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US 6,019,547 AGranted
Wave-forming apparatus
OwnerKenneth D. Hillinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wave-forming apparatus comprises a water flow chute or pool and an aerofoil structure that shapes the flow of water generated by the chute or pool. The shaped flow of water then flows across a wave-forming aerofoil or ramp to produce a safe and surfable standing wave or traveling wave. A transparent wave-forming ramp may be used to enable spectators to view, from the underside, a surfer riding a wave formed on the wave-forming ramp. Wave enhancing devices are also provided to vary the shape of the surfable wave.
Claims15
A device for making surfable standing wave, said device comprising:
- a flume having side wall for containing a flow of water;
- water flow means for providing a flow of water flowing along said flume in a first direction;
- a water-shaping aerofoil structure disposed within said flume, said structure having a top surface, a bottom surface substantially opposite said top surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, said aerofoil structure being disposed within said flume such that a flow of water provided by said water flow means contacts and flows across the top surface and the bottom surface of said aerofoil structure, is shaped by said structure, and flows substantially in a direction from said leading edge toward said trailing edge;
- and
- wave-forming means disposed downstream of said aerofoil structure within said flume and said wave-forming means comprising a wave-forming surface for forming a flow of water provided by said wave flow means into a surfable wave after the flow has been shaped by said aerofoil structure, said wave-forming surface having a lower front edge portion and an upper front edge portion, wherein the lower front edge portion is in closer proximity to the trailing edge of said aerofoil structure than is said upper front edge portion so that a flow of water flowing down said flume travels from the lower front edge portion of said wave-forming surface up and over said upper front edge portion and forms a surfable wave.
2 more elements
A device for making a surfable standing wave, said device comprising:
- a flume having sidewalls for containing a flow of water;
- water flow means for providing a flow of water flowing along said flume in a first direction;
- a water-shaping aerofoil structure disposed within said flume, said structure having a top surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, said aerofoil structure being disposed within said flume such that a flow of water provided bv said water flow means contacts and flows across the top surface of said aerofoil structure, is shaped by said structure, and flows substantially in a direction from said leading edge toward said trailing edge;
- and
- wave-forming means disposed downstream of said aerofoil structure within said flume and said wave-forming means comprising an inclined surface for forming a flow of water provided by said water flow means into a surfable wave after the flow has been shaped by said aerofoil structure, said inclined surface having a lower edge and an upper edge, wherein the lower edge is in closer proximity to the trailing edge of said aerofoil structure than is aid upper edge so that a flow of water flowing down said flume travels from the lower edge of said inclined surface up and over said upper edge and forms a surfable wave,
- wherein said aerofoil structure and said wave-forming means comprise a single integrally formed member having a fixed distance between the aerofoil structure and the wave-forming means.
3 more elements
A device for malting a surfable standing wave, said device comprising:
- a flume having sidewalls for containing a flow of water;
- water flow means for providing a flow of water flowing along said flume in a first direction;
- a water-shaping aerofoil structure disposed within said flume, said structure having a top surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, said aerofoil structure being disposed within said flume such that a flow of water provided by said water flow means contacts and flows across the top surface of said aerofoil structure, is shaped by said structure, and flows substantially in a direction from said leading edge toward said trailing edge;
- and
- wave-forming means disposed downstream of said aerofoil structure within said flume and said wave-forming means comprising a wave-forming surface for forming a flow of water provided by aid water flow means into a surfable wave after the flow has been shaped by said aerofoil structure, said wave-forming surface having lower front edge portion and an upper front edge portion wherein the lower front edge portion is in closer proximity to the trailing edge of said aerofoil structure than is said upper front edge portion so that a flow of water flowing down said flume travels from the lower front edge portion of said wave-forming surface up and over said upper front edge portion and forms a surfable wave;
- wherein adjustment means are provided for adjusting the positions of at least one of said aerofoil structure and said wave-forming means along said flume and for adjusting a distance between the aerofoil structure and the wave-forming means.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.