Patent Abstract:
A turbine comprises a shaft ( 20 ), a mass ( 10 ) eccentrically mounted for rotation about shaft ( 20 ), having its center of gravity at a distance from the shaft ( 20 ) and a motion base ( 15 ). Motion base ( 15 ) rigidly supports the shaft ( 20 ), and is configured for moving the shaft ( 20 ) in any direction of at least two degrees of movement freedom, except for heave. 
     A floating vessel-turbine ( 120 ), encloses entirely the eccentrically rotating mass ( 10 ) and the motion base ( 15 ). The turbine converts ocean wave energy into useful energy, very efficiently.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. No. 8,723,350, U.S. Pat. No. 8,841,822, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/185,627 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/210,455 submitted by the same inventor and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 U.S. Patents 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Pat. No. 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 8,915,077 
                 B2 
                 2014 Dec. 23 
                 Paakkinen 
               
               
                 8,887,501 
                 B2 
                 2014 Nov. 18 
                 Paakkinen 
               
               
                 8,739,512 
                 B2 
                 2014 Jun. 3 
                 Kanki 
               
               
                 8,614,521 
                 B2 
                 2013 Dec. 24 
                 Babarit et al. 
               
               
                 8,456,026 
                 B2 
                 2013 Jun. 4 
                 Cleveland 
               
               
                 8,269,365 
                 B2 
                 2012 Sep. 18 
                 Clement et al. 
               
               
                 8,046,108 
                 B2 
                 2011 Oct. 25 
                 Hench 
               
               
                 7,989,975 
                 B2 
                 2011 Aug. 2 
                 Clement et al. 
               
               
                 7,934,773 
                 B2 
                 2011 May 3 
                 Boulais et al. 
               
               
                 7,906,865 
                 B2 
                 2011 Mar. 15 
                 Minguela et al. 
               
               
                 7,484,460 
                 B2 
                 2009 Feb. 3 
                 Blum et al. 
               
               
                 7,453,165 
                 B2 
                 2008 Nov. 18 
                 Hench 
               
               
                 7,375,436 
                 B1 
                 2008 May 20 
                 Goldin 
               
               
                 7,003,947 
                 B2 
                 2006 Feb. 26 
                 Kanki 
               
               
                 6,888,262 
                 B2 
                 2005 May 3 
                 Blakemore 
               
               
                 6,876,095 
                 B2 
                 2005 Apr. 5 
                 Williams 
               
               
                 6,095,926 
                   
                 2000 Aug. 1 
                 Hettema et al. 
               
               
                 6,027,342 
                   
                 2000 Feb. 22 
                 Brown 
               
               
                 4,843,250 
                   
                 1989 Jun. 27 
                 Stupakis 
               
               
                 4,352,023 
                   
                 1982 Sep. 28 
                 Sachs et al. 
               
               
                 4,266,143 
                   
                 1981 May 5 
                 Ng 
               
               
                 3,577,655 
                   
                 1971 May 4 
                 Pancoe 
               
               
                 3,231,749 
                   
                 1966 Jan. 25 
                 Hinck 
               
               
                 937,712 
                   
                 1909 Oct. 19 
                 McFarland 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Pat. No. 
                 Kind Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Applicant 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 U.S. Patent applications 
               
             
          
           
               
                 2015/0123406 
                 A1 
                 2015 May 7 
                 Paakkinen 
               
               
                 2012/0001432 
                 A1 
                 2012 Jan. 5 
                 Clement et al. 
               
