GB2261262A

GB2261262A - Wave-powered device

Info

Publication number: GB2261262A
Application number: GB9201134A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bahram Momeny
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-09
Filing date: 1992-01-20
Publication date: 1993-05-12
Also published as: GB9201134D0

Abstract

A wave-powered device comprises a toroidal float 28, mounted on a column 29 by an arrangement of block-like members, shafts and gears (including bevel gears) that allow universal pivotal movement. Oscillation of the float due to wave motion results in rotary motion of an electric generator 23, by means of gears 5, 7, 11, ratchets 10, a spring 17, an epicyclic gear box 19 and clutch 21. For relatively shallow water sites, column 29 is telescopically received in a pipe 30 anchored to the sea bed. For relatively deep water sites, the column 29 is moored by cables, pulleys and a balance weight, (Figure 5). <IMAGE>

Description

HYDRAUDIC WAVE POWER GENERATOR The present invention related to a wave power generator apparatus and its principal object is to provide a electric current obtained by electric generator which is driven positively by wave stre m whitout any consumption of fuel and will stay im operation automatically as long as the wave flows, with a initial cost and with a very little maintenance.

DESCRIPTION The wave power generator described hereis consist of two main section, one which is the moving parts, and the other is the fixed section.

The. moving parts of this apparatus is comprise of a oval or round circular pipe shape as "ORUS" which is sealed completely and stay om the surface of water and will float semi-submerge, depend of the weight of apparatus.

This hollow circular pipe 28 from two side is attached with soae braces 27 to the centre and connected by a shaft 1 to the blocks 25 and 26 together See Fig 3 & 3A The shaft with two blocks is fixed and can not rotate, om this shaft there is also a bevel gear 3 which is fixed to tile shaft and bearing blocks, this bevel gear will rotate if the axle 1 and blocks 25 and 26 rotate.

In the middle of the shaft there is also another block 4 this square block is free anf will rotate om shaft 1, work as universal joint, moving in two axis 1, 2 ,all above parts theoricaly we call as moving parts of this apparatus.

The fixed parts is consist of two bevel gears 12 which is fixed to the shafts 2 on both side and attached through the shafts to a big spur gears 5 , the two bevel gears 12 and the gears 5 will rota-t;e; if the gear 3 rotate on axis 1 ( opposite direction ), or if the gear 3 rotate around the axis 2 ( im one direction ) See Fig. 3 & 3 A Both bevel gears 12 if rotate in arty direction, because is connected who the g spur gears, the two big spur gears will rotate and follow the movement of the bevel gears, this shafts is sealed in two place 16 Fig 1 ,for water protection.

Tis two big spur gears will rotate bidirectionaly or in. one direction when complete one side of' circular pipe gos up or dovVn by the wave lifting power.

Insides of the housing 15 which is sealed through the shafts, this two big gears operationaly is connected to a other intermediate gears 7 and afterward to a similar gears 7a See Fig. 2 , with the rotation of the big gears this two intermediate gears will rotate im opposite direction ,two powls 8 attached on: each of this gears this powls will run two ratchets 10, which is attached to two other smaller size.gears a 9a.and thereafter mechanically will run a other gear 11 , now with any rotation of the big gears or two intermediate gears bidirectional, this gear 11 will rotate only in' one-- direction, because two ratchets is allow this movement;.

Because both sid of apparatus is similar, therefore we give the detail of only one side See Fig. 1 and 2 The two small spur gears 11 is connected through the shafts to two other bevel gears 13 See Fig 1 , and will rotate only in one direction ,the bevel gear no.14 which is the main drive gear, this main drive gear is connected to a cylindrical coil spring 17 and by rotating of this gear im one direction, will wind this coil spring to store energy, other side of this spring is attached to an epicyclic gearBox 19 to increase the speed of rotation and thereafter to a over torque clutch 21 for protection of winding spring and finaly to a electric generator 23 to produce electricity power.

All above parts and mechanism is fixed in a housing 15, 18, 20, and 22, and sealed properly for water penetration, because all the parts and mechanism is sealed, therefore we can lubricated properly to have a long life operational time.

