Wave-powered buoy motion attitude maintenance mechanism

Abstract

This invention discloses a motion attitude maintenance mechanism for a wave energy power generation float, belonging to the field of wave energy power generation technology. The motion attitude maintenance mechanism includes: a support platform, a rocker arm, a first guide rail, a second guide rail, and a guide brace; the upper end of the rocker arm is hinged to the support platform, and the lower end is hinged to the float. The first guide rail is horizontally positioned on the float, and the second guide rail is horizontally positioned above the first guide rail and statically connected to the support platform. The upper end of the guide brace is dynamically connected to the second guide rail and moves horizontally along the second guide rail, while the lower end of the guide brace is dynamically connected to the first guide rail and moves horizontally along the first guide rail. The upper part of the rocker arm, the lower part of the rocker arm, the first guide rail, the lower part of the guide brace, the upper part of the guide brace, and the second guide rail form a planar six-bar linkage. This planar six-bar linkage can only achieve one motion attitude; ensuring that the second guide rail of the support platform remains horizontal guarantees that the wave energy power generation float always maintains a horizontal motion attitude.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a motion attitude maintenance mechanism for a wave energy power generation float, belonging to the field of wave energy power generation technology. Background Technology

[0002] As human society becomes increasingly industrialized, the importance of energy in industrial development and social life is becoming more and more prominent. Currently, fossil fuels remain the primary energy source for human activities, and their massive consumption has led to environmental pollution and energy supply shortages. Therefore, wave energy, with its abundant reserves and green, renewable nature, is gradually gaining attention.

[0003] Wave energy generation devices are mainly classified into three types based on their technical principles: oscillating water column type, wave-surfing type, and oscillating body type. Among them, the oscillating body type device has been the focus of development due to its advantages of flexible layout and high efficiency. In recent years, the oscillating body type wave energy generation device, composed of a rocker arm and a wave energy generation float, has gained favor due to its simple energy transfer mechanism.

[0004] Currently, the connection methods between the wave energy generating float and the rocker arm in rocker-arm wave energy generation devices can be divided into simple hinged connection and fixed connection. If a simple hinged connection is used, the wave energy generating float may undergo large-angle relative rotation with the rocker arm under wave action. This large-angle relative rotation consumes wave energy, thus affecting the energy generation of the wave energy generation device. Furthermore, in large waves, the wave energy generating float may not be able to return to its initial design position, changing the shape of the submerged part, thereby affecting the hydrodynamic performance of the wave energy generating float and thus the energy generation of the wave energy generation device. If a fixed connection is used, on the one hand, there is a natural rotational tendency between the wave energy generating float and the rocker arm, generating significant stress at the connection point. In large waves, this may cause damage to the connection point. On the other hand, as the wave energy generating float rotates with the rocker arm, the cross-sectional shape of the float relative to the still water surface is constantly changing. This may cause the actual waterline shape of the wave energy generating float during movement to deviate from the target shape, also affecting the hydrodynamic performance of the float and thus the energy generation of the wave energy generation device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art and provide a motion attitude maintenance mechanism for a wave energy generating float. This mechanism enables the wave energy generating float to self-adjust and maintain its motion attitude during the energy acquisition process, avoiding adverse deflections that would result in energy loss, thereby improving the energy conversion efficiency of the wave energy generating device.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] The motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the wave energy generating float includes: a support platform, a rocker arm, a first guide rail, a second guide rail, and a guide brace;

[0008] The rocker arm is hinged at its upper end to the support platform and at its lower end to the float;

[0009] The first guide rail is horizontally positioned on the float;

[0010] The second guide rail is horizontally positioned above the first guide rail and is statically connected to the support platform;

[0011] The guide brace has its upper end movably connected to the second guide rail and moves horizontally along the second guide rail, and its lower end movably connected to the first guide rail and moves horizontally along the first guide rail. The guide brace is hinged to the rocker arm, with the hinge position between the hinge position and the upper end of the rocker arm forming the upper part of the rocker arm, the hinge position between the hinge position and the lower end of the rocker arm forming the lower part of the rocker arm, the hinge position between the hinge position and the upper end of the guide brace forming the upper part of the guide brace, and the hinge position between the hinge position and the lower end of the guide brace forming the lower part of the guide brace. The ratio of the length of the upper part of the rocker arm to the length of the lower part of the rocker arm is equal to the ratio of the length of the upper part of the guide brace to the length of the lower part of the guide brace.

