Patent ID: 6930406

Claim:
A swell powered tide compensated electric generator comprising: a support structure comprising at least one leg extending from the floor of a water body; a float frame supported by said support structure containing a float configured to rise and fall with the swells, said float frame configured to guide said float as it rises and falls; a pump line having an internal volume extending from said float to a tank; said pump line comprising a lower section configured to rise and fall with said float, said lower section having at least one intake aperture configured to open when said float is falling and further configured to close when said float is rising; said intake aperture positioned to be at or below the surface of said water body when said float is falling whereby said intake aperture will provide fluid passage into said pump line when said intake aperture is open; said pump line further comprising an upper section extending from said tank, said upper section containing at least one outflow aperture configured to open when said float is rising and to close when said float is falling, said outflow aperture providing fluid passage between said pump line and said tank when said outflow aperture is open; said pump line further comprising a sleeve slidably disposed between said upper section and said lower section, said sleeve configured to create a substantially airtight and watertight seal between said sleeve and said lower section and between said sleeve and said upper section, said sleeve further configured to rise and fall with said tide; said pump line further configured to decrease in internal volume when said float rises and to increase in internal volume when said float falls, whereby water may be drawn into said pump line as said float falls and expelled from said pump line into said tank as said float rises; and an outflow line extending from said tank to a turbine, whereby water pumped into said tank may be used to drive said turbine.