US 12,215,665 B2
Assembly for transferring wave energy to an energy converter
Gareth Ian Stockman, Swansea (GB); John Christopher Chapman, Swansea (GB); and Graham Foster, Swansea (GB)
Appl. No. 16/637,353
Filed by Marine Power Systems Limited, Swansea (GB)
PCT Filed Aug. 9, 2018, PCT No. PCT/GB2018/052274
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 7, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/030534, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1712855 (GB), filed on Aug. 10, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0372361 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. F03B 13/18 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/1865 (2013.01) [F05B 2240/40 (2013.01); F05B 2260/406 (2013.01); F05B 2270/202 (2020.08)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly arranged to transfer wave energy to a plurality of hydraulic pistons, the assembly comprising:
a platform;
a float;
a plurality of flexible lines, each line defining an actuating portion comprising a segment of the line, the actuating portion of each line extending between the float and the platform;
a plurality of pulleys, each of the plurality of pulleys being in engagement with an associated one of the plurality of flexible lines and movable by the associated line between a first position and a second position, where each pulley is coupled to an associated one of the plurality of hydraulic pistons and is arranged to transfer energy from the associated line to the associated hydraulic piston;
a plurality of springs, each spring extending between the platform and an associated one of the plurality of pulleys in a coterminal and coplanar relationship with the associated one of the plurality of hydraulic pistons, the spring biasing the associated one of the plurality of pulleys toward the first position; and
a plurality of winches, each winch engaged with a corresponding one of the lines and configured to adjust a length of the actuating portion of the corresponding line;
wherein movement of each pulley of the plurality of pulleys from the first position to the second position and back to the first position defines a working stroke of each of the plurality of pulleys and drives the associated one of the plurality of hydraulic pistons;
wherein movement of each pulley of the plurality of pulleys by the associated line comprises rotation of the pulley about respective pulley axis;
and
wherein each winch of the plurality of winches is configured such that the actuating portion of the corresponding line is adjustable by the winch during movement of the associated pulley along the corresponding working stroke of the associated pulley.