Patents by Inventor Gerald John Vowles

Gerald John Vowles 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).

  • Publication number: 20110081259
    Abstract: A wave-powered peristaltic hose pump, typically installed in a body of fluid upon which waves occur. It is characterized by a peristaltic hose which is reciprocally drawn through one or more anchored compression pulley blocks by opposing buoyant members reacting to undulating wave action. Occlusion of the hose by the compression pulley block causes a reciprocating inflow and outflow of water which is converted to a one-way outflow by a set of valves. When tensile loads are beyond the capabilities of the the peristaltic hose itself, it is installed within a low-stretch, flexible support means linked to the opposing buoyant members in a manner which minimizes tensile loading of the peristaltic hose. The apparatus is employed to deliver a flow of pressurized seawater to power driven devices or processes such as but not limited to desalinators, electricity generators, hydraulic motors and hydrogen fuel generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Gerald John Vowles
  • Patent number: 6109029
    Abstract: 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 driven device, such as a pump 202a or generator 202b through an optional lever arm 171 and also through a drive member such as a reciprocating shaft 26. Because the driven device is incorporated into an essentially immovable floating or fixed support member 17, work is accomplished. By increasing the work producing travel distance of the driving member, being the wave follower 20 beyond that of previous art and, in certain embodiments such as that shown in FIG. 2, and by more effectively capturing surge forces that has previous art, this apparatus is intended to produce significantly more work than other similar devices operating in the same waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventors: Alan Keith Vowles, Gerald John Vowles