[0012] One end of the second guide rail is connected to the support platform via an electromagnetic device.

[0013] The lower end of the rocker arm is hinged to the center of the upper surface of the float.

[0014] The hinge position between the upper end of the rocker arm and the support platform is located directly below one end of the second guide rail.

[0015] The motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the wave energy generating float may further include a first guide slider and a second guide slider; the lower end of the guide brace is hinged to the first guide slider, and the first guide slider slides along the first guide rail; the upper end of the guide brace is hinged to the second guide slider, and the second guide slider slides along the second guide rail.

[0016] The motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the wave energy generating float may also include a hinge shaft; the guide brace and the rocker arm are hinged through the hinge shaft.

[0017] The upper part of the rocker arm, the lower part of the rocker arm, the first guide rail, the lower part of the guide brace, the upper part of the guide brace, and the second guide rail form a planar six-bar linkage. The planar six-bar linkage formed by the upper part of the rocker arm, the lower part of the rocker arm, the first guide rail, the lower part of the guide brace, the upper part of the guide brace, and the second guide rail can be abstracted into a simplified planar diagram, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the working principle of this planar six-bar linkage is explained as follows.

[0018] AB rod is the second guide rail supporting the platform, AC rod is the rocker arm, BD rod is the guide brace, CD rod is the first guide rail on the wave energy generator float, slider B and slider D are guide sliders hinged at both ends of the guide brace, and point O is the hinge position between the rocker arm and the guide brace.

[0019] From the perspective of planar motion mechanics, the number of degrees of freedom of this six-bar linkage can be calculated using formula (1):

[0020] F =3 n -2 P L - P H (1)

[0021] In the formula, F Indicates the number of degrees of freedom. n Indicates the number of active components. P L Indicates the number of lower sub-subs. P H The term "higher pairs" indicates the number of higher pairs. In the planar six-bar linkage of this invention, the number of moving components is 5, and the lower pairs include 5 revolute joints and 2 sliding joints. This planar six-bar linkage does not contain higher pairs, therefore the number of degrees of freedom of this planar six-bar linkage is 1, that is, this planar six-bar linkage can only have 1 motion posture, which means that the positions of all other components can be determined based on the position of any one of the components.

[0022] From a mathematical perspective, ∠AOB and ∠COD are vertical angles and are always equal; during the mechanism's motion, the length ratio of the links... Furthermore, since the triangles remain fixed, according to the criteria for similar triangles, ΔAOB and ΔCOD are similar triangles. Based on the properties of similar triangles, ∠BAO = ∠DCO, thus determining that rod CD is parallel to rod AB. Therefore, during normal operation, ensuring the horizontal extension guide rail (second guide rail) of the support platform remains horizontal is sufficient to guarantee that the wave energy generator float always maintains a horizontal attitude.

[0023] In summary, this planar six-bar linkage enables the wave energy generator float to maintain its motion attitude, preventing large-angle rotation between the float and the rocker arm, thus solving the energy consumption problem caused by the float's continuous rotation around the rocker arm in simple hinged connections. Simultaneously, the hinged connection between the wave energy generator float and the rocker arm conforms to the natural rotational tendency between them, avoiding stress problems associated with fixed connections. Because this planar six-bar linkage ensures the wave energy generator float maintains a horizontal attitude throughout its movement, it guarantees the stability of the cross-sectional shape of the float relative to the waterline, thereby maintaining the hydrodynamic performance of the wave energy generator float at its design values.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0025] (1) Compared with the simple hinged connection between the wave energy power generation float and the rocker arm, the float motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the present invention can avoid the uncertain rotation of the float relative to the rocker arm, eliminate the rotation energy consumption caused by such uncertain rotation, and improve the energy capture efficiency of the wave energy power generation device.

[0026] (2) Compared with the simple hinged connection between the wave energy power generation float and the rocker arm, the float motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the present invention makes the float always keep in a horizontal attitude and the underwater submerged shape is stable, thereby making the wave energy power generation float have stable hydrodynamic performance.

[0027] (3) Compared with the fixed connection between the wave energy power generation float and the rocker arm, the float motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the present invention retains the hinge between the float and the rocker arm, conforms to the natural rotation trend between the float and the rocker arm, avoids the connection stress generated at the connection point, and improves the safety of the device.

