Patent Application
20220372780
Plunger wave makers are very efficient ways to produce waves and swells in a body of water. They are comparable to modular piston wave makers in quality of waves produced. However, plunger wave makers are more energy efficient then piston wave makers. Plungers can be operated on different degree sloped back walls. They can be built on sloped walls from 30 degrees to 90 degrees. The optimal front face of the plungers to the still water line should optimally be between 0 and 40 degrees. The design of the plunger is very important in determining the efficiency and the height and quality of waves produced. For instance, a plunger design that has a flat bottom will cause vortices on the downward stroke. Collins English Dictionary defines a vortex, as a whirling mass or rotary motion in a liquid, gas, flame, such as the spiraling movement of water around a whirlpool. The vortices are pushed out in front of the plunger and distorts the size and quality of the solitary wave being pushed out. A plunger design that has an angled flat front, will cause the water particles interacting with the front of the plunger to slightly bow outward from the front of the plunger. Also, at the top of the flat front there will be a slight small pre break of the wave. Plungers that are square in shape and have a flat front with no curves or round edges will also create a vortex off the corners of the plunger. The only way to stop currents under the plungers or vortex in front of the plungers or small waves breaking at the top of the plungers, is to use a round bottom and round front shaped plunger design.
In U.S. Pat. No. 9,920,544 Walter Bennett, John Bushey and Mathew Gunn, is a plunger wave maker that is made out of steel panels, that uses a single hydraulic actuator connected to a belcrank and drive link mechanism, to push down and pull up the plungers. The plunger design has a flat bottom and flat angled flat front and is on a 45-degree back wall slope. This patent teaches away from the current invention, because the current invention is round on the bottom and is round in the front. In the current invention the round plunger design is actuated on a 90-degree back wall. The current invention also does not use a belcrank or drive link to assist in actuating the plungers up and down.
In U.S. Patents 20170204627A1 and WO2015188219A1, Aaron Trevis, the invention provides wave generation by means of a solid circular large plunger placed in the middle of a lake. Trevis patents teach away from the current invention, because the current invention is a plurality of individual rounded bottom and round front plungers.
In U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/501,951, Aaron Trevis, is a plunger wave generating system for use in a wave pool defining body of water having a water surface and a shoreline. The wave generating system comprises a solid circular shaped plunger having movable portions for adjusting a side cross section profile of the plunger.
In U.S. Pat. No. 10,519,679 B1 Walter Bennett, a wave making plunger constructed of solid geo foam and fiberglass.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,405 A Dupont, improvements to surge generators of the plunger type for generating surge in a test tank.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,612 Richard, the wave generator is a buoyant plunger mounted for a vertical reciprocation within a chamber having a shoreward facing opening.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,664, Baker, an apparatus is provided for making waves in bodies of water used for swimming. Having a plurality of hollow open bottom piston plungers mounted for reciprocation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 10,760,290B1, Walter Bennett, a plunger wave making apparatus for creating a surface in a body of water. The waves are generated by a plurality of side-by-side individual plungers oscillating up and down. The plungers do not have a round front or a round bottom and are not positioned on a 90-degree back wall, but rather a 45-degree back wall.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,612A, Charles Bunger, Wave producing apparatus, as for simulated surfing, skateboard riding, and the like, including a flexible elongate web and nether carriage means upwardly flexing the web and movable longitudinally thereof to produce a traveling wave.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,724A, Walter Leigh, this invention relates generally to the art of generating artificial waves and breakers in lakes, swimming pools, and the like. The invention relates, more particularly, to improved wave-generating apparatus for this purpose.
It is known in the art to generate, for the amusement of bathers, artificial waves and breakers in small bodies of water, such as swimming pools and lakes, which are devoid of natural waves and breakers. Typical existing wave-generating apparatus for this purpose are equipped with reciprocating plungers which are driven up and down in the body of water at the proper frequency to create the desired wave motion in the water.
In U.S. Pat. No. 9,534,408B2, Ross Osterman, Present embodiments are directed to a system and method for generating waves in multiple directions. Present embodiments may include a wave generation mechanism configured to be positioned centrally within a container filled with water that is sufficiently sized to facilitate recreational activities for patrons within the container. The wave generation mechanism may include at least one actuator configured to activate at least one water-displacement medium to displace the water such that waves are propagated through the water, and a directional feature configured to direct the waves away from the wave generation mechanism after activation of the actuator such that the waves are propagated outward from the wave generation mechanism in multiple directions.
In WO2009058031A1, Kerry Black, this invention relates to improvements in and relating to wave generation. In particular, this invention is directed to a means of producing high quality surfing waves for a surfing pool. This is affected via an improved wave generating caisson where the pressure means adapted to periodically apply force against the surface of water contained in the caisson, to displace said water from the caisson chamber, is achieved via hydraulic mechanical plunger means. The invention is used in conjunction with computer technology and software to enable wave profiles to be precisely specified. Channeling means are adapted to redirect water from an end of the swimming pool back to the chamber(s) to reset the chamber(s) for further wave generation and at the same time facilitate preferred breaking pf generated waves travelling along the swimming pool.
