Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for controllably injecting, subsequent to the start of a water ride, a high velocity water flow over the water ride surface. A rider (or vehicle) that rides into such injected flow can, as the result of water-to-rider momentum transfer, either be accelerated, matched, or de-accelerated in a downhill, horizontal or uphill straight or curvilinear direction by such injected flow. Flow emitting nozzles can either be positioned above, along side or from any position along the length of the water ride surface. When a horizontal or upwardly inclined ride surface has flumed channel walls, either a special 'flume within a flume' design is incorporated, or vents are positioned along the sides or bottom of the riding surface to minimize any transient surge/hydraulic jump that occurs during start-up or when a lower speed rider encounters a higher speed water flow. When the water ride surface has a downchute portion immediately followed by a rising portion, properly injected water flows can either enhance the recovery elevation of the rider in excess of that available under conventional gravity only water ride systems, or stabilize and equalize the coefficients of friction and trajectory of differently sized and weighted participants to insure ride safety, consistency and capacity.

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First Claim