Method and apparatus for improving sheet flow water rides
DCFirst Claim
1. A water ride apparatus for supporting a shallow flow of water thereon upon which water skimming maneuvers may be performed, said ride apparatus comprising a ride surface having:
- a downward curving flow-supporting surface defining a leading edge of said ride surface relative to said shallow flow of water thereon;
an upward curving flow-supporting surface defining a trailing edge of said ride surface relative to said shallow flow of water thereon; and
an intermediate flow-supporting surface contiguous with and curving substantially continuously downward and forward from said downward curving surface and then curving substantially upward and forward toward said upward curving surface;
said ride surface being disposed relative to said shallow flow of water such that said shallow flow of water flows from said leading edge of said ride surface to said trailing edge of said ride surface so as to form a concave riding surface upon which skateboard-like water skimming maneuvers may be performed.
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Abstract
An amusement apparatus for water sports activities wherein a flowing body of water is provided. The water moves across an inclined, declined or horizontal riding surface upon which the velocity, volume and gravitational dynamics of the flowing body of water is such that a rider may perform water skimming/simulated surfing maneuvers thereon. Composite structures with horizontal and inclined surfaces and varying flow velocity over time across specifically shaped structures permit water skimming/simulated surfing maneuvers on unbroken, spilling or tunnel type wave forms. Asymmetry in the downstream ridge line of an inclined surface allows spilling type wave formations as well as facilitating the removal of a transient surge. A novel fluid "half-pipe" waveform is also introduced.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A water ride apparatus for supporting a shallow flow of water thereon upon which water skimming maneuvers may be performed, said ride apparatus comprising a ride surface having:
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a downward curving flow-supporting surface defining a leading edge of said ride surface relative to said shallow flow of water thereon; an upward curving flow-supporting surface defining a trailing edge of said ride surface relative to said shallow flow of water thereon; and an intermediate flow-supporting surface contiguous with and curving substantially continuously downward and forward from said downward curving surface and then curving substantially upward and forward toward said upward curving surface; said ride surface being disposed relative to said shallow flow of water such that said shallow flow of water flows from said leading edge of said ride surface to said trailing edge of said ride surface so as to form a concave riding surface upon which skateboard-like water skimming maneuvers may be performed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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9. A multi-participant water ride apparatus for supporting a shallow flow of water thereon upon which ride participants may perform water skimming maneuvers, said water ride apparatus comprising a ride surface having:
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a first flow-supporting surface disposed adjacent an upstream portion of said shallow flow of water defining a substantially sub-equidyne flow area; a second flow-supporting surface disposed adjacent a downstream portion of said shallow flow of water defining a substantially supra-equidyne flow area; and a third flow-supporting surface contiguous with and curving substantially continuously from said first flow-supporting surface to said second flow-supporting surface defining an intermediate equilibrium flow area; one or more dividers disposed tangentially to said shallow flow of water defining a plurality of riding lanes for accommodating multiple ride participants and/or ride vehicles; whereby multiple ride participants can perform water skimming maneuvers on said shallow flow of water while substantially preventing upstream ride participants from interrupting water flow to downstream ride participants. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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13. A water ride apparatus for supporting a shallow flow of water thereon upon which ride participants may perform oscillating water skimming maneuvers, said water ride apparatus comprising a ride surface having:
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a first flow-supporting surface defining a substantially sub-equidyne flow area in which the fluid drag forces on a ride participant and/or ride vehicle are greater than the gravitational forces exerted on said ride participant and/or ride vehicle in a direction tangential to said shallow flow of water; a second flow-supporting surface defining a substantially supra-equidyne flow area in which the fluid drag forces exerted on said ride participant and/or ride vehicle are lesser than the gravitational forces exerted on said ride participant and/or ride vehicle in a direction tangential to said shallow flow of water; and a third flow-supporting surface between said first flow-supporting surface and said second flow-supporting surface defining an intermediate equilibrium flow area in which the fluid drag forces exerted on said ride participant and/or ride vehicle are substantially balanced by the gravitational forces exerted on said ride participant and/or ride vehicle in a direction tangential to said shallow flow of water; whereby said ride participant by controlling the angle and direction of said ride participant'"'"'s body and/or ride vehicle with respect to said shallow flow of water can vary the drag forces exerted on said ride participant and/or ride vehicle in order to perform desirable oscillating water skimming maneuvers whereby said ride participant oscillates between said sub-equidyne, equilibrium and supra-equidyne flow areas. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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21. A wave forming structure adapted to support a shallow flow of water thereon simulating the shape of a tunnel wave and upon which water skimming maneuvers may be performed, said wave forming structure comprising a ride surface having:
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a first flow-supporting surface disposed adjacent an upstream portion of said shallow flow of water defining a substantially sub-equidyne flow area; a second flow-supporting surface disposed adjacent a downstream portion of said shallow flow of water defining a substantially supra-equidyne flow area; and a third flow-supporting surface contiguous with and curving substantially continuously from said first flow-supporting surface to said second flow-supporting surface defining an intermediate equilibrium flow area; said first, second and third flow-supporting surfaces being inclined in a direction transverse to said shallow flow of water so as to facilitate clearing of transient surges of water occurring therein. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification