Inclined Water Slide Loop Reducing Centrifugal Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water slides with loop sections pose excessive acceleration risks, leading to potential injuries and discomfort due to high centrifugal forces, especially in looping-the-loop designs where accelerations are severe and equilibrium is disturbed.
Innovation Solution
A water slide design featuring a loop section with a circumference angle of at least 270° and an inclination of 5° to 80° relative to vertical, combined with a decreasing radius of curvature from the starting point to the apex, ensures centrifugal forces remain within safe limits, providing a thrilling experience without physical impairment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a loop section with vertical orientation is used to increase thrill, then the user experiences traveling upside down, but the acceleration forces become excessive causing injuries and physical impairment
Solution Approach 1:
The loop section is designed with an asymmetric inclination of 5° to 80° relative to the vertical axis, breaking the symmetric vertical orientation of traditional looping-the-loop slides. This asymmetric tilt reduces the maximum acceleration forces experienced by users while preserving the upside-down sensation and thrill factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the loop section from vertical (0° inclination) to an inclined position of 5° to 80° relative to vertical. This parameter modification directly reduces the harmful acceleration forces while maintaining the essential characteristic of allowing users to travel upside down.
2Ease of manufacture
If the loop section is designed with constant radius to simplify construction, then manufacturing is easier, but acceleration forces become excessive at the apex point
Solution Approach 1:
The loop section employs a variable radius of curvature where the radius decreases from the starting point toward the apex point. This local variation in geometric quality ensures that centrifugal forces remain controlled throughout the loop, particularly at the apex where users experience the most extreme forces, while still allowing for practical construction.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the loop section is designed with decreasing radius of curvature to control forces, then acceleration forces are reduced, but the construction becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The loop section features a dynamically varying radius of curvature that changes continuously or in sections from the starting point to the apex. This dynamic geometric configuration optimizes the distribution of centrifugal forces along the sliding path, reducing peak accelerations while maintaining a manageable structural design through systematic variation rather than arbitrary complexity.
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 configuration reduces acceleration forces to safe levels, allowing users to slide upside down without injury, accommodating various weights and speeds, and offering a versatile experience from roller coaster-like rides to traditional sliding, while maintaining consistent sliding conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the maximum acceleration during the transition from the starting point into the rising section portion of the loop section to be reduced, and therefore the loading due to the acceleration and centrifugal forces does not lead to the user suffering physical impairment
Implementation Method 2
the reduction in the sliding speed that results because of gravity is compensated for by a reduction in the radius of the loop section
Data Source
AI summary
Water slide with a chute which opens into a discharge area and has an initial section and a discharge section opening into the discharge area, characterized in that at least one loop section is provided between the initial section and the discharge section, the loop section having an angle at circumference of at least 270° and, at least between a starting point and an apex point of the loop section, being inclined by 5° to 80° in relation to a vertical.