Redundant array control system for water rides

• US 6,758,231 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J., Henry, Jeffery W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/334,736
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 472/117, 472/128, 104/70, 137/565.33, 137/550, 137/545, 137/544, 137/1, 137/14, 210/167
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/00 Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7976 Plural separating elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8122 Planar strainer normal to flow path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86139 Serial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86163 Parallel

Abstract

A redundant array pumping system and control system is provided for water rides for ensuring continuous and non-disruptive supply of water. The pumping system incorporates a redundant pump and filter array in conjunction with a nozzle system for injecting water onto a ride surface. The nozzle system may incorporate a plurality of redundant or quasi-redundant nozzles. The hydraulic system can include many levels of redundancy as applied to its various components, such as pumps, filters and nozzles. Additionally, the system can be equipped with a plurality of pressure and flow sensors for monitoring and controlling the performance of the pumps, filters and nozzles of the hydraulic system.

Claims

1. A method for continuous operation of a water ride having a ride surface, comprising the steps of:

providing a redundant pumping system including a plurality of primary pumps and at least one auxiliary pump, the pumping system configured to deliver water from a source to the ride surface of the water ride, said redundant pumping system including valve means for looping out and looping in each said primary pump and each said auxiliary pump;

providing a redundant filter system including a plurality of primary filters and at least one auxiliary filter, said redundant filter system including valve means for looping out and looping in each said primary filter and each said auxiliary filter;

the pumping system and filter system arranged in series within a flow path between the source and the ride surface so that all water flowing along the flow path from the source passes through at least one of said primary or auxiliary filters and at least one of the primary and auxiliary pumps before reaching said ride surface; and

monitoring said plurality of primary pumps and filters and, when a malfunctioning pump or filter is detected, looping out said malfunctioning pump or filter and hydraulically substituting said auxiliary pump or filter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring includes using pressure and/or flow sensors for remote monitoring of said primary pumps and filters.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of monitoring a riders position or velocity on said ride using proximity sensors.

4. A hydraulic system for delivering water from a source to a water ride surface, comprising:

a redundant pumping system;

a redundant filter system;

a nozzle system;

wherein all water entering the hydraulic system flows from the source through a filter, a pump, and a nozzle that are arranged in series and on to the ride surface, and whereby said hydraulic system continuously and non-disruptedly provides water for said water ride.

5. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said redundant pumping system includes at least one primary pump and at least one auxiliary pump.

6. The hydraulic system of claim 5, wherein each one of said primary pump and each one of said auxiliary pump are coupled by a manifold.

7. The hydraulic system of claim 5, wherein said redundant pumping system includes value means for looping out and looping in each said primary pump and each said auxiliary pump.

8. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said redundant pumping system includes primary pump means and auxiliary pump means which are coupled by a manifold.

9. The hydraulic system of claim 8, wherein said pump means include a plurality of parallel pump set-ups.

10. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said redundant filter system includes at least one primary filter and at least one auxiliary filter.

11. The hydraulic system of claim 10, wherein each one of said primary filter and each one of said auxiliary filter are coupled by a manifold.

12. The hydraulic system of claim 10, wherein said redundant filter system includes valve means for looping out and looping in each said primary filter and each said auxiliary filter.

13. The hydraulic system of claims 4, wherein said redundant filter system includes primary filter means and auxiliary filter means which are coupled by a manifold.

14. The hydraulic system of claim 13, wherein said filter means include a plurality of parallel filter set-ups.

15. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said nozzle system includes at least one quasi-redundant nozzle.

16. The hydraulic system of claim 15, wherein each said quasi-redundant nozzle includes at least one primary jet and at least one reserve jet.

17. The hydraulic system of claim 16, wherein each said jet is coupled to flow control means.

18. The hydraulic system of claim 16, wherein each said jet has an adjustable aperture size.

19. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said hydraulic system includes N primary pumps, N primary filters coupled to respective said N primary pumps, one auxiliary pump and one auxiliary filter.

20. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said hydraulic system includes N primary pumps, N primary filters coupled to respective said N primary pumps, one auxiliary pump and two auxiliary filters.

21. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said hydraulic system is equipped with pressure and flow measuring means to monitor the performance of said redundant pumping system, said redundant filter system, and said nozzle system.

22. The hydraulic system of claim 4, wherein said redundant pumping system includes a plurality of primary pumps, said nozzle system includes a plurality of quasi-redundant nozzles, each said nozzle includes a plurality of jets, said primary pumps being linked to said jets such that a single primary pump is linked to a set of jets with each jet which is an element of a set of jets being included in a distinct nozzle.

