EP2356298B1 - Artificial surfing facility - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a mobile or stationary usable artificial surfing system according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a surfing facility is from the US Pat. No. 6,019,547 known. In this, the water flows down a fixed inclined plane and meets successively below two solid flow-forming elements, which are spaced apart and produce a standing wave on a rising flank of the second element. Fixed installations mean increased effort and offer little variability in terms of the shape and height of the resulting wave.

From the US 2003/0180095 A1 An artificial surfing facility is known, in which several successively arranged waves forming guide profiles allow both an overflow, as well as caused by at least one opening in the guide profile flow through the guide. At the end of the wave pool, the water falls through a grate into a collecting space, from where it is returned to the suction side of the pumps via a return flow channel.

The object of the invention is to provide an artificial surfing system can be generated by means of standing waves of different shape and height.

This object is achieved by a surfing system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, the generation of a standing wave takes place in that the inclined plane is connected in the form of a ramp at its upper end with a flow path which compares the flow and its lower end is mounted in a wave basin. The standing wave is generated in the surfing system according to the invention in that the water flowing rapidly down the ramp is conducted via at least one adjustable guide device arranged at a distance from the lower end of the ramp in the flow direction. An influencing of the height of the shaft also takes place in that the water flowing rapidly down the ramp impinges on a defined mass of relatively slower flowing water in the wave basin and thereby is pressed up. Due to the induced change in the flow velocity creates a standing wave.

By an adjustable overflow, the water level in the wave pool is preferably adjustable. This water level also affects a backflow that flows back to the shaft at the back of the shaft at the bottom of the wave pool and influences the formation of the wave.

It is advantageously provided that the flow path upstream of several juxtaposed pump units. The flow path is a relatively large reservoir that homogenizes the amount of water delivered by the various pump units. As a result, with a lower water requirement for generating a suitable for surf beginners lower wave, for example, individual pumps are throttled in their capacity or switched off completely, without seen this over the width of the ramp would lead to a different layer thickness of the water stream.

The side walls of the flow path and also the side walls in the region of the ramp can optionally be arranged preferably to a constriction, at the width of which preferably the wave basin with side walls which can be displaced relative to one another can also be adapted. As a result, in addition to regulating the water flow rate, there are further possibilities for influencing the standing wave. It is thus possible to adjust their height for different performance levels of surfers.

In a mobile surfing facility with a limited circulating amount of water, it is particularly advantageous if the wave pool, the pump chambers and the collecting space are surrounded by a main pool. The separation of the higher In addition, arranged wave pool from the main basin guarantees that only a defined mass of water - namely that in the wave pool - forms the resistance for the water flowing down from the ramp. The formation of a standing wave is thus much easier to calculate and more clearly reproducible.

Preferably, each of the plurality of pump units is provided with a respective pump which draws water from the main reservoir and conveys it to the flow path upstream of the ramp. In this case, the delivery rate of the pumps can be regulated and / or the several pumps can be switched on and off individually or in groups to regulate the total amount of water conveyed to the flow line.

The guide device is formed according to a first embodiment of at least one guide profile, which is preferably variable not only in its angle of attack with respect to the flow, but also in its distance from the lower end of the ramp. Optionally, the guide profile can also be changed in length by means of telescopically displaceable parts.

Particularly preferably, it is provided that the guide profile is divided over the width of the wave pool into a plurality of adjacent guide profiles. The plurality of adjacent guide profiles can be arranged transversely or obliquely to the flow at different positions to influence the waveform of the shaft over the length and / or across the width of the wave pool. This arrangement at different positions is facilitated by the fact that several brackets or guides for attachment or preferably for displaceable mounting of the guide profiles are provided at the bottom of the wave pool.

The guide profiles are pivotally mounted in the region of their leading edges and their trailing edge is adjustable by means of an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can be formed for example by a pneumatic cylinder.