               
                 2011/0012443 
                 A1 
                 2011 Jan. 20 
                 Powers 
               
             
          
           
               
                 WO Patent applications 
               
             
          
           
               
                 WO2012103890 
                 A1 
                 2012 Aug. 9 
                 Jan Olsen 
               
               
                 WO2010034888 
                 A1 
                 2010 Apr. 1 
                 Paakkinen 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0003]    Field of Use 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to turbines which convert a prime source of power to powerful rotation and more specifically to turbines which utilize gravitational and inertial forces applied on an eccentrically rotating mass. 
       Description of the Prior Art 
       [0005]    In prior art, a rotator eccentrically mounted for rotation on an upright shaft and having its center of gravity at a distance from the shaft, has been used to produce electrical power utilizing ocean waves as a prime mover. Typically, a hollow floating structure, buoy or vessel provides the base where the upright shaft is supported. In most cases the rotating mass or pendulum having a weight attached at its distant end from the shaft is completely enclosed in the floating base for protection from the sea water. The waves rock the floating structure imparting the motion to the shaft, where the mass is mounted for rotation. The upright shaft moves from its position, forward and backward, or left and right or up and down in a linear or rotational direction causing the rotational displacement of the eccentrically rotating mass, which moves to a new position due to gravitational and inertial forces. Unfortunately, most of the times, the mass oscillates and only occasionally it rotates. Full rotations are difficult to succeed due to the randomness of the wave parameters. One wave may set the mass in rotation and the next may stop it, by generating rotation preventing forces. Devices, in prior art, aimed to avoid rotation preventing forces and “help” the mass into full rotations. U.S. Pat. No. 8,915,077 and patent application no. 2015/0123406 disclose floating structures of particular designs including a fixed upright shaft and a rotator. These structure have very specific designs and substantially large dimensions, in relation to the rotating mass. They are designed to produce beneficial inclinations and corresponding forces to “help” the rotator rotate in full circles. However, the stochasticity of the wave train is still not avoided, rocking the vessel, stochastically, and relaying corresponding movement to the shaft. WO2010034888 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,375,436 describe devices that aim to “help” the mass succeed full rotations, in different ways. They include gyroscopes, powered continuously to high rpm, in order to provide “the extra push” to the mass and bring it closer to a full rotation, through precession torque. This “gyroscopic push” constantly consumes power and its effect may still not be potent enough to overcome undesirable gravitational and/or electrical load based, rotation preventing forces. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,453,165 describes a device for harnessing the power of ocean waves through a buoy, which supports a pendulum mounted on a vertically oriented central shaft, fixed on the body of the buoy to directly receive its movements. Again, the buoy imparts all desirable and undesirable movements to the shaft. 
         [0007]    The undesirable or rotation preventing motion of a vessel occurs when an instant wave moves the vessel, and inevitably the shaft, bringing it to a position that creates an “up-hill” for the rotating mass. Even worse is when the wave arrives at a time that the mass is in rotational deceleration “running out” of a previously developed angular momentum. 
         [0008]    The ideal condition for the mass rotation is to always have a “down-hill” ahead. It is an object of the present disclosure to generate “down-hill” conditions, most of the times. 
         [0009]    The “down-hill” conditions occur when the shaft provides an inclination to the mass, which generates a beneficial for the rotation torque, due to gravity. This torque is at maximum, when the lowest point of a “down-hill” is 90° ahead of the current position of the mass. Other forces, such as inertial forces, generated from the movement of the shaft, in multiple translational or rotational directions, may also benefit the rotation. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,250 describes a buoyant vessel of a circular form with a pivot shaft of a lever arm having a weight at the end thereof. The weight is freely rotatable in either direction through 360 degrees. The lower end of the shaft is coupled to a piston type hydraulic pump, which draws fluid from a reservoir and activates a hydraulic motor to create electricity. U.S. Pat. No. 8,456,026 describes a gyroscopic device which can be used as a power generator utilizing natural wind or wave motion to induce processional rotation in a gyroscopic device. Processional rotation is also the object of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,352,023, no. 7,003,947 and no. 7,375,436. U.S. Pat. No. 6,876,095 describes a generator which produces electrical power. The apparatus includes a main shaft with a weight element coupled to an end of the shaft. The weight is supported at a distance from the axis of the shaft to generate angular momentum upon movement of the end of the shaft on a cyclical arc path. This path belongs to one plane. A tangential force is applied to the shaft generated by a motor. The shaft is restricted to rotate only in one plane and about only one axis, being limited in contributing additional forces, during a full rotation, that would make the weight&#39;s rotation more powerful and substantially increase its power generation capability. 
         [0011]    A floating vessel, disposed to ocean wave activity, can move in up to six degrees of movement freedom. These are three translations, forward/backward (surge or Translation on the x-axis: T x ), left/right (sway or Translation on the y-axis: T y ), up/down (heave or Translation on z-axis: T z ), and three rotations, pitch (rotation about the forward/backward axis: R x ), roll (rotation about the left/right axis: R y ) and yaw (rotation about the up and down axis: R z ). 
         [0012]    Flight simulators or amusement ride capsules supported by motion bases can move in up to six degrees of freedom, as well. It is known in the art, that motion bases can be classified according to whether the motion can be carried out by independent motion producing stages, stacked upon each other, called “stacked” motion bases, or by a single platform, supported on a plurality of actuators, rams, or “legs”, utilizing the principles of parallel kinematics, called “synergistic” motion bases. 
         [0013]    The independent motion stages in a “stacked” motion base can be implemented by stacking simple machines such as linear slides, pivots and swivels, which are activated independently, by a corresponding actuator. A linear slide, for example, may include a base, straight-line bearings on the base, a platform that moves in a straight line along the bearings and actuators such as hydraulic cylinders or sprocket and chain, which when activated can provide a translational motion to a body attached on its platform. Similarly, a pivoting platform can provide a rotational motion. 
         [0014]    The synergistic motion base consists of a part securely fixed and a part that can be linearly moved, through a limited distance or rotated through a limited angle. The movement of the one part of the base relative to the other is usually produced by extensible actuators or rams. 
         [0015]    A motion base is also classified according to the number of degrees of movement freedom, or simply degrees of freedom, or the directions in which it can move. The Stewart platform, well known in the art, is a synergistic motion base which can provide six degrees of freedom. 
         [0016]    Actuators include hydraulic rams, electrical actuators, such as rotary electric motors without or with a gearing system, which can impart high torque etc. Recently developed actuators include efficient pneumatic rams and electromagnetic rams, a form of dual action linear motor in which a piston moves freely in a cylinder like a hydraulic cylinder. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,484,460 claims a decouplable, movable track section of an amusement ride path and “a motion base supporting the movable track section and the motion base being configured for moving the movable track section in a direction along any of three coordinate axes, or any combination thereof, while also being configured for carrying out pitch, roll and yaw motions with the movable track section when the movable track section is decoupled.” 
       SUMMARY 
       [0018]    A turbine comprises a shaft being vertical in non-operative position, a mass eccentrically mounted for rotation about and in a perpendicular plane to the shaft, having its center of gravity at a distance of the shaft and a motion base rigidly supporting the shaft, being configured for moving the shaft in any of the directions of at least one set of two degrees of movement freedom, selected from the following degrees of movement freedom: pitch, roll, yaw, surge and sway. 
         [0019]    The turbine provides with embodiments functional both in land and ocean. Prime movers such as actuators or even a prime source itself, such as ocean waves, provide with motion which activates a “stacked” or a “synergistic” motion base. A control system optimizes motion base&#39;s movements for the creation of beneficial gravitational and/or inertial forces to the eccentrically rotating mass. 
     
