FI127145B

FI127145B - A system for making waves

Info

Publication number: FI127145B
Application number: FI20177015A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Andrei Schavoronkoff
Original assignee: Andi Underdog Oy
Priority date: 2017-02-08
Filing date: 2017-02-08
Publication date: 2017-12-15
Also published as: FI20177015A; WO2018146375A1

Description

A system for generating waves

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The current invention is related to water sports, especially to systems for generating waves for water sports. 2. Description of Related Art

Surfing is a traditional and well-known form of sports that can be practiced along a suitable beach when the conditions are correct. For surfing, good waves are needed. However, good waves are not available all the time, and in some beaches, having good waves for surfing is quite rare. This hard requirement for good wave conditions has spurred the development of different variations of sports from surfing such as skimboarding, wakeboarding, kiteboarding and wakesurfing.

Wakesurfing is typically practiced by using a motorboat to create a wake behind the boat for surfing. The boat is typically heavily loaded so that the boat runs deep and forms a big wave behind the boat when driven at a suitable speed. When this wake behind the boat is large enough, one can surf on this wake. Wakesurfing has been practiced for a long time. However, wakesurfing has developed very little after the practice of wakesurfing on a wake behind a boat was developed.

Not all motorboats are suitable for this conventional way of wakesurfing. For example, a boat for wakesurfing requires an engine with high power. One drawback of this traditional method of producing the wake for wakesurfing is that this kind of motor boats are expensive. They also use a lot of fuel since the engine has to be run at the high load all the time when creating the wake. Another drawback of using a boat-based system is also that a driver is required for the board. These handicaps taken together mean that practicing wakesurfing is fairly expensive. Wakesurfing by boat also needs a large area of open water. Further, a boat creates noise pollution and exhaust. These factors often limit the locations, where wakesurfing can be practiced.

There are a number of patents and patent applications related to wakesurfing. These patents mainly describe additional devices that can be installed in the boat in order to create a wake in a more optimal way, or creating a wake with a more optimal shape for wakesurfing. These add-on devices can be, for example, trim surfaces or equipment dragged by the boat.

The patent application US 2016009342 describes an arrangement for shaping the wake in order to have a better shape for wakesurfing. The patent application describes an object that can be attached to the back of the boat for pushing the water to one side of the boat in order to affect the shape of the wave. A similar operating principle is used in patent application US 2014137786. In this arrangement, a device that affects the flow of water has been installed permanently in the boat. In this arrangement, the driver of the boat can adjust this device, which is slightly similar to a trim surface in order to affect the shape of the wake.

The patent US 5911190 describes a device that can be towed behind a boat in order to create a wake. This kind of arrangement has the advantage that any sufficiently high-powered boat can be used to create the wake without any adaptations for the boat itself being needed. Another similar arrangement of a device being towed by a powered boat is described in the patent US 6047657.

These arrangements in which a wave-generating device is towed by a boat also have the disadvantage that a high-powered boat is needed, a large area of water is needed for the boat to drive around and, that lot of noise and pollution is created by the boat in the course of performing the sport. Also, a wake created by a boat or a device towed by the boat spreads naturally far and wide which may disturb other users of the area of water in question.

There exist arrangements that avoid some of the problems associated with boat-driven solutions. One arrangement is described in the patent US 9144727. This patent describes a system where a floating device creates a wake when towed by a cable. In this arrangement, the cable is driven by a mechanism on the shore. The patent describes a system in which a car is used to power the mechanism that drives the cable towing the device. This system has certain drawbacks. For example, this arrangement requires systems to be permanently installed at the shore whereby the system is not easily transportable. Also, using the engine of car as a power source is not a very energy efficient solution. Further, the device that creates the wake has to be transported back away from the shore after each run.

Another cable-driven solution is presented in the patent application WO 2015/173477. The patent application describes a system where a length of cable is arranged between two pulleys, at least one of which is driven by an electric motor located on the shore. A wave-generating device is attached to the cable. In this arrangement, the wave-generating device consists of at least two wings that create the wave when the device is pulled. This arrangement has the advantage that the device which creates the waves can be easily returned to the starting position just by reversing the movement of the cable. A drawback is the limited length of the run since the length of the run that a user can surf is between the ends of the cable run, the distance between two pulleys driving the cable. Also, catching the wave in the beginning can be troublesome since the user needs to paddle to catch the forming wave when the run is started.

