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:
Dec. 09, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 28, 2011
James S. Gerber, Saint Paul, MN (US);
George W. Taylor, Princeton, NJ (US);
James S. Gerber, Saint Paul, MN (US);
George W. Taylor, Princeton, NJ (US);
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc, Pennington, NJ (US);
Abstract
A wave energy converter (WEC) having an asymmetrically shaped float and a spar which move relative to each other in response to the waves. The asymmetrical float has one side longer than the other. A power take off device (PTO) is coupled between the asymmetric float and the spar for converting their relative motion into useful power. Apparatus is coupled to the WEC for: (a) orienting and rotating the longer side of the float to face and receive oncoming waves to increase energy capture when the waves have an amplitude below a predetermined value for improving the power generation of the WEC; and (b) rotating the float to orient the narrower side of the float to face and receive the incoming waves when the waves have an amplitude above a predetermined value, so as to reduce the forces to which the WEC is subjected. There is no known WEC system with an asymmetrical float which is raised and lowered by the waves.