Tunnel-wave generator

• US 4,792,260 A
• Filed: 05/27/1987
• Issued: 12/20/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles E. Sauerbier
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Sauerbier
• Inventors: Sauerbier, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US07/054,521
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 405/79, 405/80, 405/52, 4/291, 73/148, 366/278
• 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: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125

Abstract

A wave-forming generator for generating surfing waves of the tunnel-wave type on the surface of a body of water. The generator includes a generator hull which is partially submerged in the water, and a means for propelling the hull through the water in a direction of motion. The generator hull has a shaped face which faces generally in the direction of motion. The shaped face has concave curvature in section both parallel and normal to the surface of the water, is inclined with respect to both the surface of the water and the direction of motion, and also has an attitude with respect to said direction.

Claims

1. A wave-forming means for forming a tunnel wave on the surface of a body of water, comprising:

a. generator hull means being partially submerged in said body of water, moving therethrough in a direction of motion, and having an area of shaped face thereon having width and length thereof, said shaped face;

1. having concave curvature in sections both parallel and normal to said surface;

2. facing generally in said direction and having;

A. an inclination with respect to said surface and said direction; and

B. an attitude with respect to said direction; and

b. means of propelling said wave forming means in said direction.

2. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said area of shaped face:

a. above said surface is substantially within the range from two-fifths to four-fifths; and

b. below said surface is substantially within the range from three-fifths to one-fifth, respectively.

3. The wave forming means of claim 2, wherein

a. said generator hull means:

1. has stem, midbody, and stern sections normal to said surface, with said shaped face;

A. being bounded by said stem and stern sections; and

B. containing said midbody sections; and

2. extends, in parallel section, forward under said surface up to one-third said length thereof.

4. The wave forming means of claim 3, wherein said concave sections normal to said surface have a minimum radius of curvature thereto, said minimum radius increasing from said stem section to said stern section.

5. The wave forming means of claim 4, wherein said concave sections normal to said surface have a closing curvature at said stem and midbody sections, and an opening curvature at said stern section, said minimum radius increasing from said stem to said stern sections.

6. The wave forming means of claims 4 or 5, wherein said area of shaped face has maximum width and length thereof, and said minimum radius of said stem section is substantially 10% of said maximum width.

7. The wave forming means of claim 4 or 5, wherein said minimum radius of said stem section has ranges of fixed ratios to said mimimum radii of said midbody and said stern sections.

8. The wave forming means of claims 4 or 5, wherein said ranges of fixed ration of:

a. said stem section to said midbody section is 1;

2.5 to 1;

3.5;

an

b. said stem section to said stern section is 1;

4 to 1;

6.

9. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein:

a. said inclination is variable with respect to said surface and said direction; and

b. said attitude is variable with respect to said direction.

10. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said inclination can vary between 0°

and 30°

with respect to said surface, and said attitude can vary between 0° and

50°

with respect to said direction.

11. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said inclination is 12.5°

with respect to said surface and said direction, and said attitude is 25°

with respect to said direction.

12. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said concave section parallel to said surface is substantially an arc of a circle.

13. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said concave section parallel to said surface is substantially an arc of an opening curve.

14. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said concave section parallel to said surface is substantially an arc of a closing curve.

15. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said concave sections parallel and normal to said surface are substantially arcs of circles.

16. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said concave sections parallel and normal to said surface are substantially arcs of a closing curve.

17. The wave forming means of claim 1, wherein said concave section parallel to said surface has a radius within the range of 0.75-1.25 of said length.

18. The wave forming means of claims 1 or 5, wherein said generator hull moves through said water at a speed in a range from 6 to 20 miles per hour.

19. The wave forming means of claims 1 or 5, wherein said generator hull moves through said water at a speed in a range of 10 to 12 miles per hour.

20. A surfing wave facility, comprising:

a. a body of water;

b. wave-forming means moving in said body of water in a fixed direction, said wave-forming means, including;

1. generator hull means having;

A. a stem portion and a stern portion;

B. a forward face being concave both transversely and longitudinally, with said transverse concavity enlarging from said stem to said stern;

2. attachment means;

c. propulsion means;

d. wherein said wave-forming means is affixed by said attachment means to said propulsion means, and is propelled by said propulsion means through said body of water in said fixed direction at a speed of from 6 to 20 miles per hour, thereby generating said tunnel waves.

21. A wave-forming means for forming a tunnel wave on the surface of a body of water, comprising:

a. generator hull means being partially submerged in said body of water, moving therethrough in a direction of motion, and having an area of shaped face thereon having width and length thereof, and

1. having stem, midbody, and stern sections normal to said surface, with said shaped face;

A. being bounded by said stem and stern sections; and

B. containing said midbody sections; and

I. extending, in parallel section, forward under said surface up to one-third said length thereof;

2. with said shaped face further;

A. having concave curvature in sections both parallel and normal to said surface;

I. said concave sections normal to said surface having;

a minimum radius of curvature thereto and;

1. a closing curvature at said stem and midbody sections; and

2. an opening curvature at said stern section;

b. said minimum radius increasing from said stem to said stern sections;

22. said minimum radius of said stem section having ranges of fixed ratios to said minimum radii of said midbody and said stern sections:

A. said ranges of fixed ratios of;

I. said stem section to said midbody section is 1;

2.5 to 1;

3.5; and

II. said stem section to said stern section is 1;

4 to 1;

6;

3. said area of shaped face;

A. above said surface is substantially within the range from two-fifths to four-fifths;

B. below said surface is substantially within the range from three-fifths to one-fifth, respectively; and

C. has maximum width and length thereof, and said minimum radius of said stem section is substantially 10% of said maximum width;

4. said shaped face facing generally in said direction and having;

A. an inclination with respect to said surface and said direction said inclination being variable with respect to said surface and said direction in the range of 0° and

30°

; and

B. an attitude with respect to said direction, said attitude being variable with respect to said direction in the range of 0° and

50°

; and

b. means of propelling said wave forming means in said direction at a speed of from 10 to 12 miles per hour.