Patent ID: 7323790

Claim:
A wave energy converter (WEC) comprising: a float and a column intended to be placed in a body of water with the float and column moving relative to each other as a function of the waves present in the body of water; a permanent magnet assembly (PMA) attached to one of the column and float and an induction coil assembly (ICA) attached to the other one of the column and float for causing the PMA and the ICA to move past each other and for voltages to be generated across the ICA when the PMA and the ICA attached to the float and column move relative to each other whereby the relative movement of the float and column is converted into electrical energy; the PMA being encased in a first enclosure and the ICA being encased in a second enclosure, different and independent of the first enclosure, for facilitating the placement of the PMA and the ICA on their respective portion of the float and column; and means for maintaining a relatively constant gap between the first and second enclosures as they move past each other to ensure good electromagnetic coupling between the PMA and the ICA; and wherein the PMA and the ICA are attached to their respective portion of the float and column and are mounted on the walls of the float and column.