US 12,345,228 B2
Adaptive wave energy converter
Boyang Pan, San Diego, CA (US); Leverett Bezanson, Alpine, CA (US); Paul Glick, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Justin Walraven, San Diego, CA (US); Mark Huang, Spring Valley, CA (US); Nathaniel Bell, Tacoma, WA (US); and Alexander J. Orona, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Ocean Motion Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by Ocean Motion Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/468,586.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/383,873, filed on Nov. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0159211 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. F03B 15/00 (2006.01); F03B 13/20 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 15/00 (2013.01) [F03B 13/20 (2013.01); F05B 2220/706 (2013.01); F05B 2240/93 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wave energy capture system, comprising:
a plurality of arm assemblies,
each arm assembly comprising:
a floatation device configured to float on water; and
an arm that is coupled to the floatation device at a first end of the arm and coupled to a pivot at a second end of the arm opposite the first end;
wherein the arm is couplable to a body via the pivot;
wherein the plurality of arm assemblies are configured to independently pivot around the pivots in horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the body, in response to movement of the floatation devices caused by waves in the water;
a mechanical energy capture system directly coupled to the plurality of arm assemblies at the pivot of each arm assembly, wherein the mechanical energy capture system includes:
an electrical generator comprising a shaft that rotates within the electrical generator to produce an electric current;
wherein at least one of the arm assemblies is coupled to the shaft; and
wherein the mechanical energy capture system is configured to:
convert the independent pivoting of the plurality of arm assemblies around the pivots to electrical energy by translating motion of the at least one arm assembly around the corresponding pivot to rotational motion of the shaft in the electrical generator; and
provide the electrical energy to an electronic device that is electrically coupled to the mechanical energy capture system to power the electronic device; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of arms or the mechanical energy capture system, wherein the controller is configured to regulate an amount of electrical energy generated by the mechanical energy capture system by selectively modifying (i) a distance between one or more of the floatation devices and the body, (ii) an angle between an arm and the body, and (iii) at least one parameter of the wave energy capture system, the at least one parameter comprising:
a gear ratio, generator windings, or torque resistance of the mechanical energy capture system; or
weight, buoyancy, center of gravity, or stability of motion of one or more of the floatation devices.