In one variant, the guide profiles are freely floating at least in a part of their pivoting range. In this case, for example by means of an adjustment mechanism, a first opening movement of the trailing edge and the rest of the Ausstellbewegung is due to the flow-induced negative pressure on the top of the guide automatically. A limitation, for example, in the form of a preferably adjustable belt arranged between the rear edge of the guide profile and the bottom of the wave basin can meaningfully limit the maximum deployment angle, so that there is no sudden tearing of the flow and collapse of the shaft. In contrast to the relatively large and arranged close to the water surface Wellenformenden bodies in the above-mentioned prior art, the end profile is not in the area of surfed by the surfers standing wave, but in the bottom of the wave pool, so that fall-related injuries caused by this component can be.

Another adjustment option for the shaft can be formed in that the height of the upper bearing of the ramp, together with the flow path, can be adjusted by means of an adjusting mechanism.

Finally, a further advantageous influencing of the shaft is made possible by the fact that the water level in the wave basin can be regulated by an overflow which is preferably adjustable by means of an adjusting mechanism at its rear wall located downstream from the lower end of the ramp, from where the water flows back into the main basin. The backflow vortex on the back side created by this backflow also makes it easier for a surfer who has fallen from the board to stand in the area of the wave pool downstream of the shaft and to get out of the wave pool.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch die Surfanlage bei abgeschalteten Pumpen;

Fig. 2

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch die Surfanlage bei eingeschalteten Pumpen;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Surfanlage;

Fig. 4

eine erste quer zur Strömung auf einer Linie ausgerichtete Anordnung mehrerer Leitvorrichtungen;

Fig. 5

eine zweite quer zur Strömung versetzt zueinander ausgerichtete Anordnung mehrerer Leitvorrichtungen;

Fig. 6

eine dritte schräg zur Strömung ausgerichtete Anordnung mehrerer Leitvorrichtungen; und

Fig. 7

eine Variante, bei der die Leitvorrichtungen von Düsen bzw. von Düsenleisten gebildet sind

Exemplary embodiments of the surfing system according to the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic longitudinal section through the surf system with switched off pumps;

Fig. 2

a schematic longitudinal section through the surfing system with activated pumps;

Fig. 3

a schematic plan view of the surfing facility;

Fig. 4

a first transversely to the flow aligned on a line arrangement of a plurality of guide devices;

Fig. 5

a second transversely to the flow offset from each other aligned arrangement of a plurality of guide devices;

Fig. 6

a third obliquely oriented to the flow arrangement of a plurality of guide devices; and

Fig. 7

a variant in which the guide devices are formed by nozzles or nozzle strips

The representation in the figures is purely schematic and not to scale. The in the Fig. 1 to 3 illustrated surfing system 10 is formed by a trough-shaped main pool 20, which receives all other components and keeps the required for the operation of the surfing system 10 water in a closed circuit. Within the main basin 20, a wave basin 30 is arranged elevated on supports 32 opposite its bottom. The wave pool 30 extends apart from the left-hand part of the main basin 20 in the figures over a large part of its length and width (see Fig. 2 ). However, it has due to the opposite of the main basin 20 raised bottom 31 to a much smaller depth. The wave pool 30 is delimited on both sides by two side walls 30, on its right front side by a rear wall 34 and on its left front side by a front wall 35. Also, the water mass located in the wave pool 30 is smaller than the entire water mass of the surf system 10. In the rear wall 34, an overflow 36 is formed, through which water from the wave pool 30 can flow back into the main basin 20 (see FIG. 2 ). The lower edge of the overflow 36 is optionally adjustable in height by a double, relative to the rear wall 34 by means of an adjustment mechanism 37 adjustable wall portion, thereby characterized the height of the water level N ₃₀ in Wave pool 30 and thus the entire existing in the wave pool 30 body of water is changeable.

