Multi-stage water effect system

Abstract

To provide a multi-stage water effect system.SOLUTION: 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.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 017,439, filed April 29, 2020, entitled "Multi-Stage Water Effect System," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to amusement park attractions, and more particularly to methods and apparatus utilized to provide special effects on amusement park water rides. [Background technology]

[0003] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. As such, these statements should be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0004] Water parks attempt to offer park visitors a variety of ride experiences, including water rides (e.g., bumper rides, log rides, and raft rides) with water ride vehicles. Certain types of water rides offer appeal to passengers by adding thrilling aspects to the passenger experience within the water ride, such as sudden turns, courses, and / or collisions with other water ride vehicles that can splash passengers with water. However, these thrilling aspects do not vary across ride experiences, meaning that repeat passengers are less surprised on their next visit. Furthermore, each passenger's experience is the same regardless of the passenger's actions or courses. It is now recognized that certain water ride vehicles can offer additional appeal to passengers by incorporating thrilling aspects specific to the ride experience and / or each water ride vehicle. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The following provides an overview of some embodiments disclosed herein. Note that these aspects are merely intended to provide the reader with a summary of some embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. In fact, the disclosure may include various aspects that may not be set forth below.

[0006] In one embodiment, a multi-stage water effects system includes a plurality of water vehicle vehicles, each of which has one or more water effect devices. The multi-stage water effects system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to one or more water effect devices of the plurality of water vehicle vehicles. The control system operates one or more water effect devices of the water vehicle vehicles to provide a first fluid flow at a first time. The control system also operates one or more water effect devices of the water vehicle vehicles to provide a second fluid flow at a second time.

[0007] In one embodiment, a water ride vehicle of an amusement park water ride includes a plurality of sensors that obtain feedback associated with an interaction between the water ride vehicle and the water ride vehicle. The water ride vehicle also includes a plurality of water effect devices that provide a fluid flow. The water ride vehicle also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of water effect devices. The control system receives feedback indicative of an interaction between the water ride vehicle and the water ride vehicle from at least one of the plurality of sensors. The control system also selects an operating phase from a plurality of operating phases based on the feedback. The plurality of operating phases includes a first operating phase associated with a first flow rate of fluid from a first subset of the plurality of water effect devices and a second operating phase associated with a second flow rate of fluid from a second subset of the plurality of water effect devices. The control system also activates the first subset of the plurality of water effect devices to provide fluid at the first flow rate in response to the selection of the first operating phase. Additionally, the control system, in response to selecting the second stage of operation, activates a second subset of the plurality of water effect devices to provide fluid at a second flow rate.

[0008] In one embodiment, a multi-stage water effect system includes a first water vehicle having a first plurality of water effect devices. The multi-stage water effect system also includes a second water vehicle having a second plurality of water effect devices. The multi-stage water effect system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the first and second plurality of water effect devices. The control system receives a signal associated with changing a first stage of operation of the first water vehicle vehicle, a second stage of operation of the second water vehicle vehicle, or both. The control system also operates the first plurality of water effect devices to selectively provide a first fluid at a first flow rate or a second flow rate when the signal is associated with changing the first stage of operation of the first water vehicle vehicle. The control system also operates the second plurality of water effect devices to selectively provide a second fluid at a first flow rate or a second flow rate when the signal is associated with changing the second stage of operation of the second water vehicle vehicle.

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A-1C are perspective views of a multi-stage water effects system used in conjunction with a water ride vehicle during different stages of operation of the multi-stage water effects system in accordance with the present technology. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system for controlling the operation of a multi-stage water effects system in accordance with the present technique. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a water vehicle including a multi-stage water effects system for multiple water vehicle in accordance with the present technology; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a water vehicle including the multi-stage water effects system shown in FIG. 3 illustrating operation of one or more water effect devices of each water vehicle based on one or more water vehicle interactions during the water vehicle ride in accordance with the technology of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a water ride vehicle of a multi-stage water effect system in accordance with the present technique; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for operating one or more water effect devices of a multi-stage water effect system in accordance with the present technique. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In the interest of brevity in describing these embodiments, not all features of the implementations are described herein. It should be noted that the development of any such implementation, as in any engineering or design project, requires numerous implementation-specific decisions to be made to achieve the developer's particular objectives, including compliance with system-related and business-related constraints that may vary from implementation to implementation. Moreover, such a development effort may be complex and time-consuming, but is a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0012] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean the presence of one or more of the element. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. One or more specific embodiments of the present embodiments described herein are described below. In the interest of brevity, not all features of an implementation are described herein. It should be noted that the development of any such implementation, as in any engineering or design project, requires numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the developer's particular objectives, including compliance with system- and business-related constraints that may vary from implementation to implementation. Moreover, while such a development effort may be complex and time-consuming, it would be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0013] The present disclosure relates to a multi-stage water effect system that can be used with amusement park rides, such as water rides. Certain types of water rides (e.g., log flume rides, water coasters, and bumper boats) can be designed to provide a thrilling experience to one or more passengers in the water ride vehicle through collisions and / or sudden drops that cause water from outside the water ride vehicle to land on one or more passengers in the water ride vehicle. This embodiment uses a multi-stage water effect system having one or more water effect devices located in and / or on the water ride vehicle to enhance the thrill felt by one or more passengers during the water ride.

