Funnel-Shaped Water Slide with Tapering Curvature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water slide designs fail to provide a unique and exciting ride experience, leading to a demand for more stimulating and varied designs that can attract larger crowds to water parks.
Innovation Solution
A water slide feature with a sliding surface having a funnel-shaped wall that tapers in radius from entry to exit, allowing riders to travel partially above a 90-degree angle, with a reducing radius of curvature and inclined lowermost surface, ensuring riders maintain contact with the water and experience a predictable, thrilling path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional water slide designs are used, then the ride experience is familiar and safe, but it fails to provide a unique and exciting experience that attracts larger crowds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing a sliding surface with a funnel-shaped wall that curves upward past 90 degrees from horizontal. This curved geometry creates a unique ride experience where riders travel along a predictable path that includes vertical and near-vertical sections, differentiating it from conventional straight or gently curved slides while maintaining structural feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters by tapering the radius of curvature from the entry end to the exit end of the sliding surface. This parameter variation creates an exciting ride experience with changing dynamics while the funnel shape and upward curvature provide structural guidance, resolving the contradiction between experience variety and structural complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wall curves upward past 90 degrees to create a thrilling path, then riders experience a unique ride, but it becomes challenging to maintain rider contact with the water and predictable path
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous curved geometry of the funnel-shaped wall guides riders along a predictable path even as the surface curves upward past 90 degrees. The curvature ensures that riders maintain contact with the sliding surface and water film throughout the vertical section, preventing unpredictable behavior while delivering an exciting ride experience
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered radius of curvature parameter changes from entry to exit, creating varying dynamics along the path. This controlled parameter variation maintains rider contact and path predictability while still providing excitement through the vertical ascent and descent, resolving the contradiction between thrill and reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the radius of curvature tapers from entry to exit, then riders experience a thrilling and unique path, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by systematically tapering the radius of curvature from the entry end to the exit end of the sliding surface. This controlled variation in a single geometric parameter creates a unique and thrilling ride path while maintaining manufacturability through a systematic design approach that can be implemented using standard construction techniques for large-scale water slides
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 design enhances the ride experience by providing a unique and thrilling path that keeps riders engaged, attracting larger crowds and offering park owners a competitive advantage.
Implementation Method 1
The water provides cooling fun for the ride participants, and also provides a lubricious film or fluid between the rider/vehicle and the ride surface so as to increase the speed of the rider down the flume path.
Implementation Method 2
The water is typically continuously recirculated from the lower elevation to the higher elevation using one or more pumps and then continuously falls with gravity from the higher elevation to the lower elevation flowing along the slide/flume path.
Data Source
AI summary
A slide feature is adapted to carry one or more riders and/or ride vehicles sliding thereon. The slide feature includes a sliding surface having an entry end and an exit end. The sliding surface comprising a wall defined by a portion of a side of a funnel shape, tilted sideways, the wall comprising a top and a bottom. The bottom of the wall comprising a lowermost surface of the sliding surface and is horizontal or descending from the entry end to the exit end. The top of the wall curves upward from the lowermost surface past an angle of 90 degrees to the horizontal. A radius of curvature of the sliding surface tapers from the entry end to the exit end.