WAVE POOL

Abstract

Devices and methods for generating surfable waves in a pool. Waves are generated by removing support, at a progression of areas at the bottom of the pool, for the water in the pool and causing rapid downflow at a progression of areas at the bottom of the pool.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A system for generating waves in a body of water, said body of water comprising a water volume enclosed by an enclosure, said water volume characterized by a surface and a bottom/floor, said system comprising: a plurality of chamber assemblies disposed at least partially below the surface of the water volume, said plurality of chamber assemblies aligned along a length of the body of water, wherein each of the chamber assemblies comprises: a first chamber having a first portion disposed at least partially below the surface of the water volume and extending toward the bottom/floor of the water volume, with a bottom of the first portion disposed below the surface of the water volume and a top of the first portion above the bottom of the first portion; an aperture proximate the bottom of the first portion, establishing a flow path from the water volume into the first portion; a vent proximate the top of the first portion, said vent operable to open to allow air to escape from the first portion, thereby allowing water to flow through the aperture, from the enclosure and into the first portion; an air supply in fluid communication with the first portion, said air supply operable to inject air into the first portion to force water in the first portion out of the first portion and through the aperture and into the enclosure; and a control system operable to control the vent and air supply of each of the chamber assemblies to open and close the vent of each of the chamber assemblies and control the air supply of each of the chamber assemblies to force water in the first portion out of the first portion, through the aperture and into the enclosure; wherein each chamber of the plurality of chamber assemblies further comprises: a second portion proximate the first portion, in fluid communication with the first portion and the body of water, said second portion being open at a top thereof thereby providing a fluid pathway from the water volume of the body of water, downwardly through the second portion; a baffle separating the first portion from the second portion, and extending from the top of the first portion toward the bottom of the first portion, said baffle terminating above the bottom of the first portion thereby establishing the aperture.

3. (canceled)

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the enclosure has a first side and a second side, and the enclosure has a sloped bottom, sloping downwardly from the first side of the enclosure to the second side of the enclosure, and the aperture of each first portion is disposed under a lower region of the sloped bottom; and wherein the chamber assemblies are arranged along the length of the body of water and are inclined, sloping downwardly, with the second portion of a first chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies partially below the first portion of said first chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies and the first portion of said first chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies partially above the second portion of said first chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies.

5. (canceled)

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system is operable to open the vent of a first chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies, close the vent of said first chamber assembly, and open the vent of a second chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies adjacent the first chamber assembly, and close the vent of said second chamber assembly, said second chamber assembly being adjacent to said first chamber assembly, and open the vent of a third chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies adjacent the second chamber assembly, and close the vent of said third chamber assembly, said third chamber assembly being non-adjacent to said first chamber assembly, and so on for any number of subsequent chamber assemblies, wherein the control system is operable to open the vent for the second chamber assembly as it closes the vent for the first chamber assembly, and open the vent for the third chamber assembly as it closes the vent for the second chamber assembly, and so on, for any number of subsequent chamber assemblies.

7. (canceled)

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system is operable to open the vent of a first chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies, close the vent of said first chamber assembly, and open the vent of a second chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies adjacent the first chamber assembly, and close the vent of said second chamber assembly, said second chamber assembly being adjacent to said first chamber assembly, and open the vent of a third chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies adjacent the second chamber assembly, and close the vent of said third chamber assembly, said third chamber assembly being non-adjacent to said first chamber assembly, and so on for any number of subsequent chamber assemblies, wherein the control system is operable to open the vent for the second chamber assembly before it closes the vent for the first chamber assembly, and open the vent for the third chamber assembly before it closes the vent for the second chamber assembly, and so on, for any number of subsequent chamber assemblies.

