Abstract
An ocean wave energy converter (WEC) using one or more elongated light-weight low-cost surface floats, oriented and self-orienting parallel to oncoming wave fronts are mechanically linked to a motion stabilized or fixed frame or base through one or more power take-offs in such manner that multi-directional rotational and translational wave-induced forces and relative motion between the float(s) and base are efficiently captured. Some embodiments have at least one forward positioned float that moves upward and rearward on wave crests and downward and forward on ensuing wave troughs to capture a majority of both heave and surge wave energy components. Other embodiments also provide apparatus and means to totally submerge the floats during severe seas or adjust submerged depth and float mass to optimize performance.
Claims
1-27. (canceled).
28. A wave energy converting device comprising; at least one elongated surface float or buoyant flap having a center of buoyancy and having a wave impacting forward face, wherein the face is oriented or self-orienting substantially parallel to prevailing or oncoming wave fronts, and wherein the horizontal width of the face, alone, or in combination with adjacent float faces, is greater than the float fore-to-aft depth measured excluding any float attachments, extensions or appendages; a frame or base stabilized against wave-induced heave, surge, and pitch motion, or a stationary or fixed base having a portion to which the at least one float is rotatably connected to the frame or base with at least two swing arms, one located above the other, at two frame or base arm-to-frame hinge points located substantially below, in close proximity to, or substantially above the still water line, wherein one swing arm-to-frame hinge point is above, fore, or aft of the other, and wherein the two arms are also rotatably connected to the at least one float at two float hinge points, one above, fore, or aft of the other, wherein the dual pivoting arms control the angular orientation of the at least one float, the orientation of the at least one float's wave impacting forward face, and the concurrent wave-induced horizontal and vertical motion of the at least one float relative to the frame or base; frame or base position stabilizing, fixing or anchoring devices, directly or indirectly connected to the frame or base, selected from the group consisting of the seabed, shorelines, breakwaters, seawalls, platforms, pilings, gravity weights, water or solid ballasts, anchors, mooring lines, seabed affixed or floating off-shore towers, floats or vessels, affixed surface buoys, drag plates or planes, and combinations thereof; and, at least one PTO apparatus secured to or within the frame or float and configured to be driven by force generated by the wave-induced relative motion between the at least one float and frame through at least one of the dual swing arms.
29. The device of claim 28 wherein the at least one float has a center of buoyancy, wherein in still water, the center of buoyancy is substantially above or forward of the frame pivot point of at least one of the dual swing arms with at least one of the two arm-to-frame pivot points located substantially below the still water line.
30. The device of claim 28 wherein the center of buoyancy of the at least one float, in still water, is aft of the arm-to-frame pivot point of at least one of the dual swing arms with at least one of the two arm-to-frame pivot points being located substantially above the still water line.
31. The device of claim 28 wherein the elevation or submerged depth in still water and mass of the at least one float or flap can be controllably lowered or raised by increasing or decreasing the float's seawater ballast or buoyancy by raising or lowering the frame or frame attachment points by increasing or decreasing frame seawater ballast or using the at least one PTO apparatus or an auxiliary drive to force submergence of the at least one float, frame, or the at least one frame-to-float attachment point.
32. The device of claim 28 wherein the at least one float or buoyant flap has at least one cavity and at least one aperture to controllably admit or release seawater to increase or decrease mass and decrease or increase its buoyancy.
33. The device of clam 28 wherein the frame or base in combination with the at least one float is buoyant and is pivotably attached up sea of the at least one float's forward face to a single pivoting point on a mooring, pile, tower, or stabilizing or anchoring device to permit at least horizontal plane pivoting resulting in the float's forward face being self-orienting parallel to oncoming wave fronts that apply lateral impact force to the float's forward face.
34. The device of claim 28 further comprising a downward sloping wave focusing shoaling plane, wherein the shoaling plane at least partially precedes the at least one float to direct wave energy from water depths below the float's forward face toward the face.
35. The device of claim 28 further comprising at least one second float oriented substantially parallel to, and located substantially aft of, the at least one float and further located aft of the arm-to-frame hinge points of the at least one float with second float arms or appendages secured to the at least one second float and rotatably connected to one or more hinge points on the frame or base either substantially below, in close proximity to, or substantially above the still water line, wherein the at least one second float drives a second power take-off, and wherein the second float-to-frame dual swing arm angles, at still water, can be adjusted and optimized by lowering or raising the frame or float to frame hinge points by either mechanical means or frame or float buoyancy adjustment, or by using one or more counterweights located forward or aft of the frame hinge points.