[0028] (4) Compared with the fixed connection between the wave energy power generation float and the rocker arm, the float motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the present invention keeps the float in a horizontal position at all times, and the cross-sectional shape of the waterline is stable, which improves the hydrodynamic performance of the wave energy power generation float.

[0029] (5) The wave energy power generation float motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the present invention is provided with a second guide rail that can be disconnected and fixedly connected, which takes into account the risk avoidance requirements of the wave energy power generation device under extreme working conditions.

[0030] (6) The wave energy generating float motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the present invention has a simple structure. No additional energy consumption is required during the entire wave energy generating float motion attitude maintenance process. The motion attitude maintenance function of the wave energy generating float can be realized by relying solely on the characteristics of the structure itself.

[0031] (7) The wave energy power generation float motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the present invention adds a guide brace to maintain the motion attitude of the float, which indirectly improves the connection strength between the float and the support platform and enhances the ability of the wave energy power generation device to resist wave damage. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a simplified plan view of the motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the wave energy generating float provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the wave energy generating float provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is another schematic diagram of the motion attitude maintenance mechanism of the wave energy generating float provided in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Among them, 1. support platform, 2. energy conversion mechanism, 3. second guide rail, 4. second guide slider, 5. rocker arm, 6. wave energy generating float, 7. guide brace, 8. first guide slider, 9. first guide rail, 10. hinge shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0037] The structures, proportions, and sizes illustrated in the accompanying drawings are merely for illustrative purposes and to aid those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of the invention and therefore have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to size, provided they do not affect the effectiveness or purpose of the invention, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed herein. Furthermore, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "middle," and "one" used in this specification are merely for clarity and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of the invention's implementation.

[0038] A motion attitude maintenance mechanism for a wave energy generating float 6 includes: a support platform 1, a rocker arm 5, a first guide rail 9, a second guide rail 3, and a guide brace 7.

[0039] The support platform 1 can be a fixed platform or a floating platform. The upper end of the rocker arm 5 is hinged to the support platform 1, and the lower end of the rocker arm 5 is hinged to the wave energy generating float 6. The rocker arm 5 can be a straight arm as shown in the figure, specifically a slender rectangular rod, with a through hole in the middle. The upper end of the rocker arm 5 can be hinged to the side of the support platform 1. The lower end of the rocker arm 5 can be hinged to the center of the upper surface of the wave energy generating float 6. The wave energy generating float 6 floats on the water surface. Under wave excitation, the wave energy generating float 6 undergoes heaving and swaying motions, which in turn drives the rocker arm 5 to rotate about the hinge point at the upper end of the rocker arm 5. Without other connecting mechanisms, the wave energy generating float 6 will not only rotate around the support platform 1 with the rocker arm 5, but will also undergo uncertain rotation relative to the rocker arm 5. To suppress this uncertain rotation, a guide brace 7, a first guide rail 9, and a second guide rail 3 are introduced. The upper part of the rocker arm 5, the lower part of the rocker arm 5, the first guide rail 9, the lower part of the guide brace 7, the upper part of the guide brace 7, and the second guide rail 3 form a planar six-bar linkage.

[0040] The first guide rail 9 is horizontally positioned above the wave energy generating float 6, and the second guide rail 3 is horizontally positioned above the first guide rail 9 and statically connected to the support platform 1. The upper end of the guide brace 7 is movably connected to the second guide rail 3 and moves horizontally along the second guide rail 3, while the lower end of the guide brace 7 is movably connected to the first guide rail 9 and moves horizontally along the first guide rail 9. The guide brace 7 is hinged at a certain point in the middle of the rocker arm 5, and the distances between the rocker arm 5 and the guide brace 7 on both sides of the hinge position are proportional. The distance between the hinge position and the upper end of the rocker arm 5 is the upper part of the rocker arm 5, the distance between the hinge position and the lower end of the rocker arm 5 is the lower part of the rocker arm 5, the distance between the hinge position and the upper end of the guide brace 7 is the upper part of the guide brace 7, and the distance between the hinge position and the lower end of the guide brace 7 is the lower part of the guide brace 7. The ratio of the length of the upper part of the rocker arm 5 to the length of the lower part of the rocker arm 5 is equal to the ratio of the length of the upper part of the guide brace 7 to the length of the lower part of the guide brace 7.

[0041] The dynamic connection between the lower end of the guide brace 7 and the first guide rail 9 can be a sliding connection that allows the lower end of the guide brace 7 to slide along the first guide rail 9. This sliding connection between the lower end of the guide brace 7 and the first guide rail 9 can be achieved through the first guide slider 8. Specifically, the lower end of the guide brace 7 is hinged to the first guide slider 8, and the first guide slider 8 slides along the first guide rail 9. The dynamic connection between the upper end of the guide brace 7 and the second guide rail 3 can be a sliding connection that allows the upper end of the guide brace 7 to slide along the first guide rail 9. This sliding connection between the upper end of the guide brace 7 and the second guide rail 3 can be achieved through the second guide slider 4. Specifically, the upper end of the guide brace 7 is hinged to the second guide slider 4, and the second guide slider 4 slides along the second guide rail 3.

[0042] The first guide rail 9 is a straight rail, and its length can be equal to the radius of the upper surface of the wave energy generating float 6. One end of the first guide rail 9 is located at the center of the upper surface of the wave energy generating float 6, and the other end is located at the edge of the upper surface of the wave energy generating float 6. The second guide rail 3 is a straight rail, one end of which is connected to the side of the support platform 1, and can be located directly above the connection point between the rocker arm 5 and the side of the support platform 1. The second guide rail 3 and the first guide rail 9 are located in the same vertical plane and are parallel to each other.

[0043] The guide brace 7 can be a straight rod as shown in the figure, specifically a slender rectangular rod that passes through a through hole in the rocker arm 5 and is hinged to the rocker arm 5 at the through hole. Specifically, the guide brace 7 and the rocker arm 5 can be hinged via a hinge shaft 10. The length of the guide brace 7 can be less than the length of the rocker arm 5. The hinge position between the guide brace 7 and the rocker arm 5 can be located at the middle of both the guide brace 7 and the rocker arm 5.

[0044] Under normal operating conditions, since the second guide rail 3 is fixed in a horizontal state, when the wave energy generating float 6 moves upward under wave excitation, the rocker arm 5 rotates clockwise around the support platform 1, the guide brace 7 rotates clockwise around the hinge position, the upper end of the guide brace 7 slides to the right, and the lower end of the guide brace 7 slides to the left, so that the wave energy generating float 6 maintains a horizontal attitude; when the wave energy generating float 6 moves downward with the waves, the rocker arm 5 rotates counterclockwise around the support platform 1, the guide brace 7 rotates counterclockwise around the hinge position, the upper end of the guide brace 7 slides to the left, and the lower end of the guide brace 7 slides to the right, so that the wave energy generating float 6 maintains a horizontal attitude.

[0045] To ensure that the wave energy generating float 6 can be raised to avoid danger in the event of extreme wave conditions, the second guide rail 3 is designed to rotate around the platform under extreme conditions and be fixedly connected to the platform under normal operating conditions. Under normal operating conditions, the second guide rail 3 is fixedly connected to the support platform 1, but in the event of extreme wave conditions, the fixed connection with the support platform 1 can be released by an electromagnetic device, thereby raising the wave energy generating float 6 out of the water to avoid danger.

[0046] The energy conversion mechanism 2 of the wave energy device is fixed on the support platform 1 and connected to the end of the rocker arm 5. The movement of the wave energy generating float 6 caused by wave excitation is eventually converted into the rotation of the rocker arm 5. The energy conversion mechanism 2 collects the mechanical energy contained in the rotation of the rocker arm 5 and converts it into electrical energy.

[0047] Example 1

[0048] A motion attitude maintenance mechanism for a wave-powered buoy 6, such as Figure 2 As shown in Figure 3, it includes a support platform 1, an energy conversion mechanism 2, a second guide rail 3, a second guide slider 4, a rocker arm 5, a wave energy generating float 6, a guide brace 7, a first guide slider 8, a first guide rail 9, and a hinge shaft 10.

