IE87215B1

IE87215B1 - A wave-lock marine energy converter

Info

Publication number: IE87215B1
Application number: IE20180213A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Wall Brian
Original assignee: Wall Brian
Priority date: 2018-07-09
Filing date: 2018-07-09
Publication date: 2021-03-31
Also published as: IE20180213A1; GB202101676D0; WO2020012453A1; WO2020012453A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for extracting energy from aquatic waves and to an apparatus for utilizing that process. According to the invention a buoyant moving component can be connected to a submerged floatation component only by means of a shaft and buoyant guides. A latching mechanism that detects the crest and trough of each wave can halt the buoyant moving component at both the crest and the trough of a wave and can release the buoyant moving component so that the buoyant moving component descends and ascends the maximum distance and captures the maximum amount of energy without making direct contact with the submerged floatation component. In particular, the invention utilizes buoyant guides to control a rotating cylinder around a compressor unit to control the movement the buoyant moving component in accordance with the waves. <Figure 1>

Description

A Wave-Lock Marine Energy Converter Field of Invention The present invention relates to the use of marine devices to exploit the energy in aquatic waves.

The invention provides for an apparatus that increases the amount of energy that can be captured from each wave while at the same time further reducing the risk of damage to the device.

According to the invention a buoyant moving component rises and falls with the waves in relation to a floatation component that is submerged beneath the water surface. This movement of one moving component relative to another static component is converted into useable energy. This invention provides for a latching mechanism that allows the buoyant moving component to be temporarily locked in position at both the crest and the trough of each wave. The buoyant moving component is not released to descend or ascend, until the next wave or trough has arrived. This ensures that the buoyant moving component travels the maximum distance without the support of the surrounding water. In this way the apparatus captures the maximum energy from each wave, and does so without the buoyant moving component making contact with the floatation component other than via a moving shaft and guides.

The present invention provides a novel and inventive means of achieving this objective.

Background to the Invention Waves are a clean, renewable source of energy that is exploitable in most ocean environments using mechanical devices designed to extract energy from the movement of the waves. However, wave energy devices have so far failed to exploit the full potential energy available. There are several reasons.

Most proposed wave energy devices are limited to exploiting the movement of the wave only, generating power through the upward and downward movement of one component in relation to another component or in relation to the seabed. This process fails to exploit the full gravitational potential energy available in each wave. While these devices can capture energy from the movement of the wave, if the buoyant moving component of such a device always ascends or descends supported by the surrounding water the full gravitational potential energy is not harnessed.

Also, such a device will fail to capture the full available energy in each wave if the movement of the buoyant moving component is not synchronized with the varying frequency of the waves.

And if the buoyant moving component of a device comes into contact with the floatation component of the device then damage will reduce the viability of the device.

Accordingly, there is a need for a simple robust mechanism that allows the buoyant moving component of a marine energy capturing device to be controlled so that the buoyant moving component a) captures the maximum amount of potential energy from all waves, b) remains at all times synchronized with the shape, size, height, and frequency of the waves, and c) avoids coming into direct contact with the static floatation component so as to avoid damage.

To achieve this, the movement of the buoyant moving component must be delayed at the crest and trough of each wave, and be released to descend and ascend the maximum distance in response to each individual wave, regardless of the variations in each wave, and do so without direct contact with the static floatation component.

Applicant's own patent, Number 86608, granted 4/12/2015, discloses a process for extracting greater energy from aquatic waves in this manner and an apparatus for utilizing that process. However, it is desirable to further refine and improve upon the ideas introduced in that patent.

Statement of Invention The invention described herein addresses the challenge inherent in extracting the maximum energy from waves and provides for an apparatus for doing this in a novel, inventive and more efficient manner.

The invention provides for an apparatus in which fluid is trapped in a compressor chamber inside a floatation component when a buoyant moving component has, a) ascended to the crest of a wave, or b) descended to the trough of a wave.

The trapped fluid in the compressor chamber prevents the buoyant moving component from moving until the buoyant moving component can travel the maximum distance to maximize energy capture.

To trap the fluid in the compressor chamber, a latching mechanism detects when a wave has reached it’s crest or trough. The latching mechanism then releases the trapped fluid from the compressor chamber. Once the fluid is free to leave the compressor chamber the buoyant moving component is free to either ascend or descend.

The movement of the buoyant moving component expels the fluid from one part of the compressor chamber while drawing fluid into the other. The fluid is expelled at the maximum level of compression to be a) exploited for the maximum amount of work or, alternatively, is b) delivered into storage to be exploited for later work.

The present invention provides for a simpler, more efficient, and more robust mechanism for achieving this goal. In particular, the present invention provides for an apparatus that uses simple floats that respond to the waves. These floats cause a cylinder to rotate around the compressor chamber so as to trap and release fluid and thereby control the movement of the buoyant moving component relative to the floatation component.

Consequently, the invention described herein provides a simpler means of increasing the overall energy capture from each wave while also reducing the likelihood of damage and prolonging the lifetime of a device. Thus this invention magnifies the operational range and efficiency of the prior art: the mechanism described in applicant's previous patent: Irish Patent Number 86608.

According to the present invention there is an apparatus for harnessing energy from waves as set out in the appended claims. The apparatus comprises six main components: a) A floatation component that is a buoyant structure, is submerged in water, and supports the apparatus in water.

The floatation component contains an adjustable buoyancy chamber that allows the buoyancy of the floatation component to be adjusted.

The floatation component contains an access aperture. The access aperture allows water to move in and out of the adjustable buoyancy chamber and also allows access to the adjustable buoyancy chamber for maintenance purposes. The upper part of the floatation component contains floatation component guide shafts, which are shafts that are vertical in orientation, and open at the top. b) Stabilization components that stabilize the floatation component at a fixed location and at a fixed level below the water surface.