Im in the FIGS. 1 to 3 Left part of the main basin 20, in which the wave pool 30 does not extend, a generally designated 40 pump system 40 is arranged, which is composed in the embodiment of four transversely juxtaposed pump units 41, 42, 43 and 44. In each of the pump units 41, 42, 43 and 44, a powerful volumetric pump 45 is arranged, which sucks water from the bottom portion of the main tank 20 and pushes up. The pump units 41, 42, 43 and 44 are closed on three sides and connected on the fourth side via an outlet opening 47 with a preferably horizontally arranged flow path 46, on which the pumped by the pump 45 water is homogenized in a relatively large reservoir. The length of the flow path is designated L ₄₆ .

At the side of the flow path 46 facing the wave pool 30, the upper bearing 51 of a ramp 50, which slopes downwards towards the wave pool 30, adjoins it. The ramp 50 dives with its lower end 52 immediately above the bottom 31 in the wave pool 30 a. The lower end 52 of the ramp 50 is thus in the water of the wave pool 30. Preferred is a fixed arrangement of the ramp 50. The length of the ramp is designated by L ₅₀ . The length L _{50 of} the ramp 50 is about half the length L _{46 of} the flow path 46.

At a distance L ₅₅ from the lower end 52 of the ramp 50 at least one adjustable guide device is arranged in the flow direction. The guide device is formed according to a first embodiment of a guide rail 54, 55, 56 which is arranged by means of an adjustment mechanism 58 in its pivot angle A with respect to the flow changeable at the bottom 31 of the wave tank 30. The guide profile 54, 55, 56 may be freely floating in the flow and / or mechanically adjustable in angle A relative to the flow at least in part of its pivoting range. The adjustment mechanism 58 is preferably in the form of a pneumatic cylinder, which is arranged between a bearing near the bottom 31 of the wave pool 30 and an articulation near the trailing edge on the underside of the guide profile 54, 55, 56. In an at least in the end region freely floating arrangement of the trailing edge of the guide profile 54, 55, 56 whose maximum deployment angle A is limited, for example, by a belt 31 fixed to the belt.

Another possibility of influencing the amount of water and the flow velocity on the ramp 50 - and thus the shape and the size of the standing wave 60 - is to arrange the side walls 461 of the flow path 46 in the flow direction to a constriction (see positions 460 and 462 in FIG Fig. 3 ). In this case, the side walls 501 are stored in the area of the ramp 50 in such a way that they are adapted in the area of the upper bearing 51 to the constriction exit of the flow path 46 (see positions 462 and 502 in FIG Fig. 3 ). Optionally, the narrowing can also - as in Fig. 3 indicated by the positions 462 'and 502 - take place in the area of the ramp 50. The flow path 46 in this case has parallel side walls 461 '. At a constriction in the region of the flow path 46 and / or in the area of the ramp 50, the width of the wave pool 30 is also adapted thereto by a relative displacement of its side walls 33.

At the overflow 36, a strainer 38 is arranged for safety reasons, to ensure that only water from the wave pool 30 flows back into the main basin 20 and no persons who are carried away due to a fall of the flow in the wave pool 30 or of these lost items in the main pool 20 and thus could be drawn 45 in the intake of the pump.

How out FIG. 1 As can be seen, the area to the right and left of the wave pool 30 and beyond the rear wall 34 of the wave pool 30 can be walked on by webs 21. The webs 21 are secured by railing 22 and accessible by stairs 23 at one end or side of the main basin 20.

At rest of the surfing 10 according to FIG. 1 fills a total amount of water, the main basin 20 and also the wave pool 30 therein according to the height of the lower edge of the overflow 36. During operation of the surfing system 10 according to FIG. 2 From there, the water flows on the ramp 50 and flows with increasing speed and decreasing layer thickness to the lower end 52 of the ramp 50 down. At the lower end 52 of this fast-flowing water meets the relative to quietly located water in the wave pool 30. The water flowing down the ramp 50 is supported by the serving as a wave trigger guide profiles 54, 55, 56, supported by the inertial mass of almost stationary Water is formed in the wave pool 30 upwards to a standing wave 60, which adjusts itself in the wave pool 30 as a stationary state, and thus forms a surfable wave. From the wave pool 30, the water flows through the screen 38 via the overflow 36 back into the main basin 20 and is sucked in there again on the opposite end face of the main basin 20 of the pump 45. The sieve 38 accommodating rear wall 34 of the wave pool 30 is preferably formed inclined in the flow direction.

