Linear motor driven waterslide ride and method
AssigneeHm Attractions, Inc.
InventorsRichard D. Hunter, Andreas Tanzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waterslide amusement ride having in a portion thereof, a linear induction motor to efficiently and effectively affect the motion of a vehicle sliding on the ride. The linear induction motor comprises linear induction motor units embedded below a sliding surface, and a reaction plate mounted to the bottom of the vehicle. Depending on the configuration of the linear induction motor units and the reaction plate, the linear induction motor drive can be used to accelerate the vehicle, decelerate the vehicle, maintain the speed of the vehicle up an uphill section, or rotate the vehicle.
Claims15
A waterslide amusement ride feature comprising:
- a waterslide sliding surface;
- a vehicle adapted to slide on said sliding surface and to convey at least one rider thereon;
- and
- a linear induction motor associated with the vehicle and the sliding surface for affecting sliding motion of the vehicle on the sliding surface, said linear induction motor comprising:
- at least one reaction plate mounted near a bottom of said vehicle and substantially parallel thereto, said at least one reaction plate covered by a bottom surface of the vehicle which slides on the sliding surface;
- and
- linear induction motor units located beneath the sliding surface.
A method of controlling the sliding motion of a vehicle sliding on a sliding surface in a waterslide amusement ride, comprising:
- providing the waterslide sliding surface;
- placing the vehicle on the sliding surface;
- providing a linear induction motor comprising at least one reaction plate mounted near a bottom of said vehicle and substantially parallel thereto, said at least one reaction plate covered by a bottom surface of the vehicle which slides on the sliding surface, and linear induction motor units located beneath the sliding surface;
- and
- operating the linear induction motor to affect sliding motion of the vehicle on the sliding surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.