Waterslide with uphill runs and progressive gravity feed
DCFirst Claim
1. A waterslide comprising:
- a sluice defining a generally downhill course having a high elevation entry point, the sluice being arranged to carry riders along the course and water for at least one of reducing friction between the riders and the sluice, and carrying the riders along the course;
means for emitting water into the sluice adjacent to the entry point, such that said water flows toward a point of lower elevation along the course;
a drain disposed in the sluice at a water extraction point at an elevation below the entry point; and
,a water emitter in the sluice at a still lower elevation than the water extraction point, coupled by at least one conduit to the drain, whereby water is collected from the course from the point of relatively lower elevation and inserted again at the still lower elevation via the water emitter.
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Abstract
For managing water flow in a waterslide, drains are provided at one or more points between a top and bottom of a course, coupled to conduits providing gravity flow paths bypassing portions of the course. The course is defined by a sluice with a generally downhill gradient and can have at least one point of relatively lower elevation leading into a subsequent uphill run. A water supply is provided to the top of the course and optionally to other points along the course, for example being pumped from a lowermost splashdown pool. The water flows downward toward low points, flowing in the direction of waterslide riders or opposite thereto. The water is collected at one or more of the drains and fed to a lower elevation water emitter in the sluice of the same course or another course, especially at a slope leading or trailing a peak. This reduces pumping requirements because the water is used more than once along the course, and can be used to prevent intermediate pools that would reduce the riders'"'"' speed. A number of gravity paths can be provided pairing valleys with subsequent peaks or slopes.
98 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A waterslide comprising:
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a sluice defining a generally downhill course having a high elevation entry point, the sluice being arranged to carry riders along the course and water for at least one of reducing friction between the riders and the sluice, and carrying the riders along the course; means for emitting water into the sluice adjacent to the entry point, such that said water flows toward a point of lower elevation along the course; a drain disposed in the sluice at a water extraction point at an elevation below the entry point; and
,a water emitter in the sluice at a still lower elevation than the water extraction point, coupled by at least one conduit to the drain, whereby water is collected from the course from the point of relatively lower elevation and inserted again at the still lower elevation via the water emitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for managing water flow along a sluice defining a generally downhill course for carrying riders along the course together with water, comprising the steps of:
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emitting water into the sluice at a relatively high elevation, the water reducing friction between the riders and the sluice, and carrying the riders along the course, the water flowing along the course toward a point of lower elevation; collecting water from the sluice via a drain adjacent to the point of relatively lower elevation, and coupling the collected water to a water emitter in the sluice at a still lower elevation than the drain via at least one conduit, whereby water is collected from the course from the point of relatively lower elevation and inserted again at the still lower elevation via the water emitter, thereby bypassing a portion of the sluice. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A waterslide comprising:
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a sluice defining a generally downhill course having a high elevation entry point and a low elevation exit point, the sluice being arranged to (i) carry riders along the course, and (ii) carry water along the course for at least reducing friction between the riders and the sluice, and carrying the riders along the course; means for emitting water into the sluice adjacent to the entry point such that said water flows toward a point of lower elevation along the course; a drain disposed in the sluice at a water extraction point at an elevation below the entry point and above the exit point; and a water emitter in the sluice disposed at a still lower elevation than the water extraction point and above the exit point, coupled by at least one conduit from the drain, whereby water is collected from the course from the point of relatively lower elevation than the entry point and inserted again at the still lower elevation above the exit point via the water emitter.
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Specification