Closed-Loop Water Quality Control for Safe Water Effects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Water-based attractions in amusement parks face challenges with continuous use of potable water, which is costly and can negatively alter water quality, posing safety risks and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A water control system that monitors and maintains closed-loop water sources using sensors to ensure water quality within tolerance, allowing safe water emissions and switching to secondary sources or alternative modes when conditions deteriorate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional water treatment systems are used in RVs, then water can be treated, but the system takes up valuable living space and adds significant weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater treatment capabilityVSAvoidsystem space occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the water treatment system with the existing water storage tank, integrating the treatment mechanism within the tank structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate treatment devices and reduces overall system complexity and space occupation while maintaining water treatment functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The water storage tank is designed to serve multiple functions: storing water, treating water, and potentially distributing water. By making the tank multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate treatment systems, thereby reducing device complexity and space usage while preserving treatment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If traditional water treatment systems are used in RVs, then water can be treated, but the system adds significant weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater treatment capabilityVSAvoidsystem weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment mechanism is integrated within the water storage tank structure, combining functions that would traditionally require separate components. This merging reduces the total weight by eliminating redundant structural elements and treatment device mass while maintaining treatment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tank is designed to perform both storage and treatment functions, making the system more efficient and lighter. By avoiding the need for separate treatment devices, the overall system weight is reduced while treatment capability is preserved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If manual monitoring of water quality parameters is used, then system complexity is reduced, but treatment effectiveness and consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor water quality parameters and provide feedback to the control mechanism. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of treatment parameters, ensuring consistent and effective treatment while maintaining relative system simplicity through automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The water treatment system is designed to monitor and adjust its own operation automatically based on water quality conditions. The self-service capability ensures treatment effectiveness without requiring complex manual intervention or monitoring systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4489882B1Water control system for closed-loop water systems
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4489882B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4489882B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4489882B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A water control system includes at least one water effect device (134) configured to use a water source to emit water responsive to a control signal, a plurality of sensors (146) configured to generate water condition data of a closed-loop water source (124), and a controller having a processor (302) and a memory (304). The memory (304) may store instructions executable by the processor (302) that cause the controller to receive the water condition data from the plurality of sensors (146). The controller is also configured to determine whether the water condition data is indicative of a passing water quality or a failing water quality of the closed-loop water source (124) and transmit the control signal to the water effect device (134) to emit water using the closed-loop water source (124) as the water source upon determining that the water condition data is indicative of the passing water quality.