Apparatus and method for generating waves in a body of water

• US 4,976,570 A
• Filed: 05/15/1986
• Issued: 12/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Parks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Parks Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Walter R., Nahrup, Todd H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US06/863,291
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 405/79, 4/491
• US Class Current: 405/79
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 35/00 Pumps producing waves in liquids, i.e. wave-producers for bath tubs A47K3/10

Abstract

A device and method for creating waves of water are provided. A movable wave-generating member is cyclically reciprocated in a body of water to create the waves. A chamber and baffle, positioned adjacent the wave-generating member, act to dissipate wave energy from the return stroke of the wave-generating member due to the entrapment and compression of air within the chamber.

Claims

1. A device for creating waves of water comprising:

a wave-generating member reciprocable from a first forward position to a second return position;

means for cyclically reciprocating said wave-generating member in water to create waves; and

means positioned adjacent said second return position of said wave-generating member for dissipating wave energy from water generated by movement of said wave-generating member from said first position to said second position comprising a baffle forming a chamber containing air, said baffle trapping the water moved by the returning of said wave-generating member to said second position such that the force of said water compresses said air in said chamber to dissipate the wave energy generated.

2. The device of claim 5 in which said baffle extends below water level at some point during reciprocation of said wave-generating member.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said baffle extends below water level at some point during movement of said wave-generating member from said first position to said second position.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said baffle extends downwardly from a platform on which said means for cyclically reciprocating said wave-generating member is positioned.

5. The device of claim 1 in which said chamber includes means for controlling the escape of air from said chamber.

6. A method of generating a wave along a shoal in a body of water comprising the steps of:

generating a water wave by moving a wave-generating member forwardly to a first position to cause movement of water toward said shoal,

returning said wave-generating member to a second position; and

trapping the water moved by the returning of said wave-generating member to said second position behind a baffle forming a chamber containing air adjacent said second position and using the force of said water to compress the air in said chamber and dissipate the wave energy generated.