Angled Transition Waterslide Segmented Flume Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional waterslide transitions between flume segments of different cross-sections require continuous, smooth paths to ensure a safe and exciting ride, but this often necessitates tall structures and wide flumes for side-to-side motion, limiting design flexibility and increasing costs.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of angled transitions that create a discontinuity between upstream and downstream flume segments, allowing for an inflection in the slide path and enabling oscillating side-to-side motion without the need for continuous smooth cross-section normals, thereby reducing the required height and width of the flume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional smooth transitions are used between flume segments, then ride safety is improved, but structure height and flume width increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveride safetyVSAvoidstructure height

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The transition is divided into multiple discrete segments (first transition segment, second transition segment, third transition segment) rather than using a single continuous smooth curve. Each segment can be independently designed and assembled, allowing the ride path to change direction in discrete steps while maintaining safety through controlled geometry at each segment interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the cross-section normals to be continuous and smooth (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the requirement by allowing discontinuous normals while maintaining ride safety through alternative geometric controls. This inversion of the design constraint enables more compact transition geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If conventional smooth transitions are used between flume segments, then ride safety is improved, but flume width increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveride safetyVSAvoidflume width

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The transition is divided into multiple discrete segments (first transition segment, second transition segment, third transition segment) rather than using a single continuous smooth curve. Each segment can be independently designed and assembled, allowing the ride path to change direction in discrete steps while maintaining safety through controlled geometry at each segment interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the cross-section normals to be continuous and smooth (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the requirement by allowing discontinuous normals while maintaining ride safety through alternative geometric controls. This inversion of the design constraint enables more compact transition geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If tall structures and wide flumes are used for side-to-side motion, then ride excitement is improved, but design flexibility and cost decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidstructure height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The transition is divided into multiple discrete segments (first transition segment, second transition segment, third transition segment) rather than using a single continuous smooth curve. Each segment can be independently designed and assembled, allowing the ride path to change direction in discrete steps while maintaining safety through controlled geometry at each segment interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented transition design creates dynamic side-to-side motion as riders pass through the discrete geometric changes at each segment interface. This dynamic motion experience is achieved through the controlled discontinuities in the transition geometry rather than requiring tall structures or wide flumes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design allows for an exhilarating side-to-side motion, increases ride time, reduces the need for tall structures, and enables the use of narrower flume segments, ultimately decreasing the waterslide's footprint and material requirements while maintaining an exciting ride experience.

Implementation Method 1

A rider enters an upstream flume segment, and travels along a slide path defined by the flume segment. The rider may be on a conveyance device such as a raft, tube or mat, or the rider may simply be sliding on the rider's bottom. The rider is urged downhill by gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10179293B2Waterslide with angled transition

Publication Date: 2019.01.15 WHITEWATER WEST IND LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a waterslide comprising an upstream flume segment having a first cross-section, the upstream flume segment defining a first slide path, and a downstream flume segment having a second cross-section different than the first cross-section, the downstream flume segment defining a second slide path. The waterslide further comprises an angled transition linking the upstream flume segment to the downstream flume segment, wherein the angled transition defines a discontinuity between the upstream and downstream flume segments, thereby defining an inflection between the first and second slide paths.