WO2019136007A1 - Submersible à bouée à alimentation renouvelable - Google Patents

Submersible à bouée à alimentation renouvelable Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019136007A1
WO2019136007A1 PCT/US2018/068023 US2018068023W WO2019136007A1 WO 2019136007 A1 WO2019136007 A1 WO 2019136007A1 US 2018068023 W US2018068023 W US 2018068023W WO 2019136007 A1 WO2019136007 A1 WO 2019136007A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ribbon
cable
buoy
roller
submersible
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2018/068023
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Garth Alexander SHELDON-COULSON
Brian Lee Moffat
Daniel William PLACE
Original Assignee
Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd. filed Critical Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd.
Publication of WO2019136007A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019136007A1/fr

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/18—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore
    • F03B13/1885—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" where the other member, i.e. rem is fixed, at least at one point, with respect to the sea bed or shore and the wom is tied to the rem
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/20—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" wherein both members, i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2250/00—Geometry
    • F05B2250/20—Geometry three-dimensional
    • F05B2250/24—Geometry three-dimensional ellipsoidal
    • F05B2250/241—Geometry three-dimensional ellipsoidal spherical
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2250/00—Geometry
    • F05B2250/70—Shape
    • F05B2250/72—Shape symmetric
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2260/00—Function
    • F05B2260/40—Transmission of power
    • F05B2260/406—Transmission of power through hydraulic systems
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to two-body wave energy converters of the types disclosed and discussed.
  • many of the of the parts, systems, devices, mechanisms, etc., disclosed herein, and utilized in the design of the disclosed energy device embodiments may have application to other devices, systems, and/or mechanisms, and/or to the solution of other problems, and the scope of the current disclosure extends to these components, as well as to the energy device embodiments that contain them.
  • the current disclosure includes many different embodiments, and variations of embodiments, of a novel device that extracts energy from ocean waves.
  • Each of the following device features, behaviors, and/or attributes, is represented by, incorporated within, and/or associated with, at least one embodiment of the current disclosure.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure incorporates, includes, and/or utilizes a buoy in order to keep at least a portion of the device adjacent to the surface of a body of water.
  • Buoys of the current disclosure are positively buoyant objects that may be free-floating, drifting, self-propelled, tethered (e.g., by anchor) to a seafloor, tethered (e.g., by mooring cables) to one or more other buoys.
  • Buoys of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to: flotation modules, barges, floating platforms, ships, and boats.
  • Buoys of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which are composed and/or fabricated of, and/or may incorporate, include, and/or contain: air-filled voids, foam, wood, bamboo, steel, aluminum, cement, fiberglass, and/or plastic.
  • Buoys of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which are fabricated as a substantially monolithic body or interconnected assemblage of parts, e.g., of which individual parts may not be positively buoyant. They may also be fabricated as assemblies of positively buoyant sub-assemblies, e.g., of buoyant canisters or modules.
  • Buoys of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which displace water across and/or over areas of the surface of body of water as small as 2 square meters, and as great as 3,000 square meters. Buoys of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which have a nominal, resting draft as shallow as 10 cm, and as deep as 10 meters. Buoys of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which have a horizontal cross-sectional shape (i.e., a shape with respect to a cross-section parallel to the resting surface of a body of water) that is approximately: circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, and hexagonal.
  • Buoys of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which have a vertical cross-sectional shape (i.e., a shape with respect to a cross-section normal to the resting surface of a body of water) that is approximately: rectangular, frusto-triangular, hemi-circular, semi-circular, and semi-elliptical.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure incorporates, includes, and/or utilizes a body, object, and/or structure, i.e., an“inertial mass,” nominally positioned at a depth near, adjacent to, and/or below, a wave base of the body of water on which the embodiment floats.
  • An embodiment s inertial mass resists upward acceleration, and especially the upward acceleration of the buoy to which it is tethered.
  • Inertial masses of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which are negatively buoyant, neutrally buoyant, and positively buoyant.
  • an inertial mass is preferably positioned at a depth adjacent to or below a wave base
  • an inertial mass that is neutrally buoyant, and especially an inertial mass that is positively buoyant will, at least in an embodiment, be tethered to a weight or other negatively-buoyant object such that the average buoyancy of the inertial mass and the weight(s) or other negatively-buoyant object(s) to which it is tethered will be, at least slightly, negatively buoyant.
  • Inertial masses of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which are water-filled, and for which the mass of the water entrapped within the inertial mass is substantial.
  • Inertial masses of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which are composed and/or fabricated of, and/or may incorporate, include, and/or contain: water-filled voids, steel, iron, aluminum, cement, fiberglass, wood, and/or plastic.
  • Inertial masses of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which have a horizontal cross-sectional shape (i.e., a shape with respect to a cross-section parallel to the resting surface of a body of water) that is approximately: circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, and/or approximately that of an airfoil.
  • a horizontal cross-sectional shape i.e., a shape with respect to a cross-section parallel to the resting surface of a body of water
  • a horizontal cross-sectional shape i.e., a shape with respect to a cross-section parallel to the resting surface of a body of water
  • a horizontal cross-sectional shape i.e., a shape with respect to a cross-section parallel to the resting surface of a body of water
  • Inertial masses of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which have a vertical cross-sectional shape (i.e., a shape with respect to a cross-section normal to the resting surface of a body of water) that is approximately: circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, and/or approximately that of an airfoil.
  • Inertial masses of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which have a displacement volume as small as 1 cubic meter, and as great as 200,000 cubic meters.
  • Inertial masses of the current disclosure include, but are not limited to, those which have a nominal, resting depth as shallow as 20 meters, and as deep as 100 meters.
  • a ribbon connector, ribbon cable, or simply“ribbon,” is an array of two or more cables (i.e.,“strands”) that share at least one connector, and/or connection point, and at least partially share at least one load, force, and/or tension, applied between at least two ends of the ribbon.
  • the strands of a ribbon are arranged, at least with respect to a portion of the ribbon, in a manner which is conducive to the passive of at least some of those strands over and/or about at least one“roller” and/or at least one array of pulleys.
  • Ribbons comprised of any material or combination of materials, as well as ribbons comprised of any number and/or combination of strands which are comprised of any material or combination of materials.
  • Ribbons include, but are not limited to, arrays of strands which include strands comprised of steel, synthetic materials, rope, chain, and/or any other at least partially flexible material, and/or linkage of links comprised of flexible and/or rigid materials.
  • a ribbon comprised of any number of two or more strands.
  • a ribbon might also include a single“strand” which is essentially and/or approximately flat and might be described as a“belt.”
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands of approximately constant diameter as well as ribbons comprised of strands that include strands of two or more unequal and/or variable diameters.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands which include one or more strands of variable diameter, e.g., the diameter of an individual strand might be increased in order to offer greater resistance over a range of the ribbon’s linear extent which is expected to be subjected to a relatively high rate of abrasion, twisting, flexing, and/or any other physical distortion, compression, and/or wear.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands that are only interconnected at respective ribbon ends, and are otherwise free to move independently of one another.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands that are interconnected at one or more points, and/or over one or more ranges of linear extent.
  • a ribbon of the present disclosure comprises strands that are interconnected to their immediately adjacent strands, e.g., to the strand on the left and right, along the length of the ribbon.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands arranged in an approximately and/or substantially flat, two-dimensional geometric arrangement, e.g., such as might constitute a“belt” of parallel ribbon strands.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands arranged in an approximately and/or substantially rectangular geometric arrangement that might be described as approximately conforming to the shape of a square tube.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands arranged in an approximately and/or substantially cylindrical geometric arrangement that might be described as approximately conforming to the shape of a cylindrical tube.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons comprised of strands arranged in any and all other geometric arrangements and/or shapes.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons interconnected with other ribbons, and/or sub-divided into constituent sub-ribbons.
  • Such“component ribbons” might be joined and/or connected to other component ribbons by means of connecting rigid bars, rods, and/or plates. They might also be joined and/or connected to other component ribbons by means of connecting flexible bars, cables, plates, etc.
  • Ribbon Junction Bar interconnected with other cables, e.g., with single,“non-ribbon” cables, struts, bars, chains, ropes, etc. Such interconnections may be facilitated by means of intermediary and/or interconnected“ribbon junction bars.” 4. Ribbon Junction Bar
  • One of the principle benefits of a ribbon cable is the distribution of a load across many cables of relatively small diameter, thereby permitting the use of relatively small- diameter pulleys while preserving an advantageous or otherwise desirable D/d ratio
  • an embodiment of the current disclosure positions an associated inertial mass at a relatively great depth.
  • the embodiment’s tether is a hybrid comprised of a ribbon cable adjacent to its upper end (i.e., the end closer to an associated buoy and the surface of the body of water) and a monolithic cable, of a diameter relatively larger than that of the ribbon cable’s strands, adjacent to its lower end (i.e., the end closer to an associated inertial mass and the seafloor).
  • An embodiment incorporates within the tether connecting its buoy to its inertial mass a“ribbon junction bar” to which one end of the ribbon cable is connected, and to which one end of the monolithic cable is connected.
  • the ribbon junction bar provides a connector, and/or a point of connection, with which the two or more strands of a ribbon cable may be connected to a single, relatively larger diameter cable.
  • a groove in a pulley or roller i.e., a pulley with more than a single circumferential groove, or with a single circumferential groove that travels, typically in a spiral fashion, about the drum of the pulley for more than a single 360-degree revolution
  • the cable is said to have a non-zero“fleet angle.”
  • Such non-zero fleet angles are problematic, especially when the respective cable is under significant load, in that they are associated with forces, abrasions, twisting, and /or cable bending, that tends to rapidly accelerate the degradation, wear, and/or loss of structural integrity, of a cable, and/or the pulley, roller, and/or the bearings thereof.
  • An embodiment of the present disclosure includes, incorporates, and/or utilizes, a direction-rectifying pulley that aligns and/or otherwise preconditions a strand of a ribbon cable such that the fleet angle of that strand, and its respective pulley and/or roller groove, remains approximately zero, thereby tending to extend the life and strength of that strand.
  • An embodiment of the present disclosure includes, incorporates, and/or utilizes, a direction- rectifying pulley array (i.e., a DRPA, which is an array of direction rectifying pulleys) that aligns and/or otherwise preconditions each strand of a ribbon cable such that the fleet angles of those strands, and their respective pulley and/or roller grooves, remain approximately zero, thereby tending to extend the life and strength of those ribbons and the strands therein.
  • a direction- rectifying pulley array i.e., a DRPA, which is an array of direction rectifying pulleys
  • the DRPAs of the present disclosure may be made in a variety of designs, sizes, and configurations, as well as from a variety of materials, all of which are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • the DRPAs of the present disclosure include DRPAs of any number of individual direction rectifying pulleys (DRPs), any type(s) of DRP(s), e.g., with purely circumferential and/or spiral grooves therein), as well as any number of cable or strand grooves, and any number of cable or strand turns, e.g., quarter turns.
  • the DRPAs of the present disclosure may be comprised of arrays of adjacent, but otherwise independent DRPs. It may be comprised of linked arrays of DRPs in which all of the DRPs change their orientation in concert with one another.
  • a DRPA of the present disclosure may be comprised of an array of DRPs in which at least one DRP is free to rotate about its point of attachment to a supporting strut or frame, e.g., by a swivel connection. It may be comprised of an array of DRPs in which the ability of at least one DRP to rotate with respect to its position relative to a supporting strut or frame is limited to an axis of rotation, e.g., by a hinged connection.
  • a DRPA of the present disclosure may be comprised of an array of DRPs in which the ability of at least one DRP to rotate with respect to its position relative to a supporting strut or frame is limited to an axis of rotation, e.g., by a hinge, wherein the axis of rotation is approximately coaxial with a longitudinal axis, and/or tangential axis, of a portion of the cable or strand adjacent to a groove within the respective DRP.
  • the DRPAs of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, those positioned adjacent to, or above, an upper surface of buoy, e.g., adjacent to an edge or aperture of the buoy; those positioned adjacent to a side of a buoy; and/or those positioned adjacent to, or below, a lower surface of a buoy.
  • the DRPAs of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, those positioned such that they are nominally below the surface of the body of water on which the
  • embodiment floats, nominally above the surface of the body of water on which the embodiment floats, and/or nominally partially submerged.
  • the DRPAs of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, those whose rotations are facilitated through the use of ball bearings, roller bearings, hinges, sleeve bearings, and/or any other friction-reducing mechanism, and/or lubricant.
  • A“ribbon roller,”“roller pulley,” or“roller” is a drum, pulley, and/or other rotating, approximately cylindrical body about which the strands of a ribbon may be diverted to a new angular orientation and/or direction, and/or about which the strands of a ribbon may be wound.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that contain circumferential grooves within which at least one of the strands of a ribbon may be seated, guided, and/or constrained.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that contain spiral grooves within which at least one of the strands of a ribbon may be seated, guided, and/or constrained, especially with respect to multiple windings of at least one strand about the roller.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that contain no grooves and are essentially and/or approximately flat (with respect to a cylindrical geometry).
  • the scope of the current disclosure also includes rollers that contain grooves adapted, configured, and/or conducive to the seating, guidance, and/or constraint of two or more strands, i.e., two or more strands per groove.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which the outer approximately cylindrical surface about which the strands of a ribbon are diverted and/or wound are comprised of approximately continuous, solid, and/or unbroken surfaces.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which the outer approximately cylindrical surface about which the strands of a ribbon are diverted and/or wound are comprised of structural components that are not continuous with respect to their adjacency to a strand diverted and/or wound thereabout.
  • a roller might be comprised of any array of rods or bars in which the longitudinal axes of at least some of those rods are approximately parallel and are arranged in a cylindrical fashion.
  • rollers made of any material, e.g., steel, or combination of materials.
  • rollers the rotation of which is facilitated by any type of bearing and/or mechanical friction-reducing mechanism, material, coating, and/or lubricant.
  • the scope includes, but is not limited to, rollers utilizing ball bearings, roller bearings, and sleeve bearings.
  • rollers that rotate about axes that are approximately and/or substantially horizontal, vertical, neither horizontal nor vertical, and/or variable, changeable, adaptable, and/or adjustable.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that are mounted, attached, and/or operated from positions approximately and/or substantially above the structure to which they are mounted, e.g., above an upper surface of a buoy.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that are mounted, attached, and/or operated from positions approximately and/or substantially below the structure to which they are mounted, e.g., submerged below a lower surface of a buoy.
  • the scope of the current disclosure also includes rollers that are mounted, attached, and/or operated from positions approximately and/or substantially within and/or adjacent to the structure to which they are mounted, e.g., within and/or adjacent to a buoy.
  • rollers that are mounted, attached, and/or operated from positions approximately and/or substantially adjacent to an outer perimeter or edge of a buoy.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that rotate freely and act to divert the path and/or longitudinal axis of a ribbon and/or of at least one of a ribbon’s strands.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that exert a resistive torque on at least one of the strands of at least one of the ribbons passing over and/or about each respective roller.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that are directly and/or indirectly connected to a respective power take-off (PTO) that is energized, at least in part, through a torque exerted on the rollers’ respective shaft and the subsequent rotation of that roller.
  • PTO power take-off
  • the scope of the current disclosure also includes rollers that exert a resistive torque on at least one of the strands of a ribbon passing thereover and/or thereabout wherein at least a portion of the torque is generated through the action of a brake.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which at least one of the strands of a respective ribbon is wound about the roller over an angular extent that is at least 360 degrees (i.e., at least one“turn”).
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which at least one of the strands of a respective ribbon are wound about the roller over an angular extent of three turns.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which at least one of the strands of a respective ribbon are diverted about the roller’s surface over an angular extent that is less than 360 degrees, e.g., over an angular extent of 90 degrees.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which at least one of the strands of a respective ribbon are wound about the roller over an angular extent that is variable.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which at least one end of at least one strand of a respective ribbon is attached and/or fixedly connected to a surface of the roller and/or of a groove therein.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which at least one end of at least one strand of a respective ribbon is attached to a point within a spiral groove of the respective roller, and/or to a point on an outer surface of the respective roller, causing rotations of the roller in one direction to“roll” the strand about the spiral groove over an angular extent of two or more turns, and causing rotations of the roller in another direction to“unroll” the strand up to, and including, the point at which the strand is no longer seated within a groove and is approximately normal to the surface of the roller.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers in which at least one end of at least one strand of a respective ribbon is not attached to a surface of the roller and/or of a groove therein.
  • the ribbon therefore being able to pass over and/or about the roller and/or its grooves without any limitation other than a limitation imposed by, and/or encountered in relation to, the length, geometry, configuration, and/or behavior, of the ribbon itself, and/or the axial length of the roller and the related number of available grooves therein (e.g., through which a strand of the ribbon may travel).
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that are combined so as to create multi-roller (i.e., two or more rollers) configurations that constitute“traction winches” providing sufficient frictional interaction between the strands of a ribbon and the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers therein to permit the exchange of torque, and/or other rotational forces and/or tensions, between the ribbon and the rollers without significant“slipping” of the ribbon over the surfaces of the rollers.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes roller- based traction winches of any number of grooves, ribbons, and/or inter-roller geometric configurations, as well as traction winches comprised of any material and/or combination of materials.
  • rollers and ribbons in which individual rollers are connected to two or more ribbons, and/or to the strands thereof, as well as ribbon cables that are connected to two or more rollers, and/or to the grooves thereof.
  • rollers of any geometry characterized by any type, design, and/or geometry of groove, and comprised of any material or combination of materials, of any length, any diameter, of any orientation of its axis of rotation, of any location with respect to a connected buoy or structure, of any number of strand windings, including partial windings, e.g., of 90 degrees, of any variety of groove geometries, including the absence of grooves, and/or any other physical, material, dimensional, design, operational, positional, and/or intrinsic characteristic.
  • the ratio of the diameter of the groove and/or surface about which a cable is diverted and/or wound, to the diameter of the cable that is diverted and/or wound about it, is denoted as the“D/d” ratio of the assembly, i.e., where“D” connotes the diameter of the pulley or groove, and“d” connotes the diameter of the cable therearound wound.
  • a small D/d i.e., a cable wound around, and/or passing over, a pulley with a diameter of relatively similar extent, can result in damage and wear to a cable as the relatively“tight” bending of such a cable can stretch, bend, and/or break, the internal fibers and/or other constituents of which the cable is comprised.
  • Many devices such as two-body wave energy converters, utilize flexible connectors in order to transmit tensions between two portions, parts, and/or mechanisms, within a device.
  • the diameter of the flexible connectors involved must be sufficient (e.g., with respect to the inherent strength of the material of which the cables are comprised) to communicate the requisite loads, forces, and/or tensions, between the two bodies, without breaking, snapping, and/or otherwise suffering structural failure.
  • the support of relatively greater tensions requires cables of relatively greater diameters.
  • the ribbon cable of the present disclosure permits the use of pulleys and/or rollers whose diameters are a function of the diameters of the individual strands of which the ribbon cables are comprised. And, through the use of an array of smaller-diameter strands within a ribbon cable, a relatively large tension can be communicated between two bodies, e.g., between a buoy and a submerged inertial mass, without breaking, snapping, and/or otherwise suffering structural failure while, at the same time, requiring the use of relatively small-diameter pulleys and/or rollers, albeit while requiring the use of a greater number of them.
  • the ribbon cable of the present disclosure permits the communication of large forces between a buoy and a submerged inertial mass, while permitting the use of pulleys and/or rollers of modest, and practical, proportions, while also permitting the longevity of the device to be increased, and its cost of operation and/or repair to be decreased, through the avoidance of the damage to its (ribbon) cables that would result from the use of relatively small- diameter rollers in conjunction with a smaller number of larger-diameter cables.
  • the combinations of ribbon cables and rollers of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, those in which the resulting D/d ratio is no less than 50. It also includes those in which the resulting D/d ratio is no less than 70. 8. Traction Winch
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes rollers that are combined so as to create multi-roller (i.e., two or more rollers) configurations that constitute“traction winches” providing sufficient frictional interaction between the strands of a ribbon and the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers therein to permit the exchange of torque, and/or other rotational forces and/or tensions, between the ribbon and the rollers without significant“slipping” of the ribbon over the surfaces of the rollers.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes roller- based traction winches of any number of rollers, grooves per roller, ribbon cables, ribbon strands, and/or inter-roller geometric configurations, as well as traction winches comprised of any material and/or combination of materials.
  • roller-based traction winches in which the rotational axes of the rollers of which the traction winch is comprised are arranged in any and all possible geometric configurations.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a traction winch comprised of two rollers with parallel rotational axes.
  • An embodiment of the present disclosure includes a traction winch comprised of three rollers with parallel rotational axes, and in which those rotational axes are arranged in a triangular arrangement, e.g., one roller positioned above the approximate center of a pair of rollers.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, in which the movement of the ribbon in one direction, and the
  • a weight e.g., a restoring weight
  • the restoring weight thereto connected may also be comprised of a single, unified, rigid weight; a collection of individual weights, e.g., links in a chain, and/or any other configuration, type, design, material, and/or composition.
  • a restoring weight connected to one end of a ribbon cable may be positioned and/or suspended from any position relative to the ribbon and/or the respective roller(s), with respect to an embodiment of the current disclosure.
  • a restoring weight may be submerged (e.g., hanging over the side of the buoy and suspended within a body of water), may be suspended above an upper surface of a buoy, and/or may be suspended within a buoy.
  • a restoring weight may be suspended from a block-and-tackle (and/or multiple pulley) mechanism such that the weight is raised or lowered by a relatively small fraction of the distance by which a respective ribbon is moved, and/or by a relatively small fraction of the circumferential distance by which a respective roller is rotated.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, in which the movement of the ribbon in one direction, and the
  • corresponding movement of the roller in one direction is caused, at least in part, by an electrical motor, wherein the motor provides to the rollers: intermittent and/or variable torques, constant torques, adjustable torques, and/or other combinations of constant and variable torques.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, in which the movement of the ribbon in one direction, and the
  • corresponding movement of the roller in one direction is caused, at least in part, through the application of a pressurized hydraulic fluid to an hydraulic piston that effects the movement and/or rotation of the ribbon and/or roller.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, in which the movement of the ribbon in one direction, and the
  • a biasing means that effects the movement and/or rotation.
  • Pearls An embodiment of the current disclosure incorporates, includes, and/or utilizes, an inertial mass of an approximately constant density and/or“displaced weight.”
  • An object’s“displaced weight” is the net amount of gravitational force imparted, and/or manifested, by an object as a consequence of gravity’s effect on its mass, less the amount of gravitational force imparted, and/or manifested, by the water which that object displaces.
  • An object’s displaced weight is also equal to the volume of the object multiplied by the“net density” of the object, wherein the object’s net density is equal to the difference between the object’s density less the density of the water displaced by the object.
  • an embodiment of the current disclosure incorporates, includes, and/or utilizes, an inertial mass with a variable“effective” displaced weight.
  • An embodiment varies, modifies, changes, and/or increases, the effective displaced weight of its inertial mass at least in part through the selective and controlled application of one or more supplemental weights to the inertial mass.
  • An embodiment varies, modifies, changes, and/or decreases, the effective displaced weight of its inertial mass at least in part through the selective and controlled application of one or more supplemental floats to the inertial mass, and/or through the introduction to the inertial mass of a volume of a positively buoyant liquid such as air, gas, oil, etc.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure varies the effective displaced weight of its inertial mass through the suspension from it of at least one end (i.e., the“inertial end”) of a chain, linkage, and/or series of flexibly connected weights (i.e., at least one end of a“string of pearls”).
  • the portion of the total weight of the string of pearls that is borne or supported by, and/or suspended from, the inertial mass may be changed, thereby changing its effective displaced weight by changing the portion of the weight of a string of pearls that is effectively added to the inertial mass.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure controls the raising and lowering of the distal end of a string of pearls by means of a winch connected and/or attached to the embodiment’s buoy.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure controls the raising and lowering of the distal end of a string of pearls, and thereby changing the portion of the string’s weight that is supported by a respective inertial mass, by connecting that distal end to a restoring weight that is, in turn, connected to the respective inertial mass.
