US20140261051A1

US20140261051A1 - Amusement ride

Info

Publication number: US20140261051A1
Application number: US13/837,635
Authority: US
Inventors: William J. Kitchen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-15
Filing date: 2013-03-15
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Also published as: WO2014141195A1

Abstract

An amusement ride with two support towers with a suspended set of cables forming a track that supports a ride truck is disclosed. Riders are suspended beneath the ride truck in a rider support mechanism. The ride truck is driven along the track between the towers, causing the rider support mechanism to be propelled along under the ride truck. The ride truck slows and reverses on the track when it reaches the other tower. The forward momentum of the rider support mechanism causes it to swing out beyond the tower, before it is pulled back toward the other tower by the ride truck.

Description

BACKGROUND

Thrill type amusement rides are well known in the art. Rides that allow an amusement park or other location to charge a premium to ride and provide a flight like experience to the rider are popular and remain in demand. In order to be successful, it is desirable that the ride have a relatively small foot print on the ground, as space at desirable locations is generally at a premium. The rides need to be easy to operate to lower the cost of training ride operators while maintaining safety standards. A comparatively low cost to build and maintain the ride is also desirable. These types of rides often have only a few riders as a time, so the ability to control the ride time and keep it to chosen ride times while allowing for flexibility for the ride operators to have “premium rides” that last longer is also desirable. One known thrill ride is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,223. One of the drawbacks of this ride is that rider has to be lifted into the launch position at a safe speed, taking up ride time. Also the rider controls the release of the rider from the launch line, potentially causing further delay, particularly if the rider becomes scared and refuses to release the launch line, requiring that the rider be lowered back down to the ground for removal from the ride.
The foregoing example of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is a swing type amusement ride with two support towers and a suspended wire track strung between the towers. A ride truck is mounted on the suspended wire track with the rider(s) suspended below the ride truck on wires. The ride truck is driven along the suspended wire track between the two towers, moving the riders along beneath the ride truck.
One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a ride that combines a flying along a path effect with a swing effect at each end, creating a unique rider experience.
One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a ride that an operator can easily chose the length of the ride by choosing the number of times the ride is propelled between the towers.
One aspect of the present disclosure it to provide a ride that the operator can choose the excitement level of the rider by varying the speed that the ride truck moves between the towers, allowing for a wider range of people to ride on the thrill ride.
The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.
In one embodiment two support towers each have two legs with a cross beam between them. Alternatively the support towers can be arch shaped. Between the two support towers a suspended set of cables forms a track that supports a ride truck. Riders are suspended beneath the ride truck in a rider support mechanism. The ride truck is driven along the track between the towers, causing the rider support mechanism to be propelled along under the ride truck. The ride truck slows and reverses on the track when it reaches the other tower. The forward momentum of the rider support mechanism causes it to swing out beyond the tower, before it is pulled back toward the other tower by the ride truck.
In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the amusement ride.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the loading area.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top of one of the support tower showing the motor.

FIG. 4 is a close up of the ride truck mounted on the suspended wire track.

FIG. 5 is a close up of the motor drive.

FIG. 6 is a close up view of the riders swing out from one of the towers.

FIG. 7 is a close up view of an alternate embodiment with the riders in rider carriage.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring first to FIG. 1, the ride 100 has two support towers 103 and 104. Each tower has two support legs 117, 118 connected by a cross beam 119. In the preferred embodiment the two support legs incline towards each other, forming a truncated A frame. In another embodiment (not shown) the support towers can be formed as arches. These configurations allow for significant space between the bases 120, 121 to ensure the riders do not come into contact with the support legs while the ride is in operation, but allows for a narrower top, which both provides structural stability and reduces construction cost. In the depicted embodiment the support towers are 100′ high, and the bases are 60′ apart. The cross beam is 12′ long. Any necessary guy wires 122 are used to ensure stability of the support towers 103, 106. The number and configuration of the guy wires 122 will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to height of the towers, environmental conditions, maximum weight of riders that will be allowed on the ride at one time, speed of the ride and other similar considerations. The guy wires may also be eliminated if the towers are designed and built heavy enough.
Two track wires 107 and 108 are strung between the two support towers 103 and 104 and connected to the cross beams 119. The track wires are large enough allow sufficient tensioning to reduce the catenary of the cable to a minimum amount, possibly 1.5 inch diameter wires. An alternate embodiment (not shown) the track wires could be rigid track. A ride truck 101 is slidably mounted on the track wires 107, 108. A drive cable 109 driven by motor 113 is attached to the ride truck 101 to move the ride truck back and forth along the track wires 107, 108 in the depicted embodiment. Another possible method of driving the ride would be a liner induction motor, powered by a single electrified cable (not shown). Other methods of driving the truck along the wires could be used as well.
Two rider suspension wires 123 are pivotally connected at an upper end to the underside of ride truck 101 on each side of the ride truck 101. The riders 102 are connected to the lower end of the rider suspension wires at a height that ensures the riders cannot contact the ground or any objects around the ride. This height will vary with the ride location. The triangle shape thus formed provides side-to-side stability to the riders.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a loading area 111, which in the depicted embodiment is located under one of the support towers 103. In operation the rider(s) 102 will be attached to the rider support wires 123 with attachment device 115. A queue guide 110 is provided to organize and guide the line of people waiting to ride on the ride 100. The design of such queue guides 110 to ensure safety and minimize customer dissatisfaction with wait times is well known and will not be further discussed here. In the disclosed embodiment the queue guide 110 leads to a hydraulic scissor lift 112 to lower and lift a loading platform 109 with riders 102 on it up to be attached to the attachment device 115. The hydraulic scissor lift 112 can then be lowered out of the way to ensure the riders 102 can be moved without hitting the loading platform 109. The use of the lifting loading platform 109 ensures that the riders 102 are always well clear of the ground when the ride is moving. Other methods of lifting the loading platform 109 can be used as well. Also, other methods of designing a loading platform 109 to allow the riders 102 to be loaded on the ride and then have the loading platform 109 move out of the way are possible as well and are considered within the scope of this disclosure.
Referring next to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the ride truck 101 is moved back and forth along the track wires 107, 108 between the two support towers 103, 104. In the depicted embodiment the ride truck 101 is moved by an electric motor 113 driving a shiv wheel 130. The ride truck 101 has wheels 133 to allow it to freely move along the track wires 107, 108. Retention loops 134 attach the ride truck 101 to the track wires.
In use, the rider 102 is attached to the rider support wires 123 in face down position in the depicted embodiment. The loading platform 109 is lowered and then the ride truck is accelerated toward the other support tower 104 at speeds of 5 to 60 mph. The riders will be pulled along under the track wires, giving a feeling of flying along the ground. When the ride truck reaches the other tower 103, it slows rapidly, and reverses direction. Momentum then carries the riders out is a swinging arc as shown in FIG. 6. The speed of the ride truck can be controlled to set the height the riders will swing to. If desired, the rider truck could stop at one end to let several swings outward occur before the rider truck heads back the other direction. The ride truck is then moved back to the other tower, repeating the swing outward from the other tower. If desired the ride truck can move back at a slower speed so there is less swing on the other end, allowing the riders to be brought to a stop and unloaded from the ride faster. The ride operator can chose if the ride truck takes one complete traverse of the track, or multiple runs back and forth along the track. In another embodiment (not shown) there are loading platforms at both towers and the riders are unloaded after a single run along the track and swinging at a single end.
FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment where multiple riders are placed in a rider carriage 130, probably in seated configuration. The rider carriage has windows and a door for loading and unloading the riders.
While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations are within their true spirit and scope. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.
The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and subcombinations possible of the group are intended to be individually included in the disclosure.
In general the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. An amusement ride comprising:

at least two support towers with a track suspended between the support towers;

a ride truck slideably mounted on the track;

a rider support mechanism suspended beneath the ride truck;

the ride truck being driven along the track from one tower to the other and then being driven back to the other tower such that the rider support mechanism swings out beyond the support tower at each end of the ride.