Amusement park ride with cable-suspended vehicles
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A63G-031/16
A63G-031/00
출원번호
US-0796390
(2010-06-08)
등록번호
US-8147344
(2012-04-03)
발명자
/ 주소
Crawford, David W.
Nemeth, Edward A.
출원인 / 주소
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Marsh Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
12인용 특허 :
7
초록▼
A ride system for moving a passenger vehicle through a dynamically-defined work space. The system includes a track structure that guides one or more motorized or driven carriers on the track structure. The system includes winches on the carrier(s) that are independently operable to set lengths of th
A ride system for moving a passenger vehicle through a dynamically-defined work space. The system includes a track structure that guides one or more motorized or driven carriers on the track structure. The system includes winches on the carrier(s) that are independently operable to set lengths of the vehicle supporting cables, which extend outward from the winches to the vehicle. During operation, the winch systems provide upper anchor points for suspending the passenger vehicle such that these anchor points are selectively positioned. The winches may be independently operated as the carrier(s) travels from a first position to a second position, such that the vehicle body pitches, rolls, or yaws and moves transversely relative to the track. The winches may be operated concurrently to drop or raise the vehicle to define the work space for the vehicle in the vertical direction. Passenger input may interactively control motion of the vehicle.
대표청구항▼
1. A ride system for moving a passenger vehicle through a variable work space, comprising: a track defining a fixed path for the ride system;a carrier supported on the track and driven to move along the fixed path from a first position to a second position during operation of the ride system;first a
1. A ride system for moving a passenger vehicle through a variable work space, comprising: a track defining a fixed path for the ride system;a carrier supported on the track and driven to move along the fixed path from a first position to a second position during operation of the ride system;first and second winch systems mounted on the carrier, the first and second winch systems being operated to set a length of a first cable and a length of a second cable extending outward from the first and second winch systems, respectively; anda passenger vehicle with a body having first and second attachment points for the first and second cables, respectively, wherein the first and second winch systems provide first and second points for suspension of the passenger vehicle, the suspension points moving along the fixed path during operation of the ride system. 2. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the first attachment point is distal to the second attachment point on the body, whereby the body pitches or rolls when the length of the first cable differs from the length of the second cable, and wherein the first and second winch system are operated independently to set the lengths of the first and second cables. 3. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the first and second winch systems are operated concurrently at a same rate such that the lengths of the first and second cables are equal as the carrier travels from the first position to the second position, whereby the body is maintained in a horizontal position over a range of vertical distances from the track. 4. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the first and second winch systems are operated independently as the carrier travels from the first position to the second position, whereby the body pitches, rolls, or yaws between the first and second positions. 5. The ride system of claim 1, further comprising a third winch system mounted on the cattier controlling a length of a third cable extending from a third suspension point on the carrier to a third attachment point on the body of the passenger vehicle, wherein the first, second, and third winch systems are independently and concurrently operable. 6. The ride system of claim 5, wherein the second and third attachment points are spaced apart and provided on a first end of the body and the first attachment point is provided on a second end of the body. 7. The ride system of claim 1, further comprising third, fourth, fifth, and sixth winch systems mounted on the carrier and controlling lengths of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cable attached at opposite ends to third, fourth, fifth, and sixth attachment points on the body of the passenger vehicle, wherein positions of the winch systems on the carrier and positions of the attachment points on the body are selected such that winch systems are operable as a Stewart platform-type rigging for moving the body relative to the track. 8. A ride assembly, comprising: a track defining a path;first and second carriers supported on the track that are independently driven to position the first and second carriers at differing positions along the path defined by the track;first and second winch systems positioned on the first and second carriers, respectively, and operating to define lengths of first and second cables; anda passenger vehicle with a body having first and second attachment points for the first and second cables, respectively. 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and second attachment points are proximate to each other and a center of gravity of the body and wherein the first and second winches are concurrently operated to maintain the length of the first cable substantially equal to the length of the second cable. 10. The assembly of claim 8, the path defined by the track is an enclosed loop and wherein the winch systems are operable to position the body of the passenger vehicle in a plurality of positions in a work space defined by the loop and a vertical distance extending below the track. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the winch systems are independently and concurrently operable to set the lengths of the first, second, and third cables and wherein the lengths are each selectable from a predefined range to be equal or to differ during movement of the carriers along the path and at the differing positions. 12. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising a second rail spaced apart two or more distances along a corresponding two or more portions of the path and wherein the first carrier is supported on the second rail. 13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a fourth carrier supported on the second rail independently driven relative to the first, second, and third carriers and a fourth winch system positioned on the fourth carrier independently operating to define a length of a fourth cable attached to the body of the passenger vehicle at a fourth attachment point. 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth attachment points are spaced apart and arranged in a rectangular pattern on a surface of the body. 15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein at least one of the lengths of the first, second, third, and fourth cables differs from the other three lengths at least during a portion of the path defined by the track. 16. A method of positioning a vehicle relative to a track in an amusement park ride, comprising: suspending a vehicle for passengers using at least two cables extending from anchor points on one or more carriers supported by a track, the anchor points each defined by an outlet of a winch;driving the one or more carriers along track, whereby the vehicle is moved through a work space below the track; andduring the driving, operating at least one of the winches to change a length of a corresponding at least one of the cables, whereby the work space is dynamically modified as the vehicle is moved along the track. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the driving and the operating steps are performed in response to control signals from a control system, the control signals at least partially being derived from user input provided by one of the passengers in the vehicle. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least three cables are used in the suspending step and wherein during the operating step each of the three winches associated with the cables are independently operable such that at least three differing ones of the lengths for the cables are defined, whereby the work space is dynamically modified and an orientation of the vehicle relative to the track is also modified during the driving. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least six cables are used in the suspending and attachment points are selected on the body such that the operating step may be performed to control positioning of the body relative to the track as a suspended Stewart platform. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein two or more carriers are used during the suspending step and wherein, during the driving step, each of the two or more carriers are driven at differing velocities. 21. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the winches are operated during the operating step to modify the lengths of the cables and wherein the winches are operated such that the lengths of the cables are modified at differing rates. 22. The method of claim 16, wherein two or more of the carriers are provided for suspending the vehicle with the cables terminating at the vehicle above a center of gravity of the vehicle and at the outlets of the winches and wherein the two or more carriers are supported by the track and at least one additional track.
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