In the simplest case, the water mass present in the wave pool 30 forms dynamically through the operation of the pumps 45, so that no physically defined overflow edge 36 to the main basin 20 is required. In the idle state of the pump 45 according to Fig. 1 As soon as the pumps 45 draw water from the main basin 20 and convey it into the wave pool 30 via the flow path 46 and the ramp 50, the level N _{20 of} the water in the main basin 20 drops well below the level N _{30 of} the water in the wave pool 30, so that in each case a defined overflow into the main pool 20 takes place. The water is conveyed in a closed circuit from the main basin 20 into the wave pool 30, from where it runs back into the main basin 20.

The invention can be realized on a mobile plant, which has approximately the following dimensions and values: The main basin 20 is about 25 to 30 m long and about 12 m wide. The water level in the main basin 20 is in the idle state of the pump 45 about 1.80 m. The wave pool 30 is about 20 to 25 meters long and about 6 to 8 meters wide. The bottom 31 of the wave pool 30 is about 1.50 m above the bottom of the main basin 20. The water level in the wave pool 30 is thus at rest about 0.20 to 0.30 m. In operation, the water level in the wave pool 30 upstream of the shaft 60 is about 0.30 to 0.40 m and downstream of the shaft 60 about 0.80 m. The ramp 50 has a narrowed state of the flow path 46 has a width of about 6.5 m. The layer thickness of the downflowing water on the ramp 50 is depending on the adjusted capacity of the pump 45 approximately between 0.50 m and 0.80 m. The flow rate of the water at the lower end of the ramp 50 is up to 4.5 m / s. In accordance with the increasing speed of the water as the ramp descends, its layer thickness decreases downwardly. The standing wave 60 reaches a height of about 1 m.

For the mobility of the surfing system 10, it is advantageous if at least parts of the same, such as the pump units 41, 42, 43, 44 are formed by containers of standard dimensions, of which optionally several are interconnected by interposed seals.

The pump system 40 has an overall height of about 2.80 m. The four pump units 41, 42, 43, 44 have a width of 2 m each. Each pump delivers about 2 m ^{3 of} water per second. The width of the flow path 46 tapers between the inlet of the pump units 41, 42, 43, 44 to the upper end of the ramp 50 in width from 8 m to about 6.5 m. The length L _{46 of} the flow path 46 is about 6 m.

The ramp has a length L ₅₀ of about 3 m to 3.5 m. The height difference between upper end 51 and lower end 52 of the ramp is about 0.30 m to 0.60 m.

At the lower end 52 of the ramp 50, the space in the wave pool 30 connects, in which the standing wave 60 is formed. This has in front of the guide profiles 54, 55, 56 has a length L ₅₅ of about 2 m and behind this a length L ₃₄ of about 3 to 4 m. This is followed over a length of about 3 to 4 m, the obliquely rearwardly rising rear wall 34, in which the overflow 36 between wave pool 30 and main basin 20 is arranged with the screen 38. The guide profiles 54, 55, 56 themselves have a length of about 25 cm.

The FIGS. 4 to 6 show three examples of achievable by a different arrangement of the guide profiles 54, 55, 56 waveform 61. The waveform 61 are each schematically in a plan view of the comb of the self-adjusting shaft 60 again.

In Fig. 4 are all three Leitprofile 54, 55, 56 parallel to each other on a line. The forming wave crest is formed in the wave pool 30 corresponding to perpendicular to the flow direction or to the side walls 33.