36. A wave energy converting device comprising; at least one elongated surface float or buoyant flap having a center of buoyancy and having a wave impacting forward face wherein the face is oriented or self-orienting substantially parallel to prevailing or oncoming wave fronts and wherein the horizontal width of the face, alone, or in combination with adjacent float faces, is greater than the float fore-to-aft depth measured excluding any float attachments, extensions or appendages; a frame or base stabilized against wave-induced heave, surge, and pitch motion or a fixed stationary base having at least one pivoting arm-to-frame connection point to which the at least one float is connected by at least one arm, wherein such connection allows both rotation about, and translation through, the arm-to-frame connection point; at least one arm or arm pair rigidly or pivotably connected to the at least one float and pivotably connected to the frame or base substantially below, in close proximity to, or substantially above the still water line, allowing concurrent rotation and linear translation of the arm about and through the frame connection pivot point, whereby concurrent translation of the arm and the arm's rotation about its arm-to-frame pivot point controls the float orientation and path of wave-induced relative motion between the at least one float and the frame or base; frame or base position stabilizing, fixing or anchoring devices, directly or indirectly connected to the frame or base, selected from the group consisting of the seabed, shorelines, breakwaters, seawalls, platforms, pilings, gravity weights, water or solid ballasts, anchors, mooring lines, seabed affixed or floating off-shore towers, floats or vessels, affixed surface buoys, drag plates or planes, and combinations thereof; and, one or more PTO apparatus secured to or within the frame or float and configured to be driven by the concurrent rotational and translational forces generated by the wave-induced relative motion of the at least one float and the frame through the at least one arm.
37. The device of claim 36 wherein the at least one float or buoyant flap has at least one cavity and at least one aperture to controllably admit or expel seawater to increase or decrease its mass and decrease or increase its buoyancy.
38. The device of claim 36 wherein the elevation or submerged depth and mass of the at least one float or flap can be controllably lowered or raised in still water by increasing or decreasing the float's seawater ballast or buoyancy by raising or lowering the frame or frame attachment points by increasing or decreasing frame seawater ballast or using the at least one PTO apparatus or an auxiliary drive to force submergence of the at least one float, frame, or the at least one frame-to-float attachment point.
39. The device of claim 36 wherein the frame or base in combination with the at least one float is buoyant and is pivotably attached up sea of the at least one float at a single pivoting point to a mooring, pile, tower, or stabilizing or anchoring device that permits at least horizontal plane pivoting resulting in the float's face being self-orienting parallel to oncoming wave fronts that apply lateral impact force to the float's forward face.
40. The device of claim 36 further comprising a downward sloping wave focusing shoaling plane, wherein the shoaling plane at least partially precedes the at least one float to direct wave energy toward the float's forward face from water depths below the float's forward face.
41. The device of claim 36 further comprising at least one second float oriented approximately parallel to, and located substantially aft of, the at least one float and the at least one float's arm-to-frame hinge points, wherein the second float secured by at least one aft float arm or appendages of the at least one second float rotatably or rigidly connected to the frame or base either substantially below, in close proximity to, or substantially above the SWL, wherein the second float arms drive a second PTO when the second float is rotatably connected to the frame, and wherein the second float's arms can be released in a substantially vertical orientation to provide residual buoyancy when the frame and the at least one float are submerged, and wherein the second float provides additional frame pitch stability.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0050] FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a related art WEC by Aquamarine Oyster.
[0051] FIG. 2 is a submerged bottom isometric view of a related art WEC by Langlee Robusto.
[0052] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a related art WEC by McCabe Wave Pump.
[0053] FIG. 4 is a top isometric view of a related art WEC by Dexawave.
[0054] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a related art WEC by Columbia StingRAY.
[0055] FIG. 6 is a submerged bottom isometric view of a related art WEC by Atargis.
[0056] FIG. 7 is a submerged bottom isometric view of the related art WEC shown in FIG. 6 with attached sensors and actuation control.
[0057] FIG. 8 is a view in elevation of a WEC with a subsurface hinged active fore float and a surface hinged static or active rear float according to one embodiment of the disclosure.
[0058] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the floats shown in FIG. 7.
