US 12,173,681 B2
Recirculating inertial hydrodynamic pump and wave engine
Garth Alexander Sheldon-Coulson, Portland, OR (US); and Brian Lee Moffat, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd., Portland, OR (US)
Filed by Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd., Portland, OR (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/412,198.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/452,676, filed on Mar. 16, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/439,564, filed on Jan. 17, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0240604 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. F03B 13/14 (2006.01); F03B 13/22 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/142 (2013.01) [F03B 13/22 (2013.01); F05B 2240/93 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A buoyant wave energy converter, comprising:
an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket;
a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket;
an injection tube between and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the injection tube to impel a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber and the injection tube oscillate about a waterline with the upper chamber adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber submerged below the waterline and vertically beneath the upper chamber; and
an effluent tube fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the effluent tube to return the fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the second fluid reservoir.
 
13. A method of converting wave energy, the method comprising:
placing a buoyant wave energy converter in a body of water, the buoyant wave energy converter comprising an upper chamber having a first fluid reservoir and a first gas pocket, a lower chamber having a second fluid reservoir and a second gas pocket, an injection tube between and fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the injection tube to impel a fluid from the second fluid reservoir into the first fluid reservoir when the upper chamber, the lower chamber and the injection tube oscillate about a waterline with the upper chamber adjacent to the waterline and the lower chamber submerged below the waterline and vertically beneath the upper chamber, and an effluent tube fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the lower chamber, the effluent tube to return the fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the second fluid reservoir;
capturing energy from waves of the body of water with the buoyant wave energy converter; and
using the captured energy to generate a chemical.