Abstract:
An apparatus for transporting a rider comprising a vehicle adapted to support the rider wherein vehicle has a driven portion disposed along a bottom surface thereof and a track having a path sized to slidably receive the vehicle therein and a plurality of water jets disposed along the track along a path of travel of the driven portion. Each of the plurality of water jets is adapted to sequentially discharge a portion of water in a desired direction of travel of the vehicle therethrough when aligned with the driven portion such that the portion of water engages the driven portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/736,975 filed Dec. 13, 2012 entitled SEQUENCED IMPULSE JETS FOR WATER PARK ATTRACTIONS. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to waterslides in general and in particular to a method and apparatus for using jetted water flow as a means of motive force on a vehicle within a track. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Water slides are a common and popular recreational activity. Water slides commonly are comprise a track formed of a tubular or contoured track with a flow of water traveling from the top to the bottom to convey a rider. Conventional waterslides rely completely on gravity and the flowing water to convey the rider to the bottom of the slide. Such conventional waterslides use only potential energy gained from climbing a tower to move the vehicle down the slide. Using only potential energy creates the disadvantages of not being able to start motion on a flat section (launching) and not being able to climb to a height greater than the proceeding drop. 
         [0006]    In recent years, waterslides have been developed utilizing water jets to assist the rider up inclines or otherwise propel the rider along the slide so as to provide greater flexibility in slide design as well as enable the construction of longer slides. Such rides use a large jet at the bottom of an uphill section to propel a rider or rider upon a raft. In such rides, the jet is continuously run to apply a motive force at the bottom of the hill. Examples of such devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,662 to (1991) Langford and U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,616 to Dubois. However these jets are commonly directed only to hit the raft or rider at any location at which ever location is in the direct path of the jets. Accordingly, the interface between the jets and the raft or rider may not correspond to a region which effectively drives the rider or raft forward. Additionally, such jets are continuously on such that a rider may be undesirably sprayed or impacted by the water ejected therefrom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for transporting a rider comprising a vehicle adapted to support the rider wherein vehicle has a driven portion disposed along a bottom surface thereof. The apparatus further comprising a track having a path sized to slidably receive the vehicle therein and a plurality of water jets disposed along the track along a path of travel of the driven portion. Each of the plurality of water jets is adapted to sequentially discharge a portion of water in a desired direction of travel of the vehicle therethrough when aligned with the driven portion such that the portion of water engages the driven portion. 
         [0008]    The driven portion may comprise a plurality of vanes extending from the bottom surface of the vehicle. The vanes may extend from a longitudinal midline of the vehicle. The vanes may extend transversely from a midline of the vehicle. The vanes may have an arcuate profile. 
         [0009]    The vanes may be arranged in pairs to opposed sides of the midline of the vehicle. The driven portion may comprise a plurality of pairs of vanes arranged longitudinally along the bottom surface of the vehicle. The vanes may be formed integrally with the vehicle. The vanes may be formed on a plate secured to the bottom surface of the vehicle. 
         [0010]    The water jets may be arranged in drive sections along the track. Each drive section may comprise a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart water jets arranged transversely across the track. The water jets may be oriented at an angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to a normal surface of the track. 
         [0011]    Each water jet may be adapted to discharge a burst of water when aligned with the driven portion. Each water jet may be adapted to be closed after the driven portion has passed. 
         [0012]    The apparatus may further comprise at least one valve associated with the plurality of jets adapted to permit a flow of water through the jets. The valves may comprise a unique valve for each drive section. 
         [0013]    The apparatus may further comprise at least one sensor for activating the plurality of water jets. The apparatus may further comprise a timer for sequencing the water jets when activated by the at least one sensor. The sensors may comprise a unique sensor for each drive section. 
         [0014]    According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a method for transporting a rider comprising providing a vehicle adapted to support the rider wherein the vehicle has a driven portion disposed along a bottom surface thereof. The apparatus further comprises providing a track having a path sized to slidably receive the vehicle therein and sequentially discharging a portion of water in a desired direction of travel of the vehicle through a plurality of water jets disposed along the track along of a path of travel of the driven portion when aligned with the driven portion such that the portion of water engages the driven portion. 
         [0015]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a water slide according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a section of the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a vehicle for use in the water slide track of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the vehicle of  FIG. 3   
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of one of the vanes of the vehicle of  FIG. 3  with a path of water flow illustrated. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the vehicle located above the water jets as taken along the line  6 - 6 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the vehicle mounted in a track of the water slide of  FIG. 1  at a first position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the vehicle mounted in a track of the water slide of  FIG. 1  at a second position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , water slide according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at  10 . The water slide  10  comprises an elongate track  12  having a beginning  14  and an end  16 . The track  12  may optionally include one or more downhill portions  18  and one or more uphill portions  20 . Although both downhill and uphill portions are illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it will be appreciated that any combination of uphill, downhill, level and turning portions may be combined for the desired ride. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the track  12  includes at least one vehicle  50  operable to be received within the track and propelled therealong as will be more fully described below. 
         [0026]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a portion of the track is illustrated. The track comprises a bottom running surface  22 , and first and second side walls,  24  and  26 , respectively. The bottom running surface  22  supports the vehicle within the track while the first and second side walls  24  and  26  contain the vehicle to remain within the track  12 . Although the track is illustrated in  FIG. 2  as having a substantially rectangular cross-section, it will be appreciated that other cross-sections may also be utilized, such as, by way of non-limiting example, circular, oval or irregular. It will furthermore be appreciated that for non-rectangular cross-sections the bottom surface and side walls may be blended together so as to not form distinct corners therebetween as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0027]    The bottom surface  22  of the track  12  includes a drive  30  extending therealong comprising a plurality of water jets  32  oriented generally in the intended direction of travel of the vehicle  50 . The track  12  includes a midline axis  28  extending therealong on which matching pairs of water jets  32  are arranged to either side thereof. Although the water jets  32  are illustrated as extending along the length of the track section shown in  FIG. 2 , it will be appreciated that the water jets  32  may extend along the entire track  12  or only sections thereof where additional propulsion is required. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the track  12  may include guide grooves  34  located to the outside of the water jets  32 . The guide grooves  34  may engage with corresponding protrusions on the bottom of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle along a desired path or may optionally be used to drain excess water from the drive location. The water jets  32  are angled upwards relative to the bottom surface so as to be directed at and adapted to engage a portion of the vehicle as it passes thereover. With reference to  FIG. 6 , the water jets  32  are angle upwards by an inclination angle  40  which may be selected to be between 0 and 90 degrees. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a vehicle for use in the track is shown generally at  50 . The vehicle  50  comprises an outer body  52  having front and rear ends,  54  and  56 , respectively. As illustrated, the outer body  52  may be formed of an inflatable body as is commonly known in the art. The vehicle  50  includes a bottom panel  58  which provides a surface for an occupant to sit on within the outer body. As illustrated the bottom panel  58  may include a plate  60  thereon which contains a plurality vanes  62  extending from the bottom of the vehicle  50 . The vanes  62  are arranged in pairs along a midline  64  of the vehicle  50  corresponding to the axis  28  of the track  12 . The vanes  62  are adapted to be engaged with water exiting the water jets  32  so as to propel the vehicle  50  in the desired direction of travel. The plate  60  may include a longitudinal ridge  66  extending along the midline  54  thereof from which the vanes extend so as to provide separation from each other. The plate  60  may either be separate component secured to the bottom of the vehicle  50  or may optionally be formed integrally therewith. The vanes  62  are arranged in pairs to either side of the ridge  66  and it will be appreciated that any quantity of vanes may be selected depending on the amount of driving force desired. The vanes  62  may also be spaced apart by a distance along the longitudinal midline  54  to permit each vane to be successively driven by the water jet  32  without interference from the preceding or following vane. By way of non-limiting example, the vanes  62  may be spaced apart along the plate by a distance of between 2 and 48 inches (51 and 1219 mm). 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the plate and vanes  60  and  62  comprises a driven portion on the vehicle  50  while the water jets  32  comprises a drive to urge the vehicle along the track  12 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , each vane  62  may include a substantially straight portion  68  and an arcuate portion  70 . The straight portion  68  extends angularly from the ridge  66  by an initial angle  74 . The initial angle  74  may be selected to be between_and_degrees such that the straight portion extends from the ridge  66  in a direction of travel of the vehicle  50 . The arcuate portion  70  curve the vane back in an opposed direction to the intended travel of the vehicle  50  such that water discharged from the water jet  32  is collected by the vane and directed back towards the water jet along a flow path generally indicated at  76 . The arcuate portion  70  may have a radius of curvature generally indicated at  82  selected to be between 2 and 24 inches (51 and 610 mm). 
         [0030]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the track  12  may have a sensor  80  located therealong at a location upstream of the water jets  32 . The sensor  80  is adapted to sense the presence of the vehicle  50  or passage therepast. Examples of such sensor  80  may include but are not limited to proximity sensors, broken light beams, position switches or the like. The sensor  80  indicates to a processor circuit  82  that the vehicle  50  is approaching. In the present embodiment, the processor circuit includes a microprocessor or other suitable processor circuit as are generally known in the art. The processor circuit in turn causes valves  90  to be opened at a predetermined time interval as the vehicle  50  is passing thereover. The valves  90  are supplied with a water supply a network of piping  88  including a pump  86  and water supply  84 . In particular, the valves  90  are adapted to fluidicly connect each water jet  32  with the piping  88  and thereby to discharge a portion of the water from the piping through the water jet. The processor circuit  82  will also cause the valves  90  to close at a time interval corresponding to when the vehicle has passed thereover. 
         [0031]    As illustrated, the system may include a single sensor  80  for use with a plurality or bank of water jets as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In such arrangements, each valve  90  may be provided with its own timing to turn on and off at a unique time interval depending upon the speed and path of travel desired of the vehicle. Furthermore in such arrangements, the indication of the approach of the vehicle will initiate the water jet sequence as controlled by the processor circuit. It will also be appreciated that separate sensors  80  may also be used for each water jet or pair of water jets individually. Furthermore, the sensor may be located proximate to the water jet or slightly downstream thereof so as to sense the vehicle  50  when it is located above the water jet  32 . In such arrangements, the sensor may be wired directly to the associated valve so as to activate it directly. Optionally, the sensors  80  may be omitted and all the valves of the ride directly controlled by the processor circuit. 
         [0032]    More generally, in this specification, including the claims, the term “processor circuit” is intended to broadly encompass any type of device or combination of devices capable of performing the functions described herein, including (without limitation) other types of microprocessors, microcontrollers, other integrated circuits, other types of circuits or combinations of circuits, logic gates or gate arrays, or programmable devices of any sort, for example, either alone or in combination with other such devices located at the same location or remotely from each other, for example. Additional types of processor circuits will be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of this specification, and substitution of any such other types of processor circuits is considered not to depart from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. 
         [0033]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.