Methods and systems for water amusement conveyor

• US 8,070,615 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Water Ride Concepts Incorporated
• Inventors: Henry, Jeffery Wayne, Schooley, John Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dennis, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/283,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 472/117, 472/128
• US Class Current: 472/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/18 Water-chutes
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/02 with floating seats

Abstract

A water transportation system and method are described, 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 actively involved in a water attraction. This transportation system comprises at least two water stations and at least one water channel connecting the at least two water stations for the purpose of conveying participants between the at least two water stations. In addition, the water transportation system may include conveyor belt systems and water locks configured to convey participants from a first source of water to a second source of water which may or may not be at a different elevation.

Claims

1. A water transportation system, comprising:

at least two channels, wherein the channels are configured to convey a participant by water flowing through the channels;

at least two water amusement stations, wherein the water amusement stations are coupled to the channels, and wherein a first water amusement station and a second water amusement station are coupled to each other by a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is configured to transfer a participant from the first water amusement station to the second water amusement station in a first direction, and wherein the second channel is configured to transfer a participant from the second water amusement station to the first water amusement station in a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction;

at least one conduit coupled to at least one of the channels, wherein the conduit is configured to convey a participant by water flowing through the conduit; and

at least one movable member positioned at the intersection of the channel and the conduit, wherein the movable member is movable into a first position and a second position, wherein the movable member, when positioned in the first position, directs participants along the channel in a direction of the water flowing through the channel while inhibiting participants from passing into the conduit, and wherein the movable member, when positioned in the second position, directs participants along the conduit in a direction of the water flowing through the conduit while inhibiting participants from passing along the channel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the channels additionally comprises:

a substantially horizontal channel segment comprising a first portion and a second portion;

a water inlet positioned at the first portion; and

a water outlet positioned at the second portion;

wherein water is transferred into the channel at the first portion and is transferred out of the channel at the second portion in sufficient quantities to create a hydraulic gradient between the first portion and the second portion.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement stations comprises a water ride, the water ride comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the outlet end is coupled to at least a portion of one of the channels, wherein the water ride comprises at least one water releasing mechanism configured to inject water onto a surface of said water ride such that a body of flowing water is produced on the surface of the water ride, and wherein the body of flowing water exits the outlet end of the water ride and enters the portion of the channel such that the body of flowing water produces a flow of water within the portion of the channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the channels comprises a plurality of water jets spaced apart and positioned along the channel at predetermined locations, wherein the water jets are oriented tangentially with respect to the channel surface so as to contact a participant as a participant passes by each of the locations, and wherein each of the water jets is configured to produce a water stream having a predetermined velocity which is selectively greater, less than, or the same as the velocity of the participant at each of the water jet locations.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein participants are conveyed through at least a portion of one of the channels while riding in a floatation device, and wherein the system further comprises a docking station coupled to at least a portion of one of the channels, the docking station configured to receive and inhibit movement of floatation devices to allow participants to exit or enter the floatation device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the channels further comprises a conveyor belt system for transporting a vehicle or a participant from a body of water at a lower elevation to a body of water at a higher elevation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of one of the channels comprises a controllable obstruction positioned on a bottom surface of at least one of the channels, wherein the obstruction is configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position, and wherein the obstruction in the raised position substantially inhibits the flow of water through the channel and wherein the obstruction in the lowered position allows substantially uninhibited flow of water through the channel, and wherein the obstruction is positionable in the raised position, the lowered position, or any position in between the raised position and the lowered position.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of one of the channels comprises an obstruction positioned on a bottom surface of at least one of the channels, wherein the obstruction at least partially inhibits the flow of water through the channel, and wherein the obstruction is configured to such that a standing wave is produced by the contact of the flowing water with the obstruction.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a water input source coupled to the channels, wherein the water input source is configured to provide a variable flow of water to the channel from a water source;

a water flow sensor coupled to the channels, wherein the water flow sensor is configured to monitor a flow rate of water through the channels; and

a controller coupled to the water input source and the water flow sensor, wherein the controller is configured to signal the water input source to vary the flow of water to the channel in response to the monitored flow rate of water through the channel.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controllable obstruction positioned on a bottom surface of at least one of the channels, wherein the obstruction is configured to move between a raised position and a lowered position in response to a control signal, and wherein the obstruction in the raised position substantially inhibits the flow of water through the channel and wherein the obstruction in the lowered position allows substantially uninhibited flow of water through the channel, and wherein the obstruction is positionable in the raised position, the lowered position, or any position in between the raised position and the lowered position;

a water flow sensor coupled to the channels, wherein the water flow sensor is configured to monitor a flow rate of water through the channels; and

a controller coupled to the water input source and the controllable obstruction, wherein the controller is configured to produce a signal to vary the position of the controllable obstruction in response to the monitored flow rate of water through the channel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the channels comprises:

an obstruction positioned within a portion of the channel;

a first pump configured to remove water from a portion of the channel upstream from the obstruction and re-inject the removed water into the channel at a position upstream from the removal point, wherein the velocity of the reinjected water is substantially greater than the velocity of the water traveling through a portion of the channel upstream from the position at which the water is re-injected into the channel.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the channels is coupled to a floating queue line, wherein the floating queue line couples the portion of one of the channels with a water ride of a water amusement station, and wherein the floating queue line comprises a channel wherein the channel is configured to hold water at a depth sufficient to allow a participant to float within the channel, and wherein the floating queue line is coupled to the water ride such that a participant remains in the water while being transferred from the channel along the floating queue line to the water ride, and wherein the floating queue line comprises at least one water input device located along a potion of the floating queue line, wherein the water input device is configured to be operated intermittently to direct a stream of water at a participant such that each participant is delivered to the beginning of the water ride at a desired time.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a first and second channel, and wherein the conduit couples the first channel to the second channel, and wherein the conduit is configured to allow participants to move between the first and second charmels when the movable member is positioned in the second position.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement stations comprises a water ride, and wherein the water ride is coupled to at least one of the channels.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement stations comprises a river water ride, and wherein the river water ride is coupled to at least one of the channels.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement stations comprises a swimming pool, and wherein the swimming pool is coupled to at least one of the channels.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the water amusement stations comprises a water amusement park, and wherein a portion of the water amusement park is coupled to at least one of the channels.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the channels is configured to convey participants across a body of water.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the participant is floating on a floatation device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the conduit couples at least one of the channels to at least one additional water amusement station, and further comprising a controller coupled to the movable member and the additional water station, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the occupancy of the additional water station, and wherein the controller is configured to generate a signal for the movable member in response to the occupancy of the additional water station.