IE86608B1 - A hollow piston wave capture pump apparatus and process for harnessing energy from aquatic waves - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the exploitation of energy in aquatic waves. In particular, the invention provides a hollow piston wave capture pump, which consists of a hollow piston contained in a buoyant water/air capture unit mounted on a compressor unit, mounted on an adjustable floatation tower, bearing a stability plate, to which mooring ropes and anchors are connected. The advantage of the invention is that the body of the structure remains static while the buoyant water/air capture unit rises with each wave, drawing air into the compressor unit while collecting water from each wave to fill the hollow piston. As the wave retreats, the captured air in the compressor unit or another mechanism delays the descent of the hollow piston so that the downward force of the captured water compresses the air to the maximum extent for immediate exploitation or forces it into storage for exploitation later. <Figure 2>

Description

Title A Water Wave Capture Process and Apparatus for Harnessing Energy Field of Invention The present invention relates to a process for extracting energy from aquatic waves and also relates to an apparatus for utilizing that process. In particular the invention exploits the full gravitational potential energy in a volume of captured wave water.

Background to the Invention I Waves are a clean, renewable source of energy. Their energy is exploitable in most oceans, inland seas and lakes. In general wave energy machines are mechanical devices designed to extract energy from the movement of aquatic waves and exploit that energy for various uses. However, wave energy devices have so far failed to exploit the full potential energy in waves for several reasons. a) Most wave energy devices are limited to exploiting the movement of the wave only. They fail to exploit the full gravitational potential energy available in each wave as a volume of water is raised above mean surface level. b) Constant movement in an aquatic environment can cause damage to wave energy devices. This problem arises because most current wave energy devices must achieve two contradictory goals: they must be light enough to float continuously on the surface of the Avater while they must also be large enough to avail of as much of the wave's surface area as possible in order to harness energy in efficient quantities. This contradiction can result in the devices being not big enough to generate sufficient amounts of electricity or so big that they can be damaged in the turbulent aquatic environment. c) Many proposed wave energy devises involve the generation of electricity within the device itself. However, the turbulence of the aquatic environment, the corrosive nature of that environment, and problems resulting from water ingress can result in relatively 660 8 expensive maintenance and repair which can render devices uneconomic if the energy output of the device is low. d) Water-based renewable energy devices suffer from fouling by aquatic organisms.

Removal can be time-consuming and thus expensive if the energy output of the device is not sufficiently high to justify the labour required to remove the said fouling organisms. e) Most energy devices that exploit wind or wave resources generate electricity in an irregular manner because few can store captured energy for consistent release or for release when most needed. f) Many energy production systems risk polluting the environment. Such pollution can be difficult to control in an aquatic environment.

Accordingly there is a need for a process and an apparatus that maximizes energy extraction from waves in a simple, clean, inexpensive and storable manner. The present invention is directing towards providing such a process and apparatus.

Statement of Invention According to the invention there is a process as set out in the appended claims for extracting the full gravitational potential energy from aquatic waves and an apparatus for utilizing that process.

The process is comprised of the following steps: a) a buoyant moving component is elevated by a rising wave. b) a volume of wave water is captured from the wave at the peak of the wave by the buoyant moving component. c) as the wave recedes mechanisms delay the descent of the buoyant moving component so that the buoyant moving component descends under its own weight plus the weight of the captured water with the result that the full gravitational potential energy of the buoyant moving component plus the captured water can be harnessed to carry out useful work such as compressing a fluid, which can be stored for later exploitation.

The apparatus is a device designed to utilize the process and comprises a wave water capture component containing the buoyant moving component, an adjustable floatation component, stabilization components, and, in one embodiment, a compressor unit and storage tank.' According to one embodiment of the im^ention an apparatus for carrying out the process can comprise a floatation component comprised of one or more floatation units. A floatation unit can contain Adju.sta.bJe Buoyancy Chambers so that the buoyancy of a floatation unit can be adjusted through the alteration of fluid levels within the Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers for the purpose of maintaining the floatation component in position at the upperm ost part of a water column and directly beneath the surface of the body of water.

In one embodiment of the invention the buoyancy adjustment can be achieved through the insertion of fluid into the Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers and by the removal of fluids from the Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers.

In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus can also comprise a surface buoyancy maintenance platform fixed to the top of the said floatation component in order to maintain the top of the said floatation component at the surface of the body of water.

In one embodiment the surface buoyancy maintenance platform can also provide a location for hose connections and a platform lor maintenance.

In another embodiment of the invention a stability plate can be attached to the floatation component in order to restrict vertical movement of the floatation component in the water column.

In one embodiment of the invention mooring ropes can connect the apparatus to anchors on the bed of the body of water to keep the apparatus in position and prevent lateral movement of the apparatus.

In one embodiment of the invention a wave water capture component containing a buoyant moving component can be fixed on top of the floatation component in a way that ensures that the wave water capture component is above the mean surface level of the water at all times but is of such a size that it is fully submerged by the average wave.

In one embodiment of the invention the buoyant moving component can comprise a hollou- piston. The hollow piston can be shaped to contain captured water. The hollow piston can also be housed in a hollow piston chamber, the hollow piston being free to move vertically for a limited distance within the hollow piston chamber. A plurality of inlet and outlet valves and apertures can be positioned in the walls of the hollow' piston and the hollow piston chamber in order to allow the entry of water and prevent the escape of the said water until the hollow' piston has completed its full descent. A plurality of hollow' piston chamber air inlet pipes can also be located in the said hollow' piston chamber and also in the base of the hollow piston, the said hollow piston chamber air inlet pipes being positioned in order to admit air so as to prevent the creation of a vacuum inside the hollow piston chamber on the upward movement of the hollow' piston. A sump can be positioned in the floor of the hollow piston chamber and can be connected to fluid outlet pipes and fluid outlet valves for the removal of excess fluids, In one embodiment of the invention a shaft can be situated within the hollow' piston, so that the shaft forms the central rod of the hollow piston. The shaft can extend through apertures in the roof and floor of the hollow piston chamber, the said shaft being free to move vertically through the apertures in the hollow piston chamber roof and floor.

In one embodiment the said shaft of the hollow piston can be shaped as an air intake pipe and extend high enough above the average wave so as to be in contact with air at all times.

In one embodiment the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe can be fitted with a cowl with valves shaped to admit air and prevent the ingress of water.

In one embodiment of the invention a hollow piston buoyancy float can be situated outside the hollow piston chamber and can be fixed by robust connection to the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe at a point on the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe that is above the roof of the hollow piston chamber when the hollow' piston buoyancy float is resting on the surface of the surface buoyancy maintenance platform, the said hollow piston buoyancy float being sufficiently buoyant to lift the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe and thus the said hollow piston when elevated by a wave.

In one embodiment the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe can be shaped to include a hollow piston shaft lifter, the hollow piston shaft lifter being a barrier to the upward movement of the hollow piston buoyancy float so that the hollow piston buoyancy float causes the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe to lift the hollow piston with each rising wave.

In one embodiment a plurality of hollow piston buoyancy float guides can be supported by the aforementioned surface buoyancy maintenance platform and can be positioned and shaped to confine the said hollow piston buoyancy float to vertical movement only.

In a further embodiment of the invention the roof of the hollow piston chamber can be locked to the hollow piston chamber walls in a manner that allows the removal of the hollow piston chamber roof for the purpose of maintenance, According to another aspect of the invention, there can also be provided a compressor unit, which can be fixed to the floating component so that the compressor unit is directly in communication with the wave water capture component so that the relative movement of the hollow piston compresses a fluid inside the compressor unit.

In one embodiment of the invention the compressor unit can be comprised of a compressor rod and piston fixed to the base of the aforementioned hollow piston shaft air intake pipe, the hollow' piston shaft air intake pipe being of sufficient length to extend above the average wave so as to deliver a constant source of air to the compressor.

In one embodiment the compressor rod and piston can be situated in a compressor chamber in such a manner that the vertical movement of the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe causes the compressor rod and piston to move vertically within the said compressor chamber with each rise and fall of the hollow piston buoyancy float to which the hollow piston shaft air intake pipe is attached.

In one embodiment a plurality of Compressor Chamber Fluid Intake Valves can be positioned in the walls of the compressor chamber and can be positioned and shaped to allow fluid to enter and be retained within the compressor chamber; a plurality of compressed fluid outlet valves can also be positioned in the walls of the compressor chamber and can be positioned and shaped to allow' fluid in the compressor chamber to escape only when a set pressure has been reached.

In one embodiment the hollow- piston shaft air intake pipe can be fluidly connected to the compressor chamber intake valves and thus provide a supply of air to the compressor chamber.

In one embodiment a plurality of pipes can be positioned to fluidly connect the said compressed fluid outlet valves to devises for the immediate exploitation of the compressed fluid or for the delivery of the compressed fluid to storage tanks for the storage of the compressed fluid for later exploitation.

In one embodiment the compressor unit can also be shaped so that both the compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the compressed fluid outlet valves can be situated in both the upper and lower parts of the compressor chamber in such a manner that the downward stroke of the aforementioned compressor rod and piston draws fluid into the upper part of'' the compressor chamber while at the same time compressing the fluid trapped in the lower part of the said compressor chamber; while on the upward stroke the compressor rod and piston compresses the fluid in the upper part of the compressor chamber while drawing fluid into the lower part of the compressor chamber. In addition the compressed fluid outlet valves in both the upper and lower parts of the compressor chamber can be positioned and adjusted to release the compressed fluid from the compressor chamber when a suitable pressure has been reached.

In one embodiment the compressed fluid outlet valves in the lower part of the compressor chamber can also be adjusted to retain the compressed fluid to a pressure level that will slow the descent of the buoyant moving component so that during the buoyant moving component’s descent the buoyant moving component and its captured water are supported only by the fluid in the said compression chamber and not by the receding wave so that the said compressed fluid can be compressed to the maximum degree.

In a further aspect of the invention some, or all, of the aforementioned hollow piston buoyancy float guides can be shaped to contain a hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber, the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber being shaped to retain wave water within the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide.

In one embodiment of the invention some, or all, of the aforementioned hollow piston buoyancy float guides can be fitted externally with a buoyant freely-moving sleeve, the buoyant freely-moving sleeve being shaped to allow water to enter the hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber when a rising wave has raised the buoyant freely-moving sleeve to a set level. The buoyant freely moving sleeve can also be constructed to prevent water leaving the hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber until the buoyant freely moving sleeve has descended with a receding wave to a position below a set level·.

In one embodiment the hollow piston buoyancy float guides can also be shaped to accommodate buoyancy float guide chamber pistons. The buoyancy float guide chamber pistons can be attached to the hollow piston buoyancy float. The buoyancy float guide chamber pistons can also be shaped to fit exactly, and move vertically, within the hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers so that the buoyancy float guide chamber pistons are supported by any retained water trapped within the hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers by the buoyant freely-moving sleeves: thus delaying the descent of the buoyancy float guide chamber pistons until the buoyant freely-moving sleeves have descended sufficiently to allow the retained water to be released. This delay in the descent of the buoyancy float guide chamber pistons can thus delay the descent of the buoyant moving component with its captured water so that the descent of the buoyant moving component and its captured water is not supported by the receding wave with the result that the maximum degree of gravitational potential energy can be harnessed.

