Patent Publication Number: US-2007120419-A1

Title: Hydro-pnemuatic mechanic device for the exploitation of the wave motion

Description:
The present invention concerns a hydro-pneumatic mechanic device for the exploitation of the wave motion for obtaining renewable and ecological energy.  
      The present invention comprises a series of six submerged cylinders, placed on wharfs fixed to the ground, on floating pontoons or on structures which allow the immersion thereof at a depth necessary for optimizing the efficiency of the system, according to the intensity of the wave motion, provided, in their lower part, with a conical opening for the water inlet and, in their upper part, with conical, spherical or plain shapes with lateral openings, respectively for producing compressed air, pumping water or generating mechanic energy.  
      The advantages of the device according to the present invention consist in the minimal environmental impact, in obtaining renewable energy and in the simplicity of said structures. 
    
    
      The present invention will be described more in detail hereinbelow relating to the enclosed drawings in which some embodiments are shown.  
       FIG. 1  shows a variant of the hydro-penumatic mechanic device for the exploitation of the wave motion according to the present invention, comprising a spherical head for the production of compressed air.  
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of the device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  shows the device according to above mentioned variant, comprising a reservoir  9  for the collection of the air, and mounted on a wharf  10 , fixed to the ground, floating or at controlled immersion.  
       FIG. 4  shows a variant with a conical head for the production of compressed air, while  FIG. 5  shows a front view of the device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  shows the device according to the variant shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , comprising a reservoir  9  for the air collection, mounted on a wharf  10 , fixed to the ground, floating or at controlled immersion.  
       FIG. 7  shows a variant with a conical head for pumping water into collection basins or reservoirs, while  FIG. 8  shows a front view. In  FIG. 9 , said variant shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  comprises the reservoir  9  for the water collection, mounted onto a floating wharf  10 .  
       FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of the device for the production of compressed air.  
       FIGS. 11, 12  and  13  show a variant of the device for the transformation of the wave motion into mechanical energy.  
       FIGS. 14, 15 ,  16  and  17  show the four main phases of the cylinders forming the system.  
       FIG. 18  shows the shock-absorbing means of a possible floating piston  20 , in case of release and compression.  
       FIG. 19  shows a lateral section and axonometric and transparency view of the detail of the end of stroke system of a transmission shaft.  
       FIG. 20  shows a front, lateral and axonometric view of the system that collects the motion of the distribution rods for transferring the motion to the differential.  
       FIG. 21  shows a lateral view of a variant with a plain head for the production of compressed air, while  FIG. 22  shows the shape of the floating pistons for the working of said plain head. 
    
    
      The enclosed figures show a hydro-pneumatic mechanic device for the exploitation of the wave motion according to the present invention for obtaining renewable and ecological energy, comprising: 
          a sluice-gate  1 , hand operated, for closing the passage of the air from the cylinder to the collection and distribution system, so as to be able to act in case of servicing;     a plurality of filters  2  placed on the air inlet pipes;     unidirectional valves  3  which allow the inlet of the air into the cylinder, but not the outlet;     a unidirectional valve  4  which allows the passage of the air from the cylinder to the collection and distribution system, but not the inverse passage;     a body  5  of the cylinder;     a cone  6  for the inlet to the cylinder, which determines an increase of the water inside said cylinder according to its width and length;     a floating piston  7  with a semispheric head which, pushed by the water, compresses the air onto the semispheric head of the cylinder;     a plurality of bands  8  for sealing the floating piston.        

      The working of the hydro-pneumatic mechanic device for the exploitation of the wave motion for obtaining renewable and ecological energy according to the present invention may be described as follows: 
          the water entering said cylinder  5  due to the wave motion from the inlet cone  6 , pushes said piston  7  towards the spherical head of said cylinder so that the air inside will get compressed towards the outlet of said cylinder, opening the unidirectional valve  4  and transferring the air towards the collection and distribution system;     when the wave lowers, the piston is called back downwards and said valve  4  closes, thus preventing the outlet of the collected air, and valves  3  open favouring the inlet of fresh air cleaned by filters  2 , inside said cylinder, the sealing whereof is guaranteed by said bands  8  on the piston.        

      Relating to the variant with the conical head for the production of compressed air, shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the following details are shown besides those already mentioned: 
          a floating shpere  11  for closing the water inlet, so as to allow the sole inlet of air;     a cage  12  for the sealing of said shpere, 
 
 so that the water of the wave motion enters said cylinder  5  from said inlet cone  6  receiving a pressure that pushes the air in the cylinder towards said conical head and opening said valve  4  so as to send the air towards the collection and distribution system; when the water has reached the uppermost point of said cone, the floating shpere  11  closes the outlet of said cylinder, blocking a renewed rise; when the wave lowers, the depression closes said valve  4 , avoiding the outlet of the collected air, and said valves  3  open, favouring the inlet of fresh air cleaned in said cylinder. 
       