The stabilization components include: mooring ropes connecting the floatation component to seabed anchors; vertical fins attached to the sides of the floatation component to prevent rocking by the floatation component; a stabilization plate fixed to, and extending horizontally from, the lower end of the floatation component to prevent vertical movement. c) A buoyant moving component that includes: a buoyant moving component shaft that is free to move vertically inside the floatation component to convert wave motion into useful energy; a buoyant moving component float that contains buoyant moving component guide channels; The buoyant moving component guide channels are channels that are vertical in orientation and accommodate guides to maintain vertical movement by the buoyant moving component. d) A compressor unit that is within the floatation component to compress fluid.

The compressor unit includes: a compressor unit outer housing; a compressor chamber that is in the shape of a cylinder and that is surrounded by the compressor unit outer housing; pipes that deliver fluid to, and remove fluid from, the compressor chamber via the compressor unit outer housing; valves that control the direction of flow of incoming and outgoing fluid.

The compressor chamber surrounds a section of the buoyant moving component shaft, but allows the buoyant moving component shaft to move vertically within the compressor chamber.

The section of the buoyant moving component shaft that is within the compressor chamber is wider than the rest of the buoyant moving component shaft, and forms a compressor piston.

The compressor piston fits closely within the compressor chamber but is free to move vertically inside the compressor chamber.

The compressor chamber contains fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures, through which fluid is admitted at a pressure and expelled at a higher pressure due to the movement of the compressor piston, which is raised and lowered by the movement of the buoyant moving component. e) A guiding structure to ensure that the movement of the buoyant moving component is always vertical.

The guiding structure includes guides that are long vertical rigid structures supported by the floatation component.

Some of the guides are supported from within the floatation component guide shafts and protrude freely through the buoyant moving component guide channels in the buoyant moving component float. f) A latching mechanism to delay the ascent and descent of the buoyant moving component.

The latching mechanism includes guides that are latch control piston guides. Latch control piston guides are guides that are sufficiently buoyant to rise with the waves but heavy enough to compress fluid upon descent. The lowest part of a latch control piston guide is wider than the main body of the latch control piston guide and forms a latch control piston.

Some of the floatation component guide shafts are latch control guide shafts and the lower section of a latch control guide shaft is exactly wide enough to accommodate a latch control piston, while the upper section of the latch control guide shaft is too narrow to accommodate a latch control piston.

The lowest part of each latch control guide shaft is fluidly connected to a latch control chamber.

A latch control chamber is a chamber that holds fluid and accommodates rotating structures.

Each latch control guide shaft is also fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via a latch control chamber fluid pipe loop. The latch control chamber fluid pipe loop is a pipe connected to the latch control guide shaft via an aperture near, but not at, the top of the widest section of the latch control guide shaft.

The latch control guide shaft, the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop, and the latch control chamber form a circuit, through which fluid is free to flow in either direction.

The latch control chamber contains latch control blades. The latch control blades are positioned at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the latch control chamber.

The latch control blades are free to rotate in response to fluid moving between the fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft and the fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop.

Each latch control blade is fixed to a latch sleeve. The latch sleeve is located at the center of the latch control chamber.

The latch sleeve is in the shape of a cylinder and stands perpendicular to the plane of the latch control chamber, the walls of the latch sleeve being parallel to the walls of the latch control chamber.

The latch sleeve extends above the latch control chamber through an adjuster chamber.

The adjuster chamber is a chamber that retains fluid and accommodates rotating structures.

The adjuster chamber contains partitions that partition the adjuster chamber into adjuster chamber compartments.

The adjuster chamber contains blades that are fixed to the latch sleeve. Each adjuster chamber blade is positioned between the adjuster chamber partitions so that each rotation away from a central orientation of the adjuster chamber blades results in an increase in pressure in one side of the adjuster chamber compartments and a decrease in pressure in the other side of the adjuster chamber compartments. Each adjuster chamber blade is positioned perpendicular to the plane of the adjuster chamber. Each adjuster chamber blade is free to rotate within the adjuster chamber in response to variations in fluid pressure.

Each adjuster chamber compartment is fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir via two fluid connections to the fluid reservoir. These fluid connections to the fluid reservoir are located on either side of each adjuster chamber blade, and adjacent to an adjuster chamber partition on opposite sides of each adjuster chamber compartment.

The fluid reservoir forms a single adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop. Each adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop forms a vertical loop located above the uppermost part of the adjuster chamber, and stands perpendicular to the plane of the adjuster chamber.

Each adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop contains air trapped at the highest point of the adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop.

The latch sleeve also extends above the adjuster chamber and surrounds the compressor chamber, where the latch sleeve is surrounded by the compressor unit outer housing.

The latch sleeve is free to rotate between the compressor unit outer housing and the compressor chamber.

The compressor unit outer housing contains fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures, which correspond exactly with the compressor chamber fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures.

The exterior of the compressor unit outer housing apertures are connected to valved fluid inlet and valved fluid outlet pipes.

The section of the latch sleeve situated between the compressor chamber and the compressor unit outer housing contains latch sleeve apertures. The latch sleeve apertures are located to align sometimes with the fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures in the wall of the compressor chamber and the corresponding apertures in the wall of the compressor unit outer housing. The latch sleeve apertures align with the apertures in the wall of the compressor chamber and the corresponding apertures in the wall of the compressor unit outer housing only when the latch control blades are equally distant between the fluid connections to the latch control guide shafts and the fluid connections to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loops.

The advantages of the present invention are as follows.

The invention provides for a wave energy apparatus that can capture more energy from waves than earlier inventions because the latching mechanism of the apparatus delays a buoyant moving component at the crest and trough of each wave, and releases the buoyant moving component only when the next trough and crest has arrived. Thus the apparatus allows the buoyant moving component to travel the maximum distance in response to each wave and capture the maximum amount of energy.

The latching mechanism of this apparatus also allows the buoyant moving component to be kept synchronized with the waves at all times, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the apparatus and the amount of energy that can be captured.

The latching mechanism of this apparatus also allows the floatation component to be held stable below the sea surface as there is no fixed contact between the buoyant moving component and the floatation component. This means that the majority of the device can be kept below the most turbulent layers of the sea so the apparatus is less likely to be damaged in storms. Consequently, the apparatus can be used to extract energy from the most energy-rich waves in the world without fear of damage.

The apparatus described in this invention uses a simple pumping mechanism. This allows the device to pump fluid into storage so that clean, renewable, consistent power can be supplied to an electricity grid whenever power is required.

Because of the mechanical simplicity of the apparatus, the apparatus would be cheap to build, cheap to maintain, less likely to break down, and would have a longer working life.

In one embodiment of the invention the floatation component comprises one or more floatation units.

In one embodiment the interior of a floatation unit is connected to the exterior of the floatation component by means of one or more valved hose pipes, which are long enough to reach the water surface.

In one embodiment the stabilization components include mooring ropes connected to the upper and lower parts of the floatation component.

In one embodiment the stabilization components include a stabilization device in the form of a stabilization plate that is suspended below the floatation component and is connected by ropes to the lower end of the floatation component to serve as a stabilization drag or sea anchor to prevent upward movement of the floatation component.

In one embodiment of the invention the stabilization components include a damper chamber which contains damper chamber fluid and a freely-moving damper float.

In one embodiment the base of the damper float is connected directly by ropes to the seabed anchors or to ropes connected to a stability device that is suspended below the floatation component.

In one embodiment the damper float fits exactly within the damper chamber and the damper float contains vertical damper float channels. The damper float channels contain valves biased to allow damper chamber fluid to flow from above the damper float to below the damper float.

In one embodiment the damper chamber contains a vertical damper chamber shaft that extends through the damper float and, around which, the damper float is free to move vertically. The damper chamber shaft is connected to an external source of fluid and the damper chamber shaft fluidly connects the parts of the damper chamber above and below the damper float.

In one embodiment the damper chamber shaft contains damper chamber inlet valves that are biased to admit fluid to the part of the damper chamber below the damper float whenever a set pressure has been reached in the damper chamber shaft.

In one embodiment the damper chamber shaft extends out through the upper part of the damper chamber and as far as the uppermost part of the floatation component.

In one embodiment the walls of the damper chamber shaft in the upper part of the damper chamber contain damper chamber shaft apertures through which the damper chamber fluid is free to circulate.

In one embodiment the damper chamber shaft contains a damper chamber piston guide that fits exactly inside the damper chamber shaft.

In one embodiment the damper chamber piston guide is long enough to extend through the upper part of the floatation component and through a buoyant moving component guide channel.

In one embodiment the damper chamber piston guide is buoyant enough to rise and fall with each wave.

In one embodiment the buoyant moving component shaft contains a vertical channel with inlet and outlet apertures.

In one embodiment the compressor chamber fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures are located both above and below the optimum stroke of the compressor piston.

In one embodiment the sections of the compressor chamber above and below the compressor chamber inlet and outlet apertures contain high pressure release valves.

In one embodiment an outlet pipe connected to one part of the compressor chamber is connected to an inlet pipe connected to another part of the compressor chamber.

In one embodiment the compressor chamber fluid outlet apertures are connected to adjustable outlet valves.

In one embodiment pipes that remove fluid from the compressor chamber connect the compressor unit to a device for the exploitation of compressed fluid or to a compressed fluid storage tank.

In one embodiment some, or all, of the latch control piston guides are fixed together by a buoyant guides link.

In one embodiment the buoyant guides link is fixed to the latch control piston guides at a distance above the buoyant moving component that is greater than the longest stroke of the compressor chamber piston.

In one embodiment some, or all, of the latch control piston guides contain a buoyant guide block. A buoyant guide block is a short section of the latch control piston guide that is wider than the buoyant moving component guide channels and the floatation component guide shafts.

In one embodiment each buoyant guide block is located on a latch control piston guide between the floatation component and the buoyant moving component.

In one embodiment each latch control guide shaft is fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via the uppermost part of the latch control chamber.

In one embodiment each latch control chamber fluid pipe loop is fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via the uppermost part of the latch control chamber.

In one embodiment the latch control chamber contains vertical partitions that that partition the latch control chamber into separate latch control chamber compartments.

In one embodiment each latch control blade is located between the latch control partitions.

In one embodiment the fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft and the fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop are located on opposite sides of each latch control chamber compartment, and adjacent to the opposite latch control partitions.

In one embodiment the latch control chamber contains barriers to the rotation of latch control blades in the form of latch control blade stops that are positioned no farther than a part of the way across the diameter of any fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft or any fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop.

In one embodiment some latch control chamber compartments are fluidly connected to floatation component guide shafts that supply fluid to the latch control chamber and receive fluid from the latch control chamber.

A Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an external side view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows an external top-view in one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section side-view of one embodiment of the invention and depicts the buoyant moving component, shaft, guides, piston, and compressor unit, in relation to the latching mechanism from a North-South perspective.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section close-up in one embodiment of the invention and depicts the latching mechanism and compressor unit from a North-South perspective.

Figure 5 shows a top view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a crosssection through the latching mechanism in relation to the compressor unit at the level of the compressor piston.