[0014] The multi-stage water effects system provides a dynamic and variable thrill experience by creating one or more illusionary aspects of ship damage in a layered manner. The multi-stage water effects system can activate escalating effects (e.g., internal rivet popping, vehicle bottom partially filled with water, sound effects) on the water ride vehicle associated with ship damage or hull breach during the water ride. These effects are part of the illusion and are adapted in size and scope to provide thrills that are an enjoyable part of the immersive experience. Furthermore, the multi-stage water effects system can be variably activated so that only certain ride vehicles experience these effects. Ride vehicles can be randomly selected based on past events experienced during the water ride (e.g., bumps or collisions), passenger information stored in profiles, and / or active or opt-in selection by one or more passengers within individual water ride vehicles. Additionally, the multi-stage water effects system can be operated to partially deploy, fully deploy, and / or decay during the water ride, providing additional ride variability for each water ride vehicle. In this manner, the illusion is more surprising and immersive, and can provide new thrills for returning guests who have not yet experienced the multi-stage water effects system or all of its potential full deployment stages.

[0015] As referred to herein, individual operational stages of a multi-stage water effects system may include instructions that cause the multi-stage water effects system to activate one or more sets of water effect devices of one or more ride vehicles to provide fluid flow at a constant rate and / or a constant flow pattern (e.g., a sustained rate, an increasing rate, a sudden burst of fluid, etc.). The instructions may also include instructions to activate any accompanying effects, such as sound or motion effects, that enhance each stage of the illusion. As described in further detail herein, water ride vehicle interaction may refer to interactions between the water ride vehicle and features of the water ride (e.g., collisions with other water ride vehicles, barriers, etc.) and / or the water ride vehicle passing specific checkpoints within the water ride (e.g., traveling a predetermined distance, performing a rapid drop, etc.). In either case, the multi-stage water effects system provides one or more water effects via one or more water effect devices. In some embodiments, the water effect devices may at least partially fill a portion of the water ride vehicle. By providing a fluid flow to the water vehicle to partially fill a portion of the water vehicle with fluid, one or more passengers may feel as if the water vehicle is breaking apart and / or sinking, thereby increasing the thrill and excitement felt by the one or more passengers when in fact the water vehicle remains afloat and safe.

[0016] Provided herein is a multi-stage water effect system including one or more water ride vehicles, each having one or more water effect devices that can enhance the experience of each passenger. The multi-stage water effect system can also include a control system that activates or selects one of a plurality of operational stages. Based on the operational stage, the control system can activate and / or adjust the operation of the one or more water effect devices in accordance with the selected operational stage. For example, the control system can increase the flow rate of fluid flow provided by one or more water effect devices of each water ride vehicle based on individual water ride vehicle interactions associated with the respective water ride vehicle. This can result in one or more passengers in the one or more water ride vehicles experiencing evolving water effects and / or increasing passenger excitement as the water ride vehicle begins to fill with water. Additionally, in embodiments including multiple water vehicle vehicles, the control system may activate different operational phases for each water vehicle (i.e., variably trigger activation of one or more water effect devices for each water vehicle) based on certain factors, such as the water vehicle interactions of each vehicle. Thus, passengers in different water vehicle vehicles experience different water effects throughout the ride. Such varying water effects not only enhance the immersive experience during the ride, but may also provide a unique experience for repeat passengers.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water vehicle 10 having a multi-stage water effects system 12, including a water vehicle 14 having one or more water effect devices 16. FIG. 1 illustrates different stages of operation of the multi-stage water effects system 12, including an initial stage 18, a first stage 20, and a second stage 22. As shown, the water vehicle 14 includes a passenger 24. Although only one passenger 24 and one water vehicle 14 are shown, alternative embodiments of the multi-stage water effects system 12 can include any number (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, or more) of water vehicle vehicles 14 with any number of passengers 24. The illustrated embodiment shows three stages of operation (e.g., an initial stage 18, a first stage 20, and a second stage 22). Also, while only three stages are shown (e.g., initial stage 18, first stage 20, and second stage 22), some embodiments of multi-stage water effects system 12 can include any number of stages (two, three, four, five, six, or more). Additionally, while the illustrated embodiment shows an example of a developing effect, embodiments can also include decaying or only partially developing effects.

[0018] The multi-stage water effects system 12 activates one or more water effect devices 16 according to an appropriate operational phase. In the illustrated embodiment, the multi-stage water effects system 12 operates according to an initial phase 18, in response to which none of the water effect devices 16 (e.g., providing fluid flow) are activated. Generally, the initial operational phase 18 of the multi-stage water effects system 12 can correspond to none of the water effect devices 16 being activated. For example, the initial phase 18 can correspond to a point in time prior to the occurrence of any water vehicle interaction (e.g., a collision with a barrier, another water vehicle, the water vehicle passing through a predetermined location within the water vehicle 10) and / or the passage of a time event, such as immediately after a passenger 24 boards the water vehicle 14 at the start of the water vehicle 10. Thus, in one embodiment, the multi-stage water effects system 12 can operate in the initial phase 18 as a default.

