Patents by Inventor Alain Clement

Alain Clement 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).

  • Patent number: 8614521
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for converting the energy of the swell and of waves into useable energy, particularly electrical energy, comprising a float element (2), an oscillating element (3) mounted such that it can move with respect to the float element, the oscillating element (3) being able to be set in relative motion with respect to the float element (2) under the action of the waves on the float element and means (4) for converting the movement of the oscillating element (3) into useable energy, particularly electrical energy, the device (1) also comprising braking means (5) capable selectively of immobilizing or releasing the oscillating element (3) with respect to the float element, clutch means (7) able selectively to couple or to uncouple the conversion means (4) and the oscillating element (3), and control means (8) for controlling the braking means (5) and the clutch means (7) as the swell evolves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignees: Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Arélien Babarit, Michel Guglielmi, Alain Clement
  • Patent number: 8269365
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for converting wave energy into electric power, comprising a closed floating element (1) and a mass forming element (2), the mass forming element (2) being arranged inside the floating element (1) and mounted mobile relative to the floating element (1), the mass forming element (2) being adapted to be set in relative motion with respect to the floating element (1) under the action of the waves on the floating element (1). The invention is characterized in that it also comprises locking means (13) adapted to lock the movement of the mass forming element (2) and control means adapted to control the locking means (13) for selectively locking or releasing the mass element (2) so as to amplify the movement of the mass forming element (2) by constant adaptation to the dynamics of the apparatus to successive waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Alain Clement, Aurélien Babarit, Gaëlle Duclos
  • Publication number: 20120001432
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for converting wave energy into electric power, comprising a closed floating element (1) and a mass forming element (2), the mass forming element (2) being arranged inside the floating element (1) and mounted mobile relative to the floating element (1), the mass forming element (2) being adapted to be set in relative motion with respect to the floating element (1) under the action of the waves on the floating element (1). The invention is characterized in that it also comprises locking means (13) adapted to lock the movement of the mass forming element (2) and control means adapted to control the locking means (13) for selectively locking or releasing the mass element (2) so as to amplify the movement of the mass forming element (2) by constant adaptation to the dynamics of the apparatus to successive waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: ALAIN CLEMENT, Aurélien Babarit, Gaëlle Duclos
  • Patent number: 7989975
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for converting wave energy into electric power, comprising a closed floating element (1) and a mass forming element (2), the mass forming element (2) being arranged inside the floating element (1) and mounted mobile relative to the floating element (1), the mass forming element (2) being adapted to be set in relative motion with respect to the floating element (1) under the action of the waves on the floating element (1). The invention is characterized in that it also comprises locking means (13) adapted to lock the movement of the mass forming element (2) and control means adapted to control the locking means (13) for selectively locking or releasing the mass element (2) so as to amplify the movement of the mass forming element (2) by constant adaptation to the dynamics of the apparatus to successive waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Alain Clement, Aurélien Babarit, Gaëlle Duclos
  • Publication number: 20110089690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for converting the energy of the swell and of waves into useable energy, particularly electrical energy, comprising a float element (2), an oscillating element (3) mounted such that it can move with respect to the float element, the oscillating element (3) being able to be set in relative motion with respect to the float element (2) under the action of the waves on the float element and means (4) for converting the movement of the oscillating element (3) into useable energy, particularly electrical energy, the device (1) also comprising braking means (5) capable selectively of immobilizing or releasing the oscillating element (3) with respect to the float element, clutch means (7) able selectively to couple or to uncouple the conversion means (4) and the oscillating element (3), and control means (8) for controlling the braking means (5) and the clutch means (7) as the swell evolves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: ECOLE CENTRALE DE NANTES
    Inventors: Aurélien Babarit, Michel Guglielmi, Alain Clement
  • Publication number: 20090008942
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for converting wave energy into electric power, comprising a closed floating element (1) and a mass forming element (2), the mass forming element (2) being arranged inside the floating element (1) and mounted mobile relative to the floating element (1), the mass forming element (2) being adapted to be set in relative motion with respect to the floating element (1) under the action of the waves on the floating element (1). The invention is characterized in that it also comprises locking means (13) adapted to lock the movement of the mass forming element (2) and control means adapted to control the locking means (13) for selectively locking or releasing the mass element (2) so as to amplify the movement of the mass forming element (2) by constant adaptation to the dynamics of the apparatus to successive waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Alain Clement, Aurelien Babarit, Gaelle Duclos
  • Patent number: 7350331
    Abstract: A method for producing molecules from plants, characterized in that the plants are cultivated in soil-less conditions and are supplied with a nutrient solution and/or sprayed with a leaching liquid, the solution and/or the liquid being subsequently recovered and treated to extract therefrom certain specific molecules which it contains and which have been released by the roots and/or top growth of the plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignees: Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine (INPL), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
    Inventors: Eric Gontier, Alain Clement, Frederic Bourgaud, Armand Guckert