Various arrangements for forming artificial waves in artificial bodies of water have also been developed. One such arrangement is described in the patent US 5171101. In this system, powerful pumps are used to drive water up a slope so that a surfer can then surf down the slope against the water pushed by the pumps. This kind of arrangement has the advantage that is that this kind of arrangement can be implemented almost anywhere and it doesn't require a large area. However, the distances and movements that can be performed by the surfer are quite limited.

Patent application US 2010017951 describes an arrangement where a wing-like like profile is towed along the bottom of a water basin. The movement of the profile creates a large wake. In this arrangement the smooth shape of the bottom is a factor in creating the wake, whereby this arrangement cannot be used in natural waters.

The patent US 3913332 describes a circular basin which has a wave-creating device on the bottom of the basin. This kind of arrangement can be used to create a never-ending circular track. Another circular arrangement is described in patent application US 20160076267, which describes a circular wave pool having a wave-generating device.

One drawback of these arrangements based on artificial man-made pools is that they require a location where the pool can be built permanently. These kind of pools are also rather expensive to construct, and these kinds of arrangements cannot be moved easily. The circulation of water in these pools is closed, whereby procedures for keeping the water clean are needed like in swimming pools do.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which

Figure 1 illustrates a system for generating a wave according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 illustrates a way to attach the invention to the bottom of a water basin,

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate various floating structures according to various embodiments of the invention,

Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate different ways of attaching a wavegenerating member to a cable according to various embodiments of the invention,

Figure 5 illustrates how the cable loop can be made smoother by different arrangements of pulleys, and

Figure 6 illustrates how the cable loop can be made smoother by shaping a side of the floating members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The following embodiments are exemplary. Although the specification may refer to "an", "one", or "some" embodiment(s), this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may be combined to provide further embodiments.

In the following, features of the invention will be described with a simple example of a system for generating waves with which various embodiments of the invention may be implemented. Only elements relevant for illustrating the embodiments are described in detail. Details that are generally known to a person skilled in the art may not be specifically described herein.

In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is described. This embodiment is illustrated in figure 1. Figure 1 illustrates a roughly circular system for creating waves. In the example of figure 1, the system 100 consists of floating members 110 connected to each other to form a roughly circular shape and a cable 112 arranged to the inside of the circular shape formed by the members 110. The cable 112 is driven by a motor arrangement 150. In the example of figure 1, the motor arrangement 150 is located on the shore 50.

In the example of figure 1, the motor arrangement 150 drives the cable 112 with the help of an intermediate cable 113 and pulleys 115. However, this mechanism of driving the cable 112 is only one example of different ways for driving a cable, and included in figure 1 only for illustrative purposes. Many different ways of driving a cable are known by a man skilled in the art. The invention is not limited to any specific way of driving the cable 112.

In the example of figure 1, the system for generating waves also comprises a wave generating member 120 which is fixed to the cable 112. When the wave generating member 120 is towed by the cable 112 along the length of the cable, the wave generating member 120 creates a wave on which users of the system can wake surf on. Figure 1 also illustrates a wake surfer 130. The example of figure 1, the cable 112 is supported by plurality of pulleys 116, which are attached to the floating members 110. In the example figure 1, the whole set of floating members 110 is fixed to the shore 50 by using cables 212 or by fixed beams 212.

The wave generating member 120 can be implemented in different ways in different embodiments of the invention. For example, the wave generating member 120 can be a boat or a boat like floating device. In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wave generating member 120 can be implemented using a device with wings that generate the wave. The wave generating member 120 may also have any other shape that can be used to create a wave.

Figure 1 also illustrates a control system 160 which is connected to motor system 150 for controlling the motor system 150.

