Porous Surface Shutdown Lane for Water Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waterslide attractions face challenges in conserving water and reducing rider injury and splashout at the end of the shutdown lane, where riders' speed needs to be slowed for safe exit while minimizing water loss.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus featuring a dual-stage porous surface system with a first surface allowing water to flow through and a second surface directing excess water to a recirculation area, connected by a sidewall to prevent splashout, enabling efficient water conservation and safe rider exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shutdown lane is used to slow riders down, then rider safety is improved, but water splashes out of the attraction causing water loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous surfaces at the end of the shutdown lane that allow water to pass through while maintaining structural integrity. The porous material captures and filters water, preventing it from splashing out of the attraction while still allowing the shutdown lane to function properly for rider safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary porous surface layer between the shutdown lane water and the external environment. This intermediary layer acts as a barrier that allows water to be retained and recirculated rather than lost to the surroundings, while not interfering with the rider deceleration function.
2Loss of substance
If water is retained in the shutdown lane for recirculation, then water conservation is improved, but rider injury risk increases due to sliding motion
Solution Approach 1:
The porous surfaces provide a textured interface that increases friction between the rider and water surface, reducing sliding motion and associated injury risks. Simultaneously, the porous structure retains water within the lane for recirculation, achieving both safety and conservation goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutdown lane end is segmented into multiple porous surface sections that progressively reduce rider speed through controlled friction. This segmentation allows water to be retained in each section while systematically reducing the harmful sliding effect on riders.
3Loss of substance
If porous surfaces are used to conserve water, then water recirculation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes commercially available porous materials or simple porous concrete that can be integrated into existing shutdown lane structures. These materials provide effective water retention and recirculation capabilities while maintaining relatively straightforward installation and manufacturing processes.
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 system effectively conserves water by recirculating it back into the attraction, reduces splashout, and ensures rider safety by guiding water flow through porous surfaces and a connecting area, enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the second surface being porous
Implementation Method 2
configured to receive fluid that does not flow through the porous portion of the second surface
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus or method for draining fluid from an amusement attraction while helping prevent substantial portions of fluid from splashing out of the attraction. The apparatus may be an end component for a shutdown lane that has one or more areas or catch basins for flowing the fluid thereon or therethrough. Various sidewalls, hills, ridges, and/or drainage surfaces may be implemented by or on the end component to ideally keep water from splashing outside of the end component and to help maintain rider safety as the rider slides towards the end component. One or more stages of drainage areas or surfaces may be utilized for the end component. The apparatus may be in the form of an end component, a larger portion of an attraction, such as a shutdown lane, or discrete components that may be connected within or to a portion of an attraction.