Action river water attraction

• US 5,421,782 A
• Filed: 05/20/1993
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/065,467
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 104/69, 104/70, 104/73, 193/2 R, 193/12, 193/13, 405/79, 405/83, 405/80, 446/153
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125

Abstract

An action river water attraction is provided comprising one or more water rides connected to a river loop, wherein the flow of water from a connected ride empowers the flow of water in the river loop. The rider enters a connected ride and then enters the river loop to experience rapid effects. They may then continue to ride the loop until the rider is ready to exit, or can enter into another connected water ride directly from the river loop. A rider can experience the thrill of one water ride and then enter the river loop for an extended amount of time. Various special effects such as lateral flow shears, differential flows at junctions and turns, boils, eddies, whirlpools, backflows and hydraulic jumps. In this manner, the endless river loop serves as the queuing area for riders who are waiting to enter connected water rides.

Claims

1. A water attraction for amusement parks, water parks, and the like, said attraction comprising:

a channel forming an endless loop containing a flowing body of water, wherein said flow may be affected by modifications to the dimensions of said channel, and wherein a rider may ride on said flowing body of water; and

at least one water ride having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet and outlet ends being tangentially interconnected to said channel, said at least one water ride comprising a ride surface thereon and at least one water releasing mechanism for injecting a flow of water onto said ride surface wherein said rider may ride on said at least one water ride, and then may enter said channel and ride said flowing body of water in said channel and then re-enter said at least one water ride directly from said channel without having to exit said flowing body of water.

2. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said ride surface includes an incline surface onto which said flow of water is injected, such that said rider may perform water skimming maneuvers thereon.

3. The water attraction of claim 2, wherein said ride surface includes an incline surface followed by a decline surface relative to said flow.

4. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said flow of water from said water ride merges with and drives said unidirectional flowing body of water in said channel.

5. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein a slide is further provided adjacent said at least one water ride adapted to allow said rider to enter said at least one water ride.

6. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said flow of water is injected onto said ride surface in a first direction which is substantially away from said water releasing mechanism.

7. The water attraction of claim 6, wherein a slide is further provided and is tangentially connected to said ride surface such that said rider enters onto said ride surface in a second direction versus said flow of water.

8. The water attraction of claim 6, wherein a slide is tangentially connected to said ride surface and permits said rider to enter onto said ride surface in a direction which is substantially in said direction of said flow of water.

9. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said water releasing mechanism comprises at least one nozzle.

10. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said flow of water on said water ride is a sheet flow upon which said rider can perform water skimming maneuvers thereon.

11. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said ride surface is followed by a substantially horizontal surface, said horizontal surface permitting said flow of water to travel horizontally at the point where said flow of water merges with said flowing body of water in said channel.

12. The water attraction of claim 11, wherein the elevation of said flow of water on said horizontal surface is substantially the same as the elevation of said flowing body of water in said channel at said point of merging, wherein an efficient transfer of momentum and kinetic energy is provided.

13. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel comprises an endless loop having various twisting and turning portions thereof wherein said flowing body of water can circulate around said loop to produce various simulated river effects.

14. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein the elevation of said water in said channel is substantially uniform.

15. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel is between three meters to 15 meters wide.

16. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.

17. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel has a bottom surface and two side walls.

18. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel is formed of concrete.

19. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel is made of fiberglass.

20. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel is made of steel.

21. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel is coated with a sealant to seal said channel to prevent leakage.

22. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein a second water ride is provided having an inlet and outlet end tangentially interconnected to said channel such that said rider riding on said flowing body of water in said channel may enter directly onto said second water ride without exiting said channel.

23. The water attraction of claim 22, wherein said rider riding on said second water ride may exit said second water ride directly into said channel.

24. The water attraction of claim 22, wherein said second water ride comprises a water injected flume adapted to propel said rider along various elevational changes from an entry area adjacent said channel to an exit area adjacent said flowing body of water in said channel.