    
     
       LIST OF FIGURES 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the turbine utilizing the eccentrically rotating mass at an instant of a beneficial inclination. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the turbine utilizing a vertical u-joint motion base. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the turbine in the ocean protected from harsh conditions in a vessel. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the turbine utilizing a pivoting support for the eccentrically rotating mass. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the turbine utilizing a pivot support for the eccentrically rotating mass with an actuator. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of an axial flux electromagnetic rotational generator used with the turbine. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the turbine in a near-shore underwater operation. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the turbine operating in the ocean utilizing a pivoting support for the eccentrically rotating mass. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The present disclosure describes a turbine, utilizing a mass, eccentrically mounted for rotation, about a shaft in a perpendicular to shaft&#39;s main axis, plane. The mass has its center of gravity at a distance from the shaft. The mass rotation is facilitated with the use of bearings. The shaft, in one preferred embodiment, has a vertical non-operative position and is supported rigidly, not to rotate, on a moving platform of a motion base. In operation, the motion base provides to the shaft translational and/or rotational movements at a limited range of motion, causing the shaft to deviate from its initial vertical position. In another, preferred, embodiment the shaft is supported by a pivoting platform supported by a pivot, providing pivoting to the pivoting platform about a horizontal axis. The pivot is fixed on a second platform which limits the pivoting range of the pivoting platform to a small angle. The second platform is a motion base of the “synergistic” or “stacked” type. Shaft&#39;s deviation from the vertical position generates gravitational forces on the mass, which cause its rotation. Also, acceleration, deceleration and stopping of the shaft, generates inertial forces. The turbine disclosed can utilize both gravitational and inertial forces to have its mass rotate. 
         [0029]    The turbine described, herein, can be used in land or offshore on a dedicated vessel or other ships, near-shore under the surface of the water or on shore, with great efficiencies. A control system with sensors may also be included to optimize the mass&#39; angular momentum, by controlling the gravitational and/or inertial forces provided by the shaft to the mass. In ocean applications the control system, in addition, monitors the characteristics of the current wave, and if needed, the upcoming wave&#39;s as well, by having sensors disposed on the ocean surface, in proximity to the vessel-turbine. The control system monitors the mass&#39; rotational parameters, such as angular velocity and momentum as well as the current and/or the upcoming wave characteristics, such as height, period and speed. It also monitors the upcoming possible shaft position, such as elevation, angle, rotational or translational speed or acceleration depending on the characteristics of the monitored waves. The load of turbine from compressor applications or electrical generation, is also monitored. The ocean control system compensates undesirable upcoming “up-hills” and creates the conditions for “down-hills” instead, by moving the shaft&#39;s position, accordingly. 
         [0030]    Multiple controlled movements of the shaft can benefit the mass&#39; rotation. However, at minimum, the movement of the shaft in the directions of at least two degrees of freedom can generate sufficient forces to the shaft for a powerful mass rotation, substantially more beneficial from the mass rotation that would have been derived by providing forces to move the shaft in the directions of only one degree of freedom. For example, it is more beneficial to surge and roll the shaft, within the same cycle, instead of only applying one of the two rotations. Similarly, it is more beneficial to provide pitch and roll or surge and pitch to the shaft, instead of only one movement from the pair of movements, mentioned, per cycle. Movements in the directions of heave would require substantial inclinations of the shaft to be beneficial, and is not being examined in the present disclosure. Below, the beneficial combinations by two are examined: 