[0059] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a WEC with parallel dual swing arms and optional shoal plane according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0060] FIG. 11 is a view in elevation and in partial phantom of a surge flap WEC with dual swing arms according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0061] FIG. 12 is a view in elevation and in partial phantom of the surge flap WEC shown in FIG. 11 with a supplemental PTO or generator according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0062] FIG. 13 is a view in elevation of a surge flap WEC shown in FIG. 11 with a counterweight arm according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0063] FIG. 14 is a view in elevation and partial phantom of the surge flap WEC shown in FIG. 11 with a supplemental or secondary PTO according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0064] FIG. 15 is a view in elevation of a surge flap WEC with compound x-y axis drives according to a yet further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0065] FIG. 16 is a view in elevation and in partial phantom of a surge flap WEC with a compound x axis drive on a bottom hinged flap gate according to a still further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0066] FIG. 17 is a view in elevation of a WEC with dual floats each with a subsurface pivot point compound motion swing arms according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0067] FIG. 18 is a view in elevation of a WEC with dual floats with subsurface pivot point dual swing arms according to still another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0068] FIG. 19 is a view in elevation of a WEC with a fore float on subsurface pivot point compound motion swing arms with compound drives and an aft float with compound motion swing arm with PTO drives on or near the water surface (SWL) pivot point according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0069] FIG. 20 is a view in elevation of a WEC with a fore float on subsurface pivot point compound motion swing arms with compound drives and an aft float with compound motion swing arm pivot point with PTO drives substantially above the water surface (SWL) according to a still further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0070] FIG. 21 is a view in elevation of a WEC with a buoyant wave driven cycloidal rotor on subsurface hinged compound motion swing arm according to a yet further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0071] FIG. 22 is a view in elevation of a WEC with a float trailing above a surface pivot point compound motion swing arms according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0072] FIG. 23 is a view in elevation of a WEC with a float leading above surface hinged leading swing compound motion swing arms according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0073] FIG. 24 is a view in elevation of a WEC with float trailing parallel dual swing arms with above surface pivot points according to still another embodiment of the disclosure.
[0074] FIG. 25 is a view in elevation of a WEC with fore and aft floats each surface hinged to a frame/reaction mass with dual swing arms with pivot points located approximately at the water surface (SWL) according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0075] It should be understood that similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings and that similar reference characters with or without prime designations denote corresponding features in different embodiments of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0076] The features and limitations of the Prior Art WECs of FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, inclusively, are previously described in the previous DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OVER THE PRIOR ART section and in my U.S. Pat. No. 8,614,520 and U.S. application Ser. No. 14/101,325 of which this is a Continuation. The discussions of those related references are referenced here to provide perspective to the following detailed description.
[0077] FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the present disclosure similar to FIG. 7 in application Ser. No. 14/101,325 wherein one or more (two shown) elongated buoyant float(s) or barrier(s), 3 and 60, having a wave front facing and impacting forward face 1 which face may be concave (shown as 1 on the fore float 3), flat (shown as 1 on the aft float 60), or convex (not shown) and being rigid (shown), hinged (not shown) or flexible or compliant (not shown). The float(s) bottom 2 can be flat and angled approximately parallel to the float's direction or arc of motion (as in bottom 2 shown in FIGS. 10, 13, 17-20, and others) or arcuate 2 as shown herein to reduce drag and minimize the formation of an energy consuming back wave as the float is driven rearward and upward by the lateral surge forces and vertical heave or buoyant forces of oncoming waves 6 impacting face 1. Buoyant floats 3 and 60 can be solid or foam filled (like 60) or hollow (like 3). The float(s) may have an attached protruding lower lip or shoaling plane 5 that allows the float to penetrate deeper into the water column capturing additional surge (lateral/kinetic) wave energy. The float(s) and forward face 1 are advantageously pre-oriented toward prevailing wave fronts or self-orienting parallel to oncoming wave fronts 6.
[0078] Forward float 3 is rotatably connected by two swing arms 51 on opposite sides of the float to the two vertical spar sections of motion stabilized frame 20 at connection pivot points 52 located substantially below the normal operating Still Water Line or SWL 18. Float 3 advantageously, either individually or collectively with adjacent floats, is elongated having a wave-facing front-facing width substantially exceeding its fore to aft depth allowing the float to intercept and capture a maximum amount of energy containing wave front per unit of float volume, weight, and, therefore, cost. Oncoming waves 6 rotate float 3 both rearward (by impacting its forward face 1) and upward (due to the upward buoyant forces of wave 6 on the float). The rearward rotation of float 3 and arm 51 is resisted by bull gear 12 driving pinion gear 13 on primary generator or other PTO 15 (with or without a gear box). Alternatively, a generator 15 can be directly driven (with or without a gear box) by swing arm 51 at pivot point 52. One or more optional pivoting louvers 45 are pivotably mounted on 51 and span the float driven swing or lever arms 51. Their eccentric hinges 46 and return springs (not shown) allow them to rotate flat (parallel to arms 51 when oncoming wave fronts apply surge wave pressure against them and then rotate open (dotted positions) when arms 51 are returning during subsequent wave troughs.
[0079] Rearward float 60 is mechanically linked to stabilize frame vertical spars 20 by arm 58 and optional arm extension 59 that can pivot about point 62 located at or near the SWL (as shown in FIG. 8). Total arm length (59 plus 58) can, optionally, be adjustable by allowing 59 to slide within or along 58. The primary function of aft float 60 is to provide pitch stability to frame 20 as both lateral (surge) and vertical (heave) wave forces against float 3 are applied to frame 20 through the resistive torque of generator or other PTO 20 forcing it to rotate/pitch rearward (counterclockwise). If float 60 is used for pitch stability only, arms 58 are locked into a horizontal position approximately normal to vertical frame spars 20 during WEC operation. Alternatively, arm 58 can be free to rotate about hinge points 62 driving generator or other PTO 15 or a secondary generator or PTO (not shown). Float 60 will capture substantially less wave energy than float 3 because (1) float 60 is effectively masked by float 3, and (2) its hinge point 62 is at or near the SWL that does not allow float 60 to translate in the more effective upward and rearward direction with oncoming wave crests. Placing hinge point 62 substantially above the SWL 18 (such as at or near frame cross beam 61) while not shown in FIG. 8, would provide a more advantageous embodiment allowing float 60 to move both upward and rearward during oncoming wave crests to capture more surge (lateral) wave energy component (see also FIG. 24).
[0080] With almost no lateral movement or translation, float 60 will capture very little surge wave energy component (which is 50% of total wave energy in deep water). If float 60 swing arms 58 are unlocked and it is used for supplemental wave energy capture, it will also provide less pitch stability to frame 20 that will reduce the rotation and hence, wave energy capture by primary float 3 (partially or completely offsetting float 60's supplemental generation). Arms 58 can be unlocked and allowed to swing to a vertical position when the stabilizing frame is submerged during severe sea conditions allowing float 60 to provide sufficient residual buoyancy to prevent float 60 from sinking below SWL 18 when frame ballast tank 24 and primary float 3 are flooded for submergence during severe sea conditions. Primary float 3 arms 51 are so arranged (i. e. inboard) relative to arms 58 such that these arms and their floats do not interfere with each other as they swing through their travel arcs.
[0081] Stabilizing frame 20 with its lower seawater adjustable ballast section 24 and fixed high density ballast 21 either alone, or in combination with, floats 3 and 60 have net positive buoyancy. During severe sea conditions, primary forward float 3 can be fully submerged below oncoming wave troughs for protection either by controllably flooding lower frame section 24 with seawater 23 through ports 30 by releasing compressed air in the upper portion of frame section 24, or forcing float 3 into submergence either using PTO or generator 15 in reverse or using a supplemental drive rotating arms 51 downward. A hollow interior cavity 4 of float 3 can be controllably partially filled (to level 7) with seawater through controlled apertures 57 to adjust float mass for optimized wave energy capture efficiency for a given sea state or completely filled to reduce or eliminate float 3 buoyancy to facilitate its total submergence. The buoyancy of float 3 can be re-established by raising float 3 with PTO or generator 15 or an alternative drive (not shown) allowing seawater to exit through controllable or one-way drains 8. The frame's adjustable buoyancy level can also be used to establish the optimal rotational arc of travel of arms 51 for maximum energy capture efficiency for a given operational sea state.
[0082] Drag plate extensions 33 provide heave stability to the frame and may be hinged at their connection to horizontal drag plates 32 for reduced drag when recovering downward during wave troughs. The drag plates and their extensions may extend between the twin frame vertical spar members 20 and 24. The frame may have additional cross members 61 to maintain rigidity between the vertical frame spar members. Mooring cables 31 that converge at a single up-sea pivoting point (mooring buoy, vertical piling or the like, not shown) are attached to each of the two stabilizing frame vertical spars either near the bottom (as shown) or at a higher elevation to improve frame pitch stability as necessary.
[0083] FIG. 9 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present disclosure very similar to FIG. 8. It also shows a torsionally rigid tube 68 with mid span support bearing 69 that keep port and starboard side swing arms 51 from placing high stresses on their connection with float 3 when waves apply uneven forces upon the port and starboard side of float 3. FIG. 9 also shows an arrangement whereby neither float 3 nor float 60 and their respective swing arm pairs 51 and 58 can interfere or contact each other as they rotate about their pivot or hinge points 52 and 62, respectively.
[0084] FIG. 10 is a full elevation view similar to FIG. 8 (and FIG. 11 of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/101,325 included by reference) describing the dual swing arms of the present disclosure with dual approximately parallel swing arms 51 and 82, respectively, swinging about substantially submerged pivot or hinge points 52 and 80 and also pivotably connected to primary float 3 at hinge points 63 and 81, respectively. Swing arms 52 either drive generator 15 at pivot point 52 or drive a generator through bull gear 12 and pinion gear 13. The use of the dual swing arm float-to-frame mechanical linkages of the present disclosure substantially enhances the performance of either generic buoyant bottom-hinged vertical surge flap type WECs or generic near-surface-hinged horizontal floating articulating raft type WECs by concurrently increasing both the vertical and horizontal translation or movement of the entirety of such buoyant flaps, floats, or rafts (especially the areas near their stationary hinge points). The dual swing arms also provide control of the orientation of vertical wave impacting forward face 1 of float 3 throughout the entire wave cycle and float stroke maximizing the water column penetrating vertical depth of face 1 and any attached face extension plates 5. Further description and advantages of the dual swing arms of the present disclosure over generic surge flap and articulating raft type WECs are provided in the preceding DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OVER THE PRIOR ART section.
[0085] FIG. 10 also describes the use of a shoaling plane 54 with optional vertical converging side shields 44 (similar to that shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 8,614,520 at FIG. 5, elements 40 and 41) that further penetrate deeper vertically into the water column and focus oncoming waves toward float 3 for additional surge wave energy capture. Plane 54 can be attached to the stabilized frame by shoal plane mounting members 42 with pivoting connection points 78 such that plane 54 rotates downward when float 3 reaches its extreme downward position and would otherwise contact plane 54. It subsequently returns to its normal position using return springs at one or more pivot points 78 (not shown). Alternatively, frame 42 can be rigid using added members 79.
[0086] FIG. 10 shows the arc of travel of dual swing arms 51 and 82 (solid and dotted lines) providing a favorable down sloped direction of movement of float 3 that moves both upward and rearward during wave crests and returns forward and downward during ensuing wave troughs thus providing both lateral (horizontal) and vertical float movement or translation that, in turn, provides enhanced heave and surge wave energy capture efficiency over related art vertically oriented (in neutral SWL position) surge flaps or horizontally oriented articulating rafts that capture primarily surge or heave wave energy, respectively, but not both.
[0087] FIG. 11 shows a sectional elevational view of an embodiment of the present disclosure where dual swing arms enhance the movement or translation and, therefore, the wave energy capture efficiency of vertically oriented buoyant surge flaps. This embodiment illustrates that the dual swing arms of the present disclosure (arms 51 and 82) need not be parallel to one another or of equal length, and the swing arm hinge or pivot points to the stabilizing frame or other stabilizing body (52 and 80), or to the float 3 (pivoting attachment points 63 and 81), need not be in horizontal or vertical alignment. As shown in FIG. 11, both the frame and float attachment points are sloped and the arms are of unequal length. This configuration allows the float forward face 1 to rotate slightly clockwise (with wave fronts approaching from the right) while the dual swing arms are rotating counterclockwise such that the float is translating both laterally and vertically for added surge and heave energy capture. Either arm can drive the generator or PTO 15 (here arm 51 is doing so at pivot point 52) and the neutral orientation of the dual swing arms (at the still water line) can be forward of their lower pivot points 52 and 80 so as to add heave and surge capture efficiency of the down sloped direction of motion previously described (in FIG. 10 and elsewhere).
[0088] In FIG. 12, another vertically oriented buoyant surge flap type float embodiment is shown that is an improvement over the prior art surge flaps in that it combines dual swing arms (as previously described) pivotably attached to flap attached horizontal cross members 72 on the sides of the buoyant flap. The buoyant flap is provided with additional vertical translation capability by float 3 rigidly attached drive arm 70 with rack gears 71 that move vertically between idler rolls 74 and pinion gear 76 driving a secondary PTO or generator 77 (similar to FIG. 15). Alternatively, vertical drive arm 70 engaging PTO or generator 77 can be mounted on stabilized or stationary frame member 20 (not shown). Some generic surge flaps that are usually deployed with their frames attached to the seabed in shallow water near shore, use their PTOs to submerge their buoyant flaps during severe sea conditions by rotating them away from oncoming waves to a near horizontal position. This can also be done with the improved dual swing arm embodiments of the present disclosure by pivotably attaching the forward swing arm 82 to frame attached horizontal cross member 89 that itself can be released from the frame 20 and controllably rotated about point 52 allowing the entire flap (float) 3 to lay horizontal until severe sea conditions moderate.
[0089] FIG. 13 shows a partial elevation view of another embodiment of the present disclosure (similar to FIG. 11 of my application Ser. No. 14/101,325) using the dual swing arms to improve the combined heave and surge wave energy capture efficiency of related art surge flap type WECs or other WECs with hinged or pivoting surface floats by maintaining float wave impacting face 1 vertical while biasing the swing arms forward either by adjusting the submerged depth of the arm to frame pivot or hinge points (52 and 80) relative to the SWL 18, and/or by adding forward hanging counterweight 66 attached to, and forward of, forward swing arm 82 from counterweight arm 67 attached to 82.
[0090] FIG. 14 shows a partial elevation view of another embodiment of the present disclosure using dual swing arms 51 and 70 pivotably attached to float 3 at points 63 and 81, respectively. Arm 51 is of fixed length as in FIGS. 11-13, and pivots about point 52 to drive PTO or generator 15 through bull gear 12 and pinion 13. Arm 70, however, pivoting about 80 is of variable length having gear teeth 71 driving secondary PTO or generator 77, or also driving primary PTO 15 (not shown). This variable length dual swing arm allows float 3 to also rotate about its bottom pivot point 63 for additional energy capture. Variable length swing arms of the present disclosure are also referred to herein as compound swing arms.
[0091] In advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure, it is desirable to have the one or more surface floats pivoting upward and rearward during oncoming wave crests and forward and downward on ensuing wave troughs. This requires the single or dual, simple or compound, swing arms of the present disclosure to lie at a forward biased angle if swinging about one or more substantially submerged pivot points or at a rearward biased angle if pivoting about one or more substantially elevated pivot points. This differs from the vertical orientation of related art surge flaps or the horizontal orientation of related art articulating rafts or floats relative to the SWL. A neutral bias angle of 45 degrees forward of vertical upward is ideal for swing arms hinged aft of their respective floats and substantially below the SWL (45 degrees aft of vertical downward is therefore ideal for floats trailing hinge point(s) substantially above the SWL). Substantially above or substantially below as used herein refer to a hinge point location above or below the SWL greater than of the radial length or distance from the hinge point to the extremity of the float or flap. This can be accomplished in any of the embodiments of the present disclosure whether using single or dual, simple or compound, swing arms by (1) raising or lowering the hinge points below (or above) the SWL (either by changing the elevation or submerged depth of the stabilizing frame or body to which the hinge points are attached, (2) changing the elevation of the hinge points relative to the stabilizing frame or body, and/or (3) changing the radial length from the hinge point(s) to the center of buoyancy of the floats or flaps such as by using variable or adjustable length, or compound swing arms.
[0092] FIG. 15 shows a partial elevation of an embodiment of the present disclosure (also shown in FIG. 10 of Ser. No. 14/101,325) wherein two compound motion arms of the present disclosure, one shown vertical 70 and the other shown horizontal 72 allow a vertically elongated surge flap type float 3 to concurrently move (translate) concurrently both vertically (for wave heave energy capture) and laterally (for surge energy capture) with both translations driving either a single PTO or generator (or hydraulic pump) 77 with horizontal arm 72 rigidly attached to frame member 20. Alternatively, arm 72 can travel horizontally between idlers 74 and pinion gear 13 on frame member 20 driving separate PTO or generator 15.
[0093] FIG. 16 shows a partial elevation of an similar embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a generic bottom hinged surge flap type WEC with a vertically elongated float 3 on arms 51 is improved by adding a lateral compound motion arm or track 72 that allows the bottom hinge 52 to translate laterally on carriage 75 traveling on track 72 with idler rolls 74. Gear rack 73 on top of track 72 engages pinion gear 76 driving secondary generator 77 or other PTO while flap 3 is concurrently rotating about the hinge point 52 driving primary PTO 15. Track 72 is rigidly mounted on lateral frame member 20 firmly affixed to the seabed 28 or other stabilized body (not shown). Dotted flap position 3 shows the flap lying horizontal for protection from severe sea conditions. Additional performance improvements over generic surge flaps can be obtained by establishing a forward biased neutral (SWL) position for float/flap per 3, providing a variable length mechanism within arm 51 or within its attachment to float/flap 3 (such as shown in FIG. 8 variable length arms 58 and 59) to compensate for tidal changes in SWL 18, or using the compound motion arm of FIGS. 15, 17, or 19 and 20.
[0094] While many of the previous and following figures and descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure describe the use of geared or direct drive rotary electric generators (currently gaining popularity in WEC devices) other PTO types can be readily substituted without materially parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure including, but not limited to, PTOs using low or high pressure hydraulic piston/cylinders (using water or hydraulic fluid, respectively) to power water turbine or rotary hydraulic motor driven electric generators.
[0095] Likewise figures and descriptions of the compound motion arms of the present disclosure are depicted as using rack and pinion linear drives. Other linear type PTO drives can readily be substituted including direct drive linear electric generators, helix or ball screw type linear to rotary drives, and capstan cable, gear, cog, or other belt drives, and chain drives without departing from the present disclosure. It should also be noted that any of the embodiments of the present disclosure can utilize protruding lower lip 5 shoal plane 54 of FIG. 10 to penetrate deeper into the waver column for additional wave energy capture. Any of the embodiments of the present disclosure can likewise utilize partial or full submergence of the one or more floats as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 8,614,520, or my application Ser. No. 14/101,325, or per FIG. 10 of the current disclosure for float and WEC protection during severe sea conditions, or to optimize WEC wave energy capture in any specific sea condition.
