Railways – Amusement
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-21
2001-01-09
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railways
Amusement
C104S060000, C318S066000, C318S445000, C701S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170402
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is roller coasters and similar amusement rides.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Roller coasters have long been some of the most well liked rides at amusement parks. Roller coasters normally have an endless track loop. Riders load and unload at a platform or station, typically at a low elevation. At the beginning of each ride cycle, a roller coaster car or a train of cars, is generally towed or moved up a relatively steep incline of an initial track section to the highest point on the entire track. The car is then released from the high point and gains kinetic energy, which allows the car to travel entirely around the track circuit or loop, and return back to the loading/unloading station. The roller coast track typically includes various loops, turns, inversions, corkscrews and other configurations intended to thrill the riders.
Racing or dueling rolling coasters typically have two side by side endless track loops, with the tracks parallel to each other. In this way, a roller coaster train on the first track can “race” with a roller coaster train on the second track. This well known “racing” feature provides added thrills and excitement for the riders. Generally, the roller coaster trains and tracks in dueling or racing coasters are made to be nearly as equivalent as possible, to provide for more competitive “racing”. If one coaster train or track is consistently faster than the other, the racing coasters will increasingly be spaced farther and farther apart, as they progress over the track, and the sensation of racing will be lost.
In the operation of racing coasters, each coaster is towed on its track to side by side high points. The coasters are then launched or released simultaneously. As the coasters are propelled purely via gravity, the coasters will be evenly matched only if the coaster speed related variables (such as coaster payload, coaster wheel bearing efficiency, coaster wheel concentricity, wind resistance, coaster tire to track resistance, etc.) are comparable. If the combinations of these variables are comparable, then the racing coasters will be evenly matched, and will travel at the same speed over their tracks. However, these combinations of variables will more often than not result in one coaster train being significantly faster than the other, thereby undesirably reducing the advantages of racing coasters. Consequently, some of the excitement and thrills intended in the design of the racing roller coasters is often lost due to these types of variables.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved racing roller coaster. Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To these ends, in a first aspect of the invention, a roller coaster or other amusement ride has a first vehicle movable along a first track or path and a second vehicle movable along a second track or path. The vehicle may be an individual vehicle or train of connected vehicles. Vehicle lifting or towing systems tow the vehicles to high points on the tracks or paths. A control system controls the lifters to delay the release of the expected faster vehicle, so that the vehicles will be more evenly matched as they move over the tracks. Preferably, the controller determines which vehicle to release first, and determines the amount of delay between release of the first and second vehicles, based on the loaded weights of the vehicles, and/or on individual vehicle speed performance on prior runs over the first and second tracks. The vehicles may be steered or guided by the tracks or via other techniques on a path.
In a second and separate aspect of the invention, the loaded weights of the vehicles or trains are determined by measuring current draw of motors used to drive the lifting systems.
In a third and separate aspect of the invention, the time intervals for individual vehicles to reach selected track locations are measured and used to update the vehicle performance parameters.
In a fourth and separate aspect of the invention, multiple trains operate on each track, and a performance curve is determined and used for each individual train.
In a fifth and separate aspect of the invention, a roller coaster or other amusement ride has a first vehicle movable along a first path and a second vehicle movable along a second path. A first vehicle propulsion system accelerates the first vehicle to a first speed and a second vehicle propulsion system accelerates the second vehicle to a second speed. A controller controls the propulsion systems to adjust the first and second speeds, based on vehicle weight and/or a vehicle performance parameter.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, the first and second propulsion systems accelerate the first and second vehicles to equivalent speeds, and provide different release times for the first and second vehicles by engaging the vehicles, or by starting the vehicles movements, at different times.
REFERENCES:
patent: 750242 (1904-01-01), Jackman
patent: 937456 (1909-10-01), Miller
patent: 997071 (1911-07-01), Mangels
patent: 1070082 (1913-08-01), Thompson
patent: 1079052 (1913-11-01), Ingersoll
patent: 1102821 (1914-07-01), Thompson
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patent: 4904910 (1990-02-01), Hsu
patent: 5463962 (1995-11-01), Gnezdilov
patent: 6060847 (2000-05-01), Hettema et al.
“Lightning Racer” racing/dueling roller coaster—Hershey Park Website: www.HersheyPA.com/attractions/hersheypark/rides/hp-ltracer.html—Class 104/53—Aug. 1, 2000.
“Gwazi” racing roller coaster—Busch Gardens Website: www.buschgardens.com/press/bgtb/gwazi.html Class 104/53—Aug. 1, 1990.*
Jelf Peter D.
Rude Gregory J.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Morano S. Joseph
Olson Lars A.
Universal City Studios Inc.
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