The system of floating members 110 can also be fixed to the bottom of the water basin instead of or in addition to being fixed to the shore. Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the floating members 110 are anchored to the bottom 230 of the water basin where the wave generating system is installed. Figure 2 illustrates an example where a floating member 110 is fixed to the bottom of the water basin using a weight 220 and a cable 210. Figure 2 also illustrates the cable 112 and a pulley 116 attached to the floating member 110. A man skilled in the art knows many different methods of fixing floating devices to the bottom of a water basin or to the shore of the water basin, so these particular details are not discussed any further in this specification.

In the example of figure 1, the wave generating system comprises eight floating members 110. In different embodiments of the invention, the number of floating members 110 may be different. For example, the wave generating system 110 could comprise a single circular floating member 110. The number of floating members 110 can in different embodiments of the invention be less than eight or even more than eight. If the system for generating waves comprises one circular floating member 110, then the cable track can be very nearly circular. However, having the plurality of floating members 110 may make fabrication, transportation, and installation of the wave generating system easier. Using more than eight floating members 110 allows the creation of a cable track which is closer to a perfectly circular form than what is possible with using eight floating members 110.

Figure 3A illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the wave generating system comprises a singular circular floating member 110. Figure 3A also illustrates the cable 112, the wave generating member 120 and a surfer 130. For clarity, further details such as the pulleys or any other parts of a complete system is not shown in Figure 3A. Figure 3B illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the wave generating system comprises more than eight floating members. In this example, twelve floating members 110. For clarity, only the floating members 110 are illustrated in figure 3B.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wave generating system allows for changing the direction of the travel of the wave generating member 120. This is advantageous since the direction of the wave matters to wake surfers. Some wake surfers are more comfortable with wake surfing with their right foot forward and some are more comfortable with surfing with their left foot forward. Some skilled wake surfers are comfortable either way. By allowing the change of direction of running of the system, the direction of the wave can be switched and the order and the wake surfer can decide and run on whichever direction of the wave he or she prefers.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wavegenerating member 120 comprises one or more adjustable devices for affecting the flow of water in order to create a wave. For example, in an embodiment in which the wave-generating member is implemented as a boat-like device, the wave-generating member may comprise one or more trimming plates that can be extended or retracted to adjust the created wave. Further, the boat may have similar sets of adjustable devices on both ends of the boat, so that when the direction of running of the system is changed, the position of corresponding trimming devices can be changed accordingly. For example, if in an embodiment of the invention, the wavegenerating member 120 is a boat-like device, the boat-like device may, in this exemplary embodiment, have one trimming plate in one end and another at the second end of the boat-like device. When the boat is run in a first direction, then a trimming device at the aft end of the boat is extended while the trimming device at the front of the boat is retracted. When the direction of the boat is changed, then the trimming device that used to be in the aft direction, which is now in the front direction, will be retracted and the other one on the other end of the boat, which is now at the aft end of the boat can be extended.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wavegenerating member 120 is implemented as a boat-like device and comprises a weighting system that moves a weight or a part of a weight to the aft end of the boat-like device when the movement of the boat-like device is started or when the movement of the boat-like device is reversed. This changing of the weighting of the boat-like device can be implemented in various ways in different embodiments of the invention. For example, the weights can be implemented using a sack of water lying on top of movable plates on the bottom of the boat-like device. When the boat-like device is starting to move, the bottom plate at the front-end of the boat-like device is raised so that most of the weight in the sack of water moves towards the aft end of the boat-like device placing most of the weight on the back and off the boat-like device causing the back of the boat-like device to go deeper in the water and, therefore, to cause a larger wave. Further, when the direction of the boat is changed, the reverse may happen. There are many different ways of arranging how such a movement of a sack of water or another type of weights can be implemented.

In various advantageous embodiments of the invention, the attachment of the wave-generating member 120 to the cable and the floating members 110 can be implemented in many different ways. Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate various embodiments of the invention where the wave-generating member 120 is attached to the rest of the system in different ways. Figure 4A illustrates a floating wave-generating member 120, which is attached to the cable 112 using beams 121. In the example of figure 4A, the cable 112 is arranged to be at a side of a floating member 110 using pulleys 116.