In one embodiment of the invention the surface buoyancy maintenance platform can contain hose connections and pipes fluidly connected to the floatation units in the floatation component.

In one embodiment the floatation units can contain adjustable buoyancy chambers, the adjustable buoyancy chambers being hollow spaces within the floatation units for the storage of fluids. The adjustable buoyancy chambers can be fluidly connected to external hose connections via Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipes and Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipes which can be used to insert and remove fluid from the adjustable buoyancy chambers in a manner that allows for the adjustment of the buoyancy of the floatation units so as to adjust the buoyancy of the floatation component in the water column.

In one embodiment the Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipes and an Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipes can be housed in fluid pipe ducts in the walls of the floatation units in order to facilitate the insertion or removal of fluids.

In one embodiment the floatation units can be locked together to form an assemblage of floatation units in a manner that provides continuous pipe ducts for the Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipes and an Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipes so as to connect the external hose connections with the Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers.

In one embodiment an assemblage of floatation units can contain a continuous pipe duct which houses the Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe so as to connect the compressed fluid outlet valves in the compressor unit to an external hose connection for the removal of compressed fluid. in one embodiment the floatation units can be locked together by means of male to female quarter-turn locking mechanisms held in place by' dowels, the said dowels being shaped to fit into dowel ducts in the said floatation units to prevent any lateral unlocking movement.

In one embodiment a stability plate can be attached to the floatation component to restrict vertical movement of the floatation component in the water column, the stability plate can extend horizontally' and at right angles to the vertical movement of the floatation component so that any vertical movement of the floatation component in the water column must displace a volume of water large enough to prevent any substantial vertical movement.

In ofte embodiment a stability plate can be locked to. or unlocked from, the base of the floatation component to allow assembly or disassembly at sea.

In one embodiment a stability plate can be locked to a floatation component by means of a male - female quarter-turn locking mechanism.

In one embodiment a stability plate can be locked to a floatation component by means of a male - female quarter-turn locking mechanism through a central aperture in the stability plate.

In one embodiment a stability plate can be locked to a floatation component by means of a male - female quarter-turn locking mechanism held in place by dowels, which can be placed in dowel ducts to prevent any lateral unlocking movement.

In one embodiment a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose can connect the compressed fluid hose pipe in the floatation component to a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank.

In one embodiment a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank can rest on the bed of a body of water.

In one embodiment compressed fluid stored in a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank can be expelled through valves into outlet pipes, which deliver the compressed fluid for ’ exploitation elsewhere as a result of increasing pressure within the Compressed Fluid Storage Tank.

In another embodiment compressed fluid stored in a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank at low temperature can be drawn by the pumping action of the buoyant moving component via flexible insulated pipes into the vicinity of the compressor where the heat generated by the compression process can be exploited to expand the fluid for the purpose of turning a turbine.

In one embodiment compressed fluid stored in a tank at low temperature can be further compressed by the pumping action of the buoyant moving component through the injection J of additional fluid to the point where valves release the said compressed fluid into pipes fluidly connected to a location where the application of heat will expand the fluid and turn a turbine.

In one embodiment the pumping action of the buoyant moving component can be utilized to directly cause compressed fluid to turn a pump impellor so that fluid can be driven through a pipe.

In one embodiment the pumping action of the buoyant moving component can be utilized to directly turn the impellor of a pump, which causes fluid to be impelled through a pipe. in one embodiment the pumping action of the buoyant moving component can be directly utilized to cause a turbine to revolve.

In one embodiment the pumping action of the buoyant moving component can be directly utilized to cause a turbine to revolve by means of a plurality gears.

The advantages of the present invention are that the process exploits the downward force exerted by captured wave water in a manner that exploits the full gravitational potential energy in the descending volume of captured water and the buoyant moving component containing the said water and thus maximizes the energy available for useful work.

An apparatus that implements this process can achieve this high level of energy output because it does not extract energy solely from the rise and fall of each wave. Instead the apparatus can be designed to resist movement by the wave and only use the upward movement of the wave to raise a buoyant moving component for the purpose of capturing a J volume of water at the highest point of the wave. On the downward movement of the wave, the descent of the buoyant moving component can be slowed by delaying mechanisms so that the buoyant moving component falls independently of the receding wave. In this way the full descending force of the captured water plus the weight of the buoyant moving component can be harnessed for work.

A further advantage of the invention is that the full gravitational potential energy in the descending volume of water thus captured can be easily harnessed to compress a fluid.

Another advantage of the invention is that when a compressor unit is utilized as part of the apparatus the full force of the descending captured water can be brought to bear directly on the compressor piston, which thus compresses the captured fluid in the compressor chamber to the maximum degree possible. Thus the apparatus makes maximum use of the energy in each wave in a very simple way.

A further advantage of the invention is that the compressed fluid produced in this way can be easily transmitted through pipes.

A further advantage of the invention is that the apparatus can easily transmit compressed fluid to a storage tank for later use when demand is greatest.

A further advantage of the invention is that the apparatus, when utilizing a compressor unit, can use the trapped fluid in the compressor chamber to delay the descent of the buoyant moving component and therefore does not need any other mechanism to cause the buoyant moving component to descend without the support of a receding wave.

A further advantage of the invention is that when the apparatus utilizes a compressor both the up and down strokes of the compressor piston can be used to compress a fluid and draw fluid into the compressor chamber. Thus not only the downward pressure exerted by the descending volume of captured water and the buoyant moving component is harnessed but also the upwards pressure of the rising wave. This further increases the energy, which can be captured from each wave.

A further advantage of the invention is that the apparatus, being mostly submerged under the water, is not subject to the full turbulence of the aquatic environment and as a consequence is less likely to be damaged in extreme weather.

Another advantage of the invention is that the wave water capture component part of the apparatus, which does protrude above the surface, can be large enough to exploit each wave but also small enough to offer little resistance in turbulent water and is thus less likely to suffer damage.

Yet a further advantage of the invention is that the apparatus being mostly submerged under the water does not intrude visually into the environment to any great extent.

Another advantage of the invention is that the apparatus can also be constructed completely from non-corroding materials to avoid deterioration of parts and can be robust enough to withstand total immersion, and even sink to the seabed, without damage.

Another advantage of the invention is that the apparatus has no need for electrical components as the energy obtained from the wave can be used to compress a fluid for later exploitation in a more suitable environment.

Another advantage of the invention is that the apparatus exploits wave energy from waves coming from any direction, no directional adjustment being needed.

Another advantage of the invention is that fouling organisms can be easily removed from the water inlet and outlet valves by maintenance staff standing on the surface buoyancy maintenance platform, while any organisms that enter the hollow piston chamber will be flushed out by the movement of the hollow piston, and any organisms that leak into the floatation units cannot proliferate because they are contained in a sealed environment with no light. Furthermore, any microscopic organisms in water leaking past the compressor piston seals into the compressor will be forced from the apparatus as the compressed fluid is expelled under pressure.

A further advantage of the invention is that the apparatus can be constructed so that it can be assembled using simple locking mechanisms and therefore can be assembled and disassembled at sea for maintenance whenever necessary by staff on a workboat with a crane.

Yet another advantage of the invention is that because the process makes maximum use of available energy by exploiting the full gravitational potential energy of the captured wave water, its ratio of maintenance costs to output is minimized.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of ail example only, with reference to the I accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-section side view of one embodiment of the apparatus in relation to the sea surface and the seabed and also shows a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose, mooring ropes, anchors, a compressed fluid storage tank and an insulated pipe on the bed of a body of water.

Figure 2 shows a side view elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2a shows a top view elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section side view depicting the principle components of the apparatus.

Figure 4 shows a cross section side-view of the wave water capture component.

Figure 4a shows a cross-section side view' of the air intake cowl.

Figure 4b shows a cross-section top view of the air intake cowl and the air intake pipe water exclusion valves.

Figure 4c shows a cross-section side view' of a single air intake cowl water exclusion valve.

Figure 4d shows a cross-section side-view of the hollow piston chamber roof and a side view of a retainer pin.

Figure 4e shows a bottom view of the hollow piston chamber roof.

Figure 4f shows a top view of the hollow piston chamber roof.

Figure 4g shows a side view of a retainer pin, Figure 4h shows a cross-section side view of retainer pin slots aligned.

Figure 41 shows a bottom view of a retainer pin.

Figure 4j shows a top view' of a retainer pin slot.

Figure 4k shows a side view of two aligned retainer pin slots with the retainer pin in place. Figure 41 shows a cross-section side view' of a w'ater inlet flap valve in open position. Figure 4m shows a top view' of a water inlet flap valve in open position.

Figure 4n show's a cross-section side view' of a water outlet flap valve in open position. Figure 4o shows a top view' of a water outlet flap valve in open position.

Figure 4p show's a side view' elevation of parts of the buoyant moving component featuring the hollow piston, air intake cowl, hollow piston shaft air intake pipe, and also the compressor piston, all seen in isolation from the hollow piston chamber and without the hollow piston buoyancy float.

Figure 4q shows a cross section side view of a hollow piston chamber air inlet pipe flap valve (63) in an open position.

Figure 4r shows a cross section side view of a hollow piston chamber air inlet pipe flap valve (63) in a closed position.

Figure 4s shows a cross section front view' of a hollow piston chamber air inlet pipe flap valve (63) in a closed position.

Figure 4t, shows a cross-section side view of a hollow piston chamber sump air/Water outlet pipe flap valve in an open position.

Figure 4u shows a cross-section side view of a hollow piston chamber sump air/water outlet pipe flap valve in a closed position.

Figure 4v shows a front view of the said hollow piston chamber sump air/water outlet pipe flap valves (10) in a closed position.

Figure 4 w show's an angled elevation providing a bottom view of the hollow' piston chamber and a top view' of the compressor housing illustrating the point at which the two units join.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section side view' of the components that comprise the compressor unit.

Figure 5a show's an angled top view of the compressor unit.

Figure 5b, shows a cross-section side view of the compressor housing.

J Figure 5c show's a cross-section side view of one of the compressor fluid intake valves. Figure 5d shows a cross-section side view of an adjustable compressed fluid outlet valve. Figure 5e shows a cross-section side view of one of the adjustable buoyancy chamber air pressure relief hose pipe stop valves.

Figure 5f shows a side view of a dowel.

Figure 5g is a cross-section top view of the compressor piston connection rod perforated coupling Figure 6 show's a cross section side view of a floatation component and dowel.

Figure 6a show's a top view' of an individual floatation unit.

Figure 6b shows an angled top view of an individual floatation unit.

Figure 6c shows a bottom view of an individual floatation unit.

Figure 6d shows angled bottom view of a floatation unit.

Figure 6e shows a detailed cross section side view of the locking area of two floatation units.

Figure 7 shows a cross section side view of the stability plate component.

Figure 7a shows an angled top view' of the stability plate and a stability plate dowel.

Figure 7b shows a top view of the stability plate.

Figure 7c shows a side view cross-section of the stability plate.

Figure 7d shows a top view of the male stability plate flange.

Figure 7e shows a bottom view of the male stability plate flange.

Figure 7f shows a cross-section side view of the male stability plate flange.

