Multi-stage water effect system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11835975-B2
Application number	US-202117243233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2021
Priority date	Apr 29, 2020
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A multi-stage water effect system includes a plurality of water ride vehicles. A water ride vehicle of the plurality of water ride vehicles has one or more water effect devices. The multi-stage water effect system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the one or more water effect devices of the plurality of water ride vehicles. The control system activates the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide a first fluid flow at a first time. The control system also activates the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide a second fluid flow at a second time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-stage water effect system, comprising:
a plurality of water ride vehicles, wherein a water ride vehicle of the plurality of water ride vehicles comprises one or more water effect devices;
a control system communicatively coupled to the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle of the plurality of water ride vehicles, wherein the control system is configured to:
activate the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide a first fluid flow at a first time;
determine a predetermined time duration has elapsed after the first time; and
activate the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide a second fluid flow at a second time in response to determining the predetermined time duration has elapsed, wherein the first fluid flow comprises a first flow rate and the second fluid flow comprises a second flow rate different than the first flow rate.

2. The multi-stage water effect system of claim 1 , wherein activating the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide the first fluid flow at the first time and activating the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide the second fluid flow at the second time comprises:
adjusting a flow rate of the one or more water effect devices from the first flow rate to the second flow rate.

3. The multi-stage water effect system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more water effect devices comprises a plurality of water effect devices, and wherein the control system is configured to:
activate a first subset of the plurality of water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide the first fluid flow at the first time; and
activate a second subset of the plurality of water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide the second fluid flow at the second time.

4. The multi-stage water effect system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to:
receive feedback indicative of the water ride vehicle interacting with one or more features of a water ride;
select a stage of operation of a plurality of stages of operation based on the feedback; and
activate the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide the first fluid flow or the second fluid flow based on the selected stage of operation.

5. The multi-stage water effect system of claim 4 , comprising one or more sensors disposed on the water ride vehicle and wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure the feedback indicative of the water ride vehicle interacting with one or more features of the water ride.

6. The multi-stage water effect system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to activate one or more special effect devices in addition to activating the one or more water effect devices of the water ride vehicle to provide the first fluid flow or the second fluid flow.

7. The multi-stage water effect system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time duration corresponds to a distance traveled by the water ride vehicle.

8. A water ride vehicle of a water ride of an amusement park, the water ride vehicle comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to obtain feedback associated with an interaction between the water ride vehicle and the water ride, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed on an exterior surface of the water ride vehicle;
a plurality of water effect devices, each configured to provide a fluid flow; and
a control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of water effect devices, wherein the control system is configured to:
receive the feedback associated with the interaction between the water ride vehicle and the water ride from at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors;
select a stage of operation from a plurality of stages of operation based on the feedback, wherein the plurality of stages of operation comprises a first stage of operation associated with a first flow rate of fluid from a first subset of the plurality of water effect devices and a second stage of operation associated with a second flow rate of the fluid from a second subset of the plurality of water effect devices;
activate the first subset of the plurality of water effect devices to provide the fluid at the first flow rate in response to selection of the first stage of operation; and
activate the second subset of the plurality of water effect devices to provide the fluid at the second flow rate in response to selection of the second stage of operation, wherein the first flow rate is different than the second flow rate.

9. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a contact sensor, an imaging device, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, or any combination thereof.

10. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , wherein selecting the stage of operation from the plurality of stages of operation based on the feedback comprises:
selecting the first stage of operation when the feedback is indicative of an initial interaction associated with the water ride vehicle; and
selecting the second stage of operation when the feedback is indicative of subsequent interaction associated with the water ride vehicle, wherein the subsequent interaction occurs after the initial interaction.

11. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , wherein selecting the stage of operation from the plurality of stages of operation comprises:
determining a magnitude of the interaction between the water ride vehicle and the water ride based on the feedback;
selecting the first stage of operation when the magnitude is below a threshold; and
selecting the second stage of operation when the feedback is above the threshold.

12. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the first subset of the plurality of water effect devices do not overlap with the second subset of the plurality of water effect devices.

13. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the control system is configured to:
activate the second subset of the plurality of water effect devices to provide the fluid at the second flow rate after the first subset of the plurality of water effect devices have been activated for a predetermined time duration.

14. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the stage of operation is selected based on a relative location of the at least one sensor.

15. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , comprising a fluid supply configured to supply the fluid for the plurality of water effect devices.

16. The water ride vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the control system is configured to:
determine the water ride vehicle is filled to a predetermined fill level with the fluid; and
deactivate the first subset of the plurality of water effect devices, the second subset of the plurality of water effect devices, or both, in response to determining the water ride vehicle is filled to the predetermined fill level.

17. A multi-stage water effect system, comprising:
a first water ride vehicle comprising a first plurality of water effect devices and a first plurality of sensors disposed on an exterior surface of the water ride vehicle, wherein the first plurality of sensors are configured to obtain feedback associated with a first interaction between the first water ride vehicle and one or more features of a water ride;
a second water ride vehicle comprising a second plurality of water effect devices and a second plurality of sensors disposed on an exterior surface of the water ride vehicle, wherein the second plurality of sensors are configured to

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc
• Univesal City Studios LLC

Inventors

• Lowry Sean Michael
• Hall Gregory Shellman

Classifications

• G05D7/0682 Primary

  using a plurality of flow sources · CPC title

• A63G3/02

  with floating seats · CPC title

• A63G31/007 Primary

  involving water · CPC title

• A63G3/00 Primary

  Water roundabouts, e.g. freely floating · CPC title