[0019] When the multi-stage water effects system 12 enters a first operational phase 20, it can activate one or more water effect devices 16 according to the first operational phase 20. As shown herein, the first operational phase 20 can be selected based on, by way of example, passenger profile information, random selection, or a water ride vehicle interaction. In the illustrated embodiment, the water ride vehicle interaction is the water ride vehicle 14 contacting an attraction feature 28 (e.g., bumping into, colliding with, or moving within a threshold range of the attraction feature 28). As a result of the water ride vehicle interaction, the multi-stage water effects system 12 selects the first operational phase 20 and activates the water effect device 16a, causing the water effect device 16a to provide a fluid flow 26a at a constant fluid flow rate and / or fluid pressure according to commands from a control system as shown herein. However, in other embodiments, the multi-stage water effects system 12 may alter the operation of one or more water effect devices 16 after a predetermined time from the start of an operating phase, after the start of a water ride, and after specific time events, such as other thematic events that may incorporate predetermined times. For example, the water effect device 16a may be activated according to the first operating phase 20 after a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.) beginning with the start of the initial operating phase 18. In another embodiment, the water effect device 16a may be activated in response to the water ride vehicle 14 having traveled a measurable distance (e.g., as measured by a sensor). For example, the attraction feature 28 may include a sensor(s) in communication with a respective sensor on the water ride vehicle 14 to provide feedback indicative of the measurable distance traveled by the water ride vehicle 14.

[0020] The multi-stage water effects system 12 may select a second operational phase 22 after an additional water ride vehicle interaction (e.g., a subsequent interaction) involving the water ride vehicle 14 has occurred, thereby activating one or more water effect devices 16 in accordance with the second operational phase 22. For example, selection of the second operational phase 22 may result in additional water effect devices 16b, 16c being activated to provide fluid flow 26b. One or more characteristics, such as the flow rate or pressure, of the fluid flow 26 from each water effect device 16 may vary between or during different operational phases in accordance with control commands associated with the particular operational phase. In some embodiments, the flow rate or pressure of fluid flow 26b may be relatively higher than the flow rate or pressure of fluid flow 26a and / or may be provided from a different area of ​​the water ride vehicle 14. Passengers 24 may experience a thrill of excitement upon observing the increased flow rate or pressure of fluid flow 26b and that fluid flow 26b is emanating from a different area of ​​the water ride vehicle 14. In one embodiment, as part of the evolution, additional water effect devices 16b may be activated as a result of the water ride vehicle 14 contacting the attraction feature 28 (e.g., subsequent interaction or collision), another attraction feature 28, or another water ride vehicle 14. In some embodiments, the transition from the first operational phase 20 to the second operational phase 22 is a layered effect, with all water effect devices 16 active in the first phase 20 also active in the second phase 22, simultaneously activating additional water effect devices 16. In some embodiments, the active subset and / or flow rate of the fluid streams 26 changes between operational phases. In some embodiments, operation of the multi-stage water effects system 12 may change from the first operational phase 20 to the second operational phase 22 after a time threshold that occurs after the start of the first operational phase 20. It should be understood that each vehicle may include multiple water effect devices 16, and all or a subset of the water effect devices 16 may be activated during different phases.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the water effect devices 16a, 16b may be integrated into features of the water ride vehicle 14 associated with submersion, such as prop hull rivets 17 integrated into faux interior seams 15. The rivets 17 may be mechanically controlled to actuate in a forward popping manner in conjunction with the actuation of fluid flow as part of the first operational phase 20. In some embodiments, the individual water effect devices 16a and their associated individual rivets 17a may be actuated to pop in unison following the actuation of fluid flow from the individual water effect device 16a. For example, water may spray from the individual water effect device 16a after the rivets 17a are popped, followed by increased spraying from the individual water effect device 16a (by a relatively high flow rate). Thus, each operational phase may include instructions for systematically or coordinately operating particular effects as various subphases, such that the activated subset of water effect devices 16 and the fluid flow 26 from each water effect device 16 vary throughout the operational phase (e.g., the fluid flow 26 increases or decreases). In one example, during a first operational phase 20, individual rivets 17 and their associated water effect devices 16 may be controlled to initially activate staggered in various locations around the water ride vehicle, with several individual rivets 17 and their associated water effect devices 16 subsequently activating together to create the illusion of increasing water pressure in the hull or hull breach. The activated set or subset may be selected to erupt around the entire interior to extend the water effect around all passengers. In some embodiments, the activated subset of water effect devices 16 may be selected (according to passenger profile information) to be positioned adjacent to seats of repeat or thrill-seeking passengers 24. A second operational phase 22 can bring online a larger inflow of fluid into the water vehicle 14, such as through a water effect device 16c coupled to an opening or grille 21 in the bottom of the water vehicle 14.

