Patent ID: 8536724

Claim:
An ocean wave energy conversion apparatus including: a structure for positioning in a body of water, the structure being arranged so that at least a portion of the structure is above the body of water in use; a plurality of elongate floats being spaced apart to provide a gap therebetween in a first direction and having an average width also extending in the first direction, the first direction being substantially parallel to the direction of wave travel, the elongate floats extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the gap between the elongate floats at rest being less than double the average width of the floats; a plurality of arm pairs, each arm pair including a pair of arms pivotally mounted to the structure to pivot about a respective arm pivot axis and to a respective float to pivot about a float pivot axis to thereby allow relative movement between the float and the structure, each arm pair having a spacing in the second direction, and wherein the spacing between each arm of each arm pair is different so that the arms of one arm pair cannot contact the arms of another arm pair in use; an energy converter for converting motion of the floats into electrical or other useful energy; and a drive connecting at least one of the arms of each elongate float to the energy converter and arranged such that at least upward motion thereof drives the energy converter.