Patents by Inventor William Annal
William Annal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11905919Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Orbital Marine Power LimitedInventors: Jonathan Meason, Calum Miller, William Annal, Andrew Harrison, Axel Bondoux, Ross McKay Henderson, Carn Nathaniel George Gibson, Charles Andrew Edward Taylor, Jonathan Ian Benzie
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Publication number: 20240011459Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel. The turbine assembly comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The support structure comprises an open structure defining at least one void configured to provide a passage for water to flow through. The support structure is pivotally coupled at its inboard end to the buoyancy vessel at at least two vertically spaced connection locations and at its outboard end to the nacelle. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle is projects above the water surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2021Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: William ANNAL, Jonathan MEASON
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Publication number: 20230110436Abstract: Disclosed is a mooring system (1) for mooring a floating vessel. The mooring system includes a connector structure (10) for attachment to a mooring line and an anchor structure (20) to be anchored to a sea bed. The connector structure comprises an engagement portion (14) and an attachment portion (12). The anchor structure comprises an open guide channel (22) extending from an entrance region (24) to a terminal region (26); and sized to accommodate at least the engagement portion of the connector structure. A longitudinal opening to the guide channel provides access for a mooring line connected to the attachment portion, while the connector and anchor structures are connected and disconnected. Connection and disconnection can be controlled from the water surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2021Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Calum MILLER, David CLOUSTON, Thomas HUGON, William ANNAL
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Publication number: 20230002011Abstract: Disclosed is a connector apparatus for connecting a mooring line to a floating vessel, in which connector assemblies are cooperatively engaged and rotationally constrained. A pre-tensioning arrangement may be provided to apply a pre-tensioning force between the connector assemblies, and pivotable connection may be provided by way of pins which rotationally constrain the assemblies to one another. Methods of connecting and pre-tensioning connector assemblies are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Jonathan MEASON, Calum MILLER, William ANNAL
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Patent number: 11187202Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Orbital Marine Power LimitedInventors: Jonathan Meason, Calum Miller, William Annal, Andrew Harrison, Axel Bondoux, Ross McKay Henderson, Carn Nathaniel George Gibson, Charles Andrew Edward Taylor, Jonathan Ian Benzie
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Publication number: 20210340945Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: Orbital Marine Power LimitedInventors: Jonathan Meason, Calum Miller, William Annal, Andrew Harrison, Axel Bondoux, Ross McKay Henderson, Carn Nathaniel George Gibson, Charles Andrew Edward Taylor, Jonathan Ian Benzie
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Publication number: 20200088157Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2017Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: Orbital Marine Power LimitedInventors: Jonathan Meason, Calum Millar, William Annal, Andrew Harrison, Axel Bondoux, Ross McKay Henderson, Carn Nathaniel George Gibson, Charles Andrew Edward Taylor, Jonathan Ian Benzie
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Publication number: 20110131970Abstract: A power generating apparatus (10) comprising a first arrangement (14) comprising a first buoyancy vessel configured to float at a surface of a body of water, the first arrangement comprising at least one energy conversion apparatus operable to be driven by the environment. The power generating apparatus (10) also comprises a second arrangement (16) permanently moored to the bed of the body of water, the second arrangement comprising: a second buoyancy vessel configured to be neutrally buoyant at a location in the body of water spaced apart from the bed of the body of water; and an electrical cable (18). The first and second arrangements (14, 16) are configured for releasable attachment to each other and such that electricity is conveyed through the electrical cable (18) in dependence upon operation of the energy conversion apparatus when the first and second arrangements are attached to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Barry Johnston, Mark Hamilton, William Annal, Robert Spence