Abstract:
A wave action electric generating system comprises a platform for floating on water, the platform being subject to rocking from side to side from wave action; an electric generator; a rigid arm for extending over the water, the arm including a first end pivotally attached to the platform with a first pivot shaft; a buoyant member for being disposed on the water and pivotally connected to a second end of the arm with a second pivot shaft operably attached to the arm, the member when floating on water rises and falls with the waves, thereby alternately moving the arm about the first pivot shaft clockwise and counterclockwise; and a power converter for converting the moving of the arm to an output to drive the generator.

Description:
[0001]    This is a nonprovisional application claiming the priority benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/272,125, filed Aug. 19, 2009, herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally directed to wave action electric generating systems and in particular to a wave action electric generating system that harnesses the rocking motion of a floating platform. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides a wave action electric generating system, comprising a platform for floating on water, the platform being subject to rocking from side to side from wave action; an electric generator; a rigid arm for extending over the water, the arm including a first end pivotally attached to the platform with a first pivot shaft; a buoyant member for being disposed on the water and pivotally connected to a second end of the arm with a second pivot shaft operably attached to the arm, the member when floating on water rises and falls with the waves, thereby alternately moving the arm about the first pivot shaft clockwise and counterclockwise; and a power converter for converting the moving of the arm to an output to drive the generator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the wave action electric generator, arms and buoyant members as positioned in flat water. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 1 , showing the platform tilting to the left, the right buoyant member tilting to the right and the left buoyant member tilting to the right, the right arm moving downward or clockwise, the left arm moving upward or clockwise, due to wave action. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of  FIG. 1 , showing the platform tilting to the left, the right buoyant member tilting to the left and the left buoyant member tilting to the left, the right arm moving upward or counterclockwise and the left arm moving downward or counter clockwise, due to wave action. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a schematic top elevational view of the platform, illustrating hydraulic arms&#39; and buoyant members&#39; ability to turn relative to the side of the platform thereby positioning the buoyant member toward or away from the edge of the platform. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of hydraulic pistons connected to the arm to harness the upward and downward motion of the arm. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the platform showing a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly used to adjust the distance of the buoyant member relative to the platform, and another cylinder and piston assembly positioned on the buoyant member to harnesses the energy of the rocking motion of the buoyant member. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a schematic side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing a drag member positioned under the buoyant member to assist in a pulling force on the buoyant member connected to the arm. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a schematic flow diagram of a power converter showing the connection of a cylinder and piston assembly and an hydraulic motor. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of another power converter using a gearing assembly for converting the pivoting motion of the arm to a unidirectional rotation. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of another power converter for harnessing the power output of the cylinder and piston assemblies shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of another power converter for harnessing the power output of the cylinder and piston assemblies shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is another embodiment of the present invention showing a round or circular platform with several arms on the side. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show several a round or circular float member attached to the arm of the platform with a plurality of cylinder and piston assemblies. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a wave action electric generating system R is disclosed. A floating platform  2 , such as a barge, boat etc., includes weighted buoyant members  4  designed to provide a pushing and pulling force to arms  6  when subjected to wave action. The buoyant members  4  are pivotally attached to the rigid arms  6 , which in turn are connected and pivoted at pivot shafts  9  to the platform  2 . The pivot shafts  9  are preferably rigidly attached to the arms  6  so that the movement of the arms  6  are transferred to a back and forth rotary motion of the pivot shafts  9 , which are operably connected to a power converter comprising a gear assembly to convert the oscillatory-rotary motions of pivot shafts  9  to continuous rotation to drive the shaft of a generator  8 . An example of a mechanism for converting the motions of the pivot shafts  9  is disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 12/457,520, hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0018]    A pivot joint  12  on the arm  6  allows the arm  6  to be extendable or retractable to change the distance of the buoyant member  4  to be nearer or further away from the platform. The pivot joint  12  is then locked after adjusting to the appropriate distance. Adjustment of the arm  6  is determined by the wavelength of the waves. Generally, the distance between the member  4  and the platform  2  is about one-half the wavelength of the waves to generate greater sweeping arcs for the arm  6  about the pivot shafts  9 , such as that shown between one position shown in  FIG. 2  and another position shown in  FIG. 3 . The buoyant members  4  are connected with pivoting shafts  15 , the rotational motions of which can also be harnessed and used to drive the generator  8 . A single or multitude of the arms  6  and float members  4  can be rigged to a single or multiple generators  8 . The members  4  are shown being square in plan view, but may be of any shape that allows the members to float and track the up and down motion of the waves. 
