Patent Grant
6857373
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an amusement ride that has both inside and outside substantially vertical curves shaped to optimize the number of curves which can be included within a given vertical space.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,254, deals primarily with a cart which, according to lines 66 through 67 in column 5 of the patent, provides participants with the ability to rotate their seating about one or more axes of the cart. Such patent further provides, lines 7 through 9 in column 9, “FIG. 13 illustrates a complex roller coaster having multiple configurations, including . . . a horizontal ‘plumber's drain’ 82 . . . .”
The description of the “complex roller coaster” is extremely general. No details of the construction are given other than the basic shape. There is no indication that any brakes exist to control the speed of the cart through the turns. The segments between the curves of the “plumber's drain 82” appear to be equidistant from one another and completely horizontal. And no discussion occurs about any wheels or how they can be serviced while the cart remains in the type of track necessary to permit the body of the cart to be either above or below the track.
Critical to an understanding of the present invention are the terms “inside curve” and “outside curve.”
On a first side 3 of the curve 1, the lines 2 tend to diverge from one another as such lines 2 extend farther from the curve 1. On a second side 4 of the curve 1, the lines 2 tend initially, i.e., before any of the lines 2 cross one another, to converge toward one another as such lines 2 extend farther from the curve 1.
When the wheels 5 of a cart 6 follow the curve 1, the curve 1 is termed an outside curve if the body 7 of the cart 6 is on the first side 3 of the curve 1 and an inside curve if the body 7 of the cart 6 is on the second side 4 of the curve 1.
The track has both inside and outside curves where the curves lie substantially within a vertical plane and where the axis of symmetry for the curves is substantially horizontal. Furthermore, the track can retain the cart no matter what the orientation of the body of the car is with respect to the track. Brakes, which can be friction brakes or magnetic brakes, are preferably, but not necessarily, installed in the curves in order to control the speed of the cart through the curves. Substantially horizontal track segments preferably, but not necessarily, connect the curves; such substantially horizontal track segments are spaced farther apart where the body of the cart is to be between such segments than are segments which will not have the body of the cart between them, thereby enabling more curves to be placed within a given vertical space. Additionally, the substantially horizontal track segments are preferably, but not necessarily, slanted downward in the intended direction of travel to facilitate continued movement of the cart. And, also preferably but not necessarily, the track can be opened to service or replace wheels on the cart while the wheels remain in the track.
The Variably Curved Track-mounted Amusement Ride has, as illustrated in
The curves 8, 9 lie substantially within a vertical plane; and each curve 8, 9 has an axis of symmetry 11 which is substantially horizontal.
Preferably, outside curves 8 alternate with inside curves 9. Also preferably, as portrayed in
Outside curves 8 have a beginning 13 and an end 14; similarly inside curves 9 have a beginning 15 and an end 16. The beginning 13 and end 14 of an outside curve 8 are vertically closer to each other than are the beginning 15 and end 16 of an inside curve 9 since, unlike an outside curve 8, an inside curve 9 must accommodate the body 7 of a cart 6 which travels upon the track 17. Decreasing the distance between the beginning 15 and end 16 of an inside curve 9 enables more curves 8, 9 to be placed within a given vertical distance.
The curve 8, 9 that is above all other curves 8, 9 is termed the “first curve” and can be either an outside curve 8 or an inside curve 9, although it is preferable, but not necessary, to have an outside curve 8 above all other curves 8, 9.
Preferably, each substantially straight segment 12 slopes downward from a first end 18 to a second end 19, i.e., in the intended direction of travel. This facilitates movement of the cart 6.
The track 17 is any type of track 17 that is well known in the art for being capable of retaining the cart 6 no matter what the orientation of the body 7 of the cart 6 is with respect to the track 17. Examples of such a track 17 are opposing C-channels 20 with the longitudinally open portion 21 of each such C-channels 20 being oriented toward the longitudinally open portion 21 of the other such C-channel 20, as illustrated in
A further example of an acceptable track 17 is, as illustrated in
The cart 6 can be raised to the beginning 33 of the track 17 through any means 34 that is well known in the art. A non-exclusive list of examples for the cart-raising means 34 includes a chain drive; electrical induction motors; and a gas-powered cylinder such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,788; and an elevator, preferably an elevator having more than one cart container with each such container following a rotary path. Of course, track 17 is used either in, and as part of, an elevator or, as part of the other types of cart-raising means 34, running from the second end 19 of the straight segment 12 after the last curve 8, 9 to the beginning 33.
After having been raised to the beginning 33 of the track 17, the cart 6 proceeds downward through the curves 8, 9. After having gone through all the curves 8, 9, the cart is again ready to be raised to the beginning 33 of the track 17.
At least one curve 8, 9 and, preferably, each curve 8, 9 contains a brake 35, preferably an adjustable brake, for controlling the speed of the cart 6. Preferably, any sensor 36, preferably a speed sensor, that is well known in the art for measuring a factor which is determinative of the speed of a body being subjected to a decelerative while descending under the influence of gravity measures such factor, preferably speed, in relation to the cart 6 and communicates such factor, preferably speed, to a computer control system 37 which is capable of being programmed with the desired speed for the cart 6; which is capable of being programmed with data indicating the initial force being applied by the adjustable brake 35 and what electrical signal from the computer control system 37 will produce what adjustment to the force generated by the adjustable brake 35; which is programmed to store in its memory and recall any signals that have been sent to the adjustable brake 35 to adjust the force the adjustable brake 35 is applying; and which is also capable of and programmed to determine, after having been programmed with a desired speed for the cart 6 and after having received the measurement from the sensor 36, the force for the adjustable brake 35 to apply so that the cart 6 will attain the desired speed. Having been programmed with data indicating the initial force being applied by the adjustable brake 35 and what electrical signal from the computer control system 37 will produce what adjustment to the force produced by the adjustable brake 35, the computer control system 37 determines the electrical signal that will cause the adjustable brake 35 to adjust the force it is applying in order to produce the force that will achieve the desired speed and communicates the appropriate electrical signal to the adjustable brake 35. Of course, after any such signal has been sent by the computer control system 37, such signal is recalled and utilized in determining any subsequent adjustment. (Another example of a factor which is determinative of speed under these circumstance is the weight or mass of the body being decelerated since the decelerative force must be proportional to such weight or mass.)
The brake 35 can be any brake that is well known in the art, such as a friction brake or a magnetic brake. The friction brake applies more force by pushing harder—through any means that is well known in the art, such as a pneumatic cylinder—against a plate 38 on the cart 6; the magnetic brake applies more force by having more current run through the brake 35.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1362886 | Hyla | Dec 1920 | A |
| 4821647 | Powell et al. | Apr 1989 | A |
| 5118320 | Miller | Jun 1992 | A |
| 5433153 | Yamada | Jul 1995 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040060470 A1 | Apr 2004 | US |
