GB2460223A

GB2460223A - Water ride conveyor system

Info

Publication number: GB2460223A
Application number: GB0809011A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Cuttell; Philip John Olive
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-19
Filing date: 2008-05-19
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Also published as: WO2009141588A2; GB0815789D0; GB0809011D0; WO2009141588A3

Abstract

A water ride conveying system for use in a leisure park comprises an inclined hollow rotating tube having an internal screw thread. A first end of the tube is at a lower water level and a second end of the tube is at a higher water level. Accordingly, a user entering the tube at one level can be carried to the other level by a body of water moving along the internal screw thread as the tube rotates about its axis.

Description

I

BACKGROUND

During the last 30 years, the growth in participatory family water-based recreation, and in water oriented ride attractions in the traditional themed amusement parks, has been unprecedented. Current attractions, for example, waterslides, river rapid rides, log flumes, and others, require participants to walk or be mechanically lifted to a high point, wherein, gravity enables water, participant(s), and riding vehicle (if appropriate) to slide down a chute or incline to a lower elevation splash pool or catch unit where after the cycle repeats.

Generally speaking, the traditional downhill water rides are short in duration and have limited throughput capacity. The combination of these two factors can lead to a situation in which patrons of the parks typically form long queues and have a long waiting time for a ride that, although exciting, lasts only a few seconds. Additional problems like hot and sunny weather, wet patrons etc. combine to create a very poor overall customer feeling of satisfaction or perceived entertainment value in the waterpark experience. Poor entertainment value in waterparks as well as other amusement parks is rated as the biggest problem within industry.

The present disclosure generally relates to amusement attractions and rides. More particularly, the disclosure generally relates to a system and method for an amusement ride elevation and descending system. Further, the disclosure generally relates to amusement rides and methods for transporting participant! participants and their vehicles between different elements/areas within an amusement park in a safe, efficient and interesting manner.

The present disclosure provides an interesting, new and alternative ride in an attempt to keep waterpark participants entertained, thereby prolonging their overall experience and enjoyment of the park. Using the present disclosure it is entirely possible for a patron to ride from any given location to another within a waterpark.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an elevated revolving tube with an internal thread capable of carrying participant! participants and their vehicles floating in a pond created by the shape of the internal screw thread. The revolving ride, powered by a suitable power source, would be shaped specifically in the actual screw threads and at the point of entry and exit as described later. These design features facilitate ease of entry and exit, and ensure the ride operates both safely and efficiently. The ride would carry people from a lower water level to a higher water level thereby eliminating, or at least reducing the necessity for stairways, tyre hoisting devices, pumps and pipe-work.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: A system for conveying a participantiparticipants and their floatation devise from a source of water to other sources of water in an amusement park, comprising: a threaded tube to convey participant/participants and or participant vehicle, wherein the tube is located to adjoin a source of water and to other sources of water; and a motor device configured to rotate the threaded tube as required.
2. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising: one or more fluid jets positioned at least along a portion of the entry channel and other locations; a second and possibly a multiple of rotating threaded tubes to convey participant/participants and their floatation devices wherein the second and subsequent rotating threaded tubes can be adjoined to other rides within the amusement park; second and subsequent motor devices designed to rotate other parts of the ride; control systems to control the speed of tube rotation which when used in conjunction/combination with the fluid jets function to adjust the rate of participant/participants throughput through at least a portion of the amusement park.
3. The system of any one of the above claims, where in the fluid jets are configured above, at, or below water level to assist the directional passage of the participant/participants.
4. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the control system is manually or at least partially if not entirely automated.
5. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the fluid jets can be positioned at various locations from entry to exit so as to gain maximum effect.
6. The system of any one of the above claims, where in it is envisaged that the fluid would be water but could be any substance including air which is acceptable to/compatible with the overall operating system.
7. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the rotation of the threaded tube is adjusted to a speed, which controls the participant/participants throughput rate.
8. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising an entry spacer collar configured to ensure only one participantlparticipants vehicle enters the rotating threaded tube at any one time. Whilst the use of multiple vehicles in each thread turn is possible it is envisaged that this would be impracticable.
9. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the spacer collar can be positioned by rotation, at a point to gain maximum effect from its function prior to permanent fixing.
10. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the dimension of the spacer collar when fitted to the end of the rotating threaded tube, must be equal to or more than the depth of water at the entry point.
11. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the gap in the spacer collar must be sufficient to allow safe passage of the participant/participant in their respective vehicles.
12. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the profile of the spacer collar presents a vertical or near vertical wall to the water, which will hold back the water until the gap in the collar is presented.
13. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising a conical shaped device for reducing the overall diameter of the ride intended to provide an easier entry passage on rides where the diameter of the ride is considered to be too large for a more conventional entry style.
14. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising a rotating tube with an internal thread wherein the pitch of the thread is variable to suit the angle of tube installation; the angle between the pitch of the thread and the internal surface of the rotating tube should be such that it creates the optimum operating size for the pond of water therein contained.
15. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the profile of the internal thread is such that the base of the pond formed will be flat and positioned horizontally to both reduce the volume of water contained within the pond and to present a more user friendly surface in the event of the need for riders to stand away from their floatation devises.
16. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the internal thread remains open in its centre to allow a clear space both for exit of the participant/participants in the event of a breakdown and for visual effect, the hole created allowing a clear view through the centre of the rotating threaded tube.
17. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising an exit ejection thread located as a section of the final complete turn of thread within the rotating tube.
18. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the exit ejection thread changes in profile throughout the last complete turn, infilling the pond and lifting the participantlparticipants and their vehicle to a higher point than would be normally achieved.
19. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the higher point of lift formed as part of the exit ejector thread is as high/or higher than the water level contained in the first and subsequent receiving unit.
20. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising an angled coupling.
21. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the angled coupling is configured to allow one revolving threaded tube to discharge the participant/participants and their vehicle so that another threaded tube collects the participant/participants and their vehicle for onward transmission should it be required.
22. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the coupling is either left hand or right hand or straight and varied in angle to suit site conditions and the angle required by the position of the revolving threaded tube being used for onward transmission.
23. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising: a support structure configured to provide support for the revolving threaded tube! tubes and the revolving threaded tube movement mechanism; wheeled runners to provide a bearing system allowing free movement of the revolving threaded tube.
24. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein annular rings are affixed to the outer circumference of the revolving threaded tube at varying intervals throughout its length to provide a rotating track.
25. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein wheeled runners or bearings are mounted to support the annular rings.
26. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein part of the support structure is used for the support of the driving mechanism used to rotate the threaded tube.
27. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the driving mechanism is powered by electricity.
28. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the driving mechanism is powered by water.
29. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the driving mechanism is powered by air.
30. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the driving mechanism is powered by gas
31. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the driving mechanism is powered by hydraulics.
32. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the driving mechanism is geared to allow variable speeds both in forward and reverse.
33. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the water depth within the pitch of the internal thread is sufficient to allow participant/participants vehicles to float where necessary and that the water should be at its minimum sufficient to act as a lubricant.
34. The system of any one of the above claims, further comprising the transport of participant/participants and their vehicles in an inclined direction and a declined direction when the drive unit is reversed.
35. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the first and subsequent sources of water is a pool.
36. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the first and subsequent sources of water is a channel.
37. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the first and subsequent sources of water is a waterslide.
38. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the participant/participants are riding on a floatation device
39. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the participant/participants are riding on an inflatable floatation device.
40. The system of any one of the above claims, wherein the entire ride, or a section of the ride can be themed to suit the requirements of the location and/or the client.
41. The system of any one of the above claims wherein the internal screw thread/or threads can be in filled to exclude light allowing specialist internal lighting themes and effects.
42. A system for transporting participant/participants and their vehicles from a source of water to other and subsequent sources of water in a water amusement park, comprising.