Figure 6 shows a top view in one embodiment of the invention that depicts a close up cross-section through the compressor unit at the level of the compressor piston.

Figure 7 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a crosssection through the latch control chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is halted at either the crest or the trough of a wave.

Figure 8 shows a cross-section top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a cross-section through the adjuster chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is halted at either the crest or the trough of a wave.

Figure 9 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a crosssection through the latch control chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is ascending towards the crest of a wave.

Figure 10 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a crosssection through the adjuster chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is ascending towards the crest of a wave.

Figure 11 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a crosssection through the latch control chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is descending towards the trough of a wave.

Figure 12 shows a top-view in one embodiment of the invention depicting a crosssection through the adjuster chamber in relation to the compressor unit when the buoyant moving component is descending towards the trough of a wave.

Figure 13 shows a cross-section side-view in one embodiment of the invention and depicts the buoyant moving component, shaft, guides, piston, compressor unit, and latching mechanism in relation to the damper mechanism from an East/West perspective.

A Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated an external side view of one embodiment of the invention depicting the Floatation Component (1), and the Buoyant Moving Component (2).

Also shown are Buoyant Guides (10), which comprise Standard Buoyant Guides, Latch Control Piston Guides, and Damper Chamber Piston Guides, all of which confine the Buoyant Moving Component (2) to vertical movement only. In this embodiment of the invention all the guides are free to rise and fall with each wave and can remain in the same relationship to the sea surface at all times but are linked by a Buoyant Guides Link (51) so that all the guides rise and fall in unison. In this embodiment of the invention all the Buoyant Guides (10) extend down through Floatation Component Guide Shafts (not shown) in the submerged Floatation Component (1) and extend up through the Buoyant Moving Component (2).

Also shown are: the Buoyant Moving Component Float (9), a float that raises the Buoyant Moving Component (2) with each wave; the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), which is a shaft connecting the Buoyant Moving Component (2) with the Compressor Chamber (not shown here); Mooring Ropes (7), which are ropes that moor the apparatus to seabed anchors to hold the apparatus in position; the Stability Plate (3), which is a sea anchor that helps to hold the Floatation Component (1) at a fixed level below the trough of the average wave at all times by inhibiting vertical movement in response to waves; Stability Fins (4), which are vertical blades positioned to inhibit horizontal movement of the Floatation Component (1) so as to prevent rocking of the apparatus in response to sea conditions; a Fluid Outlet Pipe (5), which is a flexible pipe that can deliver compressed fluid from the said Compressor Chamber (not shown here) to seabed storage or for immediate exploitation for work; and a Fluid Inlet Pipe (6), which is a pipe that in this embodiment of the invention can deliver seawater to the Compressor Chamber (not shown here).

Figure 2 Referring to figure 2 there is illustrated according to this same embodiment of the invention an external top-view of an apparatus. Depicted are the Stability Plate (3), (described in the description of figure 1); Stability Fins (4), (described in the description of figure 1); Mooring Ropes (7), (described in the description of figure 1); and the Buoyant Moving Component Float (9), (described in the description of figure 1). Also shown are the Latch Control Piston Guides (15), which, as well as confining the Buoyant Moving Component (2) to vertical movement only, also control a latching mechanism, which in this embodiment of the invention can stop and restart the movement of the Buoyant Moving Component (2). Also shown are the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16), which control the damper mechanism (not shown here) and also confine the Buoyant Moving Component to vertical movement only. Also shown here are the Standard Buoyant Guides (17) which can, in one embodiment of the invention, allow water to enter and exit the latching mechanism (not shown here), the Standard Buoyant Guides (17) also confine the Buoyant Moving Component (2) to vertical movement only.

Figure 3 Referring to figure 3 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side-view of an apparatus from a North/South perspective. Depicted are the Floatation Component (1), the Buoyant Moving Component (2), the Stability Plate (3), Stability Fins (4), Fluid Outlet Pipe (5), Fluid Inlet Pipe (6), the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Buoyant Moving Component Float (9), and the Buoyant Guides Link (51), all of which are described above.

Also shown is the Compressor Piston (13), which compresses fluid on the upward and downward movement of the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8) in the Compressor Chamber (14), which in this embodiment of the invention is a cylindrical chamber in which fluid is trapped for the purpose of compression. The said fluid is pumped into the said Compressor Chamber (14) through the Compressor Chamber Down-stroke Inlet Valves (18) or the Compressor Chamber Upstroke Inlet Valves (20) and out of the said Compressor Chamber (14) through the Compressor Chamber Down-stroke Outlet Valves (19) or the Compressor Chamber Upstroke Outlet Valves (21).

Also shown are the Upper and Lower Back Stop Buffer Zones (11) at the top and bottom of the Compressor Chamber (14). The Back Stop Buffer Zones (11) are areas in the Compressor Chamber (14) in which fluid is trapped so as to act as a brake on the movement of the Buoyant Moving Component (2), so that the Buoyant Moving Component (2) is confined to moving within a set range of wave sizes.

Also depicted are the Latch Control Guide Shafts (52) in which the Latch Control Piston Guides (15) are free to rise and fall with the sea surface and in so doing can pump fluid into and out of the Latch Control Chamber (24), which controls the movement of the Buoyant Moving Component (2) by halting the movement of the said Buoyant Moving Component (2).

Also shown is the Adjuster Chamber (27), which serves to release the Buoyant Moving Component (2) from the control of the Latch Control Chamber (24) and allows the said Buoyant Moving Component (2) to rise or fall in response to the waves.

Also shown are the Buoyant Moving Component Guide Channels (54) through which the said Latch Control Piston Guides (15) are free to rise and fall. Also shown is the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (36), which is an internal seawater ballast tank (or space), into which air and water can be inserted to adjust the buoyancy of the Floatation Component (1). Also shown is the Access Aperture (37), which allows water to move in and out of the Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (36) and also provides access for maintenance.