Figure 7g shows an angled top view of the male stability plate flange.

Figure 7h shows a top view of the female stability plate flange.

Figure 71, shows the bottom view of the female stability plate flange.

Figure 7k shows a cross-section side view of the flexible insulated compressed fluid hose connection.

Figure 8 shows a cross-section side view of the apparatus when an average wave is at minimum height.

Figure 9 shows a cross-section side view of the apparatus when an average wave is in the process of rising.

Figure 10 shows a cross section side view of the apparatus when an average wave has risen to it maximum height.

Figure 11 shows a cross-section side view of the apparatus when an average wave is in the process of descending.

Detailed description of the drawings Figure 1 There is illustrated a cross-section side view depicting one embodiment of the apparatus in relation to a sea surface and seabed, the apparatus (A), being an anchored marine floating device, the topmost part of which is a Wave Water Capture Component (B), which is mounted upon a Compressor Unit (C), which is attached to a Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) which is mounted on a Floatation Component (E), which bears a Stability Plate Component (F) and which can be connected by a Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (G) to a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (H), situated on the seabed and from which an Insulated Pipe (I) delivers compressed fluid for land-based exploitation or other energy exploitation mechanisms or facilities at sea or on land.

The apparatus (A) is moored in location by Mooring Ropes (J) fixed to Anchors (K) embedded in the Seabed (L). All the constituent components thus listed and all the said components’ constituent parts can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shapedembodiment herein described.

As illustrated according to the invention the said Apparatus (A) will remain largely stable in relation to the mean water-surface level (M) in most aquatic environments regardless of the average wave height (N), a) as a result of being moored by the said anchors (K) to the seabed (L): b) as a result-of a Stability Plate Component (F), which is situated below the wave zone and serves to hold the said Apparatus (A) steady within the water column in the manner of a sea anchor; c) as a result of a Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) at surface level which serves to maintain the said Apparatus (A) in a stable position in the water column so that the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) remains always at mean sea surface level (M); d) as a result of the buoyancy of the said apparatus being amenable to adjustment by means of altering the ratio of air to ballast water in the Floatation Component (E).

All the components thus listed and all the said components’ constituent parts.can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described.

Figure 2 and 2a Referring to Figure 2 and 2a, there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention an external side view elevation in Figure 2 and a top view elevation in 2a depicting the externally visible components of the Apparatus (A), comprising an Air intake t Cowl (1), fixed atop a Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) and made of smooth, robust non-corroding materials. The said Hollow' Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is also made of smooth, robust non-corroding materials and is shaped to form a Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe Lifter (26) at a point below the said Air Intake Cowl (1) and above a point where it is loosely connected to a Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs Sleeve (4) which is fixed to, and unites Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) around the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2); the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3), can be strong tubular bars also made from robust, resilient non-corroding material.

The said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) are attached to a Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5), which in this embodiment can be constructed of strong, non-corroding but highly buoyant lightweight material.

The said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5) surrounds, but is not in contact with, a Hollow Piston Chamber (6) and is free to move in a vertical direction controlled by Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Guides (36).

The said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) in this embodiment is constructed of strong, resilient, lightweight material. Depicted on the roof of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) are Hollow Piston Chamber Roof Lifting Handles (28) for the purpose of removing a Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27), the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) being part of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6). The said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof Lifting Handles (28) can also be used for lifting the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) in its entirety.

In Fig 2, depicted in the walls of the Hollow Piston Chamber (6), are some Hollow Piston Water Inlet Valves (8), below which are depicted some Hollow Piston Water Outlet Valves (9), below which are depicted some Hollow Piston Chamber Sump Air Z Water Outlet Valves (10).

Below this is depicted the Compressor Unit (C) which in this embodiment comprises the Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D), The Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) can be constructed of strong, resilient, non-corroding but highly-buoyant light weight material and is fixed to the exterior of a Compressor Housing (11) by means of a robust and resilient means of connection such as Avelds, bolts or any other suitable method of providing permanent connection.

Depicted upon the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) is the Floatation Component Buoyancy Adjuster Connection (12). Also depicted upon the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) is the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Cap (48). The said Floatation Component Buoyancy Adjuster Connection (12) is made of suitably non-corroding materials and provides the connection through which, either, air for buoyancy, or water for ballast or other suitable substances, can be pumped into the Floatation Units (13). The Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Cap (48) is made of suitably non-corroding materials and provides a sealable housing for a Ives through which air pressure can be released from the said Floatation Units (.13).

Below the Compressor Unit (C) and connected to the base of the said Compressor Unit (C), is depicted in this embodiment the Floatation Component (E), which is comprised of individual Floatation Units (13), the uppermost of which is attached to the base of the Compressor Unit (C) by means of a male to female quarter-turn locking mechanism held in place by a Retainer Pin (14), all of which can be constructed of strong, non-corroding material. Alternatively, the said Floatation Component (E) can be connected to the Compressor Unit (C) by any other suitably robust method of connection other than in the embodiment hereinbefore described.

Attached to the lower end of the Floatation Component (E) is depicted the Stability Plate 5 Component (F), which contains the Stability Plate (16) which serves to stabilize the Apparatus (A) in the water column.

On the underside of the Stability Plate Component (F) is depicted the Insulated Flexible Hose Connection (20) to which can be connected to a Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (G) (shown in Figure 1) through which the Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21) (shown in Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 7) can travel to a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (H) (shown in Figure 1) on the seabed.

All the components thus listed and all the said components’ constituent parts.can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described. 1.5 Figure 3 Referring to Figure 3, there is illustrated a cross section side view depicting the principle components of the Apparatus (A).

Above Mean Water Surface Level (M) is depicted the Wave Water Capture Component (B) which functions to exploit the upward movement of an average wave to draw air, via the Air Intake Cowl (1) and the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), into the Compressor Chamber (22) and wave water into a Hollow Piston (7). The said Hollow Piston (7) in this embodiment can be delayed in its descent by the compressed air captured in the said Compressor Chamber (22). The said Hollow Piston (7), being delayed thus, will descend after the wave has retreated and compress the captured air in the said Compressor Chamber (22) to the maximum extent, not being supported by anything other than the said captured air in the compressor chamber.

At Mean Water Surface Level (M) is depicted the Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) and the Compressor Unit (C). The Compressor Unit (C) comprises various Compressor components including the Compressor Piston (24) inside the Compressor Chamber (22).

Below Mean Water Surface Level (M) is depicted the Floatation Component (E) comprising individual Floatation Units (13), the Stability Plate (16) and the Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (G) which descends to the seabed.

The buoyancy of the said Apparatus (A) can be adjusted by means of altering the ratio of air to ballast water in the Floatation Units (13) which comprise the Floatation Component (E). As a consequence, the main body of the said Apparatus (A) will not rise with each wave, while at the same time the Hollow Piston (7), being a moveable part of the Water Wave Capture Component (B), which is located at the topmost part of the said Apparatus (A), and the Hollow Piston (7) being buoyant as a result of being loosely attached to, and supported by, the Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5), and thus being free to rise and fall, will duly rise freely with each wave as a result of being lifted by the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5) and will subsequently fall independently of the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5) after each wave has retreated.

Also shown are the Mooring Ropes (J), which connect the Apparatus (A) to Anchors (K) embedded in the Seabed (L) (shown in Figure 1). The said Mooring Ropes (J) are attached to Mooring Eyes (18), which are situated at the outer extremity of the Stability Plate (16). All the constituent components thus listed and all the said components’ constituent parts can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described.

Figures 4 4a,. 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i, 4j, 4k.

Referring to Figure 4, there is illustrated according to the invention a cross-section side view depicting the uppermost components of the Apparatus (A): these components being those that comprise the Wave Water Capture Component (B), consisting of: an Air Intake Cowl (1), which is fixed above normal wave level on top of a Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2): The said Air Intake Cowl (1) being a device for the admission of air and is structured to prevent rain or splash water entering the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) from above. Illustrated as contained within the Air Intake Cowl (1) are a plurality of Air Intake Cowl Water Exclusion Valves (90), which are simple valves also constructed of a resilient, light-weight, non-corroding material and shaped to close off and prevent rising water entering the Air Intake Cowl (1) from below.

Figure 4a shows a cross-section side view of the said Air Intake Cowl (1) in which the said Air Intake Cowl Water Exclusion Valves (90) are depicted as containing lightweight spherical Air Intake Cowl Water Exclusion Valve Floats (92) which will rise on an ascending wave and close off the aforementioned Hollow' Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) from water ingress.

Figure 4b show's a cross section top view of the said Air Intake Cowl Water Exclusion Valves (90).

Figure 4c shows a cross section side view of an individual Air Intake Cowl Water Exclusion Valve (90).

Also shown in Figure 4 as supporting the Air Intake Cowl (1) is depicted the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), being a pipe for the transmission of air. The said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is a suitably long hollow pipe constructed of resilient, lightweight, corrosion-proof material. The said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is loosely connected to the Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) by means of the HollowPiston Buoyancy Float Legs Sleeve (4), through which the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is free to move in a vertical direction only. The Hollow Piston Shaft Lifter (26), which forms part of, and is fixed to, the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is a barrier to the free upward movement of the Hollow' Piston Buoyancy Float Legs Sleeve (4) and is positioned at an appropriate point between the top of the Hollow' Piston Chamber (6) and the base of the Air Intake Cow'l (1). As a result the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs Sleeve (4) will lift the Hollow- Piston Shaft Lifter (26), and thus lift the said Hollow' Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) with each rising w'ave. The said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) can also be made from strong and resilient non-corroding material and are fixed to the upper part of the Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5).

The said Hollow' Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) move only in a vertical direction being guided by the Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Guides (36) w'hich are solid bars also made from strong and resilient non-corroding material which are fixed into the upper body of the aforementioned Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) in such a manner as to make them fully rigid. The said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Guides (36) protrude through the hollow lower sections of the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) so as to prevent any horizontal movement of the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (3) but are not attached in any way to the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3).

Illustrated also in Figure 4 is the Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5), being in this embodiment a solid ring of robust, corrosion-proof but highly buoyant lightweight material and having the purpose of raising the Hollow Piston (7) part of the Wave Water Capture Component (B) on a rising wave. The said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5) encircles the Hollow Piston Chamber (6) but is not connected to it and is free to move in a vertical direction only. The vertical movement of the said Hollow' Piston Buoyancy Float (5) is controlled by the aforementioned Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Guides (36) which protrude through holes in the underside of the said Hollow·' Piston Buoyancy Float (5) and also protrude up through the hollow' lower sections of the said HolLow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) so as to prevent any horizontal movement of either the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) or the said Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5).

Illustrated also in Figure 4 is the aforementioned Hollow Piston Chamber (6), being a housing for the Hollow Piston (7). In this embodiment the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) is a hollow' cylindrical structure fitted with a detachable roof: the Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) being a robust lid, which locks onto the Hollow Piston Chamber (6). In this embodiment the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) can be constructed of strong lightweight corrosion-proof materials, which allow it to be locked securely in place by a quarter turn lock, which is held in place by Retainer Pins (14).

Referring now' to Figure 4 d, there is shown a cross section side view of the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27).

