Water-ride facility

• US 20060130698A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mack Rides Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Mack Rides Gmbh & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Sornik, Frank, Burger, Guenter, Gessner, Jens, Koebele, Thorsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 104/73
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 3/00 Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating

Abstract

A watercraft is described for a water-ride facility. The watercraft consists of a floating body 10, which is connected by an articulated connecting unit 20 to the undercarriage 30, in such a way that the position of the floating body 10 can be modified in the longitudinal and transverse directions, relative to the undercarriage, and can be modified with respect to its height, with the result the floating body 10 can execute rocking, swaying, and rolling movements comparable to a freely floating boat, despite being guided by the undercarriage 30. The undercarriage 30 is guided by means of rails 40 that are fixed in position. Outside of the water the floating body 10 can be firmly attached to the undercarriage 30 by means of coupling elements 14 and 34.

Claims

1. A water-ride facility, consisting of at least one watercraft, which exhibits a floating body, as well as of an undercarriage which is connected to the floating body and which serves as a guidance unit, and consisting of a guidance system running in the water for the undercarriage, and a drive for the watercraft,

wherein

the floating body (10) is connected to the undercarriage (30) by a connecting unit (20) exhibiting joint rods (21) and/or flexible elements, and said connecting unit (20) permits the floating body (10) to execute a transverse and/or lifting movement relative to the undercarriage (30).

2. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

reciprocally matching coupling elements (14, 24), which interlock and which provide a rigid connection between the floating body (10) and the undercarriage (30) in at least one relative position, are positioned on the floating body (10) and the undercarriage (30).

3. A water-ride facility according to claim 2,

wherein

the coupling elements are designed in such a way that upon dropping onto the undercarriage (30) the floating body (10) will automatically lock, in such a way that the locking mechanism can be released in controllable fashion.

4. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

the connecting unit (20) consist of joint rods (22, 23), telescope bars, linear guides, or rotating assemblies, which form transverse and longitudinal guides.

5. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

the flexible elements are cables, chains, belts, or air pillows.

6. A water-ride facility according to claim 4,

wherein

the flexible and/or articulated elements are connected to hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, or to cable feeds, and will preferably be controllable.

7. A water-ride facility according to claim 2,

wherein

the coupling elements exhibit a redundant locking system and/or a dead-center locking system, or are designed in the form of a king pin and pivot bearing.

8. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

the floating body (10) is boat with a single or multiple fuselage, or is a floating body.

9. A water-ride facility according to claim 8

wherein

the boat is a sailboat, a motorboat, or a rowboat.

10. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

cable or conveyor chain drives are mechanically connected to the craft.

11. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

there is a friction gear drive or a gearwheel drive.

12. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

there is a current drive, preferably a current pump drive with outlet nozzles positioned within the water and close to the guidance mechanism.

13. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

there are induction drives, particularly linear induction motor drives.

14. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

the guidance system exhibits schuss sections in which the watercraft is driven by gravity.

15. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

the guidance system consists of one or more, but preferably two, rails.

16. A water-ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

running wheels or support wheels (32), which roll along the guide rails (40), are provided on the undercarriage (30).

17. A water ride facility according to claim 1,

wherein

braking devices are positioned on the undercarriage and/or on the guidance mechanism.