Figure 4 Referring to figure 4 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view close-up of the interior of the apparatus also from a North/South perspective. There is depicted the Stability Plate (3), the Stability Fins (4), Compressor Chamber Fluid Outlet Pipe (5), Compressor Chamber Fluid Inlet Pipe (6), Back Stop Buffer Zones High Pressure Release Pipe (12), Compressor Piston (13), Compressor Chamber Down-stroke Inlet Valves (18), Compressor Chamber Down-stroke Outlet Valves (19), Compressor Chamber Up-stroke Inlet Valves (20), Compressor Chamber Up-stroke Outlet Valves (21), Adjustable Buoyancy Chamber (36), Access Aperture (37): all described in Fig 1, Fig 2 and Fig 3.

There is also depicted the Back Stop Buffer Zone High Pressure Release Pipes (12), which are fluidly connected to the Upper and Lower Back Stop Buffer Zones (11), and which allow for a restricted release of trapped fluid to protect against damage to the apparatus at high pressures.

Also shown is the Compressor Chamber Wall (22), which is the cylindrical wall of the Compressor Chamber (14). Also shown is the Latch Sleeve (23), which is a cylindrical sleeve that closely surrounds the said Compressor Chamber Wall (22), and extends down beyond the base of the said Compressor Chamber (14) and into the Adjuster Chamber (27) where the said Latch Sleeve (23) is attached to the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28). The Latch Sleeve (23) also extends down beyond the base of the said Adjuster Chamber (27) into the said Latch Control Chamber (24) where the said Latch Sleeve (23) is attached to the Latch Control Blades (25). The said Latch Sleeve (23) is free to rotate between the Compressor Chamber Wall (22) and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing (32), which in this embodiment of the invention is also cylindrical in shape and closely surrounds the said Latch Sleeve (23).

Also shown are the aforementioned Latch Control Piston Guides (15), which control the latching mechanism by pumping fluid through the said Latch Control Chamber (24) and into and out of the Latch Control Chamber Fluid Pipe Loop (57), which is a fluid reservoir fluidly connected to the said Latch Control Guide Shafts (52) and the Latch Control Chamber (24).

At the base of each of the said Latch Control Piston Guides (15) is a Latch Control Piston (58). The pumping of fluid in and out of the said Latch Control Chamber (24) causes the Latch Control Blades (25) to rotate either to left or right away from a neutral orientation within the said Latch Control Chamber (24). Whenever the said Latch Control Blades (25) are rotated to either right or left by the rise and fall of the said Latch Control Piston Guides (15) the said Latch Sleeve (23), which is connected to the said Latch Control Blades (25), is also deflected by the rotation of the said Latch Control Blades (25).

The rotation of the said Latch Sleeve (23) away from a neutral orientation prevents the alignment of the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), which are situated in the Latch Sleeve (23), the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), which are situated in the Compressor Chamber Wall (22), and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), which are situated in the Compressor Unit Outer Housing (32). When the above mentioned apertures are no longer aligned fluid is no longer free to enter or leave the Compressor Chamber (14) thereby trapping fluid inside the Compressor Chamber (14) and preventing any movement, either up ordown, by the Buoyant Moving Component (not shown).

When the said Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35) are aligned fluid can flow in and out of the Compressor Chamber (14) and the Buoyant Moving Component is free to move up and down.

Also shown in fig 4 are the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), to which the said Latch Sleeve (23) is also connected. The deflection of the Latch Sleeve (23) away from a neutral orientation also deflects the said Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) away from a neutral orientation and causes fluid in the said Adjuster Chamber (27) to be forced into an uneven distribution in the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (31). The said Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (31) function as fluid reservoirs in which gravity causes a return to even distribution of fluid once the pressure to deflect the aforementioned Latch Control Blades (25) has ceased. The subsequent movement of fluid through the said Adjuster Chamber (27) rotates the said Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) back into a neutral position, and thereby rotates the said Latch Sleeve (23) back into a position where the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35) are once again in a position of alignment so that fluid can again flow in and out of the Compressor Chamber (14), allowing the Buoyant Moving Component to rise or fall.

Also shown are the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Supply Pipes (30), which allow fluid to flow to and from the Adjuster Chamber (27).

Figure 5 Referring to figure 5 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view of the interior of the apparatus showing the relative positions of the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), the Latch Control Piston Guides (15), the Latch Control Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (57), the Latch Control Chamber (24), the Latch Control Blades (25), the Adjuster Chamber (27), the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (31), the Compressor Chamber Fluid Inlet Pipe (6), Compressor Chamber Fluid Outlet Pipe (5), the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35). All these items are depicted in an orientation where the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) are in a neutral, non-deflected position so that the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35) are aligned and fluid is free to enter and exit the Compressor Chamber (14) and the Buoyant Moving Component (2) is free to rise or fall.

Figure 6 Referring to figure 6 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a close-up cross-section top view of the compressor unit in relation to various parts of the latching mechanism. Depicted are the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), the Latch Sleeve (23), which can rotate between the Compressor Chamber Wall (22) and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing (32); the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), which rotate the said Latch Sleeve (23) back into a neutral position; the Adjuster Chamber Partitions (29), which create separate compartments within the Adjuster Chamber (shown in Fig 5). Also shown are the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), all of which are shown in an aligned position, which is an orientation in which fluid is free to enter and exit the Compressor Chamber and the Buoyant Moving Component is free to rise or fall.

Figure 7 Referring to figure 7 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Latch Control Chamber (24) in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), the Latch Control Guide Shafts (52), the Latch Control Piston Guides (15), which control the latching mechanism, the Latch Control Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (57), which allow water to enter and exit the latching mechanism; the Latch Sleeve (23), which can rotate between the Compressor Chamber Wall (22) and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing (32); the Latch Control Blades (25), which rotate the said Latch Sleeve (23); the Latch Control Partitions (26), which define the sections within the Latch Control Chamber (24); the Latch Control Blades Stops (38), which limit the movement of the Latch Control Blades (25); the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), all of which are shown in an aligned position in which fluid is free to enter and exit the Compressor Chamber and the Buoyant Moving Component is free to rise or fall.

Figure 8 Referring to figure 8 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Adjuster Chamber (27) in relation to the Compressor Unit when the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), are all in an aligned position, a position in which fluid is free to enter and exit the Compressor Chamber and the Buoyant Moving Component is free to rise or fall. Also shown are the Buoyant Moving Component Shaft (8), the Compressor Piston (13), and the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28), which rotate the Latch Sleeve (23) back into a neutral position. Also shown are the Adjuster Chamber Partitions (29), which create separate compartments within the Adjuster Chamber (27). Also shown are the Compressor Chamber Wall (22), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing (32) and the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loops (31), in which gravity has equalized the distribution of fluid, the movement of which has rotated the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) back into the neutral position shown here, a position in which the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), and the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35) are aligned so that fluid can again flow in and out of the Compressor Chamber (not shown), allowing the Buoyant Moving Component to rise or fall. Also shown are the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Supply Pipes (30), which maintain fluid within the said Adjuster Chamber (27).

Figure 9 Referring to figure 9 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view shows the Latch Control Chamber in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 7 but in this illustration the Latch Control Blades (25) have been deflected from the neutral position due to the Latch Control Piston Guides (15) descending with a receding wave so that the Latch Sleeve (23) has been rotated into an orientation where the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), are all in a non-aligned position and fluid is no longer free to enter or exit the Compressor Chamber (not shown) and as a result the Buoyant Moving Component (not shown) is no longer free to fall with the receding wave.

Figure 10 Referring to figure 10 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Adjuster Chamber (27) in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 8 but in this illustration the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) have been deflected from the neutral position (depicted in Figure 8) by the Latch Control Piston Guides (not shown) descending with a falling wave. As a result the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) have been deflected inside the Adjuster Chamber causing fluid to be pushed higher on one side of the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loop (31) and lower on the other.

Figure 11 Referring to figure 11 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Latch Control Chamber in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 7 and Figure 9 but in this illustration the Latch Control Blades (25) have been deflected from the neutral position due to the Latch Control Piston Guides (not shown) ascending with a rising wave so that the Compressor Chamber Apertures (33), the Latch Sleeve Apertures (34), the Compressor Unit Outer Housing Apertures (35), are all in a non-aligned position and fluid is no longer free to enter or exit the Compressor Chamber (not shown) and the Buoyant Moving Component (not shown) is no longer free to ascend with the rising wave.

Figure 12 Referring to Figure 12 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section top view showing the Adjuster Chamber (27) in relation to the Compressor Unit. Depicted are the same items as depicted in Figure 8 and Figure 10 but in this illustration the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) have been deflected from the neutral position (depicted in Figure 8) by the Latch Control Piston Guides (not shown) ascending with a rising wave and the resulting deflection of the Adjuster Chamber Blades (28) inside the Adjuster Chamber causing fluid to be pushed higher on one side of the Adjuster Chamber Fluid Pipe Loop (31) and lower on the other.

Figure 13 Referring to Figure 13 there is illustrated according to this embodiment of the invention a cross-section side view of an apparatus from an East/West perspective. Depicted are the Floatation Component (1), the Buoyant Moving Component (2), the Buoyant Moving Component Float (9), the Buoyant Guides Link (51), and the Buoyant Moving Component Guide Channels (54), all of which have been described above.

Also shown are the parts of the damper mechanism showing the Damper Chamber (39) and a Damper Float (40) fitting exactly inside the said Damper Chamber (39).

The Damper Float (40) can be connected from below to anchors in the seabed via Mooring Ropes (7) and Mooring Rope Pulleys (43), which are positioned within the Floatation Component (1).

The Damper Float (40) is free to move vertically inside the Damper Chamber (39) and, being buoyant, will move upwards inside the Damper Chamber (39) when the Mooring Ropes (7) are slack. As a result the Damper Float (40) will tighten any slackening of the Mooring Ropes (7). The said Damper Float (40) will also assist any sudden descent of the Floatation Component (1) caused by the receding of a wave and will resist any sudden upward movement of the Floatation Component (1) due to the rising of a wave.

In addition, the Damper Float (40) is shaped so that fluid inside the Damper Chamber (39) can move rapidly from above the Damper Float (40) to below the Damper Float (40) via Valved Damper Float Channels (41), which facilitate the rapid upward movement of the Damper Float (40) in response to a receding wave. However, the said Valved Damper Float Channels (41) prevent the transfer of the fluid from below the Damper Float (40) to above the Damper Float (40) so that the Damper Float (40) will not respond to a rising wave and will thus keep the Mooring Ropes (7) tight at all times. As a result the Damper Float (40) will help maintain the uppermost part of the Floatation Component (1) below the level of the wave trough at all times.

The Damper Float (40) is also shaped to facilitate fluid gradually moving in either direction within the said Damper Chamber (39) via open, non-valved Narrow Damper Float Channels (42), which facilitate the gradual transfer of the fluid in either direction within the Damper Chamber (39) thus allowing the gradual rise and fall of the Damper Float (40) in response to the gradual rising and falling of tides so that the Damper Float (40) can help maintain the uppermost part of the Floatation Component (1) below the level of the trough of a wave at all times.

Also shown in Figure 13 is the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16), which, in this embodiment of the invention, can be shaped to be free to rise and fall with each wave. Consequently, the rise and fall of the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16), forces fluid to be drawn in and out of the Damper Chamber Shaft (45) via Damper Chamber Shaft Apertures (46), the Damper Chamber Shaft Apertures (46), being positioned so that as long as the Floatation Component (1) remains a set distance below the wave trough, the movement of the said Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16), will only pump fluid into and out of, the said Damper Chamber Shaft (45).

However, should the Floatation Component (1) rise higher than a set distance below a wave trough the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16), will descend further into the Damper Chamber (39) and will reach lower than the Damper Chamber Shaft Apertures (46), and will trap fluid in the Damper Chamber Shaft (45), where the fluid will be forced by the downward pressure of the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16) to pass through the Damper Chamber Inlet Valves (44) into the lower part of the Damper Chamber (39), which is below the Damper Float (40). The increased fluid pressure below the said Damper Float (40) will force the said Damper Float (40) upwards and tighten the Mooring Ropes (7) and thereby prevent the Floatation Component (1) from rising closer to the surface and thus serve to maintain the Floatation Component (1) at a set distance below the water surface at all times. Also shown are the Damper Chamber Equalization Pipes (47), which fluidly connect the Damper Chamber (39) to a source of external fluid to equalize pressure and facilitate movement of the Damper Float (40) within the Damper Chamber (39). Also shown are the Damper Chamber Shaft Inlet Valves (59), which fluidly connect the Damper Chamber Shaft (45) to a source of external fluid to equalize pressure and facilitate movement of the Damper Chamber Piston Guides (16).

All the components thus listed and illustrated in these drawings and all the constituent parts of the said components 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 hereinbefore described.

Claims

1. ) An apparatus for harnessing energy in water waves comprising of: a) a floatation component, which is a buoyant floating structure that is submerged below the water surface, and which supports the apparatus in water; wherein the floatation component contains an adjustable buoyancy chamber and also contains an access aperture, which allows water to move in and out of the adjustable buoyancy chamber and also allows access for maintenance purposes to the adjustable buoyancy chamber, wherein the upper part of the floatation component contains floatation component guide shafts, which are shafts that are vertical in orientation, and open at the top; b) stabilization components to stabilize the floatation component at a fixed location and at a fixed level below the water surface, wherein the stabilization components include: mooring ropes connecting the floatation component to seabed anchors, vertical fins attached to the sides of the floatation component, a stabilization plate fixed to, and extending horizontally, from the lower end of the floatation component; c) a buoyant moving component that includes: a buoyant moving component shaft that is free to move vertically inside the floatation component to convert wave motion into useful energy, a buoyant moving component float that contains buoyant moving component guide channels that are vertical in orientation; d) a compressor unit within the floatation component to compress fluid: wherein the compressor unit includes: a compressor unit outer housing, a compressor chamber that is in the shape of a cylinder and that is surrounded by the compressor unit outer housing, pipes that deliver fluid to, and remove fluid from, the compressor chamber via the compressor unit outer housing, valves that control the direction of flow of incoming and outgoing fluid, wherein the compressor chamber surrounds part of the buoyant moving component shaft, wherein the buoyant moving component shaft is free to move vertically within the compressor chamber, wherein the section of the buoyant moving component shaft that is within the compressor chamber is wider than the rest of the buoyant moving component shaft and forms a compressor piston, wherein the compressor piston fits closely within the compressor chamber, wherein the compressor chamber contains fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures; e) a guiding structure to ensure that the movement of the buoyant moving component is always vertical, wherein the guiding structure includes guides that are long vertical rigid structures supported by the floatation component, wherein some of the guides are supported from within the floatation component guide shafts, wherein the guides protrude freely through the buoyant moving component guide channels in the buoyant moving component float; f) a latching mechanism to delay the ascent and descent of the buoyant moving component, wherein some guides are latch control piston guides that are buoyant but weighted to float partly submerged in water, wherein the lowest part of a latch control piston guide is wider than the main body of the latch control piston guide and forms a latch control piston, wherein some of the floatation component guide shafts are latch control guide shafts, wherein the lower section of a latch control guide shaft is wide enough to accommodate a latch control piston while the upper section of the latch control guide shaft is too narrow to accommodate a latch control piston, wherein the lowest part of each latch control guide shaft is fluidly connected to a latch control chamber, which is a chamber that retains fluid and accommodates rotating structures, wherein each latch control guide shaft is also fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via a latch control chamber fluid pipe loop, wherein the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop is a pipe connected to the latch control guide shaft via an aperture near, but not at, the top of the widest section of the latch control guide shaft, wherein the latch control guide shaft, the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop, and the latch control chamber form a circuit through which fluid is free to flow in either direction, wherein the latch control chamber contains latch control blades that are positioned at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the latch control chamber, wherein the latch control blades are free to rotate in response to fluid moving between the fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft and the fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop, wherein each latch control blade is fixed to a latch sleeve located at the center of the latch control chamber, wherein the latch sleeve is a cylinder in shape, stands perpendicular to the plane of the latch control chamber and parallel to the walls of the latch control chamber, wherein the latch sleeve extends above the latch control chamber through an adjuster chamber, wherein the adjuster chamber is a chamber that retains fluid and accommodates rotating structures, wherein the adjuster chamber contains partitions that partition the adjuster chamber into adjuster chamber compartments, wherein the adjuster chamber contains adjuster chamber blades that are fixed to the latch sleeve, wherein each adjuster chamber blade is positioned perpendicular to the plane of the adjuster chamber, wherein each adjuster chamber blade is free to rotate within the adjuster chamber in response to variations in fluid pressure, wherein each adjuster chamber blade is positioned between the adjuster chamber partitions, wherein each adjuster chamber compartment is fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir via two fluid connections to the fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid connections to the fluid reservoir are located on either side of each adjuster chamber blade, wherein the fluid connections to the fluid reservoir are located adjacent to an adjuster chamber partition on opposite sides of each adjuster chamber compartment, wherein the fluid reservoir forms a single adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop, wherein each adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop forms a vertical loop located above the uppermost part of the adjuster chamber and stands perpendicular to the plane of the adjuster chamber, wherein each adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop contains air trapped at the highest point of the adjuster chamber fluid pipe loop, wherein the latch sleeve extends above the adjuster chamber and surrounds the compressor chamber, wherein the latch sleeve is surrounded by the compressor unit outer housing, wherein the latch sleeve is free to rotate between the compressor unit outer housing and the compressor chamber, wherein the compressor unit outer housing contains fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures, wherein the compressor unit outer housing fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures correspond exactly with the compressor chamber fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures, wherein the exterior of the compressor unit outer housing apertures are connected to valved fluid inlet and valved fluid outlet pipes, wherein the section of the latch sleeve situated between the compressor chamber and the compressor unit outer housing contains latch sleeve apertures, wherein the latch sleeve apertures are located to align sometimes with the fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures in the wall of the compressor chamber and the corresponding apertures in the wall of the compressor unit outer housing, wherein the latch sleeve apertures align with the apertures in the wall of the compressor chamber and the corresponding apertures in the wall of the compressor unit outer housing only when the latch control blades are equally distant between the fluid connections to the latch control guide shafts and the fluid connections to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loops.

2. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the floatation component comprises one or more floatation units.

3. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the interior of a floatation unit is connected to the exterior of the floatation component by means of one or more valved hose pipes, which can extend to reach the water surface.

4. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stabilization components include mooring ropes connected to the upper and lower parts of the floatation component.

5. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stabilization components include a stabilization device in the form of a stabilization plate that is suspended below the floatation component and is connected by ropes to the lower end of the floatation component.

6. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stabilization components include a damper chamber which contains a damper float.

7. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 6) wherein the base of the damper float is connected directly by ropes to the seabed anchors or to ropes connected to the stabilization plate that is suspended below the floatation component.

8. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the damper float fits exactly within the damper chamber.

9. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the damper float contains vertical damper float channels.

10. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein some of the damper float channels contain valves biased to allow damper chamber fluid to flow from above the damper float to below the damper float.

11. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the damper chamber contains a vertical damper chamber shaft that extends through the damper float and, around which, the damper float is free to move vertically.

12. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the damper chamber shaft is connected to an external source of fluid.

13. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the damper chamber shaft fluidly connects the parts of the damper chamber above and below the damper float.

14. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the damper chamber shaft contains damper chamber inlet valves that are biased to admit fluid to the part of the damper chamber below the damper float whenever a set pressure has been reached in the damper chamber shaft.

15. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the damper chamber shaft extends out through the upper part of the damper chamber and as far as the uppermost part of the floatation component.

16. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the walls of the damper chamber shaft in the upper part of the damper chamber contain damper chamber shaft apertures through which the damper chamber fluid is free to circulate.

17. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the damper chamber shaft contains a damper chamber piston guide that fits inside the damper chamber shaft.

18. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the damper chamber piston guide is long enough to extend through the upper part of the floatation component and through a buoyant moving component guide channel.

19. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the damper chamber piston guide is buoyant enough to rise and fall with each wave.

20. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buoyant moving component shaft contains a vertical channel with inlet and outlet apertures.

21. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressor chamber fluid inlet and fluid outlet apertures are located both above and below the optimum stroke of the compressor piston.

22. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the sections of the compressor chamber above and below the compressor chamber inlet and outlet apertures contain high pressure release valves.

23. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outlet pipe connected to one part of the compressor chamber is connected to an inlet pipe connected to another part of the compressor chamber.

24. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressor chamber fluid outlet apertures are connected to adjustable outlet valves.

25. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein pipes that remove fluid from the compressor chamber connect the compressor unit to a device for the exploitation of compressed fluid or to a compressed fluid storage tank.

26. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein some, or ail, of the latch control piston guides are fixed together by a buoyant guides link.

27. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the buoyant guides link is fixed to the latch control piston guides at a distance above the buoyant moving component that is greater than the longest stroke of the compressor chamber piston.

28. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein some, or all, of the latch control piston guides contain a buoyant guide block, wherein a buoyant guide block is a short section of the latch control piston guide that is wider than the buoyant moving component guide channels and the floatation component guide shafts.

29. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein each buoyant guide block is located on a latch control piston guide between the floatation component and the buoyant moving component.

30. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1) wherein each latch control guide shaft is fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via the uppermost part of the latch control chamber.

31. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 30) wherein each latch control chamber fluid pipe loop is fluidly connected to the latch control chamber via the uppermost part of the latch control chamber.

32. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 31) wherein the latch control chamber contains vertical partitions that partition the latch control chamber into separate latch control chamber compartments.

33. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein each latch control blade is located between the latch control partitions.

34. ) An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the fluid connections to the latch control guide shaft and the fluid connections to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop are located on opposite sides of each latch control chamber compartment and adjacent to the opposite latch control partitions. 33) An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the latch control chamber contains barriers to the rotation of latch control blades in the form of latch control blade stops that are positioned no farther than a part of the way across the diameter of any fluid connection to the latch control guide shaft or any fluid connection to the latch control chamber fluid pipe loop. 34) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein some latch control chamber compartments are fluidly connected to floatation component guide shafts.