[0022] While the illustrated embodiment shows the second stage 22 occurring after the first stage 20, which in turn occurs after the initial stage 18, in other embodiments, the relative order of the stages is non-limiting and may depend on the type of water ride vehicle interaction that triggered the stage. That is, in one embodiment, the multi-stage water effects system 12 may select the second operational stage 22 and activate one or more water effect devices 16 in accordance with the second operational stage 22, even though the current operational stage of the multi-stage water effects system 12 is the initial operational stage 18. For example, the multi-stage water effects system 12 may change the operation of one or more water effect devices 16 from the initial operational stage 18 directly to the second operational stage 22 depending on certain water ride vehicle interactions, such as the location of the water ride vehicle 14 colliding with another attraction feature 28 and / or input from the operator of the water ride 10. As another non-limiting example, the multi-stage water effects system 12 may change the operation of one or more water effect devices 16 from the initial stage 18 to the first stage 20 or (bypassing the first stage) to the second stage 22 based on the magnitude of the watercraft vehicle interaction. That is, continuing with the example where the watercraft vehicle interaction is a collision, if the impact force associated with the collision (e.g., as measured by a sensor on the watercraft vehicle 14) exceeds a threshold value (e.g., an impact threshold), the multi-stage water effects system 12 may select the second stage of operation 22. If the impact force associated with the collision is below the threshold value, the multi-stage water effects system 12 may select the first stage of operation 20.

[0023] The operation of one or more water effect devices 16 may be controlled by a control system 30. While the illustrated embodiment shows the control system 30 located on the water vehicle 14, in other embodiments, the control system 30 may be separate from the water vehicle 14 and communicate remotely with one or more water effect devices 16. For example, in embodiments in which the multi-stage water effects system 12 includes multiple water vehicle vehicles 14, one or more remote control systems 30 may control the operation of each water vehicle vehicle. Alternatively, the control system 30 may include a master controller and a slave controller for each water vehicle 14. In one embodiment, the one or more water effect devices 16 may be actuated based on signals from one or more sensors 32 that receive feedback indicative of conditions associated with the water vehicle 14, and the control system 30 may use this signal to determine whether a water vehicle interaction has occurred. The control system 30 may determine whether a water vehicle-vehicle interaction has occurred, and in response to determining the type of water vehicle-vehicle interaction, may select (e.g., change) an operational phase (e.g., the first phase 20 or the second phase 22) and activate one or more water effect devices 16 according to the selected operational phase.

[0024] Thus, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the multi-stage water effects system 12 can operate under a control system 30. The control system 30 can include a processor 34, which can include one or more processing devices, and a memory 36 that stores instructions executable by the processor 34. The memory 36 can include one or more tangible, non-transitory machine-readable media. By way of example, such machine-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to hold or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by the processor 34, or any general-purpose or special-purpose computer or other machine that includes a processor. For example, the memory 36 can store a look-up table that can reference specific watercraft vehicle interactions and corresponding operational stages, which the processor 34 can use to select an operational stage.

[0025] Control system 30 may also include communications circuitry 38 and / or input and output circuitry 40 that facilitate communication with other components of multi-stage water effects system 12. Control system 30 may also be directly or wirelessly coupled to an operator input device or operator interface 42 that can be used by a ride technician to provide inputs that are used to control one or more ride features during operation. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, operator interface 42, or other components of multi-stage water effects system 12, may be located remotely from control system 30, for example, implemented on a mobile device.

[0026] As described above, the control system 30 can control the operation of the water effect devices 16, such as the operation of the water effect devices to provide fluid flow, the rate and / or type of fluid flow, and the number of water effect devices 16 to operate based on the operational stage selected by the control system 30. The water effect devices 16 can include one or more fluid sources 44 in fluid communication (e.g., via channels, conduits, etc.) with one or more fluid outlet ports 46. Upon receiving a signal from the control system 30, one or more water effect devices 16 can release fluid flow to the water ride vehicle 14, such as by opening a valve to release fluid (e.g., provide a fluid flow) and / or by operating one or more pumps to affect the rate and / or pressure of the fluid flow. Accordingly, the water effect devices 16 can include suitable flow control elements, such as valves and pumps, configured to operate under the control of the control system 30. The control system 30 can also control the stopping of fluid flow and / or the draining of fluid. In one embodiment, fluid flow is automatically stopped and / or drained when the fill level rises above a predetermined level, which may be determined by operator input or sensor feedback, or both.

[0027] In some embodiments, the multi-stage water effects system 12 may also include one or more special effects systems 48 under the control of the control system 30. Such special effects may include light effects, motion effects, sound effects, visual effects, etc. The special effects system 48 may be configured to coordinate with the fluid effects as illustrated herein. For example, a rapids sound effect may be triggered simultaneously with the fluid flow to create the overall impression of flooding water filling the water ride vehicle 14. As another non-limiting example, actuator-controlled motion effects may be triggered prior to the fluid flow to give passengers the illusion that structural support features of the water ride vehicle 14 have collapsed.

