Patent ID: 7815396

Claim:
A wave generating apparatus, comprising: a pool which holds a body of water, the pool having a first and second end, and a floor; a wave reflecting wall in the pool facing the body of water which reflects waves towards the second end of the pool; at least one wave generating chamber in the pool which is at least partially submerged beneath a water level in the pool and located in the vicinity of the wave reflecting wall, the chamber communicating with the body of water so as to displace water in the pool when partially or completely filled with gas; a gas supply connected to the chamber; a vent valve which releases gas from the chamber; and a controller connected to the gas supply and vent valve, the controller actuating the gas supply valve to initially supply gas to the chamber at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and at a first, relatively slow supply rate until the chamber is at least partially filled with gas, simultaneously displacing water in the vicinity of the chamber, and subsequently actuating the vent valve to vent gas rapidly from the chamber via the vent valve at a vent rate higher than the gas supply rate, whereby water flows into the space left by rapidly venting gas from the chamber and the water level in the pool drops suddenly in the vicinity of the chamber adjacent the wave reflecting wall and creates a wave trough which travels towards the first end of the pool and which develops into a wave which reflects against the wave reflecting wall and travels towards the second end of the pool.