Railways – Amusement
Patent
1994-04-15
1997-01-21
Le, Mark T.
Railways
Amusement
104288, 104295, 105 30, A63G 2500
Patent
active
055951210
ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides an amusement ride having a self-propelled electric powered ride vehicle capable of maximum acceleration of about 0.3 to as much as about 1.1 G's in either direction using a unique pinch wheel drive system, and including an on board vehicle controller and peripheral equipment for controlling the vehicle. The pinch wheel drive system, which compresses driven wheel motor packages against a tractive surface, generates compression using a system which is independent of the vehicle's weight and motion. A master controller is provided for ride systems having multiple self-propelled vehicles on the same track for communicating with and coordinating the movement of the ride vehicles. This allows precise control of multiple ride vehicles to allow faster dispatch and shorter intervehicular spacings by implementing a floating zone control. Electric power compatible with the on board propulsion and controllers can be provided to the ride vehicles in a conventional manner using an electric bus bar mounted along the track. A ride vehicle of the present invention is capable of generating thrills not previously available in conventional roller coaster or powered vehicle rides, such as the ability to apply reverse propulsion and generate high performance maneuvers in reverse. Additionally, the pinch wheel drive system of the present invention provides the ability to generate electricity during deceleration or while coasting down hill. This enables the master controller to space ride vehicles so that some are consuming electricity while others are generating electricity, thus providing a highly efficient and economical ride. Further, because of the high accelerations possible, equivalent or superior thrill can be obtained using tighter horizontal curves and shorter hills, enabling use of a track having a smaller footprint than is possible using conventional components.
REFERENCES:
patent: 468860 (1892-02-01), Wright
patent: 3530800 (1970-09-01), Watkins
patent: 3675583 (1972-07-01), Sobey et al.
patent: 4216839 (1980-08-01), Gould et al.
patent: 4726299 (1988-02-01), Anderson
patent: 4791871 (1988-12-01), Mowll
patent: 4794865 (1989-01-01), Lindberg
patent: 4882524 (1989-11-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5004944 (1991-04-01), Fisher
patent: 5107151 (1992-04-01), Cambier
patent: 5108052 (1992-04-01), Malewicki et al.
patent: 5323710 (1994-06-01), Manstrom
patent: 5408935 (1995-04-01), Matsui et al.
French reference #331,244 (no date) drawings only.
The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster, by Robert Cartmell; Amusement Park Books, Inc. Bowling Green, Ohio (1987)--pp. 202-213 ("How Roller Coasters Work").
Brushless DC Motors: Electronic Commutation and Control by Thomas J. Sokira and Wolfgang Jaffe; Tab Books, Inc. Blue Ridge Summit, PA (1990)--Preface and Chapter 7 ("Applications and uses of BLDC Motors", pp. 218-225 and Chapter 9 (pp. 253-257).
US Safety Trolley Corp. Brochure and Drawing on "Power Rail Modem" which were furnished to applicants on request on Jul. 23, 1992.
"ICs Provide Control For Sensorless DC Motors," by Dave Peters and Jeff Harth, EDN Apr. 29, 1993, pp. 85-94.
Radio Engineering Handbook, Keith Henney, Editor-In-Chief, Fifth Edition (1959), pp. 19-105.
Elliott Steven A.
Froelich Ronald W.
Sogge John W.
Le Mark T.
The Walt Disney Company
LandOfFree
Amusement ride and self-propelled vehicle therefor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Amusement ride and self-propelled vehicle therefor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Amusement ride and self-propelled vehicle therefor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2318639