Annular Waterslide Bowl for Compact Deceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waterslides face challenges in safely slowing down and stopping riders due to space limitations, as elongated flumes required for deceleration are not feasible in compact settings like cruise ships or indoor water parks.
Innovation Solution
An annular-shaped waterslide bowl with a stepped circumferential wall and central exit staircase, allowing riders to slide into and exit the bowl, which occupies less space and facilitates safe deceleration without the need for extensive flumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elongated flume is used to slow down and stop the rider, then the rider safety is improved, but the space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal elongated flume to a vertical annular bowl structure. The rider descends radially inward along the curved bowl surface, utilizing vertical and radial dimensions to achieve deceleration within a compact footprint. This dimensional transformation allows the deceleration function to be achieved without requiring extensive horizontal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a curved annular bowl structure with a circular cross-section. The curved surface of the bowl provides gradual deceleration through its geometry, allowing the rider to slow down smoothly as they traverse the curved path. The curvature of the bowl wall creates a natural braking effect that reduces rider speed without requiring additional flume length.
2Area of stationary object
If a compact bowl structure is used to reduce space, then the space efficiency is improved, but the rider deceleration effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The annular bowl structure utilizes vertical height and radial distance to provide deceleration path length. The rider travels a significant distance along the curved bowl surface from the entry point to the center opening, achieving effective deceleration within a compact horizontal footprint by exploiting the vertical and radial dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The bowl structure is divided into functional zones: an entry section for rider insertion, a curved deceleration section for slowing down, and a central opening with circumferential wall for exit. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall compactness.
3Reliability
If the bowl wall is made high to provide sufficient deceleration distance, then the deceleration effectiveness is improved, but the rider exit difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential wall at the center opening is designed with a stepped configuration, creating a lower section that the rider can step over to access the exit staircase. This segmentation of the wall height provides both sufficient deceleration distance through the overall bowl height and ease of exit through the stepped opening.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the rider to climb up a high wall to exit, the design inverts the approach by providing a stepped opening that allows the rider to step down or over a lower portion of the circumferential wall. The exit staircase is positioned at the center opening, providing a clear and easy exit path.
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
The annular-shaped waterslide bowl effectively slows down and stops riders in a compact design, suitable for space-constrained environments, ensuring rider safety and efficient use of space.
Implementation Method 1
The bowl is adapted to slow a rider down and bring him or her to a stop
Data Source
AI summary
An annular-shaped waterslide bowl for use as an element of a waterslide apparatus serves to slow a rider down and bring him or her to a stop at the end of the waterslide ride. The bowl has a bowl wall with a rider entry port through which a rider slides from a flume into the bowl. The bottom wall of the bowl has an opening at its center and a low circumferential wall around the opening extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The rider comes to a stop in the bowl and can step over the circumferential wall into the opening. A staircase located within the opening provides means for the rider to exit the bowl. The waterslide bowl provides a compact structure for slowing and stopping the rider and is particularly suitable for waterslide installations having limited space.