Boat Wake Enlargement System Using Passive Water Pick-ups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wake enlargement systems for water sports, such as wakeboarding and waterskiing, face challenges in creating a larger wake without increasing energy consumption, as they often rely on complex water pumps or flooding systems that are heavy and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A wake enlargement system that uses water pressure developed during the boat's forward motion to fill ballast tanks without pumps or valves, employing deployable water pick-ups and air venting systems to control water flow, allowing for increased water displacement and wake size without the need for additional energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water pumps are used to fill ballast tanks, then ballast tanks can be filled with water, but the system becomes complicated, heavy, and requires additional power source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the water pump from the system entirely, extracting the complicating component while retaining the essential function of filling ballast tanks. Instead of using a pump to force water into tanks, the system allows water to enter passively through intake openings when the boat is in motion, eliminating the need for complex pumping machinery, power sources, and associated controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast tank filling system serves itself by utilizing the boat's forward motion to naturally draw water into the tanks through intake openings. The system requires no external power source or active control mechanism - the kinetic energy of the moving boat automatically performs the work of filling the ballast tanks, making the system self-sufficient and mechanically simple.
2Quantity of substance
If flooding system is used to fill ballast tanks, then tanks can be filled to waterline, but tanks cannot be filled above waterline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of ballast tank filling by using adjustable intake openings that can be positioned at different heights and angles. As the boat moves through water, these dynamic openings allow water to enter the tanks to varying levels depending on their position relative to the waterline, enabling flexible control over the amount of ballast water without being constrained by a fixed waterline limit.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the ballast tank system have different intake characteristics - multiple intake openings are positioned at various locations along the hull, allowing selective filling of different tank sections. This local differentiation enables precise control over water distribution and tank filling levels, adapting to different operating conditions and wake requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If boat is lowered in water to displace more water, then wake size increases, but more energy is required to reach speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of water displacement by dynamically adjusting the ballast tank water level rather than permanently lowering the boat's displacement volume. By controlling the amount of water in the ballast tanks, the system can increase effective displacement and wake size temporarily when needed, then reduce ballast water to decrease drag and energy consumption during cruising, providing flexible parameter adjustment without structural modification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively enhances wake size by displacing more water without the energy burdens of traditional pumping systems, providing a more efficient and effective way to create larger waves for water sports.
Implementation Method 1
uses water pressure developed during the boat's forward motion to fill ballast tanks without pumps or valves
Implementation Method 2
employing deployable water pick-ups and air venting systems to control water flow
Data Source
AI summary
A Method and Apparatus for Wake Enlargement System have been disclosed. By using water pick-ups that are mounted on a boat, controlled filling of ballast tanks is possible without the use of pumps.