Method for mooring floating structures and wave power generation apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides a mooring method that allows for easy installation of floating structures regardless of whether they are in shallow waters or offshore, requires a small area of ​​sea, and utilizes this mooring method to provide an offshore wave power generation device that is highly efficient, does not flood even when subjected to tsunamis or high waves, and takes into consideration the impact on the ecosystem. [Solution] A cable connecting a weight on the seabed to a floating body, and a weight and cable for pulling the cable taut, are installed on the floating body. These cables are wound onto drums, and the two drums are connected by a mechanism so that the weight on the seabed and the weight on the floating body pull on each other. Furthermore, by incorporating differential gears, a ratchet mechanism, and a torque limiter into the mechanism connecting the drums, the floating structure is designed to prevent flooding even if the sea level rises or falls more than expected. A wave power generation device is also installed, which generates electricity from the rotation of the drums connected to the cable as the floating body rises due to buoyancy and pulls against the weight on the seabed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mooring method for a floating structure and a wave power generation device, and particularly to an offshore wave power generation device that generates electricity from the vertical movement of waves and the horizontal sway caused by ocean currents.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional mooring method for a floating structure, various mooring methods are known in the mooring method for offshore wind power generation. There is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a mooring method for offshore wind power generation. However, since this mooring method is moored by pulling with cables attached with weights separated in at least three directions, there is a problem that the required sea area including the weights and the entire cables is large, which has a great impact on fisheries and other ships.

[0003] There is a mooring method for offshore wind power generation that moors a floating body with a tensioned cable as disclosed in Patent Document 2, which solves the above problem. However, this method has a problem that the installation cost is high because the installation difficulty is high.

[0004] There is something disclosed in Patent Document 3 that is similar to the mooring method of the floating structure of the present invention. However, the counterweight in this document is affected by the flow of the ocean current because the weight is in the water, and it is easily carried away by the ocean current, resulting in a large required sea area. Also, a heavier weight must be prepared considering buoyancy in water than in the air. In addition, a structure with two or more cables parallel in the sea is likely to entangle the cables with each other. Also, since the weight moves up and down in the water, there is a problem of affecting the ecosystem of marine organisms.

[0005] Also, there is something disclosed in Patent Document 4 as a conventional wave power generation device. However, this wave power generation device can only be installed at a location adjacent to the land, and there are problems such as the cost of foundation work and the cost of land. Also, to arrange it offshore, it is necessary to build a foundation offshore, resulting in an even higher installation cost. Also, once installed, it cannot be moved or rearranged.

[0006] A type of offshore wave power generation device already exists, as disclosed in Patent Document 5. This wave power generation device works by having a pile fixed to the seabed and a floating body constrained to the pile move up and down, causing a rack mechanism and pinion gear on the pile and floating body to rotate a generator. However, this installation method has the problem that, although it is an offshore type, it can only be installed in shallow waters, and installing it in deep offshore areas would require the manufacture of a long pile.

[0007] Furthermore, as shown in Patent Document 6, some designs use a floating body connected to the seabed by a cable as their main structure. However, when the water level drops due to tides or other factors and the cable bends, the floating body is easily swept away, which increases the required sea area. In addition, it cannot cope with sea level fluctuations exceeding expectations, such as tsunamis or high waves, and will be flooded.

[0008] Furthermore, devices like the one described in Patent Document 7, which are submerged in the sea, require waterproofing and pressure resistance treatment for water, which increases the manufacturing cost of the device and makes maintenance difficult.

[0009] Furthermore, all of the aforementioned wave power generation devices are designed to generate electricity only from the vertical motion of waves and cannot generate electricity from horizontal oscillations caused by ocean currents or other factors.

[0010] Furthermore, Patent Document 8 discloses an offshore wave power generation device that uses a cable similar to the wave power generation device of the present invention. In this wave power generation device, the weight is submerged in water, so when the weight moves up and down, it receives water resistance, which reduces the response and leads to a decrease in power generation efficiency. Also, similar to Patent Document 3, because the weight is submerged in water, it is also affected by the water flow, making it easily carried away by ocean currents, thus expanding the required sea area. In addition, since there are two parallel cables in the sea, there is a problem that the cables are prone to entanglement. Moreover, in a structure where one cable connects the weight on the seabed, the floating body, and the weight at the end of the floating body without pulleys or mechanisms, the up and down movement of a 2m wave results in the weight moving up and down by 2m, so the range of motion of the weight becomes large. Therefore, it has a greater impact on marine life and other ecosystems. Furthermore, since the weight is submerged in the sea, protecting it with something like a tube eliminates the escape route for the water flow, increasing water resistance and slowing down the movement of the weight. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-039474 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-124020 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-265492 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-259063 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-113985 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-156791 [Patent Document 7] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-033346 [Patent Document 8] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-006472 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a method for mooring floating structures that can be easily installed regardless of whether they are in shallow waters or offshore, are less susceptible to being carried away by ocean currents, and require a small area of ​​sea for mooring.

