WAVE ENERGY CONVERTER ARRAY

• Main Author: LAPEYRE J,US
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.06.1974
• Subjects: BLASTING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO MACHINES OR ENGINES OTHER THANNON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, TO WIND MOTORS,TO NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS, AND TO GENERATING COMBUSTIONPRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY; INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUSSUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; WEAPONS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

Apparatus for converting the energy of surface waves in a liquid such as an ocean, comprising an array of buoyant helical members each mounted for rotation about an axis. The pitch of the helical members equals or is greater than the length of the expected waves and the members are floated on the surface with their axes oriented so that wave length of the waves matches the pitch of the helices times the cosine of the angle between the helical axes and the direction of wave propagation. In one embodiment the array is a large chevron formed of two groups of helical members and is pivotable about the apex of the chevron. In another embodiment the helical members are arranged in zig-zag fashion. Means are provided for adjusting the angles between the arms of the chevron in the one case, and the adjacent arms of the zig-zag in the other case.