ES3072973T3 - Water control system for closed-loop water systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A water control system includes at least one water effect device (134) configured to use a water source and dispense water in response to a control signal, several sensors (146) configured to generate water condition data from a closed-loop water source (124), and a controller with a processor (302) and memory (304). The memory (304) can store instructions executable by the processor (302) that cause the controller to receive water condition data from the sensors (146). The controller is also configured to determine whether the water condition data indicates acceptable or poor water quality from the closed-loop water source (124) and to transmit the control signal to the water effect device (134) to dispense water using the closed-loop water source (124) as the water source when it determines that the water condition data indicates acceptable water quality.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Water control system for closed-loop water systems

[0003] Background

[0004] This disclosure relates generally to the field of amusement parks. Specifically, the achievements covered in this disclosure relate to techniques for managing amusement park operations, including the monitoring and maintenance of closed-loop water features for amusement park rides.

[0005] Water attractions at amusement parks have gained immense popularity in recent years. To meet this growing demand, water parks have expanded by adding new types of water rides, attractions, and a variety of water effects, including water shows, weather effects, and queue effects, for visitor entertainment and interaction. Because these water effects may be located very close to or in direct contact with visitors, they utilize potable water supplied directly by the local municipality, which is costly and wasteful, or water from an isolated body of water that is maintained locally. For example, potable water may be continuously drawn from the local municipality to create water effects, such as mist or rain, to refresh visitors waiting in line. However, the continuous use of potable water is expensive, and creating water effects can negatively impact water quality, posing additional challenges for water management. US Publication 2003/203760 A1 describes a control system for a water attraction system in which the control system is configured to operate the water attraction system in order to produce water effects, sound effects and/or light effects when the control system receives an activation signal.

[0006] Summary

[0007] The following are summaries of certain embodiments whose scope is consistent with the subject matter originally claimed. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure but are intended solely to provide a brief summary of certain disclosed embodiments. In fact, this disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments described below.

[0008] In one embodiment, a water control system for an attraction includes at least one water effects device configured to use a water fountain to emit water in response to a control signal, a plurality of sensors configured to generate data on the water condition of a closed-loop water fountain, and a controller having a processor and memory. The memory can store instructions executable by the processor that cause the controller to receive the water condition data from the plurality of sensors. The controller is also configured to determine whether the water condition data is indicative of acceptable or unacceptable water quality from the closed-loop water fountain and to transmit the control signal to the water effects device to emit water using the closed-loop water fountain as the water source upon determining that the water condition data is indicative of acceptable water quality.

[0009] In one embodiment, a water control procedure for an attraction includes generating water condition data using a plurality of sensors from a closed-loop water source and determining that the water condition of the closed-loop water source is outside a predetermined tolerance based on the water condition data. The procedure may also transmit initial instructions to a water effects controller to deactivate the flow of water from the closed-loop water source to a water effects device and generate updated water condition data using the plurality of sensors. The procedure may then determine that the water condition of the closed-loop water source is within the predetermined tolerance based on the updated water condition data and transmit subsequent instructions to the water effects controller to reactivate the flow of water from the closed-loop water source to the water effects device.

[0010] In a helpful example for understanding this disclosure, a fluid effect device includes one or more fluid outlets configured to deliver fluid in response to control signals and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor, which are configured to cause the controller to deliver fluid from the one or more fluid outlets in response to receiving a first control signal, in which fluid is drawn from a first fluid source and receives control instructions from a fluid monitoring system. The controller is also configured to switch from the first fluid source to a second source based on the control instructions from the fluid source and to deliver fluid from the one or more fluid outlets in response to receiving a second control signal, in which fluid is drawn from the second fluid source.

[0011] Brief description of the drawings

[0012] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters represent similar parts throughout the drawings, where:

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a theme park implementation that includes various water effects devices using a water control system, in accordance with current techniques.

[0014] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of an implementation of the various water effects devices of the theme park that utilize the water control system, according to current techniques.

[0015] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of a process implementation for operating the theme park water control system, according to current techniques.

[0016] Figure 4 is a flow diagram of a process implementation for operating the theme park water control system, according to current techniques.

[0017] Figure 5 is a block diagram of an implementation of the theme park water control system, according to current techniques.

[0018] Detailed description

[0019] The following section describes one or more specific embodiments. To provide a concise overview of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this disclosure. It should be noted that, in developing any such implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific objectives, such as meeting system and business constraints, which may vary from implementation to implementation. Furthermore, it should be noted that such a development effort may be complex and time-consuming, but would nonetheless constitute a routine design, manufacturing, and production task for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0020] When introducing elements from various embodiments of this disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “the” are intended to mean that there is one or more of these elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than those listed. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of this disclosure should not be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the described features.

[0021] This disclosure pertains to the monitoring and maintenance of at least one water condition for a closed-loop water system that creates water effects at multiple collection points to entertain or interact with visitors. A water park may include a variety of water attractions (e.g., water slides, wading pools) and water effect devices to create water effects, such as weather effect devices (e.g., rain, fog, steam, mist), water toys (e.g., water guns, water blasters), and/or water show devices (e.g., fountain shows). In some cases, water effect devices may use potable water supplied directly by the local municipality, which is costly and wasteful, or water from a closed-loop water source (e.g., a pool, pond, fountain, or other isolated body of water) that is maintained locally. It is essential to ensure good water conditions and/or chemical composition, as many water effects may be located very close to visitors, come into contact with them, or even be ingested. To guarantee the safety of individuals exposed to water effects, a water control system will be implemented to monitor and ensure that water conditions (e.g., quality) are maintained and that exposure to water outside of commonly approved ranges is limited. If the water quality falls outside the permitted range, exposure may be automatically limited by disabling the ability to use or activate water effect devices.

[0022] This descriptive report describes techniques that monitor water conditions and actively control water effects based on those conditions. For example, acceptable water conditions may allow water emissions, while deteriorating water conditions may lead to the selective deactivation of affected devices; for instance, changes in conditions may affect a single water effect device without affecting others or other parts of the theme park. The system may also allow a water effect device to emit water from a secondary water source (e.g., a reservoir or tank) if water conditions are poor. Additionally or alternatively, the system may change operating mode and allow the water effect device to emit bubbles, light, and/or sound for continuous interaction with visitors.

[0024] It should be noted that, although the examples provided in this disclosure are generally presented in the context of a water park and water attractions—such as the use of the described techniques to facilitate the monitoring and control of water conditions by monitoring various factors related to the water condition of the water park, in order to efficiently supply water to multiple locations—the techniques in this disclosure can be applied to other attractions in an amusement park (e.g., non-aquatic attractions) and to conditions and/or contexts unrelated to water. Non-aquatic attractions and non-water-related conditions may include meteorological effects or effects based on any liquid or fluid (e.g., smoke effects, bubble effects, steam effects, slime effects) that can draw water or liquids from a closed-loop water system.

[0025] Taking the above into account, Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a water theme park 110 with at least one water attraction 112 and at least one water effects device 134 that creates water effects through a water control system. The water attraction 112 and the devices 134 can operate as part of a closed-loop system, meaning that they receive and return water to a closed-loop water source 124. However, as described in general terms in this specification, the devices 134 may be able to use a secondary or different water source in the event of a change in water quality. In one embodiment, the water attraction 112 may include a closed-loop water source 124, the water quality of which is monitored and maintained locally by the water control system and which may be the primary water source for the devices 134. The closed-loop water source 124, as described herein, may additionally or alternatively be a body of water such as a pond, lagoon, fountain, or aquarium. The water attractions 112a and 112b may include closed-loop water sources 124a and 124b, which may be hydraulically connected to form a water supply for the devices 134a and 134b. Furthermore, the device 134c may be connected to the closed-loop water sources 124b and 124c. That is, the device 134c may draw water from or return water to either of the closed-loop water sources. In one embodiment, the water theme park 110 can operate as a single closed-loop system. In other embodiments, the individual rides 112 or other water features can be implemented as separate water features 124, and the water theme park 110 can include multiple closed-loop systems. For example, a first closed-loop system can include the water ride 112a with the closed-loop water feature 124a and at least one water effects device 134a. The water ride 112a can draw water from the closed-loop water feature 124a and inject it into the top of the ride to recirculate the water. In addition, the devices 134a can pump water from the closed-loop water feature 124a for the water effects. The devices 134a can also return water to the closed-loop water feature 124a to maintain constant water levels within the closed-loop system. Water theme park 110 may also have a second closed-loop water system that includes water attraction 112b, closed-loop water fountain 124b, and devices 134b, and a third closed-loop system that includes water attraction 112c, closed-loop water fountain 124c, and device 134c. In this way, poor water conditions within one closed-loop system may not affect the water conditions of another system. Furthermore, water may be diverted from one closed-loop system to another depending on the water control system.

[0027] Returning to Figure 1, certain water attractions 112 may feature a plurality of water slides 118. For example, in the embodiment shown, a water attraction 112a may include multiple water slides 118 accessible via a single queue 117, which may provide access to a launch point 116 for visitors. To provide entertainment or interaction for visitors, the queue 117 and the launch point 116 may include one or more water effect devices 134a that emit water to create water effects, such as weather effects (e.g., rain, fog, steam, mist), or include water toys (e.g., water guns, water blasters). For example, the user (e.g., the operator) can activate a switch on the devices 134a to create a weather effect (e.g., mist) to cool visitors while they wait in queue 117. In another example, users (e.g., visitors) can interact with the devices 134a (e.g., water toys) and spray water on each other while in queue 117 for entertainment purposes. The devices 134a can draw water from the closed-loop water source 124a, and the water can be returned as it flows down one side of the water attraction 112a. Additionally or alternatively, the devices 134a can have a secondary water source (e.g., a reservoir, a tank) located near the dispatch point 116 and/or within the devices 134a that can supply water to the devices 134a, as directed by the water control system. Therefore, the 134a devices can be distributed throughout the park and the water collection point can be dynamic.

[0029] Once at dispatch point 116, visitors can board a ride vehicle 115 to access the water slides 118 and enjoy the water attraction 112a. The ride vehicle 115 may include one or more devices 134a for water effects and a secondary water source (e.g., a reservoir). The devices 134a can draw water from the closed-loop water source 124a to create water effects. For example, device 134a may be a water gun, which the visitor can use to spray water during the ride. The water gun can draw water from the closed-loop water source 124a in response to activation by the visitor. In another example, the ride vehicle 115 may include a reservoir that can draw and store water from the closed-loop water source 124a according to instructions from the water control system. The water guns on the 115 tour vehicle can also receive water from the reservoir and emit it in response to activation by the visitor.

[0031] Visitors not currently on water attractions 112 can still interact with or be entertained by water effect devices 134. For example, visitors passing by water attraction 112c can use devices 134c (e.g., water blasters) to create water effects, such as shooting jets of water. Visitors observing water attraction 112c can use water guns to spray water at other visitors, whether they are on or passing by water attraction 112c. The visitor can activate the water gun by inserting a token, pressing a button, touching a screen, or similarly. The water gun can be supplied with water from the closed-loop water fountain 124c according to the instructions of the water control system. The water blaster can also spray water in response to activation by the visitor. In another example, a closed-loop water fountain 124d can also be a device 134c that recycles water for water effects. The closed-loop water feature 124d can be a body of still water, such as a fountain, lagoon, or pond, and include a device 134c, such as a jet that can emit water. A park operator can use the devices 134c to create water shows for visitor entertainment. As such, the device 134 can draw water from the body of still water based on instructions from the water control system. The device 134c can then emit the water, which can return to the closed-loop water feature 124d.

[0033] The water control system may include a water monitoring system 114 that monitors one or more water conditions in the closed-loop system and sends a signal to the water control system. The water monitoring system 114 may include one or more sensors 146 that monitor a water condition, such as water quality (e.g., acceptable, unacceptable), chemical composition, pH, or bacteria in the water within the closed-loop system (e.g., closed-loop water source, secondary water source), to ensure that the water conditions are within tolerance (e.g., permissible range). For example, the water monitoring system 114 may receive a signal indicating one or more water conditions from the closed-loop water source 124 and determine whether the water conditions are within tolerance. The water monitoring system 114 may then send this signal to the water control system. Furthermore, the water monitoring system 114 can receive a signal regarding the water conditions from the secondary water source. In one embodiment, the water control system can receive this signal and automatically switch the devices 134 between water sources. The default state of the devices 134 might be to draw water from the closed-loop water source 124, and the water control system could then switch the devices 134 to draw water from the secondary water source in response to a signal from the water monitoring system 114.

[0035] To ensure visitor safety, the water control system may allow water releases for effects when the closed-loop system water conditions are within tolerance. In certain embodiments, if all or most of the water conditions are within the permitted ranges, the water control system may emit a signal (e.g., a control signal) to activate the flow of water to and/or from the 134 devices. For example, the water control system may allow visitors to use the 134c devices to spray water on other visitors in response to the water conditions being within tolerance. In other embodiments, one or more water conditions outside the permitted ranges may cause the water control system to stop the water flow and/or change the water sources to actively control the water flow. For example, the water control system may change a mode of the 134 devices to limit exposure to water outside the permitted ranges. The water control system can transmit a signal to device 134 to switch from one water emission mode to a different mode that emits bubbles, light, sound, or similar effects for continuous operation by visitors. As such, the water control system can disable the ability to use or spray water from device 134 by changing its operating mode. In another example, the water control system can change the water source for device 134 by interrupting the water flow from the closed-loop water source 124 and activating the water flow from the secondary water source. The water control system can receive a signal indicating that the water conditions from the secondary water source are acceptable and send a signal to device 134 to enable the water supply.

[0037] In one embodiment, the water conditions determined by the water monitoring system 114 can be synchronized with a system communicating with an operator device 120 (e.g., a smartphone, visitor wristband, or tablet). The operator device 120 can be used to indicate locations where water conditions are out of tolerance for maintenance purposes. In some embodiments, the water monitoring system 114 can be centralized and contain multiple notifications 122, systems, and/or connections (e.g., wired and/or wireless connections) with other systems in the park 110. In one example, a task notification can be communicated to and from the water monitoring system 114 to indicate one or more devices 134 with out-of-tolerance water conditions, in order to assign them as a task to an operator. The notifications can include data on the water conditions provided through signals transmitted from the sensors, the location of the device 134, and/or the time of the malfunction.

[0039] In the depicted embodiment, water monitoring system 114 can be centralized and connected to other parts of the park. When water monitoring system 114 detects a change in water conditions based on sensor signals, it can send an alert to monitoring system 132. Monitoring system 132 can be a user or a virtual machine that sends real-time water condition updates and task notifications to address water conditions outside of a predetermined threshold. For example, an operator can receive a task notification via operator device 120 and manually stop the water flow within the closed-loop system using a stop mechanism (e.g., a button, an indicator on the operator device) to override a water flow activation signal if the operator detects a problem beyond those determined by the water effects controller 114. The monitoring system 132 can also be used to recalibrate the sensors 146 to ensure the accuracy of the water condition data. As such, the water control system can monitor the water conditions of the closed-loop system to ensure that the water meets certain predetermined thresholds before allowing water discharges. Consequently, monitoring multiple water conditions within the closed-loop system can be complex and may involve considering various water-related and device-related conditions.

