Apparatus for creating a local reduction in wave height
Apparatus for creating a local reduction in wave height comprises a buoyant or semi buoyant top surface portion ( 20 ) with drag inducing elements ( 26 ) disposed below said portion. The drag inducing elements ( 26 ) may be compressible or inflatable and collapsible. The apparatus is especially suitable for temporary usage at a given site, after which is may be transported to another site or stored. The compressible or collapsible nature of the drag inducing elements ( 26 ) facilitates transport and storage by minimising the volume of the apparatus when not in use.
1 - 16 . (canceled)
17 . A deployable apparatus for creating a local reduction in wave height, the apparatus comprising at least one mat-like structure including:
a buoyant or semi-buoyant upper surface portion operatively disposed at or near the water surface; and
a plurality of drag inducing elements disposed below the upper surface portion, wherein the elements are collapsible or compressible when the apparatus is not in use.
18 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the upper surface portion comprises a plurality of flexibly linked buoyant or semi-buoyant sections.
19 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the upper surface portion comprises a single sheet of flexible buoyant or semi-buoyant material.
20 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of flexible fluid retaining structures disposed thereon.
21 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the flexible fluid retaining structures comprise a network grid of pipes or tubes.
22 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , wherein fluid is maintained in the flexible structures under pressure.
23 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising at least one pump for supplying fluid to said flexible fluid retaining structures.
24 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the fluid is water.
25 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the drag inducing elements comprise shaped elements formed from a compressible material.
26 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the drag inducing elements comprise collapsible drogue anchors.
27 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the drag inducing elements are inflatable with an inflating fluid.
28 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the inflating fluid is water.
29 . A deployable apparatus for creating a local reduction in wave height, the apparatus comprising at least one mat-like structure including:
a buoyant or semi-buoyant upper surface portion operatively disposed at or near the water surface;
a plurality of drag inducing elements disposed below the upper surface portion, wherein the elements are collapsible or compressible when the apparatus is not in use; and
a plurality of flexible fluid retaining structures disposed thereon the apparatus,
wherein inflating fluid for the inflatable drag inducing elements is supplied from the flexible fluid retaining structures.
30 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 , wherein the leading end of the apparatus is inclined downwardly with respect to incident waves.
31 . A system for deploying and recovering an apparatus for creating a local reduction in wave height comprising:
an apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ;
a deployment vessel;
a storage device on the vessel for the apparatus; and
means for paying out and recovering the apparatus.
32 . A system as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the storage device is a storage reel about which the apparatus is wound when not in use