Patent ID: 8668534

Claim:
A wave-powered vehicle which comprises (1) a float, (2) a swimmer, and (3) a tether connecting the float and swimmer; the float, swimmer and tether being such that, when the vehicle is in still water, (i) the float is on or near the surface of the water, (ii) the swimmer is submerged below the float, and (iii) the tether is under tension; and the swimmer, when the vehicle is in wave-bearing water, interacting with the water to generate forces which tend to move the float in a direction having a horizontal component; the tether being secured to the float through a two-axis universal joint which pivots when the float pitches or rolls but does not pivot when the float yaws, and the tether being a cable which (a) has a cross-section which (i) has a chord length which is 0.5 to 3.0 inch and (ii) comprises a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, the leading edge portion including the greatest width of the cross-section, the greatest width being 0.1 to 1.0 inch and at most 0.5 times the chord length of the cross-section, and (b) comprises (1) an elongate tensile member which carries load when the cable is under tension, and (2) at least one additional elongate member which does not carry load when the cable is under tension, and (3) a jacket which provides the outer surface of the cable; the cable being aligned so that its leading edge portion is directed towards the front of the wave-powered vehicle.