Abstract:
A generator which extracts operating energy from waves of a body of water. A plurality of floats may be suspended beside a rotary power collector. The rotary power collector is arranged to turn unidirectionally as the floats rise and fall vertically on the waves. Rotation of the rotary power collector is transmitted to a rotary generator. The floats may comprise rigid rods each having a finger which engages and rotates the rotary power collector. Alternatively, the floats may be suspended from ropes or the like which are wound around a reel, with the reel driving the rotary power collector in a manner controlled by ratchet action.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to generators, and more particularly to a generator which converts surface waves in a liquid to rotary power for rotating a generator. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Surface waves in liquids have always been regarded as a potential source of energy, including for electrical power generation. The prior art has suggested the use of elements which are periodically raised and lowered responsive to passing of waves. The oscillatory motion of rising and falling elements may be converted to rotary motion for example, which rotary motion may drive a rotary electrical generator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides a generator of the type which effectively exploits surface waves on bodies of water, even ordinary small waves which are commonly encountered in swimming pools as a result of people and objects moving through the water. Thus the novel generator need not be reliant upon large passing oceanic waves for effectiveness, nor on strong winds which generate such large passing oceanic waves. 
         [0004]    The novel generator provides an array of independent floats which are each connected to a single rotary element. Oscillatory motion of the floats, which rise and fall vertically, is acted on by a ratchet feature enabling the rotary element to be driven by the oscillatory motion of the floats. Rotary motion is ultimately transmitted through a gear arrangement to a rotary type generator. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide a generator which exploits surface waves of bodies of water. 
         [0006]    Another object of the invention is to be able to utilize waves generated by motion of people and objects in a body of water. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0008]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of a generator according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective detail view of a component seen at the upper right of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail view of a component seen in  FIG. 1  to extend generally from the lower left to the upper right. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged side detail view of components seen at the right of  FIG. 1 , illustrating an arbitrarily selected stage of events which occur during operation of the generator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but shows a subsequent stage of events. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but shows a further stage of events. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but shows a different aspect of events of operation of the generator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but shows a still further stage of events. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is an environmental side view of the generator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side detail view of a variation on the generator of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged detail view of a float seen towards the bottom of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown a generator  10  which is adapted to exploit surface waves  2  of a body of water  4  to generate electrical power. As employed herein, the term “waves” will be utilized in its broadest interpretation, encompassing swells and other radiating disturbances to the upper surface of a body of water. The generator  10  would normally be resting upon an environmental object such as a dock  6  shown in  FIG. 9 , but is shown here isolated from environmental objects to avoid obscuring detail. The generator  10  comprises a structural frame  12 , a plurality of floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  coupled to the structural frame  12  and constrained by the structural frame  12  or an element fixed thereto to oscillate vertically responsively to passing of the surface waves  2 . As employed herein, the term “float” signifies any element which can respond to passing of the waves  2 . Floats may be partially submerged, as depicted herein, or may comprise fluid reaction surfaces which do not float per se. 
         [0022]    A rotatable power collector  26  which is disposed to be rotated in one and only one direction by oscillation of the floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  is supported directly or indirectly by the structural frame  12 . Each float  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , or  24  is individually coupled to the rotatable power collector  26  in a manner to be described hereinafter. A rotary generator  28  is supported directly or indirectly on the structural frame  12 . A drive  30  is disposed to receive rotary inputs from the rotatable power collector  26  and to transmit rotation to the rotary generator  28 . The drive  30  may comprise pulleys (such as the pulley  32 ) fixed to the rotatable power collector  26 , a pulley (not visible) fixed to a rotatable shaft  34  which supports electrical components of the rotary generator  28 , and a belt  36  which engages the pulleys and transmits torque developed by the rotatable power collector  26  to the rotary generator  28 . 
         [0023]    Of course, a pulley and belt drive is only one of many possible ways of transmitting power from the rotatable power collector  26  to the rotary generator  28 . The pulleys comprising the drive  30  may be of different diameters so that a gearing effect is achieved, where it is desired to modify rotational speed of the rotary generator  28  from the rotational speed of the rotatable power collector  26 . Thus the drive  30  may comprise a speed modification feature disposed to receive rotary inputs from the rotatable power collector  26  at a first rate of rotation and to transmit rotation which causes the rotary generator  28  to rotate at a second rate of rotation which is different from the first rate of rotation. If the rotary generator  28  were of appropriate capacity given the power of the rotatable power collector  26 , it would be possible to provide direct drive from the latter to the former (this option is not shown). 