[0040] Figure 2 illustrates a front perspective view of an example water attraction 112a that can be used in conjunction with the water control system (Figure 1) to provide instructions for the emission of water effects based on a determination of the water condition by the water monitoring system 114. The depicted embodiment shows several examples of sensors 146 that can be used individually or in combination with each other and in any suitable closed-loop water source. The signal can be sent based on the conditions (e.g., of the device or the water) detected by one or more sensors 146 distributed throughout the closed-loop system (e.g., the water attraction 112a, the ride vehicle 115, the devices 134a, the closed-loop water source 124). In one embodiment, the sensors 146 can monitor the status of a device, which may constitute an additional factor for the water effects. In other words, device 134a may include sensors 146 that monitor one or more device conditions (e.g., condition of parts, obstruction, functionality) to determine the device's functional status. Device 134a may have a faulty pump and be unable to receive water from the supply. The water jet sensors 146 may provide a signal indicating the faulty pump, and the water control system may stop the flow of water to and/or from device 134a. In another embodiment, the sensors 146 may monitor a water condition (e.g., quality), such as water level, pH levels, flow rate, chemical composition, bacterial composition, temperature, etc. For example, the sensors 146 may include a pH sensor that generates pH measurement data. The measurement data may be a pH value from device 134a or from the closed-loop water source 124a. The measured pH value(s) can be compared to a preset desired pH range (e.g., from approximately 7.2 to approximately 7.8). In another example, sensor 146 can be a chemical composition sensor monitoring the composition of the water in the closed-loop water source 124a. Depending on the nature of the measured water condition, values outside the preset range or above or below a preset threshold can be considered out of tolerance (e.g., unacceptable). While the illustrated embodiment includes sensors 146 distributed throughout the closed-loop system, in other embodiments, the sensors 146 can be located in a central location, such as the closed-loop water source 124.

[0042] In certain embodiments, based on a determination by the water monitoring system 114 that the water conditions are outside the tolerance, the water control system may switch to a secondary water source or shut off the water flow. For example, the water control system may cause the devices 134 to draw water from a secondary water source if the water conditions in the closed-loop water source 124a are unacceptable. The devices 134 may include a reservoir containing a quantity of water within the tolerance (e.g., acceptable). As such, the water control system may cause the devices 134 to dispense water drawn from the secondary water source. The water control system can also stop the flow of water by activating one or more mechanical or electrical effects, such as closing one or more valves, cutting power to a pump, pinching a hose, or otherwise diverting the flow of water within Park 110. In addition, the water control system can cause the devices 134 to change operating modes to limit exposure to water that is outside of tolerance. The devices 134 can operate in one or more alternative operating modes, including a bubble mode, a light mode, a sound mode, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the devices 134 may include a button or user display that allows the mode to be changed in response to user input. As a result, visitors can continue to interact with the devices 134a without creating water effects. Therefore, the devices 134a can continue to function even if the water conditions are outside of tolerance. In other implementations, as noted in this descriptive report, water conditions outside the pre-established tolerance may result in other consequences, such as the partial or total closure of water attraction 112 or water theme park 110.

[0043] The water control system can send an indicative signal to instruct the system to bring the water conditions back within tolerance. In fact, the water control system can activate mechanical or electrical effects within the closed-loop system to resolve unacceptable water conditions. For example, the water control system can transmit a signal that causes treatment system 147 to begin cleaning the water from closed-loop water source 124 to bring the water conditions back within tolerance. Treatment system 147 can remove particles and/or chemicals from the water using reverse osmosis, UV sterilization and filtration, heat, and/or chemicals. In this example, the operation of treatment system 147 can be dynamic, meaning that cleaning can be activated as needed based on the detection of unacceptable water conditions. The operation of treatment system 147 can also be periodic (e.g., hourly, daily), which can be configured by the operator or the water control system. In another example, the water conditions of the secondary water source may be outside of tolerance. For instance, the water in a tank of ride vehicle 115 may be out of tolerance, and the water control system may send a signal to a pump in ride vehicle 115 to release the water from the tank to the closed-loop water source 124 for filtration. The water control system may also send a signal to the pump instructing it to refill the tank with fresh water so that the water conditions return to an acceptable range. The pump may be configured to periodically initiate refilling based on predetermined intervals (e.g., after each ride, once an hour, once a day) set by the operator or the water control system. In certain embodiments, when the water conditions tend to fall outside the tolerance limits, the water control system may cause the pump and/or the treatment system 147 to activate as a safety measure to prevent the water conditions from deteriorating. In other embodiments, the operator can use the operator device 120 to instruct the water control system to activate the pump or treatment system 147.

[0045] In certain embodiments, the water control system can instruct a park operator to address unacceptable water conditions. For example, the water control system can alert an operator, via operator device 120 and/or indicator light 142, to devices 134 with unacceptable water conditions. For instance, the water control system can send a signal to operator device 120 indicating a location with unacceptable water conditions (e.g., device 134, closed-loop water fountain 124). The operator can then go to the location to correct the water condition by pressing a button to release water, adding new water within the tolerance, initiating water filtration, or a combination of these actions. In another example, ride vehicle 115 can include an indicator light (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) that flashes red in response to unacceptable water conditions and green for acceptable water conditions. The operator can monitor ride vehicle 115 using a red LED and remove it from the attraction to correct any unacceptable water conditions. The operator can add water to the reservoir when ride vehicle 115 reaches dispatch point 116 via a water injection point.

