GB2304447A

GB2304447A - Model ocean wave reproduction

Info

Publication number: GB2304447A
Application number: GB9516801A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Edmunds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-18
Filing date: 1995-08-18
Publication date: 1997-03-19
Also published as: GB9516801D0

Abstract

A watertight wave tank 2 with a translucent viewing side or sides contains dyed water 1 and a clear colourless liquid 3 which is a chemical composition of cyclic branched and straight chain saturated hydrocarbons or aromatic hydrocarbons. When one end of the pivoted tank is raised and lowered by a predetermined amount and at a frequency determined by the length of tank, the water, being heavier than the colourless liquid is induced to move as a disturbed mass to the lowest end. The colourless liquid has the 'oil on troubled water' effect slowing down and dampening down the water movement. A model ocean wave is thus created in slow motion. This wave interacts with and is an essential part of a maritime diorama. The tank, or individual objects in the diorama, may be illuminated. A laser beam may be directed into the tank. The diorama or objects within, may be maintained in a horizontal plane with respect to tank movements, by the use of suitable flotation devices. The tank may be divided into a number of water-tight compartments, each containing water coloured with different dyes.

Description

MODEL OCEAN WAVE REPRODUCTION This invention relates to a method by which a slow or fast moving wave and/or an agitated, disturbed, surging, rough or swelling sea effect is created in a visual container tank as an essential and integral part of a diorama.

Unless one has a very large long tank, it is difficult to recreate for visual pleasure an ocean or fresh water wave. Water, when induced to move from one end of a small oblong watertight tank to the other in real time will do so too fast to appear as a real ocean wave. For the water movement to give satisfactory visual pleasure as an ocean wave in a diorama contained in a tank, that may be for example an executive toy, and to be of a size that is practical for enjoyment in the home, office or workplace, then a method is required to scale down and slow down the water movement, such that the resulting effect created is that of a real wave together with its associated disturbed ocean effect.

According to the invention there are a minimum of two liquids sealed in a watertight clear sided (for visual observation) tank or container- hereafter called the tank. The base liquid- hereafter called the wave- which lies at the bottom of the tank when the tank is at rest i.e. no movement, is essentially dyed or coloured water. The liquid that causes the dampening or slowing down of the wave is essentially a clear colourless liquid such that its presence is not obvious. Its translucent quality creates the effect of only one liquid in the tank i.e. the wave. This colourless liquid is a chemical composition of cyclic branched and straight chain saturated hydrocarbons or aromatic hydrocarbons. That is a) Normal paraffin. b) Isoparaffin. or c) Napthenes. Or any combination of a), b) and c).

The relationship of the volumes of the two liquids, water to paraffin could be anything from 1:9 (10% water) to 3:1 (75% water). That is the wave liquid could represent anything between 10% and 75% of the total volume of the combined liquids.

The paraffin's specified in this invention by virtue of their chemical compositions are lighter than water and will never mix with water in the applications specified.

Movement of the wave is induced by alternatively lifting and lowering each end of the tank by a limited amount such that the water mass will want to flow alteniatively from one end of the tank to the other. The tank can be pivoted to facilitate a rocking movement of the tank or movement can be by mechanical means such as a electric motor driving a suitably designed cam or similar device.

The diorama in the tank is any maritime or water activity scene such as for example a ship wrecked on rocks.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with r eference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the tank unit at rest and a method by which movement is applied to the tank.

Figure 2 shows an end view of Figure 1 in direction of Arrow A clarifying the movement drive method.

Figure 3 shows tank and wave movement with drive cam in topmost position.

Figure 4 shows a window box arrangement to enclose and yet view the diorama, masking the movement of the tank.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of Figure 4 on the line BB.

Figure 6 shows an alternative drive method applied to the tank.

Figure 7 shows an end view on Figure 6 in direction of Arrow E clarifying the movement drive method.

Figure 8 shows the drive movement in Figure 6 applied to a bottle.

Figure 9 shows tank unit assembly in its simplest form (hand operated).

Figure 10 shows a plan view of a two compartment tank Figure 11 shows a plan view of a triple compartment tank.

Referring to the drawings, the wave 1 is contained in a sealed watertight tank 2 constructed of clear Acrylic. The wave is blue or green dyed water.The paraffin liquid 3 is a clear colourless complex mixture belonging to the Isoparaffinic hydrocarbon chemical family.

The water represents 33% of the total liquid volume. On large tanks a small air bubble is permanently trapped to allow for heat expansion of the liquids and/or tank construction materials. This air bubble will ideally be trapped in a small compartment 9 constructed at the top of one end of the tank.

The tank is supported on a pivot device 4 which is attached to a base 5. The pivot point is offset from the tank centre by an amount that ensures there is always a positive force F in the direction shown acting on the area of the tank where movement is provided, regardless of the position in the tank of the majority mass of liquid. An electric motor 6 drives a suitably designed cam 7. The cam design is such that one revolution provides a vertical movement up and down at the end of the tank sufficient to create a wave at a regular frequency. The RPM of the motor will depend on the length of the tank but typically for a 60cm long tank it could be 12rpm.

A model sailing ship 8 is ballasted such that it floats on the water. Its total free movement is restricted to avoid damage against the tank sides, top and bottom due to wave turbulence. The restriction ( a guide fixed to the tank bottom for example or anchors fore and ati or a hidden mechanical link system) would be designed so as not to impair the ships ability to'ride' the wave.

When the drive motor is switched on, the overall effect created is one of a sailing ship battling against the ocean waves. Figures I to 3 clarify the sequence Figure 9 shows a hand operated tank unit where the attachment of a handle 1 7 to the side or end ofthe tank facilitates operation. A removable support block 18 can be used to support the tank in a horizontal position when not in use.