Figure 4A illustrates an embodiment, in which the beams 121 are positioned over the wave generating member 120. This arrangement allows the attachment of the wave generating member 120 to the beams 121 in a moveable and/or adjustable way, for example by using ropes 401, in order to allow changes of the position of the wave generating member 120 as a result of changing the weighting of the wave generating member 120 as described previously.

Figure 4B illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the wavegenerating member 120 comprises at least one wing placed underwater for generating the wake. In the example of 4B, the wave-generating member is connected to the cable 112 using a beam 121, which in this example is shaped in such a way that the wave-generating member 120 remains underwater. In the example figure 4B, the cable 112 is arranged at the side of a floating member 110 using pulleys 116. Figure 4C illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the cable 110 is submerged in the body of water. Figure 4C illustrates a wave-generating member 120 connected to the cable 112 using a beam 121. In the example of figure 4C, the cable 112 and the wave-generating member 120 are situated roughly in the same depth in the water. This can be achieved by attaching the pulleys 116 to a part of the floating member 110 that extends below the surface of the water to the desired depth. A man skilled in the art knows that cable runs can be arranged in many different ways using different systems of pulleys and attachment points and, therefore, any particular ways of attaching the wavegenerating member to the cable are not described in any further detail in this specification.

In general, it is advantageous to have the cable 112 to have an as smoothly curving track as is feasible in order for the ride to be as smooth as possible. The shape of the track formed by the cable 112 can advantageously be circular or nearly circular. However, in different embodiments of the invention, the track can be of many different shapes such as an ellipsoid or any other type of curved shape. It is possible to have a corner in the track formed by the cable, although that would be a suboptimal arrangement as a sharp corner would disturb the generated wave at that corner. In various embodiments of the invention, the floating members 110 and the ways the pulleys 116 are attached to the floating members 110 can be arranged in different ways in order to minimize any edges formed in the cable track by the pulleys 116.

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which there are three sets of pulleys 116 on a side of a floating member 110. For clarity, figure 5 shows only a partial view of the system. In the example of figure 5, the distances between the side of the floating member 110 and the pulleys 116 are different at different locations on the floating member 110 in order to provide a smoother curve to the cable 112. In order to increase the smoothness of the curve of the cable 112, the number of pulleys 116 can be increased. The invention is not limited to any specific way of arranging the pulleys 116. Further, the smoothness of the track can be increased by increasing the number of floating members 110, which reduces the angle needed between neighboring floating members 110, thus, providing smoother angles in the track of the cable 112.

Another way of implementing a smoother track for the cable 112 is to form the sides or at least the inner side of the floating members 110 to be smoothly curving. Figure 6 illustrates such an embodiment of the invention. For clarity, figure 6 shows only a partial view of the system. Figure 6 illustrates a floating member 110 which has one curved side to which a number of pulleys 116 is attached. By having a curved side as shown in Figure 6, the track of the cable 112 can be implemented to be fairly smooth.

Control of the wave-generating system can be implemented in different ways. Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment in which the control unit 160 of the motor unit 150 is located beside the motor unit 150 on the shore. Such as an embodiment is suitable for an implementation of the invention in which the system has a dedicated operator who oversees the use of the system. However, there are many other different ways of arranging the operation of the system. For example, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control of the system is arranged so that the user of the system, the person who does the wakesurfing, has access to controls of the system. Such controls can be implemented to be at the wave-generating member 120. For example, if the wave-generating device 120 is arranged as a boatlike device, the boat-like device can have the controls of the system at both end of the boat-like device so that the wakesurfer can start the system in either of the direction he or she likes. By arranging the possibility for the user to operate the system, the need of a operator for the system is diminished or removed, which makes the running of the system more economical.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the system comprises an arrangement for detecting if a user has fallen so that the system can be stopped in the case that the user falls. This can be done in a different ways, for example, arranging a video camera in the wavegenerating member 120 to monitor whether the user is surfing or has fallen down, and connecting the video camera to a computing system that can analyze the video feed and indicate when a user has fallen down and the wave generating system should be stopped.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wavegenerating system comprises a wireless control device, which can be carried by the user and through which the user can shut down the system in case he or she falls down while surfing.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a wireless device carried by the user that detects when the user has fallen down. This device can detect, for example, based on hydrostatic pressure if a user has fallen down.