In Fig. 5 For example, the middle guide profile 55 is located slightly farther from the lower end 52 of the ramp 50 than the two outer guide profiles 54 and 56. The wave 60 waveform 61 thereby assumes the curved waveform 61 'shown having a bulge in the flow direction in the central region. When surfing on such a shaft, there is a relative acceleration when driving toward the center and a relative deceleration when driving from the center to the outside.

In Fig. 6 Are all three guide profiles 54, 55, 56 arranged parallel to each other on a line which is inclined at an angle to the flow direction or to the side walls 33. The waveform 61 "following this slope causes a relative acceleration when driving in the direction of the right-hand guide profile 54 and a relative delay when driving in the opposite direction when surfing.

The examples shown represent only a small selection of the possible waveforms 61 that can be generated. There are also more or less than the three guide profiles shown, so that in their partially straight and / or partially oblique and / or partially staggered arrangement on the shown Examples, a variety of waveforms 61 is possible.

The guide profiles 54, 55, 56 may optionally be telescopically adjustable in width. This can be achieved in a simple manner by an at least partial double wall, wherein on at least one of the wall parts guide means are provided for a relative displacement of the other wall part.

For a change in the flow width, the side walls 461, 501 and possibly also the front wall 34 of the wave pool 30 are advantageous in the case of a displaceability of the side walls 461 in the region of the flow path 46, the side walls 501 in the area of the ramp 50 and the side walls 33 in the region of the wave pool 30 formed telescopically changeable in length. The principle of a telescopically extendable wall is known, for example, from resizable baking trays or baking pans (see, for example DE 299 17 103 U1 . DE 94 00 662 U1 or DE 88 05 174 U1 ) and should therefore not be explained in detail.

Instead of the guide profiles 54, 55, 56 or in addition to these, nozzles 71 can also be used as guide devices, which are arranged either on the guide profiles 54, 55, 56 or as in FIG Fig. 7 shown are arranged on nozzle strips 70, which are preferably arranged pivotably at the bottom 31 of the wave tank 30. The nozzles 71 are fed by one or more, preferably in their performance controllable or controllable pumps 72, the water from the main tank 20 suck and promote under a high, variable by the pump power pressure to the nozzles 71. The one vertical component to the main flow in the wave tank 30 having, from the nozzles Exiting water jet promotes the formation of the shaft 60 in a similar manner as the guide profiles 54, 55, 56. The nozzle strips 70 can accordingly not only - as in Fig. 7 shown - to be arranged on a line transverse to the main flow in the wave tank 30, but also in the FIGS. 5 and 6 assume arrangements or mixed forms thereof. Due to the pivotable arrangement of the nozzles 71 and the nozzle strips 70 relative to the bottom 31 of the wave pool, these can not only be directed vertically upwards, but also at any angle to the main flow - contrary or in the same direction - be aligned. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES </ b> 10 surfing pool 47 Exit port (from 41, 42, 43, 44 in FIG. 46) 20 main pool 21 web 50 ramp 22 railing 501 Sidewall (from 50) 23 stairway 502 Connection (from 501 and 33) 30 wave pool 51 upper bearing (from 50) 31 Ground (from 30) 52 lower end (from 50) 32 support 53 Adjusting mechanism (for 51) 33 Sidewall (from 30) 54 Guide profile (floater) 34 rear wall 55 Guide profile (floater) 35 front wall 56 Guide profile (floater) 36 Overflow (from 30 to 20) 57 pivot bearing 37 Adjusting mechanism (for 36) 58 Adjusting mechanism (for 54 - 56) 38 Sieve (at 36) 59 guide 40 pumping equipment 60 wave 41 pump unit 61 waveform 42 pump unit 62 Backflow vortex 43 pump unit 70 nozzle bar 44 pump unit 71 jet 45 pump 72 pump 46 flow path 460 Swing bearing (from 461) 461 Sidewall (from 46) 462 Connection (from 461 and 501)

Claims (18)

1. Artificial surfing facility for generating a standing wave (60), having an inclined ramp (50), to the upper end of which water is delivered over a flow section (46) by means of at least one pump (45), and the lower end (52) of which opens into a wave tank (30), at least one adjustable guide device (54, 55, 56) being arranged in the wave tank (13) at a distance (L₅₅) from the upper end of the ramp (50) in the flow direction,
   characterized in that
   during the operation of the at least one pump (45), the wave tank (30) has a liquid level (N₃₀) which lies above the liquid level (N₂₀) of a main tank (20) surrounding the wave tank (30), the quantity of water located in the wave tank (30), even in the quiescent state of the at least one pump (45), always presenting a defined resistance to the water flowing down the ramp (50), so that the formation and the height of the standing wave (60) are influenced by the change in the flow velocity.
2. Surfing facility according to Claim 1, characterized in that the flow section (46) has side walls (461), by means of which, in the direction towards the upper end (51) of the ramp (50), a narrowing in the flow width of the water can be adjusted.
3. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of pump units (41, 42, 43, 44) each having a pump (45) are placed upstream of the flow section (46), the wave tank (30) and the pump units (41, 42, 43, 44) being surrounded by the main tank (20).
4. Surfing facility according to Claim 3, characterized in that in order to regulate the total quantity of water delivered to the flow section (46), the delivery output of the pumps (45) can be regulated and/or the pumps (45) of the plurality of pump units (41, 42, 43, 44) can be connected and disconnected individually or in groups.
5. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide device is subdivided over the width of the wave tank (30) into a plurality of guide devices (54, 55, 56) adjacent to one another.
6. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide devices are formed as guide profiles (54, 55, 56), which are mounted such that they can be pivoted about a pivot bearing (57) at their leading edge directed counter to the flow.
7. Surfing facility according to Claim 6, characterized in that the angle of attack (A) of the guide profile or the guide profiles (54, 55, 56) relative to the flow can be adjusted by means of an adjusting mechanism (56).
8. Surfing facility according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the guide profile or the guide profiles (54, 55, 56) are mounted at their trailing edge such that they are free-floating, at least in a specific pivoting range.
9. Surfing facility according to at least one of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the plurality of guide profiles (54, 55, 56) that are adjacent to one another have to be arranged at different positions over the length and/or the width of the wave tank (30) in order to influence the wave form (61) of the wave (60).
10. Surfing facility according to Claim 9, characterized in that the plurality of guide profiles (54, 55, 56) are mounted such that they can be displaced on guides (59) arranged on the bottom (31) of the wave tank (30) or can be fixed there in different positions.
11. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the water in the water tank (30) can be regulated by means of an overflow (36) that can preferably be adjusted by means of an adjusting mechanism (37).
12. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ramp (50) has side walls (501), which can be displaced relative to one another in order to change the flow width.
13. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wave tank (30) has side walls (33), which can be displaced relative to one another in order to change the flow width.
14. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance (L₅₅) of the guide profile or the guide profiles (54, 55, 56) from the lower end (52) of the ramp (50) corresponds approximately to the length (L₅₀) of the ramp (50).
15. Surfing facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one guide device (54, 55, 56) has at least one nozzle (71) or is formed by a nozzle bar (70) having a plurality of nozzles (71), water having a flow component at right angles to the main flow in the wave tank (30) emerging into the wave tank (30) through the nozzles (71).
16. Surfing facility according to Claim 15, characterized in that the at least one nozzle (71) or nozzle bar (70) is arranged on the bottom of the wave tank (30) such that it can be pivoted.
17. Surfing facility according to Claim 15, characterized in that the at least one nozzle (71) or nozzle bar (70) is aligned at an arbitrary angle with respect to the main flow - counter to or in the direction of the same.
18. Surfing facility according to one of Claim 15 to 17, characterized in that the at least one nozzle (71) is fed from one or more pumps (72), of which the output can be controlled or regulated.

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