Boat Capture Launch Assembly for Water Rides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boat stop designs in water rides are inefficient as they take a significant amount of time for boats to reach the water's speed after being stopped, leading to slow acceleration and potential cascades, which negatively impact ride efficiency and quality.
Innovation Solution
A boat capture and launch assembly, also known as a 'capturepult,' which uses a cam-shaped body with capture and launch arms to stop and accelerate boats by directly applying force, independent of water thrust, ensuring efficient acceleration and operation across varying boat loadings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional flipper gate boat stops are used to stop and release boats, then the boat stop mechanism is simple in design, but the boat acceleration time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stopping and launching functions into a single integrated mechanism. The flipper gate structure is merged with a launch arm that applies direct physical force to the boat, eliminating the need for separate stopping and accelerating systems. This merging reduces overall system complexity while enabling rapid boat acceleration through direct mechanical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The launch arm is pre-positioned and pre-loaded with potential energy (through mechanical tension or hydraulic pressure) before the boat arrives. When the boat is stopped by the flipper gate, the launch arm is already ready to immediately apply force, eliminating delays associated with activating the acceleration mechanism after stopping. This preliminary preparation enables rapid transition from stopped to moving state.
2Productivity
If conventional boat stops rely on water thrust to accelerate boats, then the system is simple, but the acceleration speed is slow and causes boat cascades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a launch arm as an intermediary mechanical element between the power source and the boat. Instead of relying directly on water thrust to accelerate the boat, the launch arm acts as a mediator that transfers mechanical force directly to the boat's interaction member. This intermediary mechanism enables faster acceleration by providing direct controlled force application independent of water flow conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the natural water thrust mechanism with an artificial mechanical propulsion system. The launch arm, driven by mechanical or hydraulic power sources, substitutes for the passive water flow acceleration. This mechanical substitution provides active, controllable, and much faster acceleration capability, directly addressing the throughput and speed limitations of water-thrust-dependent systems.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the boat stop releases the boat immediately, then the operational cycle is shortened, but the boat cannot reach sufficient speed without additional acceleration mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The stopping and launching functions are merged into a single integrated mechanism where the flipper gate and launch arm work together as one system. The same structural element that stops the boat (the gate) is connected to or integrated with the launch arm that provides acceleration. This merging allows the system to transition seamlessly from stopping to launching without requiring separate time periods for each function, thereby reducing the overall operational cycle duration while providing sufficient launch force.
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 boat capture and launch assembly significantly reduces acceleration time, enhances ride efficiency, and maintains ride quality by applying a controlled launch force, independent of friction and water dynamics, allowing for faster boat movement and reduced congestion.
Implementation Method 1
the body is cam-shaped and includes a capture arm and a launch arm that extend along the length of the body
Implementation Method 2
an interaction member (e.g., a guide wheel) that is adapted to roll along an inner surface of the flume sidewall
Data Source
AI summary
A system adapted for stopping and launching boats. The system includes a boat, in moving water, with an interaction member extending outward from its hull. The system includes a boat capture and launch assembly that includes: (a) a body; (b) a drive mechanism rotating the body; (c) a capture arm with a first contact surface on the body; and (d) a launch arm with a second contact surface on the body. When the body is rotated into a first position, the capture arm extends outward into the water to catch the interaction member and stop the boat. When the body is rotated through a range of second positions, the interaction member abuts the second contact surface and a launch force is applied to accelerate the boat in the direction of travel of the boat and water.