[0096] FIG. 17 provides a partial elevation view of an embodiment of the present disclosure utilizing one (not shown) or two floats or flaps, 3 and 3 (shown) mechanically linked using compound swing arms 51 to horizontally oriented partial frame or other stabilizing body section 20. In both FIGS. 17 and 18, compound swing arms 51 oriented or neutrally biased (at SWL level 18) forward (rather than vertical like generic surge flaps) produce the more desirable sloped arcuate motion of floats 3 as previously described. When surge flaps are deployed near shore in shallow water (under 20 meters), where most of the available wave energy is surge not heave, employing the sloped motion of several embodiments of the present disclosure to float or flaps 3 rather than the forward and rearward rotation around a vertical neutral (SWL) position used by generic surge flaps, may provide a relatively small performance gain. When surge flaps are used in deep water (depths greater than average wave length), however, like the Langlee WEC, major gains can be realized from the forward bias produced sloped motion of the present disclosure.
[0097] Compound swing arms 51 are configured to allow concurrent lateral movement along their length to drive secondary generator 77 with pinion gears 76 that are, in turn, driven by rack gears 73 on arms 51 and simultaneously allow arcuate rotation of arms 51 about pivot points 52 to drive primary generators 15 (not visible, but concentric and inboard or outboard of generator 77). During initial impact of float 3 front face 1 with oncoming wave 6, float 3 exerts a downward (compressive) force on arms 51 causing attached gear rack 73 to rotate generator 77 through pinion gear 76. Concurrently, both wave lateral surge forces and vertical heave (buoyant) forces on float or flap 3 cause a counter-clockwise rotation of arms 51 driving primary generator 15. During ensuing wave troughs, the translation and rotation of arms 51 are reversed and drive generators 76 and 15 in the opposite direction (unless reversing gears are used with or without ratcheted flywheels).
[0098] FIG. 18 provides a partial elevation of an embodiment of the present disclosure similar in function to FIG. 10, but using two floats or flaps 3 rather than one mounted on a lateral frame or stabilizing body member 20 (shown in partial view). If there remains sufficient uncaptured wave energy passing through the forward float or flap 3 to justify use of a second float or flap 3, then using the two down sloped motion floats shown in FIG. 18 will provide superior capture efficiency over the two float configuration of related art FIG. 5 (Columbia StingRAY) because both floats utilize the advantages (as previously described) of both the down sloped capture motion and the dual swing arms of the present disclosure.
[0099] FIG. 19 provides a partial elevation of another two float or flap (3 and 3) embodiment of the present disclosure configured like FIG. 8 (with forward float 3 hinged about point 52 to partial frame section 20 substantially below the SWL and rearward float 3 hinge point 52 at or near the SWL). The embodiment shown in FIG. 19, however, utilizes the compound motion arms of FIG. 17 that allow concurrent rotation and translation for additional energy capture.
[0100] FIG. 20 provides a partial elevation of another two float or flap (3 and 3) embodiment of the present disclosure. The front float 3 utilizes compound motion arms as in FIG. 19 while the rear float 3 uses the dual swing arms (51 and 82) as previously described, but with the dual arm pivot points (52 and 80) substantially above the SWL and forward of float 3 resulting in the desirable sloped motion of float 3 providing enhanced heave and surge wave energy capture by PTO or generator 15 through bull gear 12 and pinion gear 13.
[0101] FIG. 21 provides a full elevation view of an embodiment of the present disclosure that combines the compound motion arm 51 (per FIGS. 17 or 19 and 20) with a twin rotor 94 horizontal axis cycloidal Voith-Schneider type propeller or rotor assembly driving generator or PTO 102 with wave-induced forces on rotor blades 94, the assembly having net positive buoyancy and thus reacting like a float or flap. The twin rotors have pitch control rods or cables 96 that are independently controlled to maximize the net wave induced torque on the rotor about point 99. The rotor blades 94 are supported by rotor arms 95 that are optionally of adjustable length for adjustment to varying average wave amplitudes, using gear racks 97 driven by pinion 98. As in FIGS. 17, 19 and 20, the one or more compound arms 51 drives generator or PTO 77 gear rack 73 and mating pinion 76 via its translation and concurrently drives generator or PTO 15 via its rotation about pivot point 52.
[0102] The Compound motion arm drive assembly is mounted on lateral truss 103 that provides a stabilizing base. Truss 103 is attached to seabed 28 affixed pole or piling 35 through slide and pivoting joint 36 such that it is free to both move slowly vertically to adjust for tidal changes in the SWL 18 and to rotate in a horizontal plane to keep the rotor axis parallel to oncoming wave fronts 6. The net buoyancy of all WEC components affixed to pole 35 is net positive. During severe sea conditions, arm 51 can be rotated downward (clockwise) and/or joint 36 can be pulled downward toward the seabed by a tension cable or other supplemental drive (not shown) for survival protection. The rotor (or any of the WECs with elongated floats or flaps of previously described embodiments of the present disclosure) will self-orient itself parallel to oncoming wave fronts as long as the wave induced lateral (surge) forces acting against such elongated rotors, floats or flaps are down-sea of the pole, piling, tower, mooring buoy or other pivoting attachment point.