Referring now to Figure 4e there is shown a bottom view of the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) that illustrates the Quarter Turn Lock Lip (60) and the Quarter Turn Lock Gap (61). The said Hollow' Piston Chamber Roof (27) forms the male part of the quarter turn lock and fits inside that part of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) which forms the female part of the quarter turn lock so that when the lip of the male part corresponds with the gap in the female part the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) can be lowered inside the space in the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) and then turned in a clockwise direction so that the lip on the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) will be lodged under the lip on the Hollow Piston Chamber (6), thus preventing any vertical movement. The said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) quarter turn locking mechanism can be held in place by Retainer Pins (14), which are simple pins uniting two Retainer Pin Slots (59). The said Retainer Pin Slots (59), being part of the body of the Hollow Piston . Chamber Roof (27) and the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6), are designed with the purpose of holding the quarter-turn lock in place when the said Retainer Pin (14) is dropped into position through the holes in the slots thus preventing any lateral movement of the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) in relation to the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) which might allow the quarter-turn lock to open.

Referring now to Figure 4f there Is shown a top view of the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27), which also contains a plurality of Hollow Piston Chamber Roof Lifting Handles (28) on its upper exterior for the purpose of manipulating the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) into position so that it can be locked to the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) and also so that when locked together the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof Lifting Handles (28) can be used to lift the entire Wave Water Capture Component (B) clear of the aforementioned Compressor Unit (C) whenever necessary.

Figure 4f also shows that the said Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) contains a Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe Aperture (62) through which the aforementioned Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is free move in a vertical direction. Furthermore, the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe Aperture (62), Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27), Retainer Pins (14), Retainer Pin Slots (59), and Hollow Piston Chamber Roof Lifting Handles (28) can also be made in any other form, material or position sufficient for their purpose other than, or in addition to, the arrangement hereinbefore described so that the said.Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) can be locked securely to the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) and removed whenever necessary and also so that the locking mechanism is strong enough to allow the said Hollow Piston Component (B) to be lifted by means of the said Hollow' Piston Chamber Roof Lifting Handles (28), Referring now to Figures 4g, 4h, 4i, 4j, and 4k.

Figure 4g shows a side view of a Retainer Pin (14).

Figure 4h shows a cross section side view of the slots for the said Retainer Pin (14) when aligned and linking the Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27) and the Hollow Piston Chamber (6).

Figure 4i shows a bottom view of said Retainer Pin (14).

Figure 4j shows a top view of the said Retainer Pin Slots (59) without the said Retainer Pin (14) in situ.

Figure 4k shows a side-view' of the Retainer Pin (14) in position in the aligned Retainer Pin Slots (59).

Referring again to Figure 4, the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) supports the aforementioned Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) at a point on the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) below the point of connection with the aforementioned Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float Legs (3) through the aforementioned Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe Aperture (62).

Again illustrated in Figure 4 as situated in the walls of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) are the following components: a plurality of Hollow Piston Water Inlet Valves (8), being openings for the admission of water and fitted with Flap Valves (29) (shown in figures 41 and 4m).

Referring now to Figure 41 and 4m there is shown the said Flap Valves (29), The said Flap Valves (29) being simple hinged flaps connected at their lower end by simple hinges, the Flap Valve Hinge (75). The said Flap Valves (29) comprise at their upper end a strip of buoyant material, the Flap Valve Float (74), so that the said Flap Valve Float (74) will be lifted to the surface of any water that enters the valve, thus bringing the said Flap Valves (29) into a vertical position and thus closing off the valve so as to prevent the exit of water that has entered the Hollow Piston Chamber (6).

Figure 41 shows a eross-section side view of the said Flap Valve (29) in open position. Figure 4m shows a top view' of said Flap Valve (29) in the same open position.

Referring again to figure 4 there is also illustrated as situated in the walls of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6), a plurality of Hollow Piston Water Outlet Valves (9), being openings for the release of water and fitted with simple Flap Valves (29) which open in the opposite direction to the aforementioned flap valves in the said Hollow' Piston Water Inlet Valves (8); the said Hollow' Piston Water Outlet Valves (9), also being simple openings with hinged flaps, which are connected at their lower end by simple hinges, the said Flap Valve Hinge (75), and contain at their upper end a strip of buoyant material, the Flap Valve Float (74), so that the said Flap Valve Float (74) will be lifted to the surface of any water that enters the valve, thus bringing the said Flap Valves (29) into a vertical position and thus closing off the valve and stopping any further movement of the said water.

Referring now to Figure 4n and 4o: Figure 4n shows a cross-section side view of the aforementioned Flap Valves (29) in open position and featuring the Flap Valve Float (74) and the Flap Valve Hinge (75).

Figure 4o shows a top view of said Flap Valve (29) in the same open position. > Referring again to Figure 4, the illustration also shows according to this embodiment of the invention the aforementioned Hollow Piston (7), being a robust hollow cylinder fitting exactly inside the interior of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) but with space to move freely in a vertical direction, and being directly attached by means of bolts, fusion or any other suitably robust means of attachment to the aforementioned Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2).

Referring now- to Figure 4p, which shows a side view elevation of the buoyant moving component parts of the Wave Water Capture Component (B), which includes the Hollow ' Piston (7), the Air Intake Cowl (1), the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), the Hollow Piston Shaft Lifter (26). The Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float is not featured but the illustration does depict the Hollow Piston Flexible Roof (38), Hollow Piston Flexible Base (31), Water Inlet Apertures (33), Water Outlet Apertures (34), Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Valves (32), Compressor Piston Connection Rod (42), and Compressor Piston (24). Figure 4p also shows according to the invention the walls of said Hollow Piston (7), which in this embodiment of the invention can be constructed of a robust, non-corroding, lightweight material. Situated in the said sidewalls of the said Hollow Piston (7) are the following features as illustrated: Water Inlet Apertures (33) being openings in the said Hollow Piston (7) for the admission of water, the said Water Inlet Apertures (33) being sufficient in number, shape and size to allow water from a single wave to fill the Hollow Piston (7). The said Water Inlet Apertures (33) are positioned to align with the said Hollow Piston Water Inlet Valves (8) (shown in figure 4) in the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) when the Hollow Piston (7) is at maximum height.

Figure 4p also shows Water Outlet Apertures (34), being openings of any shape,· size or number that will allow water to exit the Hollow Piston (7) before the arrival of the next wave and being positioned to align with the said Hollow Piston Water Outlet Valves (9) (shown in figure 4) in the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) when the said Hollow Piston (7) is at minimum height.

Referring again to Figure 4 and again to Figure 4p which show according to the invention the Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Pipes (32), which are situated in the body of the Hollow Piston Flexible Base (31) of the said Hollow Piston (7), the said Hollow Piston Chamber Air. Inlet Pipes (32) being subsidiary side pipes containing simple Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Pipe Flap Valves (63) in any shape and number which connect the interior of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) to the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), so that the said Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Pipes (32) can deliver air from the said Hollow Piston Air Intake Pipe (2) to the interior of the Hollow Piston Chamber (6) to prevent the formation of a vacuum on the upward movement of the Hollow Piston (7) while serving also to prevent water inside the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) from entering the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2). The said Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Pipe Flap Valves (63) being pipes containing simple hinged flaps incorporating a float at the opposite end to the hinge so that the said floats will rise in the presence of water and close off the pipe to prevent the entry of the said water.

Referring now to Figure 4q, Figure 4r, and Figure 4s Figure 4q shows a cross section side view of said Hollow' Piston Chamber Air Inlet Pipe Flap Valves (63) in an open position.

Figure 4r shows a cross section side view’ of said Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Pipe Flap Valves (63) in a closed position.

Figure 4s shows a front view·' of said Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Pipe Flap Valves (63) in a closed position.

Referring again to Figure 4, there is shown as situated in the walls of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) a plurality of Hollow Piston Chamber Sump Fluid Outlet Pipes (10). The said Hollow Piston Chamber Sump Fluid Outlet Pipes (10) being openings for the release of air and water and fitted with simple Hollow Piston Chamber Sump Fluid Outlet Pipe Flap Valves (64) which are illustrated in Figures 4t, 4u, and 4v. The said Hollow Piston Chamber Sump Fluid Outlet Pipe Flap Valves (64) being simple hinged flaps incorporating a float at the opposite end to the hinge and which are designed to rise in the presence of water and close off the pipe to prevent the entry of the said water.

Referring to Figure 4t, 4u, and 4v: Figure 4t shows a cross-section side view of the said Hollow Piston Chamber Sump Fluid Outlet Pipe Flap Valves (10) in an open position; Figure 4u show's a cross-section side view of the said Hollow Piston Chamber Sump t I Fluid Outlet Pipe Flap Valves (10) in a closed position.

Figure 4v shows a front view of the said Hollow Piston Chamber Sump Fluid Outlet Pipe Flap Valves (10) in a closed position.

Referring again to Figure 4, there is also illustrated a Hollow Piston Chamber Floor Aperture (35) situated at the base of the said Hollow' Piston Chamber (6) through which the lowest section of the Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is free to move in a vertical direction and through which the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) is coupled directly to a Compressor Piston (24) inside the Compressor Unit (C), Referring now to Figure 4w, there is illustrated an angled bottom view elevation of the base of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6). Figure 4w shows the Hollow Piston Chamber Male Locking Formation (81), which forms the male part of a quarter turn lock which fits inside the Compressor Chamber Female Locking Formation (82), which is located on the upper part of the said Compressor Unit (C), so that when the Quarter Turn Lock Lip (93) of the male part corresponds with the Quarter Turn Lock Gap (94) in the female part of the said Compressor Chamber Female Locking Formation (82), the said Hollow Piston Chamber Male Locking Formation (81) can be lowered inside the space in the said Compressor Housing Female Locking Formation (82) and then turned in a clockwise direction so that the Quarter Turn Lock Lip (93) on the said Hollow Piston Chamber Male Locking Formation (81) will be lodged underneath the lip on the Compressor Housing Female Locking Formation (82) thus preventing any vertical movement. The said quarter turn locking mechanism connecting the said Hollow Piston Chamber Male Locking Formation (81) with the said Compressor Housing Female Locking Formation (82) can be held in place by Retainer Pins (14), which are simple pins uniting two Retainer Pin Slots (59). The said Retainer Pin Slots (59) being part of the body of the Hollow Piston Chamber (6) and the said Compressor Unit (C) and are designed with the purpose of holding the said J quarter-turn locking mechanism in place when the said Retainer Pin (14) is dropped into position through the holes in the slots, thus preventing any lateral movement of the said quarter turn locking mechanism which might enable the said quarter turn locking mechanism to open. The said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) and the said Compressor Unit (C) can be coupled together by any other equally secure locking mechanism.' All the components thus listed and all the said components’ constituent parts can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described.

Figures 5, 5a, 5b,5c,5d,5e,5f,5g Referring to Figure 5, there is illustrated a cross section side view depicting the components that comprise the Compressor Unit (C).

The said Compressor Unit (C) comprises: a Compressor Housing (11), which, being the main body of the Compressor Unit (C), is constructed in this embodiment of the invention using any suitably strong resilient, light weight, corrosion-resistant material. As illustrated in Figure 5 the said Compressor Housing (11) supports the said Wave Water Capture Component (B), so that the Compressor Housing (11) and the Wave Water Capture Component (B) are locked together by secure means such as the aforementioned Male-Female Quarter Turn Lock mechanism held by Retainer Pins inserted into Retainer Pin Slots held in turn by a secure tie or locked together by other means of secure connection other than the form hereinbefore described.

Referring now to Figure 5a which shows an angled top view elevation of the said Compressor Unit (C) and illustrates the Compressor Housing Female Locking Formation (82), which forms the upper part of the said Compressor Unit (C), and into which the male part of the Quarter Turn Lock on the base of the aforementioned Hollow Piston Chamber (6) (shown in Figure 4w) can be lowered and then turned a quarter turn in a clockwise direction so that the lip on the base of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) will be lodged under the lip on the top of the said Compressor Housing (11) thus preventing any vertical movement. The said Quarter Turn Locking mechanism can then be held in place by the aforementioned Retainer Pins, which are simple pins uniting two aforementioned Retainer Pin Slots (59); one of the said Retainer Pin Slots (59) forming part of the base of the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) and the other of the said Retainer Pin Slots (59) forming part of the top of the said Compressor Housing (11) and designed with the purpose of holding the Quarter Turn Lock in place when the said Retainer Pin is dropped into position through the holes in the slots, thus preventing any lateral movement, which might enable the Quarter Turn Lock to open.

Referring again to Figure 5, which shows the inside of the said Compressor Housing (11) in which there is shown a Compressor Chamber (22). The said Compressor Chamber (22), being a hollow cylindrical chamber contained inside the said Compressor Housing (11) and constructed of strong, resilient, heat resistant material. The said Compressor Chamber (22).can be made in any suitable material, form or position sufficient for its purpose according to the invention other than the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Also shown in Figure 5, is the said Compressor Chamber (22), which according to the invention, is open at the top and surrounds the lower end of the aforementioned Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), which the said Compressor Chamber (22) thus guides: the base of the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2), being free to move in a vertical direction within the upper part of the said Compressor Chamber (22).

Referring now to Figure 5b, which is a cross-section side view that shows the various components inside the said Compressor Housing (11). Illustrated in figure 5b (and also in Figure 5a) is a Compressor Chamber Insulation Sleeve (39). The said Compressor Chamber Insulation Sleeve (39) being a wide tube of insulating material surrounding the said Compressor Chamber (22) which is positioned to prevent heat damage to the Compressor Housing (11).

Also illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b as inside the said Compressor Housing (11) according to the invention, is the Compressor Chamber Fluid Intake Pipes (40), being a plurality of tubes contained within the Compressor Chamber Insulation Sleeve (39) and connecting the open upper part of the Compressor Chamber (22) to the base of the said Compressor Chamber (22) for the purpose of delivering air into the Compressor Chamber' (22). The said Compressor Chamber Fluid Intake Pipes (40) can be made of any suitably strong resilient, lightweight, corrosion-resistant material.

Also illustrated in figure 5b as being inside the said Compressor Housing (11) in this embodiment of the invention are depicted the Compressor Chamber Fluid Intake Valves (41), being spring loaded valves in the base of the Compressor Chamber (22) and connected to the said Compressor Chamber Air Intake Pipes (40) and constructed so as to admit air into the said Compressor Chamber (22) and prevent the escape of air from the said’Compressor Chamber (22). Figure 5c show's a cross-section side view of one of the said Compressor Chamber Air Intake Valves (41), w'hich can be made from any suitably strong resilient, heat and corrosion-resistant material as required by the invention.

Also illustrated in Figure 5b as situated inside the said Compressor Chamber (22) according to the invention is a Compressor Piston Connection Rod (42), the said Compressor Piston Connection Rod (42) being a strong heat-resistant connecting rod. The' top of the said Compressor Piston Connection Rod (42) is joined to the open base of the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air intake Pipe (2), which is free to move in a vertical direction through the open top of the said Compressor Chamber (22). The said Compressor-Piston Connection Rod (42) is joined to the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) by means of a Compressor Piston Connection Rod Perforated Coupling (95) through which air is free to move from the said Hollow Piston Shaft Air Intake Pipe (2) into the said Compressor Chamber (22) via Perforated Coupling Vertical Air Pipes (96) situated in the said Compressor Piston Connection Rod Perforated Coupling (95).

Figure 5g is a cross-section top view of the said Compressor Piston Connection Rod Perforated Coupling (95), which shows the said Perforated Coupling Vertical Air Pipes (96). The said Compressor Piston Connection Rod Perforated Coupling (95) can be made of any suitably strong resilient, heat and corrosion-resistant material as required by the invention.

Also illustrated in Figure 5b as being inside the said Compressor Chamber (22) according to the invention is the Compressor Piston (24), being connected to the bottom of the said Compressor Piston Connection Rod (42). The said Compressor Piston (24) being a heatresistant solid cylinder surrounded by a seal of further heat-resistant material, and which maintains contact with the interior walls of the Compressor Chamber (22) in order to prevent air leakage while still being free to move in vertical direction. The said Compressor Piston (24) can be made in any other suitable shape, position or material, sufficient for its purpose as required by the invention other than, and in addition to, the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Also illustrated in Figure 5b as being inside the said Compressor Chamber (22) according to the invention is a Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43), being an adjustable, spring-loaded valve in the base of the Compressor Chamber (22) whose mechanism allows the expulsion into the Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21) of the compressed fluid created by the downward pressure of the said Compressor Piston (24). The said Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43) also prevents the return of the said compressed fluid to the Compressor Chamber (22) after the said compressed fluid has been expelled. The said Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43) can be adjusted to slow the expulsion of the said compressed fluid so as to delay the downward movement of the Compressor Piston (24) and thus also delay the descent of the Hollow Piston (7) to which the Compressor Piston (24) is coupled.

Referring now to Figure 5d, which shows a cross-section side view of the said Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43) with the Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve Adjuster (68), which can be adjusted to control the quantity of air that can pass through the said Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43) at any time. The said Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43) is made of strong resilient, corrosion-resistant material, which can be in any other suitable shape, position or material for the purposes of the invention other than the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Referring again to Figure 5b, which shows as situated inside the said Compressor Housing (11) a Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44), the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) being a channel in the body of the Compressor Housing (11) shaped to contain part of the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21) and which can be constructed in any other suitable shape, position or material, sufficient for its purpose as required by the invention other than, and in addition to, the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Also shown in Figure 5b as situated inside the said Compressor Housing (11) according to the invention is the aforementioned Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21), being a pipe positioned within the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) and connected at its top to the said Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43) at the base of the said Compressor Chamber (22).

Referring again to Figure 5 there is also illustrated a Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D), the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) being a robust, flatsurfaced float attached at Mean Water Surface Level (M) to the exterior of the said Compressor Housing (11) in order to provide buoyancy and stability and help maintain the position of the said Apparatus (A) in the water column. The said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) remains at Mean Water Surface Level (M) at all times and provides a secure platform for maintenance and buoyancy adjustment for the' said Apparatus (A). The said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) can be made of any strong resilient, light weight, corrosion-resistant, suitably buoyant material and can be in any other suitable shape or position for the purposes of the invention other than, and in addition, to the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Figure 5 also shows situated upon the upper side of the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) according to the invention a Floatation Component Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Connection (45), being a sealable hose valve housing for the delivery of water or air or any other suitable substance into the Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe (46).

Also shown in Figure 5 as situated within the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) is a Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Duct (47) to which the Floatation Component Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Connection (45) is fitted, the said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe Duct (47) being a channel inside the body of the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) in which a pipe can be contained and coupled to the Floatation Component Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Connection (45).

Also shown in Figure 5 as situated within the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) is the said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe (46), being a pipe for the transmission of air or water or any other suitable substance. The said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe (46) is connected to the said Floatation Component Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Connection (45) and is contained within the said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Duct (47).

Also shown in Figure 5 as situated upon the upper surface of the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) is the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Cap, (48). The said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Cap being a sealable housing, which closes off the top of the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipe Duct (54), and contains the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipe Stop Valves (49).

Referring now to Figure 5e there is shown a cross-section side view of an example of the I said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipe Stop Valves (49), which can be simple stop valves, which release air from the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipes (50) when opened, and prevent the escape of the said air when closed.

Referring again to Figure 5 there is shown according to the invention as situated within the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipe Duct (54), which is a channel containing the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipes (50); the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipe Duct (54).

Also shown in Figure 5 as situated within the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipe Duct (54) are the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipes (50) being pipes connecting the aforementioned Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Stop Valves (49) to the Floatation Unit f Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers (51) for the purpose of releasing air from the said Floatation Unit Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers (51).

Also illustrated in Figure 5 and also in Figure 5f, there is shown as forming the base of the said Compressor Housing (11) a Compressor Housing Male Locking Formation (83); the said Compressor Housing Male Locking Formation (83) is a Locking mechanism, such as a Male Female Quarter Turn Lock held by a Dowel (53); the said locking mechanism can take the form of any other equally secure locking mechanism situated as part of the base of the said Compressor Housing (11) and with which the said Compressor Unit (C) can be mounted upon and locked by secure means to the upper part of another unit; or, alternatively, the said locking mechanism can be in any other form or position or material suitable for its purpose according to the invention other than the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Figure 5f also shows a side view of a Dowel (53), which is a simple slim rod, which can be lowered into a Dowel Duct (70) for the purpose of preventing any lateral movement, which might open a Quarter Turn Locking Mechanism.

Referring again to Figure 5 which also shows as situated at the extremities of the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) are Mooring Eyes (57) which are hollows extending through the body of the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) through which mooring ropes can be threaded for the purpose of securing vessels to the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D).

All the constituent components thus illustrated and described and all the said components’ constituent parts can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose, as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiments herein before described.

Figures 6,6a,6b,6c,6d,6e Referring now to Figure 6 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view of a Floatation Component (E) consisting of Floatation Units (13), being a plurality of cylindrical floats constructed from strong, robust, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, material which can be mounted one on top of the next in sequence by secure means such as a Quarter Turn Lock Mechanism involving a Floatation Component Male Locking Formation (86) locked to a Floatation Component Female Locking Formation (85) secured by a Quarter Turn Lock held in place by Floatation Component Dowels (53), being rods placed through the length of the said Floatation Component (E) for the purpose of preventing lateral movement of the said Quarter Turn Lock Mechanism which might cause the locking mechanism to open. Furthermore the uppermost of the said Floatation Units (13) supports, and is connected to, the base of the aforementioned Compressor Unit (C) by secure means such as the said Floatation Component Male / Female Quarter Turn Locking Formation held in place by Dowels (53), or by any other suitably strong and secure means of connection.

Referring now to Figure 6a, which shows a top view of said Floatation Unit (13) illustrating the said Floatation Component Female Locking Formation (85).

Referring now to Figure 6b, which shows an angled top view elevation of said Floatation Unit (13) illustrating the Floatation Component Female Locking Formation (85).

Referring now to Figure 6c, which shows a bottom view of said Floatation Unit (13) illustrating the Floatation Component Male Locking Formation (86), which is the male part of the said Male-Female Quarter Turn Lock. The said Floatation Component Male Locking Formation (86) locks into the Floatation Component Female Locking Formation (85) on the top part of the next of the said Floatation Units (13) to form the said Floatation Component (E). Also illustrated in Figure 6c is the Floatation Unit Maintenance Aperture (58) being an aperture through which the interior of the said Floatation Unit (13) can be accessed for maintenance or other purposes.