[0013] To provide a method for mooring floating structures that is unaffected by long-term vertical changes in the sea surface, such as tides, and that prevents the floating structure from being submerged even when subjected to tsunamis or high waves, thereby minimizing the impact on marine ecosystems.

[0014] The objective is to provide a wave power generation device that, due to the buoyancy of the floating body achieved by these mooring methods, has low installation costs and difficulty regardless of whether it is in shallow water or offshore, is unaffected by fluctuations in sea level due to tides, is not flooded by tsunamis or high waves, does not require waterproofing or pressure-resistant treatment, has minimal impact on marine ecosystems, is easy to maintain, and has high power generation efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a method for mooring a floating structure, characterized by having a cable connecting the floating structure to a weight on the seabed, another weight placed on the floating structure for the purpose of pulling the cable, and the floating structure being moored by the pulling force between the weight on the seabed and the weight placed on the floating structure.

[0016] This causes the floating body to return to directly above the weight on the seabed, making it less susceptible to drift and allowing for a narrower design area to accommodate the required surface.

[0017] Furthermore, the weights on the floating body are suspended at a higher position using cables and pulleys and installed on the floating body. The cables connecting the weights on the seabed and the weights on the floating body are each wound onto a drum and installed on the floating body. These two drums are linked by a mechanism, causing the weights on the seabed and the weights on the floating body to pull against each other, thereby mooring the floating body.

[0018] This allows for easy installation regardless of shallow waters or offshore areas depending on the winding condition of the cable drum connected to the weight on the seabed, and also enables easy movement and rearrangement to different locations. Moreover, the cable of the weight on the floating body and the cable of the weight on the seabed will not get entangled. Furthermore, since the weight that moves up and down is on the floating body, it is possible to reduce the impact on the marine ecosystem. Also, regarding the generator described later, it is easy to install in the deep offshore areas where the water level is deep, which expands the installable area, and it is less likely to damage the landscape when viewed from the land compared to the case of installation in shallow waters.

[0019] Also, in this drum and the mechanism connecting the drums, a mechanism that restricts the rotation of the gear in one direction such as a differential gear and a ratchet mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a ratchet mechanism) is used. When the wave rises more than it falls, the drum of the cable connected to the weight on the floating body is rotated more, so that each time there is an up and down movement, more of the cable connected to the weight on the floating body is wound up. When the winding of the cable exceeds the operating range, when connected to the differential gear, the torque limiter idles to correct the length of the cable.

[0020] As a result, even when receiving tsunamis or high waves, it will not be inundated, and the devices installed on the floating body do not require waterproofing and pressure resistance treatment due to inundation. Also, when the sea level rises due to the tide, the torque limiter idles, and the cable connected to the weight on the seabed is pulled out from the drum. When the sea level drops due to the tide, the cable connected to the weight on the seabed is wound up by the differential gear and the ratchet mechanism, and the length of the cable is automatically adjusted according to the water level.

[0021] Also, by using two cables, each wound around a drum, and designing to connect these drums by a mechanism, it is possible to change the ratio of the movement range, such as for the up and down movement of the weight on the floating body to be 1m for a 2m rise in the sea level, by the gear ratio, the ratio of the size of the drums, etc. As a result, the operating range of the weight on the floating body can be designed to be shorter than the assumed up and down movement of the sea level. Therefore, the cylinder and rail for restraining the weight can also be designed shorter.

[0022] In addition, since the device is on a floating body at sea, such mechanisms do not require waterproof and pressure-resistant treatments, and complex mechanisms can be easily incorporated. Also, the impact on the device from ecosystems such as barnacles can be reduced.

[0023] Moreover, the wave power generation device of the present invention is characterized by a wave power generation device in which the force pulling against each other by the weight on the seabed and the buoyancy of the floating body by the mooring method according to the present invention uses a cable as power to generate electricity.

