Systems and methods for braking or launching a ride vehicle
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorEric Vance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system includes a linear induction motor (LIM) installed in a curved portion of a track, a ride vehicle disposed upon the track, one or more reaction plates coupled to a side of the ride vehicle facing the track via a plurality of actuators, one or more sensors configured to monitor an air gap between the one or more reaction plates and the LIM, and a processor configured to determine which of the plurality of actuators to actuate and a desired performance of each of the plurality of actuators based on data received from the one or more sensors to maintain the air gap at a desired level throughout traversal of the curve by the ride vehicle.
Claims19
A method, comprising:
- obtaining data related to an amusement ride vehicle disposed on a track and a compound curve portion of the track via one or more sensors;
- determining, via a processor, a selected reaction plate of a plurality of reaction plates to actuate based on the obtained data using a closed-loop system to maintain an air gap between the plurality of reaction plates and a linear induction motor (LIM) installed in the track;
- and
- actuating actuators coupling the selected reaction plate to a side of the amusement ride vehicle, as determined throughout traversal of the compound curve portion of the track by the amusement ride vehicle, to bend the selected reaction plate to maintain the air gap below an air gap threshold distance throughout the traversal of the compound curved portion.
A method, comprising:
- obtaining data related to positioning of an amusement ride vehicle relative to a compound curve portion of a track via one or more sensors;
- determining, via a processor, a selected reaction plate of a plurality of reaction plates to actuate based on the obtained data using a closed-loop system to maintain an air gap between the plurality of reaction plates and a linear induction motor (LIM) installed in the compound curve portion of the track;
- and
- actuating actuators coupling the selected reaction plate to a side of the amusement ride vehicle, as determined throughout traversal of the compound curve portion of the track by the amusement ride vehicle, to bend the selected reaction plate along a longitudinal axis of the selected reaction plate, a latitudinal axis of the selected reaction plate, or both to maintain the air gap below an air gap threshold distance throughout the traversal of the compound curved portion.
A method, comprising:
- obtaining data related to an amusement ride vehicle disposed on a track and a compound curve portion of the track via one or more sensors;
- determining, via a processor, a selected reaction plate of a plurality of reaction plates to actuate based on the obtained data using a closed-loop system to maintain an air gap between the plurality of reaction plates and a linear induction motor (LIM) installed in the track, wherein the selected reaction plate comprises a flexible material;
- and
- actuating actuators coupling the selected reaction plate to a side of the amusement ride vehicle, as determined throughout traversal of the compound curve portion of the track by the amusement ride vehicle, to bend the flexible material of the selected reaction plate to maintain the air gap below an air gap threshold distance throughout the traversal of the compound curved portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.