25. The water attraction of claim 22, wherein said second water ride comprises a conventional water slide.

26. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein at least one exit is provided along said channel such that said rider riding on said flowing body of water in said channel may exit directly from said channel.

27. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein a second water ride is tangentially interconnected to said channel, said second water ride having a mechanism for injecting a flow of water in a manner similar to said water ride which transfers momentum and kinetic energy from said second water ride to drive said flowing body of water in said channel.

28. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein a periodic wave generator is provided adjacent said channel to form secondary wave formations in said channel.

29. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein a slide is provided adjacent said at least one water ride such that said rider may exit said at least one water ride and enter directly into said channel via said slide.

30. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein a suction area in said channel is provided to remove water from said channel, said removed water being recirculated to supply said water ride.

31. The water attraction of claim 30, wherein said suction area is located in said channel at a location which is behind the point at which said flow of water merges with said flowing body of water in said channel, relative to said flow.

32. The water attraction of claim 30, wherein said suction area is positioned substantially behind said merging point at a distance not greater than one-half the entire distance of said channel.

33. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein an elevated tank is provided adjacent said at least one water ride, said elevated tank being capable of releasing a large quantity of water to form a progressive wave in said channel.

34. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein said channel is configured to provide various rapid effects within said channel.

35. The water attraction of claim 1, wherein at least one of said water rides is a multiple effects water ride comprising:

a water injected flume having one end forming an inlet end of said multiple effects water ride wherein a rider may enter said water injected flume directly from said channel and be propelled upward along an inclined ride surface;

a transition pool disposed at the other end of said water injected flume for receiving said rider and providing a temporary queuing or resting area therefor; and

a water slide connected to said transition pool and forming the outlet end of said multiple effects water ride for allowing said rider to slide back down into said channel.

36. A water attraction for amusement parks, water parks, and the like, said attraction comprising:

a channel containing a predominantly unidirectional flowing body of water, wherein said flow is effected by modifications to the dimensions of said channel, and wherein a rider may ride on said flowing body of water; and

a water ride tangentially interconnected to said channel and having a ride surface thereon comprising an incline surface with a reverse slide located adjacent said incline surface, said water ride comprising at least one water releasing mechanism for injecting a flow of water onto said ride surface, said flow of water flowing from said ride surface being substantially unattenuated such that it transfers momentum and kinetic energy from said water ride to drive said unidirectional flowing body of water into said channel, wherein said rider may ride on said water ride, and then may enter said channel and ride said flowing body of water in said channel.

37. The water attraction of claim 36, wherein said incline surface is tilted slightly such that said rider riding on said incline surface will tend to move toward said reverse slide.

38. The water attraction of claim 37, wherein said reverse slide comprises a concave declining surface onto which said rider can exit directly from said water ride and into a trough.

39. The water attraction of claim 38, wherein said trough is connected to said channel to permit said rider to enter said channel from said trough.

40. A water attraction for amusement parks, water parks, and the like, said attraction comprising:

a channel containing a predominantly unidirectional flowing body of water, wherein said flow is affected by modifications to the dimensions of said channel, and wherein a rider may ride on said flowing body of water;

a water ride tangentially interconnected to said channel and having a ride surface thereon, said water ride comprising at least one water releasing mechanism for injecting a flow of water onto said ride surface, said flow of water flowing from said ride surface being substantially unattenuated such that it transfers momentum and kinetic energy from said water ride to drive said unidirectional flowing body of water in said channel, wherein said rider may ride on said water ride, and then may enter said channel and ride said flowing body of water in said channel; and

an exit ramp tangentially situated along said channel comprising a water injected flume which propels said rider upward from said channel.

41. A water attraction for amusements parks, water parks, and the like, said attraction comprising:

a channel forming an endless loop for containing a flowing body of water, wherein a rider may ride on said flowing body of water; and

a water ride interconnected to said channel, said water ride comprising a sheet flow generator which propels a sheet flow of water onto a riding surface upon which said rider can perform skimming maneuvers thereon, wherein the momentum and kinetic energy of said flow of water exiting from said riding surface substantially drives said flowing body of water in said channel in a unidirectional manner, and creates various water effects in said channel.

42. The water attraction of claim 41, wherein the surface of said channel is modified and configured to cause various rapid effects within said channel.

43. The water attraction of claim 41, wherein said channel forms a loop such that said flowing body of water flows predominantly in a unidirectional manner.

44. The water attraction of claim 41, wherein a slide is provided to permit said rider to enter directly onto said riding surface from an entry area adjacent said channel.

45. The water attraction of claim 41 wherein a second water ride is interconnected to said channel such that said rider can enter directly onto said second water ride from said channel without exiting said body of water in said channel.

46. The water attraction of claim 45, wherein said rider riding on said second water ride may exit directly from said second water ride into said channel.

47. The water attraction of claim 41, wherein said water rides is a multiple effects water ride comprising:

a water injected flume having one end forming an inlet end of said multiple effects water ride wherein a rider may enter said water injected flume directly from said channel and be propelled upward along an inclined ride surface;

a transition pool disposed at the other end of said water injected flume for receiving said rider and providing a temporary queuing or resting area therefor; and

a water slide connected to said transition pool and forming the outlet end of said multiple effects water ride for allowing said rider to slide back down into said channel.

48. A water attraction for amusement parks, water parks, and the like, said attraction comprising:

a channel for containing a flowing body of water, wherein a rider may ride on said flowing body of water;

a water ride interconnected to said channel, said water ride having a riding surface upon which said rider can perform maneuvers thereon, said water ride also having at least one water releasing mechanism to provide a flow of water onto said riding surface, wherein the momentum and kinetic energy of said flow of water flowing from said riding surface substantially drives said flowing body of water in said channel in a unidirectional manner, and creates various water effects in said channel; and

a second water ride interconnected to said channel such that said rider can enter directly onto said second water ride from said channel without exiting said channel said second water ride comprising a water injected flume which propels said rider along various elevational changes from an entry area adjacent said channel to an exit area adjacent said channel.

49. The water attraction of claim 48, wherein a tank is provided to permit a large quantity of water to be stored and released to create a progressive wave which travels from said water ride through said channel.

50. The water attraction of claim 48, wherein the suction of water is removed from said channel at a suction area which is located behind and away from the location at which said flow of water enters said channel.

51. The water attraction of claim 48, wherein a containment wall is provided along said channel to prevent said flow of water from escaping said channel.

52. The water attraction of claim 48, wherein said riding surface comprises an incline portion followed by a decline portion.

53. The water attraction of claim 48, wherein said channel is no more than one meter deep.

54. The water attraction of claim 48, wherein simulated rock formations are provided in said channel to create various water rapid effects in said channel.

55. The water attraction of claim 54, wherein said simulated rock formations are made of resilient material.

56. The water attraction of claim 48, wherein said flow of water enters said channel in a direction that is parallel or at least tangential to the direction of said flowing body of water in said channel.

57. A system for transporting a rider from one water ride to another water ride for amusements parks, water parks, and the like, said system comprising:

a channel of water containing a predominantly unidirectional flowing body of water, wherein a rider may ride on said flowing body of water;

a first water ride tangentially interconnected to said channel, said first water ride having at least one water releasing mechanism to provide a flow of water which transfers momentum and kinetic energy to drive said unidirectional flowing body of water in said channel; and

a second water ride interconnected to said channel, said second water ride comprising a water injected flume which propels said rider along various elevational changes from an entry area adjacent said channel to an exit area adjacent said channel wherein said rider may ride on said flowing body of water in said channel, and then may enter said second water ride directly from said channel and ride said second water ride.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein a third water ride is interconnected to said channel, wherein said rider may ride on said flowing body of water in said channel and may enter directly onto said third water ride.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein said flowing body of water in said channel is affected by modifications to the dimensions of said channel.