Systems and methods for use in capturing energy from natural resources. In one form, the systems and methods capture energy from natural resources, such as movement of fluid in a body of water, and convert it into electrical energy.

An ocean wave power plant provided for by respective interconnected functional units comprising a support structure is disclosed. The support structure is terminated in a lower end with a fastening bracket which can be anchored in a single point to a mass when deployed in the sea. A submergible uplift floating body is providing buoyancy for the ocean wave power plant when deployed in the sea. The uplift floating body is attached to the support structure, an electric power generating subsystem (A) supported by a platform is terminating the support structure in an upper end of the support structure. A transmission member is attached in one end to a floating body and in another end to the power generating subsystem (A) transferring wave motion from the floating body to the power generating subsystem (A).

The present invention relates to the utilization of wave energy and its conversion into operating motion of an electrical energy generating system. The system for generation of electrical energy through the conversion of aquatic wave motion includes floating bodies and a constant rotation mechanism, which converts the two-way linear motion of an inflexible transmission shaft or a flexible transmission shafts into one-way rotation of an output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism. This mechanism allows utilization of wave energy in two directions caused by the rise and fall of waves. The output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism is coupled to a force multiplier that is further coupled to a generator which generates electrical energy. Constant rotation mechanism can be driven by inflexible transmission shaft pivotally coupled to the floating bodies at one end, and the other end to an input gear of the constant rotation mechanism. Depending on the height of the wave and the wavelength, various constructions of floating bodies are used. Certain floating bodies are designed for the waves of a smaller amplitude and smaller wavelength, while other floating bodies are designed for bigger amplitude and bigger wavelength.

A wave energy converter incorporates a floating body and a reaction body engaging the floating body wherein the reaction body is static or oscillating out of phase relative to the floating body. A power take-off (PTO) has at least one direct drive linear generator, a high level controller responsive to sensors engaged to the direct drive linear generator and providing a PTO force change command (dF.sub.PTO) and a low level controller receiving the PTO force change command and providing control signals to power electronics connected to the direct drive linear generator. The direct drive linear generator is operable responsive to the control signals to achieve optimal power extraction performance with high force at low speed with operation in two physical directions and operating as both a motor and a generator for a total of four quadrants of control.

An apparatus for generating energy from ocean waves, the apparatus including a first or outer section arranged to be coupled to a sea floor and a second or inner section that is at least partially received by and slidably moveable within the first section. The first section includes a float housing arranged to be located toward or at a sea surface and an armature housing extending from the float housing toward the sea floor, the float housing having one or more apertures so that a water level within the float housing is substantially similar to or follows that of the sea surface. The second section includes a float slidably received by the float housing and a stem carrying a magnetic element that extends from the float so as to be receivable by the armature housing. The arrangement is such that the float travels in substantially vertical direction within the float housing in response to movement of the sea surface thereby the armature housing being moved relative to the magnetic element to generate energy.

Devices and methods are provided for harvesting kinetic energy. The devices can include a plurality of dielectric elastomeric membranes, a rigid connector rod, and a mountable support base. Membrane layers have a funnel-shape with a narrow opening portion and a wide perimeter portion. Membrane layers are adjacent to other membrane layers having an opposite orientation defined by the narrow opening portion and the wide perimeter portion. The narrow opening portions are coupled to a first end portion of the connector rod. The wide perimeter portions are fixed in relation to the support base. Application of linear force at a second end portion of the connector rod in a first direction causes at least a first membrane layer to stretch. Application of the force in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes at least a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer to stretch.

A power-take-off system for use in a wave energy converter buoy employs a meshing nut and screw shaft assembly for motion conversion. That is, the motion of the buoy float is coupled to drive the nut along the screw shaft on which it is mounted. The linear movement of the nut along the shaft causes the shaft to rotate and this rotational motion is then coupled to rotate an electrical generator.

An ocean wave power plant provided for by respective interconnected functional units comprising a support structure (1a, 1b) is disclosed. The support structure (1a, 1b) is terminated in a lower end with a fastening bracket (9c) which can be anchored in a single point to a mass (9e) when deployed in the sea. A submergible uplift floating body (2) is providing buoyancy for the ocean wave power plant when deployed in the sea. The a uplift floating body (2) is attached to the support structure (1a, 1b), an electric power generating subsystem (A) supported by a platform (8) is terminating the support structure (1a, 1b) in an upper end of the support structure. A transmission member (4, 4a, 18) is attached in one end to a floating body (3) and in another end to the power generating subsystem (A) transferring wave motion from the floating body (3) to the power generating subsystem (A).

The Barton Float Generator is a device that uses water currents, water waves or water elevation changes to push/pull magnets threw electrical coils to generate electrical energy. The barton float generator will also be composed of a float, a yellow pole, two check valves, two tubes, 4 electrical coils and 8 magnets with 3 spacer in between them.

The present invention relates to the utilization of wave energy and its conversion into operating motion of an electrical energy generating system. The system for generation of electrical energy through the conversion of aquatic wave motion includes floating bodies and a constant rotation mechanism, which converts the two-way linear motion of an inflexible transmission shaft or a flexible transmission shafts into one-way rotation of an output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism. This mechanism allows utilization of wave energy in two directions caused by the rise and fall of waves. The output shaft of the constant rotation mechanism is coupled to a force multiplier that is further coupled to a generator which generates electrical energy. Constant rotation mechanism can be driven by inflexible transmission shaft pivotally coupled to the floating bodies at one end, and the other end to an input gear of the constant rotation mechanism. Depending on the height of the wave and the wavelength, various constructions of floating bodies are used. Certain floating bodies are designed for the waves of a smaller amplitude and smaller wavelength, while other floating bodies are designed for bigger amplitude and bigger wavelength.