[0047] Taking the above into account, Figure 3 is a process flow diagram 200 of a water control and monitoring technique. The process begins when the water control system receives (block 202) a user input to activate the water effect of the devices 134. As an example, a visitor in ride vehicle 115 can provide a user input (e.g., activate) to a water gun by pressing a button, lifting the water gun from a holder, or touching a screen in ride vehicle 115. In another example, the visitor may want to use a water launcher located near water attraction 112a. As such, the visitor can provide an input by inserting a coin or pressing a button to activate the water effect. Even so, an operator can activate a water effect, such as a water show, by sending a signal to the water control system via an operator tablet 120. The operator can set up a periodic activation (e.g., hourly, daily, monthly) of a weather effect, such as rain or fog, for device 134 located within park 110. In another example, the operator can provide user input by moving a valve, flipping a switch, plugging in a device, or similarly, to activate a misting device, a rain device, a fountain, or other water effect devices 134.

[0049] The water control system can then receive a signal from the plurality of sensors indicating data on the water condition of the closed-loop system (block 204). The water conditions can include water level, chemical composition, pH, flow rate, temperature, bacterial composition, or similar parameters. In one embodiment, the plurality of sensors 146 can be centrally located, such as within the closed-loop water source 124, to ensure that the water flowing to the devices 134 is within a predetermined tolerance. For example, the plurality of sensors 146 can include a bacterial composition sensor and a pH sensor located within the closed-loop water source 124 to monitor the bacterial levels and pH values of the closed-loop water source 124. In another embodiment, the plurality of sensors 146 can be distributed throughout the closed-loop system. The plurality of sensors 146 may include a chemical composition sensor, a pH sensor, and a temperature sensor, located within a tank of the ride vehicle 115 to generate multiple water condition points for the secondary water source. In addition, the water monitoring system 114 may receive additional water condition data from sensor 146 located in the water attraction 112 to verify the water conditions of the closed-loop system. In this way, the water control system can provide redundant and reliable monitoring of the water within the closed-loop system.

[0050] The water monitoring system 114 can determine whether one or more water conditions fall outside a predetermined tolerance (decision block 206). In some embodiments, the operator can determine thresholds (e.g., upper limit, lower limit) and/or ranges (e.g., deviations) for the water conditions. In other embodiments, the water control system can receive a tolerance (e.g., acceptable range) from a database for a given water condition and calculate this determination using a machine algorithm. The algorithm can analyze the received data (e.g., a signal indicating the water condition) and compare it to predetermined tolerances that can be set by a user or operator. The machine algorithm can also determine whether the water quality is acceptable or unacceptable based on a predetermined tolerance for a given water condition, and then calculate whether the overall result is acceptable or unacceptable based on all the water condition tolerances. In one example, sensor 146 could be a pH sensor that generates pH measurement data. The measurement data can be a pH value from a central location or from multiple locations within the closed-loop system. The measured pH value(s) can be compared to a pre-set desired pH range (e.g., approximately 7.2 to approximately 7.8). Alternatively, the water level can be measured using optical sensors to determine if there is sufficient water in the reservoir of device 134, in the closed-loop water source 124, or in one or more areas of the water attraction 112. Depending on the nature of the measured water condition, values above, below, or outside the predetermined tolerance and/or range may be considered out of tolerance.

[0052] If the water conditions or the overall water condition are within tolerance (e.g., “acceptable”), the water control system can activate the water flow to the water effects (block 208). The water monitoring system 114 can send a signal indicating the water flow conditions to the water control system, which can then transmit a signal (e.g., a control signal) to a pump controller with instructions to activate the water flow. For example, the water control system can send a signal to a pump controller for the closed-loop water fountain 124 instructing it to activate the water flow to the devices 134. The water control system can also send a signal to a pump controller for the devices 134 to dispense water for the water effect. In this way, the devices 134 can create water effects using water that is within tolerance. Next, process 200 can receive user input again (block 202), receive the water condition reading (block 204), and determine if the water condition is out of tolerance (determination block 206), as discussed earlier. Redundant monitoring of water conditions can be beneficial because the continuous operation of devices 134 can alter the water conditions in the closed-loop system. Specifically, devices 134 can draw water from the closed-loop water source 124, which can lead to the deterioration of one or more water conditions. Therefore, the water control system can continuously monitor and control the water flow within the closed-loop system.

[0053] If the water monitoring system 114 determines that one or more water conditions are out of tolerance (e.g., unacceptable), the water control system can limit exposure by stopping the water flow (block 210). In one embodiment, the fact that a single measured factor is out of tolerance can lead to a general failure determination, regardless of the status of the other measured factors. For example, the water monitoring system 114 might receive a signal from a chemical sensor within the closed-loop water source 124 indicating chlorine levels outside predetermined thresholds and determine the overall water conditions to be unacceptable for the closed-loop system. The water control system might then issue a signal to cause device 134 to change its operating mode and/or connect to a secondary water source. In one example, the operating mode is deactivated, and the pump controller blocks the water flow. For example, the water control system can send a signal to the pump controller instructing it to stop the water flow by closing a valve, cutting power to a motor, pinching a hose, or diverting the water flow. Additionally, or alternatively, the water control system can change the mode of the devices to operate in an alternate mode, such as a bubble mode, a light mode, a sound mode, or a combination thereof.

