초록 ▼

An apparatus and method of harnessing combined wind and wave energy for generating, e.g., electrical power which includes a first housing held at a fixed height above the bottom of a body of water and having an internal cavity, and a buoyant second housing having an internal cavity surrounded by sle

An apparatus and method of harnessing combined wind and wave energy for generating, e.g., electrical power which includes a first housing held at a fixed height above the bottom of a body of water and having an internal cavity, and a buoyant second housing having an internal cavity surrounded by sleeves into which the walls of the internal cavity of the first housing are slidably contained for allowing relative movement between the first and second housings in response to wave action, with the first body containing a plurality of funnel-like openings for receiving air driven by the wind and directing it through at least one set of turbine blades, and also with the internal cavity of the second housing having a flapper valve which is normally open to the fluid communication between the internal cavities when the wave action moves the second housing upwardly from the first housing, and which closes in response to the downward movement of the second housing with respect to the first housing as the wave passes by, thereby pumping air trapped in the internal cavity across the blade of a second set of turbines, with the discharge of this second set of turbines supplying air to assist in turning the first set of turbines.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for harnessing both wind and wave energy comprising: a first housing having a first internal cavity having a lower end and with at least one turbine rotatably mounted in said lower end; a buoyant second housing slidably mounted on said first housing and having a second internal cavity i

An apparatus for harnessing both wind and wave energy comprising: a first housing having a first internal cavity having a lower end and with at least one turbine rotatably mounted in said lower end; a buoyant second housing slidably mounted on said first housing and having a second internal cavity in fluid communication with said first internal cavity, said second internal cavity having an upper end; at least one turbine rotatably mounted in said upper end; an inlet passage in said second housing which gathers wind driven air flow and directs it onto said at least one turbine in said upper end; said first and second cavities each being divided respectively, into an outer and inner chamber in fluid communication with the inner chamber in said first inner cavity being in fluid communication with the inner chamber of said second inner cavity and the outer chamber of said first inner cavity being in fluid communication with the outer chamber in said second inner cavity; a one-way flow valve mounted in said second internal cavity so as to prevent air flow between said inner chambers when said second housing is moving downwardly toward said first housing.