Wave driven engine
A process for converting wave energy to useful power is described, wherein the waves are of the type having a substantially periodic waveform including substantially constant wave length, wave height and direction. This process consists of: disposing on the surface of the water a substantially rigid horizontally oriented support structure having a length and two ends, three float bodies being disposed along the length of the support structure, a first float body residing substantially adjacent the first end of the support structure, a second float body spaced apart from the first float body and residing substantially adjacent the second end of the support structure, a third float body spaced apart from both the first and second float bodies and residing between the first and second float bodies along the length of the support structure; retaining a first portion of an energy converting means in the first float body, a second portion of the energy converting means being pivotably connected to the support structure substantially at the first end of the support structure and being in contact with the first portion of the energy converting means; rigidly connecting the second float body to the second end of the support structure, and rigidly connecting the third float body to the center of the length of the support structure intermediate the second float body and the second portion of the energy converting means, the second and third float bodies being support floats and the first float body with energy converting means not being a support float; spacing the first, second and third float bodies along the length of the support structure such that when the first and second float bodies are located respectively at the crests of different sequential waves, the third float body is located in a wave trough intermediate the wave crest, the first end of the support structure is oscillated vertically by the movement of the support structure.
- Assignee:
- NOV; EDB-86-086387
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4563591
- OSTI ID:
- 6053489
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 26 Aug 1983
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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