[0024] In order to increase the generated power of this wave power generation device, it is possible to increase the generated power by a simple method of increasing the buoyancy of the floating body and the weight of the seabed weight. Also, since the weight on the floating body is in the air rather than in water, the resistance is low and it does not hinder the generated power more than when it is in water. Also, since the weight is in the air, it can be easily covered with a cylinder, and safety and the impact on the ecosystem are considered.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] Due to the above characteristics, it is possible to provide a mooring method that can be easily and cost-effectively installed regardless of the shallows or offshore areas with a floating structure, and is not easily washed away by ocean currents, so the required sea area is narrow.

[0026] Furthermore, it is possible to provide a mooring method that is not affected by the vertical changes in the sea surface caused by tides over a long time by drums and mechanisms, and the floating body does not flood even when affected by tsunamis or high waves.

[0027] Furthermore, due to the buoyancy of the floating body floating by the mooring method, the installation cost and difficulty are low regardless of the shallows or offshore areas, there is no impact of the vertical changes in the sea surface caused by tides, there is no flooding caused by tsunamis or high waves, there is no need for waterproof and pressure-resistant treatments, there is little impact on the marine ecosystem, it is easy to maintain, and a wave power generation device with good power generation efficiency can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram of the whole of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a schematic diagram of the mechanism inside the machine room of the mooring method for floating structures and wave power generation apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the mechanism related to the differential gear. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the cross-section of the floating body and the cylinder on top of the floating body. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing what would happen if the sea level dropped more than expected. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of Example 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] In this method of mooring a floating structure, the floating body (2) is connected by a cable (4) to a weight on the seabed or a foundation (1) fixed to the seabed with a pile or the like (hereinafter referred to as the weight on the seabed), and this cable (4) is wound up by a drum (10) on the floating body. It is preferable that this drum (10) has a cable groove to prevent tangled winding and wear of the cable. A weight (3) is located on the floating body to wind up this drum of cable.

[0030] A weight (3) on the floating body is fitted with a cable (5), and a pulley (22) on the floating body pulls the cable from a high position in the air by gravity. This cable (5) is wound around a drum (11), and connected by a mechanism to a drum (10) of cable from the seabed, causing the weight (1) on the seabed and the weight (3) on the floating body to pull against each other. While a device like a seesaw could be used to pull up the other side by the gravity of one weight, the cable and pulley are considered safer because they are easier to protect with a tube, and the drum is considered to be more compatible with the mechanism. Details of the mechanism will be described later.

[0031] The weights pull against each other, and the weight (3) on the floating body is subjected to a downward force due to gravity, which is then reversed by the pulley (22) to create an upward pulling force. This works to keep the floating body (2) directly above the weight (1) on the seabed. As a result, the floating body (2) is less likely to drift and can be moored.

[0032] A cylinder or rail (7) is installed on the floating body (2) to restrain the weight (3) on its vertical movement, and the weight (3) moves up and down according to this restraint. At this time, it is preferable to have casters (24) or the like to prevent friction between the cylinder (7) and the weight (3). The range of motion of the weight (3) is fixed at the top and bottom of the cylinder (7), and it is preferable to use springs or repulsive magnets (23) to mitigate the impact when the weight (3) hits the top and bottom of the cylinder.

[0033] The seabed weight (1) needs to be heavy enough to hold the floating body in place, and the cable (4) and drum (10) to the seabed weight need to be strong, like those used in large cranes. However, the weight (3) on the floating body only needs to be heavy enough to keep the cable (4) to the weight on the seabed taut. Therefore, the cable (5) used for the weight on the floating body and the drum (11) used to wind it up do not need to be relatively strong.

[0034] It is preferable to attach a light weight (6) to the cable along the seabed. This allows for a gap between the seabed weight (1) and the intermediate weight (6) when the sea level drops more than expected and the cable (4) becomes slack. This prevents the cable (4, 5) from slackening near the drums (10, 11), and prevents the cable (4, 5) from detaching from the drums (10, 11) or becoming tangled. Furthermore, since the weight (3) on the floating body needs to keep the cable (4), including this weight (6), taut, the weight (3) on the floating body must be heavier than this weight (6). (Figure 5, 4)

[0035] The mooring method for this type of floating structure can withstand large vertical movements of the sea surface, such as high waves and tsunamis, and can also be installed in areas with significant sea level fluctuations due to tides. The details of the mechanism are described below.