Figure 4 shows a window box arrangement that is optional for use with the tank unit assembly. The front face 19 has a window opening 20 cut into it. The maximum area of the opening is defined by the maximum and minimum angular positions of the tank.

The front face 19 at least is non translucent. The effect is that no tank movement is seen and visually the effect is of wave movement only The dotted lines 23 show the angular limits of the tank and how the shape of the window can be defined. The diorama is not shown for clarity.

Figure 6 shows an alternative drive method to the tank. Instead of the motor driven cam 7, a pin or bolt 10 is attached to an arm 12 secured to the drive shaft. As the pin 10 rotates about the drive shaft centre the tank is raised and lowered.

Figure 8 shows another application of this method as applied to a typical wine or spirits bottle. Any shape tank can be driven this way provided there is a fixture on the tank suitably designed to engage with the pin 10 Figure 10 and Figure 11 show how to create more than one wave in a tank. In the plan elevations shown the tank is divided into two or more separate watertight compartments by translucent dividing panels 14, 15, and 16. Because the wave is travelling along a tank whose width is constantly changing, the wave height and configuration is constantly changing and it is moving at a different rate to the wave in the adjacent compartment.

Claims

CLATMS

1 A watertight wave tank with a minimum of one translucent side for viewing purposes containing dyed water and a clear colourless liquid paraffin which is a chemical composition of cyclic branched and straight chain hydrocarbons or aromatic hydrocarbons such as normal paraffin, isoparaffin or napthenes or any combination of these three. When a limited rocking motion is applied to the tank containing water and paraffin in the appropriate ratios, a model ocean wave is created which is an essential part of a diorama involving maritime or water activity.

2 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the clear colourless liquid paraffin is any one of the NORPAR group of complex mixtures belonging to the Aliphatic hydrocarbon chemical family.

3 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the clear colourless liquid paraffin is any one of the ISOPAR group of complex mixtures belonging to the Isoparaffinic hydrocarbon chemical family.

4 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the clear colourless liquid is any one of the EXXSOL D group of mixtures being a complex mixture of normal paraffines, isoparaffines and napthenes.

5 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claims 1 to Claim 4 wherein a pivot arrangement is provided above, on the sides. or underneath the tank to achieve a lateral rocking motion of the tank by hand. A handle attached to the side or end of the tank facilitates this.

6 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the lateral rocking motion is provided by a suitably designed cam driven by a mechanical or electric motor.

7 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the lateral rocking motion is provided by a pin, bolt or similar protrusion attached to an arm driven by a mechanical or electric motor.

8 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 5 to Claim 7 wherein incorporated in a diorama are movable floating and/or swimming maritime and water leisure objects and figures such as ships, sailboards, surfboards, jetskis, dinghies, people, fish, marine animals, mammals or any water-based subject or object

9 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 5 to Claim 7 wherein incorporated in a diorama are fixed land-based maritime objects such as islands, rocks, lighthouse, buildings, harbours, shipwrecks, piers and coastal scenes and any object or subject associated with the land and water.

10 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 8 and Claim 9 wherein there can be incorporated in a diorama any combination of the fixed and movable objects described.

11 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 5 to Claim 7 wherein there is no diorama or objects within the tank

12 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 5 to Claim 7 wherein incorporated in the tank are non maritime objects such as a crystal ball, moon, pyramid, tower or any such abstract or fantasy object or objects, including marine monsters.

1; A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 8 to Claim 12 wherein suitable and appropriate objects are illuminated from within.

14 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 8 to Claim 12 wherein the tank and/or diorama is illuminated externally for example by a strip light attached to the tank.

15 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claims 8 to Claim 12 wherein a laser beam is directed at the water surface or objects either directly or reflected fi-om within the tank or outside.

16 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the diorama or objects within the diorama such as an island, rocks or lighthouse are maintained on a horizontal plane independent of the tank position by means of levelling flotation devices attached to the pivoted object, or a weight fixed to and underneath the centre of the pivoted object.

17 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 5 to Claim 7 wherein the tank is divided into two or more independent watertight compartments by translucent dividing panels each at a different angle to its adjacent panel and not parallel to the side of the tank.

18 A watertight wave tank as claimed in Claim 1 7 wherein the water dye colour is different to the colour of the water in the adjacent compartment or is different in each of the compartments or can be the same in a maximum of two compartments.

19 A watertight wave tank as claimed in any of the claims Claim 5 to Claim 1 5 wherein painted scenes, photographs or transfers or any combination of these three appear inside or on the outside surface of the tank or both.

20 A watertight wave tank as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to Claim 19 which is enclosed or partially enclosed in a box provided with a cut-out window opening in the front for viewing of the wave. The front panel containing the window is non translucent. The maximum area and design of the window is defined by the angular positions of the tank during an operating cycle, the window profile being such that the tank profile cannot be seen when viewed directly from the front.

21 A watertight wave tank as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to Claim 19 where the tank is manufactured either partially or wholly from clear Acrylic.

22 A watertight wave tank as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to Claim 19 where the tank is manufactured either partially or wholly from clear Plastic.

23 A watertight wave tank as claimed in any ofthe Claims 1 to Claim 19 where the tank is manufactured partially or wholly from clear Perspex.

24 A watertight wave tank as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to Claim 19 where the tank is manufactured partially or wholly from clear Glass.

25 A watertight wave tank as claimed in any of the Claims 1 to Claim 19 where the tank is manufactured partially or wholly from any combination of Acrylic, Plastic, Perspex, glass, wood or metal.