Amusement boat ride featuring linear induction motor drive integrated with guide channel structure
First Claim
1. An amusement boat ride for carrying passengers across a watercourse comprising, in combination:
- a first launch station disposed adjacent one end of the watercourse;
a second launch station disposed adjacent an opposite end of the watercourse;
a guide channel structure extending through the watercourse for the first launch station to the second launch station;
a first array of linear induction motors disposed in alignment with the guide channel structure adjacent the first launch station, each linear induction motor including a linear stator and a longitudinal flux slot;
a second array of linear induction motors disposed in parallel alignment with the guide channel structure adjacent the second launch station, each linear induction motor including a linear stator and a longitudinal flux slot;
a carriage assembly including a passenger boat movably coupled to the guide channel structure for forward and return travel across the watercourse; and
,first and second magnetically conductive reaction plates attached to the carriage assembly and projecting laterally from opposite sides of the carriage assembly for linear travel through the first and second flux slots, respectively.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Racing boats compete in a simulated race including forward and return heats. In the forward heat, the racing boats are accelerated along parallel guide channels from a forward launch station into a shallow splash lake, and then hydroplane to a forward heat finish line. In the return heat, the racing boats are accelerated through the same guide channels from a return launch station located on the opposite end of the splash lake. Passengers continue to face the reverse launch station as the racing boats plunge into the shallow splash lake and hydroplane to the return heat finish line. Each racing boat is mounted on an undercarriage assembly that includes rail-mounted centering wheels. The racing boats are accelerated by linear induction drive motors mounted adjacent the guide rails. Thrust is applied to the racing boats by magnetically conductive reaction plates that are attached to the undercarriage assembly and project laterally into linear flux slots formed in the induction stators of the linear induction motors.
105 Citations
4 Claims
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1. An amusement boat ride for carrying passengers across a watercourse comprising, in combination:
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a first launch station disposed adjacent one end of the watercourse; a second launch station disposed adjacent an opposite end of the watercourse; a guide channel structure extending through the watercourse for the first launch station to the second launch station; a first array of linear induction motors disposed in alignment with the guide channel structure adjacent the first launch station, each linear induction motor including a linear stator and a longitudinal flux slot; a second array of linear induction motors disposed in parallel alignment with the guide channel structure adjacent the second launch station, each linear induction motor including a linear stator and a longitudinal flux slot; a carriage assembly including a passenger boat movably coupled to the guide channel structure for forward and return travel across the watercourse; and
,first and second magnetically conductive reaction plates attached to the carriage assembly and projecting laterally from opposite sides of the carriage assembly for linear travel through the first and second flux slots, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An amusement boat ride for transporting passengers across a watercourse comprising, in combination:
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a first launch station disposed adjacent one end of the watercourse; a second launch station disposed adjacent an opposite end of the watercourse; guide structure submerged in the watercourse and extending from the first launch station to the second launch station; a passenger boat movably coupled to the guide structure for forward and return travel across the watercourse; linear induction motor drive means including a linear induction stator disposed laterally offset from and in longitudinal alignment with the guide structure; and
,a magnetically conductive reaction plate coupled to the passenger boat, the reaction plate projecting laterally from the passenger boat for electromagnetic coupling with magnetic flux produced by the induction stator as the passenger boat moves along the guide structure.
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4. An amusement boat ride apparatus comprising, in combination:
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a pair of first launch stations disposed adjacent one end of a watercourse; a pair of second launch stations disposed adjacent an opposite end of the watercourse; a pair of parallel guide structures submerged in the watercourse and extending from the first launch stations to the second launch stations; a pair of passenger boats movably coupled to the guide structures for forward and return travel across the watercourse; power drive means disposed adjacent the parallel guide structures and movably coupled to the passenger boats for propelling the passenger boats across the watercourse, the power drive means including first and second linear induction motors disposed on laterally opposite sides of each guide structure, each linear induction motor including a linear stator and a linear flux slot extending in parallel with the direction of travel; and
,first and second magnetically conductive reaction plates rigidly coupled to each passenger boat and projecting laterally therefrom for travel through the linear flux slots.
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Specification