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Electric power is generated from a non-uniformly operating energy source such as wind or water waves by driving hydraulic pump means by a wind wheel or a bobbing float. The pump feeds hydraulic medium into a cylinder to raise a piston loaded by a weight. When the weight rises above a predetermined l

Electric power is generated from a non-uniformly operating energy source such as wind or water waves by driving hydraulic pump means by a wind wheel or a bobbing float. The pump feeds hydraulic medium into a cylinder to raise a piston loaded by a weight. When the weight rises above a predetermined level, the medium is fed under its constant pressure to drive an hydraulic motor connected to an induction generator. Because the generator is driven at constant power (though intermittently) it can be connected to the public mains supply, eliminating the need to store power, without sophisticated interface arrangements. A second generator connected to a resistive space or water heating load can be cut in at higher energy levels. The hydraulic pump can be arranged to extract power from the source in the most efficient way.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for generating electricity comprising: (a) converting energy from a non-uniformly operating energy source into hydraulic energy, (b) accumulating said hydraulic energy in a piston-in-cylinder arrangement acting against a constant load, (c) measuring the amount of hydraulic medium in the cyl

A method for generating electricity comprising: (a) converting energy from a non-uniformly operating energy source into hydraulic energy, (b) accumulating said hydraulic energy in a piston-in-cylinder arrangement acting against a constant load, (c) measuring the amount of hydraulic medium in the cylinder by electrically determining the position of the piston, (d) converting said hydraulic energy into kinetic energy in a hydraulic motor only when the amount of hydraulic medium in the cylinder, as measured by said electrically determining step, exceeds a predetermined value, and (e) driving an electric generator by said hydraulic motor.