US 20080169653A1

(19) United States

(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0169653 A1
Olson
(54)

(43) Pub. Date:

LEVER OPERATED PIVOTING FLOAT WITH

GENERATOR

(76) Inventor:

Jul. 17, 2008

Publication Classi?cation

(51)

Chris Olson, Houston, TX (US)

Int- Cl

F033 13/14

Correspondence
LAW OFFICE OF
Address:
DAVID MCEWING

(200601)

US. Cl- ........................................... ..

PO. BOX 231324

HOUSTON, TX 77023

(57)

(21)

Appl' N05

A device comprising a pivoting ?oat and lever arm combina

tion attached to a beam such that the ?oat and lever arm can

(22)

Flled:

11/799,930

unfold and change orientation to the ocean surface. The ?oat

May 2 2007
.

(60)

ABSTRACT

and lever arm pivot and the ?oat can be rotated to a vertical
.

Related U's' Apphcatlon Data

Provisional application No. 60/880,321, ?led on Jan.

12, 2007, provisional application No. 60/904,749,

?led on Mar. 2, 2007, provisional application No.
60/880,321, ?led on Jan. 12, 2007, provisional appli
cation No. 60/904,749, ?led on Mar. 2, 2007.

position relative to the Water surface. The lever arm can, for

example, be attached to a suspended beam or to the ocean

bOIIOIIl- A IneIhOd fOr IIIOVing 8 H02 and a lever arm in
response to ocean Wave action comprising pivotally attaching
a ?rst end of a lever arm to a ?oat; attaching a second end of
the lever arm to a connector component; and attaching an end
of the connector component to the ocean ?oor.

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FIG.3

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US 2008/0169653 A1

LEVER OPERATED PIVOTING FLOAT WITH

GENERATOR

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates the pivoting ?oat and lever arm in

a vertical position. Also attached is a cable connecting the
lever arm to a beam.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]

This application claims the bene?t of and priority to

provisional application 60/ 880,321 entitled Lever Operated

Pivoting Float With Generator ?led Jan. 12, 2007. The appli
cation also claims the bene?t of and priority to provisional

application 60/ 904,749 entitled Lever Operated Pivoting

Float With Generator ?led Mar. 2, 2007. Both applications
60/ 880,321 and 60/904,749 are incorporated herein by refer
ence.

[0002] This application incorporates by reference herein

non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/473,357 ?led Jun.

[0012]

FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed cross sectional vieW of

the of the pivoting ?oat, internal machinery, the rotating shaft,

lever arm and connector component such as a cable, rod,
chain or rope, connected to a beam or portion of a larger grid.
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates the cable attached to the ocean

?oor.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates the pivoting ?oat and lever arm
Wherein the lever arm includes counter Weights to facilitate
the lever arm return to an upWard or skyWard orientation. FIG.
6 illustrates the lever arm in a doWnWard orientation and

attached by a connecting component to the ocean ?oor.

22, 2006 and entitled Ocean Wave Energy Converter, non

[0015]

provisional application Ser. No. 11/513,805 ?led Aug. 31,

rated in and constitute a part of the speci?cation, illustrate

2006 and entitled Air Pump For Float, and non-provisional

application Ser. No. 11/513,770 ?led Aug. 31, 2006 and
entitled Non Rigid In?atable Gas Storage Apparatus.

preferred embodiments of the invention. These draWings,

together With the general description of the invention given

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003]

1. Field ofUse

[0004]

The device transforms energy from ocean Wave

The accompanying draWings, Which are incorpo

above and the detailed description of the preferred embodi

ments given beloW, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

motion into differing forms of energy. The device includes a

pivoting ?oat attached to a lever arm. The pivoting ?oating

[0016] The device subject of this disclosure pertains to a

buoyant and pivoting ?oat that has a vertical component of

and the attached lever arm can unfold in relation to the other

motion from the peaks and valleys of Waves on the ocean

and the orientation of the ?oat can change from horizontal to

vertical relative to the ocean surface.

surface. Typically, the pivoting ?oat is at a horiZontal position

relative to the ocean surface, i.e., the longitudinal axis of the

[0005]

2. Description of RelatedArt

?oat being horiZontal to the ocean surface. In one embodi

[0006]

There are numerous ?oatation mechanism. HoW

ment, the lever arm is pivotally attached at the pivoting ?oat

at a rotating shaft. The lever arm typically points skyWard or
at an acute upWard angle to the horiZontally oriented ?oat.
See the position of the lever arm 52 illustrated in FIG. 1.

ever none of these devices are knoWn to have been commer

cially or technically successful.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] A device comprising a pivoting ?oat and lever arm

combination attached to a stable submerged object such that
the ?oat and lever arm can unfold and change orientation to
the ocean surface. The ?oat and lever arm pivot and the ?oat
can be rotated to a vertical position relative to the Water
surface. The lever arm can, for example, be attached to a
suspended beam or to the ocean bottom.
[0008] A method for moving a ?oat and a lever arm in

response to Wave action comprising pivotally attaching a ?rst

end of a lever arm to a ?oat; attaching a second end of the lever
arm to a connector component; and attaching an end of the
connector component to the ocean ?oor.

SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS

[0009]

FIG. 1 illustrates the pivoting ?oat oriented horiZon

tal to the ocean surface With the open middle section and end.
Also shoWn is the lever arm mounted to the rotating shaft and
pointing skyWard or at an acute angle to the ocean surface.
Also shoWn is a cable attaching an end of the lever arm to a

[0017]

In the embodiment illustrated by the draWings, the

pivoting ?oat can rotate 900 from horiZontal to vertical rela

tive to the ocean surface. When in the vertical position, the

?oat can be more easily submerged (duck dive) With less

force. This 900 rotation, combined With the diving or submer

sion of the rotated ?oat, protects components from large

ocean Waves. This is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0018]

In one embodiment, multiple ?oats of the invention

are utiliZed. The ?oats are attached to and support a rigid

heavy beam beneath the ocean surface. A beam is submerged

beneath the ocean surface and suspended by the combined
buoyancy of ?oats. A plurality of beams can be combined into
a grid. Due to the number of separate ?oats utiliZed, some
?oats are experiencing a Wave peak and other ?oats are expe

riencing Wave troughs. The suspended beam, submerged

beneath the ocean surface, therefore resides in a stable plane.

The beam (or grid) constitutes a submerged stable object.

[0019]

At least one ?oat holds additional components. In

one example, these components include one or more electri

cal generators, pumps, gears, ratchet and paWl, rotating shaft

beam (or grid) and an electrical cable.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a composite draWing of the several posi
tions of the pivoting ?oat and lever arm. The pivoting ?oat

connecting the lever arm to the ?oat, a spring, counter Weights

and attachment mechanism connecting one end of the lever
arm to the submerged beam. The rotating shaft may turn With
movement of the pivoting ?oat or lever arm. The rotation of

moves from a horiZontal position to a vertical position. The

the shaft may supply mechanical poWer (energy).

lever arm moves from an upWard orientation to a doWnWard

[0020] The electrical generators can be AC or DC. The

gears step up the rotation of the generator shaft in response to

orientation and ultimately a vertical orientation pointing

doWnWard into the Water. The attachment of the device to a
beam via a cable is also illustrated.

the energy source (movement of the lever arm as a result of

vertical movement of the ?oat). Stated differently, if the arm

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US 2008/0169653 A1

rotates the ?rst gear Wheel 90, the generator shaft may be
rotated 360 25 times. (A ratio of 1:100). Other gear ratios are

possible.
[0021] In another example of additional components, a
ratchet and paWl component is to permit the generator shaft to
turn in only one direction. The lever arm Will be moving up
and doWn in response to Wave action. Due to the action of the
ratchet and paWl, this back and forth motion does not rotate

trated are tWo generators 64, 65. An example of the position

ing of the gear mechanism 62, 66 for each generator
(transferring energy from the moving shaft 51) are also illus
trated. The lever arm pivots relative to the ?oat on the rotating

shaft. This motion, generated by Wave motion, transfers or

transforms the energy. The pivoting ?oat components include
the spring 61 Which returns the lever arm to a predetermined

position. The pivoting coupling 53 connects the lever arm and

the generator shaft in 2 directions. The generator shaft spins in

the cable 8 attached to the beam 11. The return motion of the

a single direction.

lever arm by the springs may be assisted by counter Weights.

[0022] There is a rotating shaft extending from the gear

component attached to the generator. The shaft is ?xed to the

the lever arm. Also illustrated are counterWeights. In this

[0028]

FIG. 6 illustrates a side vieW of the pivoting ?oat and

?rst end of the lever arm. The shaft may extend to a second

example, the counterWeights 54 are located at the end of the

generator. It Will be appreciated that When one generator is

decoupled from the poWer source by the ratchet paWl com

lever arm 52. Also illustrated is the lever arm attached to a

cable or rod 8 attached to the ocean ?oor 100 by a connector
or anchor 101.

bination, the other generator Will be turning.

be supplemented With counterWeights

[0029] One of the signi?cant differences betWeen the

device subject of this application and other devices is that in
the instant device, both the pivoting ?oat and the lever arm

[0024] FIG. 1 shoWs one example of a pivoting ?oat 1 of the

invention. The ?oat has a center opening and open end (U

rotate in orientation to the ocean surface in an unfolding

method. The lever arm has a rotational motion and the ?oat

[0023]

There is also a spring component that returns the

lever arm to a predetermined position. This return motion can

shaped). Also shoWn is the rotating shaft 51 that maybe

connected to one or more generators (not shoWn) installed

Within the body of the pivoting ?oat. The shaft is connected to

a lever arm 52 that is pivotally attached to the ?oat and
attached 53 to a connecting component such as a cable or rod
8 ?xed to the beam 11 . Also illustrated is an electrical cable 10

rotates from the horiZontal position to a vertical position in

orientation to the ocean surface. The ?oat may be submerged
in the vertical position. Prior art may have ?oat and lever arm

combinations but they have a stationary component that does

not rotate. The Salter, U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,967 and Reenberg,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,836, patents have a ?oat that rotates but
either do not have a lever arm or a lever arm that rotates. The

that may convey the electrical poWer created by the generator.

The generator may be located Within the ?oat as illustrated in
FIG. 4. In another embodiment, the generator or other Work

ponent. The unfolding ?oat lever arm combination Where

device, e.g., a pump, is located on the ?oat. In another

lever arm and ?oat both rotate in orientation to the ocean

embodiment, the Work device, e.g., generator, pump, etc.,

may be located on or Within the lever arm.

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates the movement of the pivoting ?oat

from the horiZontal position 1A to the vertical position 1D
(duck doWn) in response to a large Wave. Note the pivoting
relationship betWeen the ?oat 1 and the lever arm 52. The
lever arm and ?oat unfold (1A & 52A) and become vertically
aligned (1D & 52D) due to the action of the Waves. Note the
length of the connective component 8 is illustrated to be
constant and the submerged structure remains in a stable

position.
[0026]

devices depend upon an internal inertia or a stationary com

surface is one of the signi?cant differences of the device

subject of this disclosure.

1. A lever operated pivoting ?oat that transforms the rise
and fall of ocean Waves to different forms of energy compris
ing an attached pivoting ?oat and lever arm combination
Wherein the ?oat that can change orientation to the lever arm
and the lever arm can change orientation to the pivoting ?oat
and the combination can change orientation to the ocean
surface and further comprising the device attached to a sub

merged stable object.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising the pivoting

FIG. 3 illustrates the combined pivoting ?oat 1 and

?oat that can be pivoted to a vertical orientation to the Water

lever arm 52 unfolded due to a high ocean sWell With the

surface.

length of the cable 8 holding the beam 11 being a ?xed length.

In another example (FIG. 5) the cable may be attached to the

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising the pivoting

?oat rotating 90 degrees from a horiZontal orientation to the

ocean ?oor. Also, a rod, chain or similar device may be

substituted for the cable. The lever arm rotates (doWnWard) on

Water to a vertical orientation to the Water.

the shaft approximately 135, thereby aligning the lever arm

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising the lever arm

attached to a connector component attached to the submerged

With the ?oat (noW in a vertical position). FIG. 3 illustrates

this action. It Will be appreciated that the pivoting ?oat is

stable object.

oriented vertically to the Water surface. This is a change in

component comprising a cable.

position from the normal horizontal orientation of the pivot

ing ?oat to the ocean surface. This changed position permits

component comprising a chain.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a connector

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising a connector

all or a portion of the ?oat to be pulled beneath the surface.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising a connector

When the sWell passes, the pivoting ?oat rights itself and the
spring repositions the lever arm. The spring action may be
assisted by counterWeights attached to the lever arm. An
example of these counterWeights is illustrated in FIG. 6. The

component comprising a rod.

8. The device of claim 1 Wherein the submerged stable
object is a beam.
9. The device of claim 1 Wherein the submerged stable
object is a grid.
10. The device of claim 1 Wherein the submerged stable

lever arm can return to its normal position.

[0027] FIG. 4 provides a cross sectional vieW of the pivot

ing ?oat and lever arm assembly as indicated in FIG. 1.
Illustrated is the pivoting ?oat 1 With the lever arm 52 extend

ing doWnWard through the center opening of the ?oat. Illus

object is an ocean ?oor.

11. A device comprising an attached pivoting ?oat and

lever arm combination attached to an ocean ?oor further

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US 2008/0169653 A1

comprising the ?oat and the lever unfolding and changing

orientation to an ocean surface as a result of the device inter
acting With ocean Waves.

12. The device of claim 11 Wherein the pivoting ?oat can

rotate 90 degrees from a horiZontal orientation that is gener
ally parallel to the ocean surface to a vertical orientation that
is generally perpendicular to the ocean surface.

13. A lever operated pivoting ?oat combination that trans

forms the rise and fall of the ocean Waves into different forms

of energy comprising:
a) a lever operated pivoting ?oat combination;
b) a rotating shaft attaching the lever to the ?oat;
c) a connecting component attached at a ?rst end to the
lever and the connecting component second end to a

submerged stable object.

14. The combination of claim 13 Wherein the lever can
unfold in a pivoting motion in relation to the ?oat in reaction
to the upWard motion of the ocean surface and further com
prising the lever rotating from a skyWard direction to an ocean
?oor direction and the ?oat rotates from a horizontal position
to a vertical position in orientation to the ocean surface.

15. A method of creating energy from the rise and fall of the
ocean surface using a combination of a lever pivotally

attached to a pivoting ?oat comprising the steps of:

a) placing a lever operated pivoted ?oat combination in the

ocean;

b) moveably attaching the lever to the ?oat;

c) incorporating a machine component in the ?oat;
d) using the movement of the lever to move components
With the machine; and
e) attaching the lever to a stable submerged structure.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

a) unfolding the lever and pivoting ?oat in reaction to the
upWard motion of the ocean surface:
b) rotating the lever from a skyWard direction to an ocean

?oor direction; and

c) rotating the ?oat from a horiZontal position or substan
tially parallel to the ocean surface to a vertical position
substantially perpendicular to the ocean surface.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of
the pivoting ?oat submerging beloW the ocean surface.
18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the
machine on the pivoting ?oat.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the
machine in the lever.
20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the
machine on the lever.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising attaching a

counterWeight to the lever.
22. A lever operated pivoting ?oat combination that trans
forms the rise and fall of the ocean Waves into different forms

of energy comprising:
a) a lever operated pivoting ?oat combination;
b) a rotating shaft attaching the lever to the ?oat;
c) a connecting component attached at a ?rst end to the
lever and the second end to a submerged stable object;

d) a counterWeight attached to the lever; and

e) a spring.
23. The pivoting ?oat combination of claim 22 further

comprising the spring attached to the rotating shaft.

24. The pivoting ?oat combination of claim 23 further
comprising a generator.
*