[0036] This mechanism is equipped with a differential gear (12) (a planetary gear mechanism is also acceptable as rotation can be combined with it), which is the same type of differential gear used, for example, to distribute rotation from the propeller shaft to the left and right tires of a car's rear wheels. In the case of a car, the gears connected to the left and right tires are connected to a large gear (19) and a small gear (18) installed on a drum (10) of a cable that connects to a weight on the seabed. The large gear (19) on the drum is directly connected to the differential gear (12B), and the small gear (18) is connected to a ratchet mechanism (15B) and then to the differential gear (12C) using the large gear. The rotation of the large gear (12C) of this differential gear is also restricted to one direction by a ratchet mechanism (15A). In addition, a torque limiter (14) is connected to this gear (12C) so that the torque limiter (14) slips when a load is applied. The gear (12A) connected to the propeller shaft in a differential gear system is connected to a cable drum (11) that connects to a weight on a floating body.

[0037] As a result, when the floating body (2) floats, both gears (18, 19) connected to the cable drum (10) on the seabed of the differential gear rotate, and the combined rotation of both winds up the cable (11) connected to the weight on the floating body. Conversely, when the floating body (2) sinks, the rotation is transmitted to only one side (12B) by the ratchet mechanism (15A) connected to the differential gear (12C), pulling the cable (4) connected to the weight on the seabed and removing the slack. At this time, the small gear rotates freely due to the ratchet mechanism (15B). As a result, the weight (3) on the floating body is wound up a little more each time it moves up and down.

[0038] When the weight (3) on the floating body attempts to be retracted beyond its operating range, it is stopped by the upper part of the cylinder (7), and at the same time, the cable drum (11) connected to the weight on the floating body of the differential gear locks and stops moving. At this time, a load is applied to the torque limiter (14) of the differential gear, and the rotation of the larger gear (19) on the drum causes it to spin freely in the opposite direction through the differential gear (12), thus smoothly handling the situation. Since this torque limiter (14) operates frequently, it is preferable to use one that does not use friction, such as one that uses magnetism or fluid, to minimize wear and deterioration. The load that the torque limiter (14) can handle should be heavier than the weight (3) on the floating body, and the differential gear should not engage unless the weight is locked. However, if it is too heavy, it will reduce the buoyancy of the floating body when rotating the generator (13) described later, which will hinder power generation, so it needs to be kept at an appropriate level.

[0039] The free rotation of this torque limiter (14) prevents the floating body (2) from being submerged even if the sea level rises more than expected due to high waves or tsunamis, and the cable (4) connected to the weight on the seabed is pulled out from the drum (10) as needed. Therefore, the cable (4) connected to the seabed is normally wound on the drum (10) with an extra length. Conversely, even if the water level drops more than expected and the cable on the seabed becomes slack (Figure 5, 4), it will not remain slack because it will be gradually wound up by the differential gear (12) and ratchet mechanism (15A, 15B).

[0040] The wave power generation device in this form is installed on a floating body (2) that floats by the aforementioned mooring method for floating structures, and is connected by a mechanism such as gears to a drum (10) for winding up the cable connecting the seabed weight and the floating body, and generates electricity by using the power generated when the drum (10) rotates due to the buoyancy when the floating body (2) rises to turn a generator (13).

[0041] At this time, it is preferable to rotate the drum (10) using a ratchet mechanism (15C) or a freewheel to narrow the rotation to the direction of rotation obtained from buoyancy, thereby efficiently obtaining rotational force from the rotation in the direction of buoyancy. Also, since the rotational speed of the drum (10) depends on the velocity of the wave amplitude, it is preferable to convert it to a speed suitable for power generation using a speed increaser or the like.

[0042] Taking advantage of the characteristic of this configuration where the mechanism is assembled on a floating body, it is preferable to incorporate a device that allows the mechanism to be temporarily disengaged using a clutch (25) at various points. Specifically, this would include the connection from the cable drum (11) connected to the weight on the floating body to the differential gear (12A), and the connection from the cable drum (10) connected to the weight on the seabed to the generator (13). This makes maintenance easier, and when installing, the weight (1) can be lowered to the seabed with the clutch disengaged, and then the clutch can be engaged and the system can be operated once the weight has sunk to the seabed.

[0043] The generator (13) or each of its mechanisms is preferably housed in a machine room or case that is water-resistant enough to withstand rain and wind, even if it is not as robust as waterproof and pressure-resistant. The diagrams used here only show the mechanisms for the sake of clarity of explanation and spatial relationships.

[0044] Since this wave power generation device is designed to allow people to stand on it for maintenance, it is preferable to have a safety railing (8) around the floating body to prevent falls. While it is envisioned to be large enough for a person to stand on, it is also preferable that it not be too large, as a floating body that is too wide horizontally would average out the waves and reduce vertical movement. Therefore, to increase the buoyancy of the floating body, it is necessary to increase its volume vertically (20), and in doing so, it is preferable to design it to be heavy by installing a weight (21) at the bottom of the floating body to prevent it from capsizing.

[0045] The feature of this invention, which allows the cable length to be automatically adjusted, makes it possible to make the seabed weight lighter than the buoyancy of the floating body. Without this feature, the seabed weight must be heavier than the buoyancy of the floating body to prevent it from floating and drifting even in unexpectedly high waves. As a result, the floating body will be submerged in unexpectedly high waves. Furthermore, this invention can be installed on ships that normally move, and when anchored at sea, it can be used in place of an anchor by using the mooring method of this invention, allowing for power generation while anchored. (Example 5)

[0046] In this wave power generation device, the seabed weight (1) and cable (4) are one unit, so the floating body rotates in the yaw direction due to wind and ocean currents. Therefore, it is preferable to install a fin (9) on the floating body (2) to suppress this rotation. Furthermore, it is preferable to install this cable on the floating body using a sheave (16) or the like to reduce friction so that it does not rub directly against the floating body. [Examples]

[0047] A wave power generation device incorporating the aforementioned features is installed offshore, and the generated electricity is transmitted via power lines or other means, or stored in energy storage devices such as batteries and recovered periodically. [Examples]

[0048] Due to the limited sea area required for the aforementioned wave power generation devices, multiple devices are installed in a horizontal arrangement. [Examples]

[0049] Install one or more on the same floating structure or on connected floating structures. [Examples]

[0050] The aforementioned wave power generation device or mooring method is used as a mooring method for offshore wind power generation. (Figure 6) [Examples]

[0051] It is used as a mooring method for small boats and generates electricity for use on the ship through wave power generation. Large ships are less likely to rock up and down because the waves are averaged and stabilized, making power generation difficult. [Industrial applicability]

[0052] The mooring method for floating structures described in this invention requires a smaller area of ​​sea compared to existing mooring methods for floating structures, thus less likely to interfere with other industries such as fishing. The present invention provides a device for implementing the mooring method for floating structures. We manufacture and provide a wave power generation device according to the present invention. The present invention provides electricity generated by a wave power generation device. In particular, installing them in combination with offshore wind power generation will provide even more electricity. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Seabed weight 2 Floating bodies 3. Weight on the floating body 4. Cable to the weight on the seabed 5. Cable to the weight on the floating body 6. Intermediate weights for adjusting the bending position of underwater cables. 7. A tube for restraining the weight on the floating body from vertical movement. 8. Fences, handrails 9 fins 10. Drum for cables to weights on the seabed 11. Drum for cables to weights on the floating body 12 Differential gear 12A is like a gear that also serves as a spider gear connected to the propeller shaft in a car. 12B is like the gear connected to the right wheel of a car. 12C Differential gear: A large gear, like the gear connected to the left wheel in a car. 13 Generators 14 Torque Limiter 15. Ratchet mechanism, or mechanism for restricting the movement of a gear to rotation in one direction. A ratchet mechanism that restricts rotation of 15A and 12C to one direction. Ratchet mechanism that restricts rotation in one direction for part 15B and part 18. 15C Ratchet mechanism to restrain rotation to the generator 16. Sheave (a pulley installed to correct the cable path) 17. Gear connecting 12A and 11. A small gear connecting 18 12C and 10 19 A gear connecting 12B and 10 20. Cavities for obtaining buoyancy 21. Weights to lower the center of gravity of the floating body. 22 Fixed pulley for suspending a weight on a floating body 23 Springs 24 Casters 25 Clutch 26 Wind Turbines 100 sea level 101 Undersea 102 Undersea 103 Continues to the floating weight. 104 Continues to the seabed weights

Claims

1. A method for mooring a floating structure, characterized by a cable (4) connecting a floating body (2) to a weight on the seabed or a foundation (1) fixed to the seabed, and a weight (3) installed on the floating body for the purpose of pulling the cable (4) on the floating body, wherein the floating body (2) is kept in a fixed position by the force of gravity pulling the weight on the seabed (1) and the weight (3) installed on the floating body through a device that converts the weight of one into an upward force of the other.

2. A method for mooring a floating structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that a pulley (22) is used in the device that converts the weight of one object into an upward force of the other, a weight (3) installed on the floating body is placed at a high position on the floating body and its vertical movement is restrained by a cylinder (7), thereby pulling together the weight (1) on the seabed and the weight (3) on the floating body with a cable, and these devices are installed on the floating structure as described in claim 1.

3. A method for mooring a floating structure as described in claim 2, characterized in that a cable (4) to a weight on the seabed is attached to a cable winding device such as a drum (10) and installed on the floating body (2), a weight (3) on the floating body is attached to the floating body with another cable (5) and another drum (11), and these two drums (10, 11) are linked together by a power transmission mechanism such as gears to pull the weight on the seabed (1) and the weight (3) on the floating body together, and these devices are installed on the floating structure as described in claim 2.

4. The mooring method for a floating structure described in claim 3 is characterized by installing a differential gear (12) and a ratchet mechanism (15) in the mechanism for linking the two drums (10, 11), and these mechanisms aim to rotate the gear (17) connected to the weight on the floating body more often when the floating body rises on waves than when it descends, so that the cable (5) connected to the weight on the floating body is wound onto the drum (11) each time the floating body moves up and down. The mooring method for a floating structure is characterized by installing these mechanisms in the floating structure described in claim 3.

5. The mooring method for a floating structure described in claim 4 is characterized by installing a torque limiter (14) on the differential gear (12), and this mechanism is intended to automatically adjust the length of the cable (4) to the weight on the seabed by causing the torque limiter (14) to slip when the weight (3) on the floating structure locks at the limit of its operating range, and when the load exceeds the allowable load, it slips. The mooring method for a floating structure is characterized by installing this mechanism on the floating structure described in claim 4.

6. The mooring method for a floating structure according to claim 5, characterized in that the differential gear (12), torque limiter (14), and installation of two drums are retained, the cylinder (7) described in claim 2 is omitted, the specification in claim 1 that the weight be on the floating body is omitted, and the weight be in the water.

7. A method for mooring a floating structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that a seesaw is used in the device that converts the weight of one side into an upward force of the other side, a weight (3) is attached to one side of the seesaw, and a cable (4) to a weight on the seabed is connected to the other side of the seesaw, thereby pulling together the weight (1) on the seabed and the weight (3) on the floating structure. These devices are installed on the floating structure as described in claim 1.

8. The method for mooring a floating structure, as described in claim 7, involves attaching the cable (4) to the seabed weight to a cable winding device such as a drum (10) and installing it on the floating body (2), and then linking the drum (10) and the seesaw described in claim 6 using a power transmission mechanism such as gears to pull together the seabed weight (1) and the weight (3) on the floating body. The method for mooring a floating structure is characterized by installing these devices on the floating structure described in claim 7.

9. The mooring method for a floating structure described in claim 8 is characterized by installing a differential gear (12) and a ratchet mechanism (15) in the mechanism for linking the drum (10) and the seesaw described in claim 6, wherein the mechanism aims to raise the seesaw more when the floating structure rises on waves than when it descends, so that the seesaw's weight is gradually raised higher with each up-and-down movement of the floating structure. The mooring method for a floating structure is characterized by installing these mechanisms in the floating structure described in claim 8.

10. The mooring method for a floating structure described in claim 9 is characterized by installing a torque limiter (14) on the differential gear (12), and this mechanism is intended to automatically adjust the length of the cable (4) to the weight on the seabed by causing the torque limiter (14) to slip when the seesaw described in claim 6 locks at the limit of its operating range, and when the load exceeds the allowable load, it slips. The mooring method for a floating structure is characterized by installing this mechanism on the floating structure described in claim 9.

11. A wave power generation device characterized in that a floating body, which floats by any of the mooring methods for floating structures described in claims 1 to 10, generates power from the force that pulls a cable (4) connected to a weight on the seabed due to the buoyancy of the floating body caused by vertical movement due to waves or horizontal swaying due to ocean currents.

Images