Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6194791?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-03-17 11:31:52
Document Index: 103775046

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 61', 'art 67', 'arts 61', 'art 261', 'art 267', 'arts 261']

Patent US6194791 - Wave energy converter - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA wave collector structure (51) for electrical power generation powered by wave energy comprises an outwardly extending and downwardly depending lip (105, 107) below which is situated a mouth (61, 67) of the collector. The collector further comprises side walls (75, 79) for channelling waves into the...http://www.google.com/patents/US6194791?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6194791 - Wave energy converterAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6194791 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/202,197Publication dateFeb 27, 2001Filing dateJun 10, 1997Priority dateJun 10, 1996Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2257606A1, CA2257606C, EP0904464A1, EP0904464B1, WO1997047821A1Publication number09202197, 202197, US 6194791 B1, US 6194791B1, US-B1-6194791, US6194791 B1, US6194791B1InventorsAlan Arthur WellsOriginal AssigneeApplied Research & Technology Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (10), Referenced by (15), Classifications (14), Legal Events (8) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetWave energy converterUS 6194791 B1Abstract A wave collector structure (51) for electrical power generation powered by wave energy comprises an outwardly extending and downwardly depending lip (105, 107) below which is situated a mouth (61, 67) of the collector. The collector further comprises side walls (75, 79) for channelling waves into the collector mouth. These side walls (75, 79) extend horizontally substantially up to or beyond the lip, partially enclosing a volume of water between the lip and side walls. The collector is placed in its desired location by sealing the mouth (61, 67) with gates (not shown) and floating the structure to its desired location. Control valves are opened to allow water into the collector to sink the structure to the sea bed (63) whereupon the gates are removed.
What is claimed is: 1. A wave collector structure for an electrical power generator powered by wave energy, comprising:
at least one substantially tubular collector chamber, said tubular collector chamber including: an outwardly extending and downwardly depending lip, said lip being one of substantially curved and substantially flat in section, and a pair of side walls, said side walls extending horizontally substantially up to or beyond said lip, a base surface upon which said chamber is positioned, said tubular collector chamber being angled towards said base surface, and a lower edge which, with said lip and said side walls and said base surface, defines a mouth of said tubular collector chamber, wherein the angle of said base surface with respect to said tubular collector chamber reduces a cross-sectional area of said collector chamber toward said mouth, and wherein said side walls partially enclose a volume of water between said lip and said lower edge. 2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein the collector chambers have a rectangular cross section.
an outwardly extending and downwardly depending lip; a pair of side walls extending horizontally substantially up to or beyond said lip; a base plate connected to a lower edge of said lip, said tubular collector chamber being angled towards said base plate, said lip and said side walls and said base plate defining a mouth of said tubular collector chamber, wherein the angle of said base plate with respect to said tubular collector chamber reduces a cross-sectional area of said collector chamber toward said mouth, and wherein said side walls partially enclose a volume of water between said lip and said base plate. 14. A wave collector structure according to claim 13, wherein said base plate rests upon the sea bed.
an outwardly extending and downwardly depending lip; a pair of side walls extending horizontally substantially up to or beyond said lip; wherein said tubular collector chamber is angled towards a sea bed upon which said collector chamber is mounted, said lip and said side walls defining a mouth of said tubular collector chamber, wherein said mouth is sealable to enable the structure to be floated to a desired location whereupon said mouth is opened to allow water to enter and allow the structure to sink, and wherein said side walls partially enclose a volume of water between said lip and said sea bed when said structure has sunk.
Another known arrangement is shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings. This comprises a structure 41 comprising a generally scoop-shaped collector 43 with a flat upper wall 45 and a vertically downwardly depending lip 47. It can be seen that this is generally analogous to the structure shown in FIG. 1, except that the shape of the collector 43 generally resembles a �C� shape but with a flattened top and a vertically downwardly depending lip.
Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a wave collector structure 51 according to the present invention. This comprises a wave collector 53 which comprises a first collector chamber 55 and a second collector chamber 57. The first collector chamber 55 comprises a first tubular section 59 which extends upwardly at about 45� to the horizontal from a first open mouth part 61 where it touches the sea bed 63. The second collector chamber 57 also has a first tubular section 65 which extends upwardly at about 45� to the horizontal from a second open mouth part 67 where it touches the sea bed 63 (the two open mouth parts 61, 67 together constituting a collector mouth).
The upper end 69 of the first tubular section 65 of the second collector chamber 57 is contiguous with a second tubular section 71 which extends downwardly at about 45� to the horizontal, to the sea bed 63. The upper end 72 of the first tubular section 59 of the first collector chamber 55 is contiguous with a second tubular section of the first collector chamber 55 but this second tubular section is not visible from the perspective view shown in FIG. 3. However, it lies parallel to the second tubular section 71 of the second collector chamber 57.
