Wave Energy Converter With Concurrent Multi-Directional Energy Absorption

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.

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.