US 11,920,551 B2
Oscillating tension wave energy converter
Gregory E. Browne, Bridgewater, MA (US); Christopher M. Meninno, Taunton, MA (US); William G Michaud, Stow, MA (US); Nicholas D. White, Berkley, MA (US); Daniel G. MacDonald, Mashpee, MA (US); and Mehdi Raessi, North Dartmouth, MA (US)
Assigned to University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (US)
Appl. No. 17/996,262
Filed by University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 27, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/029364
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/222221, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/016,795, filed on Apr. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0220824 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. F03B 13/18 (2006.01); F03B 13/16 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/18 (2013.01) [F03B 13/16 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A point absorber wave energy converter comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis;
a stabilizing system connected to a lower end of said housing;
at least one generator within the housing;
a first drive shaft mounted within the housing for bi-directional rotation on said longitudinal axis of said housing;
a second drive shaft coaxial with said first drive shaft and mounted within the housing for single directional rotation around said longitudinal axis, said second driveshaft rotationally coupled to said at least one generator;
a one-way coupler between said first drive shaft and said second drive shaft;
a torsion spring arranged around the first drive shaft;
a rotary pull drive on said housing, said pull drive including a reel secured to an upper end said first drive shaft for rotation thereof and a plurality of pull cords wrapped around said reel, said pull drive further comprising a cord guide system having a plurality of guide arms each extending outwardly and upwardly from said housing adjacent said reel and being equally circumferentially spaced around said longitudinal axis, each of said plurality of pull cords extending radially outwardly from said reel through a respective one of said plurality of guide arms; and
a buoy secured at upper ends of said plurality of pull cords,
wherein relative distancing movement of the buoy and the housing unwinds the pull cords, drives rotation of the first drive shaft and winds the torsion spring; and
relative closing movement of the buoy allows the torsion spring to take up tension on the pull cords and rewind the plurality of pull cords on the reel.