BOAT AMUSEMENT RIDE WITH A SPILLWAY

• US 3,853,067 A
• Filed: 02/25/1974
• Issued: 12/10/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vekoma Technology B.V.
• Original Assignee: Karl W. Bacon
• Inventors: Bacon, Karl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/445,456
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 104/69,70 46/91 272/1B,32
• US Class Current: 104/70
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes

Abstract

A long downchute trough portion is provided as part of a boat amusement ride with a significant recovery in elevation following from the bottom of the downchute portion. Water and passenger carrying boats ride over a common supportive bottom surface of the trough. A dam is provided at the top of the downchute portion to initially block water flow when the amusement ride is started. When enough water is accumulated behind the dam it is opened and the mass of water travels along the downchute and up the subsequent rise portion, thus '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'priming'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' the ride.

Claims

1. In a boat amusement ride having a downchute portion with a common boat carrying and water guiding surface that recovers part way in elevation from the bottom of the chute, the improvement comprising:

a removable barrier at the top of said downchute that is operable between an open position and a position that substantially closes off water flow down said downchute, means operably connected to said barrier for operating it between said open and closed positions in response to a control signal, and a water level sensor positioned within said downchute upstream of said barrier but adjacent thereto, said sensor emitting a control signal to said barrier operating means that causes the barrier to move to its open position when the water level behind the barrier reaches a predetermined level.

2. The boat amusement ride improvement according to claim 1 wherein said trough has a substantially flat bottom carrying said water and further wherein a passenger carrying boat provided for traveling along said trough includes a plurality of wheels on its bottom for riding along the trough and portions of the downchute and rise segments wherein the water level is not sufficient to float the boat.

3. The boat amusement ride according to claim 1 which additionally comprises:

a boat brake upstream of said dam at the top of said downchute portion that is capable of operating between boat holding and boat passage positions; and

means including a second sensor on the rise portion of said trough for operating the brake to block passage of boats when the water level adjacent said second sensor drops below the predetermined level.

4. A method of priming an amusement boat ride having a closed loop trough with a downchute portion immediately followed by a rising portion, comprising the steps of:

blocking the downchute portion of said trough at the top of said downchute, beginning the flow of water into said trough at a point ahead of said downchute top segment, sensing when the water level in said trough rises above a preset level behind said blocked portion, and unblocking the trough when the water level behind the blockage element reaches a predetermined level, whereby enough water is collected to travel down the chute portion and establish a continuous water flow up and over said subsequent trough rise.