What is the name of this alternative source of energy called?

Question

I recall hearing of some source of alternative energy that was based on the motion of the waves. Basically, the waves provided the energy(no giant turbines) and these things functioned like wind mills of the sea. Everything else was blah blah. The inventor of this ingenious device was some high school or college student, I think.
Whatever it is, just tell me the name of the inventor, the name of the thing he/she made, and how it works. I may have placed this question in the wrong place because there really isn't enough about alternative energy to devote a link to. Remember, inventor, invention and how it works.

Answer 1

The link below leads to a patent on a "wave action energy generation system". The creator/author is M. G. Montgomery.

The abstract/discription is:

The invention is an improvement in the economical generation of energy by providing a system for utilizing the wave action of bodies of water, such as ocean waves.^The system consists of a pair of floating units, each separately connected to a shaft member by a connecting arm, a ratchet-like gear affixed to the shaft member is indexed forward alternately or concurrently by spring loaded pawls affixed to each of the connecting arms from the floating units to the shaft members.^The wave action alternately raising and lowering the floating units concurrently turns the ratchet-like gear through the action of the pawls.^Thus, the turning shaft, properly geared can turn an electric generator, air compressor, or other device of generating another form of energy which can be used or stored for future use.

I don't know what else you could be asking about.

Answer 2

Hi. I once read about a device like this. It used floating cam-like bobbers that rose and fell with each wave. This turned a ratchet like mechanism which in turn drove a shaft for power. Don't remember the name of the inventor or what it was called, but this was how it works.

Answer 3

wind. fire. rain. poop