable the ElectroWave device to rise up in increments so that the lower frame  18  stays on the same level as the surface  3  of the water. The locking in also prevents random upward movements that would be caused by the effect of waves  48  on the floats  44  located on the underside of the lower frame. Also shown are wheels  40  and cables  42 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 11  Shows a 3-D view for clarification of the relationship between the ElectroWave device  44  and the base  45  and tracts  55  &amp;  41 . Also shown are floats  44 , waves  48  just above the surface, support  43  and cables  42   
         [0031]      FIG. 12   a  Shows a Surface Finder in a locked position, see  53 , while  FIG. 12   b  shows the device having progressed to an unlocked position and onward into a relocked position. Both are a front view of the Surface Finder device. 
         [0032]      FIG. 12   a  shows a notched tract  55 , a wheel which has locked into a notch in the tract  53 , joints  52 , a kettle  57  which contains a float  51  that rises when the water level rises. When  51  rises it engages the mechanism which disengages the wheel  53  which enables the ElectroWave device to move up a notch so the lower frame  21  is once again at the same level as the surface of the water. Also there is a support rod  54 , a float  34  and a wave  48 . Also there is a pipe  50  which extends downward from the kettle down to at least the still water level  60 .  FIG. 12   c  shows a top view of the kettle  57  and its float. Holes  56  in the top of the kettle (if a top is present). 
         [0033]      FIG. 13   a  shows a side view of the ElectroWave device with the Surface Finder mechanism in place on the lower frame of the device. Shone are a kettle  57 , a float  51 , a pipe (that goes downward to the still water level). 
         [0034]      FIG. 13   b  is a front view of the notched tract  55 .