In at least one embodiment the present invention provides a transverse rail switching element for switching a rail vehicle from a first position to a transversely removed second position in a thrilling manner, having an entry track section, a vehicle shuttle adapted to receive a rail vehicle from the entry track section at the first position, a transverse track section extending from the first position to the transversely removed second position, at least one exit track section, primary propulsion means adapted to translate the rail vehicle from the vehicle shuttle to the at least one exit track section when the vehicle shuttle is in the transversely removed second position.

In at least one embodiment the present invention provides a transverse rail switching element for switching a rail vehicle from a first position to a transversely removed second position in a thrilling manner, having an entry track section, a vehicle shuttle adapted to receive a rail vehicle from the entry track section at the first position, a transverse track section extending from the first position to the transversely removed second position, at least one exit track section, primary propulsion means adapted to translate the rail vehicle from the vehicle shuttle to the at least one exit track section when the vehicle shuttle is in the transversely removed second position.

A system may include a housing that may hold a body of water, an inflatable assembly disposed within the body of water, and a processor. The processor may receive an indication related to a speed of a flow of the body of water and send a signal to at least one valve coupled between the inflatable assembly and a fluid source in response to the indication. The signal may cause the at least one valve to fluidly couple the inflatable assembly to the fluid source to cause the inflatable assembly to expand to an inflated configuration.

A system may include a housing that may hold a body of water, an inflatable assembly disposed within the body of water, and a processor. The processor may receive an indication related to a speed of a flow of the body of water and send a signal to at least one valve coupled between the inflatable assembly and a fluid source in response to the indication. The signal may cause the at least one valve to fluidly couple the inflatable assembly to the fluid source to cause the inflatable assembly to expand to an inflated configuration.

A slide feature for an amusement ride adapted to carry a rider or ride vehicle sliding thereon, and a water slide comprising said slide feature are provided. The slide feature has an inrun permitting ingress of the rider or ride vehicle, an outrun permitting egress, and a sliding surface in communication with the inrun and the outrun. The sliding surface may comprise a surface substantially in the shape of a sector of a closed curve and/or may be substantially planar. The slide feature may also include an outer lip and provide that the rider or ride vehicle, at least partially urged by gravity, slides along the sliding surface from the inrun to the outrun in an arcuate path at least partially bounded by the outer lip. The sliding surface may be oriented so an elevation of the rider or ride vehicle increases then decreases along the arcuate path.

A backbone rail for a roller coaster, comprising two rail pipes designed for vehicles to travel upon, and at least one, particularly main load-bearing backbone pipe not designed for vehicles to travel on, whose second moment of area is greater than the second moment of area of the rail pipes, wherein rail pipes and backbone pipe are connected to each other section-by-section by stiffening bulkheads, whereby at least one bulkhead has the following features: A transverse cross member, which extends in the orthogonal direction and connects the rail pipes with each other, and bulkhead plates, connecting at least one rail pipe with the backbone pipe, wherein at least one bulkhead plate is designed as a longitudinal bulkhead plate, whose main plane of extension extends perpendicular to the bulkhead plane, and which is attached to the backbone pipe in such a way that it runs tangentially into the backbone pipe. In addition, the invention relates to a roller coaster arrangement with such a backbone rail.

A backbone rail for a roller coaster, comprising two rail pipes designed for vehicles to travel upon, and at least one, particularly main load-bearing backbone pipe not designed for vehicles to travel on, whose second moment of area is greater than the second moment of area of the rail pipes, wherein rail pipes and backbone pipe are connected to each other section-by-section by stiffening bulkheads, whereby at least one bulkhead has the following features: A transverse cross member, which extends in the orthogonal direction and connects the rail pipes with each other, and bulkhead plates, connecting at least one rail pipe with the backbone pipe, wherein at least one bulkhead plate is designed as a longitudinal bulkhead plate, whose main plane of extension extends perpendicular to the bulkhead plane, and which is attached to the backbone pipe in such a way that it runs tangentially into the backbone pipe. In addition, the invention relates to a roller coaster arrangement with such a backbone rail.

A slide feature for an amusement ride adapted to carry a rider or ride vehicle sliding thereon, and a water slide comprising said slide feature are provided. The slide feature has an inrun permitting ingress of the rider or ride vehicle, an outrun permitting egress, and a sliding surface in communication with the inrun and the outrun. The sliding surface may comprise a surface substantially in the shape of a sector of a closed curve and/or may be substantially planar. The slide feature may also include an outer lip and provide that the rider or ride vehicle, at least partially urged by gravity, slides along the sliding surface from the inrun to the outrun in an arcuate path at least partially bounded by the outer lip. The sliding surface may be oriented so an elevation of the rider or ride vehicle increases then decreases along the arcuate path.

A slide feature for an amusement ride adapted to carry a rider or ride vehicle sliding thereon, and a water slide comprising said slide feature are provided. The slide feature has an inrun permitting ingress of the rider or ride vehicle, an outrun permitting egress, and a sliding surface in communication with the inrun and the outrun. The sliding surface may comprise a surface substantially in the shape of a sector of a closed curve and/or may be substantially planar. The slide feature may also include an outer lip and provide that the rider or ride vehicle, at least partially urged by gravity, slides along the sliding surface from the inrun to the outrun in an arcuate path at least partially bounded by the outer lip. The sliding surface may be oriented so an elevation of the rider or ride vehicle increases then decreases along the arcuate path.

A slide feature for an amusement ride adapted to carry a rider or ride vehicle sliding thereon, and a water slide comprising said slide feature are provided. The slide feature has an inrun permitting ingress of the rider or ride vehicle, an outrun permitting egress, and a sliding surface in communication with the inrun and the outrun. The sliding surface may comprise a surface substantially in the shape of a sector of a closed curve and/or may be substantially planar. The slide feature may also include an outer lip and provide that the rider or ride vehicle, at least partially urged by gravity, slides along the sliding surface from the inrun to the out run in an arcuate path at least partially bounded by the outer lip. The sliding surface may be oriented so an elevation of the rider or ride vehicle increases then decreases along the arcuate path.