WO2014028969A1

WO2014028969A1 - Wave making apparatus with translating wake generating body

Info

Publication number: WO2014028969A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000926
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory Webber
Original assignee: Gregory Webber
Priority date: 2012-08-23
Filing date: 2013-08-23
Publication date: 2014-02-27
Also published as: AU2013305476A1

Abstract

A wave making apparatus comprising: a wake generating body comprising first and second wake generating surfaces, the first and second wake generating surfaces being laterally spaced from one another; a support relative to which the wake generating body is mounted, wherein the wake generating body is mounted for longitudinal translation relative to the support whereby the first wake generating surface generates a wake in the body of water when the wave making apparatus travels in a first direction and the second wake generating surface generates a wake in the body of water when the wave making apparatus travels in an opposing second direction.

Description

WAVE MAKING APPARATUS WITH TRANSLATING

WAKE GENERATING BODY

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wave making apparatus that includes a wake generating body adapted for translation within the wave making apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to a wave making apparatus that includes a wake generating body, also referred to herein as a "hull", that is mounted for translation along a length of a hull support structure, thereby facilitating forward and rearward wave making motion.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention relates to a wave making apparatus for the production of waves, generally for use in recreation. It is commonly known that a vessel moving through water produces a wake, which can then form into a breaking wave upon entering shallow water. The present invention advantageously provides a wave making apparatus that optimises the frequency and magnitude of waves produced in this way and aims to achieve this outcome efficiently and cost effectively.

Existing wave generating assemblies generally include inefficiencies in that they are designed to produce waves when travelling in one direction only. That is, the assemblies are not reversible to produce waves when traveling in both forward and rearward motion. The time it takes to reverse a wave producing vessel is especially valuable in situations where the wave generating vessel has to travel back and forth between two points, such as the opposite ends of a channel or between two offshore structures. To increase the frequency of wave production, the present invention provides a wave making apparatus that can reverse direction efficiently, producing a wake and subsequent wave when travelling in both forward and rearward directions.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practice.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a wave making apparatus comprising:

a wake generating body comprising first and second wake generating surfaces, the first and second wake generating surfaces being laterally spaced from one another;

a support relative to which the wake generating body is mounted,

wherein the wake generating body is mounted for longitudinal translation relative to the support whereby the first wake generating surface generates a wake in the body of water when the wave making apparatus travels in a first direction and the second wake generating surface generates a wake in the body of water when the wave making apparatus travels in an opposing second direction.

The form of the wake generating body is not particularly limited, provided it includes at least first and second wake generating surfaces that facilitate wake generation when the wave making apparatus travels in the first and second directions respectively. In one embodiment, the wake generating body is an elongate hull. Generally, the first and second wake generating surfaces may be substantially planar faces disposed on opposing ends of the elongate hull. As such, the wake generating body may comprise a substantially box-shaped hull. Likewise, the support may take any suitable form. In one preferred embodiment, the support comprises at least on arch support that defines an arc path along which the wake generating body travels in use. For example, the arc path may comprise an arched groove or passage disposed along the arch support, the wake generating body being mounted on or in the arched groove or passage.

In certain embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the wake generating body may additionally comprise a movable ballast adapted to move within the wake generating body dependant on movement of the wave making apparatus in the first direction or the second direction. For example, the ballast may comprise a liquid disposed in the wake generating body.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a wave generating system comprising:

a wave making apparatus as described above;

at least two anchor points disposed in a body of water and defining a travel path for the wave making apparatus;

cabling extending between the anchor points; and

a support structure mounted on the cabling for movement along the travel path and being adapted to support the wave making apparatus.

The anchor points may comprise any suitable form of anchor or structure. In one embodiment, the at least two anchor points comprise a pair of pylons disposed in the body of water.

The support structure may comprise a support from which the wave making apparatus hangs, or a support that tows the wave making apparatus through the water. In one embodiment, the support structure comprises a floating carriage mounted on the cabling. According to this embodiment, the floating carriage may comprise a pair of hulls between which the wave making apparatus is supported. In a preferred embodiment, the floating carriage comprises a vertical longitudinal wall extending downwardly from one of the pair of hulls into the body of water.

