The present invention relates generally to a wave forming apparatus and, specifically to pneumatic wave generating chambers.
Previous disclosures by the present inventor have included an aquatic sports amusement apparatus that includes a pool, a plurality of wave generating chambers that release water into a pool, and a mobile application controller that operates the chambers, such that each chamber in the plurality releases water to create waves. The controller can be connected to the plurality of chambers via a network connection; such a connection could include a local area network, a wireless network, the internet and/or a virtual private network. The controller could be located at a distant location from the pool and chamber complex, and the controller may be a smart phone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a laptop and/or a tablet computer. Those disclosures can be found in U.S. Ser. No. 16/149,051 filed on Oct. 1, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/808,076 filed on Jan. 27, 2016, which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 13/740,419 filed on Jan. 14, 2013, which is the non-provisional of U.S. Ser. No. 61/721,304 filed on Nov. 1, 2012, all of which are by the same inventor, and all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their totality.
The release of the water from the chambers may be performed by manipulating the air pressure in the chambers as disclosed in detail in the patent applications listed above. During implementation, however, when the valve first open to release air pressure from the wave generating chambers, a low frequency noise (LFN) may be emitting. Unlike high-frequency noise, LEN is difficult to baffle and otherwise mute. It travels more easily though the structures and can cause an unpleasant sound during operation, and can cause shaking in nearby structures such as doors, windows, and walls. LFN has also been associated with human discomfort
What is needed therefore is a system that overcomes these drawbacks.
An improvement for mitigating low frequency noise (LFN) in a wave making apparatus with a chamber constructed to release water into a pool. The chamber includes a pressure relief/exhaust valve having a valve blade/flap constructed to regulate air flow from the interior of the chamber to the exterior of the chamber. The may include an actuator connected to the pressure relief/exhaust valve and an actuator speed controller 25 connected to the actuator. The actuator speed controller has a first opening speed and a second opening speed. The first opening speed is less than the second opening speed, and is implemented at the initial opening of the pressure relief/exhaust valve 10 for a period. The period is selected to mitigate the formation of LFN caused by the air flow through the pressure relief/exhaust valve.
The actuator may comprise a valve blade/flap stroke percentage (VS %), and the first opening speed is defined by (AVS %) 1/second, while the second opening speed is defined by (AVS %) 2/second.
Another improvement includes a pressure relief port 30 providing a conduit for the air flow in a first direction. This port includes a pressure relief slit allowing airflow in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pressure relief slit is positioned adjacent to the valve blade/flap such that the valve blade/flap directs the air flow through the pressure relief slit during the initial opening of the pressure relief/exhaust valve.
In yet another improvement, a secondary pressure relief valve is constructed to regulate a second air flow from the interior of the chamber to the exterior of the chamber. A second actuator is connected to the secondary pressure relief valve and the spend speed controller. The actuator speed controller begins opening the secondary pressure relief valve before the actuator speed controller begins opening the pressure relief/exhaust valve. The pressure relief/exhaust valve comprises a first maximum air flow rate and the secondary pressure relief valve comprises a second maximum air flow rate that is less than half of the first maximum airflow rate.
In yet another improvement, an active LFN panel is positioned adjacent to the pressure relief/exhaust valve. The active LFN panel includes a a panel actuator that vibrates the active LFN panel at a frequency to mitigate the formation of LFN through destructive interference. The vibration frequency may be determined in real time or based on an average of LFN frequencies produced by the wave making apparatus.
In a final improvement, a tuned LFN absorption panel is positioned adjacent to the pressure relief/exhaust valve. The tuned LFN adsorption panel comprises a panel damper that is selected to absorb the expected LFN frequencies. The panel damper may be adjustable to change the frequency the tuned LFN absorption panel will absorb.
Each of these improvements may be used alone to mitigate LFN formation, or may be used in combination with each other.
Additional aspects, alternatives and variations as would be apparent to persons of skill in the art are also disclosed herein and are specifically contemplated as included as part of the invention. The invention is set forth only in the claims as allowed by the patent office in this or related applications, and the following summary descriptions of certain examples are not in any way to limit, define or otherwise establish the scope of legal protection.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components within the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on clearly illustrating example aspects of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views and/or embodiments. Furthermore, various features of different disclosed embodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments, which are part of this disclosure. It will be understood that certain components and details may not appear in the figures to assist in more clearly describing the invention.
Reference is made herein to some specific examples of the present invention, including any best modes contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention. Examples of these specific embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying figures. While the invention is described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the described or illustrated embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Particular example embodiments of the present invention may be implemented without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, process operations well known to persons of skill in the art have not been described in detail in order not to obscure unnecessarily the present invention. Various techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, it should be noted that some embodiments include multiple iterations of a technique or multiple mechanisms unless noted otherwise. Similarly, various steps of the methods shown and described herein are not necessarily performed in the order indicated, or performed at all, in certain embodiments. Accordingly, some implementations of the methods discussed herein may include more or fewer steps than those shown or described. Further, the techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will sometimes describe a connection, relationship or communication between two or more entities. It should be noted that a connection or relationship between entities does not necessarily mean a direct, unimpeded connection, as a variety of other entities or processes may reside or occur between any two entities. Consequently, an indicated connection does not necessarily mean a direct, unimpeded connection unless otherwise noted.
The following list of example features corresponds with the attached figures and is provided for ease of reference, where like reference numerals designate corresponding features throughout the specification and figures:
To create the air pressure needed to actuate the wave making chambers described in the patent applications listed above, several fans should be used. Such an aquatic sports amusement apparatus is shown in
But the pressure within the plenum is not uniform in all portions of the plenum; indeed fluctuation of greater than 5 inches of water have been measured within an operational plenum. Therefore, fans 110 connected to particular portions of the plenum 115 may be more susceptible to going unstable. Using multiple pressure sensors 137 and vents 135, wherein each sensor 137 and vent 140 is located near each fan 110 is a way to account for the variations in the plenum 115 and more effective abate fan instability. Correcting this instability is disclosed in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 10,738,492 issued to the same inventor as the present application, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its totality.
In operations the fan 110 charges the plenum 115 with pressurized air that may be introduced to the chamber 120 through inlet valve 140. The pressurized air forces water out of the chamber 110 into the pool 125. The pressure relief/exhaust valve 10 may be actuated to release the air pressure in the chamber 115, allowing water to flow back into the chamber 115 from the pool 125. This movement of water into and out of the chamber creates waves in the pool 125. The valves may be timed such that the chamber 135 may be operated independently of the other chambers 135 in array of chambers. The details of this operation are disclosed in detail in the applications cited above, and is not repeated here.
When the pressure relief/exhaust valve 10 is first opened, it releases a tremendous amount of pressure that generates a loud LFN. Given that several of the relief/exhaust valves 10 are opened in close succession during the operation of the wave generating device, the LFN is amplified and may cause a nuisance. This is particularly pernicious and troublesome when the wave generating device is located in a populated area.
Disclosed herein are several devices directed at mitigating LFN production. Referencing
As shown in
Although exemplary embodiments and applications of the invention have been described herein including as described above and shown in the included example Figures, there is no intention that the invention be limited to these exemplary embodiments and applications or to the manner in which the exemplary embodiments and applications operate or are described herein. Indeed, many variations and modifications to the exemplary embodiments are possible as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The invention may include any device, structure, method, or functionality, as long as the resulting device, system or method falls within the scope of one of the claims that are allowed by the patent office based on this or any related patent application.
This application is related to U.S. Ser. No. 63/539,415 title “Low Frequency Noise Reduction Methods and Devices” filed on Sep. 20, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63539415 | Sep 2023 | US |