         [0031]    1) All combinations, by two, of R x , R y , R z . Pitch and Roll can create “down-hills” which “help” the rotating mass&#39; angular momentum. When a “down-hill” travel of the mass is over, the “difficulty of an up-hill”, for the rotation, may begin. Yaw rotational motion applied to the mass can provide the additional “push”, to add to the mass&#39; angular momentum and “help” it overcome this “difficulty”. 
         [0032]    2) T x -R y , T y -R x , T x -R x , T y -R y . Similarly to the above, Surge can fortify the rotating mass to overcome an “up-hill” created by Roll and Sway can “help” overcome an “up-hill” created from Pitch. Similarly, Surge and Pitch provide more angular momentum, through inertial and gravitational forces, in comparison to applying only one them. The same holds for Sway and Roll. 
         [0033]    3) All combinations of T x , T y , R z . Surge and Sway can maintain a powerful angular momentum of a mass through inertial forces, without necessarily needing a “down-hill” benefit. Of course, a “down-hill” benefit can be added to them as an extra “help”, but this is the “at least two” list! Similarly, Yaw, applied in combination with Surge or Sway, adds an additional benefit to the mass rotation. 
         [0034]    Overall the beneficial combinations are as follows: pitch-roll, pitch-yaw, roll-yaw, surge-roll, sway-pitch, surge-pitch, sway-roll, surge-sway, surge-yaw, sway-yaw. These, though, are all the possible combinations by two, from all beneficial degrees of movement freedom. 
         [0035]    Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate the same related elements,  FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the turbine. It shows an eccentric mass  10 , mounted for rotation, indicated by arrows  28 . Mass  10  is freely rotatable in either direction through 360 degrees about shaft  20  and its main axis  25 . The rotation is facilitated by bearings (not shown). The rotational plane of mass  10 , about shaft  20 , is perpendicular to shaft&#39;s main axis  25 . The center of gravity of mass  10  is at a distance from shaft  20 . 
         [0036]    Shaft  20  receives motion from motion base  15 . Motion base  15  includes a shaft support  230 , for supporting shaft  20 , a fixed base  220  and actuators, such as  226  and  228 . The actuators connect the underside of shaft support  230  (not shown) to fixed base  220  and impart movement to shaft  20 . The actuators, such as  226  and  228  are connected via spherical bearings such as  222  and  224 , or equivalent structures such as multiple axis bearing assemblies, universal joints, ball joints, among others. These actuators drive motion base  15 , synergistically, thus providing the desirable movement to shaft  20 , which sets eccentric mass  10  in rotation. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  illustrates the instant at which the shaft support is creating a “down-hill” for mass  10 . The lowest point of the inclination is indicated by radius  235 , while mass  10 &#39;s position is indicated by radius  240 . Mass  10  will rotate “down-hill”, from this beneficial position, with a maximum torque, which is generated by the gravitational forces exerted on mass  10 , at this instant. 
         [0038]    Control means (not shown), such as a programmable logic controller with sensors, monitors the dynamics of rotation of eccentric mass  10 , which is slowed down by the load of the turbine, which resists rotation, such as compressor applications or electricity production (not shown). The control means provides feedback to motion base  15 , which imparts optimized movements and inclinations to shaft  20  in order to have optimized forces applied on mass  10  and overcome the resistive forces of the load. At least two degrees of freedom, as mentioned above, can provide with powerful rotations. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein motion base is the vertically oriented universal joint structure  45 , which includes universal pivoting shaft support  30  and fixed pivot base  60  which are connected to each other with universal joint means, including pivoting cross  50 , and actuators  80  and  90 . 
         [0040]    Universal pivoting shaft support  30  supports shaft  20 . Cross  50  pivots about fixed pivot base  60  in points  40  and  41 . Cross  50  also allows pivoting of universal pivoting shaft support  30  in points  31  and  32 . Actuators  80  and  90  connect universal pivoting shaft support  30 &#39;s extensions  70  and  100 , to fixed pivot base  60 , for imparting movement to universal pivoting shaft support  30  and shaft  20 . Actuators  80  and  90  are connected via universal joints,  75 ,  76  and  95 ,  96 , or equivalent structures such as multiple axis bearing assemblies, spherical joints, ball joints, among others. 