9. (canceled)

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the control system is operable to open the vent of a first chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies, close the vent of said first chamber assembly, and open the vent of a second chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies adjacent the first chamber assembly, and close the vent of said second chamber assembly, said second chamber assembly being adjacent to said first chamber assembly, and open the vent of a third chamber assembly amongst the plurality of chamber assemblies adjacent the second chamber assembly, and close the vent of said third chamber assembly, said third chamber assembly being non-adjacent to said first chamber assembly, and so on for any number of subsequent chamber assemblies, wherein the control system is operable to open the vent for the second chamber assembly after it closes the vent for the first chamber assembly, and open the vent for the third chamber assembly after it closes the vent for the second chamber assembly, and so on, for any number of subsequent chamber assemblies.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the top of each first portion is proximate the bottom/floor of the water volume.

12. A system for generating waves in a body of water, said body of water comprising a water volume enclosed by an enclosure, said water volume characterized by a surface and a bottom/floor, said system comprising: a plurality of chamber assemblies disposed at least partially below the surface of the water volume, said plurality of chamber assemblies aligned along a length of the body of water, wherein each of the chamber assemblies comprises: a first chamber having a first portion disposed at least partially below the surface of the water volume and extending toward the bottom/floor of the water volume, with a bottom of the first portion disposed below the surface of the water volume and a top of the first portion above the bottom of the first portion; an aperture proximate the bottom of the first portion, establishing a flow path from the water volume into the first portion; a vent proximate the top of the first portion, said vent operable to open to allow air to escape from the first portion, thereby allowing water to flow through the aperture, from the enclosure and into the first portion; an air supply in fluid communication with the first portion, said air supply operable to inject air into the first portion to force water in the first portion out of the first portion and through the aperture and into the enclosure; and a control system operable to control the vent and air supply of each of the chamber assemblies to open and close the vent of each of the chamber assemblies and control the air supply of each of the chamber assemblies to force water in the first portion out of the first portion, through the aperture and into the enclosure; wherein the vent and air supply of each chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies are disposed within a second chamber of the chamber assembly, said second chamber being watertight and disposed under the water volume.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the vent and air supply of each chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies are disposed within a second chamber of the chamber assembly, said second chamber being watertight and disposed under the water volume.

14. (canceled)

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the air supply of each chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies comprises an air compressor or blower in fluid communication with the first portion.

16. (canceled)

17. The system of claim 2, wherein the air supply of each chamber assembly of the plurality of chamber assemblies comprises a manifold branch of a manifold configured to supply air from a common air compressor or blower.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a wave pool comprising a series of chambers operable to create downflow of water in the pool in a sequence along the length of the pool to create a surfable wave.

[0013] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are timing charts, illustrating different options for the sequencing of operating the chambers to create downflow of water proximate each chamber.

[0014] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate chambers operable to create localized downflow in the water volume of the pool.

[0015] FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a chamber operable to create localized downflow areas in the water volume of the pool and also illustrate various stages in the operation of the chambers to cause localized downflow of water in the water volume of the pool.

[0016] FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate alternative arrangements of the pool and chambers of FIGS. 7 through 12.

[0017] FIG. 15 illustrates a configuration of a wave pool with two sets of chambers in a single body of water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

[0018] FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a wave pool comprising a series of chambers operable to create downflow of water in the pool in a sequence along the length of the pool to create a surfable wave. The wave pool 1 includes an enclosure 2 which encloses the water volume 3 of the pool and a series of chamber assemblies C1, C2, C3, etc., in fluid communication with the water volume. The pool has a length L and a width W, and a wall 16 extending along the length of the pool, and an edge or beach extending along the length of the pool opposite the wall. Each chamber has an opening or aperture A1, A2, A3, etc., which serve as downflow pathways, which, when conducive to downflow, allows rapid flow of pool water downwardly in the area of the opening. The wall 16 is preferably disposed proximate the openings or apertures A1, A2, A3, etc., with the line of apertures between the wall and the edge or beach. FIGS. 5 through 6, and FIGS. 7 and 12, and FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate several chamber systems for doing so.

