Buoyancy pump power system

Abstract

A system for generating electricity includes a pump operable to convert wave motion from a body of water into mechanical energy. The pump includes an input port through which an operating fluid can enter the pump and an output port through which the operating fluid can exit the pump. A first outlet line and a second outlet line are fluidly coupled to the output port of the pump. A first reservoir is fluidly connected to the first outlet line, and a second reservoir is fluidly connected to the second outlet line, both reservoirs being selectively capable of receiving operating fluid driven through the output port.

1 . A buoyancy pump comprising:
 a buoyancy block operable to reciprocally move in response to wave action in a body of water to pump an operating fluid using the energy of waves within the body of water;   a piston slidably disposed within a piston chamber;   a piston shaft having a plurality of nested tubes positioned between the buoyancy block and the piston; and   a ball fitting disposed at each end of the piston shaft, a first of the ball fittings being received by a ball joint associated with the buoyancy block, a second of the ball fittings being received by a ball joint associated with the piston;   wherein the piston is reciprocally moveable in a first direction and a second direction in response to movement of the buoyancy block, the piston moving in the second direction to draw an operating fluid into the piston chamber and moving in the first direction to force the operating fluid out of the piston chamber.