Water amusement park multiple path conveyors

• US 7,942,752 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Henry, Jeffery Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Assistant Examiner(s): DENNIS, MICHAEL DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/244,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 472/217, 472/117
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 29/00 Rolling drums turning somersaults with or without rolling seats hoop exercising apparatus driven by the user A63B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats

Abstract

An amusement ride system and method are described. In some embodiments, an amusement ride system may be generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be more involved in a water attraction. An amusement ride system may include system for conveying a participant from a first source of water to a second source of water. The system may include one or more fluid jets. The fluid jets may function to produce a fluid stream having a predetermined velocity which is selectively greater, less than, or the same as a velocity of a participant at each of the fluid jet locations and are oriented tangentially with respect to the surface of the source of water so as to contact a participant and/or participant vehicle. An amusement ride system may include a system for controlling a participant flow rate through a multi path water amusement ride system. The system may include at least one gate mechanism which functions, upon activation, to inhibit a participant from entering one or more path choices. An amusement ride system may include a system for facilitating entry of a participant on a floatation device. The system may include one or more portions of water including a depth of water which allows a participant to more easily enter a floatation device.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a participant flow rate through a multi path water amusement ride system, comprising:

a first belt;

wherein the first belt is coupled to a first source of water and to a second source of water;

a second belt;

wherein the second belt is coupled to the first source of water and to a third source of water, wherein a first portion of the first and second belts are positioned adjacent to each other;

a first belt movement system, configured to move at least the first belt in a loop;

a second belt movement system, configured to move at least the second belt in a loop;

at least one gate mechanism positioned adjacent the first portions of the first and second belts, wherein at least one of the gate mechanisms is configured, upon activation, to inhibit a participant from entering the first or second belt; and

an automated control system coupled to at least one of the gate mechanisms, wherein the automated control system is configured to electronically monitor and automatically adjust a flow rate of participants dynamically based upon a participant flow rate of at least a portion of a water amusement park coupled to the second source of water or the third source of water such that as the participant flow rate changes in the portion of the water amusement park, the automated control system automatically adjusts the flow rate of participants through the multi path water amusement ride system to compensate, and wherein the automated control system automatically adjusts the flow rate of participants through the multi path water amusement ride system by signaling at least one of the gate mechanisms to activate more or less frequently such that a gate activated by the gate mechanism distributes the flow of participants between the first belt and the second belt differently as required to compensate for the participant flow rate changes in the portion of the water amusement park;

wherein the automated control system is configured to receive a signal from a participant, using a personal electronic signaling device, indicating to the automated control system which body of water the participant prefers to be conveyed, and wherein in response to the participant'"'"'s signal the automated control system sends a signal to at least one of the gate mechanisms.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a water flow sensor coupled to the first source of water, wherein the water flow sensor is configured to monitor the water flow rate of the first source of water proximate the first belt and/or the second belt.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first belt and/or the second belt extends below the surface of the first source of water.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first source of water is at a lower elevation than the second source of water.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first source of water is a body of water.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first source of water is a channel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second source of water is a slide.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the third source of water is a slide.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more protective devices are positioned to cover the outer edges of the first belt and/or the second belt, wherein the participants are inhibited from accessing the first and/or the second belt movement system by the one or more protective devices.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more detection devices positioned above the first belt and/or the second belt, wherein the one or more detection devices are configured to produce a detection signal when a participant is in a position above a predetermined height above the first belt and/or the second belt, and wherein the one or more detection devices are electronically coupled to the first and/or the second belt movement system such that the first and/or the second belt movement system is deactivated in response to a received detection signal.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more deflector plates positioned below the first source of water, wherein the one or more deflector plates are positioned to inhibit a participant from moving to a position below the first belt and/or the second belt, and wherein the one or more deflector plates are substantially angled to guide participants onto the first belt and/or the second belt.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first belt is configured such that the first belt does not extend past an apex at a position between the first source of water and the second source of water, and wherein the apex is coupled to the second source of water by a slide, and wherein the participant is transferred from the first source of water to the first belt, from the first belt to the slide, and from the slide to the second source of water during use.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first belt is configured such that the first belt does not extend past an apex at a position between the first source of water and the second source of water, and wherein the apex is coupled to the second source of water by a system of rollers, and wherein the participant is transferred from the first source of water to the first belt, from the first belt to the system of rollers, and from the system of rollers to the second source of water during use.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one floating queue line positioned within the first source of water upstream from the first belt and/or the second belt, wherein the floating queue line is configured to position a participant in a predetermined configuration prior to moving onto the first belt and/or the second belt.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more barriers positioned on one or more sides of the first belt and/or the second belt, wherein the one or more barriers are configured to inhibit participants from leaving the first belt and/or the second belt as the participants are conveyed along the first belt and/or the second belt.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more barriers positioned along the first belt and/or the second belt, wherein the one or more barriers are configured to define channels along the first belt and/or the second belt, and wherein participants move along the first belt and/or the second belt within the defined channels during use.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein a participant is riding on a floatation device.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second belt movement system comprises:

at least two rollers, wherein the first belt and/or the second belt is coupled to the rollers such that rotation of the rollers causes the first belt and/or the second belt to move around the rollers during use; and

a power supply coupled to at least one of the rollers, wherein the power supply is configured to supply a rotational force to at least one of the rollers during use.

19. A method for controlling participant flow rate through a multi-path water amusement ride system, comprising:

moving a first belt in a loop using a first belt movement system, wherein the belt is coupled to a first source of water and to a second source of water;

moving a second belt in a loop using a second belt movement system, wherein the belt is coupled to a first source of water and to a third source of water;

wherein the first and second belts and the first and second belt movement systems form at least part of a conveyor belt system;

activating at least one gate mechanism such that the gate mechanism is positioned in front of either the first or the second belt, wherein the gate mechanism inhibits participants from entering the first or second belt that the gate is positioned in front of;

electronically monitoring a flow rate of participants using an automated control system coupled to at least one of the gate mechanisms;

receiving a signal, using the automated control system, from a participant to indicate to the automated control system which body of water the participant prefers to be conveyed; and

sending a signal to at least one of the gate mechanisms using the automated control system in response to the participant'"'"'s signal;

transmitting the signal, received by the automated control system from a participant during use, from a personal electronic signaling device, wherein a participant activates the personal electronic signaling device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

automatically adjusting the flow rate of participants dynamically using the automated control system based upon a changing participant flow rate of at least a portion of a water amusement park coupled to the second source of water or the third source of water such that as the participant flow rate changes in the portion of the water amusement park, the automated control system automatically adjusts the flow rate of participants through the multi path water amusement ride system to compensate; and

signaling, with the automated control system, at least one of the gate mechanisms to activate more or less frequently such that a gate activated by the gate mechanism distributes the flow of participants between the first belt and the second belt differently as required to compensate for the participant flow rate changes in the portion of the water amusement park.