초록 ▼

The invention relates to a wave power assembly having a hull and a linear electric generator. The rotor of the generator is connected with the hull. The stator thereof is arranged to be anchored at a sea/lake bottom. According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotor is mounted in the cross dire

The invention relates to a wave power assembly having a hull and a linear electric generator. The rotor of the generator is connected with the hull. The stator thereof is arranged to be anchored at a sea/lake bottom. According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotor is mounted in the cross direction by means of rolling elements. These are arranged between rolling surfaces on the rotor and support surfaces of a support means. The rolling elements are arranged to roll against the rolling surfaces and the support surfaces. The invention also relates to a wave power plant built up from wave power assemblies according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to a use of the wave power assembly and a method for generating electric energy.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A wave power assembly comprising: a hull; a linear electric generator having a rotor and a stator, said rotor being connected to said hull, said stator being adapted to be anchored to a sea/lake bottom, the direction of motion of said rotor defining the longitudinal dir

The invention claimed is: 1. A wave power assembly comprising: a hull; a linear electric generator having a rotor and a stator, said rotor being connected to said hull, said stator being adapted to be anchored to a sea/lake bottom, the direction of motion of said rotor defining the longitudinal direction of said generator; a plane perpendicular to the direction of motion defining a cross direction of said generator; said rotor having rolling surfaces running in the longitudinal direction; rolling elements bearing against said rolling surfaces, said rotor being mounted in the cross direction to said rolling elements; and support means having support surfaces, said rolling elements being positioned between said rolling surfaces and said support surfaces, said rolling elements being positioned and configured to roll against said rolling surfaces of said rotor and said support surfaces of said support means. 2. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support means consists of said stator of said generator. 3. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein said stator is carried by a frame and said support means consists of said frame. 4. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rolling surfaces comprise rolling surfaces in at least three planes intersecting each other, the intersecting lines of which planes in cross-section form a polygon. 5. The wave power assembly according to claim 2, wherein said rolling surfaces comprise rolling surfaces in at least three planes intersecting each other, the intersecting lines of which planes in cross-section form a polygon. 6. The wave power assembly according to claim 3, wherein said rolling surfaces comprise rolling surfaces in at least three planes intersecting each other, the intersecting lines of which planes in cross-section form a polygon. 7. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rotor in cross-section is in the form of a polygon and at least one said rolling surface is arranged on each one of at least three of the polygon sides of the rotor. 8. The wave power assembly according to claim 2, wherein said rotor in cross-section is in the form of a polygon and at least one said rolling surface is arranged on each one of at least three of the polygon sides of the rotor. 9. The wave power assembly according to claim 3, wherein said rotor in cross-section is in the form of a polygon and at least one said rolling surface is arranged on each one of at least three of the polygon sides of the rotor. 10. The wave power assembly according to claim 4, wherein said rotor in cross-section is in the form of a polygon and at least one said rolling surface is arranged on each one of at least three of the polygon sides of the rotor. 11. The wave power assembly according to claim 7, wherin at least one said rolling surface is arranged on each one of said polygon sides of said rotor. 12. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein in at least one plane a plurality of said rolling elements are arranged, distributed in the longitudinal direction or the cross direction, or both. 13. The wave power assembly according to claim 2, wherein in at least one plane a plurality of said rolling elements are arranged, distributed in the longitudinal direction or the cross direction, or both. 14. The wave power assembly according to claim 3, wherein in at least one plane a plurality of said rolling elements are arranged, distributed in the longitudinal direction or the cross direction, or both. 15. The wave power assembly according to claim 4, wherein in at least one plane a plurality of said rolling elements are arranged, distributed in the longitudinal direction or the cross direction, or both. 16. The wave power assembly according to claim 7, wherein in at least one plane a plurality of said rolling elements are arranged, distributed in the longitudinal direction or the cross direction, or both. 17. The wave power assembly according to claim 11, wherein in at least one plane a plurality of said rolling elements are arranged, distributed in the longitudinal direction or the cross direction, or both. 18. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rolling elements are made as rolls. 19. The wave power assembly according to claim 2, wherein said rolling elements are made as rolls. 20. The wave power assembly according to claim 3, wherein said rolling elements are made as rolls. 21. The wave power assembly according to claim 4, wherein said rolling elements are made as rolls. 22. The wave power assembly according to claim 7, wherein said rolling elements are made as rolls. 23. The wave power assembly according to claim 11, wherein said rolling elements are made as rolls. 24. The wave power assembly according to claim 12, wherein said rolling elements are made as rolls. 25. The wave power assembly according to claim 18, wherein said rolling surfaces and/or said support surfaces are profiled and/or at least some one of said rolls has a profiled envelope surface. 26. The wave power assembly according to claim 25, wherein said profiled envelope surface comprises profiling in the form of a regular pattern of valleys and ridges running in the cross direction, said profiling on each roll being provided with a profiled envelope surface which corresponds with the profiling of said rolling surfaces and said support surfaces. 27. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said rolling elements are mechanically connected with each other. 28. The wave power assembly according to claim 4, wherein at least some of said rolling elements are mechanically connected with each other. 29. The wave power assembly according to claim 7, wherein at least some of said rolling elements are mechanically connected with each other. 30. The wave power assembly according to claim 12, wherein at least some of said rolling elements are mechanically connected with each other. 31. The wave power assembly according to claim 25, wherein at least some of said rolling elements are mechanically connected with each other. 32. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least the surfaces of said rotor facing said stator and/or the surfaces of said stator facing said rotor are provided with a surface layer of insulating material. 33. The wave power assembly according to claim 32, wherein said insulating material is a plastic material. 34. The wave power assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least some rolling elements are mechanically connected with each other. 35. The wave power assembly according to claim 32, wherein said rotor is entirely encapsulated by said insulating material and/or said stator is entirely encapsulated by said insulating material. 36. The wave power assembly according to claim 32, wherein said rotor is arranged to slide against said stator with said surface layer as a sliding surface. 37. The wave power assembly according to claim 35, wherein said rotor is arranged to slide against said stator with said surface layer as a sliding surface. 38. The wave power assembly according to claim 36, wherein said sliding surface provides a bearing mounting of said rotor in the cross direction, no said rolling elements are arranged for bearing mounting in the cross direction. 39. The wave power assembly according to claim 37, wherein said sliding surface provides a bearing mounting of said rotor in the cross direction, no said rolling elements are arranged for bearing mounting in the cross direction. 40. A wave power plant comprising a plurality of said wave power assemblies according to claim 1. 41. The use of a wave power assembly according to claim 1 to generate electric energy. 42. A method to generate electric energy by means of at least one wave power assembly according to claim 1.