초록 ▼

Racing boats compete in a simulated race including forward and return heats. In the forward heat, the racing boats are accelerated along parallel guide channels from a forward launch station into a shallow splash lake, and then hydroplane to a forward heat finish line. In the return heat, the racing

Racing boats compete in a simulated race including forward and return heats. In the forward heat, the racing boats are accelerated along parallel guide channels from a forward launch station into a shallow splash lake, and then hydroplane to a forward heat finish line. In the return heat, the racing boats are accelerated through the same guide channels from a return launch station located on the opposite end of the splash lake. Passengers continue to face the reverse launch station as the racing boats plunge into the shallow splash lake and hydroplane to the return heat finish line. Each racing boat is mounted on an undercarriage assembly that includes rail-mounted centering wheels. The racing boats are accelerated by linear induction drive motors mounted adjacent the guide rails. Thrust is applied to the racing boats by magnetically conductive reaction plates that are attached to the undercarriage assembly and project laterally into linear flux slots formed in the induction stators of the linear induction motors.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An amusement boat ride for carrying passengers across a watercourse comprising, in combination:a first launch station disposed adjacent one end of the watercourse;a second launch station disposed adjacent an opposite end of the watercourse;a guide channel structure extending through

[ I claim:] [1.] An amusement boat ride for carrying passengers across a watercourse comprising, in combination:a first launch station disposed adjacent one end of the watercourse;a second launch station disposed adjacent an opposite end of the watercourse;a guide channel structure extending through the watercourse for the first launch station to the second launch station;a first array of linear induction motors disposed in alignment with the guide channel structure adjacent the first launch station, each linear induction motor including a linear stator and a longitudinal flux slot;a second array of linear induction motors disposed in parallel alignment with the guide channel structure adjacent the second launch station, each linear induction motor including a linear stator and a longitudinal flux slot;a carriage assembly including a passenger boat movably coupled to the guide channel structure for forward and return travel across the watercourse; and,first and second magnetically conductive reaction plates attached to the carriage assembly and projecting laterally from opposite sides of the carriage assembly for linear travel through the first and second flux slots, respectively.