[0019] The chambers may be operated sequentially, with a first chamber C1 operating to allow downflow in opening A1, followed by operating the second chamber C2 to allow downflow in opening A2, followed by operating the third chamber C3 to allow downflow in opening A3, etc. The downflow in opening A1 is halted near the time when downflow in opening A2 is initiated, and the downflow in opening A2 is halted near the time when downflow in opening A3 is initiated, and so on, such that downflow in one chamber is halted as downflow in an adjacent subsequent chamber is initiated. Generally, downflow in a chamber is initiated before downflow in an adjacent subsequent chamber is initiated, such that there is a brief delay in initiating downflow in an adjacent chamber after initiation of downflow in a preceding chamber. As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 2, downflow in one chamber may be halted simultaneously with initiation of downflow in an adjacent subsequent chamber, such that there is no overlap of downflows, and no interval between downflow, between each chamber and the next adjacent chamber. As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 3, downflow in one chamber may be halted just before downflow in an adjacent subsequent chamber is initiated, such that there is a brief interval between downflows of a first chamber and the next adjacent chamber. As shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4, downflow in one chamber may be halted just after downflow in an adjacent subsequent chamber is initiated, such that there is a brief overlap of downflows between each chamber and the next adjacent chamber.

[0020] In practice, because opening and closing of the vent is not instantaneous, initiation of closing and opening of the vent may be controlling, in which case:

[0021] Again referring to FIG. 2, closing the vent controlling downflow in opening A1 may be initiated simultaneously with initiating opening the vent controlling the opening in opening A2 (simultaneous), and closing the vent controlling downflow in opening A2 may be initiated simultaneously with initiating opening the vent controlling the opening in opening A2 (simultaneous), and so on, such that closing of the vent of one chamber is initiated as opening of the vent in an adjacent subsequent chamber is initiated. Thus, there is no overlap or interval between initiating of the closing of one vent and initiation of opening the next adjacent vent. Likewise, referring to the timing chart of FIG. 3, closing the vent controlling downflow in one chamber may be initiated just before initiating opening of the vent controlling downflow in an adjacent subsequent chamber, such that there is a brief interval between initiating closing of the vent controlling downflow of a first chamber and initiating opening of the vent controlling downflow in the next adjacent chamber. Likewise, referring to the timing chart of FIG. 4, closing the vent controlling downflow in one chamber may be initiated just after initiating opening of the vent controlling downflow in an adjacent subsequent chamber is initiated, such that there is a brief overlap of the open status of the vent between initiating closing of the vent controlling downflow of a first chamber and initiating opening of the vent controlling downflow in the next adjacent chamber.

[0022] Also, the vents may all be operated simultaneously to open and close the vents, to create a wave that propagates from the wall 16 to the shallow edge of the pool, moving up the sloped bottom shown in the later Figures.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the chambers may be disposed partially under the water volume of the pool, either at the bottom of the pool enclosure or low in the water volume of the pool, with a portion of the chamber including the aperture disposed under the water volume of the pool. The numerous chambers may also be disposed entirely under the pool enclosure. The pool enclosure may comprise earthen works, and comprise an earthen works pit built up above grade of the surrounding area and/or a pit dug into the ground below grade, or a manufactured tank or tub.

[0024] Chamber dimensions may vary greatly, depending on the size of the pool and the desired length of the created waves. Chambers of about 40 feet×8 feet×8 feet or so (or 12 m×2.4 m×2.4 m, about the size of a standard shipping container) will provide good surfable waves in a large pool.

[0025] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate simple embodiments of chambers operable to create localized downflow in the water volume of the pool.

[0026] In FIG. 5, the chamber assembly 4 (any one of chamber assemblies C1, C2, C3, etc.) comprises the chamber 5 with a single portion 6, with an aperture 7 toward the bottom of a single-portion chamber 5 and toward the bottom of the pool (or, at least, at depth within the pool). High air pressure within the single portion 6, in an initial condition, prevents water from rising in the chamber above the level of the top of the aperture so that the wall acts as a baffle 8 with a bottom edge 9 to restrain flow of water into the single portion 6.

