Jet river rapids water attraction

• US 5,667,445 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/463,264
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 104/69, 104/70
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• 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

The present invention relates to a water ride in the form of a river loop having a channel, wherein a portion of the channel is shallow and has a supercritical sheet flow of water thereon, and a portion of the flow in the channel is relatively deep and has a subcritical flow thereon, wherein a rider can float on a floating device, such as an inner tube, and can be carried from the deep portion and onto the shallow portion, and then back into the deep portion. The rider can experience the thrill of being accelerated through the channel by the sheet flow, and because the water ride is in the form of a loop, the rider can repeatedly ride the sheet flow of water without having to exit. A hydraulic jump is preferably created, as the supercritical sheet flow meets the subcritical flow, through which riders travel for a thrilling ride experience.

Claims

1. A water ride attraction for use in amusement parks, water theme parks, and the like, comprising:

an endless channel loop having a predominantly unidirectional flowing body of water therein, said channel loop having at least one substantially shallow portion, followed in the direction of flow, by at least one substantially deep portion;

a means for injecting a supercritical sheet flow of water directly onto said shallow portion in said direction of flow, wherein the sheet flow of water flows from said shallow portion and into said deep portion, and through momentum transfer, causes said unidirectional flowing body of water in said deep portion to flow in said direction of flow; and

wherein a rider floating in said flowing body of water can ride on said sheet flow, and then be carried into said deep portion, and can then reenter said shallow portion from the deep portion, without having to exit said water ride.

2. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the shallow portion has a substantially horizontal floor, such that said sheet flow of water is injected onto said shallow portion substantially horizontally.

3. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the means for injecting a supercritical sheet flow has at least one nozzle that is positioned such that it injects said sheet flow of water from the floor of said channel substantially horizontally onto said shallow portion, wherein the sheet flow of water on said shallow portion is substantially between 3 to 6 inches in depth.

4. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the channel is adapted with at least one downward change in elevation which causes the flow of water flowing from the shallow portion and into the deep portion to slow down and change from supercritical to critical speed, creating a hydraulic jump at or near the change in elevation.

5. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the means for injecting a supercritical sheet flow is substantially positioned such that it injects the sheet flow of water into an area that is immediately upstream, in the direction of flow, of the shallow portion, such that the sheet flow of water is substantially unattenuated and flows at supercritical speed directly onto the shallow portion.

6. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the flow of water around the channel loop is generated predominantly by said means for injecting a supercritical sheet flow of water.

7. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the shallow portion of said channel loop is curved in the direction of flow, and has a slightly embanked floor such that said sheet flow of water travelling at supercritical speed on said shallow portion substantially conforms to the contours of said shallow portion.

8. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the channel has thereon topographical changes which alter the flow of water within the channel.

9. The water ride of claim 1, wherein jet nozzles that are capable of injecting water in various directions are intermittently positioned along the shallow portion such that water can be injected directly onto said shallow portion, and the direction of flow at predetermined points on the shallow portion can be altered.

10. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the surface of the body of water is said channel loop is substantially uniform in elevation but for the injection of water onto said shallow portion form said means for injecting a supercritical sheet flow of water.

11. A water ride attraction for use in amusement parks, water theme parks, and the like, comprising:

a channel having a channel floor and adapted to have therein a body of water flowing in a predetermined direction, wherein at least a porting of said body of water flowing in said channel is substantially shallow, and at least a portion of said body of water flowing in said channel is substantially deep; and

at least one means for injecting a sheet flow of water directly onto the channel floor to drive said body of water in said predetermined direction, wherein the sheet flow of water flows onto said shallow portion, and then onto said deep portion, such that a rider can be carried by said sheet flow of water from said shallow portion, and into said deep portion.

12. The water ride of claim 11, wherein the water ride is adapted so that said sheet flow of water flowing directly onto said channel floor is substantially unattenuated and forms a supercritical sheet flow of water.

13. The water ride of claim 11, wherein the shallow portion is positioned longitudinally in the direction of flow along one side of the channel, and wherein another deep portion extends along another side of said channel wherein the shallow portion and another deep portion are separated by a dividing wall.

14. The water ride of claim 11, wherein the water ride is adapted so that the sheet flow of water in injected directly onto the shallow portion and extends substantially horizontally across the width of said shallow portion.

15. The water ride of claim 11, wherein the water ride is adapted so that the sheet flow of water flows at supercritical speed on said channel floor, and at the junction of said shallow portion and said deep portion, a hydraulic jump is created as the speed of flow is reduced from supercritical to critical.

16. The water ride of claim 11, wherein the sheet flow of water is injected directly into said shallow portion and the momentum of said sheet flow of water in said shallow portion helps to drive the water flowing in said deep portion of said channel in said predetermined direction by momentum transfer.

