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US 10,661,186 B2Granted
Amusement park capsule ride
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsDaniel Matthew Freedman, David Gerard Majdali, Nathanael Gordon White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A capsule ride system includes a capsule, where the capsule includes a drum, which may include a curved annular wall that may define a chamber. The capsule also includes a platform that may fit within the chamber and that supports a restraint for a passenger. The system further includes a drive system capable of driving rotation of the capsule about a central axis of the capsule and driving forward and/or rearward movement of the capsule along a track.
Claims20
A ride system, comprising:
- a drum comprising a wall circumscribing a central axis of the drum such that the wall defines a chamber configured to house a passenger;
- an additional drum positioned about and coupled to the drum;
- and
- a drive system configured to drive rotation of the drum about the central axis and relative to the additional drum and to drive at least forward or rearward movement of the drum and the additional drum along a closed loop track, wherein the central axis of the drum is in alignment with a direction of travel of the forward or rearward movement of the drum along the closed loop track.
1 more element
A ride system, comprising:
- a closed loop track;
- a drum configured to house a passenger;
- and
- a drive system comprising a plurality of rolling elements configured to contact the drum and the closed loop track to drive rotation of the drum about a central axis of the drum and to drive at least forward or rearward movement of the drum along the closed loop track, wherein the central axis of the drum is in alignment with a direction of travel of the forward or rearward movement of the drum along the closed loop track, the closed loop track comprises a curved radially-inner surface comprising a first radius of curvature, and at least a portion of the drum comprises a curved radially-outer surface comprising a second radius of curvature that corresponds to the first radius of curvature.
1 more element
A method of operating a ride system, comprising:
- positioning a drum comprising a wall that defines a chamber to house a passenger on a closed loop track;
- driving at least forward or rearward movement of the drum along the closed loop track using a drive system;
- and
- driving rotation of the drum about a central axis of the drum using the drive system, wherein the drive system comprises a spherical tire that is configured to enable the forward or rearward movement and the rotation to occur simultaneously, and wherein the central axis of the drum is in alignment with a direction of travel of the forward or rearward movement of the drum along the closed loop track.
1 more element
A ride system, comprising:
- a drum comprising a wall circumscribing a central axis of the drum such that the wall defines a chamber configured to house a passenger;
- a drive system configured to drive rotation of the drum about the central axis and to drive at least forward or rearward movement of the drum along a closed loop track, wherein the central axis of the drum is in alignment with a direction of travel of the forward or rearward movement of the drum along the closed loop track;
- and
- a platform configured to support the passenger within the chamber, wherein the platform is configured to move along a platform track within the chamber to adjust the platform between a first position in which at least a portion of the platform is positioned outside of the drum to enable the passenger to load onto the platform and a closed position in which the platform is positioned inside of the drum to enable the passenger to be enclosed within the chamber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.