Methods and systems for amusement park conveyor belt systems

• US 8,197,352 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• 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 W., Schooley, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): DENNIS, MICHAEL DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/218,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,476 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 amusement ride system, comprising:

a water slide which conveys, during use, a human participant riding an inflated vehicle from a first end of the water slide to a second end of the water slide, wherein the water slide comprises;

a first portion comprising a first channel segment, wherein the human participant riding the inflated vehicle slides, during use, along a surface of the first channel segment conveyed via gravity in a direction from an upper elevation toward a lower elevation;

a water inlet at the upper elevation end;

wherein sufficient water is transferred into the first channel segment at or near the upper elevation end such that, during use, friction between the human participant riding the inflated vehicle and the first channel segment is reduced to allow the human participant riding the inflated vehicle to slide on the inflated vehicle in the first channel segment; and

a second portion coupled to the first portion such that the human participant riding the inflated vehicle moves from the first portion to the second portion while riding the inflated vehicle, wherein the second portion comprises a second channel segment comprising a conveyor belt system for transporting the human participant riding the inflated vehicle from the lower elevation, or an elevation near the lower elevation, to a second higher elevation, during use, wherein the conveyor belt system comprises a belt, and wherein the belt comprises a continuous band of flexible material and a design such that friction between the inflated vehicle and the belt is sufficient to inhibit the inflated vehicle from moving in a direction opposite to the direction the belt is moving; and

a water amusement ride which conveys, during use, the human participant riding the inflated vehicle from the second higher elevation, or an elevation near the second higher elevation, to a second lower elevation; and

a detection device positioned above the second channel segment, wherein the detection device detects, during use, when a participant is in a position above a predetermined height above the conveyor belt system.

2. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt system comprises:

a belt movement system which moves the belt in a loop, during use.

3. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein a conveyor belt speed is between about one foot per second and about five feet per second.

4. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the angle of ascent of the second channel segment does not exceed 18%.

5. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, further comprising a controller which varies, during use, a speed of the conveyor belt system and a speed of water flowing through the first channel segment such that during use the speeds are substantially equal.

6. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a series of interlocking plates.

7. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt system comprises:

a protective device is positioned to cover the outer edges of the belt, wherein participants are inhibited from accessing the belt movement system by the protective device.

8. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, further comprising two or more detection devices positioned at a predefined height above the second channel segment, wherein at least one of the detection devices detects, during use, when a participant is in a position above a predetermined height above the conveyor belt system.

9. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the belt reaches an apex at a position between an input end of the conveyor belt system and an exit end of the conveyor belt system.

10. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a width such that only a single participant riding an inflated vehicle enters the system during use.

11. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a width such that at least two participants riding inflated vehicles enter the system at the same time during use.

12. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt system comprises:

a tension unit coupled to the belt, wherein the tension unit varies, during use, the tension of the belt against a roller.

13. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt system comprises:

a barrier positioned on each side of the belt, wherein the barrier inhibits, during use, participants from leaving the belt as the participants are conveyed along the belt.

14. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt system comprises:

one or more barriers positioned along the belt, wherein the barriers to define two or more channels along the belt, and wherein participants move along the belt within the defined channels, during use.

15. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein a participant is riding on a floatation device.

16. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt system comprises:

a belt movement system which moves the belt in a loop, during use;

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

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

17. The water amusement ride system of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a width that allows only a single human participant riding on an inflated vehicle to pass through the first portion during use.