US-20260126033-A1 - FLOATING VARIABLE LEVERAGE PUMP

US20260126033A1US 20260126033 A1US20260126033 A1US 20260126033A1US-20260126033-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods for operation and assembly of a floating variable leverage pump are provided. The floating variable leverage pump includes a first floating vessel pivotally coupled to a second floating vessel along an axis. Both the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel are configured to oscillate about the axis. The floating variable leverage pump includes a pump including a first end pivotally coupled to a first fulcrum of the first floating vessel, and a second end pivotally coupled to a second fulcrum of the second floating vessel. The pump is positioned (i) perpendicular to the axis and (ii) in an area between the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel. Displacement of at least one of the first floating vessel or the second floating vessel causes actuation of the pump.

Inventors

Joseph B. Tate

Assignees

BlueDesal Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251229

Claims (20)

1 . A floating variable leverage pump comprising: a first floating vessel; a second floating vessel, wherein the first floating vessel is pivotally coupled to the second floating vessel along an axis, wherein both the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel are configured to oscillate about the axis; and a pump device comprising: a first end coupled to the first floating vessel, and a second end coupled to the second floating vessel, wherein at least one of the first floating vessel or the second floating vessel comprises a control mechanism configured to control a period of oscillation of the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel about the axis.
2 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 1 , wherein the first floating vessel is pivotally coupled to the second floating vessel along the axis by one or more coupling mechanisms.
3 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 1 , wherein the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel (i) comprise a buoyant material and (ii) are configured to float on a body of water.
4 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 1 , wherein: the first end of the pump device comprises a piston rod, the second end of the pump device comprises a pump housing comprising a first cavity configured to store a fluid, wherein the piston rod is coupled to the pump housing, and oscillation of at least one of the first floating vessel or the second floating vessel about the axis is configured to cause the piston rod to actuate, thereby pressurizing the fluid.
5 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 4 , further comprising an intake fluidically connected to the first cavity and configured to (i) receive the fluid and (ii) provide the fluid to the first cavity based on actuation of the piston rod.
6 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 4 , further comprising a membrane housing comprising (i) a second cavity fluidically coupled to the first cavity by a fluid coupling mechanism and (ii) a reverse osmosis membrane, wherein the second cavity is fluidically coupled to a first side of the reverse osmosis membrane.
7 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 6 , wherein the membrane housing further comprises (i) a first output fluidically coupled to the second cavity and (ii) a second output fluidically coupled to a second side of the reverse osmosis membrane.
8 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 7 , wherein actuation of the piston rod into the pump housing is configured to cause (i) a first portion of the fluid to permeate from the first side of the reverse osmosis membrane through to the second side of the reverse osmosis membrane and (ii) a second portion of the fluid to exit through the first output.
9 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the pump device is pivotally coupled to a first fulcrum of the first floating vessel, wherein the second end of the pump device is pivotally coupled to a second fulcrum of the second floating vessel, and wherein a distance between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum is configured to vary from a minimum distance to a maximum distance based on (i) a position of the first floating vessel about the axis and (ii) a position of the second floating vessel about the axis.
10 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 9 , wherein when the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel have a minimum displacement, the distance between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum is the maximum distance.
11 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 10 , wherein the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel have the minimum displacement when the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel are oriented in a same plane.
12 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 9 , wherein when the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel have a maximum displacement, the distance between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum is the minimum distance.
13 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 1 , wherein the pump device is positioned (i) perpendicular to the axis and (ii) in an area between the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel, wherein the first floating vessel comprises a first void, wherein the second floating vessel comprises a second void, and wherein the first void and the second void form the area.
14 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises: one or more weights; one or more guides configured to retain the one or more weights; and one or more actuators coupled to the one or more weights and configured to control a height of the one or more weights with respect to a top surface of the floating vessel comprising the control mechanism, wherein the period of oscillation of the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel is based on the height of the one or more weights.
15 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 14 , further comprising a computing device configured to perform operations comprising: measuring a wave period of a body of water over a period of time; comparing the wave period to the period of oscillation; and causing, based on the comparison, an adjustment to the height of the one or more weights via the one or more actuators.