23. A hydraulic system for a water ride, comprising:

a redundant pumping system including a plurality of primary pumps and at least one auxiliary pump, said redundant pumping system including valve means for looping out and looping in each said primary pump and each said auxiliary pump;

a redundant filter system including a plurality of primary filters and at least one auxiliary filter, said redundant filter system including valve means for looping out and looping in each said primary filter and each said auxiliary filter; and

a redundant nozzle system including a plurality of primary nozzles and at least one auxiliary nozzle, said nozzles each including at least one high speed jet for providing a high-speed hydraulic flow;

whereby said hydraulic system continuously and non-disruptedly delivers water from a water source to a ride surface of said ride, all of the water flowing in a series arrangement from the source through each of said pumping, filter and nozzle systems and further to said ride surface.

24. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein said pumps of said redundant pumping system are coupled by a manifold.

25. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein said filters of said redundant filter system are coupled by a manifold.

26. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein each said jet is coupled to flow control means.

27. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein said hydraulic system includes N primary pumps, N primary filters, N nozzles, one auxiliary pump and one auxiliary filter.

28. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein said hydraulic system includes N primary pumps, N primary filters, N nozzles, one auxiliary pump and two auxiliary filters.

29. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein said redundant pumping system includes a plurality of open-close valves which permit water to be directed from each said primary pump to each said respective nozzle and a plurality of open-close manifold valves which permit looping in and looping out of each said primary pump and each said auxiliary pump.

30. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein said redundant filter system includes a plurality of open-close valves which permit water to be directed from each said primary filter to each said respective primary pump and a plurality of open-close manifold valves which permit looping in and looping out of each said primary filter and each said auxiliary filter.

31. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein said hydraulic system is equipped with pressure and flow measuring means to monitor the performance of said pumps, said filters, said nozzles, and said jets.

32. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein at least one of said primary pumps and said auxiliary pumps comprises a plurality of pumps in parallel.

33. The hydraulic system of claim 23, wherein at least one of said primary filters and said auxiliary filters comprises a plurality of filters in parallel.

34. A water delivery system for delivering water from a water source to a plurality of water ride surface portions, the delivery system comprising:

a nozzle system comprising a plurality of nozzles generally adjacent the plurality of ride surface portions;

a redundant pump system interposed between the water source and the ride surface portions, the pump system comprising;

a plurality of primary pump assemblies and at least one auxiliary pump assembly, each pump assembly comprising a pump, a conduit and at least one valve; and

a pump manifold interconnecting the pump assemblies;

wherein each primary pump assembly comprises a pump inlet upstream of the pump, a pump manifold inlet downstream of the pump and communicating with the pump manifold, an outlet downstream of the pump and communicating with at least one nozzle, and a valve system configured at least to selectively place the pump into communication with the outlet or place the pump manifold in communication with the outlet; and

a redundant filter system interposed between the water source and the ride surface portions, the filter system comprising;

a plurality of primary filter assemblies and at least one auxiliary filter assembly, each filter assembly comprising a filter, a conduit and at least one valve; and

a filter manifold interconnecting the filter assemblies;

wherein each primary filter assembly comprises a filter inlet upstream of the filter, a filter manifold inlet downstream of the filter and communicating with the filter manifold, an outlet downstream of the filter and communicating with a primary pump assembly pump inlet, and a valve system configured at least to selectively place the filter into communication with the outlet or place the filter manifold in communication with the outlet.

35. The water delivery system of claim 34, wherein the auxiliary filter assembly comprises a filter inlet upstream of the filter and communicating with the water source, and a filter outlet downstream of the filter, the filter outlet selectively communicating with the filter manifold.

36. The water delivery system of claim 35, wherein the auxiliary pump assembly comprises a pump inlet upstream of the pump, and a pump outlet downstream of the pump, the pump outlet selectively communicating with the pump manifold.

37. The water delivery system of claim 36, wherein the filter outlet of the auxiliary filter assembly selectively communicates with the pump inlet of the auxiliary pump assembly.

38. The water delivery system of claim 34, wherein the auxiliary pump assembly comprises a pump inlet upstream of the pump, and a pump outlet downstream of the pump, the pump outlet selectively communicating with the pump manifold.

39. A hydraulic system for a water ride, comprising:

a plurality of primary pumps for delivering water from a water source to a plurality of outlets disposed at or adjacent a ride surface of the water rides;

at least one auxiliary pump;

a plurality of primary filters for filtering water passing through each of said primary and auxiliary pumps;

at least one auxiliary filter;

a plurality of nozzles, at least one nozzle including at least one jet for providing a high-speed hydraulic flow;

a plurality of conduits; and

a plurality of valves;

wherein the hydraulic system defines a plurality of flow paths from the water source to the outlets, and the hydraulic system is arranged so that, through selective actuation of the valves, one of the primary and auxiliary filters can selectively be arranged in a serial arrangement with one of the primary pumps or the auxiliary pump in at least one of the flow paths while another of the primary filters is arranged in a serial arrangement with another of the primary pumps in at least another one of the flow paths.

40. The hydraulic system of claim 39, wherein each nozzle is located at one of the outlets.

41. The hydraulic system of claim 40, wherein each nozzle receives pressurized water from one of the primary pumps.

42. The hydraulic system of claim 40, wherein at least one of the primary pumps supplies pressurized water for a plurality of nozzles.

43. The hydraulic system of claim 40, wherein each jet provides a high-speed sheet flow for propelling a rider along the riding surface.

44. The hydraulic system of claim 39, wherein the outlets are spaced apart from one another along the riding surface.

45. The hydraulic system of claim 39, wherein selective operation of the valves can change flow paths through the hydraulic system.

46. The hydraulic system of claim 45 having a first configuration wherein a first delivery conduit is configured to receive pressurized water only from a first primary pump, and a second configuration wherein the first delivery conduit is configured to receive pressurized water only from a first auxiliary pump, and the hydraulic system is adapted to be changeable from the first configuration to the second configuration through selective actuation of valves.

47. The hydraulic system of claim 46 additionally comprising a pump manifold pipe communicating with each of the plurality of pumps, and a valve between the first pump and the pump manifold pipe is closed in the first configuration and is open in the second configuration.

48. The hydraulic system of claim 45 having a first configuration wherein a first primary pump is configured to receive water only from a first primary filter, and a second configuration wherein the first primary pump is configured to receive water only from a first auxiliary filter, and the hydraulic system is adapted to be changeable from the first configuration to the second configuration through selective actuation of valves.

49. The hydraulic system of claim 48 additionally comprising a filter manifold pipe communicating with each of the plurality of filters, and a valve between the first filter and the filter manifold pipe is closed in the first configuration and is open in the second configuration.

50. The hydraulic system of claim 39, wherein each primary filter communicates with a corresponding one of the primary pumps.

51. A hydraulic delivery system for delivering water from a source of water to a water ride surface, the delivery system comprising:

a nozzle system generally adjacent the ride surface;

a redundant pump system interposed in a flow path between the source and the ride surface; and

a redundant filter system interposed in the flow path between the source and the ride surface;

wherein the hydraulic system is configured in series such that all water delivered from the source to the ride surface flows through both the redundant filter system and redundant pump system along the flow path between the source and the ride surface.

52. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 51, wherein said pump system comprises a plurality of primary pump assemblies and at least one auxiliary pump assembly, each pump assembly comprising a pump, a conduit and at least one valve.

53. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 52, wherein the pump assemblies are interconnected by a pump manifold, and a valve of each pump assembly is interposed between the associated pump and the pump manifold so that the pump assembly is selectively connectable to the pump manifold.

54. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 53, wherein each primary pump assembly comprises a pump inlet, a pump manifold inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of valves.

55. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 54, wherein a first valve is interposed between the pump and both the outlet and the pump manifold inlet.

56. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 55, wherein a second valve is interposed between the pump and the outlet.

57. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 56, wherein a third valve is interposed between the pump and the pump manifold inlet.

58. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 54, wherein said filter system comprises a plurality of primary filter assemblies and at least one auxiliary filter assembly, each filter assembly comprising a filter, a conduit and at least one valve.

59. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 58, wherein the filter assemblies are interconnected by a filter manifold, and a valve of each filter assembly is interposed between the associated filter and the filter manifold so that the filter assembly is selectively connectable to the filter manifold.

60. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 59, wherein each primary filter assembly comprises a filter inlet, a filter manifold inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of valves, and the outlet communicates with a pump inlet of a corresponding primary pump assembly.

61. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 60, wherein a first valve is disposed between the filter and both the outlet and the filter manifold inlet.

62. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 61, wherein a second valve is disposed between the filter and the filter manifold inlet, but not between the filter and the outlet.

63. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 51, wherein said filter system comprises a plurality of primary filters and at least one auxiliary filter.

64. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 51, wherein said filter system is disposed generally upstream of said pump system.

65. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 51, wherein the nozzle system comprises a plurality of nozzles spaced apart from one another along a riding surface of said water ride.

66. The hydraulic delivery system of claim 65, wherein said nozzle system is configured to impart a high-speed sheet flow of water to said riding surface.