Referring now to Figure 6d, which shorvs a bottom view at an angle of the said Floatation Unit. (13) illustrating the Floatation Component Male Locking Formation (86) and the said Floatation Unit Maintenance Aperture (58).

Referring now to Figure 6e, which shows an enlarged cross section side view of part of the said Floatation Component (Έ) at the point where two Floatation Units (13) are joined.

Figures 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e also show according to this embodiment of the invention as contained in the walls of the said Floatation Units (13) various vertical ducts for pipes · which align when the said Floatation Units (13) are locked together to form a continuous duct through the said Floatation Component (E) can be positioned in any suitable location in the said Floatation Component (E).

Also shown in Figures .6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e as situated in the walls of the said Floatation Units according to this embodiment of the invention is a Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44), the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) being a vertical channel in the body of the said Floatation Units (13), and thus continuous in the Floatation Component (E) when all the said Floatation Units (13) are locked together. The said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) aligns with the Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) in the Compressor Housing (It) when the Compressor Unit (C) is locked to the uppermost Floatation Unit (13) of the Floatation Component (E). The said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) serves the purpose of housing the aforementioned Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21), which connects the aforementioned Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve' (43) at the base of the said Compressor Chamber (22) to the Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (G) at the base of the Floatation Component (E), which is shown in Figure 1.

Also shown in Figures 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e as situated in the walls of the said Floatation Units according to this embodiment of the invention is a Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe Duct (47). The said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe Duct (47) being a vertical channel in the body of the said Floatation Units (13), and thus continuous in the Floatation Component (E) when the said Floatation Units (13) are locked together. In the case of the uppermost Floatation Unit (13), the said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe Duct (47) aligns with the Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe Duct (47) in the Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D), when the Compressor Unit (C) is locked to the uppermost Floatation Unit (13) of the Floatation Component (E). The said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe Duct (47) serves the purpose of housing the Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe (46). The said Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe (46) being a hosepipe suitable for the delivery of both air and water, or other appropriate substances for the purpose of adjusting the buoyancy of a Floatation Unit (13).

Also shown in Figures 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e as situated in the walls of the said Floatation Units according to this embodiment of the invention is the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipe Duet (54), being a vertical channel in the body of the said Floatation Units (13), and thus continuous in the Floatation Component (E) when the said Floatation Units (13) are locked together to form the said Floatation Component (E). The said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Flose Pipe Duct (54) serves to contain all the aforementioned Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Release Hose Pipes (50).

Thus also shown in Figures 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e as situated in the walls of the said .

Floatation Units according to this embodiment of the invention are the Floatation Component Dowel Ducts (70) being vertical channels in the body of the said Floatation Units (13), and thus continuous in the Floatation Component (E) when the said Floatation Units (13) are locked together to form the said Floatation Component (E); the said Floatation Component Dowel Ducts (70) serve to contain the aforementioned Floatation Component Dowels (53) which are shown in Figure 6.

Referring again to Figure 6 and 6e, which also show as situated in the Floatation Component (E) according to this embodiment of the invention an Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51), the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51) being the hollow interior of each of a Floatation Unit (13) and which is designed to contain air or water or any other suitable substance. The said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51) is sealed at the top in the manner of a diving bell apart from an Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipe (50).

Also illustrated in Figure 6 and 6e according to the invention are the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipes (50) being pipes connecting the roof of each of the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers (51) to the aforementioned Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipe Valves (49) which are shown in Figure 5 as being situated on the said Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D) for the purpose of releasing air or any other appropriate substance from the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chambers (51).

Also illustrated in Figure 6 and 6e according to the invention is a Buoyancy Adjuster Side Pipe (55), the said Buoyancy Adjuster Side Pipe (55) being a branch pipe connecting the Buoyancy Adjuster Hose Pipe (46) to the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51) for the purpose of delivering air, water, or any other appropriate substance.

Also illustrated in Figure 6 and 6e according to the invention is a Water Drain Pipe (56), a Water Drain Pipe (56) being a water pipe, which is situated at the base of the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51), and through which ballast water can be expelled from the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51) when air is pumped in through the said BuoyancyAdjuster Hose Pipe (46) for the purpose of increasing the buoyancy of the said Floatation Component (E). The said Water Drain Pipe (56) can also provide a channel through which water can freely enter the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51) when air is removed from the said Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (51) via the aforementioned Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber Air Pressure Relief Hose Pipe Valves (49). The said Water Drain Pipe (56). can be a shaped part of the body of the said Floatation Unit (13).

All the constituent components heretofore illustrated and described, and all the said components’ constituent parts, can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described.

Figures 7,7a,7b,7c,7d,7e,7f,7g,7h,7i,7k Referring now to Figure 7, in which there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross section side view depicting the components that comprise the Stability Plate Component (F).

Included in the said Stability Plate Component (F) is a Stability Plate (16), the said Stability Plate (16) being a disk of rigid, heavy, robust material positioned for the purpose of enabling the said Apparatus (A) to resist pressure from waves which might force the said Apparatus (A) to move in a vertical direction. Thus the said Stability Plate (16) serves the purpose of anchoring the said Apparatus (A) in a generally stationary position in the , water column.

Referring now' to Figure 7a, Figure 7b, and Figure 7c.

Figure 7a shows an angled top view elevation of the said Stability Plate (16).

Figure 7b shows a top view elevation of the said Stability Plate (16).

Figure 7c shows a cross section side view of the said Stability Plate (16).

Shown in Figure 7a, Figure 7b, and Figure 7c according to this embodiment of the invention is the Stability Plate Quarter Turn Lock Aperture (73), the said Stability Plate Quarter Turn Lock Aperture (73) being a large opening through which the upper and lower sections of the said Stability Plate Component (F) are locked together by means of a Quarter Turn Lock.

Also shown in Figure 7a, Figure 7b, and Figure 7c are the Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72), the Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72) being channels through which the Stability Plate Dowels (71) are placed in order to prevent any lateral movement, which might allow the · said Quarter Turn Lock to open.

Also shown in Figure 7a, Figure 7b, and Figure 7c are Stability Plate Mooring Eyes (97). the said Stability Plate Mooring Eyes (97) being a plurality of large apertures in the outer extremities of the Stability Plate (16), through which Mooring Ropes (J) can be connected to the Apparatus (A).

The said Stability Plate Quarter Turn Lock Aperture (73), the said Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72), the said Stability Plate Dowels (71), and the said Stability Plate Mooring Eyes (97),can be constructed in any other suitable shape, position or material as required by the invention.

Referring again to Figure 7 there is shown according to this embodiment of the invention that the said Stability Plate Component (F) is attached to the said Floatation Component (E) by means of a Male Stability Plate Flange (15), which is locked to the underside of the lowest aforementioned Floatation Unit (13) of the said Floatation Component (E) by means of a quarter turn lock held in place by Dowels (23). The said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) is in turn secured through the said Stability Plate Quarter Turn Lock Aperture (73), to the lower Female Stability Plate Flange (17) by means of a quarter turn lock held in place by the said Stability Plate Dowels (71).

Referring to Figure 7d, which shows a top viewr of the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15); there is illustrated according to the invention the Male Stability Plate Flange Female Locking Formation (87), which is the female part of the aforementioned quarter turn lock formation on the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) into which the Floatation Component Male Locking Formation (86) can be locked for the purpose of uniting the said Floatation Component (E) with the said Stability Plate Component (F): the said Male Stability Plate Flange Female Locking Formation (87).

Also illustrated in Figure 7d as situated in the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) are the Floatation Component Dowel Ducts (70), which hold the Floatation Component Dowels (53) and which serve to prevent any lateral movement of the said quarter turn locking mechanism. The said Floatation Component Dowel Ducts (70) are situated in the I said Male Stability Plate Flange (15).

Also shown in Figure 7d as situated in the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) is the Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44), which aligns with Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) in the said Floatation Component (E). The said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44) in the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) serves the purpose of housing the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21) in the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15).

Also shown in Figure 7d as situated in the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) are the Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72), being ducts for housing the Stability Plate Dowels (71).

Referring now to Figure 7e, which shows a bottom view of said Male Stability Plate Flange (15), and in which there is shown the Male Stability Plate Flange Male Locking Formation (88) which is the male part of the aforementioned Stability Plate Quarter Turn Locking Mechanism; the said Male Stability Plate Flange Male Locking Formation (88) fits through the Stability Plate Quarter Turn Lock Aperture (73) to lock into the female part of the said Stability Plate Quarter Turn Lock in the said Female Stability Plate Flange (17).

Also illustrated in Figure 7e are the Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72) for the Stability Plate Dowels (71).

In addition there is also illustrated in Figure 7e the Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Connection (20) to which the Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (G) connects to the Floatation Component (E).

Referring now to Figure 7f, which shows a cross-section side view of the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) and in which there is shown the said Male Stability Plate Flange Female Locking Formation (87), the said Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72), the said Floatation Component Dowel Ducts (70), the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44), the said Male Stability Plate Flange Male Locking Formation (88), and the said Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Connection (20).

Referring now to Figure 7g, which shows an angled top view elevation of the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) and in which is shown the said Male Stability Plate Flange Female Locking Formation (87), the said Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72), the said Floatation Component Dowel Ducts (70), the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44), and the said Male Stability Plate Flange Male Locking Formation (88).

Referring now to Figure 7h, which shows a top view of the said Female Stability Plate Flange (17), which locks onto, to the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) in order to hold the said Stability Plate in position.

Illustrated also in Figure 7h is the Female Stability Plate Flange Female Locking Formation (89) which forms the female part of the said Stability Plate Component Quarter Turn Locking Mechanism;.

Also shown in Figure 7h as situated in the said Female Stability Plate Flange (17) are the said Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72); the said Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72) can be constructed in any other suitable shape, position or material sufficient to fulfill their purpose as required by the invention other than the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Referring now to Figure 7i, which shows the bottom view of the said Female Stability Plate Flange (17) and in which there is shown the said Female Stability Plate Flange Female Locking Formation (89).

Referring again to Figure 7, there is shown according to the invention on the underside of the said Stability Plate Unit (F) the aforementioned Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Connection (20). The said Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Connection (20) serves the purpose of connecting a Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (G) to the Apparatus (A) so that the aforementioned Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21) can be threaded through the said Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose (G) so as to fconvey compressed fluid from the Apparatus (A) to a Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (H) on the bed of a body of water or to any other facility for the exploitation of the said compressed fluid.

Also shown in Figure 7 according to the invention are Mooring Eyes (57) which are situated in the outer parts of the said Stability Plate (16) and to which the said Mooring Ropes (J) can be attached for the purpose of securing the said Apparatus (A) to seabed anchors. The said Mooring Ropes (J), being suitably strong, resilient ropes or cables or ties, which can secure the Stability Plate (16), and thus the entirety of the said Apparatus (A), to anchors on the sea or lake bed.

Also shown in Figure 7 are the said Stability Plate Dowel Ducts (72), the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15), the said Female Stability Plate Flange (17), the said Stability Plate (16), the said Stability Plate Quarter Turn Lock Aperture (73), the said Female Stability Plate Flange Female Locking Formation (89), the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe Duct (44).

