Containerless sheet flow water ride

• US 6,319,137 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WhiteWater West Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US09/594,386
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/88, 472/89, 472/90, 104/69, 104/70, 405/76, 405/79
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/00 Amusement arrangements hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/007 involving water
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

A water ride attraction is disclosed which utilizes a containerless riding surface to eliminate disadvantageous boundary layer effects. A sheet flow of water is directed up the incline to produce a simulated wave. The configuration and contour of the riding surface and the various flow parameters can be widely varied to produce numerous desirable wave conditions.

Claims

1. A water ride attraction in which water flows on an incline, said ride attraction comprising a generally containerless inclined riding surface, and a flow of water directed upward upon the inclined riding surface, the flow of water substantially conforming to the inclined riding surface, the riding surface being containerless such that white water can roll downward and to the side as run-off water to avoid supercritical flow submersion, and boundary layer induced subcritical flow and associated flow disturbance along the periphery of the riding surface are eliminated, the riding surface being configured without lateral water constraints.

2. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said containerless inclined riding surface comprises a contoured surface having a substantially horizontal portion, and a downstream inclined portion adjoining said horizontal portion.

3. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inclined riding surface has a lower declining portion, a middle substantially horizontal portion, and an upper inclined portion, said flow being injected onto said lower portion, and flowing onto said middle portion, and then onto said upper portion.

4. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a nozzle for propelling a flow of water onto said contoured surface, wherein said flow of water is propelled onto said horizontal portion and flows up said inclined portion, and then rolls off the inclined portion and/or curls back upon itself.

5. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for varying the rate, velocity and/or pressure of the flow of water so as to create desired water flow effects on said surface.

6. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sheet flow of water comprises at least two separate and independent flows injected upward onto said surface having different rate, velocity and/or pressure, so as to create a desired water flow effect on said surface.

7. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 1 further comprising one or more side transition surfaces contiguous with the riding surface for supporting a spilled rider.

8. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 7 wherein at least one of the side transition surfaces is downward sloping.

9. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least one of the side transition surfaces comprises a swale.

10. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a wave forming structure on said riding surface, said wave forming structure having a substantially concave curvature thereon, said sheet flow flowing onto said wave forming structure and then curling back upon itself so as to form a spilling wave thereon.

11. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 10 wherein said wave forming structure has both a horizontal and vertical curvature.

12. A water ride attraction in which water flows on an incline, said ride attraction comprising a generally containerless inclined riding surface, and a flow of water directed upward upon the inclined riding surface, and a flow of water directed upon the inclined riding surface, the flow of water substantially conforming to the inclined riding surface, the riding surface being containerless and without enclosure such that the ride surface cannot fill or flood with water, and such that boundary layer induced subcritical flow and associated flow disturbance along the periphery of the riding surface are eliminated, the riding surface being configured without lateral water constraints.

13. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 12 wherein said containerless inclined riding surface comprises a contoured surface having a substantially horizontal portion, and a downstream inclined portion adjoining said horizontal portion.

14. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a nozzle for propelling a flow of water onto said contoured surface, wherein said flow of water is propelled onto said horizontal portion and flows up said inclined portion, and then rolls off the inclined portion and/or curls back upon itself.

15. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 12 further comprising one or more side transition surfaces contiguous with the riding surface for supporting a spilled rider.

16. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a wave forming structure on said riding surface, said wave forming structure having a substantially concave curvature thereon, said sheet flow flowing onto said wave forming structure and then curling back upon itself so as to form a spilling wave thereon.

17. A water ride attraction in which water flows on an incline, said ride attraction comprising a generally containerless inclined riding surface, a collection basin containing water at a level equal to or below the lowest elevation of riding surface, and a flow of water directed upon the inclined riding surface, the flow of water substantially conforming to the inclined riding surface, the riding surface being containerless such that run-off water overflows into collection basin to avoid supercritical flow submersion and boundary layer induced subcritical flow and associated flow disturbance along the periphery of the riding surface are eliminated, the riding surface being configured without lateral water constraints.

18. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 17 wherein said containerless inclined riding surface comprises a contoured surface having a substantially horizontal portion, and a downstream inclined portion adjoining said horizontal portion.

19. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 17 further comprising a nozzle for propelling a flow of water onto said contoured surface, wherein said flow of water is propelled onto said horizontal portion and flows up said inclined portion, and then rolls off the inclined portion and/or curls back upon itself.

20. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 17 further comprising one or more side transition surfaces contiguous with the riding surface for supporting a spilled rider.

21. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 17 further comprising a wave forming structure on said riding surface, said wave forming structure having a substantially concave curvature thereon, said sheet flow flowing onto said wave forming structure and then curling back upon itself so as to form a spilling wave thereon.

22. A water ride attraction in which water flows on an incline, said ride attraction comprising an inclined riding surface having at least one side and a flow of water directed upon the inclined riding surface, the flow of water substantially conforming to the inclined riding surface, the riding surface being containerless such that spilling white water is permitted to roll off at least one side as run-off water to avoid supercritical flow submersion, and boundary layer induced subcritical flow and associated flow disturbance along the periphery of the riding surface are eliminated, the riding surface being configured without later water constraints such that there is an unbounded flow up the inclined riding surface.

23. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 22 further comprising one or more transition surfaces contiguous with the riding surface for supporting a spilled rider.

24. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 23 wherein at least one of the transition surfaces is downward sloping.

25. A water ride attraction in accordance with claim 24 wherein at least one of the transition surfaces comprises a swale.