Pivot coaster systems, apparatuses, and methods

A system for pivoting passenger seats on an amusement ride, the system comprising:

• a track for supporting and guiding track-mounted vehicles;
• and
• a track-mounted vehicle comprising:
• a main chassis configured to ride on the track, the main chassis comprising a frame projecting away from the track, the frame having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is further from the track than the proximal portion;
• a passenger chassis with one or more passenger seats;
• and
• a hub rotatably coupling the passenger chassis to the distal portion of the main chassis at a single rotatable connection point, wherein the passenger chassis is mounted to face forward or rearward with respect to a direction of travel of the main chassis and the frame is entirely behind the passenger seats, and wherein the passenger chassis rotates laterally in a direction approximately orthogonal to the direction of travel of the main chassis via the hub around a single axis that is approximately aligned with the direction of travel of the main chassis to maintain a vertical sitting position as the track changes an angle of the main chassis as the main chassis travels along the track, wherein the frame projecting away from the track forms a generally A-shaped structure with legs of the A-shaped structure extending to the track and a peak of the A-shaped structure forming the rotatable connection point.

A method for operating an amusement ride, comprising:

• providing a track for supporting and guiding track-mounted vehicles;
• providing a track-mounted vehicle comprising:
• a main chassis configured to ride on the track, the main chassis comprising a frame projecting away from the track, the frame having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is further from the track than the proximal portion;
• a passenger chassis with one or more passenger seats;
• and
• a hub rotatably coupling the passenger chassis to the distal portion of the main chassis at a single rotatable connection point, wherein the passenger chassis is mounted to face forward or rearward with respect to a direction of travel of the main chassis, and wherein the single rotatable connection point is behind the passenger seats such that the frame is entirely behind the passenger seats, wherein the hub allows the passenger seats to perform a full lateral rotation in a direction approximately orthogonal relative to the direction of travel of the main chassis around a single axis that is approximately aligned with the direction of travel of the main chassis to maintain a vertical sitting position as the track changes an angle of the main chassis as the main chassis travels along the track, wherein the frame projecting away from the track forms a generally A-shaped structure with legs of the A-shaped structure extending to the track and a peak of the A-shaped structure forming the rotatable connection point;
• and
• causing the track-mounted vehicle to move along the track, wherein the track changes an orientation of the main chassis as the track-mounted vehicle moves.

An amusement ride vehicle comprising:

• a main chassis configured to ride on a track, the main chassis comprising a frame projecting away from the track, the frame having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is further from the track than the proximal portion;
• a passenger chassis with one or more passenger seats;
• and
• a hub coupling the passenger chassis to the distal portion of the main chassis behind the passenger chassis such that the frame is entirely behind the passenger one or more seats, wherein the passenger chassis is mounted to face forward or rearward with respect to a direction of travel of the main chassis and wherein the hub allows the passenger chassis to perform a full lateral rotation in a direction approximately orthogonal relative to the direction of travel of the main chassis around a single axis that is approximately aligned with the direction of travel of the main chassis to maintain a vertical position as the track changes an angle of the main chassis as the main chassis travels along the track, wherein the frame projecting away from the track forms a generally A-shaped structure with legs of the A-shaped structure extending to the track and a peak of the A-shaped structure forming a rotatable connection point at the hub.