Method and apparatus for injected water corridor attractions

• US 5,503,597 A
• Filed: 03/09/1994
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blade Loch, Inc.
• Inventors: Henry, Jeffery W., Lochtefeld, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/209,449
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 472/117, 472/128, 239/548, 239/550, 239/556, 239/557, 239/566, 441/133, 441/136, 440/38, 104/69, 104/70, 104/73, 104/86, 4/492, 4/504, 4/496, 4/904
• US Class Current: 472/128
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controllably injecting high velocity jets of water at an elevation at or above water level towards a buoyant object (e.g., a boat or participant in an inner tube) that is floating in a deep water recreation attraction, and causing injected water-to-object momentum transfer and directed buoyant object movement irrespective of the motion of water upon which the buoyant object floats. Structurally, a water conduit is positioned horizontally at or near the surface of a body of water. Adjacent to this conduit is positioned, in parallel corridor like fashion, a second water conduit or a benign retaining structure. The inside width of the corridor is a distance sufficient to permit passage of the buoyant object. An array of water injectors is aligned on the inside of the conduit-formed-corridor at an elevation at or above water level. These injectors are uniformly pointed at the opposing water conduit (or benign retaining structure) at an angle to the desired direction of buoyant object travel. A water source pressurizes the conduit(s) and causes the injectors to generate a power grid of jetted water along the inside length of the corridor. Spacing between injectors and water pressure per injector is sufficient to cause a buoyant object that floats inside the corridor (e.g., a participant in an inner tube), to be propelled by each successive jet down the length of the corridor. The corridor can also be used to drive buoyant objects out of a deep-water environment and up onto a beach or other water ride attraction.

Claims

1. A water injection conduit for propelling a rider or object floating on a body of water, comprising:

a propulsion module in communication with a pressurized water source, said propulsion module adapted to be positioned at or near the surface elevation of said body of water, said propulsion module having a jacket;

so as to serve as a buoy or bumper;

and at least one waterjet located on said propulsion module for releasing a stream of jetted water, wherein said stream imparts momentum transfer to a rider or object floating on said body of water.

2. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein said jacket is constructed of a lightweight buoyant material of sufficient size and weight to allow said propulsion module to float on said body of water.

3. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein said propulsion module is connected to said water source by a coupling.

4. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein a control valve is provided to adjust the flow of water from said water source to said propulsion module.

5. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein a central pipe manifold is positioned within said propulsion module, and wherein a plurality of said waterjets are provided in communication with said central pipe manifold such that water under pressure from said water source travels through said central pipe manifold and through each of said water jets.

6. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein said water jet includes an adjustable nozzle for adjustably determining the flow of said stream of jetted water.

7. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein a tether is provided to secure said propulsion module at a predetermined position in said body of water.

8. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein a protective safety liner is provided such that a rider floating in said body of water by said conduit is protected from drowning.

9. The water injection conduit of claim 1, wherein a coupling is provided for securing said water injection conduit to an adjacent water injection conduit.

10. A water corridor for propelling a rider or object floating on a substantially deep body of water onto an adjacent substantially shallow body of water, said corridor comprising:

at least two water injection conduits forming bumpers or buoys connected to a water source under pressure, said water injection conduits comprising a central pipe manifold and a jacket for permitting said conduits to float on the surface of said deep body of water forming a corridor, said conduits adapted to be adjacent said shallow body of water such that a rider floating on said deep body of water can enter said corridor and exit directly onto said shallow body of water; and

at least one waterjet positioned on each said water injection conduits, each of said waterjets releasing a stream of jetted water wherein said stream directs momentum transfer to said rider or object floating in said corridor such that said rider or object has sufficient velocity to exit said deep body of water and enter directly onto said shallow body of water.

11. The water corridor of claim 10, wherein said conduits are placed substantially parallel to one another such that said conduits form a corridor through which said rider or object may pass.

12. The water corridor of claim 10, wherein said corridor is elongated along a predetermined axis of elongation and wherein said water jets are provided at an angle of about 22 degrees relative to said axis of elongation.

13. The water corridor of claim 10, wherein said stream of jetted water adapted to contact a vessel so as to impart momentum transfer directly to the vessel.

14. The water corridor of claim 10, wherein an adjustment valve is provided to adjust a flow of water entering from said water source into said conduit.

15. The water corridor of claim 10, wherein each of said water jets is provided at a predetermined angle relative to said conduit.

16. The water corridor of claim 15, Wherein said water jets are positioned at a horizontal angle of about 22 degrees from the axis of said central pipe manifold.

17. The water corridor of claim 10, wherein additional pairs of conduits are positioned end to end and secured together by couplings such that said additional conduits form a substantially long corridor through which a rider or object may pass.

18. The water corridor of claim 10, wherein said water injection conduits are curved such that said corridor through which said rider or object may pass is curved.

19. A water ride for use in a swimming pool, said water ride comprising:

at least one water injection conduit connected to a water source under pressure, said water injection conduit having a buoyant material adapted to allow the conduit to float on the surface of a body of water contained in said swimming pool;

at least one injection nozzle located on said water injection conduit for injecting a flow of water in a predetermined direction relative to said conduit, said flow of water being adapted to impart momentum transfer to a rider or object floating on said body of water, said conduit adapted to be positioned relative to the sides of said swimming pool so as to form a corridor through which said rider or object may pass.

20. The water ride of claim 19, further comprising an additional water injection conduit which directs a flow of water at a second predetermined angle.

21. A water injection corridor for propelling a rider or object floating on a deep body of water, comprising:

at least one water injection conduit having a buoyant material adapted to allow the conduit to float on the surface of said body of water, said conduit being in communication with a water source under pressure; and

at least one water injection nozzle positioned on said conduit, said water injection nozzle being adapted to release a stream of water in a predetermined direction and at a predetermined velocity so as to impinge upon said rider or object floating on said body of water causing said rider or object to move relative to said conduit.

22. The water injection corridor of claim 21, wherein a protective safety liner is provided underneath said conduit to prevent said rider from drowning within said body of water.

23. The water injection corridor of claim 21, wherein at least two of said conduits are positioned side by side parallel to one another at a distance sufficient to permit said rider or object to pass therebetween.

24. The water injection corridor of claim 21, wherein said conduit has a valve for controlling the rate of flow and pressure from said water source into said water conduit.

25. The water injection corridor of claim 21, wherein said conduit adapted to be removably secured at or near the surface level of said body of water such that said conduit can be moved to make room for other activities in said body of water.

26. The water injection corridor of claim 25, wherein said rate of flow of said stream of water is sufficient to accelerate said rider through a corridor formed by at least two of said conduits, wherein said rider enters said corridor at a first velocity and is accelerated to a second velocity through said corridor.

27. The water injection corridor of claim 26, wherein said direction of flow within said corridor is without regard to the direction of flow of said body of water.

28. The water injection corridor of claim 21, wherein said water corridor adapted to be positioned adjacent a substantially shallow body of water, wherein said water corridor provides a transport system whereby said rider can enter directly from said deep body of water and exit onto said adjacent shallow body of water.

29. The water injection corridor of claim 21, wherein said conduit adapted to be positioned relative to a retaining structure so as to form a corridor therebetween.

30. A water injection corridor for propelling a rider or object floating on a deep body of water, comprising:

at least one water injection conduit in communication with a water source under pressure and positioned adapted to be at or near the surface level of said body of water, said conduit being connected to a tether which secures said conduit in a predetermined position relative to said body of water; and

at least one water injection nozzle positioned on said conduit, said water injection nozzle being adapted to release a stream of water in a predetermined direction and at a predetermined velocity, said stream of water being directed so as to impinge upon said rider or object floating on said body of water, causing said rider or object to move relative to said conduit.

31. A propulsion system for propelling a buoyant object or rider across the surface of a body of water, comprising:

a water injection conduit having a buoyant sleeve adapted to float at or near the surface level of said body of water and in communication with a pressurized water source, said conduit forming a corridor through which said buoyant object or rider may pass; and

at least one nozzle disposed on said conduit adapted to release a stream of water, said nozzle having an outlet end disposed substantially above the surface level of said body of water and adapted to direct said stream of water to impinge upon said buoyant object or rider so as to transfer momentum to said buoyant object or rider causing it to be propelled across the surface of said body of water in a predetermined direction.

32. A method for propelling a buoyant object or rider across the surface of a deep body of water, comprising:

forming a corridor through which said buoyant object or rider may pass;

providing conduit having a plurality of laterally disposed water injection nozzles on said corridor floating at or above the surface level of said body of water; and

supplying said nozzles with pressurized water causing said nozzles to release streams of water substantially above the surface level of said body of water so as to impinge upon said buoyant object or rider thereby transferring momentum to said buoyant object or rider and causing it to move through said corridor in a predetermined direction.