Abstract:
Improvements in an ocean wave energy conversion unit that converts kinetic energy from oceanic waves into useable form of energy that will benefit society called and Aqua-tamer. The unit is designed to be modular in nature where the units can be deployed to function individually or assembled into groups where units will rely on each other and function together as a whole. Each individual unit has an electrical output. As a group (Colony) during deep sea surface applications, the electrical output of each Aqua-Tamer unit will be consolidated and used to operate a water-electrolysis operation that produces Oxygen Gas (O2) and Hydrogen Gas (H2). This production of O2 and H2, instead of electrical output, is designed to eliminate the requirements of an Ocean-wide electrical grid system and still facilitate an economic logistically efficient) method of energy transportation (energy in a gas state.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/537,400 filed Sep. 21, 2011 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention related to improvements in power generation. More particularly, the present Aqua-tamer converts kinetic energy from oceanic waves into a useable form of energy that will benefit society. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     A number of patents and/or publication have been made to address clean power generation and more specifically power generation from harnessing wave and/or tide motion. Exemplary examples of patents and or publications that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below. 
     To best explain the mechanical function of this electricity generating unit, let us first define and describe the function of the common gasoline powered (Otto or Diesel cycle), rear wheel drive, automobile. The automobile is essentially an energy converter that converts chemical potential energy in the form of hydrocarbons (gasoline) into kinetic energy that the operator utilizes for transportation. The engine converts chemical potential into pressure through combustion and eventually into shaft horsepower. This power output is then transmitted through a drive-train and eventually to the wheels that convert rotational movement into translational. So, essentially, we as automobile operators use gasoline and our energy converter (the automobile) to make use of the gasoline has to provide for our transportation purposes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,832 that issued on Jul. 19, 2011 to Ned M. Ahdoot and patent publication 2001/0304145 that published on Dec. 15, 2011 to Netanel Raisch both disclose devices that convert wave energy. Both of these devices have the majority of the device sitting above the waves and float above the surface. These patents are not anchored to a base with a self-contained enclosed generating system. 
     U.S. Publication 2010/0025999 that was published on Feb. 4, 2010 for Chong Hun Kim et al that published on Aug. 18, 2011 for Arturo Lama both disclosed wave electric power generation. Both of these publications use the force of an incoming wave to generate electricity. They do not rely on buoyancy to generate electricity and therefore can mostly be used near a shoreline as opposed to the open ocean. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,035,234 issued on Oct. 11, 2011 to Manuel Constanzo Mesa discloses a system to obtain energy from water waves. The system involves an array or matrix of individual floats that individually move up and down as a wave propagates through the matrix of floats. This patent does not utilize a single buoyancy member that floats with a wave. It also requires a significant amount of ocean surface area and utilizes a complex structure with multiple redundant sets of moving parts. 
     What is needed is simple single structure with a base that is secured to the ocean floor. The structure has vertical linear members where a buoyant floatation electricity generating mechanism is mounted to allow the device to both ride with the waves and tide to convert kinetic energy from oceanic waves. The disclosed device provides a solution to this problem. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the Aqua-Tamer to convert kinetic energy from oceanic waves into a useable form of energy that will benefit society. The unit is designed to be modular in nature where units can be deployed to function individually or assembled into groups where units will rely on each other and function together as a whole. The main product of each individual unit is electrical output. As a group (Colony) during deep sea surface applications, the electrical output of each Aqua-Tamer unit will be consolidated and used to operate a water-electrolysis operation that produces Oxygen Gas (O2) and hydrogen Gas (H2). This production of O2 and H2, instead of electrical output, is designed to eliminate the requirement of an Ocean wide electrical grid system and still facilitate an economic (logistically efficient) method of energy transportation (energy as a gas state). 
     It is another object of the Aqua-Tamer to be a modular design that facilitates a more efficient installation/assembly, and most importantly, recovery and replacement operations that are driven by scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. The components are replaceable as interchangeable pieces that allow simple removal and replacement as required to maintain and/or repair a unit. 
     It is still another object of the Aqua-Tamer for the unit to be of an economic construction demand. The unit&#39;s design is similar to that of the common automobile and should be built like one within the same price range. Other wave power generation units incorporate highly specified technologies that require special construction demands and the return of investment due to its competitive performance and low cost of construction, assembly, maintenance, and operation. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  shows an individual electricity generating unit. 
         FIG. 2  shows each colony as a whole that will maintain a stable vertical position that is equal to the cumulative-average surface-height of the area of water that the colony occupies. 
         FIG. 3  shows the wheels taking the translational motion of the unit relative to the traction beams and converts it into rotational motion.  FIG. 3  also depicts the rotational behavior of different segments of the drive train. 
         FIG. 4  shows a detail view of the wheels and their interaction with the traction beams. 
         FIG. 5  shows the functioning components within Box  1   60  located inside the unit  20 . 
         FIG. 6  shows the transmission of rotational motion from the intermediate shaft  84  to the constant-force coil spring  81  and to the continuously variable transmission (CVT)  82 . 
         FIG. 7  shows how the continuously variable transmission is controlled through the use of the mechanical speed regulator  90  to maintain a constant output rotational speed. 
         FIG. 8  shows an alternative and improved embodiment for the continuously variable transmission mechanical speed regulator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The Unit 
       FIG. 1  shows an individual electricity generating unit  20 . Each individual unit  20  functions to convert kinetic energy from ocean waves  30  into electrical output  40 . This unit  20  is essentially an automobile with a backwards flow of energy. The unit  20  is designed to be a heavy but very buoyant machine that is enclosed in a water-tight container  50 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , there are two vertical holes  51  and  52  that go through the water-tight unit  50 . The purpose of these holes  51  and  52  is to allow the traction-beam(s)  53  and  54  to go through the water-tight container  50  and provide traction to exposed wheels (not shown in this view) inside of holes  51  and  52 . The top of each traction-beam  53  and  54  is capped with a retention cap  55 . 
     The wheels  29  are the first contact of the outside forces to the drive train. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the wheels  29  take the translational motion of the unit relative to the traction beams and convert it into rotational motion. This rotational motion is transmitted through a differential (does not necessarily have to be differential because there should not be a situation where one wheel turns faster than the other) and a drive shaft to the input shaft of Box I  60 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a detail view of the drive wheels  29  on the traction beams  53  showing wave energy power being transferred through the input shaft  63  through box I  60 , output shaft  73 , through box  2   80 , through output shaft  95  and into generator  96 . 
     Box I 
     The purpose of Box I  60  is to convert oscillatory rotational motion into impulsive but unidirectional motion.  FIG. 3  is an illustration that shows a sinusoidal wave function on the top-left corner of the figure that reflects the nature of the ocean wave and the unit&#39;s bobbing/oscillatory motion. The drive shaft will at one point begin to turn clockwise  61 , reach its peak clockwise rotational speed, slow down, stop, and begin to turn counterclockwise  62  and continue the same course repeatedly as a function of time as shown in the top graph. These series of motions will occur as the unit oscillates up and down  21  in response to the passing of ocean waves  30 . 
     Taking a closer look at the functioning components within Box I  60 ,  FIG. 5  shows how the input shaft  63  is connected and coupled to an input gear  64 . The input gear  64  is then connected to an idler gear  65  which is connected to a sprag clutch  67 . Besides being connected to the idler gear  65  the input gear  64  is also connected to another sprag clutch or roller clutch  66  that is oriented to actively turn and release the same direction to that sprag clutch or roller clutch  67 . Both of these clutches  67  and  66  are attached to their own shafts  68  and  69  respectively. 
     Each of these shafts  68  and  69  have additional gears  70  and  71  respectively that are both connected to the Output Gear  72 . With this design that incorporates two opposing one-way clutches  67  and  66 , with connecting gears  70  and  71 , the output shaft  1   60  can be designed to turn clockwise regardless of the rotational direction of the input shaft  63 . This is because, at any given time, only one of the two clutches  67  or  66  is in active mode while the other is in release/slip mode. 
     A better way to understand the function of Box  1   60  would be by analyzing the flow of power through the system and the effects of its power to each individual component. For instance, if the input shaft  63  was turning counterclockwise (from the overhead perspective), Clutch  66  will be in active mode and effectively transmitting the mechanical power of the input gear  63  to Shaft  69  as well as Connecting Gear  71 . 
