BUOYANT ACTUATOR

摘要

A buoyant actuator for coupling wave motion to a device operable in response to wave motion in a body of water. The buoyant actuator comprises a generally spherical body defining an exterior surface and a hollow interior adapted to contain water received from the body of water. The exterior surface comprises a plurality of facets which are tessellated. There are (36) facets, of which (12) comprise pentagonal facets and (24) comprise hexagonal facets.The body comprises a plurality of openings for fluid flow between the hollow interior and the surrounding body of water. A closure configured as a flap is provided for each opening to block or at least inhibit fluid flow there through, the closure being adapted to move away from the opening to permit fluid flow there through in response to a predetermined fluid pressure differential imposed thereon between the hollow interior and the surrounding body of water.