      For what concerns the variant with conical head for pumping water into collection basins or reservoirs, shown in  FIGS. 7, 8  and  9 , said cylinder is completely submerged in the water so as to exploit at the maximum the compression and decompression action determined by the wave motion inside the same, and the pressure of the wave opens said unidirectional valve  4  transferring the water towards the collection basin or reservoir; when the wave lowers, the depression closes said valve  4  avoiding the outlet of the collected water, and valves  3  open favouring the inlet of fresh water inside said cylinder and reducing the previously generated pressure.  
      In the variant according to  FIG. 10 , the reservoirs are placed below the sea level and they are filled due to the phenomenon of the communicating vessels, using underground pipes provided with filters F for avoiding the inlet of deposits and impurities. The compressed air, produced by one of the hydro-pneumatic mechanic systems according to the present invention, will be let in, for sending the water to the electric turbines; the air let in said reservoirs  13  creates the pressure necessary for the outlet of the water through a pipe that will serve the users or the electric turbines; when the water level is near to nul, the level gauge  14  inside the reservoir sends a signal to an electronic panel  15  for the control of the closing of the valve  16  of the water for the users and of the valve  17  for the inlet of compressed air; in the same time it opens valves  16  and valve  17  for the inlet of compressed air in the next reservoir.  
      While the reservoir is working, the central panel will contemporarily open the exhaust valve  18  and valve  19  for filling said reservoir  13 ; when the latter is filled again, the level gauge  14  will send a new closing signal to said valves  16  and  17 . With this variant, comprising two reservoirs  13 , and adjusting the opening diameter for the water inlet and outlet, a continuous cycle for the water distribution is obtained, emptying one reservoir while filling the other. If a greater flow to the users is needed, the present invention provides a plurality of reservoirs.  
      In the variant of the device for transforming the wave motion into mechanic energy, shown in  FIGS. 11, 12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17 , the following additional elements are shown: 
          a floating piston  20 ;     a toothed rod  21  for the transmission of the movement to the gearing;     a guide  22  for the sliding of he transmission shaft;     a plurality of supports  23  for the guide of the shaft;     a unidirectional gear  24  for each ascending phase;     a unidirectional gear  25  for each descending phase;     a plurality of outlet openings  26  for excess water;     a plurality of shafts  27  for the distribution of the mechanical motion;     a differential  28 ;     one or more users  29 ;     a gear  20  for the transmission of the transmission shafts;     a plurality of grills  31  for the water outlet;     a plurality of grills  32  for water drainage.        

      The floating piston  20 , shown in detail in  FIG. 18 , further comprises: 
          a hemispherical floating bottom  33 ;     a plurality of sealing bands  34 ;     a plurality of shock absorbing elements  35 ;     a head  36 .        

      In the variant according to  FIG. 19 , the elements of the end of stroke device for shaft  21  are shown: 
          a ring  37  for the end of the stroke of the sliding guide  22 ;     a shock absorbing system  38 ;     a ring  39  for sealing the shock absorbing system.        

      As far as the device is concerned collecting the motion of the distribution shafts  27  for transferring the same to said differential  28 —as shown in  FIG. 20 —the following elements are also shown: 
          a pair of unidirectional gears  24 ′ and  25 ′;     shafts  27  for the distribution of the motion;     a gear  30  for the transmission of the motion of the shafts to the differential.        

      This variant comprises a series of cylinders; when the wave passes, the water enters the cylinder from the inlet cone  6  and receives such a pressure as to push upwards said piston  20  connected to a toothed rod  21  which operates gears  24 ; when the wave lowers, it creates a depression such as to suck the piston downwards; in its descending phase, the toothed rod  21  operates said gear  25 .  
      The motion is transmitted from said rod  21  to said distribution shafts  27 ; when the rod rises, the gear  24  puts into rotation its distribution shaft, while gear  25  turns idle, without operating its own shaft  27 ; when the shaft  21  comes down, the inverse happens and the gear  25  puts into rotation its own distribution shaft  27 , while gear  24  turns idle; the movement of the two shafts is transformed into one single direction by said gear  30  and transmitted to said differential  28 .  
      The device according to the present invention consists of a plurality of cylinders and allows to the transmission of the differential a continuous motion.  
      The device according to the present invention collects any wave motion; in case of rough sea, the cylinder has been provided with openings  26  for the water exhaust which will get open when the shock absorbing system  35  on the head  36  of the piston gets squeezed.  
      A system is also provided for absorbing heavy pushes and opening the water discharge openings  26  and, when the wave lowers again, pushing said piston  20  downwards for closing said openings so that he depression inside the cylinder drags the piston on the ground with force.  
      If the depression caused by the wave is too strong, a end of stroke system, shown in  FIG. 19 , is provided for avoiding the outlet of the shaft-piston  21 - 21 , provided with a shock absorbing element for attenuating the blow. Furthermore, the inlet cone  6  will allow the passage of the air, annulling the depression created by the descending wave, as shown in  FIG. 17 .  
      The variant with plain head shown in  FIG. 21  for the production of compressed air, has a greater number of unidirectional valves  3 : this solution may be applied also to the preceding variants for easing the inlet of air or water into the cylinder and increasing the total efficiency of the system; said cylinder houses a floating piston  40  with cylindrical shape, shown in a lateral scheme in  FIG. 22 , provided with sealing bands  41  and with a special flexible gasket  42 , fixed to the top of said piston by means of a blocking plate  43  provided with screw bolts  44 , so as to prevent the formation inside said cylinder  5  of air pockets that might reduce the efficiency of he system.  
      For what concerns the working of this latter variant, the water entering inside said cylinder  5  through said inlet cone  6  due to the wave motion, pushes the piston  40  upwards compressing, by means of the action of the flexible gasket  42  of said piston  40 , all of the air present in the cylinder towards the plain head of the same, thus preventing the forming of air bags inside until the opening of the unidirectional valve  4  is obtained, for transferring the air towards the special collection and distribution system.  
      When the wave lowers, said piston  40  is recalled downwards, being favoured in the movement by the flexibility of said gasket  42 , causing the closing of said unidirectional valve  4  and the contemporary opening of said valves  3  for the inlet of fresh air cleaned by special filters  2  inside said cylinder  5 , the sealing whereof is assured by bands  41  provided on said floating cylinder  40 .