[0055] In certain embodiments, the water control system can change the water source of the devices 134 and enable the creation of water effects. Specifically, the devices 134 can be configured to draw water from the closed-loop water source 124 as their default state. The water control system can then instruct the devices 134 to draw water from the reservoir to create water effects. The water monitoring system 114 can determine that one or more reservoir water conditions are acceptable, and the water control system can transmit a signal to the pump controller of the devices 134, providing instructions for creating the water effects.

[0057] The water control system can also emit a signal indicating instructions for resolving unacceptable water conditions. For example, the water control system can resolve out-of-tolerance water conditions by issuing a signal to notify the operator of the problem and/or automatically resolve it. The water control system can send a signal to the operator tablet indicating one or more locations with unacceptable water conditions for the operator to resolve. The operator can go to the location to resolve the unacceptable water conditions by adding water, activating water filtration, or changing water sources within the closed-loop system. The operator can also use the operator tablet to instruct the water control system to activate water filtration, change water sources, and/or block water flow within the closed-loop system. For example, the water control system can send a signal to an indicator light on device 134, which provides the user with a notification of unacceptable water conditions and/or a mode change. In another example, the water control system can automatically resolve unacceptable water conditions by filtering the water or adding fresh water. The water control system can activate the reservoir controller to filter or release water within a device 134 reservoir, preventing users from creating water effects with out-of-tolerance water. The water control system can also instruct the pump controller to pump water from a potable water source to dilute the water in the closed-loop system, bringing the water conditions back within tolerance. For example, the water conditions of one or more devices 134 (e.g., water jets) located near water attraction 112 might be out of tolerance. The water control system can activate a reservoir controller to initiate water filtration within the device 134 reservoir to resolve the out-of-tolerance water conditions. In another example, ride vehicle 115 might have a reservoir filled with out-of-tolerance water. Therefore, the water control system can instruct the ride vehicle 115 to release water (for example, by opening a valve) from the tank to the closed-loop water source 124. Additionally or alternatively, the water control system can activate the tank controller to initiate water purification within the tank to restore water conditions within tolerance. Alternatively, the water control system can activate filtration or sterilization of the closed-loop water source 124 in response to water return by the ride vehicle 115 to ensure that water conditions remain within tolerance.

[0059] In certain embodiments, the water control system can check whether the water conditions have been effectively restored within tolerance. This check can be performed by another algorithm in the water monitoring system 114, which monitors and detects a change in the sensor data. Process 200 can receive new water condition readings from sensors 146 (block 204) to determine whether the unacceptable water conditions have been brought back within tolerance (determination block 206). If the water conditions have been brought back within tolerance, process 200 can continue supplying water to activate the water-based effect (block 208) and receive user input again (block 202). If water conditions are outside of tolerance and/or tend to deviate from it, then process 200 can issue a signal (block 210) indicating a notification, activate one or more mechanical or electrical effects, and/or attempt to resolve the anomalous water conditions. As such, the water control system can monitor water conditions within the closed-loop water source and control the flow of water to the water effects devices.

[0061] The process described above may be stored on one or more tangible, non-transient, machine-readable media, and/or may be executed by the processor of the water control system described above or by another suitable controller. The steps of process 200 may be performed in the order described above or in any other suitable order. In addition, certain steps of the process may be omitted.

[0063] As illustrated in process 250 in Figure 4, the water monitoring system 114 considers various water condition factors or inputs to activate water flow. The process can begin with the water control system and/or the water monitoring system 114 receiving (block 252) optimal water condition instructions from a user design, which can be stored in the memory of the water monitoring system 114. The optimal water condition instructions can include predetermined tolerances for each water condition considered. As discussed earlier, a machine algorithm based on a processor in the water monitoring system 114 can calculate whether a water condition is out of tolerance or tending to be.

[0065] Once the water monitoring system 114 has received and stored the optimal or desired water conditions, it can receive (block 254) sensor data for multiple water conditions. Water conditions can include, but are not limited to, water injection, water level, water composition, and environmental changes (e.g., weather changes) in or near the water attraction. Each device 134, the closed-loop water source 124, and the water attraction 112 can be associated with respective individual tolerances or states to meet or exceed a general state of water conditions. Certain attraction conditions can be binary. For example, a water condition might be “Has a token been inserted into the water launcher?”, where “yes” is associated with an acceptable water condition, while “no” is associated with an unacceptable water condition. In another example, a water pH level within a desired range is associated with an acceptable water condition, while a pH outside that range is associated with an unacceptable water condition. According to this description, a general unacceptable water condition may be activated when only one, or at least one, of a plurality of water conditions is out of tolerance. Conversely, an acceptable water condition may be associated with all or most of the conditions being within tolerance or acceptable. According to this description, device 134 may have an unacceptable water condition by default as a safety measure.

[0067] In another embodiment, the appropriate water level can be a parameter that the water monitoring system 114 takes into account when determining the water flow rate for the water effects. The water level in the device 134 can be considered, as it ensures that the reservoir contains enough water to maintain the continuous generation of the water effect. For example, visitors using water guns can expect a full minute of water effect. If the reservoir does not have enough water to meet expectations, the visitor may be disappointed with the experience. The sensors 146 can detect the water levels in the reservoir of the device 134 or in the closed-loop water fountain 124, which may include the water levels in the reservoir of the ride vehicle 115, the devices 134, and/or the closed-loop water fountain 124. The threshold or tolerance for the water level can be set to allow a constant flow of water from the device 134 for the creation of the water effect.

[0069] In another embodiment, the appropriate water composition can be a water condition considered by the water monitoring system 114 when determining acceptable water conditions. Water composition can be taken into account to ensure the water's chemical balance, which can further minimize water contamination. Sensors 146 can detect the pH level of the closed-loop system, which can include the pH levels of the water in devices 134, the closed-loop water source 124, and/or the water attraction 112. Maintaining an appropriate water composition, for example, by controlling the pH and/or chlorine levels, can prevent discomfort to visitors upon contact with the water, maintain equipment, and preserve the chlorine's effectiveness in preventing contamination. The tolerance for the pH level can be set between 7.2 and 7.8. Other secondary factors that can be used as indicators of appropriate water composition include, but are not limited to, the presence or absence of specific contaminants. These contaminants may include bacteria, chemicals, particles, or a combination thereof. The threshold may be set according to a tolerable level of the type and amount of contamination.

[0071] However, in another embodiment, suitable water temperatures may be a water condition considered by the water monitoring system 114 when determining water conditions. Water temperature is important to ensure that the water emitted by devices 134 and in contact with visitors is not too cold or too hot, in order to avoid visitor discomfort. The tolerance for water temperature may be set between 23.9 and 29.4 °C (75 and 85 °F). The park operator may adjust the threshold based on the time of day, the season, or due to weather changes.

[0073] After receiving input data relating to the various conditions of the attraction, including but not limited to water level, water composition, and water temperature, the machine algorithm based on a processor in the Water Monitoring System 114 can determine (block 256) whether one or more water conditions are out of tolerance. The machine algorithm can perform this determination by comparing the received input data with tolerance limits preset by a user and/or stored in a database. In this way, the Water Monitoring System 114 can monitor and determine whether the attraction's conditions are within the preset tolerance before activating the water flow for the water effects.

[0075] The process described above may be stored on one or more tangible, non-transient, machine-readable media and/or may be executed by the processor of the water control system described above or by another suitable controller. The steps of process 250 may be executed in the order described above or in any other suitable order. In addition, certain steps of the process may be omitted.

[0076] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a water control system 300. The system 300 includes the water monitoring system 114, which may include a memory 304 that stores instructions executable by a processor 302 to carry out the control procedures and actions described herein. The processor 302 may include one or more processing devices, and the memory 304 may include one or more tangible, non-transient, machine-readable media. By way of example, such machine-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other media that can be used to carry or store the desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by the processor 302 or other processor-based devices (e.g., mobile devices). For example, the water monitoring system 114 can be accessed through an operator interface (e.g., a computer-based workstation or mobile device, and/or may include an input/output interface 308 and a display). The water monitoring system 114 may include communication circuits 306, such as antennas, radio transceiver circuits, signal processing hardware and/or software (e.g., hardware or software filters, A/D converters, multiplexing amplifiers), or a combination thereof. The communication circuit 306 may be configured to communicate via wired or wireless communication channels using infrared wireless communication, satellite communication, broadcasting, microwave radio, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, UHF, NFC, etc. Such communication may also include intermediate communication devices, such as radio towers, cell towers, etc. Although the processor 302, memory 304, communication circuits 306 and operator interface elements such as the input/output interface have been described in the context of the water monitoring system 114, it should be understood that at least some of these hardware components may also be present in other system controllers 300.

[0078] The water monitoring system 114 communicates with a water effects controller 310 to provide a signal (e.g., a control signal) indicative of one or more water conditions, including an acceptable or unacceptable determination. Based on data generated by one or more sensors 146, the water monitoring system 114 can assess the water condition to determine an overall water condition. The one or more sensors 146 may include, for example, water level sensors, flow sensors, pH sensors, temperature sensors, bacterial composition sensors, and/or chemical composition sensors (e.g., oxidation-reduction potential sensors indicative of chlorine sterilization activity, free chlorine sensors, combined chlorine sensors). Additionally, the one or more sensors 146 may include optical sensors that detect the water level within the reservoir of the devices 134 and/or the closed-loop water source 124.

[0080] In one embodiment, the water monitoring system 114 can send a signal to the water effects controller 310 indicating acceptable water conditions and activate the water flow for the water effect. The water effects controller 310 can send a signal to a pump controller 312 to activate the water flow from the closed-loop water source 124 to the devices 134 in order to fill the secondary water supply for subsequent use. Alternatively, the water effects controller 310 can trigger the creation of the water effects from the devices 134 by activating water emissions from them.

[0082] In another embodiment, the water monitoring system 114 can send a signal to the water effects controller 310 indicating unacceptable water conditions or a downward trend in water conditions. For example, the water effects controller 310 can send a signal to the operator tablet 140 indicating the locations of unacceptable water conditions in the closed-loop system. The water effects controller 310 can also send a signal to the operator tablet 140 indicating a "HOLD" state to notify the operator to prevent people from boarding the ride vehicle 115 and/or the water attraction 112. The water effects controller 310 can also send a signal to the indicator light 142 to change from a green LED to a red LED, thus indicating unacceptable water conditions to the user.

[0084] In addition to notifying the operator, the 300 system can also automatically resolve certain unacceptable water conditions. The water effects controller 310 can send a signal to the pump controller 312, which can start or stop the water flow; to a tank controller 316, which can release water into the devices 134; to a treatment system 147, which can sterilize the water; and/or to a user input controller 318, which can change the mode of the devices 134. For example, based on sensor data, the water effects controller 310 can instruct the pump controller 312 to initiate water flow from a potable water source into the closed-loop water source to bring the water conditions within tolerance. In other words, adding fresh potable water that is within tolerance can dilute the water in the closed-loop water source and modify the water conditions to bring the measurements within tolerance. The water effects controller 310 can cause the reservoir controller 316 to release water from the reservoir of devices 134 for filtration. In other words, the reservoir controller 316 can open a valve in device 134 so that the water is released back into the closed-loop water source (e.g., water attraction 112, closed-loop water source 124).

[0086] Additionally or alternatively, the reservoir controller 316 can act as a treatment system within the device 134. The water effects controller 310 can activate the treatment system via a filtration controller 320 to initiate the cleaning (e.g., filtration, sterilization) of the water in the closed-loop water source 124. For example, the treatment system may include one or more filters, heat lamps, chemicals, UV lamps, or similar components. The treatment system 147 may also include a pump to circulate the water through the system for cleaning purposes. For example, the treatment system 147 may include one or more filters (e.g., capable of capturing small particles, debris, or germs within the water source, enabling the removal or reduction of matter present in the water through reverse osmosis, UV sterilization and filtration, heat, and/or chemicals). The treatment system 147 may include one or more filters (e.g., mechanical, adsorption, or neutralization) that can remove or reduce chemicals, particles, or other matter by retaining them before they are recirculated to the water source. In another embodiment, the treatment system 147 may be activated based on water conditions that tend to fall outside of tolerance. As such, the closed-loop water system may be monitored and maintained within the water park 110.

[0087] Although this descriptive report only illustrates and describes certain features of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art will come up with many modifications and changes.

[0088] The scope of the invention is defined by the attached claims.

[0089] The techniques presented and claimed in this descriptive report refer to and are applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS

1. A water control system for an attraction, comprising:

at least one water effects device (134) configured to use a water source in order to emit water in response to a control signal;

a plurality of sensors (146) configured to generate data on the condition of the water from a closed-loop water source (124); and

a controller comprising a processor (302) and a memory (304), wherein the memory (304) stores instructions executable by the processor (302), the instructions being configured to make the controller:

receive water condition data from the plurality of sensors (146); determine whether the water condition data are indicative of acceptable or unacceptable water quality from the closed-loop water source (124); and

transmit the control signal to the water effects device (134) to emit water using the closed-loop water source (124) as the water source after determining that the water condition data are indicative of acceptable water quality.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water condition data received from the plurality of sensors (146) comprise water level data, water flow data, water composition data, water pH data, environmental changes, weather changes, or a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one water effects device (134) comprises a reservoir and a pump controller (312), wherein the pump controller (312) is configured to activate the flow of water from the closed-loop water source (124) into the reservoir when the reservoir is low and when data on the water condition are indicative of acceptable water quality.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a pump controller (312) of the water effects device (134) is configured to activate a water effect based on the control signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a predetermined state of the water effects device (134) consists of using the closed-loop water source (124) as the water source.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the controller to transmit the control signal to the water effects device (134) to emit water using a secondary water source when data on the water condition are indicative of unacceptable water quality.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the water condition data are indicative of unacceptable water quality when the water condition data from at least one sensor (146) of the plurality of sensors (146) are out of tolerance.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the secondary water source is a reservoir of the water effects device (134).

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the controller to transmit the control signal to the water effects device (134) to deactivate the water emission when the data on the water condition are indicative of unacceptable water quality.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the controller to activate a treatment system (147) to filter or sterilize water from the closed-loop water source (124) after receiving water condition data indicative of unacceptable water quality.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the controller to change an operating mode of the water effects device (134) after receiving water condition data indicative of unacceptable water quality.

12. A water control procedure for an attraction, comprising:

generate data on the condition of water using a plurality of sensors (146) from a closed-loop water source (124);

determine that a condition of the water in the closed-loop water source (124) is outside of a tolerance based on the data on the water condition;

transmit initial instructions to a water effects controller (310) to deactivate the flow of water from the closed-loop water source (124) to a water effects device (134);

generate updated water condition data using the plurality of sensors (146); determine that a water condition of the closed-loop water source (124) is within tolerance based on the updated water condition data; and transmit second instructions to the water effects controller (310) to reactivate the flow of water from the closed-loop water source (124) to the water effects device (134).

13. The process of claim 12, comprising:

transmit a leak notification to a treatment system (147) based on the fact that the water condition data are outside the tolerance;

initiate filtration or sterilization of the closed-loop water source (124) based on the transmitted leak notification; and

Generate updated water condition data using the plurality of sensors (146) of the closed-loop water source (124) after starting filtration or sterilization.

14. The process of claim 12, comprising:

transmit a notification to a pump controller (312) based on the fact that the water condition data is out of tolerance;

initiate a potable water addition to the closed-loop water source (124) after transmitting the notification to the pump controller (312); and

determine that a condition of the water in the closed-loop water source (124) is within tolerance after starting the addition of potable water to the closed-loop water source (124).

15. The process of claim 12, comprising:

transmit a notification to a pump controller (312) to supply water to the water effects device (134) from a secondary water source based on the fact that the water condition data is out of tolerance.