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This shows a wave collector structure 251 which comprises a wave collector 253. The wave collector 253 is similar to that shown in FIG. 3. It comprises a first collector chamber 255 and a second collector chamber 257. The first collector chamber 255 comprises a first tubular section 259 of square cross section which extends upwardly at an angle to the horizontal from a first open mouth part 261 where it touches the sea bed 63. The second collector chamber 257 also has a first tubular section 265 of square cross section which extends upwardly at an angle to the horizontal from a second open mouth part 267 where it touches the sea bed 63 (the two open mouth parts 261, 267 together constituting a collector mouth). The tubular sections extend at an angle to the horizontal so that the ratio of the inlet area at the collector mouth to the internal cross-sectional area of the collector chambers is preferably less than 0.5, but more than 0.4. This is achieved by an angle to the horizontal of between 30� and 60�. The first tubular sections 259, 265 are arranged to be parallel to each other.
The first tubular sections 259, 265 of the first and second collector chambers 251, 257 are supported by second tubular sections which extend downwardly at a similar angle to the horizontal of the upwardly extending first tubular sections 259, 265, to the sea bed 63 from a respective point approximately midway up the length of the lower edge 272 of the first tubular sections 259, 261. The second tubular section of the first collector chamber 255 is not visible from the perspective view shown in FIG. 4. However, it lies parallel to the second tubular section 271 of the second collector chamber 257 The first and second collector chambers 255, 257 may be interconnected internally, in the region of their uppermost parts. However, to increase cumulative power output under asymmetric wave entry conditions, the collector chambers are not interconnected.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4078871 *Aug 28, 1975Mar 14, 1978Perkins Jr Clifford ASea wave energy conversionUS4341959 *Apr 8, 1980Jul 27, 1982Kvaerner Brug A/SWave energy power stationUS4540313 *Apr 6, 1984Sep 10, 1985Williams And Broome, Inc.Apparatus for the generation of hydroelectric power and method of manufacturing and installing sameUS5009568 *Jul 11, 1990Apr 23, 1991Bell George SWave actuated power generating apparatusUS5027000 *Sep 7, 1989Jun 25, 1991Takenaka CorporationMethod and apparatus for generating electricity using wave energyGB1502652A Title not availableGB1601467A Title not availableGB2131886A Title not availableGB2250321A Title not availableWO1987003045A1Nov 14, 1986May 21, 1987Knut BoenkeApparatus for converting the energy in ocean waves into useful energy* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6652221Feb 23, 2000Nov 25, 2003Peter PraenkelWater current turbine sleeve mountingUS6860219Oct 14, 2003Mar 1, 2005Harry Edward DempsterTechnique and platform for fabricating a variable-buoyancy structureUS6935808Oct 14, 2003Aug 30, 2005Harry Edward DempsterBreakwaterUS6956300 *Aug 4, 2003Oct 18, 2005Andrew Roman GizaraGimbal-mounted hydroelectric turbineUS7242107Oct 14, 2003Jul 10, 2007Harry Edward DempsterWater-based wind-driven power generation using a submerged platformUS7525212 *Jun 13, 2006Apr 28, 2009Chris S CatlinOcean power harvesterUS7566983 *Nov 5, 2008Jul 28, 2009Victor LyatkherPower installation for conversion of energy of water and air streamsUS8341957 *May 14, 2011Jan 1, 2013Joseph Erat SPortable wave-swash and coastal-wind energy harvesterUS8601808 *Oct 30, 2012Dec 10, 2013Erat S. JosephHydrokinetic and wind energy harvesterUS20110254275 *May 14, 2011Oct 20, 2011Joseph Erat SPortable wave-swash & coastal-wind energy harvesterUS20120263537 *Mar 8, 2012Oct 18, 2012Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Systems, Methods And Assemblies For Supplying Power To An Offshore FacilityUS20120286508 *May 8, 2012Nov 15, 2012Poddey AlexanderOffshore system for producing regenerative energyWO2004003379A1 *May 22, 2003Jan 8, 2004Paolo BoccottiOscillating water column wave energy converter incorporated into caisson breakwater.WO2008036141A2 *Jun 13, 2007Mar 27, 2008C S CatlinOcean power harvesterWO2012167015A2 *Jun 1, 2012Dec 6, 2012Alternative Current Corp.Offshore hybrid wind-wave power plants* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification290/53, 290/54, 290/42, 290/43International ClassificationF03D9/00, F03B13/14Cooperative ClassificationY02E10/32, F03D9/008, F05B2240/95, Y02E10/725, Y02E10/38, F03B13/142European ClassificationF03D9/00F, F03B13/14B2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 16, 2013FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20130227Feb 27, 2013LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesOct 8, 2012REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedSep 30, 2008SULPSurcharge for late paymentYear of fee payment: 7Sep 30, 2008FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Sep 8, 2008REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedJul 21, 2004FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jun 7, 1999ASAssignmentOwner name: APPLIED RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, UNITED KINGFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WELLS, ALAN ARTHUR;REEL/FRAME:009999/0235Effective date: 19990126RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google