US 7,476,137 B2
	Expandable wave energy conversion system
David B. Stewart, Cranbury, N.J. (US); and James S. Gerber, St Paul, Minn. (US)
Assigned to Ocean Power Technologies, Inc., Pennington, N.J. (US)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/510,459.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/712071, filed on Aug. 29, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0046027 A1, Mar. 01, 2007
Int. Cl. B63B 22/00 (2006.01); F03B 13/10 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 441—1  [290/42; 290/53]

12 Claims

1. A wave energy converter (WEC) for converting energy contained in surface waves on a body of water to useful energy, said WEC including a float having an expandable envelope for facilitating its deployment when it is to be disposed in said body of water, and including means for causing expansion of said envelope and retaining said envelope in an expanded fixed volume condition when deployed and disposed in said body of water; and wherein said float further includes a pressure relief valve for venting a fluid from the float under intermittent conditions of excessive water pressure, and including a pressurized fluid canister within said float for replenishing said vented fluid.