[0027] The chamber assembly 4 also includes a vent 10 communicating from a high point in the single-portion chamber 5 to ambient atmosphere or some other volume at less pressure than the water pressure of the water on the lower areas of the single portion. The vent may be a fast-acting large valve operable to open rapidly and allow rapid escape of air from the second portion, such as a butterfly valve. The vent may be a shut-off valve (operable to open and close, but not suitable for fine-tuned throttling) or a throttle valve, and throttling or provision of larger flow rates for some flooding vis-à-vis other flooding can be accomplished by providing several vent valves in each chamber, and opening a variable number of the valves to provide larger or smaller evacuation rates of air. For example, later floods, when the chamber is partially flooded after earlier floods, may be quickened by opening additional vents.

[0028] An air supply 11 is in fluid communication with the single portion of the chamber. The air supply may be an air compressor or blower, operable to force air into the second chamber at a pressure higher than the water pressure in the second portion. As shown, the chamber bottom may be disposed at depth within the water volume of the pool, and the chamber ceiling may be disposed above the surface of the water volume of the pool. The chamber assembly 4, including the single portion 6, baffle 8, vent 10 and air supply 11 may also be disposed partially or entirely under the water volume of the pool, under the floor 12 of the pool.

[0029] In FIG. 6, the chamber includes a second portion 13 established beside the first portion 6, with the second portion vertically oriented (with the long axis vertical) and extending from the bottom of the chamber assembly upwardly toward the water line of the pool, but terminating well below the surface of the water volume of the pool. The second chamber provides a restrained pathway for downward flow of water, with wall 14 which defines the second chamber which also acts as a baffle, to direct flow downwardly before it enters the first portion, such that downward flow from above the second portion is more constrained to the region directly above the second portion.

[0030] In both FIGS. 5 and 6, a sidewall 15 of the chamber, along with sidewalls of the remaining chambers, may form the wall 16 along the length of the pool (shown in FIG. 1) which is useful for reflecting water from the deep side of the pool to assist in creating surfable waves. The vent valve and air supply may or may not be enclosed in a second chamber, as they are in embodiments in which they are disposed beneath the water line.

[0031] Both embodiments may be operated as described below in relation to FIGS. 7 through 12, likewise arranged in line with other chambers and operated in coordination with the other chambers to cause a series of downflows, each adjacent to a previous downflow (after the first such downflow), to create a surfable wave.

[0032] FIGS. 7 through 12 illustrate a chamber assembly 4 operable to create localized downflow areas in the water volume of the pool and also illustrate various stages in the operation of the chambers to cause localized downflow of water in the water volume of the pool. These figures show the pool 1 and pool enclosure 2 and water volume 3 of the pool, the wall 16 running along the length of the pool, and the pool floor 12. The enclosure in this example is formed of earthen works, a natural body of water, an inground pool enclosure, or an above ground pool enclosure. One of the several chamber assemblies 4 is shown, disposed below the water volume of the pool. As shown in these figures, the chamber assembly comprises the chamber, 5, which is divided into a first portion 17 and a second portion 18. A baffle 19 with a bottom edge 20 is disposed in the chamber between the first portion and the second portion, and extends from the top or ceiling 21 of the chamber and toward the bottom or floor 22, leaving a fluid pathway 23 between the first portion and the section portion, under the bottom edge of the baffle. The chamber assembly also includes a vent 10 communicating from a high point in the first portion to ambient atmosphere or some other volume at less pressure than the water pressure of the water on the lower areas of the first portion and second portion. The vent may be a fast-acting large valve operable to open rapidly and allow rapid escape of air from the first portion, such as a butterfly valve. An air supply 11 is in fluid communication with the first portion the chamber. The air supply may be an air compressor or blower, operable to force air into the first portion at a pressure higher than the water pressure in the first portion. The chamber assembly, including the first portion, second portion, baffle, vent and air supply may be disposed entirely under the water volume of the pool, under the floor of the pool. As illustrated, the vent valve 10 and air supply 11 may be disposed in a watertight second chamber 24 disposed under the water volume of the pool, with an exhaust/supply chimney 25 (if needed) extending from the second chamber to ambient atmosphere or some other volume at less pressure than the water pressure of the water on the lower areas of the first portion and second portion, but the vent valve and air supply may be disposed elsewhere, even outside the pool enclosure or the chamber assembly, and need only be in fluid communication with the first portion. The pool floor 12 and ceiling 21 may be a single structure (the pool floor may serve as the top of the chamber assembly), or may be separate structures.

[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates an initial condition of a chamber, in which the first portion is fully charged with air. Water occupies the pool enclosure 2 and the second portion, and also partially occupies the first portion to the level of the bottom edge of the baffle. This condition is achieved by pressurizing the first portion to a pressure at least matching the water pressure at the bottom edge of the baffle. (Any higher air pressure will result in air escaping under the baffle.)

[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates a second condition of the chamber of FIG. 7, in which the first portion has been vented. The vent has been opened, and this reduces the air pressure in the first portion to the ambient air pressure, or nearly so, which is the same pressure as the air pressure on the top of the pool, but lower than the water pressure at lower levels of the pool proximate the opening A1 and the slightly higher water pressure in the first portion and in the second portion. This allows water to flow downwardly from the water volume of the pool, downwardly through the second portion, under the baffle, and into the first portion. Water now occupies the pool enclosure and the second portion, and now occupies a larger part of the first portion to the level above the bottom edge of the baffle. Water will continue flowing downwardly through the second portion, and the first portion will continue to flood, so long as the vent is open.

[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates a third condition of the chamber of FIG. 7, in which the first portion vent 10 has been closed after it has been momentarily opened as described in relation to FIG. 8. Because air cannot escape from the first portion, the water level can rise only to the level at which the air pressure in the first portion rises to match the water pressure at the now higher water level in the first portion. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the cycle of venting to induce another downflow of water at the aperture A1, and closing the vent to stop the downflow, may be repeated until the air volume in the first portion becomes too small to induce a downflow strong enough to create a wave in conjunction with coordinated operation of adjacent chamber assemblies (or reaches the vent).

[0036] FIG. 12 illustrates the recharging of the first portion. To recharge the first portion, the air supply 11 may be operated to force air into the first portion, at a pressure higher than the water pressure in the first portion. The air supply may be operated intermittently, for example when the first portion is full of water and no longer able to accommodate another in-rush of water, or it may be operated between each created wave, or it may be operated continuously. The air supply may comprise an air compressor operable to inject air at high pressure and high volume, to quickly recharge the chamber. Air pressure supplied at 125 psi (861845 Pa or 8.5 atm) can rapidly recharge the first portion in a chamber. Higher or lower pressures may be used, depending on how quickly it is desired to recharge. The air supply may comprise a blower. Both types of commercially available air supply means are available in configurations that provide a wide range of output pressure and output volume, and may be used to recharge the first portion.

[0037] A single air supply may supply two or more of the chamber assemblies, through a supply manifold leading from the single air supply with branches feeding each first portion, and the supply of air to the first portions can be controlled with supply valves in each branch.

[0038] The vent valve and air supply may be disposed within the watertight second chamber 24, and may comprise an air compressor or blower disposed within the second chamber, or may comprise a manifold branch of a manifold configured to supply air from a common air compressor or blower.

[0039] Clarifying definitions will assist in understanding the invention. “Water line” or “shoreline” refer, naturally, to the water line of the body of water, which is the level where the body of water and the surrounding water meet, at the ambient atmosphere/water interface, when the pool is quiescent or calm. “Sequentially adjacent” means that each opening, or chamber, or other components is arranged one after another, with a first chamber disposed proximate a second chamber, a third chamber proximate the second chamber with the second chamber between the first and third chamber, a fourth chamber proximate the third chamber with the third chamber between the fourth and second chamber, and so on, until the nth+1 chamber is adjacent with nth chamber with the nth chamber between the nth+1 chamber and the nth−1 chamber. A chamber is any enclosed or partially enclosed volume defined by an enclosure, such as a water tank, shipping container or the like, an accumulator, or a void or cave in earthen works.

