WAVE ACTUATED PUMP AND MEANS OF CONNECTING SAME TO THE SEABED

A pumping apparatus designed for the purpose of economically harvesting the energy of the waves on the surface of a body of water and converting such energy into hydraulic power which may be transmitted by pipes and used for any purpose but preferably for the generation of electricity or the production of desalinated water. To better explain the means of operation of this invention, referring to Figure 1, I will start by assuming that the float (14) is static, the accumulator (30) is pressurized above the ambient pressure of the environment of pump, the accumulator(30) is charged with fluid and the pump is full of fluid. In this condition check valve (10) is closed and pumping chamber (19) is pressurized by the accumulator (30). Pumping chamber (18) is also equally pressurized via the piston (2). An axial force is generated on rod or tube (3) by the pressure difference between its ends. A similar, but opposite, axial force is generated on rod or tube (4) by the pressure difference between its ends. Rod or tube, (4) is larger in diameter than rod or tube (3) and hence the magnitude of the force on rod or tube (4) is greater. The resultant of these forces is a net downward force on the operably connected float (14). This force will be balanced by a portion of the buoyancy of float (14) to keep the system in equilibrium. By this means the whole pump string, from float to foundation, is maintained in tension. If now we assume that a rising wave acts upon the float (14) an upward force will be generated by both the kinetic energy of the rising water and by the increasing buoyancy of the float. This force will overcome the above mentioned downward force and the float (14) along with the operably connected piston (2) will move relative to the cylinder (1) causing volume reduction of pumping chamber (19), closing of check valve (9) and hence displacement of fluid into the discharge line (5). Simultaneously, pumping chamber (18) will increase in volume causing fluid to enter it via check valve (10) and port (11). When the float has reached the top of the wave and the wave then begins to descend check valve (9) opens, check valve (10) closes, and the above mentioned force due to the difference in diameter of rods or tubes (3 and 4) will cause the piston (2) to move, relative to the cylinder (1), in an opposite direction to the first stroke therefore causing pumping chamber (19) to expand and pumping chamber (18) to contract. Fluid will therefore pass through the hol