Referring now to Figure 7k, which shows a cross-section side view of the aforementioned Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Connection (20). In this embodiment of the invention the said Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Connection (20) is secured by Bolts (97) to the underside of the said Male Stability Plate Flange (15) for the purpose of connecting the aforementioned Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (G) to the base of the aforementioned Floatation Component (E) so as to deliver the aforementioned Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21) to a facility on the seabed or elsewhere.

Also shown in Figure 7k are the said Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21), the said Flexible Insulated Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (G), and the connecting components: the Flexible Insulated Hose Cap Nut Flange (76), Flexible Insulated Hose O-ring (77), Flexible Insulated Hose Washer (78), the Flexible Insulated Hose Nipple (79), and the Flexible Insulated Hose Flange (80).

All the constituent components of the Apparatus (A) illustrated and described and all the said components’ constituent parts can be made in any form, material or position sufficient for their purpose as required by the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment herein before described.

Figure 8 Referring now to Figure 8, there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross section side view depicting the said Apparatus (A) when an average wave is at its lowest position, this being the position at which the Hollow Piston (7) is also at its lowest position, the said Hollow Piston (7) having been free to rise vertically with the previous wave ascending but not free to fall with the previous wave having been delayed by the pressure exerted by the compressed fluid contained in the Compressor Chamber (22) or by other means of delaying the descent of said Hollow' Piston (7). Thus the Hollow' Piston (7) falls under the full pressure its own weight and the water it contains and reaches its lowest position when the compressed fluid has been duly forced from the said Compressor Chamber (22), and the said Hollow' Piston (7) has completed its full descent under the full pressure of its own weight and the water it contains, at which point the said Hollow Piston (7) will come to rest on the aforementioned Surface Buoyancy Maintenance Platform (D).

It is also shown in Figure 8 that in this lowest position of the said Hollow Piston (7), the Hollow Piston Water Outlet Valves (9) in the Hollow Piston Chamber (6) are aligned with the Hollow Piston Water Outlet Apertures (34) in the said Hollow Piston (7), thus allowing the captured water inside the said Hollow' Piston (7) to flow out of the said Hollow Piston (7) before the arrival of the next wave. In this lowest position of the said Hollow' Piston (7), it is also illustrated that air and water inside the Hollow Piston Chamber (6) have been expelled through the Hollow' Piston Chamber Sump Fluid Outlet Valves (10) by the downward pressure of the said Hollow Piston (7).

Also illustrated in Figure 8 according to this embodiment of the invention in this lowest position of the Hollow' Piston (7) is the position of the Compressor Piston (24) in the Compressor Chamber (22). The said Compressor Piston (24), being a part of, and coupled to, the said Hollow Piston (7), is also at its lowest position in the Compressor Chamber (22), its downward movement having expelled the compressed air contained in the Compressor Chamber (22) through the Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43), thereby sending the compressed air into the Compressed Fluid Hose Pipe (21), through which the compressed air will be pumped downward by each successive wave acting on the said Water Wave Capture Component (B), and be dispatched via the Flexible Insulated Compressed Air Hose (G), which is shown in Figure 1, for storage or exploitation elsewhere. This arrangement of the components can be arranged in any other suitable shape or position sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Figure 9 Referring now Figure 9, there is illustrated in this embodiment according to the invention a cross section side view' depicting the uppermost part of the Apparatus (A) when an average wave is in the process of rising. In this position the Hollow Piston (7) is rising through its middle position, the said Hollow Piston (7) being free to rise vertically with each ascending wave.

Thus, as the said Hollow' Piston (7) rises, a vacuum is created in the Hollow' Piston Chamber (6) by the rising Hoilow Piston (7) and this vacuum draws air into the said Hollow Piston Chamber (6) via the Hollow Piston Chamber Air Inlet Valves (30). At the same time the upward movement of the Compressor Piston (24) in the Compressor Chamber (22) creates a vacuum in the said Compressor Chamber (22) and this vacuum draws air into the Compressor Chamber (22) via the Compressor Fluid Intake Pipes (40). This arrangement of the components can be arranged in any other suitable shape or position sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Figure 10 Referring now' to Figure 10, there Is illustrated according to the invention a cross section side view depicting the uppermost part of the said Apparatus (A) when an average wave has risen to its maximum height, this being the position at which all of the said Apparatus (A) is submerged beneath the w'ater surface with the exception of the upper part of the Hollow Piston Shaft Air intake Pipe (2) and the Air Intake Cowl (1). In this position the said Hollow' Piston (7) has also risen to its maximum height, the said Hollow Piston (7) being free to rise vertically with each ascending wave until the Hollow Piston Flexible Roof (38) of the said Hollow Piston (7) is prevented from rising further by the underside of the Hollow Piston Chamber Roof (27). In this position the Hollow Piston Water Inlet Valves (8) in the wall of the Hollow Piston Chamber (6), are aligned with the Water Inlet Apertures (33) in the said Hollow Piston (7), and water from the average-sized wave is free to enter and fdl the Hollow Piston (7).

It is also at this point that the air, which has been drawn into the Compressor Housing (22) by the vacuum created by the upward movement of the Compressor Piston (24), has now' entirely fdled, and is trapped within, the said Compressor Chamber (22). This arrangement of the components can be arranged in any other suitable shape or position sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the invention other than, or in addition to, the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Figure 11 Referring now to Figure 11, there is illustrated according to the invention a cross section side view depicting the uppermost part of the Apparatus (A) when an average wave is in the process of descending. Due to the stability and adjustable buoyancy of the Apparatus (A), the main body of the said Apparatus (A) does not fall to any great extent below mean water surface level (M) as the average wave descends. Illustrated in Figure 11 is the position of the Apparatus (A) when a falling wave is below its middle position, this being the position at which the Hollow Piston (7) is still descending to its middle position, the descent of the Hollow' Piston (7) being delayed by the resistance caused by the pressure of air in the Compressor Chamber (22) which is being delayed in its escape from the said Compressor Chamber (22) by the restrictive size of the Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43) so as to prevent the Hollow-· Piston (7) from falling at the same time as the receding wave. This delayed descent of the Hollow Piston (7) results in the said Hollow' Piston (7) being supported at this point in its descent by nothing other than the trapped air in the said Compressor Chamber (22). As a consequence, this delay causes the full weight of captured water in the Hollow' Piston (7) plus the weight of the Hollow Piston (7) and the Hollow Piston Buoyancy Float (5) to press down on the captured air in the Compressor Chamber (22) and to compress the captured air in the said Compressor Chamber (22) to the maximum degree, and, furthermore, this pressure causes the said captured air to be forced through the Compressed Fluid Outlet Valve (43), and the Compressed Air Hose Pipe (21), the Flexible Insulated Compressed Air Hose Pipe (G) (shown in Figure 1) and into the Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (H), (shown in Figure 1), for storage in the Compressed Fluid Storage Tank (H) and later delivery for exploitation elsewhere. This process or arrangement of the components can be made in any other suitable material, means, shape or position sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the invention other than the shaped embodiment hereinbefore described.

Claims (51)

Claims

1) An apparatus for harnessing the gravitational potential energy in wave water, the apparatus comprising a) a floatation component, which is maintained in position and buoyant in the water column in such a manner that the said floatation component maintains the buoyancy of the said apparatus in the water column: b) stabilizing components attached to the said floatation component, the said stabilizing components being shaped and deployed to restrict i) lateral movement of the said floatation component at the surface of the body of water, ii) vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column, and iii) the position of the said floatation component in the body of water: iv) through the adjustable buoyancy of the said floatation component, c) a wave water capture component fixable in place relative to the said floatation component, the said wave water capture component being shaped and positioned to remain above the mean water level but being sufficiently low in stature to be submerged by the average wave, d) a buoyant moving component, which can take the form of a hollow piston attached to a float, and which is fixable in place relative to the said wave water capture component but free to move independently of the said wave water capture component, the said buoyant moving component being constructed to be sufficiently buoyant to be elevated by'the average wave, but also being restricted in the distance to which it can be elevated so that the said buoyant moving component is eventually submerged by the average wave, the said buoyant moving component also being shaped to temporarily capture and retain a volume of water, the said buoyant moving component also being shaped to release the said volume of w’ater following the descent of the said buoyant moving component; e) a compressor unit fixable in place relative to the said floatation component, the said compressor unit being of a form and structure which allows fluids to be admitted, compressed and expelled in compressed form; f) a delaying mechanism incorporated into the said apparatus in a form that delays the descent of the said buoyant moving component until the said buoyant moving component can descend unsupported by a receding wave, the said delaying mechanism can include the use of compressed fluid partially trapped in the said compressor unit.

2. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said floatation component has sufficient buoyancy to float at the uppermost level in a body of water but is constructed so as not to rise above the surface of the said body of water.

3. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said stabilization components include a surface buoyancy maintenance platform fixed to the said floatation component, the said surface buoyancy maintenance platform being constructed of buoyant material and fixed to the said floatation component in such a way that it can maintain the upper most part of the said floatation component at the surface of the body of water and can restrict lateral movement by the said floatation component.

4. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said stabilization components include a stability plate attached to the said floatation component, the said stability plate being shaped to restrict vertical movement of the said floatation component in a column of water.

5. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said stabilization components include mooring ropes connecting the said apparatus to anchors in the bed of the body of water in such a manner as to maintain the said apparatus in a fixed position and restrict lateral movement.

6. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said wave water capture component includes a hollow piston chamber which is fixable relative to the said floatation component, the said hollow' piston chamber being positioned so as to protrude above the surface of the body of water but also being shaped to be sufficiently low in height so as to be fully submerged by the average wave.

7. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said buoyant moving component includes a hollow piston fitting exactly within the said hollow' piston chamber, the said hollow piston being free to move vertically for a limited distance within the said hollow piston chamber.

8. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said wave water capture component also includes a plurality of hollow piston water inlet valves and apertures positioned in the walls of the said hollow piston and the said hollow piston chamber, the said hollow piston w'ater inlet valves and apertures being shaped and positioned to allow the entry of water and prevent the escape of the said water.

9. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said wave water capture component also includes a plurality of hollow piston outlet valves and apertures positioned in the walls of the said hollow piston and the said hollow piston chamber, the said hollow piston outlet valves and apertures being shaped and positioned so as to retain water until the said hollow piston has completed its full descent.

10. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said wave water capture component also includes'a plurality of hollow piston chamber air inlet pipes located in the said hollow piston chamber and in the base of the said hollow piston, the said hollow piston chamber air inlet pipes being shaped and positioned to admit air into the said hollow piston chamber upon the upward movement of the said hollow piston,

11. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the said wave water capture component also includes a sump in the floor of the said hollow piston chamber, the said sump being shaped and positioned in such a manner as to allow for the evacuation of fluid, the said sump also being fluidly connected to hollow piston chamber sump fluid outlet pipes and valves, the said hollow piston chamber sump fluid outlet pipes and valves being pipes and valves shaped for the removal and exclusion of fluid.

12. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said buoyant moving component also includes a hollow piston shaft fixed to the said hollow piston, the said hollow piston shaft being shaped and positioned to form the central rod of the said hollow piston, the said hollow piston shaft also being shaped and positioned to extend through apertures in the roof and floor of the said hollow piston chamber, the said hollow piston shaft also being free to move vertically through the said apertures in the said hollow piston chamber.

13. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 12. wherein the said buoyant moving component also includes a hollow piston buoyancy float situated outside the said hollow piston chamber and fixable relative to the said hollow piston shaft at a point on the said hollow piston shaft above the roof of the said hollow piston chamber when the said hollow piston buoyancy float is resting on the surface of the said surface buoyancy maintenance platform, the said hollow piston buoyancy float being constructed to be sufficiently buoyant to lift the said hollow piston shaft and also the said hollow piston, when elevated by a wave.

14. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said wave water capture I component also includes a plurality of hollow piston buoyancy float guides, the said hollow piston buoyancy float guides being shaped and positioned in a manner that confines the said hollow piston buoyancy float to vertical movement only.

15. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the said hollow piston buoyancy float is connected loosely relative to the said hollow piston shaft at a point on the said hollow piston shaft above the roof of the said hollow piston chamber and beneath a hollow piston 5 shaft lifter, the said hollow piston shaft lifter being a structure, which forms part of, or is fixed to, the said hollow piston shaft, the said hollow piston shaft lifter being shaped to act as a barrier to the upward movement of the said hollow piston buoyancy float in such a way that the said hollow piston buoyancy float lifts the said hollow piston shaft on a rising wave but is free to fall independently of the said hollow piston shaft as the said wave 10 recedes.

16. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein various devices can be connected to the said hollow piston shaft in a manner that exploits the force exerted by the movement of the said hollow piston shaft for the purpose of carrying out work.

17. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein a compressor unit is fixable relative 15 to the said floatation component, the said compressor unit being fluidly connected to a source of fluid in a manner that allows fluid to be introduced into a compressor chamber within the said compressor unit and expelled from the said compressor chamber as part of a compression process.

18. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein a compressor rod and piston are fixed 20 to the base of the said hollow piston shaft, the said compressor rod and piston being situated in the said compressor chamber in such a way that the vertical movement of the said hollow piston shaft causes the said compressor rod and piston to move vertically within the said compressor chamber.

19. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein a plurality of compressor chamber 25 fluid intake valves are situated in the walls of the said compressor chamber, the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves being positioned and shaped to allow fluid to enter and be retained within the said compressor chamber. 2,0) An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein a plurality of compressed fluid outlet valves are situated in the walls of the said compressor chamber, the said compressed fluid 30 outlet valves being shaped and positioned to allow fluid in the said compressor chamber to escape and be excluded from the said compressor chamber when a set pressure within the said compressor chamber has been reached,

20. 21) An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the said plurality of compressed fluid outlet valves in the walls of the said compressor chamber, are adjustable to allow fluid in the said compressor chamber to escape only when various selected pressures have been reached.

21. 22) An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the said plurality of compressed fluid outlet valves are of a structure which allows them to be adjusted to release compressed fluid only when the pressure in the said compressor chamber reaches a pressure sufficient to slow the descent of the said buoyant moving component so that the said buoyant moving component descends unsupported by a receding wave.

22. 23) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein some, or all, of the said hollow piston buoyancy float guides are shaped to allow water to enter a hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber, the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber being shaped to retain wave water within the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide.

23. 24) An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein some, or all, of the said hollow piston buoyancy float guides are fitted externally with a buoyant freely-moving sleeve, the said buoyant freely-moving sleeve being shaped to allow water enter the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber when a rising wave has raised the said buoyant freelymoving sleeve to a set level, the said buoyant freely-moving sleeve also being constructed to prevent water leaving the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chamber until the said buoyant freely-moving sleeve has descended with a receding wave to a position below a set level, 2-5) An apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein some or all of the said hollow piston buoyancy float guides are shaped to accommodate buoyancy float guide chamber pistons, the said buoyancy float guide chamber pistons being attached to the said hollow piston buoyancy float, the said buoyancy float guide chamber pistons being shaped to fit exactly, and move vertically, within the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers so that the said buoyancy float guide chamber pistons are supported by any water retained within' the said hollow piston buoyancy float guide chambers by the said buoyant freely-moving sleeves until the said buoyant freely-moving sleeves have descended sufficiently to allow the said retained water to be released.

24. 26) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein any means, including, mechanical, chemical or electrical, can be deployed to delay the descent of the said buoyant moving component until the said buoyant moving component is unsupported by a receding wave.

25. 27) An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the said compressor unit is shaped so that the upward stroke of the said compressor rod and piston draws fluid into the said compressor chamber via the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the downward stroke of the said compressor rod and piston compresses the said fluid.

26. 28) An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the said compressor unit is shaped so that both the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves and the said compressed fluid outlet valves are situated in both the upper and lower parts of the said compressor chamber in such a manner that the downward stroke of the said compressor rod and piston draws fluid into the upper part of the said compressor chamber via the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves connected to the upper part of the said compressor chamber while at the same time the said compressor rod and piston is compressing fluid in the lower part of the said compressor chamber; and upon the upward stroke the said compressor rod and piston compresses the said fluid in the upper part of the said compressor chamber while at the same time drawing fluid into the lower part of the said compressor chamber via the said compressor chamber fluid intake valves positioned in the lower part of the compressor chamber, the said compressed fluid outlet valves in both the upper and lower parts of the compressor chamber being positioned and set to release the compressed fluid from the compressor chamber when a suitable pressure has been reached.

27. 29) An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein a plurality of compressed fluid hose pipes fluidly connect the said compressed fluid outlet valves to a device, or devises, for the exploitation of compressed fluid from the said compressor chamber.

28. 30) An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the said hollow piston shaft is shaped into the form of a hollow; piston shaft air intake pipe, the said hollow- piston shaft air intake pipe being fluidly connected to the compressor chamber fluid intake valves, the said hollow- piston shaft air intake pipe being of sufficient length to extend above the average wave so that the uppermost pail of the said hollow' piston shaft air intake pipe is always in contact with air.

29. 31) An apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe is fitted with an air intake cowl, the said air intake cowl being shaped to prevent the entry of water into the said hollow piston shaft air intake pipe.

30. 32) An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the roof of the said hollow piston chamber is shaped so that the said roof of the said hollow piston chamber can be attached to, and detached from, the walls of the said hollow piston chamber.

31. 33) An apparatus as claimed in ail preceding claims, wherein the said floatation component consists of one or more floatation units, a floatation unit being a robust buoyant structure or float shaped to facilitate the insertion or removal of fluids in a manner that allows for the adjustment of the buoyancy of the said floatation unit, thereby adjusting the buoyancy of the said floatation component in the water column.

32. 34) An apparatus as claimed in all preceding claims, wherein the said floatation unit contains an adjustable buoyancy chamber, the said adjustable buoyancy chamber being fluidly connected to external hose connections, the external hose connections being fittings which allow for the attachment of external hoses for the transmission of fluids via fluid pipe ducts in'the wall of the said floatation unit, the said fluid pipe ducts being shaped to house pipes for the transmission of fluid to and from the said adjustable buoyancy chamber.

33. 35) An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein a plurality of the said floatation units can be locked together to form an assemblage of the said floatation units so that the said I fluid pipe ducts in the walls of the said floatation units will form continuous ducts connecting the said external hose connections with the said adjustable buoyancy chambers.

34. 36) An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the said adjustable floatation units can be locked together to form an assemblage of the said adjustable floatation units with fluid pipe ducts in the walls of the said floatation units forming a continuous duct connecting the said compressed fluid outlet valves to an external hose connection.

35. 37) An apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the said floatation units can be locked together to form an assemblage of the said floatation units by means of a male to female quarter-turn locking mechanism held in place by dowels, the said dowels being rods shaped to fit into dowel ducts in the said adjustable floatation units to prevent any lateral . unlocking movement.

36. 38) An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein each, or all, of the said floatation units is shaped to contain a floatation unit maintenance aperture, the said floatation unit maintenance aperture being an aperture in the base of the said floatation unit shaped to ( enable maintenance to be carried out.

37. 39) An apparatus as claimed in all preceding claims, wherein the said surface buoyancy maintenance platform contains hose connections and pipes fluidly connected to the said floatation units in the said floatation component.

38. 40) An apparatus as claimed in all preceding claims, wherein a stability plate is attached to the said floatation component in a manner that restricts vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column, the said stability plate extending horizontally from the said floatation component so that any vertical movement of the said floatation component in the water column must lift a volume of water.

39. 41) An apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the said stability plate is shaped in a form that allows the said stability plate to be locked to, or unlocked from, the base of the said floatation component.

40. 42) An apparatus as claimed in claim 41, wherein the said stability plate is shaped in a form that allows the said stability plate to be locked to the said floatation component by means of a male - female quarter-turn locking mechanism or by any means which prevents the unlocking of the said male-female quarter-turn locking mechanism. 4-3) An apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the said stability plate is shaped in a form that allows the said stability plate to be locked to the said floatation component by means of a male - female quarter-turn locking mechanism through a central aperture in the said stability plate.

41. 44) An apparatus as claimed in claim 43, wherein the said stability plate is shaped in a form that allows the said stability plate to be locked to the said floatation component by means of a male - female quarter-turn locking mechanism held in place by dowels, the said dowels being rods shaped to fit into dowel ducts in the said stability plate in a manner that prevents any lateral unlocking movement,

42. 45) An apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein one or more of the said compressed fluid hose pipes fluidly connect the said compressed fluid outlet valves to one or more of the said compressed fluid storage tanks for the storage of the said compressed fluid.

43. 46) An apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose' connects the said compressed fluid hose pipes in the said floatation component to the said compressed fluid storage tank or to a plurality of said compressed fluid storage tanks.

44. 47) An apparatus as claimed in claim 46, wherein outlet valves fluidly connect the interior of the said compressed fluid storage tank to external insulated compressed fluid pipes in a manner that allows fluid to be ejected into the said external insulated compressed fluid pipes when a set pressure within the said compressed fluid storage tank is reached.

45. 48) An apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein compressed fluid stored in a compressed fluid storage tank can be drawn by the action of the said buoyant moving component via a flexible insulated compressed fluid hose into the vicinity of the s’aid compressor unit where the heat generated by the compression process can be exploited to expand the said compressed fluid for the purpose of turning a turbine.

46. 49) An apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein compressed fluid stored in a compressed fluid storage tank at low temperature can be further compressed by the injection of additional fluid driven by the action of the said buoyant moving component to the point where valves in the said compressed fluid storage tank release the said compressed fluid into pipes, which deliver the said compressed fluid to a device where the application of heat will expand the fluid and turn a turbine.

47. 50) An apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein the pumping action of the said buoyant moving component can be utilized to directly cause compressed fluid to turn a pump impellor so that fluid can be driven through pipes.

48. 51) An apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein the pumping action of the said buoyant moving component can be utilized to directly turn the impellor of a pump, which causes fluid to be impelled through a pipe.

49. 52) An apparatus as claimed in cjaim 45, wherein the pumping action of the said buoyant moving component can be directly utilized to cause a turbine to revolve with or without the use of gear mechanisms.

50. 53) An apparatus for harnessing the gravitational potential energy in wave water being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

51. 54) A process for harnessing the gravitational potential energy in wave water, using the apparatus as claimed in any previous claim, as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.