Title of Invention : Wave Energy Converter Improvement ! Technical Field

[0001 ] The present invention relates to the field of a system in fluid and the

movement attenuation or energy conversion or wave energy conversion of said system.

Background Art

[0002] One of the most promising renewable energy sources is that of wave energy, which has the potential to provide a substantial amount of the global energy needs. Some of the factors in favor of wave energy are its abundance, consistency, reliability, predictability and energy density. These factors have been the driving force behind the push to develop an economically viable wave energy converter.

[0003] The problem thus far has been that producing a cost effective and viable

wave energy converter has several significant technical challenges. Some of the technical challenges include: a. Creating an inexpensive, rapid and principally autonomous deployment and retrieval system; b. Attaining reliable, consistent and predictable energy conversion; c. Automatic calibration during operation to maintain optimal operational configuration; d. Ability to operate across a wide range of wave frequencies and heights; e. Omnidirectional energy conversion; f. Automatic calibration for a wide range of deployment depths; g. Automatic calibration for tidal variations while maintaining constant

energy conversion; h. Continuous operation, through storms and other large energy events; [0004] The invention herein seeks to overcome these technical challenges. Summary of Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an

apparatus for adjustably mooring a buoyant volume in a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a. a volume designed to have a positive buoyancy when placed in a fluid medium thereby having portions located above and below the fluid medium surface; and in connection with said positive buoyancy volume a tension mooring means. b. a tension mooring means comprising: i. a singularity or plurality of circular mechanical means connected perpendicularly therein with the positive buoyancy volume whereby each of the circular mechanical means is free to spin axially and having a specific configuration comprising:

1 . an ability to receive a tethering elongated flexible member circumferentially; and

2. preferably connected therewith a means for attenuating the energy of the moment of revolution of the circular mechanical means comprising: a. frictional energy conversion; or b. electrical energy conversion; or c. hydraulic energy conversion; or d. pneumatic energy conversion; or e. some other energy conversion means; and

3. a positional location comprising: a. a singular axially rotating circular mechanical means; or b. a plurality of axially collinear proximally located

circular mechanical means; or c. a plurality of radially distributed circular mechanical means; or d. a plurality of peripherally distributed or proximally

located circular mechanical means; and ii. a singularity or a plurality of mooring means comprising:

1 . a singularity or plurality of tethering axially rotating circular mechanical means, comprising: a. preferably a bidirectional rotating circular mechanical means, comprising: i. an axially free rotating circular mechanical means; or ii. an axially damped rotating circular mechanical means, comprising:

1 . frictional energy conversion or damping; or

2. electrical energy conversion or damping; or

3. hydraulic energy conversion or damping; or

4. pneumatic energy conversion or

damping; or

5. some other energy conversion or

damping means; or b. a principally unidirectional rotating circular mechanical means, comprising: i. a latch therein allowing bidirectional rotation when said latch is disengaged, comprising:

1 . preferably a pressure activated latch wherein the weight of said means of fixing to the bottom of the fluid medium containment boundary engages the latch; or

2. a hydraulically activated latch; or

3. a pneumatically activated latch; or

4. an electrically activated latch; or

5. a magnetically activated latch; or

6. some other mechanical latching

mechanism; and a means of fixing to the bottom of the fluid medium

containment boundary comprising: a. a substantially negatively buoyant volume where the negative buoyancy is equal to or greater than a multiple of said movable negatively buoyant volume weights; or b. a mechanical fixing means; or c. a suction means; or d. some other bottom attachment means; or a means of providing a movable, or non-fixed, or free-floating mooring means comprising: a. a hydrodynamic damping means, comprising: i. a heave plate; or ii. some other means of inducing hydrodynamic losses through movement ; or b. a means of providing a directionally selective thrust force for the counteraction or redirection or

repurposing or damping or conversion of received thrust forces, comprising: i. an electric, mechanic, or fluid damping action; or ii. directional hydrodynamic force or propulsion; or iii. directional mechanical force or propulsion; or iv. directional electric force or propulsion; or v. directional hydraulic force or propulsion; or vi. directional pneumatic force or propulsion; or vii. some other means of producing a directional force or propulsion; and iii. a singularity or a plurality of movable negatively buoyant volumes comprising:

1 . a weight less than half the buoyancy of the positively

buoyant volume; and

2. a singular or a plurality of slidable connections between said movable negatively buoyant volume or volumes and said tethering elongated flexible member or members; or

3. a plurality of negatively buoyant volumes slidably connected between said movable negatively buoyant volume and its neighboring movable negatively buoyant volume; and iv. a singularity or plurality of individual tethering elongated flexible members singularly running circumferentially on a singularity of said circular mechanical means and each tethering elongated flexible member being connected therewith to said movable negatively buoyant volume at one termination and additionally movably connected therewith to said mooring means by way of a specific configuration for reducing or eliminating fouling of said tethering elongated flexible members and providing therewith a means for adjustably controlling the length and tension of the tethering elongated flexible member through a retractable mechanical means; and a specific configuration for reducing or eliminating fouling of tethering elongated flexible members, comprising a singularity or plurality of:

1 . a singular tethering elongated flexible member connected at one termination therewith to said retractable mechanical means. Furthermore said tethering elongated flexible member passes from said retractable mechanical means to circumferentially circumscribe said tethering axially rotating circular mechanical means. Said tethering elongated flexible member therein continues to the positively buoyant volume whereby it circumferentially circumscribes said circular mechanical means therein and thereafter said tethering elongated flexible member's alternate termination is coupled to said movable negatively buoyant volume. Optionally, said tethering elongate flexible member may not directly terminate at the movable negatively buoyant volume but may continue from said movable negatively buoyant volume through a sheave to said positively buoyant volume over the same or an additional said circular mechanical means; this process may continue though multiple iterations with substantially similar effect as having said tethering elongated flexible member terminating at first contact with the movable negatively buoyant volume; and a singularity or plurality of retractable mechanical means

comprising:

1 . a principally unidirectional rotating circular mechanical

means comprising: a. a receptacle to receive windings of said tethering

elongated flexible member means circumferentially; and b. a latch therein allowing bidirectional rotation when said latch is disengaged, whereby latch control comprises: i. preferably proximity of said movable negatively buoyant volume with respect to the positively buoyant volume, such that when the movable negatively buoyant volume is proximal to the positively buoyant volume and the operational mode is set to deploy and operate said latch is disengaged thereby allowing said tethering elongated flexible member to be unwound, else if the operational mode is set to retrieve and stow the latch remains engaged preventing the tethering elongated flexible member from unwinding; or ii. a hydraulically activated latch; or iii. a pneumatically activated latch; or iv. an electrically activated latch; or v. a magnetically activated latch; or vi. some other mechanical latching mechanism; or a retractor, resultantly winding said tethering elongated flexible member onto said receptacle to receive windings of tethering elongated flexible member when said tethering elongated flexible member experiences a state of low tension as exerted by the movable negatively buoyant volume, wherein retraction occurs by: a. a spring force; or b. preferably by a suitable prime mover, comprising: i. electric motivation; or ii. hydraulic motivation; or iii. pneumatic motivation; or iv. mechanical motivation; or v. some other motivation; or

3. advantageously said retractor provides for adjusting the length of said tethering elongated flexible member thereby allowing for the configuration, adjustment, deployment and retrieval of the invention without the need for sub-surface intervention and comprises: a. a manual means of winding the retractor; or b. an autonomous means of winding the retractor; or c. an electrical means of winding the retractor; or d. a mechanical means of winding the retractor; or e. some other means of winding the retractor.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention is the use of a standard fit structure to allow for easy and rapid integration of a plurality of individual invention modules therein, comprising: a. a regular polygon shape when viewed from a plan view, where; i. the preferred embodiment is for the regular polygon to be a

hexagonal dimensions; or ii. internal to the periphery of the polygon there is a plurality of

receptacles having a dimension such that the receptacle cut-out is substantially similar to the plan view of the received invention modules.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a means for adjusting the tension and or length of a tensioned mooring line in situ thereby allowing for the configuration, adjustment, deployment and retrieval of a singular or plurality of positively buoyant volumes without the need for sub-surface intervention and comprises: a. a circular mechanical means comprising: negative buoyancy; or neutral buoyancy; or positive buoyancy; and a receptacle for receiving a mooring line such that said mooring line does not slide past said circular mechanical means without inducing said circular mechanical means to rotate; and a releasable locking means comprising:

1 . a releasable lock making said circular mechanical means rotate unidirectional until said lock is released whereby bidirectional operation can occur; and

2. a release means, controlled either locally or remotely,

comprising: a. a manual release; or b. an automatic release; or c. a mechanical release; or d. an electrical release; or e. a hydraulic release; or f. a pneumatic release; or g- some other release mechanism vi. an overall substantially sheave like structure; and vii. a connection point on top thereof; and viii. with a location in said negatively buoyant volume bight loop or the standing part of said mooring line; and a negatively buoyant volume connected therewith to one termination of said mooring line such that: i. the weight of said negatively buoyant volume is less than or equal to the buoyant force of the positively buoyant volume; and ii. preferably said negatively buoyant volume is slidably connected to the standing part of said mooring line to form a negatively buoyant volume bight loop; and c. a mooring means comprising: i. a substantially negatively buoyant volume; or ii. a mechanical fixing means; or iii. a suction fixing means; or iv. some other bottom attachment or mooring means; and d. an attachment means connectively coupling said connection point to said positively buoyant volume comprising: i. a direct connection coupling; or ii. an indirect connection coupling utilizing an elongated flexible

member.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a means to increasing the grip

between a circular mechanical means and an elongated flexible member though a particularly designed receptacle, comprising: a. an outer flexible surface particularly designed to receive an elongated flexible member; and b. a low density cavity between said outer flexible surface and the contact surface of said circular mechanical means.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a means of providing a self- damping floating structure comprising: a. a positively buoyant volume comprising: i. a singular or a plurality of circular mechanical means comprising:

1 . free rotation of said circular mechanical means; or

2. dampened rotation of said circular mechanical means; and b. a negatively buoyant hydrodynamic damping volume; and c. a mooring means comprising: i. a substantially negatively buoyant volume; or ii. a mechanical fixing means; or iii. a suction fixing means; or iv. some other bottom attachment or mooring means; and d. an elongated flexible member connecting said mooring to said positively buoyant volume byway of circular mechanical means after which said elongated flexible member is further connected to said negatively buoyant hydrodynamic damping volume.

[0010] Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferable" or variations such as "preferred" will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawings

[001 1 ] The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following

detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig.1

[0012] [Fig. 1 ] is a perspective view of said circular mechanical means;

Fig.2

[0013] [Fig. 2] is a sectional view of said circular mechanical means with said means to increase the grip between the circular mechanical means and said elongated flexible member;

Fig.3

[0014] [Fig.3] is a hidden line perspective view of a preferred embodiment of said self-damping floating structure, positively buoyant volume; Fig.4

[0015] [Fig. 4] is a plan and hidden line side view of a preferred embodiment of said self-damping floating structure positively buoyant volume with elongated flexible members;

Fig.5

[0016] [Fig. 5] is a plan and side view of a preferred embodiment of said self- damping floating structure positively buoyant volume with elongated flexible members, mooring means, and negatively buoyant hydrodynamic damping volume, implemented using said standard fit structure to allow for easy and rapid integration;

Fig.6

[0017] [Fig. 6] is a perspective view of the same structure as in [Fig. 5];

Fig.7

[0018] [Fig. 7] is a perspective view of a plurality of negatively buoyant volumes slidably connected;

Fig.8

[0019] [Fig. 8] is a side view of a hexagonal variant of said standard fit structure to allow for easy and rapid integration of a plurality of individual invention modules;

Fig.9

[0020] [Fig. 9] is a plan view of a hexagonal variant of said standard fit structure to allow for easy and rapid integration of a plurality of individual invention modules;

Fig.10

[0021 ] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of a hexagonal variant of said standard fit structure to allow for easy and rapid integration of a plurality of individual invention modules; Fig.11

[0022] [Fig. 1 1 ] is a perspective view of a hexagonal variant of said standard fit

structure to allow for easy and rapid integration of a plurality of individual invention modules with a circular mechanical means positionally located perpendicular to the positively buoyant volume;

Fig.12

[0023] [Fig. 12] is a perspective view of elongated flexible member and locking cam; Fig.13

[0024] [Fig. 13] is a perspective view of said means for adjusting the tension and or length of a tensioned mooring line in situ;

Fig.14

[0025] [Fig. 14] is a perspective view of said apparatus for adjustably mooring a

buoyant volume in a fluid.

Description of Embodiments

[0026] The preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen in [Fig. 14] in which said means of fixing to the bottom of the fluid medium containment boundary F1 and connected therewith said tethering axially rotating circular mechanical means F2. The tethering elongated flexible member F3 runs from said retractable mechanical means F7 through said positively buoyant volume F5 through said movable negatively buoyant volume F4 with circular mechanical means F6 as illustrated.

[0027] An alternate embodiment of the invention when configure to convert the wave energy into a useful form can be seen in [Fig. 1 1 ] in which a hexagonal regular geometric shape is used along with two axially collinear circular mechanical means 9a, which optionally may incorporate the means 4 for increasing the grip between the circular mechanical means 1 and the elongated flexible member 6 either of which are located on top of the hexagonal modularly expandable positively buoyant volume 14. Interconnected with the collinear circular mechanical means 9a is a fit for purpose selection of energy transformational prime movers, such as preferably a pneumatic or hydraulic pump (not shown). Additionally the movable negatively buoyant volumes slidably connected 13 are used to minimize or eliminate elongated flexible member fouling and are connected with elongated flexible members 6 which run over the circular mechanical means 9a to the means of fixing to the bottom of the fluid medium containment boundary 12 or connected therein with the preferred method of adjusting the tension and or length of a tensioned mooring line 6 in situ 23 through the application of the circular mechanical means without a positively buoyant volume attached as illustrated in [Fig. 13] with its substantially smaller movable negatively buoyant volume 19, its one way ratcheting and tension releasing means 20 and associated control member 21 , its bottom attachment elongated flexible member 22 and its means of fixing to the bottom of the fluid medium containment boundary 24. 28] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope