Chamber assembly for generating waves

Abstract

A method of operating a chamber assembly for generating waves includes providing the chamber assembly, the chamber assembly comprising: a chamber for releasing water to generate a wave, the chamber comprising an ingress valve; and a control system connected to the ingress valve; receiving input at the control system regarding a desired position of the ingress valve; controlling a position of the ingress valve with the control system; and receiving air through the ingress valve and into the chamber to effect the release of water from the chamber.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a chamber assembly for generating waves, the method comprising:
 providing the chamber assembly, the chamber assembly comprising:
 a chamber for releasing water to generate a wave, the chamber comprising an ingress valve; and 
 a control system connected to the ingress valve; 
   receiving input at the control system regarding a desired position of the ingress valve;   controlling a position of the ingress valve with the control system; and   receiving air through the ingress valve and into the chamber to effect the release of water from the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the position of the ingress valve with the control system comprises sending a signal to the ingress valve to open the ingress valve to a first preset valve angle when the water in the chamber reaches a first water level, and to thereafter open the ingress valve to a second preset valve angle when the water in the chamber reaches a second water level and thereby push water out of the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first water level is different than the second water level. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calculating the desired position of the ingress valve, and wherein the desired position of the ingress valve is either calculated by the control system or is based on input provided to the control system by a user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving input at the control system regarding the desired position of the ingress valve comprising inputting the desired position of the ingress valve into the control system by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein calculating the desired position of the ingress valve comprises calculating the desired position of the ingress valve based on a water height differential between an actual water height in the chamber and a desired water height in the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises a user interface, and wherein the method further comprises receiving desired water height profile characteristics for the chamber from a user via the user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the control system selectively controls the position of the ingress valve between to create the desired water height profile characteristics received from the user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing pressurized air into the chamber via the ingress valve. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the chamber further comprises a vent valve; and   the method further comprises:
 releasing the pressurized air from the chamber via the vent valve; and 
 selectively controlling the vent valve with the control system. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 in a first state, the vent valve is fully closed and the ingress valve is at least partially open to pressurize the chamber and reduce a water level in the chamber; and   in a second state, the ingress valve is fully closed and the vent valve is at least partially open to evacuate the air from the chamber and increase the water level in the chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, in a third state, the vent valve is at least partially open and the ingress valve is at least partially closed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the chamber is a first chamber of a plurality of chambers;   the ingress valve is a first ingress valve of a plurality of ingress valves;   each of the chambers comprises one of the plurality of ingress valves; and   the control system is connected to each of the plurality of ingress valves.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method comprises sending a signal with the control system to each ingress valve to open the ingress valve to a first preset valve angle when the water in the corresponding chamber reaches a first water level, and to thereafter open the ingress valve to a second preset valve angle when the water in the corresponding chamber reaches a second water level and thereby push water out of the corresponding chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of chambers reaches the second water level at a different time than each other chamber of the plurality of chambers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ingress valve is positioned to reduce oscillation of a water level in the chamber during or after the water is evacuated from the chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber assembly further comprises a plenum, an exhaust valve, and one or more fans blowing air into the plenum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising measuring an actual power consumption of the one or more fans. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising transmitting a signal from the control system to the exhaust valve, based on the measured actual power consumption, to adjust an exhaust valve angle to a desired exhaust valve angle. 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a controller for generating a wave in a pool, the pool defining a plurality of chambers and an intake valve actuator, the method comprising:
 providing the controller, the controller comprising a processor;   computing a differential between a measured water level in at least one of the plurality of chambers and a desired water level to determine a desired intake valve angle of an intake valve for achieving the desired water level;   receiving input at the controller related to the desired intake valve angle; and   transmitting a control signal to the intake valve actuator to adjust an intake valve angle of the intake valve to the desired intake valve angle thereby generating the wave.   
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a control system for generating a wave having a desired wave profile, the method comprising:
 providing the control system, the control system comprising a controller;   measuring a water level in a chamber, the chamber configured to release water into a pool area to generate the wave in the pool area;   computing a differential between a measured water level in the chamber and a desired water level in the chamber; and   sending a signal from the controller, based on the differential, to adjust the measured water level in the chamber to the desired water level.