         [0019]    When the arm  6  is pulled downward (when the edge of the floating platform  2  moves upward and/or the buoyant member  4  moves downward by way of wave movement), the pivoting motion of the pivot shaft  9  is used to drive a hydraulic motor which in turn drives the generator  8 . The pivoting motion can also drive a gearbox that in turn drives the generator. When the arm  6  is pushed upward (when the edge of the floating platform moves downward and/or the buoyant member moves upward by way of wave movement), the pivoting motion of the pivot shaft  9  can again drive the hydraulic motor or the gearbox connected to the generator  8 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , during operation, a wave  10  pushes the left buoyant member  4  up on arm  6 , pivoting the arm  6  about pivot shaft  9 , which in turn drives a hydraulic motor or gearbox connected to the generator  8 , shown schematically by dashed line  7 . As the wave  10  passes through, the platform tilts to the right of the page, as shown in  FIG. 3 , thus causing the left arm  6  to move downward, again causing pivoting motion at pivot shafts  9 , driving the hydraulic motor or gearbox and in turn driving the generator  8 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the arms  6  may be rotated about a vertical axis  7  (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) at the connection point to the platform  2  to bring the members  4  closer to the platform  2 , as shown in dashed lines, when the expected waves have shorter wavelengths. This is to increase the rocking motion of the platform  2  and the rotation of the pivot shafts  9 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly  18  is attached to the arm  6  to harness the arcing motion of the arm  6  as it pivots about pivot shaft  9 . In this embodiment, the pivot shafts  9  are preferably fixed and the arms  6  rotatable about the pivot shafts  6 . The cylinder and piston assembly  18  drives a hydraulic motor  20  which in turn drives the generator  8 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the adjustment of the arm  6  to bring the member  4  closer to or farther away from the platform  2  may be accomplished by a cylinder and piston  20 . The adjustment is made to take advantage of longer or shorter wavelengths of the waves. A cylinder and piston assembly  22  is attached to the arm  6  and the member  4  to harness the pivoting motion of the member  4  about the pivot shaft  15 , as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The output of the cylinder and piston assembly  22  is transmitted to the hydraulic motors to drive the generator  8 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a drag member  24  is attached to the buoyant member  4  via cable  26 . The drag member  24  exerts a pulling force on the arm  6 , increasing the amount of torque generated at the pivot shafts  9 . The drag member  24  also keeps the buoyant member  4  attached to the water surface, thereby forcing it to float up and down with waves and preventing it to hang in the air above the water. An example of the drag member  24  is disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 12/457,520. Other types of drag members may be used. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the power output generated by the cylinder and piston assembly  18  may be harnessed by an exemplary hydraulic circuit  28  as a power converter. The hydraulic motor  20  is driven by pressurized lines  30  and  32  as the piston  34  within cylinder  36  is moved to the left or right by the pivoting motion of the arm  6  and/or the member  4  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Return lines  38  and  40  recirculate the fluid back to the cylinder  36 . Appropriate valves  43 ,  45 ,  47  and  49  are provided to insure only one-way flow for the fluid as represented by the arrows in the lines  30 ,  32 ,  38  and  40 . When the piston  34  is moving to the left, the valves  43  and  49  are open and the valves  45  and  47  are closed. When the piston is moving to the right, the valves  75  and  47  are open while the valves  43  and  49  are closed. The output shaft  42  of the motor drives the generator  8 . The hydraulic circuit  28  may also be used to harness the energy from the cylinder and piston assembly  22 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , an exemplary gear assembly  46  as a power converter to harness the pivoting motion of the pivot shafts  9  is disclosed. A gear  48  is attached to a shaft  50  which is operably connected to the pivot shaft  9 . The gear  48  rotates clockwise with the shaft  50  but disengages when the shaft  50  rotates counterclockwise with a gear  52  as the pivot shaft  9  rotates in the same direction. The motion of the gear  52  is transferred to a gear  54  driving a gear  56 , which further drives a gear  58  meshing with the gear  48 . The output shaft  60  drives the generator  8 . The shaft  50  will engage or disengage with the gear  48  or gear  52  such that the gear  48  will only rotate in one direction, for example, clockwise. A mechanical or electric clutch is provided with the gears  52  and  48  to attain the unidirectional rotation of the gear  48 . Accordingly, when the shaft  50  is being driven clockwise by the pivot shaft  9 , the gear  52  is disconnected from the shaft  50 ; and when the shaft  50  is being driven counterclockwise by the pivot shaft  9 , the gear  48  is disconnected from the shaft  50 . In this manner, torque in one direction is always being output to the generator  8 . A similar arrangement may be used to harness the pivoting motion of the pivot shafts  15 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , another power converter  64  for harnessing the power output generated by the cylinder and piston assemblies  18  is disclosed. The cylinder and piston assembly  18  is configured to drive another cylinder and piston assembly  66 , which is connected to a crank wheel  68 . As the piston  34  moves to the right, fluid within the cylinder  36  is forced through a valve  67  into pressurized line  32 , and drives a piston  70  in the cylinder and piston assembly  66  to the right. The return line  72  will be normally closed at this time by means of a valve  73 . The piston  70  will drive the piston rod  74  to the right. A connecting rod  76 , which is pivotally connected to the piston rod  74  and the crank wheel  78  at pivots  80 , will drive the crank wheel  68  into rotation in one direction  82 . The return line  84  will be normally open during this cycle through a valve  85 , displacing the fluid in front of the piston  70  to the cylinder  36 . 
