US 12,253,058 B2
Drive assembly
Graham Foster, Swansea (GB); John Chapman, Swansea (GB); and Ashley Norman, Swansea (GB)
Assigned to Marine Power Systems Limited, Swansea (GB)
Appl. No. 17/635,640
Filed by Marine Power Systems Limited, Swansea (GB)
PCT Filed Aug. 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/052075
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/038248, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1912525 (GB), filed on Aug. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290647 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. F03B 13/18 (2006.01); B63B 21/50 (2006.01); B63B 35/44 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/18 (2013.01) [B63B 21/50 (2013.01); B63B 35/44 (2013.01); B63B 2035/4466 (2013.01); F05B 2220/706 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive assembly arranged to transfer wave energy to an energy converter, the drive assembly comprising,
a float;
a lever arm coupled to the float, the lever arm being movable between a first position and a second position to define a working stroke;
wherein the lever arm is coupled to the energy converter to transfer energy from the float to the energy converter; wherein the float is arranged to move the lever arm between the first position and the second position;
wherein the first position and the second position define distal end points of the working stroke; the working stroke being configured to drive the energy converter;
wherein the drive assembly is arranged to be mounted onto a buoyant platform, such that the float is positioned at a height relative to an upper surface of the buoyant platform; and
wherein the lever arm is arranged to move to adjust the height between an in-use height and a docked height, the in-use height being greater than the docked height, wherein movement of the lever arm by the float occurs by way of rotation of the lever arm about a fulcrum to define a rotation arc or by way of flexion of at least a portion of the lever arm, wherein the movement occurs by flexion of the lever arm, and wherein the lever arm is arranged to store elastic potential energy in the range of 5 to 50 MJ in response to said movement by the float.