Patent ID: 8174135

Claim:
A marine energy hybrid comprising: a) a support structure locatable at or near the surface of a body of water, said support structure having an upper track established at an upper region thereof; b) at least one wave energy conversion device integral with said support structure and operable to generate energy in response to wave motion of the body of water; c) an upper bearing-supported hubless carriage movable along said upper track of said support structure and about a substantially vertical axis; d) at least one vane mounted at said upper carriage, said at least one vane being configured to induce motion of said upper carriage relative to said support structure by reaction with the wind; and e) an energy conversion device operable to convert the motion of said upper carriage relative to said support structure into usable energy a lower bearing supported carriage movable along a lower track of said support structure and movable about said axis, at least one lower vane mounted at said lower carriage, said at least one lower vane being configured to induce motion of said lower carriage relative to said support structure by reaction with the wafer current, said marine energy hybrid being operable to convert the motion of said lower carriage relative to said support structure into useable energy, wherein said vane comprises a triangulated arrangement of two or more individual vanes separated at their bases and conjoined at their upper end regions, wherein each said vane comprises a telescoping plurality of hollow sections with a hinge at said bases and a hinge at upper end regions, said vanes being extendable and retractable to adjust a degree of extension of said vanes from said upper carriage.