Redundant array water delivery system for water rides

• US 7,040,994 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• 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:
  US11/207,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20050274420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 137/565.33, 137/565.3, 137/545, 137/550, 104/70, 472/117, 472/128
• US Class Current: 472/117
• 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 hydraulic system for a water ride, comprising:

a first and a second primary pump;

a first and a second supply conduit, the first primary pump hydraulically connected to the first supply conduit, the second primary pump hydraulically connected to the second supply conduit so that the primary pumps deliver pressurized water to the corresponding conduits;

an auxiliary pump;

a pump bypass manifold; and

a plurality of valves arranged relative to the pumps and manifold so that, through selective actuation of the valves, the first primary pump can selectively be disconnected from the corresponding first conduit and in its place the auxiliary pump can be selectively connected via the pump bypass manifold to the first conduit so that the auxiliary pump delivers pressurized water to the first conduit in place of the first primary pump.

2. A hydraulic system as in claim 1 additionally comprising a first primary filter, a second primary filter, an auxiliary filter, a filter bypass manifold, and a plurality of valves, wherein the first primary filter is in a series arrangement with the first primary pump and the second primary filter is in a series arrangement with the second primary pump.

3. A hydraulic system as in claim 2, wherein the primary filters are arranged upstream of the primary pumps.

4. A hydraulic system as in claim 2, wherein the valves are arranged relative to the filters and filter bypass manifold so that, through selective actuation of the valves, the first primary filter can selectively be removed from the series connection with the corresponding first primary pump and in its place the auxiliary filter can be selectively connected via the filter bypass manifold in a series arrangement with the first primary pump.

5. A water ride attraction, comprising the hydraulic system as in claim 1 and a ride surface having a start point and an end point, wherein each conduit directs water to a corresponding outlet on or adjacent a ride surface.

6. A water ride attraction as in claim 5, wherein at least one of the supply conduits is adapted to direct water to a plurality of outlets.

7. A water ride attraction as in claim 5, wherein a first outlet is nearer the start point along the ride surface than is a second outlet.

8. A water ride attraction as in claim 7 additionally comprising a control system configured to control the supply of pressurized water to the outlets, wherein the control system is configured to stop the flow of water to the first outlet before stopping the flow of water to the second outlet upon shutdown of the water ride attraction.

9. A water ride attraction as in claim 8 additionally comprising a plurality of spaced apart rider position sensors at or adjacent the ride surface, the rider position sensors configured to detect a rider position and communicate rider position data to the control system.

10. A water ride attraction as in claim 9, wherein during shutdown of the ride attraction the control system is configured to stop the flow of water to the outlets only after a detected rider has passed the corresponding outlet.

11. A water ride attraction as in claim 10, wherein the ride surface has at least one downwardly inclined portion and at least one upwardly inclined portion, and at least one upward accelerator is configured to propel a rider up the at least one upwardly inclined portion.

12. A water ride attraction as in claim 11, wherein the upward accelerator comprises an outlet comprising at least one water jet adapted to direct a jet flow of water at or adjacent the ride surface generally in a direction of riding.

13. A water ride attraction as in claim 12, wherein at least one water outlet is positioned at or adjacent the at least one downwardly inclined portion.

14. A water ride attraction as in claim 7 additionally comprising a control system configured to control the supply of pressurized water to the outlets and comprising a plurality of spaced apart rider position sensors at or adjacent the ride surface, the rider position sensors configured to detect a rider position and communicate rider position data to the control system.

15. A water ride attraction as in claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to slow the flow of water to the first outlet when there is no rider at or adjacent the first outlet.

16. A water ride attraction as in claim 14, wherein the water ride additionally comprises a substantially enclosed portion comprising a lighting effect, and wherein the control system is configured to activate the lighting effect as a rider approaches the enclosed portion.

17. A hydraulic system as in claim 1, wherein the system comprises N primary pumps and x auxiliary pumps, and each auxiliary pump is arranged to selectively replace any one of the primary pumps.

18. A hydraulic system as in claim 17 additionally comprising N supply conduits, and each of the primary pumps is hydraulically connected to a corresponding one of the supply conduits.

19. A hydraulic system as in claim 18, wherein at least one conduit is adapted to deliver water to a second water ride that is spaced from the first water ride.

20. A hydraulic system as in claim 17 additionally comprising a plurality of supply conduits, and each of the primary pumps is hydraulically connected to at least one corresponding supply conduit, but is not hydraulically connected to each of the plurality of conduits.

21. A water ride attraction, comprising:

a ride surface having a start point and an end point;

a plurality of outlets disposed at or adjacent the ride surface, the outlets being spaced apart from each other along the ride surface;

a source of water;

a plurality of flow paths from the source of water to the outlets;

a redundant pump system interposed in the plurality of flow paths, the pump system adapted to provide pressurized water to the plurality of outlets;

a redundant filter system interposed in the plurality of flow paths; and

a plurality of conduits extending from the pump system to respective outlets;

wherein the pump system, filter system and outlets are configured in series such that all water delivered from the source to the ride surface flows through both the redundant filter system and the redundant pump system in the flow paths between the source and the outlets.

22. A water ride attraction as in claim 21, wherein the redundant pump system comprises a plurality of primary pumps and at least one auxiliary pump, and each primary pump is arranged to deliver pressurized water to at least one corresponding conduit.

23. A water ride attraction as in claim 22, wherein the redundant pump system additionally comprises a pump bypass manifold and a plurality of valves, the manifold and valves configured so that a primary pump can be selectively disconnected from the corresponding at least one conduit and an auxiliary pump can be selectively connected via the manifold to the at least one conduit so that the auxiliary pump can effectively replace the primary pump.

24. A water ride attraction as in claim 23, wherein the redundant filter system comprises a plurality of primary filters and at least one auxiliary filter, and each primary filter is arranged in series with at least one corresponding pump.

25. A water ride attraction as in claim 24, wherein the redundant filter system additionally comprises a filter bypass manifold and a plurality of valves, the manifold and valves configured so that a primary filter can be selectively disconnected from its flow path and an auxiliary filter can be selectively connected via the manifold into a series arrangement with the at least one corresponding pump conduit so that the auxiliary filter can effectively replace the primary filter.

26. A water ride attraction as in claim 21 additionally comprising a control system configured to control the supply of pressurized water to the outlets, and wherein a first outlet is nearer to the start point than is a second outlet, and the control system is configured to stop the flow of water to the first outlet before stopping the flow of water to the second outlet upon shutdown of the water ride attraction.

27. A water ride attraction as in claim 21 additionally comprising a control system configured to control the supply of pressurized water through the outlets, and further comprising a plurality of spaced apart rider sensors adapted to detect a position of a rider on the ride surface and communicate rider position data to the control system, wherein the control system controls the supply of water through the outlets based upon rider position data.

28. A water ride attraction as in claim 27, wherein the control system slows water flow to an outlet until a rider is approaching the outlet.

29. A water ride attraction as in claim 28, wherein at least one of the conduits comprises a flow control valve, and the control system controls water supply by controlling the flow control valve.

30. A water ride attraction as in claim 28, wherein the control system controls water supply to an outlet by controlling the speed of a pump corresponding to the outlet.

31. A water ride attraction, comprising

a ride surface having a start point and an end point, the ride surface having at least one downwardly inclined portion and at least one upwardly inclined portion;

a plurality of nozzles adjacent the ride surface, the nozzles being spaced apart from one another along the ride surface, at least one of the nozzles being disposed at or adjacent the at least one downwardly inclined portion of the ride surface;

a plurality of pumps configured to deliver pressurized water to the plurality of spaced apart nozzles;

at least one upward accelerator configured to propel a rider up the at least one upwardly inclined portion;

a plurality of spaced apart rider position sensors adapted to detect the position of a rider progressing over the ride surface;

a control system adapted to control operation of the at least one upward accelerator, the control system receiving input from the rider position sensors and being configured to intermittently control the at least one upward accelerator to operate only when a rider is at or near the upward accelerator.

32. A water ride attraction as in claim 31, wherein the upward accelerator comprises a nozzle adapted to inject a jet water flow onto the ride surface.

33. A water ride attraction as in claim 31, wherein the control system is adapted to control operation of the plurality of nozzles, and wherein the control system is configured to intermittently control at least one of the nozzles to operate only when a rider is at or near the nozzle.

34. A water ride attraction as in claim 33 additionally comprising a hydraulic system comprising the plurality of pumps arranged in a redundant pumping system, the plurality of nozzles, and a redundant filter system, wherein all water entering the hydraulic system flows from a source of water through a filter, a pump, and a nozzle that are arranged in series and on to the ride surface.

35. A water ride attraction as in claim 34, wherein each of the pumps are coupled by a manifold, and additionally comprising a plurality of valves configured to selectively place each of the pumps into or out of communication with the manifold.

36. A water ride attraction as in claim 34, wherein the upward accelerator comprises a nozzle adapted to inject a jet water flow onto the ride surface.

37. A water ride attraction as in claim 31, wherein a first nozzle is nearer the start point along the ride surface than is the upward accelerator, and wherein the control system is configured to stop the flow of water to the first nozzle before stopping operation of the upward accelerator upon shutdown of the water ride attraction.

38. A water ride attraction as in claim 37, wherein the upward accelerator comprises a nozzle adapted to inject a jet water flow onto the ride surface.