US 9115686 B2 / Aug 25, 2015

Wave energy converter with rotary hydraulic spring

The generally up and down movement of a reaction mass is converted into rotary motion which is used to drive a rotary hydraulic spring comprised of a rotary hydraulic pump motor and an accumulator to produce a "spring" function. The invention is particularly applicable to wave energy converters (WECs) having a reaction mass which needs to be coupled to a spring to ensure its oscillation and to cause it to be centered about its center of travel. The linear up-down motion of a reaction mass may be converted via a linear-to-rotary translator to rotary motion to drive a rotary hydraulic pump/motor so as to provide spring action to the reaction mass and ensure its oscillation and proper positioning.