When the wave generating system is disposed in a body of water that does not 5 provide an appropriate shore line for wave generation, the wave generating system may also comprise a trench that extends beneath the travel path, the trench defining a floor contour that comprises a substantially planar zone extending longitudinally beneath the travel path and a zone of increasing elevation extending longitudinally adjacent the travel path, the zone of increasing elevation defining a surf zone there o above.

The present invention consists of features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes i the details may be made without departing from the scope of 5 the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, a o more particular description of the invention will be rendered by references to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the 5 accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a wave making apparatus of an embodiment of the invention at the initial position on a travel path.

D FIG. 2 illustrates the wave making apparatus of Figure 1 further along the travel path. FIG. 3 illustrates the wave making apparatus of Figure 1 including a water ballast.

FIG. 4 illustrates the wave making apparatus of Figure 3 illustrating action of the water ballast.

FIG. 5 illustrates a wave generating system of an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates the wave generating system of Figure 5 from another perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As noted above, the present invention provides a wave making apparatus that includes a wake generating body adapted for translation within the wave making apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to a wave making apparatus that includes a wake generating body, also referred to herein as a "hull", that is mounted for translation along a length of a hull support structure, thereby facilitating forward and rearward wave making motion. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail according to the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention. Alternatives and modifications to the preferred embodiments may be understood and appreciated by those of skill in the art and are included within the ambit of the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to Figures 1 -4, a wave making apparatus 100 comprises a predominantly flat, box-shaped hull 101 , which is suspended below two arch supports 102 that serve to guide the hull 101 as it generates waves while traveling along a travel path. The arch supports 102 are each provided with a passage 103 that receives runners 104 provided on mounts 105 disposed on the hull 101. At the initial phase of wave generation, the hull 101 is declined into the body of water 106 as one end of the arch support 102 maintains the bow 107 of the hull 101 , relative to the direction of movement, at a predetermined level below the level of the stern 108, which is supported by the higher, middle portion of the arch support 102 (best illustrated in Figure 1 ). The hull 101 slopes downward from bow 107 to stern 108 at an angle of between 5 and 10 degrees. ^'

Figures 1 and 2 show how an increase in water pressure at the bow 107 of the hull 101 , acting on a wake generating surface 109, starts to lift the hull 101 out of the water 106 as a bow wave 1 10 is formed. The resulting pressure forces the hull 101 rearward with respect to the arch support 102 as depicted in Figure 2 such that the hull 101 is suspended horizontally from a substantially midway point of the arch support 102, thereby raised the bow 107 of the hull 101. When the direction of travel of the wave making apparatus 100 is reversed (as depicted in Figure 4), the opposite scenario is achieved.

Figures 3 and 4 show how the resulting movement of a water ballast 300 inside the hull 101 helps to lift the (former) bow 107 of the hull 101 completely out of the water 106 as the direction of travel of the wave making apparatus 100 is reversed. Figure 3 shows the hull 101 containing a volume of water ballast 300, which is evenly distributed from front to back, because the hull 101 is suspended horizontally from the mid-section of the arch support 102. When the mounts 105 begin to ride down the slope of the arch support 102, the hull 101 tips back and the water ballast 300 gradually fills the rear end of the hull 101 , weighing it down, so that it finally comes to rest at the end of the arch support 102, as depicted in Figure 4.

One or more baffles (not shown) are positioned within the hull 101 to reduce the rate of flow of the water ballast 300, so that the transfer of the water ballast 300, from end to end, does not shift the position of the hull 101 so rapidly that it risks damaging the wave making apparatus 100, by jolting into position at the start of each run. By altering the volume of water in the water ballast 300, the operator can adjust the weight of the hull 101 to suit the different levels of resistance, which result from the hull 101 travelling through the water 106 at different speeds .The higher the speed, the greater the uplifting force and the greater the mass of water required as water ballast 300 to hold the hull 101 down, thereby reducing the amount of force transferred to the supporting structure and drive mechanism. Ideally the mass of the water ballast 300 balances exactly with the lift of the hull 101 when at the ideal speed to create the required wave height. This reduces the load placed on a support structure (shown in Figures 5 and 6) and bearings in runners 104, in that there is no net upward or downward force on any part of the system while running at maximum or ideal speed.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, in another aspect the invention provides for a wave generating system 500 comprising the wave making apparatus 100 described above. The wave making apparatus 100 is supported by a floating carriage 501 in the form of a double hulled vessel, akin to a catamaran. The wave making apparatus 100 is suspended between two hulls 502 which are drawn by means of one or more cables 503 suspended between two pylons 504. The pylons 504 are positioned in relatively deep water 506 close to a shoreline 507, against which the resulting waves can break.