         [0028]    When the piston  34  moves to the left, fluid within the cylinder  36  to the left the of the piston  34  is pressurized and exits through a valve  83  into the pressurized line  30  to drive the piston  70  to the left. The valve  67  will be closed. The valve  85  in the return line  84  will be normally closed at this time, while the valve  73  in return line  72  is open to allow the fluid on the left of the piston  70  to return to the cylinder  36 . The lines  30 ,  32 ,  72  and  84  are provided with the appropriate valves  67 ,  83 ,  73  and  85  that operate in such a way that: (1) when the line  32  is open and driving the piston  70  to the right, line  84  will be open and lines  30  and  72  will be closed; and (2) when line  30  is open to drive the piston  70  to the left, line  72  will also be open and lines  32  and  84  will be closed. The valves are preferably electrically operated, such as solenoid-type valves, and controlled by a controller for operation in the manner just described. 
         [0029]    The power converter  64  may be also used to harness the power generated by the cylinder and piston assemblies  22 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , another power converter  86  is disclosed to harness the power generated by the cylinder and piston assemblies  18  and  22 . The cylinder and piston assembly  18  is used to compress air as the piston  34  reciprocates from the wave action. Air inlets  88  and  90  are provided at respective ends of the cylinder  36 , with appropriate valves  91  and  93  so that air flows only in the direction  92  indicated by the arrows. Pressurized lines  94  and  96  feed into a compressed air tank  98 , which in turn feeds into a turbine  100  to drive the generator  8 . Valves  101  and  103  are provided in the lines  94  and  96 , respectively. When the piston  34  is moving to the left, the valves  101  and  91  are open while the valves  103  and  93  are closed. When the piston  34  is moving to the right, the valves  103  and  93  are open while the valves  91  and  101  are closed. An exhaust outlet  102  allows the compressed air to vent after expansion through the turbine. 
         [0031]    When the piston  34  moves to the right in reaction to the wave action, air is compressed and passes through the line  96  into the tank  98  and air enters through the inlet  90 . Air inlet  88  is closed at this time through the one-way valve. When the piston  34  moves to the left, the inlet  92  is closed with the one way valve and air is compressed and passes through the line  94  into the tank  98 . The inlet  88  opens to admit ambient air. Compressed air from the tank  98  is released into the turbine  100 , which drives the generator  8 . 
         [0032]    The motion of the piston  70  will continue to drive the crank wheel  68  in the same direction  82 . The crank wheel  68  is used to drive the generator  8 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a number of the arms  6  connected to the respective buoyant members  4 , shown here as circular or round in plan view, are shown attached to the platform  2 , also shown as circular or round in plan view. The arms  6  are shown in varying distances from the platform  2 , allowing for the members  4  to take advantage of different predominant wave sizes. The adjustments to the arms  6  are made via the cylinder and piston assemblies  20 , shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the arm  6  may be connected to the member  4  with a plurality of cylinder and piston assemblies  22 . Each cylinder and piston assembly  22  is connected to an end portion  63  of the arm  6  with a ball-joint  104  and to the member  4  with another ball-joint  106 . The cylinder and piston assemblies  22  are preferably arranged symmetrically about the arm  6 , about 120° apart from each other. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 , the end portion  63  of the arm  6  is attached to the member  4  with a ball-joint  108 . The ball-joint connections advantageously allow the members  4  freedom to sway and pivot in all directions in response to the waves. 
         [0035]    The floating platform  2  is designed to maximize the natural rocking motion imparted by the waves, allowing for the maximum amount of flux, in any given wave conditions. The bottom of the platform  2  can be rounded, flat, or angled. The platform  2  can be built to maximize size and weight, for added inertia, or minimized to minimize inertia, depending on the prevalent wave conditions. A heavy large platform  2  can exert great pressures on relatively large buoyant members in larger waves, while a lighter more buoyant platform can be optimal for smaller waves. The more the edges of the platform  2  rock, the more power can be generated by the generators  8 . Thus the platform  2  is designed to maximize its natural instability. Relative stability of the platform  2  can be adjusted by the amount of torque power allowed to be exerted on the hydraulic motors or gearboxes. The electric output is determined by the size of the waves/swell, the size of the drags, the frequency of push/pulls per given unit of time, and the amount of torque/push/pulling force exerted on the hydraulic motors or gearboxes (determined in part by float mass and buoyancy). 
         [0036]    The system disclosed herein is not only potentially capable of creating an immense amount of electricity for use on an industrial scale, but it also can support a staging area of commercial interest for use in fish-farming or other open ocean ventures. 
         [0037]    The present invention disposes the majority of its components that may need to be maintained or replaced above the water and on the floating platform for easy accessibility. Whereas many previous wave action generator designs have critical components located underwater, the present invention has critical components, such as the generators, above the water. 
         [0038]    The present invention makes use of the dynamic, oscillating movement that a platform undergoes in oceanic or turbulent waters. When incorporating a multitude of these devices on one flotation device, one can effectively harvest the energy exerted on each side/area of the platform, in effect also making angled movements (of the platform as a whole) useful for energy extraction as well. If for example, one has a square flotation barge, and a wave hits a certain corner of the barge, that corner in itself is generating electricity by way of the aforementioned method, before the wave passes to the remainder of the barge and as each station lifts and drops, pushes/pulls/cranks the hydraulics/gearboxes connected to the generator(s) or central generator. 
         [0039]    While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.