The above mechanism with their housing is attached verticaly to a column 29 round or'square shape and electric wire from generator is passing through this column which is also sealed for water penetration See Fig 4, 5, park 31 With two way we can install this apparatus in the sea one which is location is near to the shore and the other is middle of sea For installation of near to the shore See Fig 4, vertical column is sliding to another pipe 31, telescopic way and can slide up and dozen when the tide of ocean lift the unit.

The outer pipe is fixed on top by a series of mooring cables 37 and from the bottom with a vertical anchor 33.

Some parts of electrical cable must be stored in this housing to allow the movement of vrtical column See Fig.

4 part 32.

The other te of installation is for operation of apparatus in the middle of the sea, in this case the vertical column by each side is attached through pulley 38 with mooring cables 37 See-Fig, 5 This cable is connected to a chain 41, around the sprockets 39 and thereafter to a balancing weight 42 when the tide gos up, by pulling of mooring cables 37 chains 41 in both side of apparatus will pull up the balancing weight, but stay in one place, because if any chains pull more than other, the balancing weight hang on that chain completely and react to brig to the same position.

METHOD OF OPERATION When the wave lift one section of the circular pipe See Fig 6, due to the reaction of bevel gear 3 against the other two bevel gears 12, a rotation force will create, this rotation force will increased for gaining the speed of ratchet wheels to obtain better performance and will unidirectioned with a series of ratchets and intermediate gears ( Pig 2 and all the previouse description thereafter the power will stored in a coil spring for a continuouse rotation to drive the generator Because the attaching point of circular pipe to vertical column is a universall joint, therefore direction of wave will not effect the performance of works, and during the rough weather and storm many parts of water will pass through middle section of circular pipe and will reduce the force to eliminate demolition.

Claims

CILA IMS

1. An hydraulic wave power generator comprising a sealed circular pipe oval section 28, float semi submerge on the surface of fluid 36 and react as the level of fluid change, a universal joint with the bevel gears 3, 4, 12, 25, and 26, attached with braces 27 to this circular pipe , allow to move circular pipe up and down on the surface of fluid Fig. 6 A vertical column 29 is attached to universal joint by axle 1 and 2 work as stand to support apparatus , also as housing of all mechanism.

A series of gears, powls ,ratchets is provided to transfer the horizontal movement of circular pipe to a rotational and unidirectional movement A coil spring to store energy 17, and change of interrupted power to a continuously rotation A gearbox 19 and over torque safety clutch 21 to increase the speed of rotation and thereafter a generator to obtain electricity power.

2. An hydraulic power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealed circular pipe 28 " TORUS shape stay horizontaly on surface of fluid and is float semi submerge and vdll depend to the movement of fluid surface and react when the fluid surface change.

3. An hydraulic power generator as claimed in previouse claims wherein said bevel gears universal joint 3 and 12 work to trasfer horizontal movement of both axle 1 and 2 of circular pipe to a rotational movement.

4. An hydraulic power generator as claimed in previouse claims incorporating a energy storage device such as an coil spring 17, connected operationaly to epicyc -lic gearbox 19 to give a continuously mechanical power to the electric generator.

CLAIMS Cont.

5. An hydraulic power generator as claimed in any of proceding claims compare of an vertical column 29 -/hicn is attached to the centre of circular pipe through universal joint 1, 2, and 4 and support all weight and stabilise the movement of apparatus.

vertical column is sealed for protection of fluid and used as a housing of all mechanism.

6. An hydraulic power generator as claimed in all previous claims compare a series of mooring cables 37. chains 41 ulLy 38, sprockets 39 ,also an balancing and positioning weight 42 to keep and secure the apparatus vertical column in one location and allow to move up and down when the surface of fluid change.

7. An hydraulic power generator as claiming in all proceding claims compare of a telescopic pipe round or square shape 29 and 30, which is fixed by a series of anchors and mooring cable verticaly and hold vertical column stable in one location in fluid.

8. An hydraulic power generator substantionaly as here inbefore described with referance to and as shown in the accompanying drawing 1 to 6.