[0040] As shown in the cross section of FIG. 7, the pool floor is sloped downwardly toward the apertures of the chamber and toward the wall 16, and the chamber assemblies are also inclined with the second portion disposed lower than the first portion. As shown, the chambers are arranged along the length of the pool and are inclined, sloping downwardly toward the wall 16, with the second portion partially below the first portion and the first portion partially above the second portion. While this arrangement is preferred, suitable waves may be generated with a flat floor, or a chamber with the first and second portions level, or both.

[0041] FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate alternative arrangements of the pool and chambers of FIGS. 7 through 12. FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment in which the floor is sloped downwardly toward the apertures and the wall, and, conversely, slopes upwardly toward a beach area above the water level of the pool. In FIG. 13 the chamber of FIGS. 9, et seq. is oriented horizontally, and the pool bottom is inclined, with second portion (the downflow path) disposed under the deep side of the pool. FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment in which the pool floor is flat, and also illustrates placement of the chamber in which the chamber second portion is disposed under the water volume of the pool and the first portion, while below the water volume, is not directly beneath water volume (as in FIG. 1). The chamber may also be inclined, with the second portion above the first portion, as shown in FIGS. 7 through 12. In FIG. 14, the chamber of FIGS. 9, et seq. is oriented horizontally.

[0042] FIG. 15 illustrates a configuration of a wave pool with two sets of chambers in a single body of water. Each group of chambers is disposed under the water volume of the pool, with the downflow apertures positioned near a central wall 16 and each of the chamber first portions extending laterally away from the wall, across the width of the pool, toward outer edges of the pool. As in FIGS. 7 through 12, the pool may have a sloped bottom, sloping downward from the sides of the pool toward the center of the pool along the line of the center wall. Each group of chambers can be operated as described above.

[0043] The group of chambers in FIG. 1 can be controlled with a control system 31, which is preferably a computerized control system, operable to control the various vent valves and air supplies, in order to open and close vents in the sequences describe above, and optionally also able to control the air supplies to inject air into the chamber first portions to recharge each chamber.

[0044] The system can generate a surging wave, a spilling wave, or a plunging wave, or the system can produce a wave which, extending across the stage (going from one end to the other, along the major length L of the pool), includes a surging portion, a spilling portion and a plunging portion. The waves may propagate from either end of the pool to the other merely by reversing the sequence of creation of localized downflow areas, or reversing the sequence of venting the series of chambers. The system can also generate a wave propagating across the width W of the pool.

[0045] The method of creating a wave in a body of water, using the system of chambers described above or other systems, can include the steps of creating a sequence of localized downflows along a length of the body of water, by causing a first localized downflow in a first area of the body of water, thereafter causing a second localized downflow in a second area of the body of water adjacent the first area, thereafter creating a third localized downflow in a third area adjacent the second area not adjacent to the first area, and so on. The method can include halting the first localized downflow, and, simultaneously, initiating the second localized downflow, and so on, or halting the first localized downflow PRIOR TO initiating the second localized downflow, and so on or halting the first localized downflow AFTER initiating the second localized downflow, and so on. When implementing the method with the system of chambers disclosed above, the method can include arranging a series of chambers, including a first chamber, second chamber, third chamber and so on, each with a first portion and each with an opening providing for fluid communication between the body of water and the first portion of each, with the openings arranged along a line, with each opening being disposed beneath the surface of the body of water, with each opening being adjacent to a preceding and/or subsequent opening; allowing water in the body of water to flow into the first portion of the first chamber through a first opening of the first chamber (under the baffle) to induce downflow proximate the first chamber; and thereafter allowing water in the body of water to flow into the first portion of the second chamber through a first opening of the second chamber, under a baffle, to induce downflow proximate the second chamber; and thereafter allowing water in the body of water to flow into the first portion of subsequent chambers through a first opening of the subsequent chambers to induce downflow proximate each subsequent chamber. After allowing water to flow into a chamber, air may be forced into said chamber in order to force water in the chamber back into the body of water.

[0046] While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. The elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated into each of the other species to obtain the benefits of those elements in combination with such other species, and the various beneficial features may be employed in embodiments alone or in combination with each other. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of the appended claims.