The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 07, 1995
Michael Y Epstein, Somerset County, NJ (US);
George W Taylor, Mercer County, NJ (US);
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc., West Trenton, NJ (US);
Abstract
A flexible layer of piezoelectric material, e.g., a known PVDF polymer, is used for generating electrical energy for use on a water craft. In one arrangement, the sheet is laminated within a craft hull of fiberglass. Electrodes are provided for the major opposite surfaces of the layer, and an encapsulating material, e.g., fiberglass or a layer of the polymer itself, comprises the water contacting, exterior surface of the hull. In salt water, the water is one electrode, and an outer encapsulating layer is omitted. Spaced apart air pockets are optionally provided along the polymer sheet for increasing the flexing thereof in response to passing water and for inducing turbulence in the passing water. Elongated, flexible and electroded sheets, optionally including air pockets, are towed behind or beneath the craft, or are flown from a mast on the craft.