[0049] The support platform 1 can be a fixed platform or a floating platform. The energy conversion mechanism 2 of the wave energy device is fixed to the support platform 1 and connected to the end of the rocker arm 5. It can collect and convert the mechanical energy contained in the rotation of the rocker arm 5 into electrical energy. The wave energy generating float 6 floats on the water surface and can move under wave excitation. The wave energy generating float 6 is hinged to the head end of the rocker arm 5, and the end of the rocker arm 5 is hinged to the support platform 1. Therefore, the motion of the wave energy float caused by wave excitation will eventually be converted into the rotation of the rocker arm 5. The guide brace 7 is hinged to a certain point in the middle of the rocker arm 5 through the hinge shaft 10, and the distances between the rocker arm 5 and the guide brace 7 on both sides of the hinge shaft 10 are proportional. A guide slider is hinged to each end of the guide brace 7. The upper guide slider (second guide slider 4) can slide on the horizontal extension guide rail (second guide rail 3), and the lower guide slider (first guide slider 8) can slide on the float guide rail (first guide rail 9). The float guide rail is fixedly connected to the wave energy generating float 6. Under normal working conditions, the horizontal extension guide rail is fixedly connected to the support platform 1. In the event of extreme wave conditions, the fixed connection with the support platform 1 can be released by an electromagnetic device, thereby raising the wave energy generating float 6 away from the water surface to avoid danger. Under normal operating conditions, since the horizontal extension guide rail is fixed in a horizontal state, when the wave energy generating float 6 moves upward under the excitation of the waves, the rocker arm 5 rotates clockwise around the support platform 1, the guide brace 7 rotates clockwise around the hinge axis 10, the upper guide slider slides to the right, and the lower guide slider slides to the left, so that the wave energy generating float 6 maintains a horizontal attitude; when the wave energy generating float 6 moves downward with the waves, the rocker arm 5 rotates counterclockwise around the support platform 1, the guide brace 7 rotates counterclockwise around the hinge axis 10, the upper guide slider slides to the left, and the lower guide slider slides to the right, so that the wave energy generating float 6 maintains a horizontal attitude.

[0050] While the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative effort based on the technical solutions of the present invention are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A motion attitude maintenance mechanism for a wave-powered buoy, characterized in that, include: Support platform The rocker arm is hinged at its upper end to the support platform and at its lower end to the wave energy generation float. The first guide rail is a straight rail, the length of which is equal to the radius of the upper surface of the wave energy generating float. It is set horizontally on the wave energy generating float, with one end of the first guide rail located at the center of the upper surface of the wave energy generating float and the other end of the first guide rail located at the edge of the upper surface of the wave energy generating float. The second guide rail is horizontally positioned above the first guide rail and is statically connected to the support platform; A guide brace has its upper end movably connected to the second guide rail and moves horizontally along the second guide rail, and its lower end movably connected to the first guide rail and moves horizontally along the first guide rail. The guide brace is hinged to the rocker arm, with the hinge position between the hinge position and the upper end of the rocker arm forming the upper part of the rocker arm, the hinge position between the hinge position and the lower end of the rocker arm forming the lower part of the rocker arm, the hinge position between the hinge position and the upper end of the guide brace forming the upper part of the guide brace, and the hinge position between the hinge position and the lower end of the guide brace forming the lower part of the guide brace. The ratio of the length of the upper part of the rocker arm to the length of the lower part of the rocker arm is equal to the ratio of the length of the upper part of the guide brace to the length of the lower part of the guide brace. The upper part of the rocker arm, the lower part of the rocker arm, the first guide rail, the lower part of the guide brace, the upper part of the guide brace, and the second guide rail form a planar six-bar linkage. It also includes a first guide slider and a second guide slider; the lower end of the guide brace is hinged to the first guide slider, and the first guide slider slides along the first guide rail; the upper end of the guide brace is hinged to the second guide slider, and the second guide slider slides along the second guide rail; Under normal operating conditions, since the second guide rail is fixed in a horizontal position, when the wave energy generating float moves upward under wave excitation, the rocker arm rotates clockwise around the support platform, the guide brace rotates clockwise around the hinge position, the upper end of the guide brace slides to the right, and the lower end of the guide brace slides to the left, so that the wave energy generating float maintains a horizontal attitude; when the wave energy generating float moves downward with the waves, the rocker arm rotates counterclockwise around the support platform, the guide brace rotates counterclockwise around the hinge position, the upper end of the guide brace slides to the left, and the lower end of the guide brace slides to the right, so that the wave energy generating float maintains a horizontal attitude.

2. The motion attitude maintenance mechanism for the wave energy generating float according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the second guide rail is connected to the support platform via an electromagnetic device.

3. The motion attitude maintenance mechanism for the wave energy generating float according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a hinge shaft; the guide brace and the rocker arm are hinged together via the hinge shaft.

4. The motion attitude maintenance mechanism for the wave energy generating float according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end of the rocker arm is hinged to the center of the upper surface of the float.

5. The motion attitude maintenance mechanism for the wave energy generating float according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge position between the upper end of the rocker arm and the support platform is located directly below one end of the second guide rail.

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