  • the adjustment e.g., the increase
  • a complementary adjustment e.g., the decrease
  • This will adjust (e.g., decrease) the depth of the distal end of the respective string of pearls which is connected to the restoring weight.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure has a float flexibly connected to its inertial mass. This float decreases the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass. This embodiment has an inertial end of a string of pearls connected to the float. Through an alteration in the depth of a distal end of that string of pearls, the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass can be changed, adjusted, and/or controlled.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure has a chamber, vessel, and/or at least partially entrapped volume, into which air, another gas (e.g., nitrogen), and/or a buoyant liquid (e.g., oil), can be pumped, and from which it can be released, which permits the effective displaced weight of the respective inertial mass may be changed, adjusted, and/or controlled.
  • air another gas
  • a buoyant liquid e.g., oil
  • One such embodiment has such a chamber incorporated within its respective inertial mass.
  • Another such embodiment has a separate such chamber that is connected to the respective inertial mass.
  • PTO Power take off
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, that are directly and/or indirectly connected to a PTO comprising an electrical generator and/or pump (e.g., of air or water).
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, that are directly and/or indirectly connected to a PTO comprising a gearbox and operatively connected electrical generator and/or pump (e.g., of air or water).
  • a PTO comprising a gearbox and operatively connected electrical generator and/or pump (e.g., of air or water).
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, that are directly and/or indirectly connected (e.g., rotatably or extensibly) to a PTO comprising a hydraulic ram and/or piston.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, that are directly and/or indirectly connected to hydraulic rams and/or pistons that are connected to cam shafts that are forcibly rotated by one or more rollers.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons, rollers, and/or combinations of ribbons and rollers, that are directly and/or indirectly connected to linearly extensible components, and/or elements, of extensible PTOs such as hydraulic pistons, rack-and-pinon assemblies, sliding rods/shafts of linear generators, etc.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected to a roller about which they are diverted and/or wound, including rollers that are constituent rollers within traction winches.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected to a piston or other extensible element of an extensible PTO such as the slidable rack of a rack-and-pinon gear assembly, the shaft (e.g., typically containing magnets) of a linear generator, the piston of a hydraulic ram.
  • a piston or other extensible element of an extensible PTO such as the slidable rack of a rack-and-pinon gear assembly, the shaft (e.g., typically containing magnets) of a linear generator, the piston of a hydraulic ram.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected to a restoring weight which stores gravitational potential energy when the ribbon rotates a respective roller in one direction, and releases at least a portion of that gravitational potential energy causing the respective roller to rotate in another direction.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected to a lever, e.g., the movement and/or rotation of which causes a PTO to generate electrical power.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected, directly and/or indirectly, to a submerged inertial mass (e.g., an approximately spherical, cylindrical, or toroidal vessel containing a relatively significant volume of water and characterized by a negative buoyancy).
  • a submerged inertial mass e.g., an approximately spherical, cylindrical, or toroidal vessel containing a relatively significant volume of water and characterized by a negative buoyancy.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected, directly and/or indirectly, to a submerged heave plate and/or“stacked” array of heave plates.
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected, directly and/or indirectly, to a submerged deadweight anchor, e.g., resting adjacent to a seafloor, and/or pylon, e.g., embedded in a seafloor.
  • a submerged deadweight anchor e.g., resting adjacent to a seafloor
  • pylon e.g., embedded in a seafloor
  • the scope of the current disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons in which one or more ribbon strands are fixedly attached and/or connected, directly and/or indirectly, to a piling or screw embedded in a seafloor.
  • the current disclosure includes many novel devices, devices that are hybrid combinations of those novel devices, and variations, modifications, and/or alterations, of those novel devices, all of which are included within the scope of this disclosure. All derivative devices, combinations of devices, and variations thereof, are also included within the scope of this disclosure.
  • the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments that include, incorporate, and/or utilize, ribbons, rollers, and/or DRPAs, in any combination, and incorporating and/or characterized by any and all embellishments, modifications, variations, and/or changes, that would preserve their essential function and/or functionality.
  • the scope of this disclosure applies with equal force and equal benefit to devices, and to connections between devices, in which it is advantageous to replace fixed pulleys and/or rollers with those that rotate in response to potential changes in the fleet angles of respective cables passing therethrough and/or thereover so as to reduce, minimize, and/or improve those fleet angles, and, thereby, to reduce, minimize, and/or eliminate, the wear, abrasion, and/or fatigue suffered by those cables, pulleys, and/or rollers.
  • FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 100 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 101 by a set of cables.
  • a cable 102 connects the inertial mass 101 to a“ribbon junction bar” 103.
  • the ribbon junction bar 103 is connected to two parallel ribbon cables, e.g. 104.
  • Each strands of each ribbon cable is connected to a“direction rectifying pulley,” e.g.
  • each “aligned” ribbon strand passes over and around a spiral-wound roller pulley, e.g. 106.
  • the shaft about which each roller pulley rotates extends through the buoy’s walls, e.g. 107, where it is connected to a power take-off (PTO).
  • PTO power take-off
  • the submerged inertial mass 101 resists that upward acceleration due to its significant mass.
  • This differential upward acceleration creates a separating tension within the cables, e.g. 102 and 104, that connect the buoy to the inertial mass.
  • the paying out of those cables is controlled, regulated, and/or resisted, by a resistive torque applied to the shaft of the roller pulleys, e.g. 106, by the operatively connected PTOs.
  • the roller pulleys, and their connected PTOs are rotated and power is generated.
  • roller pulleys As the roller pulleys are rotated so as to lengthen the cables, e.g. 102 and 104, that connect the buoy to the inertial mass, separate“slack-reducing cables,” e.g. 108, are wound up on each roller pulley thereby lifting a“restoring weight,” e.g. 109, connected to each slack-reducing cable.
  • Each slack-reducing cable passes over and/or around a direction- rectifying pulley, e.g. 110.
  • the raised restoring weights, e.g. 109 descend, thereby causing the roller pulleys, e.g. 106, to which they are attached to“rewind” their slack ribbon cables, e.g. 104.
  • the inertial mass 101 is slightly negatively buoyant and is water-filled, deriving most of its inertia from the water trapped and/or substantially trapped therein.
  • FIG. 2 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 1.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 100 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 101 by a set of cables.
  • a cable 102 connects the inertial mass 101 to a“ribbon junction bar” 103.
  • the ribbon junction bar 103 is connected to a pair of ribbon cables, e.g. 104, each of which, after passing over a strand- specific array of direction rectifying pulleys, is connected to a roller pulley, e.g. 106.
  • Each strand, e.g. 111, of each ribbon cable is wound several times about the spiral grooves of its respective roller pulley. And, one end of each ribbon strand is fixedly attached to its respective roller pulley, e.g. 106.
  • each roller pulley e.g. 106
  • a“slack-reducing cable” is also wound about each roller pulley, e.g. 106.
  • the buoy 100 floats adjacent to a surface 116 of a body of water over and/or through which waves propagate. Said waves result in the lifting and falling of the device in an oscillatory manner.
  • the submerged inertial mass 101 tends to resist the accelerated rising of the buoy in response to approaching wave crests, causing the cables, e.g. 104, to be pulled, and the connected roller pulleys and power take offs to be rotated, thereby generating electrical (or other) power.
  • FIG. 3 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 100 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 101 by a set of cables.
  • a cable 102 connects the inertial mass 101 to a“ribbon junction bar” 103.
  • the ribbon junction bar 103 is connected to a pair of ribbon cables, 104 and 117, each of which, after passing over a strand- specific array of direction rectifying pulleys, 118 and 105, respectively, travels to, 119 and 120, respectively, and is connected to a roller pulley (not visible). Wound about each roller pulley (not visible) in a direction opposite that of the winding of each strand of its respective ribbon cable, 119 and 120, is a“slack-reducing cable,” 121 and 122, respectively.
  • Each slack-reducing cable, 121 and 122 travels over and around a direction rectifying pulley, 115 and 110, respectively, and then travel, 114 and 108, respectively, to respective restoring weights, 113 and 109, respectively, to which they are connected.
  • Each of the embodiment’ s two roller pulleys is connected to and/or through interior walls of four downwardly projected portions, e.g. 123 and 124, of the buoy 100 structure.
  • the shaft of each roller pulley is connected to a power take-off inside the buoy by means of bearings and seals that facilitate the passage of each end of the shaft through the respective portions of the buoy’s walls.
  • FIG. 4 shows a top-down sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 1-3.
  • the horizontal section plane is the one specified in FIG. 2 across line 4-4.
  • the shaft of upper 125 roller pulley is operatively connected to power take-offs (PTOs) positioned within downwardly projected portions 126-127.
  • the shaft of lower 106 roller pulley is operatively connected to power take-offs (PTOs) positioned within downwardly projected portions 128-129.
  • Each rectified ribbon strand, e.g. 132 passes on to, and around, a roller pulley, e.g. 125.
  • Each strand, e.g. 132 engages its respective roller pulley, e.g. 125, by means of one or more spiral grooves in and/or on the outer surface of the roller pulley.
  • Each strand, e.g. 132, is nominally wound around the spiral grooves of its respective roller pulley, e.g. 125, multiple times, e.g. 133-135.
  • one end of each strand, e.g. 132 is fixedly connected and/or attached to a surface of its respective roller pulley 125, such that it cannot be fully unwound and separated from its respective roller pulley.
  • each strand of a lower ribbon cable, e.g. 136 passes over, and is aligned by, a respective direction rectifying pulley, e.g. 137.
  • Each rectified ribbon strand, e.g. 138 passes on to, and around, a roller pulley, e.g. 106.
  • Each strand, e.g. 138 engages its respective roller pulley, e.g. 106, by means of one or more spiral grooves in and/or on the outer surface of the roller pulley.
  • Each strand, e.g. 138 is nominally wound around the spiral grooves of its respective roller pulley, e.g. 106, multiple times, e.g. 139-141.
  • one end of each strand, e.g. 138 is fixedly connected and/or attached to a surface of its respective roller pulley 106, such that it cannot be fully unwound and separated from its respective roller pulley.
  • a slack-reducing cable 142/143/108 Fixedly attached to the upper roller pulley 125 is one end of a slack-reducing cable 142/143/108.
  • the aligned portion 143 of the slack-reducing cable passes over and/or around a direction rectifying pulley 110 and thereafter 108 descends to a greater depth at which an end of the cable is fixedly attached to a restoring weight (not visible).
  • the slack-reducing cable is shortened and the restoring weight (not visible) fixedly attached to an end of that cable is raised, imparting to it gravitational potential energy.
  • the gravitational potential energy of the restoring weight to fall, thereby causing the slack-reducing cable to lengthen through the rotation of the upper roller pulley 125 in the direction that pays out the slack-reducing cable, and that winds up the strands, e.g. 132, of the relatively“relaxed” ribbon cable.
  • a slack-reducing cable 112/144/114 Fixedly attached to the lower roller pulley 106 is one end of a slack-reducing cable 112/144/114.
  • the aligned portion 144 of the slack-reducing cable passes over and/or around a direction rectifying pulley 115 and thereafter 114 descends to a greater depth at which an end of the cable is fixedly attached to a restoring weight (not visible).
  • the slack-reducing cable is shortened and the restoring weight (not visible) fixedly attached to an end of that cable is raised, imparting to it gravitational potential energy.
  • the gravitational potential energy of the restoring weight to fall, thereby causing the slack-reducing cable to lengthen through the rotation of the lower roller pulley 106 in the direction that pays out the slack-reducing cable, and that winds up the strands, e.g. 138, of the relatively“relaxed” ribbon cable.
  • FIG. 5 shows a side sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 1-4.
  • the vertical section plane is the one specified in FIG. 2 across line 5-5.
  • a positively buoyant structure 100 floats adjacent to a surface 116 of a body of water across which waves travel.
  • a negatively buoyant submerged inertial mass 101 i.e., a vessel enclosing and/or trapping a relatively large volume of water.
  • the substantial inertia of the inertial mass 101 inhibits the ability of the inertial mass to accelerate upward at the same rate as the buoy.
  • the buoy’s depth increases, thereby increasing the buoyant force that it imparts to the inertial mass, and to the cables that connect the buoy and the inertial mass.
  • the inertial mass 101 is connected to a cable 102 which, in turn, is connected to a ribbon junction bar 103.
  • the ribbon junction bar 103 is connected to two ribbon cables (i.e., two arrays of cables positioned adjacent to one another in an approximately flat orientation).
  • a leftmost ribbon cable 104 engages an array 118 of direction rectifying pulleys which aligns each strand 119 within the ribbon cable such that each strand always engages, travels to, and/or passes on to, a respective roller pulley 106 within a plane tangential to the upper part of the roller pulley 106, and also within a plane normal to the longitudinal and/or rotational axis of the roller pulley 106.
  • the array of direction rectifying pulleys 118 allow the relative lateral positions of the buoy and the inertial mass to vary while insulating the alignment of the ribbon cable from those positional and/or angular variations prior to its engagement with the roller pulley 106.
  • the strands of ribbon cable 119 are wound 145 around the roller pulley 106 thereby increasing their frictional engagement with the roller pulley.
  • a cable 121 that is wound up on the roller pulley whenever the ribbon cable 119 is unwound from it, and vice versa. Cable 121 travels to a direction rectifying pulley 115 over which it descends 114 to a restoring weight 113 suspended from an end of the cable 114.
  • One end of the shaft about and/or through which roller pulley rotates is connected to a bearings, a seal, and a power take-off (PTO) located partially or fully with a portion 129 of the buoy that projects downward from the broader portion 100 at the surface.
  • PTO power take-off
  • a rightmost ribbon cable 117 engages an array 105 of direction rectifying pulleys which aligns each strand 120 within the ribbon cable such that each strand always engages, travels to, and/or passes on to, a respective roller pulley 125 within a plane tangential to the upper part of the roller pulley 125, and also within a plane normal to the longitudinal and/or rotational axis of the roller pulley 125.
  • the array of direction rectifying pulleys 105 allow the relative lateral positions of the buoy and the inertial mass to vary while insulating the alignment of the ribbon cable from those positional and/or angular variations prior to its engagement with the roller pulley 125.
  • the strands of ribbon cable 120 are wound 146 around the roller pulley 125 thereby increasing their frictional engagement with the roller pulley.
  • a cable similar to cable 121 is fixedly connected to the roller pulley 125 , but excluded from the sectional view by the section plane.
  • One end of the shaft about and/or through which roller pulley rotates is connected to a bearings, a seal, and a power take-off (PTO) located partially or fully with a portion 126 of the buoy that projects downward from the broader portion 100 at the surface.
  • PTO power take-off
  • the inertial mass is positioned at an average depth that is below a wave base of the body of water 116.
  • FIG. 6 shows a bottom perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.
  • FIG. 7 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 140-142 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 143 by a set of cables.
  • a cable 144 connects the inertial mass 143 to a“ribbon junction bar” 145.
  • the ribbon junction bar 145 is connected to two ribbon cables.
  • the leftmost ribbon cable 146 connected to junction bar 145 ascends to engage a first array of direction rectifying pulleys, a traction winch, and a second array of direction rectifying pulleys, after which the ribbon cable 147 descends and is connected to a second ribbon junction bar 148.
  • the second ribbon junction bar 148 connects ribbon cable 147 to a “string of pearls” cable 149 one end (i.e. the“inertial end”) of which is connected to a point 150 on the bottom of inertial mass 143.
  • Attached to the string of pearls cable 149 are a plurality of weights, e.g. 151.
  • As the“distal end” of the string of pearls i.e.
  • the“effective displaced weight” of the inertial mass can be changed, i.e. it can be reduced and increased, respectively.
  • the rightmost ribbon cable 152 connected to junction bar 145 ascends to engage a first array of direction rectifying pulleys, a traction winch, and a second array of direction rectifying pulleys, after which the ribbon cable 153 descends and is connected to a second ribbon junction bar 154.
  • the second ribbon junction bar 154 connects ribbon cable 153 to a “string of pearls” cable 155 one end (i.e. the“inertial end”) of which is connected to a point 150 on the bottom of inertial mass 143. Attached to the string of pearls cable 155 are a plurality of weights, e.g. 156. As the“distal end” of the string of pearls (i.e.
  • the portion of the weights, e.g. 156, attached to the string of pearls that is borne by the inertial mass 143 is decreased and increased, respectively.
  • the“effective displaced weight” of the inertial mass can be changed, i.e. it can be reduced and increased, respectively.
  • AUVs autonomous unmanned vehicles
  • drones e.g. fixed wing and/or helicopter
  • technicians and others to enter and exit the enclosure, and to enjoy some protection from the weather, sea, winds, etc., while they are within the enclosure.
  • the inertial mass 143 is unable to match the buoy’s rate of upward acceleration.
  • This discrepancy creates a tension within the central ribbon cables 146 and 152 as the inertia of the inertial mass inhibits the acceleration of the buoy, and the buoy applies a lifting force to the inertial mass.
  • the tension in the central ribbon cables 146 and 152 increases, the traction winch about which each ribbon cable is wound, and to which it is frictionally bound, begins to turn so as to release additional ribbon cable and facilitate the separation of the buoy from the lagging inertial mass.
  • each ribbon-cable- specific traction winch by its associated and/or respective power take-off causes the“unwinding” of each ribbon cable during the increasing separation between the buoy and the inertial mass to generate electrical power and/or perform some other useful form of work (depending on the embodiment- specific power take-off).
  • FIG. 8 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 7.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 140-141 floats adjacent to an upper surface 159 of a body of water over, below, and/or through which pass waves.
  • Buoy 140-141 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 143 by a set of cables.
  • a cable 144 connects the inertial mass 143 to a“ribbon junction bar” 145 which, in turn, connects it to a pair of ribbon cables 146 and 152.
  • the ribbon cables 147 and 153 descend toward inertial mass 143.
  • Those ends of the ribbon cables 147 and 153 are connected to ribbon junction bars 148 and 154, respectively, which, in turn connect them to the distal ends of a pair 149 and 155, respectively, of strings of pearls.
  • weights e.g. 151, 160 and 161 are seven weights, e.g. 151, 160 and 161. As the distal end of that string of pearls, and the ribbon junction bar 148 to which it is attached, is raised and lowered, the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass 143 is decrease and increased, respectively. For instance, in the illustrated configuration, weight 160 is supported principally, if not entirely, by the buoy 140. While, weight 161 is supported principally, if not entirely, by the inertial mass 143 (through the connection at 150).
  • the inertial mass 143 will be lowered by an equal distance (since the cables 146/147 are flexible but not stretchable), and both weights 160 and 161 will be principally, if not entirely, supported by the buoy. And, the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass 143 will be reduced.
  • the inertial mass 143 will be raised by an equal distance, and both weights 160 and 161 will be principally, if not entirely, supported by the inertial mass 143. And, the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass 143 will be increased.
  • AUVs autonomous unmanned vehicles
  • drones e.g. fixed wing and/or helicopter
  • technicians and others to enter and exit the enclosure, and to enjoy some protection from the weather, sea, winds, etc., while they are within the enclosure.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 Another embodiment similar to the one illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, possesses an enclosure with only a single opening, e.g. at 158. And, yet another embodiment similar to the one illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, possesses an enclosure with openings nominally“closed” by doors, gates, walls, shields, etc., that must be opened either electronically and/or manually.
  • the left and right sides of the inertial mass 143 are contoured so as to facilitate the passage of water past the inertial mass when it flows approximately parallel to the page of the illustration in both lateral and especially vertical directions.
  • the inertial mass is also contoured so as to facilitate the passage of water past the inertial mass when it flows approximately normal to (i.e., into or out of) the page of the illustration.
  • FIG. 9 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 140-142 floats adjacent to an upper surface 159 of a body of water over, below, and/or through which pass waves.
  • a plurality of cables connect the buoy 140-142 to a submerged inertial mass 143.
  • a cable 144 connects the inertial mass 143 to a ribbon junction bar 145, which, in turn, connects it to a ribbon cable (obscured behind ribbon cable 153).
  • the ribbon cable 153 descends and connects to another ribbon junction bar 154, which is, in turn, connected, at 165, to a distal end of a string of pearls 155 cable to which are attached weights, e.g. 156, 162 and 163.
  • the strands of ribbon cable 153 Prior to its descent, the strands of ribbon cable 153 can be seen passing over and around an array of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g. 166. Behind and between the illustrated direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 166, is one 167 of the pair of traction winches about which the ribbon cable 153 is wound, and through which the ribbon cable 153 engages the power take-off system of the embodiment.
  • direction rectifying pulleys e.g. 166
  • a roof, cover, and/or partial enclosure 157 Attached to an upper surface of buoy 140 is a roof, cover, and/or partial enclosure 157 that is open to the environment and accessible by people, as well as by automated, self- propelled vehicles, through its open ends 158.
  • the average depth of the inertial mass 143 is below a wave base of the body of water 159. In another similar embodiment, the average depth of the inertial mass 143 is above a wave base of the body of water 159. And, in another, it is adjacent to, and/or approximately equal to, a wave base of the body of water 159.
  • FIG. 10 shows a top-down sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 7-9.
  • Left and right portions of the buoy 140 extend beneath the section plane.
  • One side 142 of the buoy 140 is adjacent to a lower array of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 168.
  • Another side 141 of the buoy 140 is at the left side of the illustrated sectional view.
  • Attached to a lower surface of ribbon junction bar 154 is a string of pearls cable on which are attached a plurality of weights, e.g., 175.
  • Attached to a lower surface of ribbon junction bar 148 is a string of pearls cable on which are attached a plurality of weights, e.g., 185.
  • FIG. 11 shows a top perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 7-10.
  • FIG. 12 shows a side sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, with the section plane being the one specified in FIG. 9 and taken along line 12-12.
  • Inertial mass 143 is connected to ribbon junction bar 145 by flexible connector 144.
  • One end of each of two ribbon cables 146 and 152 are also connected to ribbon junction bar 145.
  • Ribbon cable 146 passes upward and over an array of direction rectifying pulleys 185 (i.e., one direction rectifying pulley per ribbon cable strand).
  • the aligned ribbon cable 186 then passes on to, and makes multiple turns around, the pair of cooperating roller pulleys 179 and 180 of the leftmost traction winch.
  • At least one end of the shaft of at least one of the traction winch’s roller pulleys is operatively connected to a power take-off (PTO), e.g., to a generator, an hydraulic compressor, a gearbox, etc., which is located inside the buoy.
  • PTO power take-off
  • the ribbon cable 187 passes over and around an array 188 of direction rectifying pulleys (i.e., one direction rectifying pulley per ribbon cable strand).
  • the ribbon cable then travels downward where it connects with ribbon junction bar 148.
  • the ribbon junction bar 148 is also connected to the distal end of a string of pearls cable 149, along the length of which are attached weights, e.g., 151, 160 and 161.
  • Ribbon cable 152 passes upward and over an array of direction rectifying pulleys 189 (i.e., one direction rectifying pulley per ribbon cable strand).
  • the aligned ribbon cable 190 then passes on to, and makes multiple turns around, the pair of cooperating roller pulleys 171 and 167 of the rightmost traction winch.
  • At least one end of the shaft of at least one of the traction winch’s roller pulleys is operatively connected to a power take-off (PTO), e.g., to a generator, an hydraulic compressor, a gearbox, etc., which is located inside the buoy.
  • PTO power take-off
  • the ribbon cable 191 After exiting the traction winch the ribbon cable 191 passes over and around an array 192 of direction rectifying pulleys (i.e., one direction rectifying pulley per ribbon cable strand). The ribbon cable then travels downward where it connects with ribbon junction bar 154.
  • the ribbon junction bar 154 is also connected to the distal end of a string of pearls cable 155, along the length of which are attached weights, e.g., 156, 162, and 163.
  • the buoy 140 floats adjacent to a surface 159 of a body of water over, through, below, and/or across which travel waves. As the depth of buoy 140 increases in response to an approaching wave crest, so too does the volume of water displaced by the buoy, and the resulting buoyancy of the buoy. As the buoy is driven to accelerate upward in response to its increasing buoyancy, the inertial mass resists that acceleration due to its own inertia. The resulting downward pull on ribbon cables 146 and 152 engages the respective traction winches and turns the respective PTOs thereby generating power and allowing the distance between the buoy and the submerged inertial mass to increase.
  • the weight of the ribbon junction bars 148 and 154 apply downward pulls on their respective ribbon cables 147 and 153 causing the ribbon cables 146 and 152 to shorten and minimize the degree of slack in those cables.
  • connector 144 is rigid.
  • a single end of a single shaft of each pair of traction winch roller pulleys is operatively connected to a power take-off (PTO).
  • PTO power take-off
  • two ends of a single shaft of each pair of traction winch roller pulleys is operatively connected to a PTO.
  • one end each of each shaft in each pair of traction winch roller pulleys is operatively connected to a PTO.
  • three of the four ends the two shafts in each pair of traction winch roller pulleys is operatively connected to a PTO.
  • each of the four ends the two shafts in each pair of traction winch roller pulleys is operatively connected to a PTO.
  • the inertial mass 143 is a water-filled enclosure. In another similar embodiment, the inertial mass 143 is a solid mass comprised of materials that yield a suitable average density.
  • the buoyancy of the inertial mass 143 is negative. In another similar embodiment, the buoyancy of the inertial mass 143 is neutral, and the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass 143 is defined and controlled primarily through the adjustment of the depths of the distal ends of the strings of pearls 149 and 155. And, in another similar embodiment, the buoyancy of the inertial mass 143 is positive, and the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass 143 is likewise defined and controlled primarily through the adjustment of the depths of the distal ends of the strings of pearls 149 and 155.
  • FIG. 13 shows a bottom perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 7-12.
  • FIG. 14 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoy 200 is connected to an anchor 201 resting on the seafloor by a set of cables.
  • a cable 202 connects the anchor 201 to a four-sided, and/or square,“ribbon junction bar” 203.
  • Ribbon junction bar 203 is connected to four ribbon cables 204 each of which ascends to the buoy 200 where it engages its own anchor-side array of direction rectifying pulleys, a traction winch, and its own restoring- weight- side array of direction rectifying pulleys 205, after which it descends 206 and is connected to its respective ribbon junction bar 207.
  • Attached to an upper surface of the buoy 200 is an approximately cylindrical wall and/or enclosure with an open top. This enclosure might facilitate the landing, birthing, recharging, and take off, of an unmanned aerial drone, e.g., an autonomous helicopter.
  • the buoy has an octagonal lateral and/or horizontal shape, although buoy shape is arbitrary and all similar buoy shapes are included within the scope of this disclosure.
  • the buoy has four beveled upper edges, however, such bevels are an arbitrary feature and all similar buoy shapes, modifications, and/or features, are included within the scope of this disclosure.
  • a similar embodiment has a non-cylindrical drone enclosure 208. And, said enclosure has a square horizontal cross-sectional shape. Other similar embodiments have other enclosure shapes and all are included within the scope of this disclosure.
  • FIG. 15 shows a bottom perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIG. 14.
  • a buoy 200 floats adjacent to a surface 210 of a body of water over, through, below, and/or across which travel waves which act to raise and lower the buoy.
  • the buoy 200 is flexibly tethered to an anchor 201 that rests upon, and/or is secured to, a seafloor 211.
  • FIG. 15 Visible in FIG. 15 is an array of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 205 A, that align the strands of the ribbon cable 204A/206A as they travel from the traction winch (the outer roller pulley 212A of which visible between the direction rectifying pulleys of the array 205A) to the ribbon junction bar 207A.
  • the traction winch the outer roller pulley 212A of which visible between the direction rectifying pulleys of the array 205A
  • FIG. 16 shows a top-down horizontal sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, and the section plane is taken along section line 16-16 of FIG. 15.
  • the horizontal section plane sections the buoy 200 at a point where the four intersecting rectangular channels, e.g., 213D, are revealed along with the pulleys positioned therein. Through the opening in the sectioned buoy the anchor 201 is visible, as is the square ribbon junction bar 203 to which the four ribbon cables 204A-D are connected.
  • ribbon cables 204A and 206A, and their respective direction rectifying pulleys and traction-winch roller pulleys in detail. The discussion is equally relevant to the other three ribbon cables and their respective direction rectifying pulleys and traction- winch roller pulleys and will not be repeated for that reason.
  • Ribbon cable 204A is connected to square ribbon junction bar 203 A, and therethrough to the anchor 201.
  • Each strand, e.g. 204A, of the ribbon cable passes over and around a direction rectifying pulley, e.g., 214A, which aligns it with respect to the interior traction- winch roller pulley 216A.
  • the direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 214A constrain each respective ribbon cable strand, e.g., 215A, to a plane that is tangential to the roller pulley 216A and the roller pulley’s groove which each strand will enter.
  • each respective ribbon cable strand e.g., 215A
  • each respective ribbon cable strand e.g., 215A
  • each ribbon cable strand e.g., 204A
  • passage over a direction rectifying pulley e.g., 214A
  • each strand e.g., 204A
  • each ribbon cable strand travels around the entire traction winch several times, e.g., 217A and 218A.
  • the multiple loops around the roller pulleys 216A and 212A of the traction winch provide a frictional connection between each ribbon cable strand and the rollers of the traction winch allowing forceful movements of the ribbon cable 204A to forcefully turn one or both roller pulleys of the traction winch, which, in turn, allows those forceful movements of the ribbon cable 204A to transmit rotational power (i.e., high-torque angular displacements) to a power take-off (PTO) connected to one or both roller pulleys of the traction winch.
  • rotational power i.e., high-torque angular displacements
  • each strand, e.g., 219A, of the ribbon cable passes on to and around a second direction rectifying pulley, e.g., 205A, after which it, e.g., 206A, descends and is connected to a ribbon-cable- specific ribbon junction bar 207A.
  • the anchor prevents the ribbon cables 204 from rising with it. This creates a tension in the ribbon cables that grows as the depth of the buoy increases. That separating force within the ribbon cables is transmitted and/or communicated to each ribbon cable’s respective traction winch where the downward pull of the ribbon cables causes the forceful turning of the traction winch roller pulleys. That forceful turning activates and/or energizes the power take-off(s) connected to those ribbon cables causing electrical power, and/or some other useful work, to be generated.
  • the weight of the outer ribbon junction bars 207 draws each ribbon cable back around the traction winches and restores the nominal length of those portions 204 of the ribbon cables that tether the buoy to the anchor.
  • each strand of the ribbon cables passes around the roller pulleys of its respective traction winch one time.
  • each strand of the ribbon cables passes around the roller pulleys of its respective traction winch two, four, five, and six, times, and in some embodiments different strands complete differing numbers of turns around the roller pulleys of its respective traction winch.
  • the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments in which each strand of the ribbon cables passes around the roller pulleys of its respective traction winch any number of times.
  • FIG. 17 shows a vertical sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, and the section plane is taken along section line 17-17 of FIG. 15.
  • Buoy 200 floats adjacent to a surface 210 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • One end of ribbon cable 204A is connected to ribbon junction bar 203 A, through which it is tethered to cable 202 and to anchor 201 which rests on a submerged parcel of ground 211 (e.g., a seafloor).
  • Each strand of ribbon cable 204A passes up, over, and around a direction rectifying pulley 214A after which it 215A is aligned, presenting a fleet angle of zero with respect to the grooves on the roller pulleys of traction winch 216A and 212A.
  • Each strand 220A travels around the traction winch’s roller pulleys 216A and 212A after which it passes on to, over, and around direction rectifying pulley 205A, and thereafter it 206A descends and is connected to ribbon junction bar 207A.
  • FIG. 18 shows a bottom perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 14-17.
  • FIG. 19 shows a top-down perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 14-18.
  • FIG. 20 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 240-241 incorporates, includes, and/or possesses, four rigid sails or wing-sails, e.g., 242D, each of which rotates (e.g. is caused to rotate by an accessory motor) about a shaft or mast, e.g., 243D.
  • the buoy 240 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 244 by a cable 245, a ribbon junction bar 246, and a pair of adjacent ribbon cables 247.
  • Each ribbon cable passes over and around an array of direction rectifying pulleys (not visible). The alignment of each array of direction rectifying pulleys is facilitated, promoted, and/or coerced, through the pulling of a “direction rectifying pulley array” (DRPA) cable 248, to the end of which is attached a weight 249.
  • DRPA direction rectifying pulley array
  • the bottom of buoy 240 is contoured so as to create opposing parallel hulls 250 and 251 that serve as keels to promote the steering of the buoy under the influence of the rigid sails.
  • the submerged inertial mass 244 has an airfoil shape, with a relatively blunt leading edge 252 and a relatively narrow trailing edge 253.
  • the buoy is equipped with a single rigid sail. In other similar embodiments, the buoy is equipped with two and three rigid sails each.
  • the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments with any number of rigid sails. It also includes embodiments with any other manner of self-propulsion, including, but not limited to: ducted fans, propellers, parachute sails, etc.
  • the inertial mass is a water-filled vessel or enclosure.
  • the inertial mass is rigid and comprised of one or more materials with an average density that is greater than that of the surrounding seawater.
  • FIG. 21 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIG. 20.
  • the buoy 240 floats adjacent to a surface 254 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • Rotatably connected to an upper surface of buoy 240 are four rigid sails, two 242A and 242C of which are visible in the illustration.
  • FIG. 22 shows a side view of the buoy portion of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21.
  • the buoy 240 floats adjacent to a surface 254 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • the buoy 240 is connected to a pair of adjacent ribbon cables 247.
  • Each ribbon cable passes over and around an array of direction rectifying pulleys (not visible).
  • the alignment of each array of direction rectifying pulleys is facilitated, promoted, and/or coerced, through the pulling of a“direction rectifying pulley array” (DRPA) alignment cable 248.
  • DRPA direction rectifying pulley array
  • FIG. 23 shows a back view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 20-22.
  • the buoy 240 floats adjacent to a surface 254 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • Two rigid sails 242C and 242D are rotatably connected to an upper surface or portion of the buoy 240.
  • Left and right downward-projecting hulls 251 and 250 serve as keels.
  • An upper end of left and right parallel and adjacent ribbon cables 247A and 247B are connected to the buoy 240, while a lower end of each ribbon cable is attached to a common ribbon junction bar 246.
  • the ribbon junction bar 246 is also connected to a submerged inertial mass 244 via a shared cable 245.
  • the shape of the inertial mass is that of a vertically-oriented airfoil and/or wing with the most tapered, and/or back, portion 253 of the airfoil at the back of the inertial mass such that forward motion of the embodiment is facilitated.
  • FIG. 24 shows a back view of the buoy portion of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 20-23.
  • the buoy 240 floats adjacent to a surface 254 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • Two rigid sails 242C and 242D are rotatably connected to an upper surface or portion of the buoy 240 by means of their respective shafts 243C and 243D about which they rotate.
  • Left and right downward-projecting hulls 251 and 250 serve as keels.
  • One end each of left and right parallel and adjacent ribbon cables 247A and 247B are attached to spirally-grooved roller pulleys 255A and 255B respectively.
  • each strand of each ribbon cable 247A and 247B passes on to, over, and around, a direction rectifying pulley within its respective array 256A and 256B, respectively, of direction rectifying pulleys after which it descends, and is attached to, a shared ribbon junction bar (not visible).
  • FIG. 25 shows a top-down perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 20-24.
  • Buoy 240 is flexibly connected by ribbon cables 247A and 247B to ribbon junction bar 246, which is connected to inertial mass cable 245, which is connected to inertial mass 244.
  • Each of a pair of adjacent“direction rectifying pulley array” (DRPA) alignment cables 248 passes through an aperture in ribbon junction bar 246 and each is connected to a weight 249 such that under the influence of gravity the length of the portion of each cable 248 that spans the distance between the ribbon junction bar 246 and its respective weight is able to change through each cables’ sliding through its respective aperture 257.
  • DRPA rectifying pulley array
  • each cable 248 is connected to a frame in which an array of direction rectifying pulleys is rotatably mounted, such that each cable pulls its respective direction-rectifying-pulley frame so as to align the direction rectifying pulleys therein with the position of the ribbon junction bar 246 and thereby provide an optimal orientation for the direction rectifying pulleys - an orientation which minimizes the fleet angle of the ribbon cable strands, e.g., 247 A, within their respective direction rectifying pulleys.
  • the orientation of each array of direction rectifying pulleys, and/or of the pulleys therein would tend to change in response to forces generated through non-zero fleet angles.
  • the use and action of the alignment cables 248 reduces or eliminates the need, albeit a transient need, for a non-zero fleet angle to impose a force sufficient to realign and/or maintain the orientation of the direction rectifying pulleys.
  • FIG. 26 shows a bottom-up perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 20-25.
  • a buoy 240 has a contoured bottom surface characterized by two prominent“ridges” 250 and 251 which tend to help stabilize the buoy and act as keels for the rigid sails 242.
  • One end of the strands of a ribbon cable 247A are attached to a roller pulley 255A and nominally wound 259 A about its spiral grooves before passing 258 A to an array of direction rectifying pulleys 256A and then down to a ribbon junction bar 246 to which another end is attached.
  • One end of the strands of a ribbon cable 247B are attached to a roller pulley 255B and nominally wound about its spiral grooves before passing to an array of direction rectifying pulleys 256B and then down to a ribbon junction bar 246 to which another end is attached.
  • Ribbon junction bar 246 is connected to cable 245, which, in turn, is connected to an inertial mass (not shown).
  • DRPA array- specific“direction rectifying pulley array”
  • each DRPA alignment cable 248 A and 248B imparts a tensioning force to each respective DRPA alignment cable 248A and 248B which pulls the respective DRPA alignment cable 248A and 248B toward its nominal alignment with respect to the respective ribbon cables 247A and 247B, and toward an alignment that results in a ribbon-strand / direction-rectifying- pulley fleet angle of zero.
  • FIG. 27 shows a sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 20-26, with the horizontal section plane being the one specified in FIG. 23 and taken along line 27-27.
  • each strand in the left 247A and right 247B ribbon cables is attached to respective left 255A and right 255B roller pulleys about which they are wound before passing on to, around, and over, strand- specific direction rectifying pulleys connected to, and/or within, respective left 256A and right 256B swivel mounted arrays whose swiveled and/or angular orientations are influenced, at least in part, through the pulling of respective struts 260A and 260b by respective DRPA alignment cables (not visible) that pass through respective apertures 257A and 257b in ribbon junction bar 246.
  • Ribbon junction bar 246 is connected to cable 245 and therethrough to airfoil- shaped inertial mass 244.
  • FIG. 28 shows a close-up side view of the ribbon junction bar 246 which partially comprises the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 20-27.
  • DRPA “direction rectifying pulley array”
  • the ribbon junction bar 246 is connected to cable 245.
  • FIG. 29 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 300 is connected, by a set and/or series of cables, e.g., 306, to a submerged inertial mass 301.
  • the interior of the inertial mass 301 wherein water is trapped with respect to upward accelerations the inertial mass 301, has an upper aperture 302- 303 and/or mouth through which water inside the inertial mass can communicate and/or be exchanged with water outside the inertial mass.
  • the inertial mass is accelerated upward there is little, if any, opportunity for water inside the inertial mass 301 to escape the enclosure 301 and/or to be exchanged with water outside the enclosure.
  • the inertial mass 301 is suspended from a plurality of cables, e.g., 304, connected about its upper mouth 302 and/or aperture 303.
  • a plurality of cables e.g., 304
  • One end of each of those cables, e.g., 304, is connected to a ribbon junction bar 305, which, in turn, is connected to a pair of ribbon cables 306A and 306B.
  • Ribbon cables 306A and 306B are connected to buoy 300 by means of their passage over and around respective arrays of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 307B.
  • Attached and/or mounted to one or more upper surfaces of buoy 300 is a plurality of containers, e.g., 308. Differing, though similar, embodiments may incorporate differing numbers of containers, containers of differing sizes, volumes, and/or other attributes... or no containers at all. Differing, though similar, embodiments, may incorporate containers comprising differing contents therewithin.
  • one or more of the containers of similar embodiments may contain computing devices, sensors, communication devices, automated underwater vessels, e.g., underwater drones, that may be launched when it is advantageous to do so, unmanned aerial vehicles, e.g., fixed-wing and/or rotor aircraft, and/or anything else, especially systems, modules, equipment, and/or electronic devices, that may benefit from the consumption of some or all of the electrical energy generated by the embodiment. All such possible differing, though similar, embodiments are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Containers e.g., 308, may be permanently affixed to the buoy 300 or they may be temporarily and/or removably attached, thereby permitting them to be exchanged with other containers, perhaps containing differing contents, at future times.
  • FIG. 30 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIG. 29.
  • Buoy 300 floats adjacent to a surface 309 of a body of water over which pass waves.
  • each strand of left 310A and right 310B ribbon cables are attached to respective roller pulleys 311 A and 311B, and are nominally wound thereabout for one or more turns, after which the ribbon cables 310A and 310B pass on to, over, and around, respective arrays of directional rectifying pulleys 307 A and 307B, and then down to ribbon junction bar 305 to which another end of each strand of each ribbon cable is attached.
  • Ribbon junction bar 305 is connected to a plurality of cables 304 which, in turn, are connected, e.g., at 312, near the edge of the mouth 302 of the inertial mass 301.
  • roller pulleys 311 A and 311B are“restoring- weight cables,” e.g., 315A and 315B, from which restoring weights are suspended.
  • roller pulleys 311 A and 311B rotate in a first direction which“unwinds” some of the ribbon cable wound about it.
  • roller pulleys 311 A and 311B When rotated in this first direction, roller pulleys 311 A and 311B also“wind up,” and thereby effectively shorten, the portions of the respective restoring-weight cables from which the restoring weights are suspended, thereby raising those weights toward the surface 309 and to shallower depths.
  • the fairleads only allow the respective restoring- weight cables to move within planes coplanar, and/or at least approximately parallel to, planes normal to the longitudinal and/or rotational axes of the respective adjacent roller pulleys.
  • the fairleads thereby minimize or prevent non-zero fleet angles between the strands of the respective ribbon cables and the roller-pulley grooves into which they enter, and/or from which they exit, thereby tending to minimize wear on those restoring- weight cables and tending to extend their useful lifetimes.
  • FIG. 31 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30.
  • Buoy 300 floats adjacent to a surface 309 of a body of water over which pass waves.
  • Affixed at top surface of the buoy 300 is a plurality of containers 308 containing equipment, e.g., computers, that consume at least a portion of the electrical power generated by the embodiment.
  • Ribbon cables e.g., 306B
  • Ribbon cables are attached to roller pulleys after which those cables pass on to, over, and/or around, arrays of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 307B, and thereafter down to a ribbon junction bar 305 to which they are connected.
  • a plurality of“inertial-mass cables,” e.g., 304 which are also connected, e.g., at 312, to an upper surface 302 or edge of inertial mass 301.
  • FIG. 32 shows a top-down perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 29-31.
  • Buoy 300 floats adjacent to a surface of a body of water. Attached and/or connected to an upper surface of buoy 300 are a plurality of containers, e.g., 308, each of which may contain equipment, instruments, sensors, computers, and/or other electrical and/or electronic devices.
  • the inertial vessel 301 is connected, e.g., at 312, to a plurality of inertial-mass cables, e.g., 304, which are, in turn, connected to a ribbon junction bar 305.
  • Also connected to the ribbon junction bar 305 are a pair of ribbon cables 306A and 306B which are connected to the buoy 300.
  • the inertial vessel 301 is suspended so as to have an approximate depth that is above a wave base of the body of water. In a similar embodiment, or following an adjustment of the average lengths of the ribbon cables 306A and 306B, the inertial vessel 301 is suspended so as to have an approximate depth that is above a first wave base (corresponding to waves of a first wavelength) of the body of water, and below a second wave base (corresponding to waves of a second wavelength) of the body of water.
  • FIG. 33 shows a bottom-up perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 29-32. Buoy 300 floats adjacent to a surface of a body of water.
  • each of left 310A and right 310B ribbon cables is attached to roller pulleys 311 A and 311B, respectively.
  • the strands of each ribbon cable are wound about one or more of the spiral grooves of its respective roller pulley after which each ribbon cable 310A and 310B passes on to, over, and around, a respective array of direction rectifying pulleys 307A and 307B after which each travels down toward an inertial mass 301 and is connected to a ribbon junction bar 305.
  • the ribbon junction bar 305 is connected to a plurality of cables, e.g., 304, which connects it to inertial mass 301.
  • roller pulleys 311 A and 311B are also attached to, and wound about, roller pulleys 311 A and 311B, four restoring- weight cables, one cable at each end of each of the two roller pulleys.
  • a front pair of restoring-weight cables i.e., those from which restoring weights 319A and 319B are suspended, passes between, and is thereby positioned by, fairleads 314 and 316 and are therebelow connected to restoring weights 319A and 319B.
  • a back pair of restoring-weight cables, i.e., those from which restoring weights 320A and 320B are suspended, passes between, and is thereby positioned by, fairleads 317 and 318 and are therebelow connected to restoring weights 320A and 320B.
  • buoy 300 rises on in response to approaching wave crests, and falls in response to approaching wave troughs, its vertical accelerations will tend to change the separation between the buoy and its connected inertial vessel.
  • the pulling tension in those ribbon cables is transmitted around the respective direction rectifying pulleys 307A and 307B, through the horizontal portions of the ribbon cables 310A and 310B, to the respective roller pulleys 311 A and 311B causing those roller pulleys to rotate so as to lengthen the ribbon cables and also causing the power take-off connected to the roller pulleys to generate electrical power (or other useful work).
  • The“ribbon-cable-lengthening” rotations of the roller pulleys 311 A and 311B cause the counter- wound restoring-weight cables 313A, 313B, 315A, and 315B (as shown in FIG. 34) to wind up on the roller pulleys and thereby be shortened, raising their respective restoring weights, 319A, 319B, 320A and 320B in the process.
  • FIG. 34 shows a close-up of the bottom-up perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 29-33.
  • each of left 310A and right 310B ribbon cables is attached to roller pulleys 311 A and 311B, respectively.
  • the strands of each ribbon cable are wound about one or more of the spiral grooves of its respective roller pulley after which each ribbon cable 310A and 310B passes on to, over, and around, a respective array of direction rectifying pulleys 307A and 307B after which each travels down where it is connected to a ribbon junction bar (not shown).
  • roller pulleys 311 A and 311B Also attached to, and wound about, roller pulleys 311 A and 311B are four restoring- weight cables, 313A, 313B, 315A, and 315B, one cable at each end of each of the two roller pulleys 311A and 311B.
  • a front pair of restoring-weight cables 313A and 313B passes between, and is thereby positioned by, fairleads 314 and 316 and are therebelow connected to restoring weights 319A and 319B.
  • a back pair of restoring-weight cables 315A and 315B passes between, and is thereby positioned by, fairleads 317 and 318 and are therebelow connected to restoring weights 320A and 320B.
  • FIG. 35 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 350 is connected, by a set and/or series of cables to a left 351 A and right 351B submerged inertial mass.
  • Inertial masses 351 A and 351B are suspended by respective cables, e.g., 352A and 352B, which, in turn, are connected to respective cables 353A and 353B.
  • Those cables 353A and 353B are connected to respective ribbon junction bars 354A and 354B, which are, in turn, connected to left and right respective ribbon cables, 355A and 355B.
  • Each of those ribbon cables, e.g., 355B passes, strand-by- strand, over and around direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 356B.
  • Each ribbon cable 357A and 357B eventually travels downward where it connects to a respective ribbon junction bar 358A and 358B, each of which in turn is connected to a restoring weight, e.g., 359B.
  • FIG. 36 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIG. 35.
  • Buoy 350 floats adjacent to a surface 362 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • the bottom of the buoy extends further into the water at the front 363 and in the back 364 than it does in the middle.
  • the channel and/or trough created by the opposing front and back rectangular extensions of the buoy’s bottom is where the pulleys and rollers from which the ribbon cables are suspended are positioned.
  • each ribbon cable 357A and 357B travels downward where it is connected to a respective ribbon junction bar 358A and 358B, which in turn are connected to respective“restoring-weight” cables 363A and 363B, and therethrough to respective restoring weights 359A and 359B.
  • FIG. 37 shows a top perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 35 and 36. The explanation of the illustrated
  • FIG. 38 shows a top-down sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 35-37, with the horizontal section plane being the one specified in FIG. 37 and taken along line 38-38.
  • FIG. 37 Front 363 and back 368 portions of the buoy (350 in FIG. 37) are seen below the section plane.
  • Upper 357A and lower 357B ribbon cables are connected to respective ribbon junction bars 358A and 358B.
  • Each ribbon cable passes up, over, and around, a respective array of direction rectifying pulleys 369A and 369B, with each ribbon-cable strand passing up, over, and around, its own respective direction rectifying pulley.
  • the direction rectifying pulleys allow the portions of ribbon cable between those pulleys and their respective ribbon junction bars to move, pivot, shift, and travel, to positions in which either or each respective ribbon junction bar is not positioned directly below its respective direction rectifying pulleys, while maintaining a zero-fleet-angle orientation of the portion, 368A and 368B, of each ribbon cable that interfaces with the respective traction winch 367A/366A and 367B/366B.
  • Each ribbon cable passes over, and several times around the rollers of its respective traction winch, after which it 365A and 365B passes on to, over, and around another respective array of direction rectifying pulleys 356A and 356B.
  • Each ribbon cable 355A and 355B then travels down where it connects with a second respective ribbon junction bar 354A and 354B.
  • Each of those respective ribbon junction bars 354A and 354B is connected to a respective inertial mass 351A and 351B.
  • FIG. 39 shows a close-up side sectional view of the buoy of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 35-38, with the vertical section plane being the one specified in FIG. 37 and taken along line 39-39.
  • Positively buoyant buoy 350 floats adjacent to a surface 362 of a body of water across which waves travel. A bottom-most portion 365 of the buoy 350 extends further down into the water than the bottom-most portion of the buoy 350 adjacent to the section plane (in the foreground of the sectional view).
  • Positionally unstable left 355A and right 355B ribbon cables pass (from their connections to respective inertial masses) on to, over, and around, respective arrays of direction rectifying pulleys 356 A and 356B after which the respective ribbon cable strands 365A and 365B are positionally stable and able to engage the roller pulleys 366A/367A and 366B/367B of their respective traction winches without a significant fleet angle.
  • the respective ribbon cable strands 368A and 368B are still in a positionally stable state when they engage respective direction rectifying arrays 369 A and 369B after which the respective descending ribbon cables 357A and 357B are able to move freely so as to maintain their connections to their respective ribbon junction bars (not visible).
  • Pulleys e.g., 356A and 369A, and traction-winch rollers, e.g., 366A and 367A, and/or the bearings or other structural members to which they are connected, are structurally connected to plates, e.g., 361A overlying top surfaces 360 of the buoy thereby distributing downward forces imparted to the pulleys throughout a substantial portion of the buoy (e.g., rather than allowing those forces to be focused on the bearings, and to the relatively small portions of the buoy to which they are attached, to which they are rotatably connected).
  • buoy 350 is partially or fully comprised of a
  • cementitious material the ability of that material to bear significant and highly-localized forces is low, and the risks of imposing such localized forces on such a buoy include the risk of catastrophic structural failure.
  • FIG. 40 shows a bottom-up perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 35-39.
  • the bottom of buoy 350 is bounded by front 363 and back 364 extended portions of the structure which creates a recessed area between them in which are rotatably mounted pulleys, e.g., 356A, and rollers, e.g., 366A.
  • Suspended from the buoy 350 are left 351 A and right 351B inertial masses.
  • Those left 351 A and right 351B inertial masses are connected to respective pluralities of cables 352A and 352B which connect the inertial masses to respective“inertial-mass cables” 353 A and 353B.
  • Those inertial-mass cables 353 A and 353B are connected to respective ribbon junction bars 354A and 354B, which, in turn, are connected to ends of respective ribbon cables 355A and 355B.
  • Each of those ribbon cables 355A and 355B pass up, over, and around respective arrays of direction rectifying pulleys 356 A and 356B.
  • the portions of the ribbon cables between the direction rectifying pulley arrays 356A and 356B and the ribbon junction bars354A and 354B are free to move in response to vertical and lateral oscillations of the buoy 350 and to vertical and lateral oscillations of the inertial masse 351 A and 351B.
  • each ribbon cable e.g., 365A and 365B
  • the strands of each ribbon cable are positionally and angularly fixed so as to engage their respective traction winches 366A/367A and 366B/367B with a zero fleet angle.
  • 366B/367B engages the strands, e.g., 365A and 365B, respectively, of each respective ribbon cable with each traction winch, causing translations of each ribbon cable to rotate the respective traction winch and energize the respective power take-off(s).
  • each traction winch On the other side of each traction winch, 366A/367A and 366B/367B, the still positionally and angularly fixed strands of each respective ribbon cable, e.g., 368A and 368B, passes on to, around, and over, respective direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 369A and 369B, after which those strands are free to move in response to vertical and lateral oscillations of the buoy 350 and to vertical and lateral oscillations of the respective ribbon junction bars 363A and 363B, and the respective restoring weights 359A and 359B connected thereto by respective cables 363 A and 363B.
  • respective direction rectifying pulleys e.g., 369A and 369B
  • Increasing separation distances, e.g., primarily wave-driven, between the buoy 350 and the inertial masses 351 A and 351B cause the proximal portions of the respective ribbon cables 355A and 355B to increase in length, thereby turning the respective traction winches 366A/367A and 366B/367B and their respective operatively connected power take-offs (inside buoy 350), and causing the distal portions of the respective ribbon cables 357A and 357B to correspondingly decrease in length, thereby lifting their respective restoring weights 359A and 359B.
  • Decreasing separation distances, e.g., between wave crests, between the buoy 350 and the inertial masses 351 A and 351B allow the restoring weights 359 A and 359B to draw down the portions of the respective ribbon cables 357A and 357B distal to the inertial masses 351 A and 351B thereby increasing their lengths and thereby causing the portions of the respective ribbon cables 355A and 355B proximal to the inertial masses 351 A and 351B to be shortened, and the respective traction winches 366A/367A and 366B/367B to be“rewound” and prepared for the next separation of the buoy 350 from the inertial masses 351 A and 351B. While“rewinding” the traction winches rotate with minimal torque and/or resistance thereby facilitating the restoration of the device to its nominal configuration in which the separation between the buoy 350 and the inertial masses 351 A and 351B is relatively minimal.
  • the masses of the restoring weights 359 A and 359B is greater, causing their lifting to result in the storage of a relatively greater amount of gravitational potential energy, and causing their pulling on their respective ribbon cables 357A and 357B to be sufficiently forceful and/or powerful that the reverse rotations of the respective traction winches 366A/367A and 366B/367B are useful for the generation of electrical energy and/or other useful work, and are used for that purpose.
  • FIG. 41 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 400 is connected, by a set and/or series of cables to a submerged inertial mass 401.
  • Inertial mass 401 is connected to two flexible connectors, chains, linkages, and/or cables, 402A and 402B which are connected to a strut and/or bar 403.
  • Bar 403 is connected to flexible connector, chain, linkage, and/or cable, 404 to ribbon junction bar 405 which is in turn connected to two ribbon cables 406A and 406B.
  • each ribbon cable 406A and 406B passes up to, over, and around a chainwheel, e.g., 407B, (i.e., a roller with grooves, ridges, and/or other surface features, which tend to be aligned with the longitudinal and/or rotation axis of the roller so as to engage the links of chains passing over and around it in a circumferential fashion) and passes back down 408 A and 408B to a respective restoring weight 409A and 409B.
  • Each ribbon cable (415A and 415B respectively in FIG. 43) continues past its respective restoring weight and is connected at 410A and 410B to the ascending portion of each respective ribbon cable thereby creating a loop within each respective ribbon cable.
  • Each chainwheel e.g., 407B, and/or the structure within which it rotates, is supported by vertical connectors connecting it to respective sets of upper most“load-distribution struts” 414A and 414B.
  • Those uppermost struts rest upon, and distribute downward forces applied to them to, a middle layer of load-distribution struts 413 oriented approximately normal to those of the upper layers 414A and 414B.
  • the load-distribution struts 413 of the middle layer rest upon, and distribute downward forces applied to them to, load-distribution struts 411 of a lowermost layer oriented approximately normal to those of the middle layer 413 and approximately parallel to those of the uppermost layers 414A and 414B.
  • the load- distribution struts 411 of the lowermost layer rest upon, and distribute downward forces applied to them to, an upper surface 412 of the buoy 400.
  • a“load-distribution assembly” of struts overlying and exchanging vertical forces with the top of the buoy 400 relatively focused and/or localized downward forces imparted to the uppermost struts 414A and 414B are more evenly and broadly distributed over the upper surface of the buoy 400 thereby reducing the risk of structural failure such as might result from the direct application of the downward forces experienced by the submerged chainwheels to a relatively focused and/or localized portion of the upper surface of the buoy.
  • the connectors 402A and 402B are rigid. In another similar embodiment, the connector 404 is rigid.
  • the inertial mass 401 is positioned at a depth adjacent to a wave base of the water on which the embodiment floats. In another similar embodiment, the inertial mass 401 is positioned at a depth below a wave base of the water on which the embodiment floats. And, in another similar embodiment, the inertial mass 401 is positioned at a depth above a wave base of the water on which the embodiment floats.
  • FIG. 42 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIG. 41.
  • Buoy 400 floats adjacent to a surface 415 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • FIG. 43 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 41 and 42.
  • Buoy 400 floats adjacent to a surface 415 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • the explanation of the illustrated embodiment features and components, as well as the device’s behavior, have been discussed in relation to FIG. 41 and those discussions will not be repeated here.
  • the ribbon cables 406A and 406B (as well as the other cables and/or connectors) are placed under a separating tension.
  • the ribbon cables 406A and 406B pull additional cable over their respective chainwheels 407A and 407B, thereby lengthening the portions 406A and 406B of the ribbon cables, and correspondingly shortening the portions 408 A and 408B. This lifts the respective restoring weights 409 A and 409B.
  • the ribbon cables 406A and 406B will reach a point at which they are maximally paid out, defined by the separation at which the connectors 410A and 410B will bear approximately equal loads from both sides, i.e., from 415A and the upper portion of 406 A for connector 410A, and 415B and the upper portion of 406B for connector 410B, of the ribbon cables to which they are connected.
  • FIG. 44 shows a top-down view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 41-43.
  • the explanation of the illustrated embodiment features and components, as well as the device’s behavior, have been discussed in relation to FIG. 41 and those discussions will not be repeated here.
  • FIG. 45 shows a side perspective sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 41-44.
  • the vertical section plane is the one specified in FIG. 43 across line 45-45.
  • the explanation of the illustrated embodiment features and components, as well as the device’s behavior, have been discussed in relation to FIG. 41 and those discussions will not be repeated here.
  • Note that the vertical section of the inertial mass 401 reveals a circular cross-section. However, a horizontal section of that inertial mass would reveal an airfoil and/or elliptical cross-section.
  • the laterally flattened shape of the inertial mass facilitates its rising and falling since the cross-section that must move vertically through the water is relatively small.
  • the inertial mass 401 taken across a plane passing through the center of the inertial mass, and normal to the section plane of the sectional view illustrated in FIG. 45, would reveal a cross-section with an airfoil and/or elliptical cross-section, thus facilitating the movement of the inertial mass through the water in directions parallel to the plane of the section illustrated in FIG. 45.
  • FIG. 46 shows a top-down sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 41-45.
  • the horizontal section plane is the one specified in FIG. 43 across line 46-46.
  • FIG. 47 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 420 is connected, by a set and/or series of cables to a submerged“donut- shaped” inertial mass 421 which possesses a central aperture 422.
  • Inertial mass 421 is connected to a plurality of flexible connectors, e.g., 423, which are also connected to a ribbon junction bar 424.
  • Ribbon junction bar 424 is connected to a pair of ribbon cables 425A and 425B each of which extends upward and around a respective array of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 426B, and then around a respective roller pulley (not visible), and then out to, around and over a second respective array of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 427B, after which each ribbon cable extends downward where it is connected to a respective ribbon junction bar 429A and 429B which also serves as a restoring weight.
  • a raised barrier 430 and/or wall are examples of the upper perimeter of the buoy 420.
  • a plurality of containers and/or modules e.g., 431, which may contain any type of equipment, electronics, sensors, etc. Any or all of the equipment, electronics, sensors, etc., inside the modules 431 may utilize some or all of the electrical power generated by the embodiment in response to its movement by waves.
  • FIG. 48 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIG. 47.
  • Buoy 420 floats adjacent to a surface 432 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • a raised perimeter, wall, and/or barrier, 430 surrounds an upper recessed surface on which one or more containers and/or modules (431 in FIG. 47) containing equipment, electronics, sensors, and/or other mechanisms, machines, and/or devices, are attached and, at least partially, protected from overtopping by ambient waves on a surface 432 of the body of water on which the embodiment floats.
  • Inertial mass 421 is connected to ribbon junction bar 424 by means of a plurality of cables 423. That ribbon junction bar 424 is connected to left 425 A and right 425B ribbon cables that pass up to and around respective strand- specific arrays of direction rectifying pulleys 426A and 426B.
  • the positionally, and angularly, stabilized portions of each ribbon cable 433A and 433B then pass on to and around respective roller pulleys 434A and 434B after which they, i.e., 435A and 435B, pass on to and around respective second strand- specific arrays of direction rectifying pulleys 427A and 427B.
  • Each ribbon cable i.e., 428A and 428B, then passes downward from the respective arrays of direction rectifying pulleys 427A and 427B and is connected to a respective second ribbon junction bar 429A and 429B which also acts as a respective ribbon-cable-specific restoring weight.
  • each respective ribbon cable 428A and 428B is then free to move and shift its orientations in response to movements of the buoy 420, and its respective restoring weight 429A and 429B.
  • the cables, and especially the ribbon cables 425A and 425B that connect them are placed under a pulling or separating tension.
  • This causes the ribbon cables 425A and 425B to be pulled over the respective direction rectifying pulleys 426A and 426B and to rotate the respective roller pulleys 434A and 434B thereby energizing, e.g., by turning under torque the shaft of a generator, the respective power take-off connected to each roller pulley.
  • each ribbon cable connecting the buoy 420 to the inertial mass 421 is lengthened.
  • the respective portion 428 A and 428B of each ribbon cable connecting the buoy 420 to each respective restoring weight 429A and 429B is shortened, and each restoring weight is raised.
  • each restoring weight 429A and 429B reduces or eliminates any slack in the respective ribbon cables and draws the extended portions 425A and 425B of the respective ribbon cables back up thereby shortening those portions, and simultaneously lengthening the respective portions 428A and 428B as the respective restoring weights 429A and 429B fall back to their nominal separation distances from buoy 420.
  • ribbon cables 425A and 425B are comprised of
  • roller pulleys 434A and 434B are chainwheels.
  • the inertial mass 421 is approximately toroidal and/or donut-shaped it has relatively little drag with respect to lateral movements, e.g., into and out from the page of the illustration, which facilitates its motion with respect to those movements. And, because the horizontal cross-section of the inertial mass 421 (with respect to a horizontal section plane normal to the page of the illustration and passing through the center of the inertial mass) is approximately the same as the vertical cross-section of the inertial mass 421 (with respect to a section plane coplanar with the page of the illustration and passing through the center of the inertial mass) the inertial mass 421 has relatively little drag with respect to vertical movements which facilitates its motion with respect to those movements.
  • FIG. 49 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated in FIGS. 47 and 48.
  • FIG. 50 shows a top-down sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 47-49.
  • the horizontal section plane is the one specified in FIG. 48 across line 50-50.
  • FIG. 51 shows a bottom-up perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 47-50.
  • FIG. 52 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoyant flotation structure, or buoy, 450 is connected, by a set and/or series of cables to a submerged inertial mass 451.
  • Inertial mass 451 has a 3D shape in which horizontal cross-sections are airfoil shaped, and the vertical shape is approximately“tear- drop-shaped.”
  • Inertial mass 451 is held, constrained, and/or supported by a net of cables, e.g., 452, which are joined to each other at junction 453.
  • the inertial mass 451 and the cable net that supports it are connected to a supporting cable 454 at junction 453.
  • Cable 453 is connected to a ribbon junction bar 455 to which two ribbon cables, e.g., 456A, are connected with said ribbon cables passing to, over, and around, respective arrays of direction rectifying pulleys (not visible), and to and around respective roller pulleys (not visible).
  • Each roller pulley also has wound about it a separate respective ribbon cable which passes to, over, and around, separate respective direction rectifying pulleys before each ribbon cable 458 A and 458B descends and supports a respective restoring weight 457 A and 457B.
  • Buoy 450 has an approximately flat upper surface 459.
  • Inertial mass 451 is positioned at a depth that places it below a wave base of the body of water on which the embodiment floats. In a similar embodiment, inertial mass 451 is positioned at a depth that places it above a wave base of the body of water on which the embodiment floats. In a similar embodiment, inertial mass 451 is positioned at a depth that places it adjacent to a wave base of the body of water on which the embodiment floats. And, inertial mass 451 is positioned at a depth that places it above a first wave base of the body of water on which the embodiment floats, and below a second wave base of that body of water.
  • FIG. 53 shows a side perspective view of the buoy portion of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 52.
  • Buoy 450 is connected to a submerged inertial mass (not visible) by a pair of ribbon cables, e.g., 456A.
  • One end of each ribbon cable is attached to, and wound about, a respective roller pulley, e.g., 461 A.
  • Each roller pulley is also attached to one end of a separate respective ribbon cable, e.g., 458B, which passes over an array of direction rectifying pulleys, e.g., 460B.
  • Rotatably connected to a lower surface of the buoy 450 are four propeller-driven thrusters, e.g., 462D, which provide the buoy with the ability to propel itself laterally.
  • a pair of hatches 463 A and 463B Positioned at an upper surface of the buoy 450 are a pair of hatches 463 A and 463B which allow a technician to enter the buoy 450, e.g., to make repairs and/or perform maintenance of mechanisms therein.
  • An upper surface 459 of the buoy 450 is approximately flat and incorporates rails, e.g., 464, and/or other structural elements that facilitate the attachment of containers and/or modules containing equipment, electrical devices, instruments, sensors, etc. Attached to the buoy 450 are a variety of antennas, transmitters, sensors, etc., e.g.,
  • the buoy incorporates sensors that include, but are not limited to, 5, that include meteorological instruments and sensors for measuring wind speed, direction, humidity, etc. It incorporates transmitters, receivers, and antennas, used to communicate by radio with other devices, aerial drones, surface vehicles, boats, underwater vehicles, satellites, and/or shore-based facilities and/or relay stations.
  • FIG. 54 shows a side view of the buoy portion of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 52 and 53.
  • Buoy 450 floats adjacent to a surface 466 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • a submerged inertial mass (not visible, 451 in FIG. 52) is connected to cable 454 which is connected to an“inertial-mass” ribbon junction bar 455 via shackles 467 and 468.
  • Two ribbon cables, e.g., 456A are connected to ribbon junction bar 455 after which they pass over and around respective arrays of direction rectifying pulleys (not visible) and then around respective roller pulleys, e.g., 461A to which they are attached.
  • Each roller pulley e.g., 461A, rotates about a respective shaft, e.g., 469A, that penetrates the buoy wall to operatively connect to a respective power take-off (not visible) inside the buoy 450.
  • each roller pulley shaft e.g., 469A
  • a separate respective roller pulley e.g., 470A
  • one end of a respective “restoring-weight” ribbon cable e.g., 458A
  • a respective second array e.g., 460A
  • direction rectifying pulleys after which it, e.g., 458A, passes down and connects to a respective“restoring- weight” ribbon junction bar, e.g., 471 A.
  • Each “restoring- weight” ribbon junction bar, e.g., 471 A is connected to a respective cable, e.g., 472A, which, in turn, is connected to a respective restoring weight, e.g., 457 A.
  • FIG. 55 shows a side view of the buoy portion of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 52-54.
  • Buoy 450 floats adjacent to a surface 466 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • a submerged inertial mass (not visible, 451 in FIG. 52) is connected to cable 454 which is connected to an“inertial-mass” ribbon junction bar 455 via a shackle 467.
  • Two ribbon cables 456A and 456B are connected to ribbon junction bar 455 after which they pass over and around respective arrays of direction rectifying pulleys 473A and 473B and then around respective roller pulleys (not visible, e.g., 461 A in FIG. 54) to which they are attached.
  • Each roller pulley (not visible, e.g., 461A in FIG. 54) rotates about a respective shaft (not visible, e.g., 469A in FIG. 54) to which is also attached a separate respective“restoring- weight” roller pulley (not visible, e.g., 470A in FIG. 54) to which is attached, and about which is wound, one end of a respective“restoring-weight” ribbon cable 458 A and 458B that also passes to, over, and around, a respective second array of direction rectifying pulleys 460A and 460B, after which each respective ribbon cable 458 A and 458B passes down and connects to a respective“restoring-weight” ribbon junction bar 471 A and 471B.
  • Each “restoring- weight” ribbon junction bar 471 A and 471B is connected to a respective cable 472A and 472B, which, in turn, is connected to a respective restoring weight 457 A and 457B.
  • FIG. 56 shows a close-up side perspective view of the portion of the same
  • FIGS. 52- 55 shows in greater detail the ribbon junction bars and their attached cables. The perspective is similar to that of FIG. 52.
  • Ribbon cables 458A and 458B connect to respective ribbon junction bars 471 A and 471B and therethrough to respective cables 472A and 472B and respective restoring weights 457A and 457B.
  • Ribbon cables 456A and 456B are connected to ribbon junction bar 455, and to cable 454 by means of intermediate shackles 468, 474, and 467.
  • FIG. 57 shows a close-up side perspective view of the power take-off (PTO) assemblies positioned inside the buoy (450 of FIG. 55) of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 52-56.
  • the buoy walls have been omitted to elucidate the relationship between the cables, the pulleys, and the PTOs.
  • the perspective is similar to that of FIGS. 52 and 53.
  • a downward force applied to cable 454 by the submerged inertial mass (not visible, 451 in FIG. 52) is transmitted to ribbon junction bar 455 and therethrough to ribbon cables 456 A and 456B which is transmitted through them, around respective direction rectifying pulleys 473A and 473B, and causes respective roller pulleys 461A and 461B to rotate so as to unwind and/or dispense additional ribbon cable thereby increasing the length of the portion of each ribbon cable 456A and 456B through which buoy 450 is tethered to inertial mass 451.
  • roller pulleys 461 A and 461B rotates their respective shafts 469A and 469B thereby rotating respective crankshafts, e.g., 476A, on either side of each roller pulley.
  • the rotating crankshafts, e.g., 476A cause connected linkages, e.g., AllA, to oscillate and thereby drive up-and-down movably connected hydraulic pistons, e.g., 478A, which pumps pressurizes hydraulic fluid out of one or more tubes, e.g., 479A.
  • the pressurized hydraulic fluid drives one or more hydraulic motors and/or generators, which drives one or more electrical generators, thereby generating electrical power, some of which may be used to power thruster propellers 462A-D.
  • Depressurized hydraulic fluid is returned to the hydraulic cylinders, e.g., 478A, by one or more tubes, e.g., 479A, thereby completing the hydraulic circuit.
  • each roller pulley shaft e.g., 469A
  • a separate roller pulley e.g., 470A
  • the shortening of the separate ribbon cables, e.g., 458A lifts the connected restoring weights, e.g., 457A, thereby storing gravitational potential energy.
  • FIG. 58 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoy 500 floats adjacent to a surface 501 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • Buoy 500 is connected, by a set and/or series of cables to a submerged inertial mass 502.
  • Inertial mass 502 is connected to a cable 503 which is connected to a connection joint and/or fitting 504, which, in turn, is connected to four cables 505A-505D (only 505A-505C are visible in the illustration). Cables 505A-505C are connected to respective ribbon junction bars 506A-506C, which are connected to respective ribbon cables 507A-507C.
  • Each strand of each ribbon cable passes over and around a respective pulley, e.g., 508A, mounted on an angled strut, e.g., 509C, and through a respective aperture, e.g., 511B, in the respective angled strut.
  • Each strand then wraps around a central roller pulley 512, which is connected by a shaft 513 to a structural member 514 which rotates with the roller pulley 512.
  • A“mounting pin” 516 is attached to the structural member 514 and rotates with the structural member 514 and the roller pulley 512. As the mounting pin 516 rotates four connected linkages, e.g., 517A, oscillate horizontally, thereby driving hydraulic pistons, e.g., 518A, in and out of their respective hydraulic cylinders, e.g., 515A, thereby pressurizing and pumping hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor (not shown) and operatively connected generator (not shown).
  • the ribbon cables e.g., 507 A
  • the roller pulley 512 are pulled away from the buoy, causing the roller pulley 512 to be rotated in a first direction, which also rotates structural member 514, and thereby pumps hydraulic fluid and generates electrical power.
  • pressurized hydraulic fluid buffered in a hydraulic accumulator causes the hydraulic pistons to rotate the structural member 514 in a second direction thereby rewinding the ribbon cables, e.g., 507A, around the central roller pulley 512.
  • FIG. 59 shows a top-down view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 58.
  • a rotating structural member 514 is above an upper surface of buoy 500 and rotates in concert with roller pulley (512 in FIG. 58), thereby rotating 519 mounting pin 516 about a circular path within a plane approximately parallel to the upper surface of the buoy 500.
  • the oscillation of the linkages 517 drives hydraulic pistons 518 in and out of their respective hydraulic cylinders, thereby pumping and pressurizing hydraulic fluid, which is then used to drive a hydraulic motor and electrical generator (not shown), thereby generating electrical power.
  • FIG. 60 shows a side sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 58 and 59.
  • the vertical section plane is the one specified in FIG. 59 across line 60-60.
  • Ribbon cables 507 are attached to roller pulley 512 and are wound about it.
  • the strands of those ribbon cables, e.g., 507A pass over and around pulleys, e.g., 508A, and down to respective ribbon junction bars, e.g., 506A, through which they are indirectly connected to inertial mass 502.
  • Inertial mass 502 is an approximately spherical hollow enclosure, with a wall 520, that is filled, at least in part, with water 521.
  • the shaft 513 about which roller pulley 512 rotates extends up through the buoy 500 and is attached to a disk 514.
  • the lower extension of the shaft extends through an aperture in frame 509 and therein rotates.
  • Each hydraulic cylinder, e.g., 515A contains a piston, e.g., 523 A, that is driven back and forth by means of a shaft, e.g., 518A.
  • the disk 514 is replaced with a simple horizontal bar and/or strut that connects mounting pin 516 to shaft 513.
  • FIG. 61 shows a top-down view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoy 550 floats adjacent to a surface of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • a hydraulic cylinder 551 that is supported by struts, e.g., 552.
  • Hydraulic cylinder 551 is hydraulically connected to accumulator 553 by a cable 554 comprised of at least two tubes: one that directs pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic cylinder 551 to the accumulator; and one that directs depressurized hydraulic fluid back to the hydraulic cylinder 551.
  • Accumulator is hydraulically connected to hydraulic motor 555 by a cable 556 comprised of at least two tubes: one that directs pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic accumulator 553 to the hydraulic motor 555; and one that directs depressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic motor 555 back to the hydraulic cylinder 551 (via cable 554).
  • Hydraulic motor 555 drives the shaft 557 of an electrical generator 558.
  • FIG. 62 shows a side sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 61.
  • the vertical section plane is the one specified in FIG. 61 across line 62-62.
  • a buoy 550 floats adjacent to a surface 559 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • a submerged inertial mass 560 is tethered to the buoy 550 by cables.
  • Inertial mass 560 is connected to a connector 562 by a connector 561.
  • Connector 562 is connected to a cable 563 which is connected to a connector 564 which is connected to a pair of cables 565A and 565B, each of which passes up to, around, and over, a respective direction rectifying pulley 566A and 566B and then on to, and around a respective traction winch 568A/569 and 568B/569.
  • traction winches 568A/569 and 568B/569 share roller pulley 569.
  • restoring weight 570 draws apart the roller pulleys of the two traction winches 568A/569 and 568B/569 (i.e., by pulling down the shared roller pulley 569) which shortens the cables 565A and 565B and reduces or removes any slack in those cables, while also pulling the piston 574 down, and preparing the embodiment for another“power cycle” (i.e., when the inertial mass 560 will again be pulled away from the buoy 550).
  • cables 565A, 565B, 567 A, and 567B are multi-stranded ribbon cables and connector 564 is a ribbon junction bar.
  • FIG. 63 shows a top-down view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoy 600 floats adjacent to a surface of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • Hydraulic cylinder 601 is hydraulically connected to accumulator 603 by a cable 604 comprised of at least two tubes: one that directs pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic cylinder 601 to the accumulator; and one that directs depressurized hydraulic fluid back to the hydraulic cylinder 601.
  • Accumulator is hydraulically connected to hydraulic motor 605 by a cable 606 comprised of at least two tubes: one that directs pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic accumulator 603 to the hydraulic motor 605; and one that directs depressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic motor 605 back to the hydraulic cylinder 601 (via cable 604).
  • Hydraulic motor 605 drives the shaft 607 of an electrical generator 608.
  • FIG. 64 shows a side sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 63.
  • the vertical section plane is the one specified in FIG. 63 across line 64-64.
  • a buoy 600 floats adjacent to a surface 609 of a body of water over which waves travel.
  • a submerged inertial mass 610 is tethered to the buoy 600 by cables.
  • Inertial mass 610 is connected to a connector 612 by a connector 611.
  • Connector 612 is connected to a cable 613 which passes up to, around, and over, a direction rectifying pulley 614 that is able to rotate around a hinge about an axis 615. Cable 613 then passes on to, and around 616 a traction winch 617/618.
  • One end of cable 616 is attached to roller pulley 617.
  • inertial mass 610 accelerates away from buoy 600 (or the equivalent, as buoy 600 accelerates away from inertial mass 610) cable 613 is pulled away from buoy 600 causing connected traction winch 617/618 to contract (i.e., causing the distance between the longitudinal axes of the traction winch’s roller pulleys to decrease) which causes the lever 619, on which one of the traction winch’s roller pulleys 618 is rotatably mounted, to rotate upward toward the bottom of buoy 600 about the rotatable connection (e.g., hinge) at 620. As the traction winch contracts in response to the pulling down of cable 613 the distal roller pulley 618 is raised to a position closer to the buoy, e.g., to 628.
  • the traction- winch-contraction raising of lever 619 causes the linkage 621 to be raised as well, e.g., to position 629, which, in turn, forces piston rod 623, and attached piston 626, upward, thereby compressing hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic cylinder 601 and directing pressurized hydraulic fluid from hydraulic cylinder 601 into hydraulic accumulator 603.
  • Pressurized hydraulic fluid buffered within the hydraulic accumulator 553 is directed to hydraulic motor 555 which drives the rotor of an electrical generator 558 thereby generating electrical power.
  • buoy 600 moves toward inertial mass 610, restoring weight 620 draws down lever 619 (i.e., from its raised position) and thereby pulls apart the roller pulleys of the traction winch 617/618 (i.e., by pulling down the distal roller pulley 618) which shortens cable 613 and reduces or removes any slack in that cable, while also pulling the piston 626 down, and preparing the embodiment for another“power cycle” (i.e., when the inertial mass 610 will be pulled away from the buoy 600 again).
  • cables 613 and 616 are multi-stranded ribbon cables and connector 612 is a ribbon junction bar.
  • FIG. 65 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the current disclosure.
  • Buoy and/or flotation module 650 floats adjacent to the surface of a body of water over which waves pass. Attached to an upper surface of buoy 650 are two power take-offs (PTOs) each of which is comprised of an electrical generator, 651 A and 65 IB, connected to respective ribbon cable rollers, 652A and 652B. Connected to each roller is an electrical motor, e.g., 653A, that rewinds the ribbon cable onto its respective roller after the cable has been forcibly unwound from the roller. Each ribbon cable 654A and 654B passes and/or travels from its respective PTO roller 652A and 652B onto a respective array of“direction rectifying pulleys” 655A and 655B.
  • PTOs power take-offs
  • Each ribbon cable travels over and around the pulleys of its respective direction rectifying pulley array and into the body of water wherein an end of each ribbon cable is connected to a submerged inertial mass (not shown).
  • Each pulley of each direction rectifying pulley array 655A and 655B is mounted to, and spins within, a bracket, e.g., 657. And, a top of each direction rectifying pulley bracket is suspended from, and/or rotatably mounted to, a respective structural element 658 A and 658B from which it is free to rotate and/or“sway” in a direction approximately parallel to its respective pulley’s axis of rotation, i.e., in a direction approximately normal to its respective pulley’s broad surface, e.g., 655A.
  • each direction rectifying pulley is able to rotate and/or“swing” in directions approximately parallel and/or tangential to their respective axes of rotation
  • each pulley’s respective ribbon-cable strand e.g., sub-cable
  • each direction rectifying pulley allows its respective cable / strand to engage the pulley with a“fleet angle” of approximately zero. This is expected to significantly minimize wear- and-tear damage to, and to extend the lifetime of each, respective ribbon cable strand.
  • the buoy 650 may at times not be positioned directly above the embodiment’s respective inertial mass (not shown).
  • the respective ribbon cables will not be aligned with the vertical, and/or will not be parallel to a normal to the buoy’s upper surface.
  • the strands of each ribbon cable would enter the circumferential and/or spiral grooves a respective roller pulley from an angle outside a plane normal to the roller pulley’s axis of rotation. This would potentially, even typically, cause each ribbon-cable strand to be abraded as it traveled over the edges of the roller’s grooves, i.e., exposing each ribbon-cable strand to a significant“fleet angle.”
  • the cables After passing through the grooves of the direction rectifying pulley arrays the cables are aligned tangentially to their respective roller’s, and roller grooves, and engage those respective rollers, and roller pulley grooves, in planes normal to the axes of rotation of those respective roller pulleys.
  • Any deviation 659 and 660 of the ribbon cable strand 661 in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of its respective roller simply changes the angular point along the groove of the respective direction rectifying pulleys at which it engages those pulleys, however, it does not cause the cable to engage the grooves of those direction rectifying pulleys from directions outside of planes normal to the axes of rotation of those pulleys.
  • any deviation 662 and 663 of the ribbon cable strand 661 in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of its respective roller is accommodated by a lateral deflection of the respective direction rectifying pulleys, via deflections of its hinged frame 664, thereby again avoiding any fleet angle damage.
  • each strand, e.g., 667, of each ribbon cable After passing over and/or around a direction rectifying pulley, e.g., 655A, each strand, e.g., 667, of each ribbon cable is positioned within a plane normal to the rotational axis of its respective roller pulley, e.g., 652A, and therefore enters, e.g., 668, a groove on its respective roller pulley tangential to the approximately circular groove regardless of the swaying and/or other movements of the respective ribbon cables.
  • the alignment of ribbon cables may be“conditioned” and put into proper alignment prior to their engagement with a roller that rotates about a fixed axis of rotation.
  • FIG. 66 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the current disclosure illustrated in FIG. 65. The features and/or components of the embodiment that are illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 65 are not repeated here.
  • Buoy and/or flotation module 650 floats adjacent to the surface 669 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • Each ribbon cable 654A and 654B leaves the buoy and enters the water 669 through a cutout and/or indentation 671 in the respective sides of the buoy 650.
  • One end of each strand, e.g., 670, of each ribbon cable, e.g., 654B, is attached to, and wound around, its respective roller pulley, e.g., 652B.
  • each roller pulley e.g., 652B
  • the shaft of each roller pulley, e.g., 652B is connected on one side to an electrical generator, e.g., 651B, and on the other side to an electrical motor, e.g., 653B, that is used to rewind each respective ribbon cable following the paying out and/or unwinding, of each respective ribbon cable, e.g., 654B.
  • FIG. 67 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the current disclosure.
  • Buoy and/or flotation module 700 floats adjacent to the surface of a body of water over which waves pass. Attached to an upper surface of buoy 700 are two power take-offs (PTOs) each of which is comprised of an electrical generator 701 and 702, each of which is operatively connected to the shaft of a respective roller pulley 703 and 704, respectively. Operatively connected to each roller-pulley’s shaft is an electrical motor 705 and 706, respectively, that rewinds each ribbon cable 707 and 708, respectively, onto its respective roller, e.g., 709 and 710, after the cable has been forcibly unwound from the roller.
  • PTOs power take-offs
  • Each ribbon cable 707 and 708 passes and/or travels from its respective PTO roller 703 and 704 onto a second respective roller 711 and 712 after which it passes down to, and around a third respective roller, e.g. 713.
  • Each strand, e.g., 714, of each ribbon cable passes around its respective third roller, e.g., 713, and then passes on to and around a respective direction rectifying pulley, e.g. 715, after which it passes down further, e.g., 716, into the body of water where a deepest end is connected to a submerged inertial mass (not shown).
  • Each pulley, e.g., 715, of each direction rectifying pulley array is mounted to, and spins within, a bracket, e.g., 717.
  • a top surface of each direction rectifying pulley bracket, e.g., 717 is suspended from, and/or rotatably mounted to, a structural element, e.g., 718, from which it is free to rotate and/or“sway” in a direction approximately parallel to its respective pulley’s axis of rotation, i.e., in a direction approximately normal to its respective pulley’s broad surface, e.g., 719, about an axis that passes approximately tangentially through the uppermost point and/or portion of its cable groove.
  • the two arrays of direction rectifying pulleys 720 and 719 in the illustrated embodiment allow the buoy and its respective submerged inertial mass(es) to be dislocated with respect to the lateral alignment while still avoiding problematic cable fleet angles and the concomitant wear of the ribbon cables.
  • Each ribbon cable strand passes up from its connection to a respective ribbon junction bar (not shown), and its connection to one or more respective inertial masses (not shown) via those respective ribbon junction bars.
  • a strand-specific direction rectifying pulley e.g., 720 and 719
  • the strands of each ribbon cable e.g., 723, passes over and around a respective roller pulley, e.g., 713
  • each strand e.g., 724 and 725, passes over and around another respective roller pulley 711 and 712, after which each ribbon cable 707 and 708 passes on to, and is wound around, a respective roller pulley 703 and 704 to which one end of each ribbon-cable strand, e.g., 707 and 708, is attached.
  • FIG. 68 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the current disclosure illustrated in FIG. 67.
  • the features and/or components of the embodiment that are illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 67 are not repeated here.
  • Buoy and/or flotation module 700 floats adjacent to the surface 726 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • One end of each of two ribbon cables 707 and 708 are connected and/or attached to a respective roller pulleys 703 and 704.
  • the strands of each ribbon cable are wound, e.g., 709 and 710, about their respective roller pulleys for several turns after which they 707 and 708 respectively, pass on to and around rollers 711 and 712, respectively.
  • the direction rectifying pulleys allow misalignments in the ribbon cables 721 and 722 to be compensated for and corrected through angular movements and/or alignments of the respective direction rectifying pulleys, thereby avoiding fleet-angle problems and/or cable damage.
  • the direction rectifying pulleys e.g., 720 and 719, are rotatably mounted to brackets, e.g., 730 and 717, which are able to pivot laterally (i.e., parallel to the pulley axes of rotation) about joints, e.g. 731 and 732, that are mounted to respective rigid structural members and/or struts 733 and 718.
  • FIG. 69 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the current disclosure illustrated in FIGS. 67 and 68.
  • the features and/or components of the embodiment that are illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 67 and 68 are not repeated here.
  • the lateral deflection of the direction rectifying pulleys allow those pulleys to align the respective strands of the ribbon cable, e.g., 716 and 722, prior to their engagement with the roller pulley 713 of fixed rotational axis.
  • the lateral and/or angular deviation and/or deflection of the ribbon cable, e.g., from vertical 734, is tolerated by the embodiment without the passage of the ribbon cable through a pulley and/or roller groove with a non-zero fleet angle and the damage resulting therefrom.
  • FIG. 70 shows a side perspective view of an embodiment of the current disclosure.
  • Buoy and/or flotation module 750 floats adjacent to the surface of a body of water over which waves pass. Suspended from buoy 750 is an inertial mass 751. Inertial mass 751 is suspended from, and/or connected to, buoy 750 by cable 752. The other end of that cable 753 descends to a restoring weight 754 to which it is connected.
  • a portion of the energy generated by the embodiment in response to wave motion, as well as any data gathered by the embodiment through inputs from sensors mounted on, and/or connected to, the embodiment, and/or from data fed to it from satellites, aircraft, aerial drones, underwater vessels, underwater drones, and/or other sources of data and information, may be transmitted through umbilical cable 756 into, and/or through, spar buoy 755, and thereafter through umbilical cable 757 into an interface positioned and/or incorporated within a structure 758 from which are suspended cables (e.g., chains) that define a volume into which an underwater vessel 760 may rise and communicate with the energy and/or data interface therein, thereby receiving some or all of such energy and/or data.
  • suspended cables e.g., chains
  • the underwater vessel 760 may also transmit to the buoy data and/or other resources which may then be consumed (e.g., by computers) on board the embodiment and/or transmitted to satellites, aircraft, aerial drones, underwater vessels, underwater drones, and/or other consumers of data, information, and/or other resources.
  • the buoy data and/or other resources may then be consumed (e.g., by computers) on board the embodiment and/or transmitted to satellites, aircraft, aerial drones, underwater vessels, underwater drones, and/or other consumers of data, information, and/or other resources.
  • a similar embodiment supports the exchange of energy and/or data with manned submarines.
  • Another similar embodiment supports the exchange of energy and/or data with unmanned and/or automated underwater vessels.
  • FIG. 71 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the current disclosure illustrated in FIG. 70.
  • Buoy 750 floats adjacent to a surface 761 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • Inertial mass 751 is connected to buoy 750 by a cable 752 that engages 762, and/or wraps around, the roller pulleys, e.g., 763, of a traction winch (not fully visible) before descending 753 to restoring weight 754 to which it is connected.
  • a separating tension and/or force within cable 752 pulls tangentially on the roller pulleys, e.g., 763, of the traction winch causing those roller pulleys to rotate in a first direction thereby causing cable 762 to unwind and lengthen cable 752, while simultaneously shortening cable 753 and raising restoring weight 754.
  • FIG. 72 shows a side view of the same embodiment of the current disclosure illustrated in FIGS. 70 and 71.
  • Buoy 750 floats adjacent to a surface 761 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • Inertial mass 751 is connected to buoy 750 by a cable 752 that engages the roller pulleys 763A and 763B of traction winch 763A/763B by means of portions 762 and 764 of that cable 752 wrapping around, the traction winch’s roller pulleys before descending 753 to restoring weight 754 to which it is connected.
  • underwater-vessel interface 765 positioned within the“docking port” created by structure 758 and the cables 759 suspended therefrom. After rising within that docking port, an underwater vessel 760 is able to receive energy and/or exchange data with the
  • FIG. 73 shows a top-down sectional view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 70-72.
  • the horizontal section plane is the one specified in FIG. 71 across line 73-73.
  • FIG. 74 shows a top-down view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 70-73.
  • FIG. 75 shows a bottom-up perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 70-74.
  • FIG. 76 shows a close-up bottom-up perspective view of the“docking port” of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 70-75.
  • FIG. 77 illustrates a basic embodiment of the wave energy device herein disclosed.
  • a positively buoyant structure and/or buoy 800 floats adjacent to a surface 801 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • the buoy includes a mechanism 802 for generating useful energy (e.g. electrical) or work in response to the rotation of pulley 803. That power- generation mechanism 802 obtains its power, and/or is driven or energized by the torque imparted to a pulley 803, roller, gear, wheel, capstan, or other rotatable mechanical interface, by the downward force imparted to a ribbon cable 804 by a negatively-buoyant structure 805, vessel, body, element, object, and/or mass, of relatively great inertia.
  • the ribbon cable in this case, is connected to the inertial mass 805 by means of a“ribbon junction bar” 806 and a single connecting cable 807, although another embodiment has a ribbon cable connected directly to the inertial mass 805.
  • the inertia of the inertial mass 805 inhibits the buoy’s upward acceleration through its creation of a forceful tension in and/or through the ribbon cable 804. That tension is imparted to pulley 803 as a torque. And, that torque is used to directly or indirectly drive an electrical generator (or a generator of another useful energy, product, or result). As the pulley 803 about which a portion of ribbon cable 804 is wound rotates under the torque, the length of the ribbon cable 804 increases.
  • ribbon cable 804 When the buoy 800 falls following the passage of a wave crest, and the approach of a wave trough, ribbon cable 804 will tend to become slack (especially as the inertial mass will typically be rising in response to the upward force imparted to it by the buoy 800 through the ribbon cable 804).
  • An embodiment may utilize a motor (perhaps the same motor/generator used to generate electrical power during the buoy’s rise) to rewind the ribbon cable back on to the roller 803 to which one end of the ribbon cable may be attached.
  • an embodiment may utilize a restoring weight (now shown) attached to the other end 808 of the ribbon cable, and allow the gravitational potential energy of that restoring weight (which would have been lifted when the ribbon cable 804 was paid out during the buoy’s rise and the inertial mass’ resistance to that motion) to remove the slack in the ribbon cable 804, and to shorten the portion of it intermediate between the buoy and the inertial mass.
  • a restoring weight now shown attached to the other end 808 of the ribbon cable, and allow the gravitational potential energy of that restoring weight (which would have been lifted when the ribbon cable 804 was paid out during the buoy’s rise and the inertial mass’ resistance to that motion) to remove the slack in the ribbon cable 804, and to shorten the portion of it intermediate between the buoy and the inertial mass.
  • An embodiment might utilize a hollow, water-filled inertial vessel 805 to provide the needed inertia in the inertial mass 805. It might incorporate and/or enclose added weights within such an inertial vessel in order to provide it with the appropriate degree of negative buoyancy. In one embodiment, rocks are placed inside the inertial mass to increase its net weight.
  • Another embodiment might utilize a solid inertial mass 805.
  • a solid inertial mass 805 might be composed of a mixture of (typically positively buoyant) recycled plastics and (typically negatively-buoyant) recycled metals.
  • Many designs, materials, and structures are able to provide an inertial mass that will be compatible with the present disclosure, and all such variants are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Ribbon cable 804 may communicate with pulley 803 by means of an aperture 809 within and/or through buoy 800. Another embodiment allows ribbon cable 804 to communicate with pulley 803 by means of an aperture 809 within and/or through buoy 800. Another embodiment allows ribbon cable 804 to communicate with pulley 803 by means of an aperture 809 within and/or through buoy 800. Another embodiment allows ribbon cable 804 to communicate with pulley 803 by means of an aperture 809 within and/or through buoy 800. Another embodiment allows ribbon cable 804 to
  • FIG. 78 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment that is representative of a set of features disclosed herein that are particularly advantageous.
  • Buoy 820 floats adjacent to a surface 821 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • Buoy 820 has a hemi-spherical hull 822 and as a result tends to rotate easily away from its nominally vertical longitudinal axis so as to keep that longitudinal axis (i.e., an axis normal to its upper deck, and about which the buoy has approximate radial symmetry) passing through the approximate center(s) of gravity of the connected set of inertial masses, e.g. 823. And, wherein, the buoy’s tendency to keep its own longitudinal vertical axis coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the entire embodiment will tend to minimize, if not avoid, the kind of wear and damage to the ribbon cable 824 that tends to result from the misalignment of the ribbon cable with the roller over which it passes.
  • Rotatably connected to buoy 820 is a roller 825 that is positioned in the water and outside of the buoy’s interior. This placement of the roller, and the ribbon cable connected to it, in a condition of constant submersion facilitates the reduction and/or prevention of corrosion on and/or within those components.
  • ribbon cable 824 One end of the ribbon cable 824 is connected, via a ribbon junction bar 826, to a set of interconnected inertial masses, e.g. 823.
  • the other end of the ribbon cable 824 i.e. the end of that portion of the ribbon cable that is on the other side of the roller pulley 825) is connected, via another ribbon junction bar 827, to a set of interconnected restoring weights, e.g. 828.
  • roller pulley 825 As the buoy 820 rises on a wave, it accelerates upward at a rate that the inertial masses, e.g., 823, cannot match.
  • PTO power take off
  • roller 825 turns, thereby increasing the length of the ribbon cable 824 between the roller pulley 825 and the inertial masses, and thereby turning its shaft and imparting an energizing torque to a crankshaft (within hydraulic-fluid pressurization module 829) connected to the roller pulley’s shaft.
  • hydraulic-fluid pressurization module 829 pressurizes hydraulic fluid which flows through conduit 830, which contains at least two hydraulic lines, one carrying pressurized fluid to hydraulic motor and/or turbine 831 and one carrying depressurized hydraulic fluid back to hydraulic pistons within 829.
  • Hydraulic motor 831 turns the rotor of an electrical generator 832, thereby generating electrical power.
  • the hydraulic fluid discharged within the turbine flows back to the hydraulic pistons via another channel within hydraulic conduit 830.
  • An embodiment of the present disclosure may have any number of inertial masses. It may have any number of restoring weights (or none at all). It may utilize one or more cables and/or one or more multi-stranded ribbon cables. One end of its cables or ribbon cables may be attached to one or more roller pulleys and those cables or ribbon cables may be“rewound” in order to remove slack from the cable during the buoy’s descent by a motor, e.g. electrical or hydraulic. One end of its cables or ribbon cables may be attached to one or more restoring weights, the gravitational potential energy of which will facilitate the removal of slack from the cables or ribbon cables.
  • the buoys may be of any shape, geometry, design, and may be fashioned of any material or combination of materials, and be fabricated by any method, process, or device.
  • the cables or ribbon cables may be made of any material, natural or synthetic, and be of any diameter, width, thickness, etc.
  • the pulleys, rollers, gears, etc. may be of any number and diameter.
  • the transmission of energy from the rollers, pulleys, gears, etc., to the generator may be by a simple direct-drive shaft, a gear box, a hydraulic fluid circuit, or any other mechanism or combination of mechanisms, and/or any other technology, or manner.
  • An embodiment may utilize any number of electrical generators, or none at all (e.g. if it uses the energy extracted from the waves to desalinate water through water pressure).
  • FIG. 79 shows a side view of a roller 850 of the current disclosure in which the outer cylindrical surface of the roller pulley incorporates a spiral groove 851 about which multiple strands of a ribbon cable may be wound multiple times, or, about which a single single-strand cable may be wound multiple times.
  • the roller pulley By winding the strands of a ribbon cable around the spiral windings of a roller pulley, the roller pulley can exhibit some of the behaviors and properties characteristic of a capstan, and the strong frictional bond between the ribbon cable and the roller pulley permits the efficient transmission of forces to the roller pulley through which those forces are manifested as torques about the roller pulley’s shaft, and wherein those torques are then well suited to the energizing of an electrical generator or other power take-off connected to the roller pulley’s shaft 852.
  • FIG. 80 shows a perspective view of the same roller 850 illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 79.
  • each strand e.g., 853, of a five-stranded ribbon cable
  • the strands of the ribbon cable e.g., 853, roll over the roller pulley 850
  • the strands will move left and right across the spiral grooves therein, while maintaining their relative separation (e.g., of approximately one unoccupied spiral groove between each adjacent pair of strands).
  • Each ribbon-cable strand e.g., 853 is wound about a different portion of the continuous spiral groove 851 in roller pulley 850 so that each winding, e.g., 854-856, is adjacent to one another, before it, e.g., 857, passes over and beyond the roller pulley 850.
  • Spirally-grooved rollers such as the one illustrated in FIG. 80, which accommodate and/or engage any number of ribbon strands, and around which at least one respective ribbon strand is wound any number of times, are all included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • a wave energy device of the present disclosure utilizes a spirally-grooved roller pulley and ribbon cable such as the ones illustrated in FIG. 80.
  • the strands of the ribbon cable are significantly longer than the ones illustrated in FIG. 80.
  • one end of the ribbon cable e.g., the end at 857
  • the other end of the ribbon cable e.g., the end at 853, is connected to a restoring weight which minimizes slack within the ribbon cable and rewinds it on to the roller pulley when the buoy approaches the inertial mass.
  • Similar roller pulleys have other numbers of strands, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 47-51, and 78, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 80.
  • FIG. 81 shows a perspective view of the same roller pulley illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 79 and 80, and a ribbon cable similar to the one illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 80. The features discussed in relation to those figures and their respective descriptions will not be repeated here.
  • each strand e.g., 853, of a five-stranded ribbon, has been fixedly attached, e.g. by connector 858, to a point and/or portion within the spiral groove in which it is wound and/or constrained.
  • Such an attachment of a strand to the groove in which it is constrained eliminates slipping of the cable within its respective groove (other than localized slipping in portions of the strand before or after the point of its attachment to its respective roller).
  • the multiple windings of a ribbon’s strands about such a spirally-grooved roller permits the paying out and/or movement of the ribbon relative to the roller pulley 860.
  • Similar roller pulleys have other numbers of strands, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 47-51, and FIG. 78, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 81.
  • FIG. 82 shows a perspective view of the same roller pulley illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 79-81, and a ribbon cable similar to the one illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 80 and 81. The features discussed in relation to those figures and their respective descriptions will not be repeated here.
  • each strand of the ribbon in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 82 is fixedly attached to the roller, e.g. by connector 858.
  • each strand of the ribbon in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 82 extends in only one direction from its respective point of attachment, e.g., 858, within its respective spiral groove.
  • the end of each strand of the ribbon in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 82 that might have connected the ribbon to a restoring weight is not present in the ribbon cable illustrated in the illustration in FIG. 81.
  • a wave energy device of the present disclosure utilizes a roller and ribbon such as the ones illustrated in FIG. 82.
  • one end of the ribbon e.g., the end at 857
  • a submerged inertial mass e.g., via an intermediary connection to a ribbon junction bar.
  • the other end of the ribbon e.g., the end at 853 in the ribbon cable of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 81, is missing.
  • roller pulleys have other numbers of strands, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 20-28, FIGS. 58-60, FIGS. 65-66, and FIGS. 67-69, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 82.
  • FIG. 83 shows a perspective side view of a roller pulley similar to the one illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 82 but including three“forward- wound” ribbon-cable strands 901-903 wound about the roller pulley 900 in a first direction, and one“backward- wound” strand 904 would about the roller pulley 900 in a second, opposite direction.
  • Each strand is attached, e.g., 905 and 906, to the roller pulley 900.
  • Each forward-wound ribbon-cable strand, e.g., 901 is wound multiple times, e.g., 907-909, about the roller pulley 900. And, pulling down, e.g., 910, on the free ends of the forward-wound strands, e.g., 901, will rotate the roller pulley 900 and its shaft 911 about their rotational axis 912 in a first direction 913 (at least until all of the wound strands, e.g., 901- 903, are unwound and the strands are pulling directly down in a direction approximately normal to the cylindrical surface of the roller pulley 900 and the grooves in which the strands are held.
  • Rotating the roller pulley 900 in the first direction 913 will unwind the forward- wound ribbon-cable strands 901-903. However, it will pull up 914, and wind up, the backward-wound strand 904 adding additional windings, e.g., 915-916, to the roller pulley along the same spiral groove in which the existing windings, e.g., 915-916, are positioned.
  • spiral grooves (one forward-wound groove to support strands 901-903, and one backward-wound groove to support strand 904) are not shown in FIG. 83.
  • Similar roller pulleys have other numbers of forward-wound strands, and other numbers of backward-wound strands, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, FIGS. 29-34, and FIGS. 52-57, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 83.
  • FIG. 84 shows a perspective side view of a roller pulley 920 similar to the one illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 83, including three“forward-wound” ribbon- cable strands 921-923 wound about the roller pulley 920 in a first direction, and one “backward- wound” strand 924 would about the roller pulley 920 in a second, opposite direction.
  • Each strand is attached, e.g., 925 and 926, to the roller pulley 920.
  • Each forward-wound ribbon-cable strand e.g., 921, is wound multiple times, e.g.,
  • Rotating the roller pulley 920 in the first direction 932 will unwind the forward- wound ribbon-cable strands 921-923. However, it will pull up 933, and wind up, the backward-wound strand 924 about its smaller-diameter surface 927, thereby adding additional windings, e.g., 934, to the smaller-diameter portion 927 of the roller pulley 920 along the same spiral groove in which the existing windings, e.g., 934, are positioned.
  • spiral grooves are not shown in FIG. 84.
  • a similar roller pulley has a cylindrical surface about which its backward- wound strand 924 is wound that has a larger diameter than the cylindrical surface about which its forward-wound strands 921-923 are wound.
  • Similar roller pulleys have other numbers of forward-wound strands, and other numbers of backward-wound strands, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, FIGS. 29-34, and FIGS. 52-57, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 84.
  • FIG. 85 shows a perspective side view of a roller pulley 950 similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 83 and 84, including three“forward-wound” ribbon-cable strands 951-953 wound about the roller pulley 950. However, unlike the roller pulleys illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 83 and 84, the one illustrated in FIG. 85 does not include a“backward-wound” strand.
  • Each of the ribbon-cable strands 951-953 are attached, e.g., 954, to the roller pulley 950.
  • the roller pulley illustrated in FIG. 85 is connected to a motor 955.
  • pulling down 956 on the“forward- wound” strands 951-953 will rotate the roller pulley 950 and its shaft 957 about its rotational axis 958 in a first direction 959.
  • the rewinding of the ribbon cable strands 951-953 is achieved by the motor 955 turning the connected roller-pulley shaft 956 in a second direction, opposite that of the first direction and 959.
  • Each ribbon-cable strand e.g., 951 is wound multiple times, e.g., 960, about the roller pulley 950.
  • spiral groove to support, and shared by, strands 951- 953 is not shown in FIG. 85.
  • Similar roller pulleys have other numbers of ribbon cable strands, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 20-28, FIGS. 58-60, FIGS. 65-66, and FIGS. 67-69, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 85.
  • FIG. 86 shows a perspective view of a roller pulley similar to the one illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 80.
  • the roller pulley 970 in FIG. 80 includes three ribbon cable strands 971-973 wound about the roller pulley’s cylindrical surface multiple times and/or windings, e.g., 974, in the same direction.
  • the roller pulley 970 and its shaft 976 rotate 977 about their rotational and/or longitudinal axis 978 causing the opposing end of the ribbon cable, e.g., 979, to rise 980.
  • Similar roller pulleys have other numbers of strands, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 47-51, and 78, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 86.
  • FIG. 87 shows a perspective view of a roller pulley 990 in which the ribbon cable strands are comprised of chains, e.g., 991, and/or other linkages of relatively rigid links.
  • Each groove (not shown) may include bumps, ridges, and/or other surface variations, so as to better engage the links of the strands that it will engage.
  • the grooves on a roller pulley 990 in which the strands will pass around the roller pulley for less than a full turn or winding are typically, but not necessarily, circumferential (i.e., not spiral). Whereas, the grooves on a roller pulley 990 in which the strands will pass around the roller pulley one or more turns or windings are typically, but not necessarily, spiral. All such variations in groove topologies, groove widths, geometries, designs, surface contours, etc., and variations of embodiments of the current disclosure that include such roller pulleys, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • the roller pulley 990 in FIG. 87 includes seven ribbon cable strands, e.g., 991, wound, e.g., 992, about the roller pulley’s cylindrical surface approximately one-half turn or winding before passing, e.g., 993, beyond the roller pulley.
  • the roller pulley 990 and its shaft 995 rotate 996 about their rotational and/or longitudinal axis 997 causing the opposing end of the ribbon cable, e.g., 991, to rise 998.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 41-46, FIGS. 47-51, and 78, utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables, similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 87.
  • FIG. 88 shows a perspective view of a roller pulley similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 80 and 86.
  • the ribbon cable passing over and around the roller pulley 1000 illustrated in FIG. 88 is engaging the roller pulley for less than a single turn or winding.
  • the ribbon cable, e.g., 1001 is engaging the grooves (not shown) of roller pulley 1000 for approximately one-quarter turn, e.g., 1002.
  • One end of the ribbon cable, e.g., 1003 might pass over other roller pulleys, traction winches, and/or direction rectifying pulleys.
  • the other end, e.g., 1001 is connected to a ribbon junction bar 1004, that is connected to a restoring weight 1005 by means of an intermediate cable 1006.
  • roller pulley 1000 and its shaft 1008 are rotated 1009 about its rotational and/or longitudinal axis 1010, drawing the other end, e.g., 1003, of the ribbon cable toward the roller pulley 1000, and allowing the ribbon junction bar 1004 and connected restoring weight 1005 to move further from the roller pulley 1000.
  • Such a roller pulley 1000 might have either circumferential grooves (e.g., if the number of windings per strand will be less than one) or spiral grooves.
  • spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 67-69 utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables and ribbon-cable
  • FIG. 89 shows a perspective view of the same roller pulley illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 88.
  • one end of the ribbon cable illustrated in FIG. 88 is connected to a ribbon junction bar and single restoring weight
  • the equivalent end of each strand, e.g., 1001 of the ribbon cable illustrated in FIG. 89 is directly connected to a strand- specific restoring weight, e.g., 1011.
  • Similar roller pulleys have other numbers of strands (and strand- specific restoring weights), different numbers of circumferential grooves, spiral grooves of differing lengths and windings, different numbers of windings per strand, different numbers of spiral grooves, different dimensions, etc., and all such variations, and all of the potential embodiments that incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure similar to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 67-69 utilize one or more roller pulleys, and respective ribbon cables and ribbon-cable
  • FIG. 90 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • Two multi groove pulleys 1050 and 1051 i.e.,“roller pulleys,” comprise a two-roller-pulley“traction winch.”
  • Each of the traction winch’s two constituent roller pulleys 1050 and 1051 rotate about shafts 1052 and 1053, respectively.
  • the grooves on each roller pulley are
  • Wound around the pair of roller pulleys 1050 and 1051 is a ribbon cable comprised of three ribbon cable strands 1054-1056, and/or constituent cables.
  • Each ribbon cable strand is wound around the pair of roller pulleys approximately 2.5 times.
  • ribbon strand 1054A engages groove 1057 in roller pulley 1050 and then travels a quarter turn around it and then on to roller pulley 1051 at 1058. That ribbon cable strand then leaves the groove under 1058 and travels back to roller pulley 1050 where it engages the groove adjacent to, and to the left of, groove 1057. It then leaves roller pulley 1050 and travels to roller pulley 1051 where it engages a groove at 1059.
  • the ribbon cable strand then leaves that groove and travels back to roller pulley 1050 where it engages a groove at 1060. It then travels to roller pulley 1051 and engages a groove therein at 1061, after which it leaves that roller pulley at 1054B.
  • Each ribbon cable strand winds around complementary circumferential grooves in the cooperating pair of roller pulleys 1050 and 1051 approximately 2.5 times. In so doing, there is sufficient friction manifested between each ribbon cable strand and its respective grooves so that the movement of the strands of the ribbon cable, e.g., under tension in the ribbon strands, causes the roller pulleys of the traction winch to rotate. If a generator is connected to one of the shafts 1052 and/or 1053, then the forceful translation of ribbon cable 1054-1056 would create a torque in the roller pulleys of the traction winch that would energize the generator.
  • each roller pulley are spiral (and in some embodiments is comprised of a single multiply- wound spiral groove) and translation of the ribbon cable causes both the rotation of the roller pulleys and the lateral migration of the ribbon cable in response to movements of the ribbon cable.
  • FIG. 91 affords another and different perspective view of the same traction winch embodiment illustrated in FIG. 90.
  • the explanation of the illustrated embodiment features and components, as well as the device’s behavior, have been discussed in relation to FIG. 90 and those discussions will not be repeated here.
  • complementary roller pulley e.g., 1051.
  • FIG. 92 is a top-down perspective illustration of the same traction winch embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 91 and 92.
  • FIGS. 93-97 are illustrations of some, but not all, of the types of power take-offs (PTOs) that may be incorporated within embodiments of the present disclosure. All such variations of the illustrated embodiments, as well as variations of embodiments that have not been illustrated, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Each type of PTO illustrated in FIGS. 93-97 may utilize a roller pulley of any type, design, and/or configuration, as well as a roller pulley engaging any type, design, and/or configuration, of cable and/or ribbon cable, including, but not limited to, any of the roller- pulley types illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 80-89, as well as any roller pulley that is part of a traction winch, including, but not limited to, traction winches of the type illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 91-92.
  • PTOs are known to those skilled in the art, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different numbers and/or any number of electrical generators (including no such generators), as well as those that incorporate different types of generators, including those that are not electrical and perform other types of useful work, including, but not limited to, those that compress gas, pump and/or pressurize water, etc.
  • FIG. 93 is a side illustration of a PTO in which a roller pulley 1100 rotates about an axis 1101, and in which at least one end of the roller pulley’s shaft is connected to a crankshaft 1102 such that when the crankshaft rotates 1103 it oscillates one or more linkages, e.g., 1104, which, in turn, linearly oscillate hydraulic piston rods, e.g., 1105, e.g., up and down, thereby oscillating the attached hydraulic pistons within their respective hydraulic cylinders and thereby pumping and/or pressurizing hydraulic fluid therein.
  • the pressurized hydraulic fluid is transmitted to a hydraulic accumulator 1107 by means of a hydraulic conduit 1108.
  • the buffered and pressurized hydraulic fluid within the accumulator 1107 drives a hydraulic motor or turbine 1109 by means of hydraulic conduit 1110. And, the hydraulic motor turns the rotor and/or shaft 1111 of an electrical generator 1112.
  • Depressurized hydraulic fluid is returned to the hydraulic cylinders, e.g., 1106, by means of hydraulic conduits 1110 and 1108.
  • 94 is a side illustration of a PTO in which a roller pulley 1120 rotates about an axis 1121, and in which at least one end 1124 of the roller pulley’s shaft is connected to a gearbox 1125 such that when the roller pulley shaft 1124 rotates 1123, the gearbox causes the rotation of the rotor and/or shaft 1126 of electrical generator 1127.
  • gearboxes are known to those skilled in the art, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different numbers of gearboxes (e.g., in series), those of differing gearing ratios (e.g., how many turns of shaft 1126 correspond to each turn of roller pulley shaft 1124), as well as those that incorporate different numbers and/or any number of generators 1127 (e.g., through the rotation of a shaft to which two or more generators are connected by gears and/or belts).
  • gearboxes e.g., in series
  • gearing ratios e.g., how many turns of shaft 1126 correspond to each turn of roller pulley shaft 1124
  • generators 1127 e.g., through the rotation of a shaft to which two or more generators are connected by gears and/or belts.
  • FIG. 95 is a side illustration of a PTO in which a roller pulley 1130 rotates 1131 about an axis 1132, and in which at least one end 1133 of the roller pulley’s shaft is directly connected to an electrical generator 1134.
  • gearboxes are known to those skilled in the art, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different numbers and/or any number of generators 1134 (e.g., through the rotation of a shaft to which two or more generators are connected by gears and/or belts).
  • FIG. 96 is a side illustration of a PTO in which a roller pulley 1140 rotates 1141 about an axis 1142, and in which at least one end 1143 of the roller pulley’s shaft is connected to an hydraulic pump 1144 that pumps pressurized hydraulic fluid through a tube 1145 and/or channel to a hydraulic accumulator 1146.
  • the buffered and pressurized hydraulic fluid within the accumulator 1146 drives a hydraulic motor or turbine 1147 by means of hydraulic tube 1148 and/or channel.
  • the hydraulic motor turns the rotor and/or shaft 1149 of an electrical generator 1150.
  • Depressurized hydraulic fluid is returned to the hydraulic pump 1144 by means of return hydraulic tube 1151 and/or channel.
  • hydraulic PTOs are known to those skilled in the art, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different hydraulic circuits, e.g., different hydraulic conduits, those which do not utilize hydraulic accumulators, those that incorporate different numbers and/or any number of hydraulic pumps, those that incorporate different numbers and/or any number of hydraulic motors and/or turbines.
  • FIG. 97 is a side illustration of a PTO in which a roller pulley 1160 rotates 1161 about an axis 1162, and in which at least one end 1163 of the roller pulley’s shaft is connected to a second roller pulley 1164 about which is wound a cable 1165, one end 1166 of which is attached to the second roller pulley 1164, and the other end 1166 of which is connected to the rod 1167 of a hydraulic piston within an hydraulic cylinder 1168.
  • roller pulley When the roller pulley is rotated in a first direction, e.g., by a ribbon cable engaged with the roller pulley which causes the roller pulley to rotate in the first direction when a connected inertial mass accelerates away from a buoy to which the roller pulley 1160 is connected, a portion of the cable 1166 is wound around the second roller pulley 1164 thereby shortening that portion of cable 1166, and increasing the number of windings of cable 1165, and pulling the piston so as to decrease the volume of the hydraulic cylinder 1168 between the piston and the end of the hydraulic cylinder through which the piston rod moves, thereby compressing, pumping, and/or pressurizing, hydraulic fluid.
  • a first direction e.g., by a ribbon cable engaged with the roller pulley which causes the roller pulley to rotate in the first direction when a connected inertial mass accelerates away from a buoy to which the roller pulley 1160 is connected
  • a portion of the cable 1166 is wound around the second roller pull
  • Pressurized hydraulic fluid is transmitted through a tube within hydraulic conduit 1169 and/or channel to a hydraulic accumulator 1170.
  • the buffered and pressurized hydraulic fluid within the accumulator 1170 drives a hydraulic motor or turbine 1171 by means of pressurized hydraulic fluid transmitted to it from the accumulator 1170 through a tube within hydraulic conduit 1172 and/or channel.
  • the hydraulic motor 1171 turns the rotor and/or shaft 1173 of an electrical generator 1174.
  • Depressurized hydraulic fluid is returned to the hydraulic cylinder 1168 by means of a return tube within hydraulic conduits 1172 and 1169.
  • An embodiment of the current disclosure incorporates a PTO of the type illustrated in FIG. 97, and, whereas one end of the ribbon cable that rotates the roller pulley 1160 in a first direction due to the separation of a connected inertial mass, a restoring weight connected to the other end of the ribbon cable rotates the roller pulley 1160 in a second, opposite direction when the buoy to which the roller pulley 1160 is connected draws closer to the inertial mass.
  • a valve 1175 allows pressurized hydraulic fluid to be returned to the hydraulic cylinder so as to refill the cylinder, and (re)lengthen and tighten the cable 1166 as the roller pulley 1160 is rotated in the second direction, thereby unwinding some of the wound cable 1165.
  • the introduction of pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder facilitates the distension of the hydraulic cylinder as the cable 1166 connected to it is shortened.
  • hydraulic PTOs are known to those skilled in the art, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different hydraulic circuits, e.g., different hydraulic conduits, those which do not utilize hydraulic accumulators, those that incorporate different numbers and/or any number of hydraulic cylinders, those that incorporate different numbers and/or any number of hydraulic motors and/or turbines. Also, many variations of the illustrated PTO would permit the piston in the hydraulic cylinder 1168 to be reset following a pressurization cycle in, through, and/or by means of, other mechanisms and/or methods, including, but not limited to, the use of motors, solenoids, etc.
  • FIGS. 98-108 are illustrations of some, but not all, of the types of“resistive elements” that may be incorporated within embodiments of the present disclosure for the purpose of creating a tension within a cable and/or ribbon cable that connects an embodiment buoy to an embodiment resistive element.
  • the preferred type of resistive element is the “inertial mass” or“inertial vessel” which is suspended from its respective buoy by one end of the cable and/or ribbon cable which connects them.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure may include all manner of resistive elements, including, but not limited to the ones illustrated in FIGS. 98-108, as well as all variations of those illustrated resistive elements, as well as different types of resistive elements that have not been illustrated. And all such embodiments are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • Some resistive elements are suspended from their respective embodiments, e.g., from the buoys within their respective embodiments.
  • the average densities of these“suspended” resistive elements may vary. All such density- specific resistive-element variations, as well as all possible embodiments, and variations of embodiments, incorporating and/or utilizing such density-specific resistive-element variations, are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 98 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element in which a vessel 1200 that possesses an upper aperture 1201 through which its partially enclosed volume communicates with the water that surrounds it.
  • the vessel is connected to a plurality of flexible connectors, e.g., 1202, that connect it to a connector 1203 through which it is connected to a cable 1204.
  • cable 1204 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables.
  • cable 1204 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • the aperture is positioned at the side or bottom of the vessel.
  • other, similar resistive elements include two or more apertures.
  • resistive element there are many potential variations of the illustrated resistive element, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different numbers, sizes, and/or positions of apertures, vessels of different shapes (e.g., not frusto-conical), etc.
  • FIG. 99 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element in which a heave plate 1210 is connected to a plurality of flexible connectors, e.g., 1211, that connect it to a connector 1212 through which it is connected to a cable 1213.
  • cable 1213 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables.
  • cable 1213 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • a weight 1214 is connected to, and suspended from, heave plate 1210 by a plurality of cables 1215.
  • the weight promotes the descent of the heave plate after it is lifted by the buoy to which it is connected, and against the rising of which it offers resistance.
  • FIG. 100 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element similar to the resistive element illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 99, and is comprised of three heave plates 1220-1222 that are interconnected by a plurality of cables, e.g., 1223 and 1224.
  • the lower plate 1222 is connected to a weight 1225 by a plurality of cables, e.g., 1226.
  • the weight promotes the descent of the heave plate after it is lifted by the buoy to which it is connected, and against the rising of which it offers resistance.
  • Upper plate 1220 is connected to a connector 1227 by means of a plurality of connectors, e.g., 1228. And, connector 1227 is connected to a cable 1229.
  • cable 1229 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables. In other embodiments, cable 1229 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • resistive element there are many potential variations of the illustrated resistive element, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different numbers of heave plates, heave plates of different shapes (e.g., non-circular), etc.
  • FIG. 101 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element similar to the resistive elements illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 99 and 100, and is comprised of nine heave plates, e.g., 1230 and 1231, that are interconnected by a plurality of cables, e.g., 1232.
  • the upper plate 1230 is connected to a cable 1233 by a plurality of cables, e.g., 1234.
  • cable 1233 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables.
  • cable 1233 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • resistive element there are many potential variations of the illustrated resistive element, and all such variations, and the embodiments which incorporate them, are included within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different numbers of heave plates, heave plates of different shapes (e.g., non-circular), etc.
  • FIG. 102 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element comprised of an anchor 1240 that rests on a seafloor 1241, and/or on a relatively firm surface beneath a body of water.
  • Anchor 1240 is connected to a cable 1242.
  • cable 1242 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables.
  • cable 1242 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • FIG. 103 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element comprised of an “anchoring screw” 1250 that is embedded 1251 into a seafloor 1252, and/or into a relatively firm surface beneath a body of water.
  • Anchoring screw 1250 is connected to a cable 1253.
  • cable 1253 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables.
  • cable 1253 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • FIG. 104 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element comprised of seven tubes, e.g., 1260, that are connected to a supporting beam 1261, from which they are suspended by a plurality of cables, e.g., 1262.
  • Beam 1261 is connected to a cable 1263 by a plurality of cables, e.g., 1264.
  • cable 1263 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables.
  • cable 1263 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • FIG. 105 is a side perspective illustration of a resistive element in which a hollow, water-filled vessel 1270 has an airfoil, streamlined, and/or low-drag shape.
  • the vessel is connected to a coupler 1271 by a plurality of flexible connectors, e.g., 1272.
  • coupler 1271 is connected to a cable 1273.
  • cable l273 is connected to a ribbon junction bar, and therethrough to one or more ribbon cables.
  • cable l273 is connected directly to a pulley, or roller pulley, and therethrough to a buoy.
  • FIG. 106 is a top-down illustration of the same resistive element illustrated in FIG.
  • FIG. 107 is a front side illustration of the same resistive element illustrated in FIGS. 105 and 106.
  • FIG. 108 is a sectional side perspective illustration of the same resistive element illustrated in FIGS. 105 and 106.
  • the horizontal section plane is the one specified in FIG. 107 across line 108-108. Note the airfoil shape of the cross-section of the inertial mass 1270.
  • FIGS. 109-112 are illustrations of one, but not all, of the types of“inertial mass swivel connectors” that may be incorporated within embodiments of the present disclosure for the purpose of allowing a suspended inertial mass or vessel to spin about the cable that connects it to a buoy and/or ribbon cable, e.g., in response to shifting currents around the inertial mass and/or wave- and/or wind-driven rotations of the buoy.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure may include all manner of inertial mass swivel connectors, including, but not limited to the one illustrated in FIGS. 109-112, as well as all variations of that illustrated inertial mass swivel connector, as well as different types of inertial mass swivel connectors that have not been illustrated. And all such embodiments are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 109 is a sectional side perspective illustration of an“inertial mass swivel connector”.
  • the vertical section plane passes through the center of the same radially symmetrical“inertial mass swivel connector” illustrated in FIG. 110.
  • An upper rigid element is comprised of a vertical shaft 1300 that extends down to a piston 1301 that is able to move vertically within a cylindrical chamber 1302 that is a structural feature of a second rigid element 1303 that includes a vertical shaft 1304 projecting from a lower side of the chamber 1302 and a buoyant element 1305 or portion.
  • Piston 1301 is free to move up and down within the chamber 1302. Its projected shaft 1306 moves vertically within aperture 1307. It’s motion is limited by the floor 1308 of the chamber 1302 and by the plate 1309 attached to shaft 1300/1306.
  • piston 1301 is in a raised position in which its rotation relative to lower element 1303 is, to a degree, inhibited by friction between the upper surface of piston 1301 and the adjacent surface of the upper circular wall of the chamber 1302.
  • upper element 1300 is able to rotate about its longitudinal (i.e., vertical) axis without limit, as is lower element 1304.
  • FIG. 110 is a side perspective illustration of the same“inertial mass swivel connector” illustrated in FIG. 109.
  • the explanation of the illustrated embodiment features and components, as well as the“inertial mass swivel connector’s” structure, design, and behavior, have been discussed in relation to FIG. 109 and those discussions will not be repeated here.
  • a separate buoyant element 1305 is joined to the rigid lower element 1303 at a seam 1310.
  • the entire lower element may be buoyant eliminating the need for a separate buoyant module being affixed to a chamber 1303.
  • FIG. Ill is a sectional side perspective illustration of the same“inertial mass swivel connector” illustrated in FIGS. 109 and 110.
  • the vertical section plane passes through the center of the radially symmetrical“inertial mass swivel connector” illustrated in FIG. 112.
  • the explanation of the illustrated embodiment features and components, as well as the “inertial mass swivel connector’s” structure, design, and behavior, have been discussed in relation to FIGS. 109 and 110, and those discussions will not be repeated here.
  • the“inertial mass swivel connector” is in a configuration in which the adjacent surfaces of above and below the gap 1311 are not in contact. Likewise, the upper and lower surfaces of the piston 1301 are not in contact with the adjacent inner surfaces of the chamber within 1303, and on the opposing sides of the gaps 1302 and 1312.
  • FIG. 112 is a side perspective illustration of the same“inertial mass swivel connector” illustrated in FIG. 111.
  • the explanation of the illustrated embodiment features and components, as well as the“inertial mass swivel connector’s” structure, design, and behavior, have been discussed in relation to FIGS. 109-111 and those discussions will not be repeated here.
  • FIG. 113 is a side illustration of an embodiment of the current disclosure that illustrates the utility of connecting the restoring weights to the inertial mass, thereby creating one or more loops of cable so that the ability of the inertial mass to separate from the buoy is limited and/or constrained.
  • Buoy 1350 floats adjacent to a surface 1351 of a body of water across which waves pass.
  • Buoy 1350 is tethered to inertial mass 1352 by a plurality of cables.
  • Inertial mass 1352 is connected to connector 1353, which is connected to two ribbon cables 1354 and 1355.
  • Each of those ribbon cables pass up to, over, and around, roller pulleys 1356 and 1357, respectively.
  • Each ribbon cable 1358 and 1359 then passes over to, and around second respective roller pulleys 1360 and 1361, after which they 1362 and 1363 descend and are connected to respective restoring weights 1364 and 1365.
  • Each restoring weight 1364 and 1365 is, in turn, connected to connector 1353 by respective cables 1366 and 1367, thereby creating left and right loops each of which is closed at connector 1353.
  • FIG. 114 is a side illustration of an embodiment of the current disclosure that is the same as the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 113, with the exception that the cables have been configured differently in order to illustrate a variation for connecting the restoring weights with additional cables so as to create two loops of cable so that the ability of the inertial mass to separate from the buoy is limited and/or constrained.
  • Buoy 1350 floats adjacent to a surface 1351 of a body of water across which waves pass.
  • Buoy 1350 is tethered to inertial mass 1352 by a plurality of cables.
  • Inertial mass 1352 is connected to connector 1353, which is connected to two cables 1404 and 1405.
  • Each of those cables pass up to, and are connected to respective ribbon junction bars 1402 and 1403, which in turn are connected to respective ribbon cables 1400 and 1401.
  • Those ribbon cables 1400 and 1401 pass up to, over, and around, roller pulleys 1360 and 1361, respectively.
  • Each ribbon cable then passes over to, and around second respective roller pulleys 1356 and 1357, after which they descend and are connected to respective restoring weights 1364 and 1365.
  • Each restoring weight 1364 and 1365 is, in turn, connected to its respective ribbon junction bar 1402 and 1403 by respective cables 1406 and 1407, thereby creating left and right loops each of which is closed at its respective ribbon junction bar 1402 and 1403.
  • FIG. 115 is a side illustration of an embodiment of the current disclosure that is similar to the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 14-19, with the exception that the instead of utilizing an anchor as its resistive element, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 115 utilizes an inertial mass. Due to its similarity to the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 14-19, the details that the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 115 shares with the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 14-19 will not be repeated here.
  • Buoy 1450 floats adjacent to a surface 1451 of a body of water across which waves pass.
  • Buoy 1450 is tethered to inertial mass 1454 by a plurality of cables, including ribbon cables, e.g., 1453B.
  • ribbon cables e.g. 1453B.
  • At one, distal end of each ribbon cable a respective ribbon junction bar, e.g., 1455D, is connected, said ribbon junction bars serving as the respective restoring weights for each ribbon cable.
  • Each adjacent pair of ribbon junction bar/restoring weight, e.g., 1455D and 1455A are connected by a cable, e.g., by a chain.
  • This interconnection of all of the restoring weights 1455 reduces the likelihood that a restoring weight and/or that portion of its respective ribbon cable from which it is suspended, will become tangled with those portions of the ribbon cables, e.g., 1453B, that connect the buoy 1450 to the inertial mass 1454.
  • FIG. 116 is a side illustration of an embodiment of the current disclosure that illustrates the utility of connecting“pearls” to the inertial mass, thereby providing the ability to adjust the“effective displaced weight” of the inertial mass.
  • Buoy 1500 floats adjacent to a surface 1501 of a body of water across which waves pass. Buoy 1500 is tethered to inertial mass 1502 by a plurality of cables. Inertial mass 1500 is connected to connector 1503, which is connected to two ribbon cables 1504 and 1505.
  • Each of those ribbon cables pass up to, over, and around, respective roller pulleys 1506 and 1507.
  • Each ribbon cable then passes to, and around, respective second roller pulleys 1508 and 1509, and then descends and is connected to a respective restoring weight 1512 and 1513.
  • each restoring weight 1512 and 1513 is also connected to each restoring weight 1512 and 1513, the other end of each of which is connected to the bottom 1516 of the inertial mass 1502.
  • a respective second,“pearl cable” 1514 and 1515 Positioned along the lower extent of each pearl cable 1514 and 1515 are a plurality of pearls, e.g., 1517, which are weights attached to each pearl cable.
  • the distance between each restoring weight 1512 and 1513 and the inertial mass 1502 determines where point 1520 and 1524 and/or pearl along each respective pearl cable 1514 and 1515 that will be positioned at the greatest depth, i.e., where the nadir of each pearl cable will be located.
  • each pearl cable 1514 and 1515 effectively divides each pearl cable into two portions the displaced weight of one portion, e.g., 1514 and including pearl 1517 and half of pearl 1520, will be supported by the buoy 1500.
  • the other portion e.g., the portion to which pearl 1519 is connected, and including pearl 1519 and half of pearl 1520, will be supported by the inertial mass 1502, thereby increasing the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass by the weight of the pearls that it supports.
  • the relative distance between the restoring weights and the inertial mass can be adjusted. For example, the average separation of the buoy from the inertial mass can be decreased, which simultaneously increases the average separation of the buoy from the restoring weights, having the net effect of decreasing the separation between the restoring weights and the inertial mass. This shifts the weight of some pearls from the buoy to the inertial mass thereby increasing the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass.
  • the average separation of the buoy from the inertial mass can be increased, which simultaneously decreases the average separation of the buoy from the restoring weights, having the net effect of increasing the separation between the restoring weights and the inertial mass. This shifts the weight of some pearls from the inertial mass to the buoy thereby decreasing the effective displaced weight of the inertial mass.
  • Such variations include, but are not limited to, those which utilize different numbers of pearls, different weights for each pearl, non-uniform pearl weights (e.g., using relatively lighter pearls nearer an inertial mass, and relatively heavier pearls further from it), etc.
  • FIG. 117 is a side illustration of an embodiment of the current disclosure that is almost identical to the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 116, with the exception that one end of each pearl cable 1514 and 1515 is connected to the inertial mass 1502 at its side instead of at its base (as was the case in the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 116). Due to its similarity to the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 116, the details that the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 117 shares with the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 116 will not be repeated here.
  • FIG. 118 is a side illustration of an embodiment of the current disclosure that is almost identical to the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 116. Unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 116, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 118: includes a buoyant float 1529 that is connected to inertial mass 1502 by a cable 1527; has ribbon cables 1504 and 1505 connected to a connector 1503 at the top of the float instead of at the top of the inertial mass 1502; and, one end of each of the pearl cables 1514 and 1515 is connected to the bottom 1528 of the float 1529.
  • the effective displaced weight of inertial mass 1502 is reduced by the buoyancy of float 1529.
  • a portion of the float’s buoyancy is offset through an adjustment of the separation between the restoring weights 1512 and 1513 and the float 1529, which, in turn, adjusts the number and weight of pearls, e.g., 1517, that are supported by the float, thereby reducing the net buoyancy of the float that is applied to the inertial mass 1502.
  • the pearl configuration illustrated in FIG. 118 allows the effective displaced weight of inertial mass 1502 to be controlled by controlling the amount of buoyancy that a float 1529 exerts on the inertial mass 1502. Or, in other words, the pearls increase or decrease the degree to which the float reduces the effective displaced weight of inertial mass 1502.
  • FIG. 119 is a side illustration of an embodiment of the current disclosure that is almost identical to the embodiment illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 116. Unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 116, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 119: includes a pair of winches 1530 and 1531 on buoy 1500 that allows each respective pearl cable 1514 and 1515 to be raised and lowered irrespective of the depths and/or positions of the respective restoring weights 1512 and 1513.
  • the winches 1530 and 1531 extend each respective pearl cable 1514 and 1515, thereby lowering the respective pearls, e.g., moving pearl 1515 to position 1534, then a greater number and weight of pearls will be supported by the inertial mass thereby increasing its effective displaced weight. Conversely, if the winches 1530 and 1531 pull up each respective pearl cable 1514 and 1515, thereby raising the respective pearls, e.g., moving pearl 1534 to position 1517, then a smaller number and weight of pearls will be supported by the inertial mass thereby decreasing its effective displaced weight.
  • FIG. 120 shows a side view of a pulley 1600.
  • the pulley 1600 and its shaft 1601 rotate 1602 about an axis 1603.
  • a cable 1604 is positioned within the pulley’s groove 1605 and lies within the pulley’s plane of rotation 1606.
  • the cable 1607 also leaves the pulley’s groove within the pulley’s plane of rotation 1606, or, in other words, the cable 1607 leaves the pulley with a“fleet angle” of zero (degrees).
  • This configuration of pulley and cable results in minimal abrasion of the pulley and the cable therein, and is preferred.
  • FIG. 121 shows a perspective view of the same pulley illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 120.
  • the pulley 1600 and its shaft rotate 1602 about an axis 1603.
  • a cable 1604 is positioned within the pulley’s groove and lies within the pulley’s plane of rotation 1606.
  • the cable leaves the pulley, e.g., with orientations 1607, 1608, and 1609, within the pulley’s plane of rotation 1606, then the cable leaves the pulley with a“fleet angle” of zero (degrees).
  • This configuration of pulley and cable results in minimal abrasion of the pulley and the cable therein, and is preferred.
  • FIG. 122 shows a side view of the same pulley illustrated in FIGS. 120 and 122.
  • the pulley’s 1600 respective cable 1604 is being pulled away from the pulley’s plane of rotation 1606 and therefore that cable 1611 is leaving the pulley at an angle of 1612 with the pulley’s plane of rotation 1606, causing it 1613 to pull against and abrade the cable, and a side 1614 of the pulley and/or its groove.
  • the cable’s 1613 pulling against the pulley’s groove wall 1614 creates a torque 1615 that stresses the junction of the pulley 1600 to its shaft 1616.
  • the resulting torque 1615 between the pulley and its shaft and/or supporting bearings may also cause damage and/or fatigue.
  • FIG. 123 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the illustration in FIG. 123 is intended to show the utility of direction rectifying pulleys in preventing damage from non-zero fleet angles between cables and pulleys.
  • Buoy 1700 floats adjacent to a surface 1701 of a body of water moved by waves.
  • Buoy 1700 is connected to submerged inertial mass 1702 which is connected to cable 1703 (which could be a single strand or a ribbon cable). That cable 1703 passes over and around pulley 1704 (which could be a roller pulley) and then down to restoring weight 1706 to which it is connected. As buoy 1700 rocks 1707 within the plane of the illustration, and within the plane of rotation of its pulley 1704, e.g., between positions 1708 and 1709, cable 1703 moves on to, and off of, pulley 1704 within the plane of its rotation, i.e., with a fleet angle of zero.
  • FIG. 124 shows a perspective view of the same embodiment of the present disclosure that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 123.
  • the illustrations in FIGS. 123 and 124 are intended to show the utility of direction rectifying pulleys in preventing damage from non-zero fleet angles between cables and pulleys.
  • Buoy 1700 floats adjacent to a surface 1701 of a body of water moved by waves.
  • Buoy 1700 is connected to submerged inertial mass 1702 which is connected to cable 1703 (which could be a single strand or a ribbon cable). That cable 1703 passes over and around pulley 1704 (which could be a roller pulley) and then down to restoring weight (not visible, 1706 in FIG. 123) to which it is connected.
  • cable 1703 which could be a single strand or a ribbon cable.
  • buoy 1700 is rocking within a plane normal to the plane of the pulley’s rotation, i.e., the pulley’s plane of rotation is vertical and normal to the page, whereas the buoy is rocking in a plane parallel to the page.
  • buoy 1700 and pulley 1704 are positioned so as to allow cable 1703 to move on to, and off of, pulley 1704 with a zero fleet angle.
  • buoy 1700 rocks 1707, and is in a non-horizontal or“rocked” position, e.g., 1708 and 1709 then cable 1703 moves on to and off of pulley 1704 at a significant, and non-zero, fleet angle.
  • pulley 1704 When buoy 1700 rocks to the left, e.g., at 1708, pulley 1704 is also rotated to the left, e.g., at 1710, from which orientation cable 1703 moves on to and off of pulley 1710 at an angle, e.g., 1711. Note that cable 1711 is oriented with respect to the plane of rotation of pulley 1710 at a substantial and non-zero angle.
  • pulley 1704 is also rotated to the right, e.g., at 1712, from which orientation cable 1703 moves on to and off of pulley 1712 at an angle, e.g., 1713. Note that cable 1713 is oriented with respect to the plane of rotation of pulley 1712 at a substantial and non-zero angle.
  • FIG. 125 shows a front side view of a direction rectifying pulley as is incorporated within an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • Pulley 1750 is connected to a frame 1751 wherein said frame 1751 has a tubular and/or cylindrical portion 1752 that is able to rotate within a surrounding tubular and/or cylindrical housing 1753 which is attached to a surface 1754, e.g., to a bottom surface of an embodiment’s buoy.
  • a surface 1754 e.g., to a bottom surface of an embodiment’s buoy.
  • the center of aperture 1758 remains coincident with the intersection of planes 1759 and 1756 (both of which project out of, and normal to, the page of the illustration).
  • a cable 1755 which could be one strand of a multi- stranded ribbon cable, engages the pulley and/or a groove therein within the plane of rotation 1756 of the pulley, and one end of that cable 1757 passes on to and off of pulley 1750 through the aperture 1758 within the tubular frame 1752.
  • One end of cable 1757 passes through aperture 1758 along a line defined by the intersection of planes 1759 and 1756 (both of which project out of, and normal to, the page of the illustration) which is oriented normal to the page of the illustration and is approximately tangential to the pulley 1750 groove at the point where the cable 1757 engages the pulley.
  • FIG. 126 shows a front side view of the same direction rectifying pulley illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 125.
  • pulley 1750, and the frame to which it is connected have rotated within housing 1753, thereby altering the angular orientation of the pulley’s plane of rotation 1756 so that it is no longer normal to plane 1759.
  • the pulley’s plane of rotation has rotated as it might in response to a change in the direction from which a lower end of cable 1755 is pulled, e.g., if a connected inertial mass had moved laterally relative to the buoy to which the pulley was connected. Because the frame 1751 has rotated so as to match the angular deviation of a lower end of the cable 1755, the lower end of the cable is still able to move on to and off of pulley 1750 within the plane of its rotation 1756 and therefore with a fleet angle of zero.
  • the lower end of cable 1755 changes it angular orientation such that it is pulled from a direction that is still within the pulley’s plane of rotation, but is into or out of the page of the illustration, then it still engages the pulley 1750 within its plane of rotation and the fleet angle remains zero.
  • pulley 1750 were to have a fixed orientation, i.e., if its plane of rotation were fixed as illustrated in FIG. 125, and if the lower end of cable 1755 were to change its angular orientation such that it is pulled from a direction that is outside the pulley’s plane of rotation, then a substantial and non-zero fleet angle may result.
  • the pulley’s plane of rotation 1756 can rotate about that axis so as to accommodate any change in the angular orientation of the lower end of cable 1755.
  • the rotatable frame 1751 of the direction rectifying pulley illustrated in FIGS. 125 and 126 allows one end of the cable engaging that pulley to move in any direction, and/or to change its angular orientation with respect to the pulley, while still maintaining a fleet angle of zero.
  • the directional rectifying pulley 1750 maintains a fleet angle of zero regardless of changes in the orientation of the lower end of cable 1755 whether those changes result in angular deflections within the page, or out of the page.
  • FIG. 127 shows a side view of an assembly comprising the same direction rectifying pulley (DRP) illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 125 and 126, as well as a traction winch 1762/1763 which engages the same cable 1757 engaged by the direction rectifying pulley.
  • DRP direction rectifying pulley
  • a lower end of cable 1755 which may rotate 1764, e.g., from positions 1755A to 1755B, within the plane of the page engages DRP 1750 with zero fleet angle and passes into and through the cylindrical aperture within frame 1752 and passes 1753 through one end of the frame to and around the roller pulleys 1762 and 1763 of a traction winch.
  • DRP 1750 rotates about the axis of rotation 1760 of its frame 1753 thereby keeping the cable 1755 within its rotated plane of rotation.
  • the cable that passes through the frame (at 1757) of the pulley’s frame 1752 has a stable orientation remains coaxial with the frame’s axis 1760 of rotation.
  • the cable always engages (i.e., moves on to or off of) the roller pulleys 1762 and 1763 of the traction winch with a fleet angle of zero.
  • FIG. 128 shows a side view of an assembly comprising a direction rectifying pulley (DRP) similar to the one illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 125-127, as well as the same traction winch illustrated in FIG. 127.
  • DRP direction rectifying pulley
  • the DRP illustrated in FIG. 128 allows the frame 1751 of pulley 1750 to rotate by means of a swivel 1765 instead of the rotating tube utilized by the frame of the DRP illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 127.
  • FIG. 129 shows a side view of an assembly comprising a direction rectifying pulley (DRP) similar to the ones illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 125-128, as well as the same traction winch illustrated in FIGS. 127 and 128.
  • DRP direction rectifying pulley
  • the DRP illustrated in FIG. 129 allows the frame 1751 of pulley 1750 to rotate by means of a hinge 1768 instead of the rotating tube utilized by the frame of the DRP illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 127, and the swivel utilized by the frame of the DRP illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 128.
  • FIG. 130 shows a side view of a direction rectifying pulley (DRP) as is incorporated within an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • Pulley 1800 is connected, by means of a hollow shaft 1801, to a frame 1802, which is connected to a hinge 1803, an upper surface of which is attached to the buoy of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a cable 1804 (which might be one strand of a ribbon cable) engages the pulley 1800, passes over and around the pulley for approximately a quarter of a turn, and then passes off the pulley 1800 near its top and passes through a cylindrical aperture within a tubular portion 1805 of the hinge, after which it passes out of the hinge at 1806.
  • the cable passes through the rightmost side of the hinge, at 1806, is aligned with the hinge’s axis 1807 of rotation.
  • the pulley incorporates many design features that provide it with minimized and/or neutral buoyancy when submerged, including, but not limited to: a buoyant module 1809 attached to the pulley’s frame 1802; hollow spokes, e.g., 1808, within the pulley 1800; and a hollow shaft 1801.
  • a neutrally buoyant pulley and frame will more easily and responsively rotate about its hinge so as to minimize or eliminate the fleet angle of the cable 1804 engaging it from below.
  • FIG. 131 shows a front side view of the same direction rectifying pulley (DRP) that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 130.
  • the hinge 1803 is attached to a surface 1810 (e.g., of a buoy of an embodiment of the present disclosure).
  • One end of cable 1804 engages the pulley at its lower side passes over and around the pulley 1800 and the other end 1811 passes through the cylindrical aperture in the center of the hinge 1803.
  • a pair of floats 1809A and 1809B are attached to opposing sides of the frame 1802.
  • FIG. 132 shows a back side view of the same direction rectifying pulley (DRP) that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 130 and 131.
  • DSP direction rectifying pulley
  • FIG. 133 shows a front side view of the same direction rectifying pulley (DRP) that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 130-132.
  • DSP direction rectifying pulley
  • the pulley 1800 and its frame 1802 have rotated about the hinge’s axis of rotation so as to maintain a zero fleet angle with the cable 1804 that has been pulled through an angle of 1812 away from the pulley’s nominal plane 1813 of rotation.
  • FIG. 134 shows a side perspective view of an assembly of three of the same direction rectifying pulleys (DRP) that are illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 130-133.
  • DSP direction rectifying pulleys
  • FIG. 135 shows a side perspective view of an assembly of a variation of the direction rectifying pulley (DRP) that is illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 130-133.
  • DSP direction rectifying pulley
  • FIG. 136 shows a side perspective view of an assembly of a plurality of the same direction rectifying pulleys (DRP) that are illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 135.
  • DRP rectifying pulleys
  • FIG. 137 shows a front side perspective view of an assembly of a plurality of the same direction rectifying pulleys (DRP), e.g., 1900, that are illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 135.
  • This assembly includes a central element 1901 that when pulled to the left or right by an attached cable 1902 induces a corresponding angular re-orientation of the DRPs to its sides.
  • This assembly includes a buoyant element 1903 which reduces the resistance of the pulleys, e.g., 1900, to change their orientation when pulled upon by their respective cables, and/or by the central element 1901, due to their inherent displaced weight.
  • FIG. 138 shows a front side perspective view of the same assembly of direction rectifying pulleys (DRP), e.g., 1900, that are illustrated and discussed in relation to FIG. 137.
  • DRP direction rectifying pulleys
  • This central element 1901, and/or the pulleys, e.g., 1900, have pulled to the right by their respective cables, e.g., 1902, by an angle of 1904. Because the pulleys have changed their angular orientations by 1904, they eliminate the development of a non-zero fleet angle in response to the changed angular orientations of their respective cables.
  • FIG. 139 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoy 1900 floats adjacent to a surface 1912 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • Buoy 1900 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 1901 by a set of cables, e.g., 1902A and 1902B.
  • a separate spar buoy 1903 that is connected to buoy 1900 by an umbilical cable (i.e., a cable which may include a plurality of tubes, wires, and mooring cables).
  • Spar buoy 1903 is connected to a docking port 1905 by umbilical and mooring cables, e.g., 1906.
  • Underwater vehicles manned or unmanned
  • e.g., 1907 and 1908 may connect to, or interface with, docking port 1905 and therethrough receive energy and data from buoy 1900 and share data with buoy 1900.
  • Drone 1909 may perform useful tasks, such as cleaning, inspecting, maintaining, and/or repairing, the embodiment’s inertial mass 1901, its cables, e.g., 1902, its directional rectifying pulleys, its roller pulleys, its buoy 1900, etc. It may also perform useful tasks on other devices, such as underwater vehicles, e.g., 1907 and 1908, including, but not limited to: cleaning, inspecting, maintaining, and/or repairing, those other devices.
  • FIG. 140 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a buoy 2000 floats adjacent to a surface 2001 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • Buoy 2000 is connected to a submerged inertial mass 2002 by a set of cables, e.g., 2003 A and 2003B.
  • a processor 2004 that uses at least a portion of the energy generated by the embodiment in response to passing waves to perform some useful work or processing, e.g., producing hydrogen from seawater.
  • a storage module 2005 that stores at least a portion of the material, e.g., hydrogen, produced by the processor 2004.
  • FIG. 141 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the embodiment 2100 floats adjacent to an upper surface 2101 of a body of water over which pass waves and winds 2102.
  • the embodiment includes a buoyant, and/or buoy, portion 2103 and a wind turbine 2104 rotatably connected to an upper portion of the buoy 2103.
  • Wind turbine 2104 rotates wind turbine shaft 2105 in response to the passage therethrough of wind 2102, and its rotations energize an operatively connected generator (not shown) thereby generating electrical power.
  • a portion of the generated electrical power is used to energize electronic devices (not shown) including, but not limited to: computers, routers, radio transceivers, an embodiment- specific control system, etc.
  • a portion of the generated electrical power is used to energize autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), e.g., 2106.
  • AUV autonomous underwater vehicles
  • a tether 2107 (also called an umbilical), cable, conduit, and/or circuit, connects the buoy 2103 at 2108 to a submerged, and approximately neutrally buoyant AUV hub 2109, and is supported, at least in part, by a plurality of floats, e.g., 2127.
  • Tether 2107 contains electrical wires and transmits electrical power to the AUV hub 2109 which is shared with AUVs when those AUVs, e.g., 2106, couple and/or dock with the AUV hub.
  • Tether 2107 also transmits data between the embodiment’s computing devices and/or control system (not shown) and docked AUVs.
  • AUV hub 2109 is connected to a weight 2110 that promotes the stability of its orientation.
  • AUV hub 2109 contains a number of, e.g., 4, docking ports, e.g., 2111-2113, each of which contains acoustic, visual, and magnetic signals and/or guides, e.g., a speaker and microphone 2114 that emits a click of a specific frequency in response to a click of generated by the speaker 2115 of an AUV, e.g., 2116.
  • the clicks exchanged between the AUV hub 2109 and the various AUVs that it supports, e.g., 2106, are simulations of clicks generated by whales and/or other marine cetaceans.
  • Each AUV in the illustrated embodiment 2100 is propelled by a propeller, e.g., 2117 and 2118 on AUVs 2106 and 2116, respectively.
  • the AUVs (as well as all AUVs, underwater unmanned drones, ROVs, and/or submersibles of this disclosure) can be powered by a magnetohydrodynamic drive, and/or by a pumpjet, in addition to or in lieu of a propeller.
  • the orientation and direction of each AUV in the illustrated embodiment 2100 is controlled by a plurality of fins, e.g., 2119 and 2120 on AUVs 2106 and 2116, respectively.
  • Each AUV in the illustrated embodiment 2100 contains a camera, light, and acoustic generator (speaker), e.g., 2121 on AUV 2116.
  • Each AUV’s acoustic generator is able to generate a simulated whale click (or other sound), e.g., 2122, that can be directed to reflect off the seafloor 2123, e.g., at 2124, or another surface, and thereafter be received, heard, and/or detected, by the respective AUV’s microphone 2115 (2115 is a microphone and speaker).
  • the AUV can determine the approximate distance between the AUV’s speaker 2121 and the portion of the seafloor, e.g., 2124, that gave rise to the reflection.
  • the depth of the seafloor e.g., at 2124, may be determined, at least to an approximate degree, thereby permitting a mapping of the terrain, depth elevations, etc. of those portions of the seafloor so surveyed.
  • Analysis of the reflected AUV acoustic signal may also signify information about the composition and/or density of the material at the reflecting surface(s).
  • the AUV’s camera and light 2121 can potentially produce images of the seafloor, and/or other objects of interest, e.g., of the same portion of the seafloor 2124 depth-ranged by the AUV’s acoustic generator and microphone.
  • a platform 2125 on which is attached a phased array antenna that may be used to exchange encoded radio signals with other devices, objects, and/or antennas, including, but not limited to: satellites, planes, ships, balloon-suspended transceivers, and/or terrestrial transceivers, computers, and/or networks.
  • a phased array antenna that may be used to exchange encoded radio signals with other devices, objects, and/or antennas, including, but not limited to: satellites, planes, ships, balloon-suspended transceivers, and/or terrestrial transceivers, computers, and/or networks.
  • the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 141 that extract energy from wind, waves, solar radiation, thermal differences, salinity differences, pressure differences, and/or any other source of energy accessible and/or available to a floating, drifting, and/or self-propelled embodiment.
  • the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments similar to the one illustrated in FIG.
  • the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 141 that provide energy to, and/or exchange data with, any type of fully or partially submerged autonomous, semi- autonomous, and/or remote-controlled, vessel, vehicle, device, mechanism, and/or craft, including, but not limited to: autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs), and/or autonomous surface vessels (e.g., that tend to float adjacent to the surface 2101 of a body of water.
  • ALVs autonomous underwater vehicles
  • ROVs remotely-operated vehicles
  • autonomous surface vessels e.g., that tend to float adjacent to the surface 2101 of a body of water.
  • the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments similar to the one illustrated in FIG.
  • subordinate vessels e.g., AUVs
  • AUVs subordinate vessels
  • FIG. 142 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the embodiment 2200 floats adjacent to the surface 2201 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • the embodiment includes a buoyant, and/or buoy, portion 2200, and a hollow cylindrical portion 2202.
  • a power take off (PTO) inside the buoy 2200 and/or tube 2202 converts at least a portion of the energy of the oscillating water within the tube into mechanical and/or electrical power.
  • the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 142 uses a piston within the tube to drive a hydraulic PTO.
  • An embodiment similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 142 uses a turbine PTO to generate electrical power directly from seawater moving up and down within the tube 2202.
  • An embodiment similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 142 uses a
  • magnetohydrodynamic PTO to generate electrical power directly from seawater moving up and down within the tube 2202.
  • An embodiment similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 142 uses a water turbine PTO to generate electrical power from the downward movement and/or release of gravitational potential energy by seawater that has earlier been pumped or otherwise moved by wave action upwardly through tube 2202 into an elevated or pressurized reservoir within the embodiment.
  • Other embodiments similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 142 use different mechanisms, methods, and PTOs in order to extract electrical power from the water moving up and down within the tube 2202, and all such embodiments are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • the hollow cylindrical portion 2202 also damps and/or reduces surge (horizontal) motion of the buoyant portion 2200, reducing horizontal loading, shearing, and/or drag loading of the tether 2209, and providing a longer lifetime to tether 2209.
  • the electronic circuits within the computer enclosure 2205 includes, but are not limited to: computers, routers, memory modules, encryption and decryption circuits, an embodiment- specific control system, radio transmission and receiving circuits, and navigation circuits.
  • a plurality of computers are included within computer enclosure 2205 and are mutually internetworked so as to be able to work in parallel on computing tasks and/or programs.
  • buoy 2200 Also affixed to an upper surface 2206 of the embodiment’s buoy 2200 is a phased array antenna 2207 that facilitates the exchange of encoded radio transmissions between the embodiment and antennas connected to, and/or controlled by, other objects, including, but not limited to: satellites, ships, planes, balloon-suspended transceivers, and/or terrestrial computers and networks.
  • a tether 2209 Attached to a lower portion of the embodiment, e.g., to a lower portion of the embodiment’s tube 2202, at 2208, is a tether 2209, cable, conduit, tube, and/or multi- stranded wire, that is, at least in part, supported and/or suspended within the body of water 2201 by a plurality of floats, e.g., 2210, that offset the positive weight of the tether and tend to impart to the tether an approximately neutral overall buoyancy.
  • the tether can be referred to as the umbilical or umbilical cable. Note that in this embodiment, the tether 2209 is of greater length than any linear dimension of the buoy 2200 or the hollow cylindrical portion 2202, or the two of them combined.
  • the tether 2209 has greater length than the total height, width, or length of the buoy 2200, and a greater length than the height, width, or length of the entire rigid structure comprising the buoy 2202 and hollow cylindrical portion 2202.
  • the tether 2209 has length of one kilometer, while the buoy 2202 may have diameter of 30 meters, and the hollow cylindrical portion 2202 may have length (maximal dimension) 100 meters.
  • ROV 2212 Directly connected to a lower end of the tether 2209, at connector 2211, is a remotely- operated vehicle (ROV) 2212.
  • ROV 2212 is propelled by four propeller- thrusters, three 2213-2215 are visible in the illustration of FIG. 142.
  • propeller- thrusters three 2213-2215 are visible in the illustration of FIG. 142.
  • the ROV (as well as all ROVs, AUVs, underwater unmanned drones, and/or submersibles of this disclosure) can be powered by a magnetohydrodynamic drive, and/or by a pumpjet, in addition to or in lieu of propellers. All but the backmost thruster 2213 are able to rotate about the rod that connects them to the body 2212 of the ROV, thereby allowing the ROV to turn and maneuver. Note that the orientations of thrusters 2214 and 2215 are different with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ROV.
  • ROV 2212 has two cameras 2216 and 2217 with overlapping fields of view allowing stereoscopic analysis of the images taken which may then permit, at least partial, 3D models to be constructed of the objects and/or surfaces so imaged.
  • the embodiment’s ROV 2212 also has an upper 2218 and a lower 2219 acoustic sensors, each capable of generating, and receiving and/or detecting, sounds (e.g., simulated whale clicks). These acoustic sensors provide the ROV 2212 with the ability to detect distances to other objects and/or surfaces.
  • the embodiment’s ROV may provide sufficient information and/or data to permit the embodiment to map the depths of the seafloor 2220, and/or its surface contours.
  • the lower acoustic sensor 2219 on the embodiment’s ROV 2212 can generate a sound 2224 and thereafter detect its reflected echo, thereby allowing the ROV 2212 to gauge the distance between that sensor and the seafloor 2202 beneath the ROV, allowing that distance to be calculated, at least to an approximate degree.
  • the ROV also incorporates a pressure and/or depth sensor that allows it to determine its depth, at least to an approximate degree.
  • the distance between the ROV’s lower acoustic sensor 2219 and the seafloor 2220, and the depth of the ROV i.e., the distance between the ROV’s lower acoustic sensor 2219 and the seafloor 2220, and the depth of the ROV, and the distance between the surface 2201 of the body of water on which the embodiment floats and the seafloor 2220 can be calculated, at least to an approximate degree, thereby permitting, as the embodiment moves across the surface 2201 of the body of water and the seafloor below, the mapping of the elevations and/or depths of the seafloor.
  • a tube-mounted acoustic sensor 2221, attached to the embodiment’s tube 2202, is capable of generating sounds 2222 that can reach 2223 the ROV 2212 and be detected by its upper acoustic sensor, e.g., 2218. Since the embodiment’s control system (not shown) knows the time at which the sound was emitted, as well as the time at which it was received by the ROV, the embodiment can calculate, at least to an approximate degree, an“acoustic distance” between the embodiment’s tube-mounted acoustic sensor 2221 and the ROV’s 2212 upper acoustic sensor.
  • the embodiment possesses stereoscopic cameras, and other sensors, mounted to an upper portion of the buoy 2200 that allow it to calculate the height of its own waterline, and/or the draft or depth of its tube 2202. Subtracting this tube depth from the ROV depth determined by the ROV’s pressure and/or depth sensor (not shown) permits the embodiment to determine the“tube-relative depth” of the ROV relative to the bottom of its tube 2202 and/or the tube-mounted acoustic sensor 2221 mounted thereto.
  • the ROV must be, at least to an approximate degree, directly beneath the tube 2202.
  • the ROV’s position must be within a horizontal plane (i.e., within a plane parallel to the resting surface 2201 of the body of water on which the embodiment floats), and on a circle centered about a projection of vertical axis passing through the tube-mounted acoustic sensor 2221.
  • the position of the ROV must be, at least to an approximate degree, on such a circular path.
  • the embodiment’s control system can steer its ROV with thrusts of magnitudes and orientations that cause the ROV to follow the movement of the embodiment’s buoy 2200 across the surface 2201 of the body of water on which the embodiment floats (regardless of whether that movement is passive, i.e., drifting, or directed, e.g., via self-propulsion) and/or to stay beneath the embodiment’s tube 2202, at least to an approximate degree.
  • FIG. 142 While the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 142 includes a single tether-connected ROV 2212, the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments with any number of such tethered ROVs, and/or with any number of untethered ROVs. While the embodiment’s ROV illustrated in FIG. 142 includes and utilizes cameras and acoustic sensors, the scope of the present disclosure includes embodiments with ROVs incorporating any kind, type, and/or number of sensors.
  • FIG. 143 shows a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the embodiment 2300 floats adjacent to an upper surface 2301 of a body of water over which waves pass.
  • the embodiment contains a buoyant, and/or buoy, portion 2300 and a depending tubular portion 2302 (also described as a columnar stabilization body).
  • a power take off (PTO) within the embodiment’s buoy and/or tube converts a portion of the energy inherent in the movements of water within the embodiment’s tube 2302 into electrical power.
  • the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 142 uses a piston within the tube to drive a hydraulic PTO.
  • 142 uses a magnetohydrodynamic PTO to generate electrical power directly from seawater moving up and down within the tube 2202.
  • An embodiment similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 142 uses a water turbine PTO to generate electrical power from the downward movement and/or release of gravitational potential energy by seawater that has earlier been pumped or otherwise moved by wave action upwardly through tube 2202 into an elevated or pressurized reservoir within the embodiment (in particular, within the buoy).
  • Other embodiments similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 142 use different mechanisms, methods, and PTOs in order to extract electrical power from the water moving up and down within the tube 2202, and all such embodiments are included within the scope of the present disclosure.
  • a computing enclosure 2306 that contains electronic circuits, including, but not limited to: computers, routers, an embodiment-specific control system, navigational devices and circuits, memory circuits, and radio transmission and reception circuits. Also attached to an upper surface 2305 of the embodiment 2300 is a phased array antenna 2307 that allows the embodiment and/or the radio transceiver(s) therein, to transmit 2308 and receive 2309 encoded electromagnetic (e.g., radio) signals.
  • electromagnetic e.g., radio
  • the embodiment 2300 is able to exchange encoded radio signals with other devices, including, but not limited to: other embodiments, satellites, e.g., 2310, balloon- suspended transceivers, ships, planes, and terrestrial radio stations, antennas, computers, networks, and/or transceivers.
  • satellites e.g., 2310
  • balloon- suspended transceivers ships, planes, and terrestrial radio stations
  • antennas computers, networks, and/or transceivers.
  • a spar buoy 2312 Connected by cable, chain, linkages, rope, and/or another flexible connector 2311, is a spar buoy 2312. Discordant motions between the buoy 2300 and the spar buoy 2312 are smoothed, buffered, and/or absorbed, by an elastic mooring device 2313, comprised of a pair of floats, e.g., 2313, beneath which is suspended between the floats a weight 2314.
  • buoy 2300 and the spar buoy 2312 Separations of buoy 2300 and the spar buoy 2312 cause the floats, e.g., 2313 to separate, which, in turn, causes the suspended weight 2314 to be raised, thereby storing potential energy.
  • the stored potential energy pulls back together the buoy 2300 and the spar buoy 2312 when the, presumably wave-driven, forces separating the buoys is sufficiently diminished.
  • Cable 2311 transmits power and data between computers in computing enclosure 2306 and spar buoy 2312, and cable 2315 in turn transmits at least a portion of that power and data between spar buoy 2312 and an autonomous-underwater- vehicle (AUV) hub 2316.
  • a plurality of floats, e.g., 2317, help to support the weight of the cable and allow it to achieve approximate neutral buoyancy.
  • the AUV hub 2316 has a number of thrusters, including a fixed horizontal-thrust thruster 2318, four circumferential thrusters, e.g., 2319, that are arrayed about the long horizontal axis of the AUV hub 2316, and are able to be rotated about the rods that connect them to the hub.
  • the AUV hub 2316 also includes a single thruster that ejects water vertically through one of an upper 2321 or lower 2322 mouth (while pulling water through the opposing mouth).
  • the AUV hub 2316 has three docking ports, e.g., 2323 and 2324, positioned circumferentially about a horizontal plane passing through the center of the AUV hub.
  • a light and acoustic sensor e.g., 2325, that provides guidance information and/or signals to the AUVs that dock therein.
  • the AUV hub includes a camera and light 2326 that can provide images of the seafloor 2327 and/or AUVs, e.g., 2328.
  • Each AUV e.g., 2328, of the embodiment 2300, has four cameras, and associated lights. Two cameras and lights, e.g., 2329 and 2330, are mounted on back-facing struts, and tend to provide useful information to an AUV when it attempts to insert its back end, e.g., 2331, into a docking port, e.g., 2324, on the AUV hub 2316.
  • the back-facing cameras of an AUV provide it with stereoscopic images, which, in combination with the homing signals emitted by the light and acoustic sensor, e.g., 2325, at the back inside of each docking port, can facilitate the insertion of an AUV, e.g., 2332 into a docking port, e.g., 2324.
  • Two cameras and lights e.g., 2333 and 2334, are mounted on front-facing struts, and tend to provide useful information to an AUV when it attempts to survey, inspect, and/or gather information about the seafloor 2327, objects thereon, e.g., 2335, and/or other objects, creatures, and/or surfaces.
  • the AUV 2328 is attempting to pick up a geological sample 2335 from the seafloor 2327.
  • an AUV 2331 and/or the embodiment s central control system (e.g., positioned within the
  • embodiments computing enclosure 2306 may elect to store that sample 2336 for later examination by a human, and/or within a ship- or shore-based laboratory, by placing it within a receptacle, e.g., 2337, and logging the time and geospatial location at which the sample was obtained, along with any photos taken by the AUV’s cameras, e.g., 2333 and 2334, of the sample prior to and/or after its retrieval, and the identifier of the receptacle in which the sample was stored.
  • a receptacle e.g., 2337
  • any photos taken by the AUV’s cameras e.g., 2333 and 2334
  • a set of sample receptacles are suspended by a cable 2339 that depends from a spar buoy 2340 that is flexibly connected to the buoy 2300 by a cable 2341, wherein said cable includes an elastic mooring device 2342 to more flexibly connect the buoy 2300 and spar buoy 2340 when the positions of both are buffeted by passing waves.
  • Each sample receptacle, e.g., 2338 contains an aperture, e.g., 2343, through which an AUV may place a sample therein.
  • Each AUV e.g., 2332
  • Each AUV, e.g., 2332 also contains four thrusters, e.g., 2346-2348, the thrusts of which may be adjusted through the rotation of each thruster about the longitudinal axis of the respective rod that connects each to the main body of the AUV.
  • an AUV may obtain electrical power from the buoy 2300, the electronic circuits (which may include energy storage devices) inside the embodiment’s computing enclosure 2306, and/or from the embodiment’s generators (not shown) and/or energy storage devices (not shown), thereby enabling it to recharge its own energy storage devices and/or mechanisms (not shown).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un nouveau dispositif flottant qui extrait de l'énergie à partir du vent et des vagues à la surface d'une masse d'eau et fournit au moins une partie de cette énergie à un véhicule sous-marin sans pilote (UUV). Un mode de réalisation fonctionne en eaux profondes, potentiellement éloignées du rivage, et actionne au moins un UUV dans le but d'explorer la colonne d'eau locale et le fond marin adjacent.
PCT/US2018/068023 2018-01-02 2018-12-28 Submersible à bouée à alimentation renouvelable WO2019136007A1 (fr)

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US201862612781P 2018-01-02 2018-01-02
US62/612,781 2018-01-02
US201862774115P 2018-11-30 2018-11-30
US62/774,115 2018-11-30

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