Ceto IP Pty Ltd.

Greg John Allen

Jonathan Pierre Fievez

Laurence Drew Mann

Nigel Laxton

Ruud Caljouw

David Kessel

A closed-loop hydraulic apparatusfor converting wave energy comprises a pumpfor pumping a fluid through the apparatus. The pumpincludes a bodydefining a chamber, and a pistonthat partitions the chamberinto a working sideand a blind side. A buoyant actuator is connected to the piston. An inletis connected to the working sideof the chamberso that the fluid is able to flow from the inletand into the working sideof the chamber. An outletis connected to the working sideof the chamberso that the fluid is able to flow from the working sideof the chamberto the outlet. A hydraulic controlleris operable to control the pumpby controlling the pressure of the fluid at the inletand the outletso as to optimise the output of the pumpin response to tidal variations and/or sea state. The pressure of the fluid at the inletand the outletis controlled in accordance with a control algorithm.

Hydraulic apparatus

An apparatus is provided for harnessing ocean wave energy, wherein the apparatus relieves excessive loadings on components to avoid damage thereof in adverse wave conditions. The apparatus includes a buoyant actuator and a pump anchored within the body of water. Fluid at high pressure is pumped ashore by the pump, energy is extracted as useful work at an on-shore plant, and the resultant reduced pressure fluid is returned to the offshore pump to be re-energized. The buoyant actuator is operably connected to the pump by tether and is buoyantly suspended within the body of water above the pump. The buoyant actuator is provided with a connector that includes a damping mechanism configured to maintain a substantially rigid connection between the hollow body and the tether until such time as loading therebetween exceeds a prescribed load whereupon the damping mechanism facilitates limited relative movement therebetween to relieve the loading.

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East Fremantle, Australia

Greg John Allen