Rotating amusement water related feature

Abstract

A ride structure is disclosed using rotating tunnel sections as part of a static water ride with or without variations in the tunnel cross-section and/or embedded three-dimensional features to disturb the water paths which carries vehicles with riders. The riders may exit the rotating large tunnel upstream and downstream and the volume and velocity of the water can be manipulated to change the ride experience.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water ride feature, comprising:
 a rider entrance;   a rider exit; and   a ride surface adapted to carry one or more riders or ride vehicles sliding thereon from the rider entrance to the rider exit, wherein the ride surface comprises a fully enclosed tube section, and wherein the water ride feature is configured to be rotated around a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the water ride feature is configured to switch a direction of rotation when the one or more riders or ride vehicles are sliding on the ride surface from the rider entrance to the rider exit.   
     
     
         2 . The water ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein a rotation speed of the water ride feature is variable. 
     
     
         3 . The water ride feature of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more three-dimensional features disposed on the ride surface. 
     
     
         4 . The water ride feature of  claim 3 , comprising a plurality of three-dimensional features disposed on the ride surface, and wherein each of the plurality of three dimensional features are identical and distributed uniformly throughout the ride surface. 
     
     
         5 . The water ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the switch in the direction of rotation is smooth and not abrupt. 
     
     
         6 . The water ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the switch in the direction of rotation is from clockwise to anti-clockwise. 
     
     
         7 . The water ride feature of  claim 1 , wherein the switch in the direction of rotation is from anti-clockwise to clockwise. 
     
     
         8 . A water ride feature, comprising:
 a rider entrance;   a rider exit; and   a ride surface adapted to carry one or more riders or ride vehicles sliding thereon from the rider entrance to the rider exit, wherein the ride surface comprises a fully enclosed tube section, and wherein the water ride feature is configured to be rotated around a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the water ride feature is configured to switch between rotating clockwise and rotating anticlockwise when the one or more riders or ride vehicles are sliding on the ride surface from the rider entrance to the rider exit.   
     
     
         9 . The water ride feature of  claim 8 , wherein a rotation speed of the water ride feature is variable. 
     
     
         10 . The water ride feature of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more three-dimensional features disposed on the ride surface. 
     
     
         11 . The water ride feature of  claim 10 , comprising a plurality of three-dimensional features disposed on the ride surface, and wherein each of the plurality of three dimensional features are identical and distributed uniformly throughout the ride surface. 
     
     
         12 . The water ride feature of  claim 8 , wherein the switch between rotating clockwise and rotating anticlockwise is smooth and not abrupt. 
     
     
         13 . The water ride feature of  claim 8 , wherein the switch between rotating clockwise and rotating anticlockwise is from clockwise to anti-clockwise. 
     
     
         14 . The water ride feature of  claim 8 , wherein the switch between rotating clockwise and rotating anticlockwise is from anti-clockwise to clockwise. 
     
     
         15 . A water ride feature, comprising:
 a rider entrance;   a rider exit; and   a ride surface adapted to carry one or more riders or ride vehicles sliding thereon from the rider entrance to the rider exit, wherein the water ride feature is configured to be rotated around a central longitudinal axis, and wherein the water ride feature is configured to switch between rotating clockwise and rotating anticlockwise when the one or more riders or ride vehicles are sliding on the ride surface from the rider entrance to the rider exit.   
     
     
         16 . The water ride feature of  claim 15 , wherein a rotation speed of the water ride feature is variable. 
     
     
         17 . The water ride feature of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more three-dimensional features disposed on the ride surface. 
     
     
         18 . The water ride feature of  claim 17 , comprising a plurality of three-dimensional features disposed on the ride surface, and wherein each of the plurality of three dimensional features are identical and distributed uniformly throughout the ride surface. 
     
     
         19 . The water ride feature of  claim 15 , wherein the switch between rotating clockwise and rotating anticlockwise is smooth and not abrupt. 
     
     
         20 . The water ride feature of  claim 15 , wherein the switch between rotating clockwise and rotating anticlockwise is:
 from clockwise to anti-clockwise; or   from anti-clockwise to clockwise.