[0103] FIGS. 22-24 illustrate how the compound motion arms or dual swing arms of the present disclosure can also be applied to WECs where the one or more swing arm pivot points are above the SWL rather than at or advantageously below the SWL per previously described embodiments. In FIG. 22, the compound motion arms embodiment of the present disclosure, as described in FIGS. 17 and 19-21, are mounted on a motion stabilized frame or body member 20 such that buoyant float or flap 3 is trailing arm pivot points 52 located above the SWL thereby allowing the more effective down-sloping motion of float 3 that increases the capture of both heave and surge wave energy components as previously described. The less desirable configuration with float 3 preceding the compound motion arm pivot point 52 as shown on FIG. 23 is also an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the compound drive or PTO mechanism including primary generator 15 and secondary generator 77 (shown of equal diameter and inboard or outboard of each other) are mounted on a seawall, breakwater, or other stabilized body.
[0104] In FIG. 24, the dual swing arms embodiment, as previously described in FIGS. 10-13 and 18, one or both dual arm pivot points 80 and 52 on stabilized frame or body member 20 are mounted above the SWL and above float or flap pivot points 81 and 63 such that float 3 moves in the more desirable downward-sloped direction moving upward and rearward during oncoming wave crests 6 and returning downward and forward on ensuing wave troughs. The less desirable configuration with float 3 preceding pivot points 80 and 53 is not shown, but is also an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0105] FIG. 25 depicts an elevation view of the present disclosure where fore and aft floats (3 and 3) are mechanically linked by dual swing arms (51 and 82 fore and 51 and 82 aft) to stabilized frame 20 at or near the SWL at hinge points 52 and 80 fore and 52 and 80 aft. The dual swing arms are otherwise as described in FIGS. 10, 11, 13, 18 and 24. FIG. 25 (unlike FIGS. 8 and 10) also shows a truss 100 located between the dual (port and starboard) vertical spar frame upper members 20 and lower spar frame member 24 with integral ballast tank as well as port and starboard mooring cables 31 that converge at an up-sea mooring that functions as another pivot point (not shown).
[0106] Generic articulating raft type WECs (related art McCabe, Dexawave, and Stingray shown in FIGS. 3-5, respectively, use raft or float hinge points at or near the SWL. This generic configuration can be substantially improved by using the dual swing arms of FIG. 25 of the present disclosure.
[0107] Embodiments of the present disclosure using both fore and aft floats, if needed, and placing the fore float hinge points to the fixed or stabilized frame or body substantially below the SWL (like those shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 13 and 18) and the aft hinge points to the stabilized frame or body substantially above the SWL (as shown in FIG. 23), while not specifically illustrated herein, are advantageous over the FIG. 14 configuration (because they produce the advantageous down sloped swing path for both floats) and are a part of the present disclosure. Embodiments using any combination of dual swing arms and compound swing arms connecting one or more floats with arms hinged below, near, or above the SWL are, likewise, a part of this disclosure. Embodiments utilizing single (simple) swing arms linked to fore and aft elongated floats with the fore float to frame linkage below the SWL and the aft float linkage above the SWL are likewise embodiments of the present disclosure as are dual float single swing arm configurations where both fore and aft frame hinge points are both below or both above the SWL.
[0108] The elongated wave front parallel floats of the present disclosure are fully submergible during severe sea states by: 1) PTO or auxiliary drive forced float submergence, 2) increasing the submerged depth of the stabilizing frame or body connecting arm hinge points, and/or 3) reducing the combined buoyancy of the stabilizing frame and at least one float by allowing seawater to enter cavities in either or both. These float submergence methods and those described in my application Ser. No. 14/101,325 can likewise be applied to all embodiments of the present disclosure including the use of variable and controlled buoyancy floats and frames either to facilitate their partial or total submergence (and re-emergence), or to optimize their mass for improved performance.
[0109] Most embodiments of the present disclosure described in the specification and depicted in the drawings utilize matching pairs of swing arms or axial drives on either side of elongated floats. Because wave-induced forces on either end of such elongated floats will seldom be equal, horizontal torque tubes (68 in FIG. 9) or comparable connections can be utilized at any or all pivot points in any embodiments to prevent such unequal loads from racking the elongated floats and their swing or connecting arms.
[0110] The present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations and descriptions presented herein but also applies to other applications and combinations of the principles disclosed. What I claim as new and desire to secure as United States Letters Patent is
