Wave generating system

Abstract

An improved device for discharging water that is capable of efficiently generating an effective wave-like motion within a body of water. Wave generation devices based on water filled elongated tubular chambers having a substantially closed rear end and a substantially open front end and using compressed air to discharge water, such as the wave cannon, may experience operational inefficiencies from variations in quantities of compressed air. Reducing the quantity of compressed gas may result in ineffective waves and damage to the elongated tube as internal low pressure conditions collapse. A source of make-up fluid configured to mitigate internal low pressure conditions can enable effective wave generation with reduced quantities of compressed air.

1 . A device for discharging water capable of generating wave motion in a body of water, said device comprising:
 an elongated tubular chamber having a substantially closed rear end and a substantially open front end;   an anchor securing the chamber below a surface of the body of water and for maintaining the chamber in a desired orientation with respect to the body of water, such that the body of water is in fluid communication with the chamber via the open front end;   a supply of compressed air fluidly interconnected with the rear end of the chamber; and   an air control valve in fluid communication with the supply of compressed air for operatively controlling the flow of compressed air into the chamber,   a supply of make-up fluid in fluid communication with the chamber;   wherein actuation of the air control valve releases the compressed air into the rear end of the chamber to forcibly expel water within the chamber out of the open front end into the body of water; and   wherein in the event that the chamber reaches a predetermined low pressure after the release of air into the rear end of the chamber, the supply of make-up fluid introduces fluid into the rear end of the chamber to relieve the low pressure.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of make-up fluid is in fluid communication with the rear end of the tubular chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined low pressure is any pressure relatively lower than that of the body of water at the open end of the chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of make-up fluid introduces fluid into the chamber based on low pressure in said chamber, the mass of make-up fluid being zero for a predetermined low pressure equal to that in the supply of make-up fluid and increasing as the relative low pressure increases with respect to that of the supply of make-up fluid. 
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the make-up fluid is comprised of one or more fluids from the group of air and water. 
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the make-up fluid is an air and water mixture. 
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid control valve within the supply of make-up fluid for controlling the introduction of make-up fluid into the chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The wave generating device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the supply of compressed air comprises a compressed air tank fluidly connected with an air compressor. 
   
   
       9 . The wave generating device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the compressed air tank has a volume at least equal to the volume of the tubular chamber. 
   
   
       10 . The wave generating device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid control valve within the supply of make-up fluid for controlling the introduction of make-up fluid into the chamber, and wherein the fluid control valve is a check valve. 
   
   
       11 . The wave generating device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the supply of compressed air is fluidly interconnected with the tubular chamber and includes an axially aligned nozzle so as to capable of releasing compressed air substantially in the direction of the open front end. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the supply of compressed air is fluidly interconnected with the tubular chamber axially and the supply of make up fluid is fluidly connected to the rear end of the tubular chamber in such a manner so that actuation of the air control valve releases compressed air into the rear end of the tubular chamber in the direction of the open front end to forcibly expel water within the chamber out of the open front end to generate a wave in the body of water, and in the event of a formation of a predetermined low pressure within the chamber, the supply of make-up fluid will introduce fluid into the tubular chamber to mitigate the low pressure. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply of make-up fluid is the body of water. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of water is a wave pool. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of water is a wave pool and the supply of make-up fluid is the body of water. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of water is a wave pool having at least one river return and the supply of make-up fluid is the at least one river return of the body of water. 
   
   
       17 . A device for discharging water drawn from a make-up supply of water to a body of water, said device comprising:
 an elongated tubular chamber having a substantially closed rear end and a substantially open front end;   an anchor securing the chamber below a surface of the body of water and for maintaining the tubular chamber in a desired orientation with respect to the body of water, such that the body of water is in fluid communication with the tubular chamber via the open front end;   a supply of compressed air fluidly interconnected with the rear end of the tubular chamber; and   an air control valve in fluid communication with the supply of compressed air for operatively controlling the flow of compressed air into the tubular chamber,   a supply of make-up water fluidly interconnected with the rear end of the tubular chamber;   wherein actuation of the air control valve releases the compressed air into the rear end of the tubular chamber to forcibly expel water within the chamber out of the open front end into the body of water; and   wherein in the event that the chamber reaches a predetermined low pressure after the release of air into the rear end of the chamber, the supply of make-up fluid introduces fluid into the rear end of the chamber to relieve the low pressure and to fill the chamber.   
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 17 , further comprising a discharge check valve in fluid communication with the open front end of the chamber and enabling discharge of the chamber to the body of water but inhibiting reverse flow from the body of water into the chamber along the open front end.