PARK RIDE WITH WEIGHT PROPORTIONAL WATER BRAKING

Number: 20210046390
Published: 2021-02-18
Filed: 2019-08-13
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: LAFFIN; KRISTOPHER M.
CPC: F16D63/008; A63G7/00; A63G3/00; B61H11/06; A63G21/18; A63G21/04; B61H13/30
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Ride-vehicle water-braking hardware.

Abstract

A water ride including vehicles that ride on a track and using water for braking. A run-out section of the track is provided after a drop or down chute section, and the track in the run-out section runs through a pool of water at a depth causing at least a portion of a vehicle riding on the rails to contact a depth of the water to achieve vehicle braking. Significantly, the new water ride is adapted to adjust or set a variable height of the rails in the run-out chute or pool to adjust the depth of water providing water drag on a vehicle traveling through the run-out section based on the vehicle weight. A braking force is applied by the water that is proportional to vehicle weight, and the water ride may be thought of as slowing vehicles with a range of weights at about the same deceleration rate.

Background

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description

The present description relates, in general, to braking of vehicles in water-based rides and attractions for theme and amusement parks, and, more particularly, the description relates to a water attraction or ride with a run-out section following a drop section or down ramp in which water braking of vehicles is provided that is proportional to the weight of the vehicle rather than being equal for all vehicles, independent of weight. 2. Relevant Background

There are numerous water-based attractions or rides in amusement, theme, water, and other parks and facilities throughout the world. These popular rides typically use a vehicle to carry riders or passengers along a ride path defined in part by flumes or chutes filled with water so the vehicle rides or floats along on water. Further, the rides typically include portions where the vehicle rides on a track or rails (e.g., two space-apart rails) with wheels contacting upper and/or side portions of the track or rails. For example, the vehicle may ride upon rails in lift sections of the ride prior to being released to float in flowing water of a flume or chute.

Water rides that have drops or down ramps often use water to provide braking of each ride vehicle. These water rides include a section at the end of the drop or down chute that is configured to ease the vehicle into the more slowly flowing water of a more horizontal flume or chute following the drop or down chute.

Claims

1. A park ride providing water-based braking of vehicles based on vehicle weight, comprising: a vehicle configured for receiving one or more passengers; a track with a drop section and a run-out section, wherein the track defines a ride path for the vehicle through the park ride first through the drop section and second through the run-out section; and a pool with a base and sidewalls defining a space for receiving water, wherein the track in the run-out section includes at least one rail extending a distance through the pool along a direction of travel for the vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes rotatable wheels engaging a contact surface of the at least one rail when the vehicle travels through the run-out section, and wherein the run-out section comprises means for adjusting, in a manner proportional to a total weight of the vehicle, a height of the contact surface of the at least one rail relative to the base of the pool to set a depth of the water applying water drag to the vehicle. || 10. A park ride providing water-based braking of vehicles based on vehicle weight, comprising: a passenger vehicle comprising a body adapted to receive passengers; a flume structure; water in the flume structure; rails extending along a length of the flume structure, wherein the rails include a surface for mating with wheels coupled to the body of the passenger vehicle and wherein the surface is positioned at a depth below an upper surface of the water in the flume structure; vertical track supports in the flume structure for supporting the rails; and one or more spring members each positioned between one of the vertical track supports and one of the rails, whereby the rails are non-statically supported in the flume structure. || 15. A park ride providing water-based braking of vehicles based on vehicle weight, comprising: a vehicle comprising a body adapted to receive passengers, wherein the vehicle further comprises a set of load wheels coupled to the body; a pool filled with a water to a depth in a predefined range of depths; a drop section defining a ride path for the vehicle into an inlet to the pool, wherein the vehicle is accelerated in the drop section due to a drop in elevation along the ride path; at least one track rail extending along a length of the pool and having a contact surface for mating with the load wheels to vertically support the vehicle; and a plurality of spring members elastically supporting the at least one track rail in the pool, wherein the spring members are adapted to compress or move proportionately with a total weight of the passenger vehicle to define a depth of the water contacting a front surface of the body as the vehicle travels on the at least one track rail through the pool.