Moving reef wave generator

• US 20050286976A1
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Sauerbier, Thomas J. Lochtefeld
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Sauerbier, Thomas J. Lochtefeld
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J., Sauerbier, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US11/167,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20050286976A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/79
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125

Abstract

The invention relates to a wave generating system comprising a wave generator that travels along the surface of a body of water, and preferably in the middle thereof, wherein the wave generator can create both primary and secondary waves that travel toward the shore. The primary waves are intended to allow surfing maneuvers to be performed in a relatively deep water environment. In the preferred embodiment, the body of water has opposing undulating shorelines upon which the secondary waves can break, wherein by modifying the shoreline'"'"'s slope and curvature, and providing undulating peninsulas and cove areas, various multiple wave formations and effects can be created.

Claims

1. A method of creating multiple wave formations in a wave pool, comprising:

providing a relatively deep area and a relatively shallow area in said wave pool, wherein said shallow area has an inclined contoured floor forming a shoreline thereon;

providing a wave generator capable of traveling across the wave pool, wherein said wave generator is adapted to travel along said deep area, at a predetermined distance from said shoreline;

creating primary waves in said deep area in the vicinity of said wave generator;

creating secondary waves on the water surface that travel outwardly from said wave generator, through said deep area, across said wave pool, and into said shallow area; and

enabling said secondary waves to form wave formations that enter into said shallow area, and break across and/or onto said shoreline.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said wave generator is adapted to travel along a submerged track extending substantially horizontally along the floor of said deep area, wherein said track extends substantially in the middle of said wave pool.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the track extends substantially along a straight predetermined path, substantially through said deep area, and said shoreline extends substantially around the perimeter of said wave pool, wherein the secondary waves that travel outward from said wave generator can create various wave formations that eventually break along the shoreline around said wave pool.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the inclined floor of the shoreline comprises undulations having peninsulas and cove areas at predetermined angles relative to the direction of said track, wherein the different angles at which the secondary waves break onto said shoreline are able to create various wave breaking formations along said shoreline.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said peninsulas and cove areas are adapted such that, between adjacent peninsulas and cove areas, curling and/or plunging waves are created, and between adjacent cove areas and peninsulas, surging and/or collapsing waves are created.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said track extends along a substantially straight path, and said wave generator is capable of traveling in two directions along said path.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said wave generator is adapted with opposing wave generator hulls on opposite sides thereof, such that said wave generator can travel in said two directions without needing to turn around at the end of said path.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said wave generator is adapted such that at the end of said path, said wave generator can rotate and/or pivot to enable the wave generator hulls to face the appropriate direction relative to said path.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said primary waves are formed by flow forming surfaces on said wave generator, wherein said flow forming surfaces are adapted to exert an upward and lateral force to the water, to form primary waves that curl upward and laterally outward relative to said wave generator, and wherein said secondary waves are formed by the transition of said primary waves, as a second phase thereof, in combination with wave motions consisting of transverse and divergent waves created by water displacement as the wave generator travels through the water, and wherein the combination of wave motions creates an enhanced secondary wave that travels like a wake from said deep area, through said wave pool, to said shallow area, and then breaks onto said shoreline.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the floor of the shoreline comprises undulations having peninsulas and cove areas that allow the secondary waves created by said wave generator to be enhanced and/or modified as they travel across the wave pool, through said shallow area, and break onto said shoreline.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said peninsulas and cove areas are adapted such that, between adjacent peninsulas and cove areas, curling and/or plunging waves are created, and between adjacent cove areas and peninsulas, surging and/or collapsing waves are created.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said submerged track extends substantially horizontally along said floor of said deep area, and substantially in the middle of said wave pool.

12. A method of creating multiple wave formations in a wave pool, comprising:

providing a relatively deep area and a relatively shallow area, wherein said shallow area has an inclined floor forming a shoreline thereon;

providing a wave generator capable of traveling across the wave pool, wherein said wave generator is adapted to travel along a submerged track extending substantially along a floor of said deep area, at a predetermined distance from said shoreline;

operating said wave generator on said track in a first direction to create primary waves in said deep area in the vicinity of said wave generator, and secondary waves that travel outwardly from said wave generator in substantially said first direction, to said shallow area, and onto said shoreline; and

operating said wave generator on said track in a second direction opposite said first direction to create primary waves in said deep area in the vicinity of said wave generator, and secondary waves that travel outwardly from said wave generator, in substantially said second direction, to said shallow area, and onto said shoreline.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the track extends substantially along a straight predetermined path, substantially through said deep area, and said shoreline extends substantially around the perimeter of said wave pool, wherein the secondary waves that travel outward from said wave generator create various wave formations that eventually break along the shoreline around said wave pool.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said wave generator is adapted with opposing wave generator hulls on opposite sides thereof, such that said wave generator can travel in said first and second directions, without needing to turn around at the end of said path.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said wave generator is adapted such that at the end of said path, said wave generator can rotate and/or pivot to enable the wave generator hulls to face the appropriate direction relative to said path.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the floor of the shoreline comprises undulations having peninsulas and cove areas that allow the secondary waves created by said wave generator to be enhanced and/or modified as they travel across the wave pool, through said shallow area, and break onto said shoreline.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said peninsulas and cove areas are oriented at predetermined angles relative to the direction of said track, wherein the different angles at which the secondary waves break onto said shoreline are able to create various wave breaking formations along said shoreline.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said peninsulas and cove areas are adapted such that, between adjacent peninsulas and cove areas, curling and/or plunging waves are created, and between adjacent cove areas and peninsulas, surging and/or collapsing waves are created.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said wave generator has flow forming surfaces that are adapted to form primary waves that curl upward and laterally outward on either side of said wave generator, and said secondary waves that travel in opposite directions relative to the direction of said track, wherein said secondary waves travel like wakes from said deep area, through said wave pool, to said shallow area, and then break onto said shoreline.