17. The water ride of claim 11, wherein the channel forms an endless loop, and the means for injecting a sheet flow of water is adapted so that it substantially drives the momentum of said flow of water around said loop, such that the rider can ride said water ride repeatedly without having to exit the water ride.

18. A water ride attraction for use in amusement parks, water theme parks, and the like, comprising:

a channel in the form of an endless loop having a substantially shallow floor and a unidirectionally flowing body of water therein; and

at least one means for injecting a supercritical sheet flow of water onto said channel floor in a predetermined direction, wherein the means for injecting said sheet flow of water, through momentum transfer, increases the velocity of said flowing body of water in the direction of flow, such that a hydraulic pressure differential is created between the sheet flow of water and a downstream portion of the flowing body of water, and wherein a rider floating in said flowing body of water can be accelerated by said sheet flow, and can then be carried around said loop on said flowing body of water in the direction of flow.

19. The water ride of claim 18, wherein the water ride is adapted so that a hydraulic pressure differential is created by said supercritical sheet flow of water, and wherein a shallow low pressure area is created by said sheet flow of water in the direction of flow immediately downstream from where water is introduced into said channel, and a relatively deep high pressure area is created by said flowing body of water as said sheet flow of water accumulates, increases in depth and reduces in speed to become critical, and then subcritical in the direction of flow.

20. The water ride of claim 19, wherein the channel floor is adapted with a change in elevation to create a hydraulic jump at the transition point between, in the direction of flow, the supercritical sheet flow of water and the subcritical flow of water.

21. The water ride of claim 19, wherein the water ride is adapted so that the supercritical sheet flow of water can be injected substantially horizontally and with sufficient power to cause the sheet flow of water to flow downstream, thereby causing the depth of the relatively deep high pressure area to increase, as the depth of the water in the relatively shallow low pressure area reciprocally decreases.

22. The water ride of claim 18, wherein the water ride is adapted so that the supercritical sheet flow of water slows down due to friction to a critical speed, wherein a hydraulic jump is created, and wherein said flow then becomes subcritical.

23. The water ride of claim 18, wherein the water ride is adapted so that the supercritical sheet flow forms a relatively shallow flow of water, whereas the flowing body of water, which is at subcritical speed, forms a relatively deep flow of water, wherein a hydraulic jump is formed at the transition point between the supercritical and subcritical flows.

24. The water ride of claim 23, wherein the water ride is adapted so that a hydraulic pressure differential exists between said supercritical and subcritical flows, such that as the hydraulic pressure differential is increased, the tendency of the water in the subcritical flow to flow backwards against the direction of flow is increased, thereby causing a more dramatic hydraulic jump, as the supercritical sheet flow meets the subcritical flow of said flowing body of water.

25. The water ride of claim 18, wherein said means for injecting a sheet flow of water has at least one sump area that is positioned beneath the level of the channel, and at least one pump that draws water from the channel, and then, through at least one jet nozzle, injects the water onto the channel at supercritical speed.

26. The water ride of claim 25, wherein water being drawn by said pump helps to lower the elevation of the water substantially adjacent the sump area, and to form a pressure differential between an area upstream of the sump area, relative to the direction of flow, and an area downstream.

27. The water ride of claim 18, wherein the channel has a floor having a substantially uniform elevation.

28. The water ride of claim 18, wherein the channel has a floor having topographical changes thereon.

29. A water ride for use in amusement parks, water theme parks, and the like, comprising:

an endless channel loop having a channel floor and a unidirectional flowing body of water therein; and

at least one means for pumping water from said flowing body of water, and propelling said water directly onto said channel floor in the direction of flow to form a sheet flow of water, wherein said sheet flow of water, through momentum transfer, causes said flowing body of water in said channel loop to flow around said channel loop.

30. The water ride of claim 29, wherein a shallow portion is provided having a substantially horizontal floor extending immediately downstream from where the sheet flow of water is introduced into said channel loop, and wherein an abrupt change in elevation is provided downstream from said shallow portion, forming a relatively deep portion, such that the sheet flow of water substantially accumulates, increases in depth and reduces in speed to a critical speed, and then to a subcritical speed, at or near said change in elevation.

31. The water ride of claim 29, wherein a portion of the channel floor immediately downstream from where the sheet flow of water is introduced into said channel loop is substantially shallow and horizontally oriented such that said sheet flow of water travels at supercritical speed and substantially unattenuated along said shallow floor portion.

32. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the channel floor has at least one downward change in elevation which substantially reduces, rather than increases, the speed at which said sheet flow of water travels through said channel, due to the accumulation and build up of water in said channel at or near the point of said downward change in elevation.

33. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the channel is adapted such that the sheet flow of water flows slightly upwardly onto said channel floor from below said channel floor.

34. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the channel and channel floor are adapted such that there are multiple shallow and deep portions positioned end to end within the channel loop.

35. The water ride of claim 29, wherein an additional flow generator is provided along the channel loop downstream from the point where water is introduced into the channel loop to inject additional water onto said channel floor.

36. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the means for pumping water is adapted such that it has at least one jet nozzle that injects water onto the channel floor from substantially below the floor of said channel, wherein the jet nozzle is oriented within the channel substantially normal to the direction of flow, such that the sheet flow of water flows substantially across the width of said channel floor.

37. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the channel is adapted to have at least one entrance into a relatively deep portion of said channel loop to enable riders to safely enter said flowing body of water.

38. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the endless channel loop is adapted such that there is an island positioned substantially in the middle of said loop, wherein a bridge is provided that connects said island to the area outside of said channel loop.

39. The water ride of claim 29, wherein said means for pumping water comprises at least one jet nozzle.

40. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the elevation of said body of water in said channel loop, but for the injection of water into said channel, is substantially uniform.

41. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the channel has two side walls to help maintain the body of water in said channel.

42. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the channel is coated with a sealant to seal said channel to prevent leakage.

43. The water ride of claim 29, wherein a suction in said channel is provided to remove water from said channel, said removed water being used to inject the sheet flow of water onto said channel floor.

44. The water ride of claim 29, wherein the surface of said floor is modified and configured to cause various water effects within said channel.

45. A method of providing a water ride for amusement parks, water theme parks, and the like, comprising:

providing an endless channel loop having a body of water therein;

pumping water into a flow generator and injecting a supercritical sheet flow of water;

directly onto the floor of said channel loop, such that said sheet flow of water is at the point of injection substantially unattenuated and flows substantially unidirectionally around said channel loop.

46. The method of claim 45, comprising injecting said sheet flow of water onto said channel floor to create a hydraulic pressure differential, wherein a shallow low pressure area is created by said sheet flow of water immediately downstream from the point where water is injected into the channel loop, and a relatively deep high pressure area is created further downstream from said shallow low pressure area.

47. The method of claim 46, comprising providing a predetermined amount of water in said channel loop, and pumping water from said body of water and injecting said flow of water such that the greater the speed of said sheet flow of water in the channel, the greater the hydraulic pressure differential that is created between the shallow low pressure area and the relatively deep high pressure area.

48. The method of claim 47, comprising increasing the speed of flow to increase the area of the shallow low pressure area formed on the channel floor, and reciprocally, decrease the area of the relatively deep high pressure area.

49. The method of claim 47, comprising decreasing the speed of flow to decrease the area of the shallow low pressure area formed on the channel floor, and reciprocally, increase the area of the relatively deep high pressure area.

50. The method of claim 47, comprising increasing the speed of flow to decrease the depth of the shallow low pressure area formed on the channel floor, and reciprocally, increase the depth of the relatively deep high pressure area.

51. The method of claim 47, comprising decreasing the speed of flow to increase the depth of the shallow low pressure area formed on the channel floor, and reciprocally, decrease the depth of the relatively deep high pressure area.

52. The method of claim 46, comprising increasing the hydraulic pressure differential between said shallow low pressure area and said deep high pressure area, by increasing the speed of flow, which increases the tendency of the water in the deep high pressure area to flow against the direction of flow, back onto the oncoming sheet flow of water in the shallow low pressure area, thereby creating a more dramatic hydraulic jump, as the sheet flow of water meets the slower, deeper body of water in said deep high pressure area.

53. The method of claim 45, comprising injecting said sheet flow of water at supercritical speed onto said channel floor and allowing it to continue to flow on said channel floor until it gradually slows down to friction, wherein the change in velocity causes a hydraulic jump to be formed at the point where the speed changes from supercritical to critical.

54. The method of claim 45, comprising injecting a flow of water at another point along the channel loop and affecting the sheet flow of water at said another point.

55. The method of claim 45, comprising providing variations in elevation along the channel floor, wherein the area immediately downstream from the point where water is injected into the channel loop is substantially shallow, allowing the sheet flow of water to travel at supercritical speed, and the area substantially downstream from said shallow area is substantially deep, such that when the sheet flow of water enters into said deep area from said shallow area, said sheet flow of water accumulates and reduces in speed from supercritical to critical to subcritical.

56. The method of claim 45, comprising dividing the channel loop, such that a portion of the body of water is injected at supercritical speed onto a substantially shallow portion, and a portion of the body of water flows around the substantially shallow portion and through a substantially deep portion positioned along the side of said shallow portion.

57. The method of claim 45, comprising injecting a portion of the body of water directly onto the channel floor, and allowing a portion of the body of water to flow over the area where water is injected onto the channel floor, wherein both portions of the body of water come together to form said sheet flow of water.

58. The method of claim 45, comprising injecting the sheet flow of water onto said channel floor substantially horizontally.