Wakeboat with dynamic wave control
First Claim
1. A wakeboat control system suitable for modifying a wake produced by a wakeboat to produce a port wave or a starboard wave suitable for surfing comprising:
- said wakeboat having a hull and a transom;
said hull having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis;
a first sensor configured to measure a change in the angle of the hull about the longitudinal axis;
a second sensor configured to measure a change in the angle of the hull about the lateral axis;
a plurality of ballast pumps;
trim plates movably attached to the transom;
processing circuitry coupled to the first and second sensors and said trim plates, the processing circuitry automatically controls operation of at least one of the ballast pumps and trim plates in response to inputs received from the first and second sensors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Wakeboat ballast pump systems and methods are provided to monitor the operational condition and parameters of wakeboat ballast components. Systems and methods for sensing and measurement are provided to detect parameters associated with wakeboat ballast pumps and compartments, including systems and methods that can economically retrofit into existing wakeboat ballast systems. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action based on various operational conditions and parameters to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast pumps.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A wakeboat control system suitable for modifying a wake produced by a wakeboat to produce a port wave or a starboard wave suitable for surfing comprising:
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said wakeboat having a hull and a transom; said hull having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis; a first sensor configured to measure a change in the angle of the hull about the longitudinal axis; a second sensor configured to measure a change in the angle of the hull about the lateral axis; a plurality of ballast pumps; trim plates movably attached to the transom; processing circuitry coupled to the first and second sensors and said trim plates, the processing circuitry automatically controls operation of at least one of the ballast pumps and trim plates in response to inputs received from the first and second sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for producing a wake suitable for wake surfing behind a wakeboat comprising the steps of:
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providing a wakeboat said wakeboat comprising; a hull and a transom, said hull having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis and, a first sensor configured to measure a change in the angle of the hull about the longitudinal axis, a second sensor configured to measure a change in the angle of the hull about the lateral axis, at least one ballast pump, and trim plates movably attached to the transom; processing circuitry coupled to the first and second sensors and said trim plates; and
,a configuration lookup table associated with said processing circuitry, said configuration lookup table configured to store prior wakeboat operational configurations as determined by said first sensor and said second sensor; and
,said configuration lookup table containing at least one previously stored wakeboat operational configuration; using said processing circuitry to recall a stored prior wakeboat operational configuration; using said processing circuitry to approximate the recalled wakeboat operational configuration by operating at least one of said ballast pumps and said trim plates to adjust the angular configuration of said hull about said longitudinal axis and said lateral axis. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for producing a wake suitable for wake surfing behind a wakeboat comprising:
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using a first sensor to monitor the angle of rotation of the hull of said wakeboat about a longitudinal axis and generate a first signal associated with the angle of rotation of the hull about the longitudinal axis; using a second sensor to monitor the angle of rotation of the hull of said wakeboat about a lateral axis and generate a second signal associated with the angle of rotation of the hull about the longitudinal axis; inputting the first signal from the first sensor into processing circuitry; inputting the second signal from the second sensor into processing circuitry; inputting the angular deflection of said movable trim plates into processing circuitry; using the processing circuitry to automatically control the operation of ballast pumps in response to the first signal generated by the first sensor to change the angle of rotation of the hull about the longitudinal axis thereby controlling the hull to produce the desired wake; and
,recording the angle of rotation of the hull about the longitudinal and lateral axes and storing the recorded angles of rotation of the hull about the longitudinal and lateral axes in a configuration lookup table associated with the processing circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A wakeboat control system suitable for modifying a wake produced by a wakeboat to produce a port wave or a starboard wave suitable for surfing comprising:
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said wakeboat having a hull and a transom; a first draft sensor operatively associated with the hull, the first draft sensor measuring the depth of the hull in the surrounding water; a second draft sensor operatively associated with the hull, the second draft sensor measuring the depth of the hull in the surrounding water; trim plates movably attached to the transom; processing circuitry coupled to and receiving measurements from the first and second draft sensors; and a ballast pump coupled to and operated by the processing circuitry, the processing circuitry operating the ballast pump in accordance with the measurements from the first and second draft sensors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 22)
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20. A method for producing a wake suitable for wake surfing behind a wakeboat comprising:
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using a first draft sensor to monitor a first depth of the hull in the surrounding water and generate a first signal associated with the first depth of the hull in the surrounding water; using a second draft sensor to monitor a second depth of the hull in the surrounding water and generate a second signal associated the second depth of the hull in the surrounding water; inputting the first signal from the first draft sensor into processing circuitry; inputting the second signal from the second draft sensor into processing circuitry; using the processing circuitry to automatically control the operation of ballast pumps in response to the first signal generated by the first draft sensor and the second signal generated by the second draft sensor to produce a wake suitable for wake surfing; and
,recording the first depth of the hull and storing the recorded first depth of the hull in a configuration lookup table associated with the processing circuitry and recording the second depth of the hull and storing the recorded second depth of the hull in a configuration lookup table associated with the processing circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification