IP Library Granted Patent US 12,661,567
Granted Patent B2
US 12,661,567 · App. 18/343,580 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Water simulation system and method

Inventor: Charles Bollfrass (Austin, TX)
Assignee: FATHOM TANKS LLC
A63B69/125A63B69/0053A63B2210/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,661,567
App. No.
18/343,580
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water simulation system may include a tank, a plurality of fluidic inlets, a plurality of fluidic outlets, and one or more pumps. In operation, the one or more pumps may introduce liquid to the tank through the fluidic inlets and draw liquid from the tank through the fluidic outlets. A pressure at the fluidic outlets may be diffused through the tank by an intake diffusion system having an intake box and an intake plate separating the fluidic outlets from the interior of the tank. A liquid flow may be adjusted for creating swift water conditions in a first portion of the tank and a slower current in a second portion of the tank.

Claims (26)

1 . A swift water rescue simulation system comprising:

a tank defining an opening at a top end, wherein the tank is configured to be disassembled and reassembled with a plurality of panels,

a crane system positioned above the opening of the tank to lift objects into and out of the tank;

a plurality of fluidic inlets provided in a first end of the tank;

a plurality of fluidic outlets provided in a first side and/or a second side of the tank; and

one or more pumps configured to introduce liquid into the tank through the plurality of fluidic inlets and to draw the liquid from the tank through the plurality of fluidic outlets;

wherein the plurality of fluidic inlets include a plurality of current water inlets configured to provide a current flow at a first velocity and in a first direction, and a plurality of swift water inlets that each include a snorkel above a waterline of the tank, the swift water inlets configured to provide a swift water flow at a second velocity and in the first direction that create white water conditions, the second velocity being higher than the first velocity, wherein the current flow and the swift water flow are separated based at least in part on the length of tank being approximately twice as long as the width.

2 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the second velocity is 2-3 knots higher than the first velocity.

3 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of swift water inlets introduce the liquid into the tank at a height greater than a height of the plurality of current water inlets.

4 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 3 , wherein each of the snorkels having:

a reducer for increasing the velocity of the liquid through the plurality of swift water inlets; and/or

an extended arm for increasing the height at which the plurality of swift water inlets introduce the liquid into the tank.

5 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein a number of the plurality of swift water inlets is equal to a number of the plurality of current water inlets.

6 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluidic inlets is arranged across a horizontal dimension of the first end of the tank, such that the plurality of swift water inlets and the plurality of current water inlets are arranged alternatingly across said horizontal dimension.

7 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fluidic inlets is coupled to one of the plurality of fluidic outlets via a fluidic path.

8 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 7 , wherein a number of the plurality of fluidic inlets is equal to a number of the plurality of fluidic outlets.

9 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluidic outlets comprise at least one intake box defining a recess in the first and/or second side of the tank.

10 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one intake box comprises an intake plate corresponding with the surface of the first and/or the second side of the tank, the intake plate defining a plurality of intake holes therein.

11 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluidic outlets draw the liquid from the tank in a second direction different than the first direction.

12 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluidic outlets draw the liquid from the tank at a height lower than a height of the plurality of current water inlets.

13 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels comprise a plurality of bolted-metal panels.

14 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 4 , wherein the arm of each of the snorkels extends from the first end of the tank and is rotatable for adjusting a direction and/or height at which the liquid is introduced into the tank from the plurality of swift water inlets.

15 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of fluidic outlets comprise a plurality of intake boxes including the at least one intake box.

16 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of intake boxes cover a length that is at least 75% of a length of the first side of the tank; and/or

wherein the plurality of intake boxes cover a length that is at least 75% of a length of the second side of the tank.

17 . The swift water rescue simulation system of claim 15 , wherein a number of the plurality of intake boxes is equal to a number of the plurality of fluidic outlets.