Suspended from the outer hull 502 (relative to the shoreline 507), a vertical panel 508 inhibits the formation of wakes travelling away from the shoreline 507. A trench 509 in the sea bed, extending between the two pylons 504 and thus beneath the travel path of the carriage 501 , helps to optimise wave magnitude by ensuring that the resulting waves cannot feel bottom until they reach the shallows, where they subsequently break. This also allows the wave making apparatus 100 to operate close to where the waves break, which helps to reduce any loss of wave power that would result from the waves having to travel a greater distance before they break. The depth of the channel determines the degree of the 'blocking effect' with the bottom of the channel. This blocking effect helps to initiate wake formation. A small degree of blocking effect Is advantageous in that a small unbroken bow wave forms at the front of the hull 101 of the wave making apparatus, which then accentuates the 5 trough that precedes the prime wave, thereby increasing the height of the prime wave. If the channel is too shallow, the wake may break in a turbulent un-surfable fashion immediately from the hull 101 of the wave making apparatus 100 all the way to the shoreline 507.

0 It is envisaged that the wave generating system 500 illustrated In Figures 5 and 6 may be applicable to a broad expanse of water, such as a lake or estuary, as well as more traditional coast line settings.

Unless the context requires otherwise or specifically stated to the contrary, integers, 5 steps or elements of the invention recited herein as singular integers, steps or elements clearly encompass both singular and plural forms of the recited integers, steps or elements.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word o "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated step or element or integer or group of steps or elements or integers, but not the exclusion of any other step or element or integer or group of steps, elements or integers. Thus, in the context of this specification, the term "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense and thus should be understood as 5 meaning "including principally, but not necessarily solely".

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons of skill in the art are deemed to fall within o the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims

A wave making apparatus comprising:

a wake generating body comprising first and second wake generating surfaces, said first and second wake generating surfaces being laterally spaced from one another;

a support relative to which said wake generating body is mounted, wherein said wake generating body is mounted for longitudinal translation relative to said support whereby said first wake generating surface generates a wake in said body of water when said wave making apparatus travels in a first direction and said second wake generating surface generates a wake in said body of water when said wave making apparatus travels in an opposing second direction.

A wave making apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said wake generating body is an elongate hull.

A wave making apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first and second wake generating surfaces are substantially planar faces ^ disposed on opposing ends of said elongate hull.

A wave making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said support comprises at least on arch support that defines an arc path along which said wake generating body travels in use.

A wave making apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said arc path comprises an arched groove or passage disposed along said arch support, said wake generating body being mounted on or in said arched groove or passage.

6. A wave making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said wake generating body comprises a movable ballast adapted to move within said wake generating body dependant on movement of said wave making apparatus in said first direction or said second direction.

5

7. A wave making apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said ballast comprises a liquid disposed in said wake generating body.

6. A wave generating system comprising:

0 a wave making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7;

at least two anchor points disposed in a body of water and defining a travel path for said wave making apparatus;

cabling extending between said anchor points; and

a support structure mounted on said cabling for movement along said J travel path and being adapted to support said wave making apparatus.

9. A wave generating system according to claim 8, wherein said at least two anchor points comprise a pair of pylons disposed in said body of water.

3 10. A wave generating system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said support structure comprises a floating carriage mounted on said cabling.

11. A wave generating system according to claim 10, wherein said floating carriage comprises a pair of hulls between which said wave making

^■> apparatus is supported.

12. A wave generating system according to claim 11 , wherein said floating carriage comprises a vertical longitudinal wall extending downwardly from one of said pair of hulls into said body of water.

)

13. A wave generating system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, comprising a trench that extends beneath said travel path, said trench defining a floor contour that comprises a substantially planar zone extending longitudinally beneath said travel path and a zone of increasing elevation extending longitudinally adjacent said travel path, said zone of increasing elevation defining a surf zone there above.