Water amusement park water channel flow system

• US 7,727,077 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Schooley, John Timothy, Henry, Jeffery Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US11/244,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 472/13, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 104/53, 104/69, 104/70, 405 80- 86, 405/99
• 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

Abstract

A water amusement ride system is disclosed. The system may include a device or apparatus, including a water bypass channel in fluid communication with a channel of water. The water bypass channel may include a water entrance, a water exit, and an adjustable valve. The water entrance is in fluid communication with water upstream of the apparatus. The water exit is in fluid communication with water downstream of the apparatus. The adjustable valve may be located between the water entrance and the water exit. The adjustable valve may be adjusted to control an amount of water exiting the water bypass channel. The water bypass channel may increase the flow rate of water between the water entrance and the water exit of the water bypass channel. The water bypass channel may assist in controlling a water effect.

Claims

1. A water ride, comprising:

a first channel of water configured to convey participants in a first direction;

a first adjustable flow controller positioned in the first channel of water;

a second channel of water configured to convey participants in a second direction different from the first direction;

a third channel coupling the first channel, upstream of the first adjustable flow controller, to the second channel, wherein the third channel is configured to convey participants from the first channel of water to the second channel of water when the first adjustable flow controller is activated; and

wherein the first adjustable flow controller is configured to control the flow of water through the third channel such that as the first adjustable flow controller reduces the flow of water through the first channel and the flow of water in the third channel is increased such that participants being conveyed through the first channel are increasingly redirected through the third channel of the water ride.

2. The water ride of claim 1, further comprising a second adjustable flow controller positioned in the second channel of water.

3. The water ride of claim 1, further comprising a second adjustable flow controller positioned in the second channel of water, wherein the third channel couples to the second channel downstream of the second adjustable flow controller.

4. The water ride of claim 1, further comprising:

a second adjustable flow controller positioned in the second channel of water, wherein the third channel couples to the second channel downstream of the second adjustable flow controller; and

a fourth channel coupling the second channel, upstream of the second adjustable flow controller, to the first channel, downstream of the first adjustable flow controller.

5. The water ride of claim 1, further comprising:

a second adjustable flow controller positioned in the second channel of water, wherein the third channel couples to the second channel downstream of the second adjustable flow controller; and

a fourth channel coupling the second channel, upstream of the second adjustable flow controller, to the first channel, downstream of the first adjustable flow controller, wherein the second adjustable flow controller is configured to control the flow of water through the fourth channel.

6. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite of the first direction.

7. The water ride of claim 1, wherein controlling the flow of water through the third channel adjusts a participant flow rate through the third channel.

8. The water ride of claim 1, wherein water in the first channel upstream of the first adjustable flow controller is at a higher elevation than water in the first channel downstream of the first adjustable flow controller.

9. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable flow controller is configured to control the amount of water flowing downstream of the first adjustable flow controller and the amount of water flowing through the third channel.

10. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the water ride comprises a continuous water ride.

11. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the water ride is part of a water amusement system.

12. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable flow controller comprises a positionable gate.

13. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable flow controller comprises a weir.

14. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable flow controller comprises a positionable weir.

15. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable flow controller comprises an adjustable bypass channel.

16. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable flow controller comprises a jet gate.

17. The water ride of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable flow controller comprises an adjustable valve.

18. The water ride of claim 1, further comprising an automated control system configured to control the first adjustable flow controller.

19. A water ride, comprising:

a first channel of water configured to convey participants in a first direction;

a first adjustable flow controller positioned in the first channel of water;

a second channel of water configured to convey participants in a second direction different from the first direction;

a second adjustable flow controller positioned in the second channel of water;

a third channel coupling the first channel, upstream of the first adjustable flow controller, to the second channel, downstream of the second adjustable flow controller, wherein the third channel is configured to convey participants from the first channel of water to the second channel of water when the first adjustable flow controller is activated; and

a fourth channel coupling the second channel, upstream of the second adjustable flow controller, to the first channel, downstream of the first adjustable flow controller, wherein the fourth channel is configured to convey participants from the second channel of water to the first channel of water when the first adjustable flow controller is activated;

wherein the first adjustable flow controller is configured to control the flow of water through the third channel such that as the first adjustable flow controller reduces the flow of water through the first channel and the flow of water in the third channel is increased such that participants being conveyed through the first channel are increasingly redirected through the third channel of the water ride, and wherein the second adjustable flow controller is configured to control the flow of water through the fourth channel such that as the second adjustable flow controller reduces the flow of water through the second channel and the flow of water in the fourth channel is increased such that participants being conveyed through the second channel are increasingly redirected through the fourth channel of the water ride.

20. A method for controlling a flow of water between two channels in a water amusement park, comprising:

diverting at least a portion of a flow of water in a first channel of a water amusement ride into a second channel through a third channel coupling the first channel and the second channel; and

controlling the flow of water through a first adjustable flow controller positioned in the first channel, wherein controlling the flow of water through the first adjustable flow controller controls the portion of the flow of water diverted from the first channel to the second channel though the third channel, wherein the third channel is configured to convey participants from the first channel of water to the second channel of water when the first adjustable flow controller is activated, and wherein the percentage of participants conveyed through the third channel is proportional to the portion of the flow of water diverted through the third channel.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising dynamically adjusting the amount of water that exits the first adjustable flow controller to create various sizes and/or shapes of water flow downstream of the first adjustable flow controller.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein controlling the flow of water through the first adjustable flow controller adjusts a participant flow rate through the third channel.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising controlling the first adjustable flow controller using an automated control system.