Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7908854 | Method and arrangement for collecting wave energy The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for recovering energy contained by waves. In the arrangement, a plurality of collecting devices (8) is coupled in series. Each collecting device comprises a float (7) coupled by means of a power tran... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7891183 | Wave-based power generation system The wave-based power generation system has a buoy or float retained by a cable that enters an underwater power generating station. The cable enters the station housing through an inverted U-tube having upturned inlet and outlet ports, which prevent water from enteri... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7694513 | Wave power apparatus comprising a plurality of arms arranged to pivot with a mutual phase shift A wave power apparatus includes a plurality of rotationally supported arms, each of which carries a float (124) at its free end, so that a translational movement of the float caused by a wave results in rotation of the arm. The apparatus comprises power conve... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7448210 | Wave powered system for generating energy An apparatus powered by waves to generate hydraulic energy that includes a housing structure, an inlet portion, a central channel, an outlet portion and floater assemblies positioned within the channel. Within the housing structure the different components are insta... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7444811 | Wave power device Wave-power device, with a plurality of floating bodies (12) arranged in at least two parallel rows for vertical movement caused by wave movements. Each floating body is connected to a generator (22) for the generating of electrical energy during the ve... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7372171 | Fire protection The present invention concerns a wind power installation comprising a pylon and a pod arranged at the tip of the pylon. The invention further concerns a method of controlling such a wind power installation. In order to prevent a fire from occurring or at least to be... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7323790 | Wave energy converters (WECs) with linear electric generators (LEGs) An ocean wave energy converter (WEC) utilizes the relative motion between permanent magnet and induction coil assemblies to generate electricity. The permanent magnet assemblies and induction coil assemblies are separately housed in watertight enclosures, enabling a... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7319278 | Ocean wave generation An ocean wave generator includes a buoy for floating on the surface of the ocean. A generator is mounted to the buoy. A pulley is mounted on the generator for turning the generator. An anchor cable has a first end wrapped around the pulley and an anchored second end... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7310944 | Wave energy converters (WECs) with velocity multiplication A WEC system embodying the invention includes a column and shell, arranged to move relative to each other, and a lever-like apparatus having an input end and an output end and an intermediate point, between the two ends, the intermediate point being rotatably connec... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7242106 | Method of operation for a self-protecting wave energy conversion plant A wavefarm (10) comprises a multiplicity of wave energy converters, comprising linear generators (19, 20, 21) and (22) which are driven by floats immersed in the sea, (14). In normal wave conditions, all of the generators supply a land li... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7168532 | Wave energy converter (WEC) with magnetic braking A magnetic braking system for inhibiting excessive motion between a float and a column intended to be placed in a body of water; with the float and column moving relative to each other as a function of the waves present in the body of water. The braking system inclu... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7076949 | System for multiple harnessing and complemented conversion of energy from sea waves System for multiple harnessing and complemented conversion of energy from sea waves. The system includes a structure of vertical guides along which the central floating body moves, a submerged captive-air tank, held up by the floating body, with the body and the tan... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7012340 | Apparatus for converting ocean wave energy into electric power An ocean wave energy conversion apparatus includes a float adapted to ride on the surface of the ocean in reciprocal vertical motion in response to ocean wave front action and a lever adapted to ride on the surface of the ocean. The lever has one end coupled to the ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6956299 | System for generating energy from the waves of the sea Includes at least one floating body (1), and is characterised in that includes a device (2) fitted inside said body (1) for transforming the movement of the floating body (1) into pneumatic or hydraulic energy and means for transmitting t... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6863806 | Barge-mounted tidal-powered desalinization system A tidal-powered desalinization system is mounted on a barge that oscillates about fixed pier structures, generating a two-way pumping action. The two-way pumping action is changed to a single direction flow of seawater. The sea water is directed into an on-board des... | 03/08/2005 |
| 6857266 | Wave energy converter A wave energy conversion apparatus is described. It comprises at least two devices (3, 4), each comprising a surface float (5, 6), at least one of the surface floats being rigidly attached to a submerged body (9, 10). The movement of the two dev... | 02/22/2005 |
| 6644027 | Apparatus for protecting a wave energy converter Apparatus for converting the motion of sea waves to electrical energy comprises at least one vertically oriented linear generator, relatively reciprocating motion of the armature and stator of which is driven by a float immersed in the sea directly below ... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6389810 | Wave energy converter with float A device to convert vertical motion of waves in a body of water into useable work has hollow float (14) centrally mounted on vertical sleeve (16) sliding on fixed vertical shaft (10). Oscillations are converted into rotation via an opposing pair of pinion... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6109029 | Wave energy converter An apparatus and method as seen in FIG. 2 for converting the motion of waves on a body of fluid 52 into useable energy. This apparatus employs a wave follower 20 to track the rising and falling waves. The reciprocating wave follower interacts with a drive... | 08/29/2000 |
| 5710464 | Power drive system for converting natural potential energy into a driving power to drive a power generator A power drive system which includes a water collecting barrel vertically fastened to the oceanic crust under the sea level and having a reduced top end connected to the power input port of a power generator; a plurality of water tubes radially connected t... | 01/20/1998 |
| 4675536 | Apparatus for extracting energy from the waves in a body of liquid The invention describes an energy extractor for extracting energy from waves in the sea. A ring spine is disclosed and on the spine, spaced circumferentially thereof are flexible membranes which flex back and forth under the influence of the waves. The ba... | 06/23/1987 |
| 4603551 | Wave power converter A relatively lightweight `motivator buoy` (15), constrained by guides (93) attached to a ballasted "floating platform" (1) of contrasting and static buoyancy characteristics, reciprocates vertically by wave action, lifting water via a piston (20) and cyli... | 08/05/1986 |
| 4469955 | Float with means for compensating for tide height differences A float having depending fins and a curved surface on which waves impinge. The float provides an additional lift over and beyond its buoyancy. The float is coupled through a swivel to allow it to turn into the direction of waves. The float is additionally... | 09/04/1984 |
| 4434375 | Wave energy converter A power generation system for converting the motion of waves on a body of water such as a lake or sea to drive pumps, electrical generators or the like. A weighted float rides on the waves. A cable and pulley arrangement changes the direction, travel and ... | 02/28/1984 |
| 4379235 | Wave action generator A wave motion motor is disclosed with an impeller moved by a float. The float is coupled to a swivel arrangement to turn in the direction of wave current and has an inclined underside. Also disclosed are means to adjust to tide level and triangular coupli... | 04/05/1983 |
| 4302161 | Wave pump apparatus A wave pump apparatus includes a number of upstanding cylinders connected together by a subframe. Each cylinder mounts a float on the outside of the cylinder connected to a piston within the cylinder. The upstanding cylinders are spaced approximately a di... | 11/24/1981 |