         [0024]    The floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  may all share the following characteristics, and hence only one will be described in detail. The float  24  may comprise a rod  38  projecting upwardly therefrom, and a drive finger  40  fixed to the rod  38 . It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upwardly and downwardly refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in the way the subject matter is held by a user or set down on environmental surfaces. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way. 
         [0025]    The drive finger  40  transmits linear movement of the float  24  and its associated rod  38  to the rotatable power collector  26 . It will be appreciated that as the waves  2  pass, the float  24  bobs, or rises and falls relative to the upper surface of the body of water  4 . Bobbing is of course defined in a vertical direction. The drive finger  40  imposes a vertical force to a rod  42  which is one of many such rods provided about the periphery of the rotatable power collector  26 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the drive finger  40  is mounted to the rod  38  in a manner such that the drive finger  40  is pivotal between a drive position (shown in broken lines) in which the drive finger  40  engages and rotates the driven member (i.e., the rod  42 ), and a retracted position (shown in solid line) in which the drive finger  40  is spaced apart from the driven member and hence does not rotate the driven member. 
         [0026]    The drive finger  40  comprises a wire journaled within a hole  44  formed in the rod  38 . The wire is bent to form not only a central member  46 , which occupies the hole  44  and is horizontal as depicted in  FIG. 2 , but also a drive section  48  which engages the rod  42  of the rotatable power collector  26 , and a travel limit section  50  which establishes interference with the rod  38  when a predetermined degree of rotation of the drive finger  40  within the rod  38  has been attained. Rotation in alternating directions is indicated by arrows  52 ,  54 . As clearly seen in  FIG. 3 , the drive section  48  of the drive finger  40  is contacting the rod  42  of the rotatable power collector  26 . 
         [0027]    When the rod  38  descends with the passing of a wave  2 , it will rotate the rotatable power collector  26  by pressing on the rod  42 . When the rod ascends with the passing of a wave, the arrangement of the bends of the drive finger  40  will allow the latter to pivot out of the way of the rod  42 . Pivot is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Thus vertical oscillation of the floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  acts on the rotatable power collector  26  in only one direction. While the rotatable power collector  26  is depicted as being rotated by the floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  when descending, it would be possible to operate in the opposite direction. However, actual models have exhibited superior performance when transmission of force occurs in the descending direction. 
         [0028]    Regardless of which scheme is selected, each float such as the float  24  will be understood to comprise a unidirectional control disposed to cause rotation of the driven member (such as the rod  42 ) to be operable in one direction of rotation of the driven member and ineffectual in an opposed direction of rotation of the driven member. 
         [0029]    As further seen in  FIG. 3 , the rotatable power collector  26  comprises a plurality of driven members comparable to the rod  42  each drivably engageable with the drive fingers of the floats (such as the drive finger  40  associated with the float  24 ). The rotatable power collector  26  is further seen to comprise a first end disc  56 , an opposed second end disc  58  spaced apart from the first end disc  56 , and a plurality of rods  42 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  spanning and connecting the first end disc  56  and the second end disc  58 . Of course, the number of rods is sufficient to enable engagement by the drive fingers such as the drive finger  40  regardless of the degree of rotation of the rotatable power collector  26 . The rods of the plurality of rods such as the rods  42 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  may be parallel to and spaced apart from one another by equal spacing intervals from the axis of rotation  68  of the rotatable power collector  26 . 