In US20110209280A1, Justin Enjo, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for improving the creation of plunging and peeling waves in a pool or body of water. The improvement is accomplished by orientating one or more wave making devices at an acute angle to one another and then placing these angled wave making devices adjacent to an array of wave making devices. The angled wave making devices are arranged and orientated such that when they generate a wave, the generated wave converges with the waves generated from the array of wave making devices. This convergence of waves constitutes a wave-wave interaction. This wave-wave interaction replicates the physical process of wave focusing and favors the creation of a plunging and peeling wave.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,428A, Per Anderson, A machine for making (gravity) waves on the free surface of a body of water comprises a platform for machinery having a deck level which is raised above the surface of the water, driving machinery located on the platform for generating reciprocating hoist action, a weighted paddle blade suspended below the surface of the water in a horizontal attitude alongside the machinery platform, suspension means extending from the driving machinery to the weighted paddle blade for imparting vertical oscillations to the paddle blade while maintaining the generally horizontal attitude of the paddle blade.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,018A, Per Anderson, A wave making machine for substantially unidirectional wave making on a water surface comprises at least one support scow, a plunger supported by each scow by means of a linkage which limits the movement of the plunger to substantially vertical movement and a drive mechanism for driving the plunger between a raised position and a lowered position. The plunger has a front face at least a portion of which is upwardly and forwardly inclined and a back face which is substantially vertically oriented whereby upon periodic motion waves are generated at the front face and substantially no waves are generated at the back face of the plunger. A plurality of scows, each supporting a wave making plunger, may be connected in a side by side relationship to form a laterally elongated wave making mechanism. The scows are connected by movable linkage mechanisms which permit independent movement of each adjacent scow.
The current invention addresses all of the challenges of previous plunger wave makers. The current round plunger wave maker invention has a round bottom and a round front. The previous challenge of a vortex coming off the bottom corners of previous flat cornered plunger designs, has been solved with this current invention. Previous box style plunger designs have a horizontal bottom, vertical lateral sides and flat to angle front panels. As these box style plungers descend rapidly, the water beneath is forced out in the form of horizontal flow. A portion of water mass is drawn into the vortex, increasing its intensity and length scale. The vortex interference concludes, that the plunger surface ought to avoid sharp corners in designing an optimal plunger.
The current invention has a round bottom and round front, which eliminates a vortex. This is because, surging water takes place in front of the round plunger and simultaneously propagates down stream with the accelerated descent of the round plunger. The round plunger design slows down once the wave crest is formed. The displaced water flux is decreased accordingly, lowering the water surface elevation close to the round shaped plunger. In this manner a complete solitary sinusoidal wave is gradually produced and no vortex is observed in this process. In addition, the computed pressure field is continuous and stable. Zero pressure occurs at the wave surface and pressure increases with water depth. The highest pressure appears at the water bottom right below the wave crest. The irrotational velocity field and stable pressure field are beneficial to the wave generation and propagation.
The other challenge with flat bottom and front angled plunger designs, is the swell tends to hook forward toward the top of the crest or will hook backward over the top of the plunger. In the current invention, this problem is solved as the round front design of the plunger causes the water particles to propagate forward all at one time, instead of prematurely hooking forward with a small break. Another issue that takes place with most plunger designs is the water particles will push off the front angled face of the plunger. The current round front in the current invention actually attracts the water particle and keeps them along and up against the plunger surface. The current invention has a round front bottom and front. The top third of the plunger straightens to 90 degrees. This extra height above the round front gives the plunger added wave height.
The component structure and design of the round plunger wave maker is novel and unique. The current invention is made out of carbon steel, dipped in a protective zinc coating and can be quickly bolted together on site. Most other previous plunger inventions are welded together, which is very costly and time consuming. In the current invention, the steel panels are manufactured in modular sections, that can be quickly bolted together on-site saving money and time in assembly. There are two front round steel panels. Also, two side panels on each side and two back panels. These steel panels are strengthened by steel stiffeners. To ensure that the round plunger does not collapse in on itself, the plungers have four bracket supports. Two bracket supports go from the top of the front panels, to the bottom of the back panels. The other two support brackets go front the top of the side panels to the top of the back panels. In addition, the back panels also have two outside support brackets, with one on the top and one on the bottom. The plunger design has four bearing brackets. The four bearing brackets are bolted on the back panel of the plunger. Two on the top and one on the bottom. One on the left and one on the right, top and bottom. Attached to the four bearing brackets are HDPE bearings. These bearings run along two steel I beams. The two steel I beams are cemented in foundations on both sides of the back, of the plunger. A cylinder beam is fastened between the two I beams for support. Another cylinder beam is bolted on the other side of the I beams, like a sandwich design. The dual ended hydraulic cylinder connects in between the two-cylinder beams, as well and to a bracket at the bottom rear of the plunger. The HDPE bearings are much less expensive than stainless steel wheels and bearings. If they need to be replaced, they are much cheaper and easier to be replaced, do to wearing. The plunger I beams are bolted into a cement wall to the rear of the round plunger wave maker. There are three indentations in the cement wall that allow the I beams to indent into the wall making the rounded plunder wave maker to be flush against the back 90 degree cement wall. The current invention has a unique and novel closed loop hydraulic design to offset loads, which greatly reduce forces, pressures, component sizes and costs.
What makes this current invention round plunger wave maker novel compared to other previous plunger patents, is that the round plunger wave maker increases wave heights, eliminates vortex, eliminates backward hook swells, eliminates forward hooking premature breaking, eliminates secondary waves, quick and easy assembly on site, low cost bearings, efficient hydraulic design, energy efficient, low cost to operate, higher quality of waves produced, wave frequency favorable for surfing every 12 seconds, novel assembly and design, unique and novel design is stable and will function well under forces.
