Wave generating apparatus and method

• US 9,068,371 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: American Wave Machines Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Wave Machines Incorporated
• Inventors: McFarland, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): ANDRISH, SEAN D
• Application Number:
  US14/105,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20140105685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 405/76, 405/79, 472/117, 472/128, 411/349, 411/549, 411/553
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/04 for small-room or indoor sporting games
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A wave forming apparatus has a channel for containing a flow of water with an inlet end connected to a water supply, a floor, and spaced side walls, a first bed form or weir at the inlet end of the channel, and a second bed form in the channel downstream of the first bed form. Also disclosed is a wave forming apparatus has a channel for containing a flow of water, the channel having an inlet end connected to a water supply for supplying a flowing stream of water, a floor, and spaced side walls, and at least one oblique foil member adjustably mounted in the floor of the channel. The foils, weirs or bed form, form a standing wave.

Claims

1. A wave forming apparatus for producing a rideable barreling wave, comprising:

a wave forming channel which contains a flow of water, the channel comprising;

a floor, side walls, an inlet end and an exit end; and

a wave guide comprising;

a pivot or hinge connected to the floor;

a surface having a leading edge connected to the pivot or hinge and an edge opposite to the leading edge and the opposite edge is not connected to the channel floor, the surface forming a pitch angle with the channel floor; and

an actuator connected to the surface adapted to adjust the pitch angle;

a pump adapted to pump water into the inlet end of the channel, over the leading edge and over the wave guide, wherein the pump, during operation, is adapted to produce a water level in the channel sufficient to enable the formation of the rideable barreling wave;

wherein the opposite edge rotates about the pivot by the pitch angel adjustment;

a passageway connected to the pump with an opening downstream of the wave guide, the passageway constructed to deliver water through the opening in a direction that is not parallel to the flow of water in the channel, said delivery assisting in the formation of the rideable barreling wave.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further adapted to change the characteristics of the wave when the pitch angle is changed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface is generally flat to slightly convex.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floor defines an opening, and the wave guide is disposed at least partially within that opening, and a portion of the actuator is beneath the floor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pitch angle is zero when the surface is generally flush with the floor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pitch angle is between 0 and 90 degrees.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an inclined ramp connected to the floor proximate the inlet end, the inclined ramp having an elevated portion that is higher than the floor, the elevated portion connected with the pump, the inclined ramp adapted to discharge the water into the channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a conduit connected to the pump and connected to the exit end, and

wherein the channel comprises an overflow at the exit end adapted to allow water to flow from the channel into the conduit, the position of the overflow regulating the water level in the channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is oriented in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the channel floor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave guide comprises a plurality of wave guides.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises a plurality of pumps.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a structure at the exit end, the structure adapted to cause the water to back up into the channel, enhancing the formation of the rideable barreling wave.

13. A wave forming apparatus for producing a rideable barreling wave, comprising:

a wave forming channel which contains a flow of water, the channel comprising;

a floor, side walls, an inlet end and an exit end; and

a wave guide comprising;

a pivot or hinge connected to the floor;

a surface having a leading edge connected to the pivot or hinge, the surface forming a pitch angle with the channel floor; and

an actuator connected to the surface adapted to adjust the pitch angle;

a pump adapted to pump water into the inlet end of the channel, over the leading edge, and over the wave guide, wherein the pump, during operation, is adapted to produce a water level in the channel sufficient to enable the formation of the rideable barreling wave;

a passageway adapted to return water from the exit end to the pump;

wherein a portion of the actuator is disposed of in the passageway; and

a secondary passageway connected to the pump with an opening downstream of the wave guide, the secondary passageway constructed to deliver water through the opening in a direction that is not parallel to the flow of water in the channel, said delivery assisting in the formation of the rideable barreling wave.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the passageway comprises a passageway floor and the actuator is fixed to the passageway floor.

15. A wave forming apparatus for producing a wave, comprising:

a wave forming channel which contains a flow of water, the channel comprising;

a floor, side walls, an inlet end and an exit end; and

a wave guide comprising;

a pivot or hinge connected to the floor;

a surface having a leading edge connected to the pivot or hinge, the surface forming a pitch angle with the channel floor; and

an actuator connected to the surface adapted to adjust the pitch angle;

a pump adapted to pump water into the inlet end of the channel and over the wave guide, wherein the pump, during operation, is adapted to produce a water level in the channel sufficient to enable the formation of the rideable wave;

a passageway adapted to return water from the exit end to the pump;

wherein a portion of the actuator is disposed of in the passageway; and

wherein the passageway comprises a passageway floor and the actuator is fixed to the passageway floor.