Patent ID: 7549288

Claim:
An apparatus for extraction of energy from wave motion in water, using air, comprising: a frame, a vacuum chamber, and a pressure chamber; a first float portion secured to said frame, said first float portion adapted to rest in said water to buoyantly support said apparatus; a second float portion secured to said frame, said second float portion adapted to rest in said water to buoyantly support said apparatus; a first connecting arm, said first connecting arm mounted to said frame, said first connecting arm having a first attachment end and a second attachment end; a first power cell and a second power cell, said first power cell and said second power cells each comprising a vertically elongated tubular member with an open bottom and closed top, said first power cell and said second power cell suspended from said first connecting arm at said first attachment end and at said second attachment end, respectively, said first power cell and said second power cell each weighted to have negative buoyancy in said water, so that said first and second power cells can be downwardly submerged in said water to create compression of air in said first or said second power cell, and upwardly withdrawn from said water to create vacuum, with respect to said ambient air, in said first or said second power cell; said first power cell and said second power cell each further comprising a pneumatic exhaust valve and a pneumatic inlet valve, said pneumatic exhaust valve having a closed position and an open position, and said pneumatic inlet valve having an open position and a closed position, said pneumatic exhaust valve and said pneumatic inlet valve each operable in a substantially one way configuration; and a first pneumatic passageway providing fluid communication between said pressure chamber and each of said first and said second power cells, and a second pneumatic passageway providing fluid communication between said vacuum chamber and each of said first and said second power cells; and wherein said pneumatic exhaust valves are configured for directing air from said first or said second power cells toward said pressure chamber, during compression operation, and wherein said pneumatic inlet valves are configured for directing air from said vacuum chamber toward said first or said second power cells, during vacuum operation.