Abstract A tapered enclosure for a body of water has a wave generator positioned in a relatively narrow and deeper end. In one form, the wave generator is a buoyant plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation within a chamber having a shorewardly facing opening. Through a cyclic control system, the plunger is driven in phase with the forces of gravity and buoyancy acting thereon, starting from a rest position through strokes of increasing amplitude until a desired steady state is attained to sequentially produce waves of a desired energy. Provision is made for varying the mass of the plunger and varying the input from a prime mover as a means of adjusting wave energy and frequency. An alternative single-wave generator comprises an open bottom water-tight enclosure having air purge valves on its upper face and connected to a prime mover for raising the tank. Upon lowering, the purge valves open, allowing air to escape from the tank while the open lower end of the tank enters the water for filling to a predetermined level. Upon the tank being pulled upwardly, with the purge valves closed, a volume of water contained within the tank is upwardly displaced, above still water level, and released when the hydrostatic equilibrium between the contained water and the outer water is upset, as when the open lower end of the tank breaks the surface of the water. The tapered planform and sloping floor of the enclosure provide a wave energy conserving contour, so oriented with respect to the generator as to provide a primary wave break trajectory of optimum length for the area utilized by the system. A compound floor curvature may be provided to define a wave regenerating cavity to form a secondary wave out of the energy of a previously broken primary wave. A water inlet is disposed adjacent the wave generator and an outlet or outlets are disposed adjacent a point or points of wave dissipation, along the shallow end of the enclosure, to provide a circulatory system adapted for convenient monitoring and maintaining of optimum water quality.
Inventors
👤 G Richard
👤 E Richard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-07 15:55
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/0006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of generating waves in a body of water comprising: supporting a rigid body in the water for vertical oscillation of the body relative to the surface of the body of water in response to an imbalance of the forces of buoyancy and gravity acting on the body; and applying an external force during one, at least, of the directions of oscillation of the body, in phase with the greatest one of the forces of buoyancy and gravity then acting on the body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of generating waves in a body of water comprising: supporting a rigid body in the water for vertical oscillation of the body relative to the surface of the body of water in response to an imbalance of the forces of buoyancy and gravity acting on the body; and applying an external force during one, at least, of the directions of oscillation of the body, in phase with the greatest one of the forces of buoyancy and gravity then acting on the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1 that comprises making the body with a mean density lower than that of the water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1 that comprises terminating the application of the external force to the body at a predetermined imbalance of the forces of buoyancy or gravity acting on the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 1 in which the same external force is alternately applied to raise and lower the body in phase with the forces of buoyancy and gravity, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 2 in which the rigid body is initially vertically displaced out of a condition of buoyant equilibrium by applying the external force in a direction to augment one of the forces of buoyancy and gravity acting on the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 5 which includes the step of interrupting the application of the external force when the opposing one of the forces of buoyancy and gravity acting on the body is at least equal to the augmented one of the forces of buoyancy and gravity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 6 in which the external force is applied during both directions of oscillation of the rigid body and in phase with the greatest one of the forces of buoyancy and gravity then acting on the body.