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US 6,475,095 B1Granted
Amusement park water lock system and method of use
AssigneeNBGS International, Inc.
InventorJeffery W. Henry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water lock system is described which is configured to convey participants from a first body of water to a second body of water. The water lock system preferably includes a chamber disposed between the first and second bodies of water. A first movable member is preferably formed proximate the first body of water. A second movable member is preferably formed proximate the second body of water. Participants may enter the chamber from the first body of water via the first movable member. The water level in the chamber may be altered transferring the participants from the first body of water to the second body of water. The second movable member is preferably opened and the participants may be transferred to the second body of water.
Claims243
A water lock system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, the water lock system comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber being coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber, wherein the bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of the water through the first conduit during use.
4 more elements
A system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevation levels, comprising:
- a first chamber coupled to the first body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the first chamber, the first movable member positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the first chamber when the first movable member is open;
- a second chamber coupled to the second body of water and the first chamber such that an outer surface of a portion of the first chamber wall forms a portion of the inner surface of a second chamber wall;
- a second movable member formed in the portion of the first chamber wall dividing the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein the second movable member is configured to allow the person and water to move between the first chamber and the second chamber when the second movable member is open;
- a third movable member formed in the wall of the second chamber, the third movable member positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the second chamber when the third movable member is open;
- a first bottom member positioned within the first chamber, wherein the first bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the first chamber during use;
- a second bottom member positioned within the second chamber, wherein the second bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the second chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the first chamber for conducting water to the first chamber during use;
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of water through the first conduit during use;
- a second conduit coupled to the second chamber for conducting water to the second chamber during use;
- and
- a second water control system positioned along the second conduit, the second water control system being configured to control the flow of water through the second conduit during use.
9 more elements
A method for transferring a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, comprising:
- transferring the person from the first body of water into a water lock system, the water lock system comprising:
- a chamber for holding water coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the first chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber, wherein the bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of water through the first conduit during use;
- wherein transferring the person to the water lock system comprises moving the person from the first body of water into the chamber through the first movable member;
- closing the first movable member;
- altering the level of water within the chamber with water such that the upper surface of the water in the chamber is substantially equal to the upper surface of the water in the second body of water;
- opening the second movable member;
- and
- transferring the person from the chamber to the second body of water through the second movable member.
11 more elements
A method for transferring a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational heights, comprising:
- transferring the person from the first body of water into a water lock system, the water lock system comprising:
- a first chamber coupled to the first body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the first chamber, the first movable member positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the first chamber when the first movable member is open;
- a second chamber coupled to the second body of water and the first chamber, wherein an outer surface of a portion of the first chamber wall forms a portion of the inner surface of a second chamber wall;
- a second movable member formed in the portion of the first chamber wall dividing the first chamber from the second chamber, wherein the second movable member is configured to allow the person and water to move between the first chamber and the second chamber when the second movable member is open;
- a third movable member formed in the wall of the second chamber, the third movable member positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second chamber and the second body of water when the third movable member is open;
- a first bottom member positioned within the first chamber, wherein the first bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the first chamber during use;
- a second bottom member positioned within the second chamber, wherein the second bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the second chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the first chamber for conducting water to the first chamber during use;
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of water through the first conduit during use;
- a second conduit coupled to the second chamber for conducting water to the second chamber during use;
- and
- a second water control system positioned along the second conduit, the second water control system being configured to control the flow of water through the second conduit during use;
- wherein transferring the person to the water lock system comprises moving the person from the first body of water into the first chamber through the first movable member;
- closing the first movable member;
- altering the level of water in the first chamber such that the upper surface of the water in the first chamber is substantially equal to a portion of the second movable member;
- altering the level of water in the second chamber such that the upper surface of the water in the second chamber is substantially equal to a portion of the second movable member;
- opening the second movable member;
- transferring the person from the first chamber to the second chamber through the second movable member;
- closing the second movable member;
- altering the level of water in the second chamber with water such that the upper surface of the water in the second chamber is substantially equal to the upper surface of the water of the second body of water;
- opening the third movable member;
- and
- transferring the person from the second chamber to the second body of water.
21 more elements
An amusement park system, comprising:
- a water ride configured to convey a person from an upper body of water to a lower body of water;
- and
- a water lock system, the water lock system comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber being coupled to the lower body of water and the upper body of water;
- a first movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water from the first body of water to enter the first chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water from the chamber to enter the second body of water when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber, wherein the bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of water through the first conduit during use.
7 more elements
A water lock system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber, wherein the bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use, and wherein the bottom member is substantially water permeable such that water in the chamber moves freely through the bottom member as the bottom member is moved within the chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of the water through the first conduit during use.
4 more elements
A water lock system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber, the bottom member comprising a wall extending from the bottom member, wherein the bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use, and wherein the bottom member wall extends to a position above the upper surface of the water;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of the water through the first conduit during use.
4 more elements
A water lock system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber, wherein the bottom member is configured to be floating within the chamber and positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of the water through the first conduit during use.
4 more elements
A water lock system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber and positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use, the bottom member comprising a wall extending from the bottom member to a position above the upper surface of the water, wherein the bottom member wall is configured to inhibit the person from moving to a position below the bottom member;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of the water through the first conduit during use.
4 more elements
A water lock system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber and positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use, the bottom member comprising a locking system coupling the bottom member to the inner surface of the chamber wall, wherein the locking system is configured to inhibit the bottom member from sinking when water is released from the chamber;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber for conducting water to the chamber during use;
- and
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of the water through the first conduit during use.
4 more elements
A water lock system for conveying a person from a first body of water to a second body of water, the first and second bodies of water being at different elevational levels, comprising:
- a chamber for holding water, the chamber coupled to the first body of water and the second body of water;
- a first movable member formed in a wall of the chamber, the first movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the first body of water and the chamber when the first movable member is open during use;
- a second movable member formed in the wall of the chamber, the second movable member being positioned to allow the person and water to move between the second body of water and the chamber when the second movable member is open during use;
- a bottom member positioned within the chamber, wherein the bottom member is positionable below the upper surface of water within the chamber during use;
- a first conduit coupled to the chamber and the second body of water, wherein the first conduit is configured to transfer water between the second body of water and the chamber during use;
- a first water control system positioned along the first conduit, the first water control system being configured to control the flow of the water through the first conduit during use;
- a second conduit being coupled to the chamber and the first body of water, wherein the second conduit is configured to transfer water between the chamber and the first body of water during use;
- a second water control system positioned along the second conduit to control flow of water through the second conduit during use;
- a third conduit being coupled to the second body of water and the first body of water, wherein the third conduit is configured to transfer water between the first body of water and the second body of water during use;
- and
- a third water control system being positioned along the third conduit, and wherein the third water control system comprises a pump configured to pump water between the first body of water and the second body of water during use.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.