Wave Generating Systems
A wave generating system comprising: a semi-submerged water displacement hull adapted to travel along a travel path within a wave pool, thereby generating a wake; and a wake modulator adapted to modulate the wake; wherein at least one of the travel path of the hull relative to the wake modulator and the travel of the wave modulator relative to the wake generated by the hull is controlled to effect the modulation of the wake.
The present invention relates to wave generating systems. The invention particularly relates to wave generating systems that facilitate modulation of a wake generated by the system.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention there is provided a wave generating system comprising:
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- a semi-submerged water displacement hull adapted to travel along a travel path within a wave pool, thereby generating a wake; and
- a wake modulator adapted to modulate the wake;
- wherein at least one of the travel path of the hull relative to the wake modulator and the travel of the wave modulator relative to the wake generated by the hull is controlled to effect the modulation of the wake.
In one embodiment, the wake modulator comprises contours of a floor of the wave pool and wherein the travel path of the hull is non-parallel with the contours. The travel path of the hull may be at a predetermined angle relative to the contours, or may follow a meandering path relative to the contours.
In certain embodiments, the hull comprises a panel extending from the stern of the hull. In other embodiments, the hull is rotatably mounted relative to a carriage.
In another embodiment, the wake modulator comprises at least another hull adapted to travel along a travel path within the wave pool, thereby generating another wake, and wherein modulation of the wake comprises an interaction between the wake and the other wake.
The travel paths of the hulls may be substantially identical, and the hulls disposed at a distance from one another such that wakes generated by a prior hull are superimposed by wakes of a following hull.
The travel paths of the hull and the other hull may alternatively be towards one another such that the wake and the other wake intersect to form a bulge that advanced laterally across the wave pool.
The travel paths of the hull and the other hull may alternatively be in the same direction on opposing sides of the wave pool such that the wake and the other wake intersect to form a concave wave front disposed between the travel paths.
In a further embodiment, the wake modulator comprises a submerged foil adapted to travel along a travel path parallel to the travel path of the hull and at a predetermined distance preceding the wake generated by the hull such that the foil forms a trough that modulates the wake.
In yet another embodiment, the wake modulator comprises a submerged reef adapted to travel along a travel path parallel to the travel path of the hull and at a predetermined distance behind the hull such that the wake generated by the hull travel over the reef as the reef advances, thereby causing the wake to break over the reef.
The submerged reef may comprise an adjustable panel that can be adjusted relative to the wake of the hull.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated step or element or integer or group of steps or elements or integers, but not the exclusion of any other step or element or integer or group of steps, elements or integers. Thus, in the context of this specification, the term “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense and thus should be understood as meaning “including principally, but not necessarily solely”.
The present invention consists of features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
To further clarify various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by references to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It should be appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting on its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the accompanying drawings in which:
Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
The present invention relates to recreational wave pools. The purpose of this invention is to change wave shape to suit various aspects of surfing performance.
To efficiently transform wave shape, the present invention provides for at least one of the following:
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- 1. Manipulates swell size, speed and direction, by controlling the position of a semi-submerged water displacement member (hereafter the “hull”) relative to the contours of the pool floor;
- 2. Produces overlapping wakes, by controlling the relative position, speed and configuration of multiple hulls;
- 3. Manipulates water level, by controlling the position of a submerged water displacement member (hereafter: the “foil”) relative to an advancing wake; and
- 4. Manipulates surf zone bathymetry, by controlling the position of a wave obstruction member (hereafter: the “reef”) relative to the water surface.
Referring to
In another, as depicted in
The systems of
In certain embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of hulls is driven in close succession along the side of a channel, such that key differences in their size, draft and trim angle result in variously angled wakes, which subsequently intersect to produce favourable effects on the resulting wave.
As depicted in
In certain embodiments, the speed of the hulls may be controlled by a programmable logic computer, such that the distance between successive wave generating bodies maintains the correlation with wave length, as the resulting waves build in size and their wave lengths increase.
In other embodiments, as depicted in
In another embodiment, as depicted in
In a further embodiment, as depicted in
In another embodiment, as depicted in
In an alternative embodiment, a hull produces a wake, which forms into a breaking wave as it crosses over a reef in the form of a submerged panel, which is driven along a path that is parallel to the path followed by said hull.
Unless the context requires otherwise or specifically stated to the contrary, integers, steps or elements of the invention recited herein as singular integers, steps or elements clearly encompass both singular and plural forms of the recited integers, steps or elements.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons of skill in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.
Claims
1. A wave generating system comprising:
- a semi-submerged water displacement hull adapted to travel along a travel path within a wave pool, thereby generating a wake; and
- a wake modulator adapted to modulate the wake;
- wherein at least one of the travel path of the hull relative to the wake modulator and the travel of the wave modulator relative to the wake generated by the hull is controlled to effect the modulation of the wake.
2. The wave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said wake modulator comprises contours of a floor of the wave pool and wherein said travel path of said hull is non-parallel with said contours.
3. The wave generating system according to claim 2, wherein said travel path of said hull is at a predetermined angle relative to said contours.
4. The wave generating system according to claim 2, wherein said travel path of said hull follows a meandering path relative to said contours.
5. The wave generating system according to claim 2, wherein said hull comprises a panel extending from the stern of said hull.
6. The wave generating system according to claim 2, wherein said hull is rotatably mounted relative to a carriage.
7. The wave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said wake modulator comprises at least another hull adapted to travel along a travel path within said wave pool, thereby generating another wake, and wherein modulation of said wake comprises an interaction between said wake and said other wake.
8. The wave generating system according to claim 7, wherein the travel paths of the hulls are substantially identical, and wherein said hulls are disposed at a distance from one another such that wakes generated by a prior hull are superimposed by wakes of a following hull.
9. The wave generating system according to claim 7, wherein the travel paths of said hull and said other hull are towards one another such that said wake and said other wake intersect to form a bulge that advanced laterally across said wave pool.
10. The wave generating system according to claim 7, wherein the travel paths of said hull and said other hull are in the same direction on opposing sides of said wave pool such that said wake and said other wake intersect to form a concave wave front disposed between said travel paths.
11. The wave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said wake modulator comprises a submerged foil adapted to travel along a travel path parallel to said travel path of said hull and at a predetermined distance preceding said wake generated by said hull such that said foil forms a trough that modulates said wake.
12. The wave generating system according to claim 1, wherein said wake modulator comprises a submerged reef adapted to travel along a travel path parallel to said travel path of said hull and at a predetermined distance behind said hull such that said wake generated by said hull travel over said reef as said reef advances, thereby causing said wake to break over said reef.
13. The wave generating system according to claim 12, wherein said submerged reef comprises an adjustable panel that can be adjusted relative to said wake of said hull.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 15, 2015
Publication Date: Aug 31, 2017
Inventor: Gregory Mark Webber (Angourie, New South Wales)
Application Number: 15/511,569