Water effects enhanced motion base simulator ride

• US 5,219,315 A
• Filed: 06/28/1991
• Issued: 06/15/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alan S. Robinson, Fuller, Mark
• Original Assignee: Alan S. Robinson, Fuller, Mark
• Inventors: Robinson, Alan S., Fuller, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): CHILCOT, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US07/723,224
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 472/59-61, 472/118, 472/128
• US Class Current: 472/59
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/00 Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/063 by using visual displays

Abstract

A simulator for water rides, that has a raft which is moved about such that it approximates the movement of a raft floating along a body of water. The simulator has a theater projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen located inside a simulator room. The visual images typically being scenes of a rapidly flowing river as seen from the front of a raft floating down the body of water. Within the room is a raft constructed to support an audience while they view the visual images. The raft is surrounded by a pool of water that can have valves or actuators incorporated to create waves and water mist to simulate a river. The raft can be moved within the pool, by displacing the water beneath the raft such that the raft moves in conjunction with the scene depicted on the screen. Water displacement may be induced by a wave created in the pool, or by pushing the water under the raft with actuators or a flexible plate located at the bottom of the pool directly under the raft. In the alternative the raft can be attached to a flexible plate, wherein the flexible plate can be bent and moved about a staff that elevates the raft above the pool floor. The devices that move the raft can be connected to a computer that moves the raft in accordance with a set of operating instructions provided by a computer program, such that the raft moves in conjunction with the scenes depicted on the screen.

Claims

1. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one floatation device adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a pool of water surrounding and supporting said floatation device;

wave means generally connected to said pool for inducing waves in said pool, said waves passing under said floatation device to cause said floatation device to move;

wave control means operatively connected to said wave means for controlling the motion of said waves in said pool such that said floatation device movement approximates the movement of a floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen; and

,

a computer program to provide said wave means with a sequence of operating instructions to create said waves, such that said waves cause floatation device movement to approximate the movement of said floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

2. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said floatation device is a raft.

3. The simulator as recited in claim 1, further comprising water valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of water in said pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said pool approximating at least one wave.

4. The simulator as recited in claim 1, further comprising air valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of air in said pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said stream of air is released from said pool to approximate water mist.

5. The simulator as recited in claim 1, further comprising an audio system operatively connected to said theater projection system, to provide sound to the audience such that the audience hears sounds approximating the sounds of a floatation device moving through the body of water depicted on said screen.

6. The simulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said projection system and said screen provide 360°

of viewing images.

7. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one floatation device adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a first pool of water surrounding said floatation device;

a second pool of water supporting said floatation device adjacent said first pool of water;

wave means operatively connected to said second pool for inducing waves in said second pool, said waves passing under said floatation device to cause said floatation device to move; and

,

wave control means operatively connected to said wave means for controlling the motion of said waves in said second pool such that said floatation device movement approximates the movement of a floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

8. The simulator as recited in claim 7, wherein said wave control means includes a computer with a computer program to provide said wave means with a sequence of operating instructions to create said waves, such that said waves cause said floatation device movement to approximate the movement of said floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

9. The simulator as recited in claim 7, wherein said floatation device is a raft.

10. The simulator as recited in claim 7 further comprising water valve means operatively connected to said first pool for directing at least one stream of water in said first pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said first pool approximating at least one wave.

11. The simulator as recited in claim 7, further comprising air valve means operatively connected to said first pool for directing at least one stream of air in said first pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said stream of air is released from said first pool to approximate water mist.

12. The simulator as recited in claim 7, wherein said first pool and said second pool are separated by a wall with a plurality of openings to allow fluid communication between said pools.

13. The simulator as recited in claim 7, further comprising an audio system operatively connected to said theater projection system, to provide sound to the audience such that the audience hears sounds approximating the sounds of a floatation device moving through the body of water depicted on said screen.

14. The simulator as recited in claim 7, wherein said projection system and said screen provide 360°

of viewing images.

15. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one floatation device adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a pool of water having a top and bottom surface, said pool of water surrounds and supports said floatation device;

motion means operatively connected to said bottom of said pool for selectively displacing said water beneath said floatation device such that said water causes said floatation device to move in a wave type motion; and

,

a plurality of actuators that extend and retract to displace said water shows said actuators, said actuators being located generally beneath said floatation device such that said water displacement causes said floatation device to move in said wave type motion such that said floatation device movement approximates the movement of a floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

16. The simulator as recited in claim 15, wherein said motion means is a plurality of water valves located at said bottom of said pool, said water valves direct streams of water in said pool under said floatation device such that said water streams cause said floatation device to move in said wave type motion.

17. The simulator as recited in claim 15, wherein said motion means includes a diaphragm operatively connected to said actuators, said diaphragm having a predetermined flexibility such that selective areas of said diaphragm move relative to said floatation device, wherein said water above said diaphragm is displaced causing said floatation device to move in said wave type motion.

18. The simulator as recited in claim 17, wherein said motion means includes a flexible plate operatively connected to said diaphragm and said actuators, said flexible plate having a predetermined ductility such that selective areas of said flexible plate and said diaphragm move relative to said floatation device, wherein said water above said diaphragm is displaced causing said floatation device to move in said wave type motion.

19. The simulator as recited in claim 15, wherein said motion control means includes a computer with a computer program to provide said actuators with a sequence of operating instructions to cause said actuators to extend and retract such that said water displaces and moves said floatation device, wherein said floatation device movement approximates the movement of said floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

20. The simulator as recited in claim 15, wherein said floatation device is a raft.

21. The simulator as recited in claim 15, further comprising water valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of water in said first pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said pool approximating at least one wave.

22. The simulator as recited in claim 15, further comprising air valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of air in said first pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said stream of air is released from said pool to approximate water mist.

23. The simulator as recited in claim 15, further comprising an audio system operatively connected to said projection system, to provide sound to the audience such that the audience hears sounds approximating the sounds of a floatation device moving through the body of water depicted on said screen.

24. The simulator as recited in claim 15, wherein said projection system and said screen provide 360°

of viewing images.

25. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one floatation device adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a pool of water that surrounds said floatation device having a top and bottom surface;

a flexible plate attached to said floatation device;

actuation means operatively connected to said flexible plate for selectively moving said flexible plate such that said floatation device moves in a wave type motion; and

,

actuation control means operatively connected to said actuation means for controlling said flexible plate movement such that said floatation device movement approximates the movement of a floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

26. The simulator as recited in claim 25, wherein said actuation means includes a universal joint attached to said flexible plate and a plurality of actuators, said actuators being attached to said flexible plate such that said actuators move said plate about said universal joint.

27. The simulator as recited in claim 25, wherein said actuation control means includes a computer with a computer program to provide said actuation means with a sequence of operating instructions to cause said actuation means to move said flexible plate such that said floatation device movement approximates the movement of said floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

28. The simulator as recited in claim 25, wherein said floatation device is a raft.

29. The simulator as recited in claim 25, further comprising water valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of water in said pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said pool approximating at least one wave.

30. The simulator as recited in claim 26, further comprising air valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of air in said pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said stream of air is released from said pool to approximate water mist.

31. The simulator as recited in claim 25, further comprising an audio system operatively connected to said projection system, to provide sound to the audience such that the audience hears sounds approximating the sounds of a floatation device moving through the body of water depicted on said screen.

32. The simulator as recited in claim 25, wherein said projection system and said screen provide 360°

of viewing images.

33. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one raft adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a pool of water surrounding and supporting said raft;

water valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of water in said pool in a direction essentially perpendicular to said raft peripheral of said raft, such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said pool approximating at least one wave;

air valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of air in said pool essentially perpendicular to said raft such that said stream of air is released from said pool to approximate water mist;

wave means operatively connected to said pool for inducing waves in said pool, said waves passing under said raft to cause said raft to move; and

,

wave control means operatively connected to said wave means for controlling the motion of said waves in said pool such that said raft movement approximates the movement of a raft through the body of water depicted on said screen, said wave control means having a computer with a computer program to provide said wave means with a sequence of operating instructions to create said waves.

34. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one raft adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a first pool of water surrounding said raft;

a second pool of water supporting said raft adjacent said first pool of water;

water valve means operatively connected to said first pool for directing at least one stream of water in said first pool essentially perpendicular to said raft such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said first pool approximating at least one wave;

air valve means operatively connected to said first pool for directing at least one stream of air in said first pool essentially perpendicular to said raft such that said stream of air is released from said first pool to approximate water mist;

wave means operatively connected to said second pool for inducing waves in said second pool, said waves passing under said raft to cause said raft to move; and

,

wave control means operatively connected to said wave means for controlling the motion of said waves in said second pool such that said raft movement approximates the movement of a raft through the body of water depicted on said screen, said wave control means having a computer with a computer program to provide said wave means with a sequence of operating instructions to create said waves.

35. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one raft adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a pool of water having a top and bottom surface, said pool of water surrounds and supports said raft;

a diaphragm operatively connected to said pool bottom, said diaphragm being located below said raft;

a plurality of actuators operatively connected to said diaphragm, said actuators extend and retract to move said diaphragm and displace said water beneath said raft such that said water displacement causes said raft to move in a wave type motion and,

motion control means operatively connected to said actuators for controlling said displacement of said water in said pool such that said raft movement approximates the movement of a raft through the body of water depicted on said screen, said motion control means having a computer with a computer program to provide said actuators with a sequence of operating instructions to cause said actuators to extend and retract.

36. The simulator as recited in claim 35, further comprising air valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of air in said pool essentially perpendicular to said raft, such that said stream of air is released from said pool to approximate water mist.

37. The simulator as recited in claim 36, further comprising water valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of water in said pool essentially perpendicular to said raft, such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said pool approximating at least one wave.

38. The simulator as recited in claim 36, further comprising an audio system operatively connected to said projection system, to provide sound to the audience such that the audience hears sounds approximating the sounds of a raft moving through the body of water depicted on said screen.

39. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one raft adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displayed on said screen;

a pool of water that surrounds said raft;

a flexible plate attached to said raft;

actuation means operatively connected to said flexible plate for selectively moving said flexible plate such that said raft moves in a wave type motion; and

,

actuation control means operatively connected to said actuation means for controlling said flexible plate movement such that said raft movement approximates the movement of a raft through the body of water depicted on said screen, said actuation control means having a computer with a computer program to provide said actuation means with a sequence of operating instructions to cause said actuation means to move said flexible plate.

40. The simulator as recited in claim 39, further comprising air valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of air in said pool essentially perpendicular to said raft, such that said stream of air is released from said pool to approximate water mist.

41. The simulator as recited in claim 40, further comprising water valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of water in said pool essentially perpendicular to said raft, such that said water valve means induces water displacement in said pool approximating at least one wave.

42. The simulator as recited in claim 40, further comprising an audio system operatively connected to said projection system, to provide sound to the audience such that the audience hears sounds approximating the sounds of a raft moving through the body of water depicted on said screen.

43. A simulator for an audience that simulates floating through a body of water, comprising:

a projection system constructed to display visual images onto a screen, said visual images depicting movement through a body of water;

at least one floatation device adapted to support the audience such that the audience can view said visual images displaed on said screen;

a pool of water having a top and bottom surface, said pool of water surrounds and supports said floatation device;

motion means operatively connected to said bottom of said pool for selectively displacing said water beneath said floatation device such that said water causes said floatation device to move in a wave type motion; and

a plurality of water valves located at said bottom of said pool, said water valves direct streams of water in said pool under said floatation device such that said water streams cause said floatation device to move in said wave type motion such that said floatation device movement approximate the movement of a floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

44. The simulator as recited in claim 43, wherein said motion control means includes a computer with a computer program to provide said water values with a sequence of operating instructions to cause said water values to release water such that said floatation device movement approximates the movement of said floatation device through the body of water depicted on said screen.

45. The simulator as recited in claim 44, wherein said floatation device is a raft.

46. The simulator as recited in claim 45, further comprising air valve means operatively connected to said pool for directing at least one stream of air in said first pool essentially perpendicular to said floatation device, such that said stream of air is released from said pool to approximate water mist.

47. The simulator as recited in claim 46, further comprising an audio system operatively connected to said projection system, to provide sound to the audience such that the audience hears sounds approximating the sounds of a floatation device moving through the body of water depicted on said screen.

48. The simulator as recited in claim 47, wherein said projection system and said screen provide 360°

of viewing images.