[0028] Generally, the control system 30 can control the operation (e.g., activate, deactivate, adjust flow rate, adjust flow type) of the water effect devices 16 based on feedback received from the sensors 32. That is, the processor 34 can send signals (e.g., control signals) that cause one or more water effect devices 16 to provide fluid flow according to an operational phase selected by the control system 30. Generally, the one or more sensors 32 can include devices capable of generating, acquiring, and / or receiving data (e.g., image data, acoustic data, electronic data, motion data, etc.), such as imaging devices (e.g., cameras and video recording devices, etc.), motion sensors (e.g., passive infrared (PIR) sensors and microwaves, etc.), accelerometers, proximity sensors, contact sensors, reader devices (e.g., radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, barcode scanners, QR code scanners), and devices capable of communicating via Bluetooth, radio frequency, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), wireless WAN (WWAN), wireless LAN (WLAN), mobile communications networks (e.g., 3G, 4G, Edge, etc.). In some embodiments, one or more sensors 32 may be placed or positioned within an area of ​​the water vehicle 14 based on where collisions are likely to occur. For example, multiple sensors 32 may be positioned on a side of the water vehicle 14 facing toward the interior and / or a side of the water vehicle 14 facing away from the interior.

[0029] In one embodiment, signals controlling the operation of one or more water effect devices 16 can be based at least in part on a signal from a ride technician that a passenger 24 is properly positioned within the water ride vehicle 14 a predetermined time after the start of the water ride 10. For example, the control system 30 can send a first control signal to one or more water effect devices 16 causing the one or more water effect devices to provide a first fluid flow (e.g., having a first fluid flow rate and / or a first fluid flow type) at a first time point. The control system 30 can also send a second control signal to one or more water effect devices 16 (e.g., a different set of one or more water effect devices 16) causing the one or more water effect devices 16 to provide a second fluid flow (e.g., having a second fluid flow rate and / or a second fluid flow type) at a second time point.

[0030] To illustrate some aspects of the present disclosure, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a multi-stage water effects system 12 including a plurality of water ride vehicles 14, each having one or more water effect devices 16. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3, the multi-stage water effects system 12 includes a first water ride vehicle 14a, a second water ride vehicle 14b, and a third water ride vehicle 14c. The first water ride vehicle 14a has a first water effect device 16a and a second water effect device 16b, the second water ride vehicle 14b has a third water effect device 16c and a fourth water effect device 16d, and the third water ride vehicle 14c has a fifth water effect device 16e and a sixth water effect device 16f. Additionally, the first water ride vehicle 14a includes a first sensor 32a and a second sensor 32b, the second water ride vehicle 14b includes a third sensor 32c and a fourth sensor 32d, and the third water ride vehicle 14c includes a fifth sensor 32e. The first water ride vehicle 14a also includes a special effects system 48 (e.g., a speaker). As described herein, the number and relative positioning of the sensors 32, water effect devices 16, and special effects system 48 are intended to be non-limiting. The multi-stage water effects system 12 also includes one or more attraction features 28. The first attraction feature 28a, the second attraction feature 28b, and the third attraction feature 28c include a sixth sensor 32f, a seventh sensor 32g, and an eighth sensor 32h. The illustrated embodiment of the multi-stage water effects system 12 also includes a control system 30 communicatively coupled to each sensor 32 and configured to control the operation of the water effects devices 16 as described herein.

[0031] To illustrate how the operation of one or more water effect devices 16 associated with each water vehicle 14 can change in response to water vehicle interactions, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the multi-stage water effects system 12 shown in Figure 3. Generally, the multiple water vehicle interactions associated with each water vehicle 14 trigger different stages of operation of each water effect device 16 of the multiple water vehicle vehicles 14 (e.g., first water vehicle 14a, second water vehicle 14b, and third water vehicle 14c).

[0032] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first water effect device 16a and the second water effect device 16b provide fluid streams 26a and 26b, respectively. In this case, the first water effect device 16a and the second water effect device 16b are activated in response to a detected water ride vehicle interaction corresponding to the first water ride vehicle 14a colliding with the first attraction feature 28a and the attraction feature 28c. That is, a first sensor 32a located on the first water ride vehicle 14a is within the first area 50a that interacts with a sixth sensor 32f located on the first attraction feature 28a, and the control system 30 receives feedback indicative of this interaction (e.g., from the first sensor 32a and / or the sixth sensor 32f). Additionally, the first sensor 32a resides within the second area 50b, interacting with an eighth sensor 32h located on the third attraction feature 28c, and the control system 30 receives additional feedback (e.g., from the first sensor 32a and / or the eighth sensor 32h) indicative of this further interaction. In one embodiment, the feedback and / or additional feedback may include an identification of which sensor(s) 32 interacted, the location of the sensor(s) 32 on the water ride vehicle 14, and / or the identity of the water ride vehicle, respectively. In either case, the control system 30 selects an operation phase based on the feedback and the additional feedback and activates one or more water effect devices 16 according to the selected operation phase. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the first water effect device 16a and the third water effect device 16c are activated to provide the first and second fluid flows 26a and 26b, respectively.

[0033] In one embodiment, each sensor 32 can correspond to one or more water effect devices 16 such that the water effect devices 16 of one or more water effect devices 16 can correspond to the relative position of the water vehicle interactions on the water ride vehicle 14. For example, when the first sensor 32a interacts with the sixth sensor 32f and the first sensor 32a does not interact with the eighth sensor 32h, only one of the water effect devices (e.g., the first water effect device 16a or the third water effect device 16c) can be activated. In another embodiment, the control system 30 can enhance the thrill experience for passengers 24a in response to the sensor(s) 32 detecting one or more water ride vehicle interactions associated with the water ride vehicle 14a by sending a control signal instructing a special effects device 48 (e.g., a speaker) to output a sound, such as the sound of water filling a boat.

[0034] As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the fourth water effect device 16d of the second water vehicle 14b and the fifth water effect device 16e of the third water vehicle 14c provide fluid flows 26c and 26d, respectively. In this case, the fourth water effect device 16d and the fifth water effect device 16e are activated in response to a further detected water vehicle interaction corresponding to the second water vehicle 14b impacting the third water vehicle 14c. Specifically, the third sensor 32c located on the second water vehicle 14b is within the third area 50c that interacts with the fifth sensor 32e located on the third water vehicle 14c, and the control system 30 receives feedback indicative of this interaction (e.g., from the third sensor 32c and / or the fifth sensor 32e). As discussed above, the feedback may include identification of which sensor(s) 32 were interacted with, the location of the sensor(s) 32 on the water vehicle 14, and / or the identity of the water vehicle. In any event, the control system 30 may select an operational step based on the feedback to activate one or more water effect devices 16 of the second water vehicle and / or the third water vehicle 14c. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the fourth water effect device 16d and the fifth water effect device 16e are activated to provide the third fluid stream 26c and the fourth fluid stream 26d, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the third water effect device 16c of the second water vehicle vehicle 14b and the sixth water effect device 16f of the third water vehicle vehicle 14c are not activated, however, in other embodiments, the third water effect device 16c and the sixth water effect device 16f may be activated as a result of detected interaction of additional water vehicles or when the control system 30 selects another operational stage for the water vehicle(s) 14.

[0035] In another embodiment, the control system 30 can be configured to activate one or more water effect devices 16 based on the water ride vehicle 14 traveling a certain distance or passing a distance threshold. For example, water effect device 16d of the second water ride vehicle 14b and water effect device 16e of the third water ride vehicle 14c can be activated based on the water ride vehicle 14 traveling within a certain distance of the second attraction feature 28b. That is, the seventh sensor 32g can emit radiation having a frequency (e.g., visible, infrared, radio frequency, etc.) that can be detected by the sensor(s) 32 of the water ride vehicle 14, and the control system 30 can use the detected radiation to select an operational stage.

[0036] In one embodiment, the control system 30 operates to provide a varied experience for each individual water ride vehicle 14 and / or water vehicle 10 over multiple ride cycles throughout the day. For example, the control system 30 can access stored executed control instructions for each individual ride vehicle 14 that represent the water ride's last ride cycle. This allows the control system 30 to vary the next set of instructions so that the ride experience differs between runs. This variability, and the resulting different instructions given to the water effect devices 16, can be based on factors such as passenger profile information or water event interactions, as described herein. In some embodiments, the instructions can be set randomly so that the timing and duration of activation, the selection of the set of water effect devices 16 to activate, and / or the flow rate or pressure can all be based on variable control parameters that can be set by a random parameter generator.

[0037] 5 is a cross-sectional view of a water ride vehicle 14 of a multi-stage water effects system 12 having multiple water effect devices 16. Each water effect device 16 of the multi-stage water effects system 12 includes one or more fluid conduits or fluid circuits 52 that can be selectively coupled to receive fluid (e.g., water) from a fluid source 44 (e.g., a container, reservoir, collection chamber) via a corresponding valve 54. The water effect devices 16 can include one or more fluid ports 46 that can provide fluid to an interior 56 of the water ride vehicle 14. The water effect devices 16 can also include one or more fluid pumps 58 that can modify (e.g., increase or decrease) the flow rate of the fluid flow provided by the one or more water effect devices 16. The multi-stage water effects system 12 also includes a drain 60 that can be selectively coupled to the fluid source 44 via a drain valve 62 to return water that fills the interior 56 of the water ride vehicle 14 to the fluid source 44. In this manner, the fluid flow provided by one or more water effects devices 16 can be a closed system and can assist in cleaning the multi-stage water effects system 12 .

[0038] In some embodiments, various fluid transfer and ingress / egress features, such as fluid sources 44, circuits 52, valves 54, pumps 58, ducts, and / or drains, may be concealed beneath functional components of the water vehicle 14 (e.g., seats), and thematic components of the water vehicle 14, such as bins, barrels, seams 15, or grates 21. In one example, various additional drains or ducts may be incorporated into the bottom of the ride vehicle 14 to allow fluids to drain away so that passengers' 24 belongings or clothing do not become waterlogged. Additionally, the water vehicle 14 may include features to facilitate gravity drainage via stern ducts when the water vehicle 14 is moored or when the bow of the water vehicle 14 is pointing up. In other embodiments, the water vehicle 14 may be actively drained between ride cycles.

