US 12,168,967 B2
Power take-off device and wave energy converter unit comprising such power take-off device
Mikael Sidenmark, Listerby (SE); and Markus Wallentin, Gothenburg (SE)
Assigned to Ocean Harvesting Technologies AB, Karlskrona (SE)
Appl. No. 18/283,021
Filed by Ocean Harvesting Technologies AB, Karlskrona (SE)
PCT Filed Mar. 24, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/057797
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 20, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/200514, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 29, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2150343-8 (SE), filed on Mar. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0309838 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. F03B 13/18 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/18 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power take-off device for use in a wave energy converter unit having a buoy, the power take-off device comprising:
a power take-off hull connectable to a mooring device,
the power take-off device being connected to or connectable to the buoy,
a power extracting device connected to the power take-off hull and adapted to extract power as the buoy moves with the waves, by applying up to a predetermined maximum control force, and
an end-stop cushioning system comprising:
a first stage end-stop cushioning device comprising a first fluid cylinder having a first end and a second end and being adapted to apply, in an end-stop operation, an additional deceleration force on the power take-off device above the predetermined maximum control force, and
a second stage end-stop cushioning device comprising a second fluid cylinder having a first end and a second end and being adapted to be extended like a spring in an end-stop operation after the first stage has been activated and when the power take-off force is higher than the above said predetermined maximum control force, to hold the buoy submerged through the crest of a large wave,
wherein the first end of the first fluid cylinder is connected, directly or indirectly, to the first end of the second fluid cylinder, and
wherein each of the second ends of the first fluid cylinder and the second fluid cylinder is connected to one of the buoy and the mooring device.