Surfing-wave generators

• US 4,954,014 A
• Filed: 12/19/1988
• Issued: 09/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Lochtefeld
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J., Sauerbier, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US07/286,964
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 405/79, 405/52, 4/491, 4/492
• 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 inclined surfaces on a contained body of water. The water is propelled against the surface-shaping generator with sufficient force to impart the desired shape to the water surface, and the generated surfaces can include waves, such as tunnel waves, appropriate for surfing and other water skimming manuevers on the surface of a body of water. Surfaces generated can require a wide range of skills to negotiate, from beginning to advanced levels. The surfaces generated are substantially stationary with respect to the water containment means, the water itself moving with respect thereto.

Claims

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

a. means of propelling a body of water in a first direction;

b. generator hull means being partially submerged in said body of water, said body of water moving thereagainst in said first direction, and said generator hull means 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 a second direction opposite to said first direction and having;

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

B. an attitude with respect to said second direction.

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

a. above said sur-ace is substantially within the range from 50% to 99%; and

b. below said surface is substantially within the range from 50% to 1%, 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 claim 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 minimum radii of said midbody and said stern sections.

8. The wave forming means of claim 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; and

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 second direction; and

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

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

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

with respect to second 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 claim 1 or 5, wherein body of water moves against said generator hull at a speed in a range from 6 to 20 miles per hour.

19. The wave forming means of claim 1 or 5, wherein body of water moves against said generator hull 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 in said body of water, 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;

c. propulsion means for moving said body of water in a first direction with respect to said waveforming means;

d. wherein said body of water is propelled against said forward face of said wave-forming means in said first direction at a speed of from 6 to 20 miles per hour, thereby generating tunnel waves for surfing thereon.

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 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). 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;

(1). 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;

22. said area of shaped face:

A. above said surface is substantially within the range from 50% to 99%;

B. below said surface is substantially within the range from 50% to 1%, 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 a first direction and having;

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

30°

; and

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

50°

; and

b. means of propelling said body of water in a second direction substantially opposite to said first direction at a speed of from 10 to 12 miles per hour.

24. The body of water of claim 22, wherein said means for forming includes:

a. an upwardly sloping generator surface of said width and at least said length and depth;

1. said channel having a lower end and an upper end; and

b. means for propelling the water of said body of water into said lower end with said first velocity, said first velocity being sufficient to carry the water thereof at least beyond said upper end.

26. The body of water of claim 22, wherein said first velocity is sufficient to carry the water thereof over said upper end in an amount sufficient to permit surfing and other water-skimming activities on said surface thereof beyond said upper end.

23. A stably-shaped body of water with an inclined surface thereon, comprising:

a. means for forming a body of water with an inclined surface thereon;

b. the water of said body of water moving up said inclined surface with a first velocity;

1. said body of water;

A. having a shape and dimensions thereof substantially stable with respect to time;

c. said inclined surface having a slope sufficient to permit an object floating thereon to slide down said slope with a second velocity at least as great as the negative of said first velocity; and

d. said surface having a length, width and depth thereto sufficient to permit surfing manuevers thereon.

25. The body of water of claim 23, wherein said means for propelling including means for returning said water from said upper end to said lower end.

27. The body of water of claim 25, wherein said means for propelling includes means for returning said water from said upper end to said lower end.