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US 5,401,117 AGranted
Method and apparatus for containerless sheet flow water rides
OwnerThomas J. Lochtefeldinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water ride attraction is disclosed which utilizes a containerless riding surface to eliminate disadvantageous boundary layer effects. A sheet flow of water is directed up the incline to produce a simulated wave. The configuration and contour of the riding surface and the various flow parameters can be widely varied to produce numerous desirable wave conditions.
Claims68
A water ride attraction for water parks, amusement parks and the like, comprising:
- a riding surface adapted to receive and support a rider, said riding surface having an inclined slope beginning at a base and ending at a ridge, said slope having lateral edges and a curvature thereon;
- at least one nozzle for propelling a sheet flow of water onto said inclined slope on said riding surface such that said sheet flow flows upwardly from said base to said ridge and substantially conforms to the contours of said slope, wherein a rider can perform water skimming maneuvers thereon;
- and
- said riding surface being formed without side walls such that lateral boundary layer effects are minimized, wherein said flow of water is substantially free to flow off of the lateral edges of said riding surface.
1 more element
A water ride attraction, comprising:
- a riding surface having a generally inclined portion thereon, said riding surface having lateral edges and an upper substantially convex ridge portion;
- and
- a water outlet for directing a flow of water onto said inclined portion such that said flow of water flows generally upward onto said inclined portion of said riding surface, wherein a rider may ride on said flow of water and perform water skimming maneuvers thereon, said riding surface being containerless so as to permit the removal of lower velocity water adjacent said lateral edges, whereby lateral boundary layer effects on said water flow are minimized.
The water ride for water parks, amusement parks and the like, comprising:
- a riding surface having lateral edges and an inclined slope, said riding surface being adapted to receive and support a rider thereon;
- and
- a water releasing mechanism for injecting a substantially supercritical flow of water which flows generally upward upon said inclined slope such that said flow substantially conforms thereon, wherein said riding surface is substantially containerless, thereby allowing said flow of water to flow on said riding surface and to run off said lateral edges of said riding surface.
A water ride for water parks, amusement parks and the like, comprising:
- an inclined riding surface adapted to receive and support a rider, wherein the top of said inclined surface comprises a ridgeline having a higher elevation on one side of said riding surface and a lower elevation on the other side of said riding surface;
- and
- a sheet flow of water which flows generally upward onto said riding surface, wherein a rider can perform skimming maneuvers thereon, and wherein said flow substantially conforms to at least a portion of said riding surface.
A method for improving water rides for amusement parks, water parks and the like, comprising:
- providing a riding surface having an inclined portion having a ridgeline along the top edge, wherein a first section of said inclined portion is higher in elevation than a second section of said inclined surface;
- propelling a flow of water on said riding surface, wherein said flow substantially conforms to the contours of said riding surface, and wherein said flow is initially supercritical;
- reducing the velocity of said supercritical flow on said riding surface such that said supercritical flow only reaches and flows over said second section of said ridgeline, wherein said supercritical flow does not have sufficient kinetic energy to flow over said first section of said ridgeline, wherein a hydraulic jump is created at the leading edge of said flow on said first section, and a resulting subcritical flow runs off the side of said riding surface;
- and
- further reducing said supercritical flow such that said flow does not reach said ridgeline, and wherein said flow is subcritical and generates a hydraulic jump along the leading edge of said flow, wherein said flow is permitted to run off said sections of said riding surface.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.