Abstract: A mooring line (10) comprising a metal chain (24) and an elastomeric element (28) which is attached between two points of attachment (30, 32) thereby defining a bypass section (34) of metal chain (24). The elastomeric element (28) is arranged such that when an initial tensile load is applied, the elastomeric element (28) stretches from an initial length to a longer length wherein the bypass section (34) is not taut and thus the initial tensile load is transmitted from and to further sections (24) of the metal chain through the elastomeric element (28). When a further tensile load is applied, the elastomeric element (28) stretches to a length wherein the bypass section (34) becomes taut, and thus the further tensile load is transmitted directly from and to the further sections (24) of the metal chain through the bypass section (34).

Abstract: A mooring component comprises a plurality of different deformable elements formed of an elastomeric material. The component has a tensile length L and at least one of the elements has a length L?<L. As the mooring component comprises a plurality of different elastomeric elements, each having its own unique elastic (i.e. reversible) stress-strain response, the overall response of the component is a composite elastic response resulting from a combination of the responses of each of the plurality of elastomeric elements. The mooring component can form part of a mooring system for floating devices and sea-based structures such as renewable energy devices, including wave energy conversion devices, tidal turbines and tidal platforms, fish farms, oil rigs and off-shore wind farms, especially in low scope or high variability environments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a damper for damping the reactionary motion of a wave energy conversion device to wave motion, comprising a damping energy absorber (7) having a reversible non-linear stress-strain response, arranged to damp the reactionary motion of the WEC. According to a first aspect, there is provided a damping structure (2) for a wave energy conversion device (1). The structure comprises a fixed member (6), and a damping member (7) having a reversible non-linear stress-strain response. The present invention also relates to a mooring component (2) for a mooring system (1) and to a method for manufacturing a mooring component (2). The component comprises a deformable element (6) having a reversible non-linear stress-strain response, wherein the response is a composite reversible non-linear stress-strain response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a braking system (1). The system comprises an annulus gear (3) having a fluid contained therein and at least one planet gear (4), arranged within the annulus gear and rotatably engaged therewith. The system further comprises means (10) for controlling the flow of fluid within the system to control relative rotational motion between the planet gear and the annulus gear.

Abstract: A mooring component for use in mooring system comprises a plurality of deformable elements having a reversible non-linear stress-strain response. The deformable elements are formed from elastomeric materials and have different lengths and/or cross-sectional areas and/or are formed from different materials. The overall response of the component is a composite reversible non-linear stress-strain response that is a combination of the responses of each of the plurality of elements. The stress-strain response of the component may be tailored to the expected environmental loading for the location at which the mooring system is to be used.

Abstract: Wave energy conversion device (WEC) comprising a means for damping the reactionary motion of a wave energy conversion device to wave motion, which is a cylindrical bellowed elastomeric member that acts under axial compression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a damper for damping the reactionary motion of a wave energy conversion device to wave motion, comprising a damping energy absorber (7) having a reversible non-linear stress-strain response, arranged to damp the reactionary motion of the WEC. According to a first aspect, there is provided a damping structure (2) for a wave energy conversion device (1). The structure comprises a fixed member (6), and a damping member (7) having a reversible non-linear stress-strain response. The present invention also relates to a mooring component (2) for a mooring system (1) and to a method for manufacturing a mooring component (2). The component comprises a deformable element (6) having a reversible non-linear stress-strain response, wherein the response is a composite reversible non-linear stress-strain response.