Patent ID: 7607862

Claim:
A water energy conversion apparatus comprising: an anchor adapted to be disposed on the bottom of a body of water; a tether connected to the anchor; a body portion defining at least one channel and including an anterior end, a posterior end and a bottom wall, the body portion being connected to the tether at the bottom wall between the anterior and posterior ends, the body portion having at least one float adapted to support the body portion on the surface of the body of water, and wherein the weight of water that enters and flows through the channel causes the posterior end of the body portion to move to a position that is lower than the anterior end of the apparatus, and wherein as water flows through the apparatus the posterior end is located in or approaching a trough of a wave while the anterior end of the apparatus is being lifted by a crest of a wave, such that the body portion temporarily exhibits an angled configuration that accelerates the water as it flows through the channel, the angled configuration being provided by the up and down movement of the anterior and posterior ends about the connection of the tether; at least one hydro-turbine; and at least one clear out channel flange located on the underside of the body at the posterior end thereof, wherein the at least one clear out channel flange creates at least one void area in water surrounding the apparatus; wherein the at least one channel directs water that enters the apparatus through the at least one hydro-turbine and wherein the water exiting the apparatus is deposited into the at least one void area.