     Through Connecting Gear  71 , this movement is transferred to the Output Gear  72  and then to Connecting Gear  70  and back up to Shaft  68 . Shifting our focus to the relationship between the Input Gear  64  and Idler Gear  65  and Clutch  67 , we notice that because the input gear  64  is turning counter-clockwise, the idler gear  65  is turning clockwise which is making Clutch  67  turn counter-clockwise to freewheel, relaxed or slip its rotational direction and transmit no power. With these concepts in mind, we can see that Clutch  67  is turning counter-clockwise, but shaft  68 , because of the driving force from connecting gear  70  and the output gear  72  and connecting gear  71 , is actually turning clockwise (a completely opposite direction). Thus, when any of the two Clutches  67  or  66  are turning in the freewheel (relaxed) direction (counter-clockwise), their respective shaft  68  or  69  is turning at the same speed but in the opposite direction (clockwise). In fact, shafts  68  and  69  and connecting gears  70  and  71  will always turn clockwise. 
     When the input shaft  63  is turning clockwise, power is transmitted through idler gear  65 , clutch  67  (in its active direction) through shaft  68  and to shaft  69  through connecting gears  70  and  71  and the output gear  72 . This time, clutch  66  is turning counter-clockwise in its freewheel direction while shaft  69  is turning clockwise at the same speed. In this preferred embodiment, whether the input gear is turning clockwise or counter-clockwise, the connecting gears  70  and  71  and the output gear  72  is turning the same direction (in this case clockwise). 
     Box II  80   
     The purpose of Box II  80  is to convert unidirectional and impulsive rotational motion into a unidirectional constant speed rotational motion.  FIG. 3  shows the sinusoidal function located on the left side of the page in the middle graph. Due to the nature of the mechanical output from Box I  60 , the rotational motion of the input for Box II  80  is unidirectional but does not have a constant speed. The purpose of Box II  80  is to convert this non-constant rotational input speed of output shaft  73  into a rotational output with a constant speed tailored to match the rotational rate in which an attached generator maximizes its operational efficiency. 
     Box II  80  is able to accomplish its function through the utilization of a constant force coil spring  81  and a continuously variable transmission  82  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The constant force coil spring  81  converts and temporarily stores the mechanical (kinetic) input from Box I  60 . The output end of this spring, in turn, applies a relatively constant force to the intermediate shaft adapter  81   a  which, in turn, transfers rotational motion to the intermediate shaft  85 . 
     This intermediate shaft  85  then transmits rotational motion to the continuously variable transmission  82  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The illustration  82  in  FIG. 6  depicts a roller-bearing variant of a CVT, but any type of CVT may be utilized to achieve the optimal performance of the unit.  FIG. 7  shows the continuously variable transmission  82  that uses the input from a mechanical speed regulator  90  that continuously adjusts the torque (through gear ratio) of the CVT  82  to maintain a constant output rotational speed of Box I&#39;s output shaft  95 . The mechanical speed regulator  90  is able to function through the use of a spring  91  and centrifugal weights  92 . As the shaft  93  and sleeve  94  increases in rotational motion, the revolving weights  92  increase their centrifugal force which in turn counteracts the force applied by the internal spring  91  and moves the rotating sleeve  94  and the regulator&#39;s associated control linkages to increase the torque (gear) ratio of the continuously variable transmission  82 . This increase in torque ration will decrease the speed of the output shaft. The opposite logic applies when the speed of the shaft decreases. The desired speed of the output shaft will be adjustable through refined adjustment in the regulator&#39;s components that include but not limited to the internal spring  91  and revolving weights  92 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a second (improved) embodiment for the continuously variable transmission&#39;s mechanical speed regulator  100 . This speed regulator&#39;s function is identical to that of the regulator as shown and described with  FIG. 7  but is able to further eliminate frictional forces present in  FIG. 7  which enable it to perform more efficiently. 
     Through fine tuning and adjustments of the mechanical speed regulator  100 , to include but not limited to changes in centrifugal weights  101  and internal spring  102  design, the mechanical speed regulator  100  can be tuned to maintain a constant output speed that matched that of the maximum operating efficiency of the attached generator. 
     Shallow Water Surface Application 
     In offshore (shallow water) applications, each unit will function independently. The unit&#39;s supporting tracks  54  &amp;  53  as shown and described in  FIG. 1  will be directly emplaced in the sea (or any body of water) floor  31  and reinforced be a stable foundation  22 . With this design, as ocean waves  30  pass be, the traction beams  53  and  54  retain their position while the unit oscillates  21  along the passing of the wave  30  and converts the wave&#39;s kinetic energy into electrical output. This electrical output will be directly connected  40  to a nearby electrical consolidation facility (through a sea-floor based grid system) which, in turn, is connected to the main grid for delivery to the customers. 