[0039] During operation, the control system 30 selectively fluidly couples one or more of the circuits 52 (e.g., first circuit 52a, second circuit 52b, and third circuit 52c) to the fluid source 44 via the valves 54 (e.g., first valve 54a, second valve 54b, and third valve 54c) based on watercraft vehicle interactions identified by the control system 30. For example, the control system 30 may receive feedback indicating that the watercraft vehicle 14 has impacted another feature of the watercraft, determine an operational stage for one or more water effect devices 16, and selectively adjust the position (e.g., open, partially open, partially closed, or fully closed) of the first valve 54a, second valve 54b, and third valve 54c based on the feedback. Additionally or alternatively, the control system 30 may adjust the flow rates provided by the first pump 58a, second pump 58b, and third pump 58c based on the feedback. For example, the control system 30 may increase (e.g., continuously or repeatedly) the flow rate of fluid provided by the water effect devices 16 from a first flow rate to a second flow rate by adjusting the speed of each pump 58 when the operating stage of the multi-stage water effects system 12 changes. In some embodiments, a single valve 54 may couple two or more of the circuits 52, and thus the control system 30 may allow fluid from the fluid source 44 to flow through multiple circuits 52 by adjusting the single valve 54. In any event, once the first circuit 52a, the second circuit 52b, and the third circuit 52c are fluidly coupled to the fluid source 44 via the first valve 54a, the second valve 54b and the third valve 54c may provide the fluid flow 26 to at least the interior 56 of the water ride vehicle 14.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method 70 of operating the multi-stage water effects system 12. As described above, the control system 30 of the multi-stage water effects system 12 may receive a signal indicative of a water vehicle interaction (block 72). The signal may be one or a combination of operator input, sensor feedback, or after a certain time has passed (e.g., from the start of the ride or from the start of a phase). Upon receiving the signal, the control system 30 selects an operational phase for the multi-stage water effects system 12 (block 74). For example, the control system 30 may determine one or more water vehicle vehicles 14 associated with the water vehicle interaction. The control system may also determine the current operational phase of the water vehicle 14, such as whether the water vehicle is currently in the initial operational phase 18, the first operational phase 20, or the second operational phase 22. The control system 30 may also determine a subset of one or more water effect devices 16 of each of the one or more water vehicle vehicles 14 to activate based on the signal. The control system 30 may also determine the flow rate and / or flow type corresponding to a selected operational phase to be provided to one or more water ride vehicles 14 using one or more water effects devices 16. Any associated special effects may also be activated simultaneously with the fluid flow. The fluid flow may be volumetrically or time-controlled. That is, in one embodiment, the fluid flow is maintained until a desired fill level is reached in the interior 56 of the water ride vehicle 14, which may be determined based on operator input and / or sensor feedback. In another embodiment, the fluid flow may continue until a timer expires. For example, the timer may be set based on a predetermined volume of the interior 56 of the water ride vehicle 14, the average displacement of the passengers 24, the flow rate of the fluid exit ports 46, and the desired fill level (e.g., a fill level that is no greater than the calf height of the shortest possible passenger). In certain embodiments, the fill level may be dynamically adjusted based on the anatomy of the individual passengers 24.Once the desired operational stage is determined, the control system 30 may output control signals to one or more water effect devices 16 that cause the one or more water effect devices 16 to provide fluid flow based on the operational stage (block 76).

[0041] While only certain features of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes which comply with the true spirit of the present disclosure.

[0042] The technology shown and claimed herein refers to and applies to tangible objects and specific examples of a practical nature that will materially improve the art, and thus are not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Furthermore, where any claim appended at the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "means for [performing] ... [function]" or "step for [performing] ... [function]," such elements are to be construed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 112(f). Conversely, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, such elements are not to be construed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 112(f). [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 Water Rides 12 Multi-stage water effect system 14 Water Vehicles 15 Seams 16 Water Effect Device 17 Hull Rivets 18 Early Stage 20 Phase 1 21 Lattice 22 Phase 2 24 passengers 26 Fluid flow 28 Attraction Features 30 Control System 32 sensors

Claims

1. 1. A multi-stage water effect system comprising: a plurality of watercraft vehicles; a control system; Equipped with a water vehicle of the plurality of water vehicle vehicles includes one or more water effects devices; the control system is communicatively coupled to the one or more water effect devices of a water vehicle of the plurality of water vehicle vehicles; activating the one or more water effect devices of the waterride vehicle to provide a first fluid flow at a first time; activating the one or more water effect devices of the waterride vehicle to provide a second fluid flow at a second time; It is configured as follows: A multi-stage water effect system characterized by:

2. the first fluid stream has a first flow rate and the second fluid stream has a second flow rate different from the first flow rate; 10. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 1.

3. Operating the one or more water effect devices of the water vehicle to provide a first fluid flow at a first time and operating the one or more water effect devices of the water vehicle to provide a second fluid flow at a second time includes: adjusting the 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 effects system of claim 2, comprising:

4. the one or more water effect devices include a plurality of water effect devices; The control system includes: activating a first subset of the plurality of water effect devices of the waterride vehicle to provide the first fluid flow at the first time; activating a second subset of the plurality of water effect devices of the waterride vehicle to provide the second fluid flow at the second time.

10. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 1 configured to:

5. The control system includes: receiving feedback indicating that the watercraft vehicle has interacted with one or more features of the watercraft; selecting an operational phase from a plurality of operational phases based on the feedback; activating one or more of the water effect devices of the waterride vehicle to provide the first fluid flow or the second fluid flow based on the selected operational phase; It is configured as follows:

10. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 1.

6. one or more sensors disposed on the watercraft vehicle; the one or more sensors are configured to measure feedback indicative of the watercraft vehicle interacting with one or more features of the watercraft.

6. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 5.

7. the control system is configured to operate one or more water effects devices of the waterride vehicle to provide the first fluid flow or the second fluid flow, in addition to operating one or more special effects devices.

10. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 1.

8. each water vehicle of the plurality of water vehicle vehicles including a respective control system; 10. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 1.

9. A water ride vehicle for an amusement park water ride, comprising: a plurality of sensors configured to obtain feedback associated with an interaction between the watercraft vehicle and the watercraft; a plurality of water effect devices each configured to provide a fluid flow; a control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of water effect devices; Equipped with The control system includes: receiving the feedback associated with the interaction between the watercraft vehicle and the watercraft from at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors; selecting an operating phase from a plurality of operating phases, including a first operating phase associated with a first flow rate of fluid from a first subset of the plurality of water effect devices and a second operating phase associated with a second flow rate of the fluid from a second subset of the plurality of water effect devices based on the feedback; activating the first subset of the plurality of water effect devices to provide the fluid at the first flow rate in response to selecting the first operational stage; activating the second subset of the plurality of water effect devices to provide the fluid at the second flow rate in response to selecting the second operational stage; It is configured as follows: A water vehicle characterized by:

10. the plurality of sensors include contact sensors, imaging devices, radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, or any combination thereof; 10. The waterborne vehicle of claim 9.

11. selecting the operation phase from the plurality of operation phases based on the feedback, selecting the first operational phase when the feedback indicates an initial interaction associated with the watercraft vehicle; selecting the second operational phase when the feedback indicates a subsequent interaction associated with the watercraft vehicle; wherein the subsequent interaction occurs after the initial interaction.

10. The waterborne vehicle of claim 9.

12. Selecting the operation stage from the plurality of operation stages includes: selecting the first stage of operation when the feedback is below a threshold indicative of a magnitude of the interaction associated with the watercraft vehicle; selecting the second stage of operation when the feedback exceeds a threshold indicative of a magnitude of the interaction associated with the watercraft vehicle; 10. The waterborne vehicle of claim 9, comprising:

13. the first subset of the plurality of water effect devices does not overlap with the second subset of the plurality of water effect devices; 10. The waterborne vehicle of claim 9.

14. the control system is configured to operate 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 has been operated for a predetermined amount of time.

10. The waterborne vehicle of claim 9.

15. the operational phase is selected based on the relative position of the at least one sensor.

10. The waterborne vehicle of claim 9.

16. a fluid supply device configured to supply the fluid to the plurality of water effect devices; 10. The waterborne vehicle of claim 9.

17. 1. A multi-stage water effect system comprising: a first water ride vehicle including a first plurality of water effects devices; a second water ride vehicle including a second plurality of water effects devices; a control system communicatively coupled to the first plurality of water effect devices and the second plurality of water effect devices; Equipped with The control system includes: receiving a signal associated with changing the first operational state of the first water vehicle, the second operational state of the second water vehicle, or both; actuating the first plurality of water effect devices to selectively provide a first fluid at a first flow rate or a second flow rate when the signal is associated with changing the first operational stage of the first water ride vehicle; and actuating the second plurality of water effect devices to selectively provide a second fluid at a first flow rate or a second flow rate when the signal is associated with changing the second operational state of the second water ride vehicle. It is configured as follows: A multi-stage water effect system characterized by:

18. the signal is received based on a time duration corresponding to the first operational phase of the first water vehicle, the second operational phase of the second water vehicle, or both; 18. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 17.

19. The control system includes: activating the first plurality of water effect devices to deliver the first fluid at the first flow rate and activating the second plurality of water effect devices to deliver the second fluid at the first flow rate when the signal indicates that the first water vehicle has interacted with the second water vehicle.

20. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 17, configured to:

20. The control system includes: evolving the first operational phase associated with the first watercraft vehicle to a subsequent operational phase if the signal is associated with changing the first operational phase; evolving the operational stage associated with the second plurality of water effect devices if the signal is associated with changing the second operational stage; 20. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 17, configured to:

21. the control system is configured to develop the first operational phase by increasing the flow rate of the first fluid, activating additional water effects devices of the first watercraft vehicle, or both.

18. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 17.

22. the control system is configured to develop the second operational phase by increasing the flow rate of the second fluid, activating additional water effects devices of the second watercraft vehicle, or both.

18. The multi-stage water effects system of claim 17.

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