US 5,453,053 A · Amusement ride having spinning passenger cars

Abstract

An improved amusement ride and ride vehicle that permit a passenger to control the rotation of a passenger car as the vehicle travels along a ride course. The ride vehicle includes a support tube upon which the passenger car is rotatably mounted and a passenger operable steering mechanism. The ride vehicle also includes a spin shaft that extends down through the support tube. The spin shaft permits the use of safety systems that are mounted to the chassis of the ride vehicle. Control logic may be used to turn the passenger cars to a preferred orientation at the end of the ride. The ride vehicle itself may be barbell shaped to permit it to turn sharp corners along the ride course. The passenger car also includes a readily adjustable lap bar that is self-releasing. A slot cover, a plow assembly for displacing the slot cover and a slot cover switch are also provided.

Claims56

Dependent claims

An amusement ride vehicle for transporting passengers along a ride course, the amusement ride vehicle comprising:

a chassis;
a tubular support shaft having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end fixedly mounted to the chassis;
an upper frame, including a passenger car, the upper frame rotatably mounted to the upper end of the support shaft to permit spinning of the upper frame relative to the support shaft;
passenger operable steering means for controlling the speed and direction of spin of the upper frame;
and
a spin shaft fixedly mounted relative to the upper frame and extending downwardly through the inside of the support shaft.

3 more elements

An amusement ride comprising:

a ride course;
a show floor mounted above the ride course, the show floor defining a continuous slot that corresponds to the path of the ride course;
a chassis disposed below the show floor and engaging the ride course to permit movement relative thereto;
a motor for propelling the chassis along the ride course;
a support tube having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end fixably mounted to the chassis such that the support tube extends up through the slot in the show floor;
an upper frame, including a passenger car, rotatably mounted to the upper end of the support tube to permit spinning of the upper frame above the show floor;
and
a spin shaft fixedly mounted to the upper frame and extending downwardly below the lower end of the support tube.

5 more elements

An amusement ride comprising:

a ride course:
a chassis engaging the ride course to permit movement relative thereto;
a motor for propelling the chassis along the ride course;
an upper frame, including a passenger car, rotatably mounted to the chassis;
position detection means for determining whether the passenger car is facing in one of three directions, a first direction that is predetermined, a second direction that requires a clockwise rotation of the passenger car to face the passenger car in the first direction in the shortest possible distance or a third direction that requires a counterclockwise rotation of the passenger car to face the passenger car in the first direction in the shortest possible distance,
control logic means for generating a first signal indicative of when the passenger car is facing the first direction, a second signal indicative of when the passenger car is facing the second direction, and a third signal indicative of when the passenger car is facing the third direction, and
indexing means responsive to the signals generated by the control logic means for rotating the passenger car, said indexing means being disabled in response to the first signal, rotating the passenger car clockwise in response to the second signal and rotating the passenger car counterclockwise in response to the third signal.

4 more elements

An amusement ride comprising:

a ride course;
a show floor mounted above the ride course, the show floor defining a continuous slot that corresponds to the path of the ride course;
a chassis disposed below the show floor and engaging the ride course to permit movement relative thereto;
a motor for propelling the chassis along the ride course;
a support shaft having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end fixedly mounted to the chassis such that the support shaft extends up through the slot in the show floor;
an upper frame, including a passenger car, mounted to the upper end of the support shaft above the floor;
and
a slot cover including first and second support brackets and first and second resilient covers;
the first rigid support bracket mounted along one side of the slot having an outer surface that extends downwardly into the slot;
the second rigid support bracket mounted along the other side of the slot having an outer surface that extends downwardly into the slot, the first and second support brackets being spaced apart from each other to permit the support shaft to pass therebetween;
the first resilient cover having a proximal portion mounted on the first support bracket and a distal portion that extends into the slot from the outer surface of the first support bracket;
the second resilient cover having a proximal portion mounted on the second support bracket and a distal portion that extends into the slot from the outer surface of the second support bracket, the first and second resilient covers being disposed in opposed relationship to each other at the center of the slot;
wherein the proximal portions of the resilient covers have bottom surfaces that match the configuration of the outer surfaces of the support brackets such that the support brackets support vertical loads applied to the resilient covers due to passenger egress.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Amusement ride having spinning passenger cars

Life of this patent

Amusement ride having spinning passenger cars

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims56