High-speed, punch-through waterfall effect

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to amusement or theme park attractions and rides. Various forms of amusement rides have been used for many years in amusement or theme parks. These include traditional rides such as roller coasters, round rides and water rides.

Throughout the years roller coasters and high-speed thrill rides have been designed to thrill, scare, and deliver a rush of excitement to patrons riding on the ride vehicle. Furthermore high-speed thrill rides have also managed to stimulate and create excitement to guests viewing the ride from the walkways and queue surrounding the ride.

Over the last several years, so-called dark rides having ever more sophisticated technology and effects have been developed. Dark rides generally have ride vehicles carrying one to several passengers or riders through one or more scenes or rooms. The scenes typically have themed ride effects or elements, props, animated figures, projected images, and other ‘show effects’ that enhance the ride experience. The ride vehicles may travel along a fixed track, guide way, trough, or other mechanically or electrically limited path.

The themed ride effects or elements are traditionally placed in areas adjacent to the vehicle path. Many dark rides in particular strive to create a temporary suspension of reality, with the riders temporarily convinced that they are in the fictional environment made up of the ride elements, such as: scenery, props, special effects, animated or robotic figures, projected or lighting effects, etc. Of course, the ability to actually achieve this result is necessarily limited by the rider's prior knowledge that they are, in fact, participating in an amusement ride and not in a real event.

Accordingly, there is a need for new ride elements that play psychologically to the rider's perception of reality, and that provide more dramatic, realistic, personal, and thrilling ride experiences, for both traditional high-speed rides and dark rides. Most efforts by ride designers have been directed to increasing the impact and proximity (or perceived proximity) of off-board ride elements that the riders see, hear, or smell. One difficulty in particular is providing water-based effects which do not actually get riders wet. For example, most water-based amusement rides assume that the riders will be soaked with water at some point during the ride. However, not all riders want to be doused with water. Such rides are less attractive to riders when weather conditions do not ensure that riders will dry off relatively fast or when temperatures are cool.

Water-based amusement rides and themed attractions that do not get riders wet are generally limited to keeping water and riders separated or by stopping or diverting water-based effects as riders pass nearby the effect area in a slow manner. For example, at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure, the Ripsaw Falls ride includes a waterfall which is diverted prior to the ride vehicle passing the waterfall. In Universal's ride, the water flow is diverted to an alternate path slowly, so that it is apparent that the waterfall is not flowing before the vehicle passes through the resulting open space. There are other amusement attractions that have waterfall effects, including a waterfall that is always in a constant state of being diverted to either side of the amusement vehicle, such as Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Another waterfall effect that is done in amusement venues is to have a vehicle head toward a waterfall and at the very last moment the vehicle steers away from the waterfall, as seen in Disneyland's Jungle Cruise.

Accordingly, a need exists for a simulated punch-through waterfall effect for amusement rides to better provide for a suspension of reality effect, increase the type of experiences available to riders, and to enhance the overall ride experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A punch-through waterfall effect for a dark ride, high-speed ride, roller coaster or other ride system simulates passing through the curtain of a waterfall by a ride vehicle while avoiding or limiting the riders actual contact with water. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a waterfall is generated by pumping a continuous flow of water over the edge of a generally vertical wall or scenery element. The waterfall curtain is positioned to effectively block the path of a ride vehicle approaching the waterfall effect. The waterfall effect includes a mechanism for triggering a diverter system to rapidly redirect the continuous water flow to the sides of the ride vehicle path, so that an opening is formed through the waterfall curtain. The waterfall effect trigger is timed so that the opening through the waterfall curtain is created very rapidly immediately prior to the leading edge of the ride vehicle arriving at the waterfall curtain plane and closing simultaneously with the trailing edge of the ride vehicle passing the waterfall curtain plane. The waterfall effect is synchronized closely with the ride vehicle position and dynamically managed to rapidly create and close the opening in the waterfall curtain.

According to one embodiment of the waterfall effect invention, the diverter system includes a vertically extending water diverter which is rapidly extended into the continuous flow of water in a horizontally flowing portion of the flow of water. The vertically extending diverter is sufficiently tall to force water to the side and thereby forms the opening in the waterfall curtain. The lateral reach envelope of the opening is tightly managed, such that the width of the opening in the diverted waterfall curtain is minimized to be very close to the width of a ride vehicle. In some circumstances, the sides of the ride vehicle can encroach upon the sides of the opening to enhance the feeling of a collision with the waterfall. The punch-through waterfall effect seeks to give the passengers in the ride vehicle the impression that they have collided with and burst through a waterfall, rather than splashing down, missing it, or avoiding it because the waterfall was turned off.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the waterfall effect is combined with a show or theme ride element to generate a ride experience for riders in the vehicle. Additional water effects can be combined with the waterfall, such as, while the opening in the waterfall curtain is being created, a burst of water from all sides of the waterfall is triggered simulating the ride vehicle punching through the waterfall curtain. The water from these bursts may be delivered from the water that is already being diverted from the path the vehicle will travel through.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and benefits obtained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter. The accompanying drawings are intended to show examples of the many forms of the invention. The drawings are not intended as showing the limits of all of the ways the invention can be made and used. Changes to and substitutions of the various components of the invention can of course be made. The invention resides as well in sub-combinations and sub-systems of the elements described, and in methods of using them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the waterfall effect in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the waterfall effect of FIG. 1 with the waterfall curtain diverted;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the waterfall effect in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the waterfall effect of FIG. 3 with the waterfall diverted;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a further embodiment of the waterfall effect;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the diverter partially extended;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the diverter extended further; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional side elevation view of yet another embodiment of the waterfall effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate the same or related elements, FIG. 1 illustrates a waterfall effect 10 for an amusement ride, such as a dark ride, a high-speed ride, roller coaster or even a water ride. The waterfall effect 10 is positioned over a track 20 for a ride vehicle 30. It should be understood that the track 20 may be a conventional rail type track system or a tram or other vehicle system guided by electronic systems to control the path of the ride vehicle 30 and is not limited to a particular track system. The waterfall effect 10 has the appearance of presenting a solid curtain 15 of water W across the path of the ride vehicle 30. The waterfall effect 10 may be formed as a tunnel, gateway or other opening 25 for the track 20 and ride vehicle 30 to pass through and which the undiverted falling curtain 15 of water blocks. The face 22 of the waterfall effect 10 may be plain, bear some structure, such as rockwork, or be shaped to simulate a theme in a themed ride.

Water W is cycled from a reservoir 40 above the opening 25 where it falls over the face 22 into a catch basin 75 from where it is transported through pipes 78, 82 under force of pump 80 back to reservoir 40. Reservoir 40 may be sloped toward face 22 and opening 25 to provide a continuous flow of water W due to gravity. Alternatively, pipe 82 may be connected to a distribution manifold or other system for giving velocity to water W in reservoir 40 under pressure from pump 80 or a similar device.

A diverter system is provided in the waterfall effect 10 for rapidly diverting water W from the opening 25 as a ride vehicle 30 approaches. In one embodiment, the pipe 82 may be blocked to prevent water from flowing, such as by a diverter element actuated by a solenoid of an automatic valve system. The position of pipe 82 relative to face 22 is changed to determine how long water W will flow until the opening 25 is cleared. Preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a diverter 100 is extended into the flow of water W to divert the water W around the opening 25 of the waterfall effect 10. The diverter 100 is a movable weir which is rapidly projected into the flow of water W from a recess in the waterfall effect 10. The diverter 100 is extended very quickly, such as within 3 seconds of being actuated, and preferably within 2 seconds. The diverter 100 may be a thin plate or a wall having some thickness and can be made from metals, plastics or other polymers, wood, or combinations of these or other materials. The diverter 100 is constructed to withstand the force of the water W flowing from reservoir 40 into curtain 15, and, as well, to form a sufficiently large gap 17 in the curtain 15 for the ride vehicle 30 to pass through dry space into opening 25.

The size of the opening 17, or lateral reach envelope, is preferably tightly managed. In one embodiment of the invention, the width of the opening 17 in the diverted waterfall curtain 15 is minimized to be very close to the width of a ride vehicle 30. In some circumstances, the sides of the ride vehicle 30 can encroach upon the sides of the opening 17 to enhance the feeling of a collision with the waterfall curtain 15. The punch-through waterfall effect 10 seeks to give the passengers in the ride vehicle 30 the impression that they have collided with and burst through a waterfall curtain 15, rather than splashing down, missing it, or avoiding it because the waterfall was turned off.

A controller 55 and actuator 60 are provided for extending the diverter, or movable weir, 100 into the water W flow. The actuator 60 can be a hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, or a mechanical linkage connected with a driving force among other devices. The controller 55 sends a signal to the actuator 60 to extend or retract the diverter 100. One or more sensors 50a, 50bcan be used to drive when the controller 55 sends signals to the actuator 60. The sensors 50a, 50b determine the position and/or relative speed of the ride vehicle 30 in order to time the actuation of the diverter 100 as closely as possible to the arrival of the ride vehicle 30 at the curtain 15. Sensors 50a, 50b can be optical sensors, such as beam sensors, or motion sensing cameras, or contact switches activated mechanically by passage of the ride vehicle 30 among other types. A single sensor 50a can be used to activate the diverter 100, with or without information about the speed of the ride vehicle 30; clearly, timing of the extension of the diverter 100 will be more accurate as more sensors 50a, 50b are used to determine speed and position of the ride vehicle 30 on the track 20. Controller 55 and actuator 60 are also used to retract the diverter 100 to reset for the next ride vehicle 100. The time before resetting can be based on a timer in the controller 55, or a further sensor signal from another part of the track 20 indicating the ride vehicle 30 has finished passing through the gap 17 of curtain 15, or sensor 50b indicating the arrival of the next ride vehicle 30, among other triggers.

The waterfall effect 10 operates by rapidly diverting water W from curtain 15 covering opening 25 when a ride vehicle 30 approaches. Ideally, the waterfall effect 10 is used with a high-speed ride so as to simulate punching through the waterfall curtain 15. Sensors 50a, 50b are used to detect the approaching ride vehicle 30 and controller 55 times the extension of diverter 100 into the path of water W by actuator 60 thereby clearing opening 25 for the ride vehicle 30 to pass through without any riders getting wet, but maintaining the illusion of passing through the waterfall curtain 15. Formation of the gap 17 in the curtain 15 is preferably closely timed to the passage of the ride vehicle 30 through the waterfall curtain 15 plane, such that the ride vehicle 30 appears to pass through a doorway that opened up and quickly closed in said waterfall. Preferably, the creation of the opening or gap 17 is timed to coincide with the arrival of the front end of the ride vehicle 30 at the waterfall curtain 15 plane, and the opening 17 is closed upon passage of the rear end of the ride vehicle 30 past the plane of the waterfall curtain 15. Further, the width of the opening is preferably limited to enhance the impression of crashing through the waterfall curtain 15 as well.

Further, as the ride vehicle 30 passes through the waterfall effect opening 25, a blast of water W angled away from the waterfall curtain 15 can be triggered to enhance the simulated effect of the ride vehicle 30 passing through the waterfall. For example, jets in the catch basin 75 can use water W from the waterfall curtain 15 to produce the blasts of water. Lighting, fog, smoke, strobe, and/or other visual effects may be employed in conjunction with said waterfall punch through effect 10 to enhance show quality. A preferred embodiment would employ a high-speed ride vehicle 30, such that the open time and aperture size for the break or gap 17 in the waterfall curtain 15 is minimized.

The system can be dynamically adjusted such that the speed of the ride vehicle 30 could be calculated from sensor 50a, 50b data just before passage of the ride vehicle 30 through the waterfall curtain 15. The length of the open time can be calibrated to most closely match the time it takes for the ride vehicle 30 having a known length to pass through the gap 17 in the waterfall curtain 15. Controller 55 can be used to perform the various required calculations based on the sensor 50a, 50b data and using known values for the ride vehicle 30 and track 20 as needed, and to activate the actuator 60 for the calculated time required.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a further embodiment of the diverter 100 is illustrated in which the diverter 100 is located on the face 22 of the waterfall effect 10. When extended, the water diverter 100 is injected into the waterfall curtain 15, in the vertical downward path of the flow of water W. The geometry of the diverter is preferably angled like a roof, i.e. peaked at the center, to allow for water flow to roll off the sides. The diverter 100 may include a vertical plate 110 for preventing water from flowing off the front edge of the diverter 100 onto track 20 and ride vehicle 30 as it passes. Once sensors 50a, 50b (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) as described above detect the ride vehicle 30 and actuator 60 is triggered by controller 55, the diverter 100 moves into the waterfall curtain 15 to create gap 17 for ride vehicle 30. The diverter 100 can be actuated by the previously described elements from above.

In a still further embodiment of the waterfall effect 10, the water diverter 100 is placed in the vertical downward path of the flow of water W. The diverter 100 is located within an enclosed tunnel section where the ride track 20 travels through. Thus, rather than the ride vehicle 30 passing from a relatively open area around the track 20 through tunnel opening 25 behind waterfall curtain 15 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the waterfall effect 10 is fully contained within a tunnel section. A wall face 22 like a proscenium can be provided in the tunnel as the front of the waterfall effect 10 for the diverter 100 to be mounted within and extend from to block the flow of water W, as in FIGS. 3 and 4. An actuator mechanism 60 is activated to extend the diverter 100 into the curtain 15 of the vertical flowing water W thus creating a gap 17 for the ride vehicle 30 to travel through. The geometry of the diverter 100 is preferably angled, such as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to allow for water flow to roll off the sides of the diverter 100 and track 20, forming an opening 17 for ride vehicle 30. Once said sensors as described above are triggered the diverter would move towards the waterfall in the perpendicular plane of the waterfall. The diverter is actuated by the same components described above.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the waterfall effect 10 can include one or more air knives 120 to blow air at high velocity through the opening 17 when the diverter 100 is engaged. The air knives 120 help to rapidly create and define the opening 17 for the ride vehicle 30. Air knives 120 can be located in the ceiling, side walls and/or floor of the waterfall effect 10, and are preferably arranged to blow air against the direction of travel of the ride vehicle 30. In such case, the riders will see the waterfall curtain 15 rapidly open while feeling a blast of air from the air knives 120 through opening 17. The air knives 120 can be used with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4 as well.

In yet another embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 5-7, the diverter 100 is formed from adjacent segments 105. The particular number of segments 105 forming the diverter can be any number which fits into the available space, but preferably between 2 and 11 segments each having a length between 0.333 m-2 m are used with an opening 25, for example, that is 4 m wide. While the segments are preferably symmetric about a center line of the diverter 100, adjacent segments 105 need not be the same length. Further, while center segment 105 may be unitary, two segments on each side of the diverter 100 centerline may be used instead so that there are an even number of segments 105.

In this embodiment of the waterfall effect 10, the diverter segments 105 do not extend uniformly at the same time from the recess in the top of the waterfall effect 10 or from the front wall 22. Instead, the center segment 105 of the diverter 100 extends into the waterfall curtain 15 first, followed sequentially by the segments 105 extending toward the outer ends 102 of the diverter 100. A different sequence can be used as well, including starting by extending the segments 105 at the outer ends 102 first. Extending the diverter 100 into the waterfall curtain 15 in segments 105, or steps, produces a more dramatic effect as the waterfall curtain 15 appears to be drawn aside from an opening in the center, similar to a conventional curtain for a window or stage. The segments 105 are each pushed in turn into the waterfall curtain 15 in the same manner as the single unit diverter 100 by the actuator 60.

In a still further embodiment, the diverter 100 may be a single unit, but can be angled from the center toward the ends 102, so that the center portion of the diverter 100 has a greater width or height than the ends 102 and is extended into the waterfall curtain 15 first, followed by the ends 102. In such case, the angle-shaped diverter 100 is preferably extended from a recess in the top of the waterfall effect 10, such as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

And, in yet another embodiment of the diverter 100 used with the waterfall effect, FIG. 8 illustrates a movable gutter 130 functioning as the diverter 100 in combination with one or more air knives 120. The movable gutter 130 is supported on an arm 133 and moved from a retracted position behind the waterfall curtain 15 to an extended position by an actuator 132 connected to arm 133. In the extended position, the movable gutter 130 blocks the flow of water W in the waterfall curtain 15 and diverts the water flow to the sides of the track (not show in FIG. 8), thereby creating the opening 17 for the ride vehicle. Air knives 120 are provided to enhance the effect of the movable gutter 130, and help to more rapidly create the opening 17.

While the present invention has been described with references to preferred embodiments, various changes or substitutions may be made on these embodiments by those ordinarily skilled in the art pertinent to the present invention with out departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention encompasses not only those embodiments described above, but all that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

High-speed, punch-through waterfall effect

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