     Deep-Sea Surface Application 
     In deep-sea surface applications, units  20  will be deployed in groups called “Colonies” and assembled together through a common supporting structure as shown in  FIG. 2 . Each colony  23  as a whole will maintain a stable vertical position that is equal to the cumulative-average surface-height of the sea of water that the colony  23  occupies. 
     Despite the relatively stable position of the colony  23  as a whole, each of the many units  20  of the colony  23  is composed of are experiencing independent vertical movement  21  that corresponds to a passing of an oceanic wave  30  that causes a difference between the surface heights of each unit&#39;s  21  immediate water area to that of the cumulative average of the colony  23 . Thus, although the colony  23  appears to be stable as a whole, each of the many units  30  it is composed of is actually working had to tear apart the (indestructible) structure as they independently gather energy. 
     Attached to the supporting structure  24  and serving multiple purposes is the Colony&#39;s  23  Hub  50 . The most important purpose of the Hub  50  is to consolidate all of the electrical output of the attached units and use this energy to power a continuously operating electrolysis reaction that produces Hydrogen Gas (H2)  25  and Oxygen Gas (O2)  26  as well as power a water purifying process that produces the pure water necessary for the electrolysis reaction. The Hub then accumulates the Hydrogen  25  and Oxygen  26  gases and store them in separate (volume variable) storage tanks. These storage tanks  27  are capable of changing their volume (size) as necessary to induce a vacuum that may be necessary for accumulating gas from the electrolysis process as well as a higher pressure for rejecting gas through an output port for collection by a collecting vessel. 
     Another function of the Colony&#39;s  23  Hub  50  is to serve as the controlling unit for the Colony&#39;s Buoyancy Control System (BCS). The BCS is comprised of expandable tubes  28  strategically and equally positioned (so not to apply any unnecessary stress to the structure) throughout the grid structure to provide equal buoyant forces throughout the colony  23 . The Hub is able to control the BCS through a series of pneumatic lines that connect many independent expandable tubes to the Hub&#39;s air pressure control section. The purpose of the BCS is to allow the Colony&#39;s  23  Hub  50  to control the colony&#39;s  23  vertical position compared to that of the surface of the body of water. In the event a destructive storm passes through the surface of the body of water, the Colony  23 , through its BCS, is capable of halting its energy generating process and submerges well below the surface of the water and remains relatively unaffected by the surface storm. As the storm passes and a safe continuation of operation is assured, the Colony  23 , through its BCS, will be able to resurface and continue its energy Harnessing operations. 
     As an additional (optional) feature, the Colony&#39;s Hub will have a capability of dropping an anchor to the sea floor. This feature will enable the unit to passively maintain surface position even with the influence of sea currents. 
     Functions of the Hub that requires deliberate decision-making control to include its BCS as well as the Hub&#39;s troubleshooting and unit-monitoring processes will be controlled by a human operated control center that maintains communications with the units through satellite signals to and from each colony. Through this controlling and monitoring system, the company will be able to continuously monitor each colony and their components&#39; performance and operational health. When the situation dictates that service is required due to either scheduled or unscheduled maintenance, the issues will be addressed by a nearby maintenance/collecting vessel. 
     With respect to the previously mentioned stored gas rejection process, the transfer of stored Hydrogen  25  and Oxygen  26  gases from their storage tanks to a collection ship is very similar to the process of inflating an under-pressured or flat tire in the common automobile. A hose that is attached to the collection tank of a collecting ship will be extended, guided, and connected (potentially by a remote controlled guide-robot) to a consolidated output port of the storage tanks  27  of the colony. The higher pressure of gases in the storage tanks  27  (partially induced by a contraction of the storage tanks) and an induced vacuum in the collecting ship&#39;s tank will drive an efficient and speedy gas/fuel transfer from the colony to the collecting vessel. 
     Modular Design 
     One of the most advantageous aspects of this design is its modular nature. In the even that a unit  20  breaks or requires scheduled maintenance, a collection ship will simply remove the retention caps on the specified unit&#39;s tracks, remove the unit  20  that requires maintenance, replace it with a new unit  20 , reinstall the retention caps, and initiate the new unit&#39;s energy gathering operation. The newly removed unit that requires maintenance or repair will be placed onboard the collecting/maintenance vessel/ship and transported back to a designated maintenance facility for service. 
     In addition to the modular nature of each unit&#39;s installation to the colony, all of the other components of the colony will be modular in nature as well. This includes the easy detachment and replacement of multiple segments of the colony&#39;s truss system for maintenance purposes. 
     Thus, specific embodiments of an Aqua-Tamer have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.