Wave power plant and transmission
US8581433B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A wave power plant includes a buoy and a power train. In the power train a driveshaft is arranged, which is driven to rotate either when the buoy rises or sinks, but always in the same direction. The driveshaft is mechanically coupled to one of the rotating parts of an electric generator and drives it for generating electric current. Furthermore, an energy accumulation device is provided which is also coupled to the driveshaft to accumulate energy when the buoy is rising or sinking and the driveshaft is rotating for driving the generator during the other of the rising and sinking movements. The coupling between the energy accumulation device and the driveshaft can extend via the other rotatable part of the generator, the air gap between the parts of the generator and the first part of the generator. The coupling over the air gap gives a torque, which drives the second part to rotate in one direction and which also counteracts the rotation of the driveshaft. The second part of the generator is driven by the energy accumulation device to rotate in the same direction, when the torque from the driveshaft does not exceed the counteracting torque.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.