         [0041]    This preferred embodiment provides movement to universal pivoting shaft support  30  in pitch and roll directions in relation to fixed pivot base  60 . These rotational movements of universal pivoting support platform  30  provide universal inclinations to shaft  20 , thus generating gravitational and inertial forces to mass  10 , which can develop high angular velocity and momentum, thus providing powerful rotations. 
         [0042]    Preferred embodiments of the turbine disclosed, such as the ones shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  can be used in ocean applications, as well, being secured on a floating vessel, totally enclosed for protection from the sea water. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  shows a preferred embodiment of the turbine operating in the ocean. It utilizes the vertically oriented universal joint structure  120 , shown in  FIG. 2 , completely enclosed in floating vessel  120 , by vessel&#39;s roof  121 . Vessel  120  is disposed in ocean waves  110 , which move in the direction indicated by arrow  112 . The waves move vessel  20 , which moves shaft  20 . As a result, shaft  20  is forced to incline and mass  10  starts rotating. When an “up-hill” for mass  10  is about to occur, actuators  80  and  90 , provide with an inclination, at any plane, favorable to mass  10 &#39;s rotation. Another preferred embodiment uses, in addition, mooring means, such as anchors  122  and  124 . Furthermore, in another preferred embodiment, control means (not shown), including sensors for predicting the parameters of the upcoming waves, disposed around vessel  120 , provide feedback for optimized mass  10 &#39;s rotation. Other preferred embodiments may include different shapes of vessels. 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  illustrates another preferred embodiment of the turbine comprising pivoting platform  150 , pivoting on horizontal pivot shaft  155 , which is supported with pivot supports  160 ,  162 ,  165  and  167  on motion base  181 . Pivoting platform  150  supports shaft  20  and eccentric mass  10 . Shaft  20 &#39;s main axis  25 , crosses horizontal pivot shaft  155 . 
         [0045]    Motion base  181  is a one-stage motion base providing pivoting to pivoting platform  150 . The position of pivoting platform  150 , which supports shaft  20 , depends only partially on the movement of motion base  181 . That is, motion base  181  does not fully control shaft&#39;s  20  position as it was the case in the previous preferred embodiments. 
         [0046]    Motion base  181  comprises fixed base  1 , base support  180 , which is pivotally supported on base pivot shaft  185 , which, in turn is supported on fixed base  1  with pivot support members  172 ,  174 ,  176  and  178 . Motion base  181 , further comprises actuator  190 . Actuator  190  is connected to fixed base  1  and the underside of base support  180  with rotational joints  192  and  194 . Actuator  190  imparts rotational motion to base support  180 . 
         [0047]    Pivoting platform  150  is arranged for a limited range of pivoting motion, which stops when it reaches base support  180 . Cushioning means, such as spring  170 , may be used to absorb the impact of stopping. 
         [0048]    Horizontal pivot shaft  155  is arranged to be perpendicular to base pivot shaft  185 . Mass  10 , in its non-operative position has pivoting platform  150  leaning on one side. When Actuator  190  starts pivoting base support  180 , mass  10  begins to rotate. When mass  10  passes over horizontal pivot shaft  155 , mass  10 &#39;s weight pivots pivoting platform  150  on its other side. When this happens, a “down-hill” position is created for mass  10 &#39;s providing maximum torque for mass  10 &#39;s rotation. This “helps” mass  10  to develop angular momentum. 
         [0049]    Another preferred embodiment (not shown) includes pivoting platform  150 , pivoting on top of a motion base with more than one degree of freedom. Yet, another preferred embodiment has pivoting platform  150  pivoting on a synergistic motion base, such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 5  shows the turbine shown in  FIG. 4 , further including actuator  195 , connecting base support  180  to pivoting platform  150 , with rotational joints. Actuator  195  optimizes mass  10 &#39;s rotation, by controlling the pivoting of pivoting platform  150 . Control means  199  monitor mass  10 &#39;s angular momentum and controls the activation of actuators  190  and  195 , in a coordinated manner to optimize mass  10 &#39;s rotation. 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  illustrates an electrical generator added between pivoting platform  150  and mass  10 . The generator includes disc  200 , which is in rotational communication with mass  10 . Disc  200  has in its underside attached magnets such as  202  and  204 , with proper polarity arrangement and magnetic field direction, facing coils  206 ,  208 . The coils are supported by pivoting platform  150 . When mass  10  rotates, the coils produce electricity. This is an implementation of an axial flux generator. This generator pivots along with shaft  20 , in direction,  168 . Other embodiments (not shown) have a stator attached on shaft  20 , while having the rotor in rotational communication with the eccentric mass  10 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the turbine in underwater operation, near-shore. The eccentric mass rotating mechanism is enclosed in a buoy, supported by beam means, which pivots about a horizontal pivot, provided by a fixed base in the ocean floor. More specifically, submerged buoy base  360 , completely covered and protected by sea water with buoy roof  361  fully encloses all eccentric mass rotation mechanism and pivots shown in  FIG. 4  (shown only partially here). Underwater fixed platform  310  is secured on the ocean floor  300 . Vertical beam means such as pivoting frame comprising rods  332  and  334 , is connected on the buoyant panel assembly, which here includes panel  330  and float  350 . Included in the beam means, supporting frame  342 ,  344 ,  346 ,  348  securely supports submerged buoy base  360 . Pivot points, or hinges  352  and  354 , pivotally support rods  332  and  334 . The buoyant panel is disposed to receive the surge motion of ocean waves  301 . When ocean surge moves the buoyant panel, the beam means pivots in directions  320 . Sto springs  365  and  370  may be used to provide limited range of pivoting. 
         [0053]    This embodiment, although in different scale and environment utilizes analogous functional elements as in previous embodiments, that is: (i) a base support for the pivoting platform, shaft and rotating mass mechanism (submerged buoy base), (ii) a base pivot (beam means), (iii) a fixed base (underwater fixed platform) and (iv) an actuator (buoyant panel). The waves&#39; surge is the prime source of power, here, as, for example, electricity powers an electric actuator. 
         [0054]      FIG. 8  illustrates a preferred embodiment operating on the ocean surface. Pivoting platform  150  is pivotally supported by pivot support members  160 ,  162 ,  165  and  167 , which are fixed on vessel  120 , as shown. Pivoting platform  150  supports shaft  20  and mass  10 , which rotates about shaft  20 . Vessel  120  is moored with mooring means such as anchors  122  and  124 , to maintain horizontal pivot shaft  155  substantially parallel to the direction of waves  112 . Pivoting platform  150  rolls in directions  168 , at a restricted range of pivoting motion limited by the vessel&#39;s floor. Cushioning means, such as spring  170  can be used to absorb the impact of platform  150 &#39;s stopping, in both sides of its pivoting. Waves  114  impart pitching motion to vessel  120  in the direction  169 . Vessel  120  imparts the same pitch motion to shaft  20 . When the waves pitch vessel  120 , mass  10  starts rotating about shaft  20 . When mass  10 , passes on top of horizontal pivot shaft  155 , pivoting platform  150  rolls in its other side, instantly providing a “down-hill” with maximum torque for mass  10 , in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction  114  of the waves. Therefore, shaft  20  is provided with the capability of inclining towards the pitch and roll directions, in a coordinated way, so that mass  10  completes full rotations, instead of oscillations. 
         [0055]    Roof  119  totally encloses pivoting platform  150 , shaft  20  and mass  10 , protecting them from sea water. In addition, a tube float such as tube float  121  can be securely attached on vessel  120 &#39;s body, surrounding vessel  120 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . Tube float  121  is used to keep vessel  120  substantially horizontal, when floating in still water. 
         [0056]    Another embodiment further includes an actuator, similar to actuator  195 , shown in  FIG. 5  connecting the underside of pivoting platform  150  with vessel&#39;s floor with rotational joints and control means and sensors for monitoring wave characteristics, turbine load and mass  10 &#39;s position and rotational dynamics, such as angular velocity and momentum. Control means controls the operation of actuator  195 , which optimizes the pivoting angle, position and dynamics, such as speed of raising or lowering pivoting platform  150 , in order to provide mass  10  an optimized rotation. Another embodiment further includes additional actuators for better stability and pivoting of pivoting platform  150 . Another embodiment further includes a swivel supported on vessel  120 , supporting the eccentric mass mechanism, in order to modify the alignment of pivoting platform  150 , if needed, depending on the waves&#39; direction.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5