Patent ID: 8480381

Claim:
Apparatus for capturing wave energy in a body of water having a water surface, the apparatus comprising: an object configured to respond to wave disturbances in the body of water, a reciprocating pump within the body of water, the reciprocating pump comprising: a body defining an intake chamber and a discharge chamber, a piston slidably and sealingly mounted with respect to the body for reciprocal movement with respect to the intake chamber and the discharge chamber, the piston extending between the intake chamber and the discharge chamber, the piston being mounted for reciprocation to co-operate with the discharge chamber and to define a pumping chamber, the volume of the pumping chamber varying upon reciprocating motion of the piston, the intake chamber and the discharge chamber being separated by a partition, the piston passing through the partition and being in sliding and sealing engagement with the partition, a flow passage within the piston, the flow passage having an inlet for receiving water from the body of water, and an outlet for discharging the received water into the discharge chamber, whereby water is drawn into the pumping chamber upon volume expansion thereof and is discharged from the pumping chamber upon volume reduction thereof, the reciprocating pump being operably coupled to the object to be driven by upward movement of the object to undergo a first stroke.