Patent ID: 7493759

Claim:
A converter for producing useable energy from fluid motion of a fluid medium, the converter comprising: a foundation submerged in the fluid medium; a support structure including first and second support piles directly affixed on the foundation substantially perpendicularly to the foundation and perpendicular to a velocity direction of the fluid motion; at least one movable element submerged in the fluid medium, the movable element having first and second ends along a longitudinal axis, the first and second ends movably coupled to the first and second piles with first and second mechanisms respectively, such that the movable element can move relatively to the first and second piles along first and second axes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the movable element, the first axis substantially parallel to the velocity direction and the second axis substantially perpendicular to the velocity direction, in response to each of vortex induced fluid motion, or galloping fluid motion or combination thereof; and at least one power device supported on the support structure and coupled to the movable element, the power device converting motion of the movable element to useable energy.