         [0030]    Each rod of the rotatable power collector  26 , such as the rods  42 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 , serves as a driven member which of course could take other forms. The drive fingers such as the drive finger  40  each engage one driven member and push that driven member about an arc of travel as the floats such as the float  24  oscillate vertically responsively to passing of the surface waves  2 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 4-8  illustrate action of the drive finger  40  in progressive stages of one cycle which is repeated as long as there are waves  2 . It should be noted that the scheme of operation illustrated in  FIGS. 4-8  shows driving engagement of the rotatable power collector  26  during descent of the float  24 , rather than during ascent, the latter having been depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 4 , the rod  38  is descending as a wave  2  recedes after passing by, descent being indicated by an arrow  39 . The drive section  48  of the drive finger  40  presses downwardly on the rod  42  of the rotatable power collector  26 , thereby rotating the latter in a direction called out by the arrow  41 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a further degree of descent of the rod  38 , wherein the rod  42  has been rotated downwardly and, as depicted in  FIGS. 4-8 , clockwise. As the upper end of the drive section  48  continues to descend, the rod  42  rotates out of contact with the drive section  48  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0034]    The stage is now set for upward movement of the rod  38 , as indicated by the arrow  39 B. This is shown in  FIG. 7 . As the drive section  48  engages an approaching new rod  76 , the drive finger  40  yields to allow the new rod  76  to pass thereby. This is enabled by the relationship of the travel limit section  50  to the drive section  48 . The travel limit section  50  pivots counterclockwise as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , thereby allowing continued clockwise rotation of the rotatable power collector  26  (again, rotation is indicated by the arrow  41 ), while enabling the rod  38  to ascend (indicated by the arrow  39 B) while not transmitting force to the rotatable power collector during ascent. 
         [0035]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  are arrayed linearly, and parallel to the axis of rotation  68  of the rotatable power collector  26 . This is one of many possible configurations of the array of floats such as the  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 . Although the floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  appear to be at equal heights, it is contemplated that in practice, they may be at different heights, depending on the random nature of the surface of the body of water  4 . Displacement of the floats such as the float  24  and their associated rods such as the rod  38 , due to wave action, is indicated by arrows  82  in  FIG. 9 . The overall diameter of the rotatable power collector  26 , indicated by an arrow  84 , is on the order of five times the magnitude of displacement of the floats. These characteristics, among others, enable a generator such as the generator  10  to be small and portable. Interestingly, the novel arrangement is operable even on small waves  2  such as ripples which are ordinarily present in a swimming pool (not shown) for example, which ripples are caused by people moving about in the water. 
         [0036]    Such a generator is suitable not only for generating usable power, but also for education and demonstration concerning wave energy and electrical generation. Illustratively, small scale models utilized in swimming pools, ponds, and other bodies of water may be intended only to illustrate operating principles, and not necessarily to generate useful amounts of power. It will be recalled that the floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  are constrained to move vertically. This is accomplished by a two tiered yoke established by frame cross members  80 ,  82 , each of which is disposed to encircle each one of the rods of the floats  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  at two spaced apart points along the length of each one of the rods. The frame cross members  80 ,  82  are of course fixed to the structural frame  12 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 10  shows a variation on the power collection scheme of the generator of  FIG. 1 . A rotatable power collector  126  may comprise a pulley or reel  156  about which is disposed a flexible drive element such as a belt  138 . The belt couples a float  124  to the reel  156 . The reel  156  may be constrained to rotate in only one direction (indicated by an arrow  170 ) by a ratchet assembly  140 . The free end of the belt  138  may be connected to a counterweight  139 , or alternatively, wound around the reel  156  (this option is not shown), or disposed in any other manner enabling operation as described herein. The counterweight  139  may be disposed to counter the influence of the float  124  on the rotatable power collector  126  as the float  124  rises and falls responsively to passing of the waves  2 , in particular, keeping the belt  138  taut. 
         [0038]    Also, and referring now to  FIG. 11 , the arrangement of  FIG. 10  may be improved by stabilizing the belt  138  and by providing an optimum configuration to the float  124 A. The belt  138  may be restrained by a surrounding yoke  157  which in turn may be anchored to any suitable structural members  159 ,  161  of the frame of the generator by guy wires  163 ,  164 . The guy wires  163 ,  164  may be flexible or alternatively may comprise rigid stays (this option is not shown). The float  124 A may be tapered, with the small end facing the water. A keel  166  may be formed as part of the float  124 A. 
         [0039]    The rotatable power collector  126  may have a plurality of floats and drive belts similar to the float  124  and the belt  138 , and counterweights such as the counterweight  139 . 
         [0040]    Other than the nature of the drive comprising the reel  156 , the flexible belt  138 , floats such as the float  124 , and other components effecting operation of the reel  156 , which drive which may correspond in function to the drive  30  of the generator  10 , the drive arrangement described with reference to  FIG. 10  may be utilized with a generator (not shown) which may be similar in structure and function to the generator  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0041]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible