US 12,168,968 B2
Simultaneous ocean wave and current energy harvesting
Lei Zuo, Blacksburg, VA (US); Robert Parker, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Xiaofan Li, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Appl. No. 17/784,187
Filed by VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/013208
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/146263, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/960,416, filed on Jan. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0032172 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. F03B 13/22 (2006.01); F03B 13/10 (2006.01); F03B 13/12 (2006.01); F03B 13/16 (2006.01); F03B 13/26 (2006.01); F16D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/22 (2013.01) [F03B 13/10 (2013.01); F03B 13/12 (2013.01); F03B 13/16 (2013.01); F03B 13/26 (2013.01); F16D 1/00 (2013.01); F05B 2260/40 (2013.01); Y02E 10/30 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hybrid energy converter, comprising:
a wave energy converter comprising a body or buoy, the wave energy converter configured to convert linear motion of the body or buoy along an axial length of a first input shaft to a bi-directional rotation of the first input shaft, the linear motion produced by an oscillatory motion of waves on the body or buoy;
a turbine configured to turn a second input shaft; and
a hybrid power takeoff comprising a mechanical transfer system configured to mechanically couple the first input shaft, the second input shaft, an output shaft, and a generator, the generator being coupled to the output shaft.