16 . The floating variable leverage pump of claim 14 , wherein the control mechanism is (i) oriented in parallel with the axis and (ii) positioned at a midpoint between a first side of the top surface and a second side of the top surface opposite the first side of the top surface.
17 . A method of assembling a floating variable leverage pump, the method comprising: pivotally coupling a first floating vessel to a second floating vessel along an axis, wherein both the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel are configured to oscillate about the axis; coupling a first end of a pump device to the first floating vessel; and coupling a second end of the pump device to the second floating vessel, wherein at least one of the first floating vessel or the second floating vessel comprises a control mechanism configured to control a period of oscillation of the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel about the axis.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first floating vessel is pivotally coupled to the second floating vessel along the axis by one or more coupling mechanisms.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel (i) comprise a buoyant material and (ii) are configured to float on a body of water.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the control mechanism comprises: one or more weights; one or more guides configured to retain the one or more weights; and one or more actuators coupled to the one or more weights and configured to control a height of the one or more weights with respect to a top surface of the floating vessel, wherein the period of oscillation of the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel is based on the height of the one or more weights.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/399,072, filed on Dec. 28, 2023, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/435,951, entitled “FLOATING VARIABLE LEVERAGE PUMP FOR WATER DESALINATION,” filed on Dec. 29, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY The present disclosure relates generally to pump technology and, more specifically, to a floating, wave driven pump configured for desalination. BACKGROUND In some cases, a reverse osmosis process can be used to remove salt and/or other impurities (e.g., lead, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), arsenic, bacteria, and viruses) from water to produce potable water that is safe for ingestion. Removal of salt and/or other impurities from water may be referred to herein as “desalination”. In some cases, for water to diffuse through a reverse osmosis membrane, the water may be required to be pressurized to a threshold pressure level (e.g., at least 800 pounds per square inch (PSI)). Conventional pump systems used to pressurize water for desalination purposes can require power (e.g., provided by motors and/or engines) to pressurize water to threshold pressure levels, thereby increasing their environmental impact and associated costs of operation. Further, the requirement for an available power source can limit the applications in which conventional pumps can operate. Accordingly, conventional pumps are unable to desalinate water without use of an active power source. The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and are not admitted to be “prior art.” Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. SUMMARY To address the aforementioned shortcomings, a floating variable leverage pump is provided. Further, systems and methods incorporating the floating variable leverage pump are provided. In one embodiment, the floating variable leverage pump can include a first floating vessel. The floating variable leverage pump also includes a second floating vessel, where the first floating vessel is pivotally coupled to the second floating vessel along an axis, where both the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel are configured to oscillate about the axis. The floating variable leverage pump also includes a pump including a first end pivotally coupled to a first fulcrum of the first floating vessel, and a second end pivotally coupled to a second fulcrum of the second floating vessel. The pump can be positioned (i) perpendicular to the axis and (ii) in an area between the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel. The pump can be configured to desalinate water provided to the pump via actuation of the pump. The floating variable leverage pump may also include where the first floating vessel is pivotally coupled to the second floating vessel along the axis by one or more coupling mechanisms. The floating variable leverage pump may also include where the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel (i) comprise a buoyant material and (ii) are configured to float on a body of water. The floating variable leverage pump may also include where the first end of the pump includes a piston rod and the second end of the pump includes a pump housing including a first cavity configured to store a fluid (e.g., water), where the piston rod is coupled to the pump housing. Oscillation of the first floating vessel and/or the second floating vessel about the axis can be configured to cause the piston rod to actuate, thereby pressurizing the fluid. The floating variable leverage pump may also include where a distance between the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum is configured to vary (e.g., range) from a minimum distance to a maximum distance based on (i) a position of the first floating vessel about the axis and (ii) a position of the second floating vessel about the axis. The floating variable leverage pump may also include where the first floating vessel includes a first void, where the second floating vessel includes a second void, where the first void and the second void form the area. The floating variable leverage pump may also include where the first floating vessel and/or the second floating vessel includes a control mechanism configured to control a period of oscillation of the floating vessel about the axis. The floating variable leverage pump may also include an intake fluidically connected to the first cavity and configured to (i) receive the fluid and (ii) provide the fluid to the first cavity based on actuation of the piston rod. The floating variable leverage pump may also include a membrane housing including (i) a second cavity fluidically coupled to the first