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EP-4489882-B1 - WATER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CLOSED-LOOP WATER SYSTEMS

EP4489882B1EP 4489882 B1EP4489882 B1EP 4489882B1EP-4489882-B1

Inventors

  • Helmick, IV, Nathaniel David
  • BEATRICE, Michael Anthony
  • TAYLOR, Elliot

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230309

Claims (15)

  1. A water control system for an attraction, comprising: at least one water effect device (134) configured to use a water source to emit water responsive to a control signal; a plurality of sensors (146) configured to generate water condition data of 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 configured to cause the controller to: receive the water condition data from the plurality of sensors (146); determine whether the water condition data is indicative of a passing water quality or a failing water quality of the closed-loop water source (124); and transmit the control signal to the water effect device (134) to emit water using the closed-loop water source (124) as the water source upon determining that the water condition data is indicative of the passing water quality.
  2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water condition data received from the plurality of sensors (146) comprises 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 effect device (134) comprises a reservoir and a pump controller (312), wherein the pump controller (312) is configured to trigger water flow from the closed-loop water source (124) to the reservoir when the reservoir is low and when the water condition data is indicative of the passing water quality.
  4. The system of claim 1, wherein a pump controller (312) of the water effect device (134) is configured to activate a water-based effect based on the control signal.
  5. The system of claim 1, wherein a default state of the water effect device (134) is to use 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 effect device (134) to emit water using a secondary water source when the water condition data is indicative of the failing water quality.
  7. The system of claim 6, wherein the water condition data is indicative of the failing water quality when the water condition data from at least one sensor (146) of the plurality of sensors (146) is out of tolerance.
  8. The system of claim 6, wherein the secondary water source is a reservoir of the water effect 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 effect device (134) to deactivate water emission when the water condition data is indicative of the failing water quality.
  10. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the controller to trigger activation of a treatment system (147) to filter or sterilize a water of the closed-loop water source (124) upon receiving the water condition data indicative of the failing water quality.
  11. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the controller to switch an operating mode of the water effect device (134) upon receiving the water condition data indicative of the failing water quality.
  12. A water control method for an attraction, comprising: generating water condition data using a plurality of sensors (146) of a closed-loop water source (124); determining that a water condition of the closed-loop water source (124) is outside of a tolerance based on the water condition data; transmitting first instructions to a water effect controller (310) to deactivate water flow from the closed-loop water source (124) to a water effect device (134); generating updated water condition data using the plurality of sensors (146); determining that a water condition of the closed-loop water source (124) is within the tolerance based on the updated water condition data; and transmitting second instructions to the water effect controller (310) to reactivate water flow from the closed-loop water source (124) to the water effect device (134).
  13. The method of claim 12, comprising: transmitting a filtration notification to a treatment system (147) based on the water condition data being outside of the tolerance; initiating a filtration or sterilization of the closed-loop water source (124) based on the transmitted filtration notification; and generating the updated water condition data using the plurality of sensors (146) of the closed-loop water source (124) subsequent to initiating the filtration or sterilization.
  14. The method of claim 12, comprising: transmitting a notification to a pump controller (312) based on the water condition data being outside of the tolerance; initiating an addition of potable water to the closed-loop water source (124) after transmitting the notification to the pump controller (312); and determining that a water condition of the closed-loop water source (124) is within the tolerance after initiating the addition of the potable water to the closed-loop water source (124).
  15. The method of claim 12, comprising: transmitting a notification to a pump controller (312) to provide water to the water effect device (134) from a secondary water source based on the water condition data being outside of the tolerance.

Description

BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates generally to the field of amusement parks. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques to manage amusement park operations, including monitoring and maintaining closed-loop water sources for amusement park attractions. Water-based attractions at amusement parks have substantially grown in popularity in recent years. To address this increasing demand, water amusement parks have been expanding by adding new types of water rides, attractions and a variety of water-based effects, including water-based shows, weather effects, and queue effects, for guest entertainment or interaction. Since these water-based effects may come in close proximity to or contact with guests, the effects utilize potable water provided directly from a local municipality, which is both costly and wasteful, or from an isolated water body whose water is maintained locally. For example, potable water may be continuously drawn from the local municipality used to create water-based effects, such as mist or rain effects, to cool guests waiting in a queue. However, the continuous use of potable water is expensive and creation of water-based effects may negatively alter water quality, causing additional challenges for water monitoring. US 2003/203760 A1 describes a control system for a water amusement system wherein the control system is configured to operate the water amusement system to produce water effects, sound effects, and/or light effects when the control system receives an activation signal. SUMMARY Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of certain disclosed embodiments. Indeed, the present disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below. In an embodiment, a water control system for an attraction, includes at least one water effect device configured to use a water source to emit water responsive to a control signal, a plurality of sensors configured to generate water condition data of a closed-loop water source, and a controller having a processor and a memory. The memory may 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 a passing water quality or a failing water quality of the closed-loop water source and transmit the control signal to the water effect device to emit water using the closed-loop water source as the water source upon determining that the water condition data is indicative of the passing water quality. In an embodiment, a water control method for an attraction includes generating water condition data using a plurality of sensors of a closed-loop water source and determining that a water condition of the closed-loop water source is outside of a pre-determined tolerance based on the water condition data. The method may also transmit first instructions to a water effect controller to deactivate water flow from the closed-loop water source to a water effect device and generate updated water condition data using the plurality of sensors. The method may then determine that a water condition of the closed-loop water source is within the pre-determined tolerance based on the updated water condition data and transmitting second instructions to the water effect controller to reactivate water flow from the closed-loop water source to the water effect device. In an example useful for understanding the present disclosure, a fluid effect device includes one or more fluid outlets configured to emit fluid responsive to control signals and a controller comprising a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor, which are configured to cause the controller to emit fluid from the one or more fluid outlets responsive to receiving a first control signal, wherein the fluid is drawn from a first fluid source and receive fluid source 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 fluid source control instructions and emit fluid from the one or more fluid outlets responsive to receiving a second control signal, wherein the fluid is drawn from the second fluid source. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a theme park including various water effect d