초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for generating electricity from ocean wave energy by using a floating device having a first portion that is movably coupled to a second portion. A hydraulic pump is coupled between these portions such that when the floating device is exposed to ocean wave energy, the hydrauli

An apparatus and method for generating electricity from ocean wave energy by using a floating device having a first portion that is movably coupled to a second portion. A hydraulic pump is coupled between these portions such that when the floating device is exposed to ocean wave energy, the hydraulic fluid within the pump is displaced. A flow rectifier is used to create a unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow that is dispensed through a rotary-vane pump which, in turn, is coupled to an electrical generator. Thus, as the rotary-vane pump is activated by the unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow, the rotary-vane pump turns the electrical generator for generating electricity. A plurality of hydraulic pumps and associated flow rectifiers, rotary-vane pumps and electrical generators can be coupled between the first and second portions. In addition, the floating device can include a third portion that is also movably coupled to the second portion and a plurality of hydraulic pumps and associated flow rectifiers, rotary-vane pumps and electrical generators can be coupled between the second and third portions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean wave energy, said apparatus comprising: a floating device having a first portion movably coupled to a second portion;at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump coupled between said first portion and said second portion, said bi-directional hydrau

1. An apparatus for generating electricity from ocean wave energy, said apparatus comprising: a floating device having a first portion movably coupled to a second portion;at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump coupled between said first portion and said second portion, said bi-directional hydraulic pump driving a hydraulic fluid whenever said first portion moves with respect to said second portion due to ocean wave energy, said at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump driving the hydraulic fluid in a first flow direction when said bi-directional pump moves in a first pump direction and driving the hydraulic fluid in a second flow direction, opposite said first flow direction, when said at least one bi-directional pump moves in a second pump direction, opposite said first pump direction;a fluid rectifier, in fluid communication with said at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump, said fluid rectifier generating a unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow from the hydraulic fluid driven in said opposite first and second flow directions generated by said at least one bi-directional pump's opposite motions in said first and second pump, said fluid rectifier comprising a housing separate from said at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump;a rotary vane pump, coupled to said fluid rectifier, that uses said unidirectional flow to generate a rotational motion via a drive member; anda rotating electrical generator that is coupled to said drive member, said drive member causing said rotating electrical generator to generate electricity when said drive member is rotating. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first portion comprises a first barge. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second portion comprises a second barge and wherein said first barge is hingedly coupled to said second barge. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump is a linear pump. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotating electrical generator is a DC generator. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third portion movably coupled to said second portion and wherein a second bi-directional hydraulic pump is coupled between said second portion and said third portion, said second bi-directional hydraulic pump driving a second hydraulic fluid whenever said third portion moves with respect to said second portion due to ocean wave energy, said second bi-directional hydraulic pump driving the second hydraulic fluid in a third flow direction when said second bi-directional pump moves in a third pump direction and driving the second hydraulic fluid in a fourth flow direction, opposite said third flow direction, when said second bi-directional pump moves in a fourth pump direction, opposite said third pump direction;a second fluid rectifier, in fluid communication with said second bi-directional hydraulic pump, said second fluid rectifier generating a second unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow from the second hydraulic fluid driven in said opposite third and fourth flow directions generated by said second bi-directional pump's opposite motions in said third and fourth pump directions, said second fluid rectifier comprising a housing separate from said second bi-directional hydraulic pump;a second rotary vane pump, coupled to said second fluid rectifier, that uses said second unidirectional hydraulic flow to generate a rotational motion via a second drive member; anda second rotating electrical generator that is coupled to said second drive member, said second drive member causing said second rotating electrical generator to generate electricity when said second drive member is rotating. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first portion comprises a first barge. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second portion comprises a second barge and wherein said first barge and said second barge are hingedly coupled together. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said third portion comprises a third barge. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second barge and said third barge are hingedly coupled together. 11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second bi-directional hydraulic pump is a linear pump. 12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second rotating electrical generator is a DC generator. 13. A method for generating electricity from ocean wave energy, said method comprising: providing a floating device having a first portion that is movably coupled to a second portion;coupling at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump between said first portion and said second portion such that movement of said first portion with respect to said second portion, when said floating device is exposed to ocean wave energy, causes said at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump to move a hydraulic fluid in two opposite directions to create two respective opposite hydraulic fluid flows;providing a fluid rectifier separate from said at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump and passing said two respective opposite hydraulic fluid flows through said fluid rectifier that generates a unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow;directing said unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow through a rotary vane pump to cause rotational motion via a drive member; andcoupling said drive member to a rotating electrical generator to generate electricity when said drive member is rotating. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of movably coupling first portion to said second portion comprises hingedly coupling said first portion to said second portion. 15. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of coupling at least one bi-directional hydraulic pump between said first portion and said second portion comprises coupling a hydraulic pump having a piston that experiences linear displacement when said floating device is exposed to ocean wave energy. 16. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of coupling said drive member to said rotating electrical generator comprises coupling said drive member to a DC generator. 17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: providing a third portion movably coupled to said second portion;coupling a second bi-directional hydraulic pump between said second portion and said third portion such that movement of said third portion with respect to said second portion, when said floating device is exposed to ocean wave energy, causes said second bi-directional hydraulic pump to move a second hydraulic fluid in two opposite directions to create two respective opposite hydraulic fluid flows;providing a second fluid rectifier separate from said second bi-directional hydraulic pump and passing said two respective opposite hydraulic fluid flows through said second flow rectifier that generates a second unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow;directing said second unidirectional hydraulic fluid flow through a second rotary vane pump to cause rotational motion via a second drive member; andcoupling said second drive member to a second rotating electrical generator to generate electricity when said second drive member is rotating. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of movably coupling third portion to said second portion comprises hingedly coupling said third portion to said second portion. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of coupling said second bi-directional hydraulic pump between said second portion and said third portion comprises coupling a second bi-directional hydraulic pump having a piston that experiences linear displacement when said floating device is exposed to ocean wave energy. 20. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of coupling said second drive member to said second rotating electrical generator comprises coupling said drive member to a second DC generator.