Wave energy capture and conversion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12196172-B2
Application number	US-202318162855-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2023
Priority date	Oct 31, 2022
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A wave energy conversion assembly, including a first motion conversion assembly including a first wheel, an arm connected to the motion conversion assembly, and a float connected to the arm, wherein the float is operatively arranged to engage fluid to displace the wheel in a first circumferential direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wave energy conversion assembly, comprising:
a first motion conversion assembly, including:
a first wheel;
a first reciprocating element including a first pawl; and
a first line connected to the first reciprocating element and the first wheel;

an arm connected to the first motion conversion assembly; and
a float connected to the arm;
wherein:
the float is operatively arranged to engage fluid to displace the first wheel in a first circumferential direction;
when the first reciprocating element is displaced in a first direction, the first pawl engages the line; and
when the reciprocating element is displaced in a second direction, opposite the first direction, the first pawl disengages the line.

2. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first line comprises a first side and a second side;
the first wheel is engaged with the first side; and
the first pawl is engaged with the second side.

3. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first motion conversion assembly further comprises a second wheel spaced apart from the first wheel to create tension in the first line.

4. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein the first motion conversion assembly is arranged in the housing.

5. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the housing forms a fulcrum engaged with the arm.

6. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein the housing is buoyant.

7. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a second motion conversion assembly including a second wheel.

8. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the second motion conversion assembly comprises:
a second reciprocating element including a second pawl;
a shaft connected to the second reciprocating element; and
a second line connected to the second reciprocating element and the second wheel;
wherein the housing and second wheel are operatively arranged to displace with respect to the second reciprocating element.

9. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
when the housing and second wheel are displaced in a first direction, the second pawl engages the second line; and
when the housing and second wheel are displaced in a second direction, the second pawl disengages the second line.

10. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein the second motion conversion assembly further comprises a tensioning member operatively arranged to bias the housing to a starting elevational position.

11. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein the shaft is flexible.

12. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wheel is connected to a generator.

13. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arm is connected to the first wheel via a freewheel connection.

14. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein the freewheel connection comprises:
a plurality of teeth arranged on one of the arm and the first wheel; and
one or more pawls arranged on the other of the arm and the first wheel.

15. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein the one or more pawls are operatively arranged to:
engage the plurality of teeth when the arm is displaced in the first circumferential direction; and
disengage the plurality of teeth when the arm is displaced in a second circumferential direction, opposite the first circumferential direction.

16. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 13 , further comprising:
a second arm connected to the first wheel; and
a second float connected to the second arm.

17. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first reciprocating element translatable displaces along a path toward and away from the first wheel.

18. The wave energy conversion assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first reciprocating element is translatably displaceable along a linear or curvilinear path.

19. A wave energy conversion assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a motion conversion assembly arranged in the housing and including:
a line;
a reciprocating element comprising at least one pawl arranged to removably engage the line; and
at least one wheel engaged with the line;

an arm including a first portion arranged in the housing and connected to the reciprocating element and a second portion arranged outside the housing; and
a float connected to the second portion;
wherein relative movement between the float and the housing causes the reciprocating element to displace the line and the at least one wheel in a single circumferential direction.

20. A wave energy conversion assembly, comprising:
a housing;
a wheel arranged in the housing; and
one or more arms connected to the wheel via a freewheel connection, wherein each arm of the one or more arms includes:
a first portion arranged in the housing and connected to the wheel;
a second portion arranged outside the housing; and
a float connected to the second portion;
wherein relative movement between the float and the housing causes the wheel to displace in a single circumferential direction.

Assignees

• Suddaby Loubert S

Inventors

• Suddaby Loubert S

Classifications

• F03B13/14

  using wave energy · CPC title

• Y02E10/30

  Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient · CPC title

• F03B13/18 Primary

  where the other member, {i.e. rem} is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore · CPC title