The wave-generating member 120 comprises in a further advantageous embodiment a rope or a tow line with a spooling mechanism. Such a rope or a tow line helps the user to reach the wave when a run is started. When the system is started and the wave-generating device starts moving, the wavegenerating device tows the user with the rope or the tow line so that the user can easily reach the generated wave. After reaching the wave, the user can drop the rope or the tow line that is then pulled back by this spooling device. Such an arrangement is of great benefit to users and especially to inexperienced users for which paddling after the wave might be difficult.

The invention has several advantages. For example, by using a floating structure, the inventive wave-generating system can be installed in almost any place on a natural body of water irrespective of the depth of the body of water at the location. By arranging the cable track being supported by floating members, the whole system is easy to install as well easy to remove from the installation location, or to transfer the whole system to a different place. Further, the inventive wave-generating system has the advantage that the system keeps the generated wave inside the system as the floating members 110 block or prevent the wave from spreading to outside of the system. Conversely, the floating members 110 also block any external waves from reaching the inside of the system, thus, reducing any interference of external waves and external wave conditions to the user. This is a large advantage for users of the system, and prevention of the spreading of the wave also allows the installation of the system in a place where generation of waves would otherwise create problems or be undesirable. Further, the round shape the system allows for continuous running of the wave-generating device and consequently allows forming of a continuous wave without needing to stop at an endpoint of a track. This is a large benefit since it allows the users to wakesurf for any period of time continuously. A further advantage of the inventive wave-generating system is that the area where the sport is practiced and the wave is generated is closed so that the external persons cannot accidentally end up within the sporting area, which increases the safety of the inventive system. This feature is especially advantageous in cases where the inventive system is installed at a popular location, where many people are swimming or performing other types of water sports. A further factor increasing the safety of the system is that since the cable is not suspended in tall pylons, the cable cannot fall from large height in case of any problems or faults and injure the users. Falling of the cable is an always-present risk in a pylon-based cable track, since the cables and the pulleys wear down in time and may result in breakage and falling down of the cable.

Since the circular or the close nature of the system prevents spreading of waves outside the system, more than one wave-generating system can be located beside each other. This would be of great advantage in popular destinations with high number of users as the system can be operated independently of each other and without the systems disturbing each other.

Further, since the inventive system doesn't require the use of a motor boat, there is no noise or pollution problems with the inventive system.

Description of certain further aspects of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, a system for generating waves is provided. In this aspect of the invention, the system comprises - at least one floating member, said at least one floating member forming the circumference of a closed shape enclosing an area of water, - a cable movably attached to said at least one floating member, said cable forming a continuous loop around said enclosed area of water, - a motor unit arranged to move said cable, and - a wave-generating member attached to said cable for generating a wave inside said closed shape.

In a further advantageous embodiment according to this first aspect of the invention, said wave-generating member is a floating device.

In a further advantageous embodiment according to this first aspect of the invention, said wave-generating member comprises a mechanism for shifting mass from one end of the member to another.

In a further advantageous embodiment according to this first aspect of the invention, said wave-generating member is an underwater device comprising at least one wing for generating a wave.

In a further advantageous embodiment according to this first aspect of the invention, said system comprises a control unit, and said control unit is arranged to change the direction in which said cable is moved, in order to change the direction of the generated wave.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it should be apparent that many modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

A system for generating waves, characterized in that the system comprises at least one floating means (110), said at least one floating means forming a closed pattern periphery defining a water area, a cable (112) movably attached to said at least one floating means (110). 110), wherein said cable (112) forms a continuous loop around said delimited water area, a motor unit (150) arranged to move said cable (112), and a wave generating means (120) for generating a wave of said closed inside the pattern.

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said wave generating means (120) is a floating device.

A system according to claim 2, characterized in that said wave generating means (120) comprises a mechanism for transferring mass from one end of the means to the other.

The system of claim 1, characterized in that said wave generating means (120) is an underwater device comprising at least one blade for producing a wave.

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system comprises a control unit (160), and said control unit is arranged to change the direction in which the cable is moved to change the direction of the formed wave.