Amusement ride and self-propelled vehicle therefor

A high performance, self-propelled vehicle for movement along a pathway having a first vertical tractive drive surface and a second vertical tractive drive surface disposed along substantially the entire pathway, said first and second tractive drive surfaces being substantially flat and substantially parallel to each other, and a source of electric power disposed along the pathway for use by the vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• a passenger compartment attached to said frame;
• a plurality of load bearing wheels for supporting the vehicle on said pathway;
• at least one electric pinch wheel drive for engaging said vertical tractive drive surfaces and accelerating said vehicle above 0.3 G along said path, said electric pinch wheel drive including
• a first electric drive motor package mounted to engage said first tractive drive surface,
• a second electric drive motor package mounted to engage said second tractive drive surface,
• each said electric drive motor package having an electric motor capable of continuously generating at least about 44 horsepower, and including a motor output shaft which can rotate with substantially equal performance in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, a transmission for reducing the speed of the motor output shaft, said transmission including a transmission output shaft, and a wheel having a tractive surface attached for rotation to said transmission output shaft,
• a compressive coupler for forcing the tractive wheel surface of said first electric drive motor package against said first tractive drive surface, and for forcing the tractive wheel surface of said second electric drive motor package against said second tractive drive surface with sufficient force to enable the pinch wheel drive to move the vehicle along the path,
• a motor controller electrically connected to each said electric motor for controlling the direction and speed of each motor output shaft,
• a vehicle controller electrically connected to said motor controllers for coordinating and controlling the motor controllers;
• and,
• a conductor for drawing electrical power from the electric power source and delivering said electrical power to said vehicle controller, motor controllers, and electric pinch wheel drive.

A high performance amusement ride having a self-propelled ride vehicle capable of selectively accelerating to between about 0.3 G and about 1.0 G in either a forward or a reverse direction, said amusement ride comprising:

• a railway having two substantially parallel, spaced apart load bearing tracks and a substantially continuous drive fin mounted along said load bearing tracks, said drive fin having a first and a second vertical side, each said side being substantially flat and extending in a plane which is substantially parallel to the other side, and substantially perpendicular to a plane passing through a top surface of both load bearing tracks, said railway being provided with a plurality of vertical, horizontal, and compound curves;
• an direct current (DC) electric power source disposed along said railway;
• and,
• at least one vehicle mounted for movement on said railway, said vehicle including
• a frame,
• at least one passenger compartment attached to said frame,
• a plurality of load bearing wheels for engaging said load bearing tracks of said railway,
• at least one electric pinch wheel drive system for each axle used on said vehicle for engaging said vertical sides of said drive fin and accelerating said vehicle above 0.3 G on said load bearing tracks, said electric pinch wheel drive system including
• a first electric motor drive pivotally mounted to said frame and disposed on said first side of said drive fin and a second electric motor drive pivotally mounted to said frame and disposed on said second side of said drive fin, each said motor drive having an direct current (DC) electric motor capable of continuously generating at least about 44 horsepower, and including a motor output shaft which can rotate with substantially equal performance in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, a transmission for reducing the speed of the motor output shaft, and, a wheel attached for rotation to a transmission output shaft, said wheel including a tractive wheel surface for engaging the drive fin,
• a compressive coupler for simultaneously forcing the tractive wheel surface of the first electric motor drive against the first side of the fin, and the tractive wheel surface of the second electric motor drive against the second side of the fin with sufficient force to enable the electric motor drives to move the vehicle on the load bearing tracks, and,
• a motor controller for controlling the direction and speed of each motor output shaft,
• a vehicle controller communicating with and controlling the motor controllers for controlling the movement of the vehicle on the load bearing tracks, and,
• a conductor for drawing electrical power from the electric power source and delivering said electrical power to said electric pinch wheel drive system and said vehicle controller.

A transportation system including a vehicle capable of maximum acceleration greater than 0.3 G, said transportation system comprising:

• a railway having a substantially flat vertical tractive drive surface extending along substantially the entire length of the railway;
• a source of electrical power disposed along said railway;
• a vehicle mounted for movement on the railway and having a passenger compartment, an electric drive means for engaging the vertical tractive surface and accelerating the vehicle above about 0.3 G along the railway, and a conductor for connecting said source of electrical power to said electric drive means;
• and wherein said source of electrical power furnishes electricity which is compatible to that required by said electric drive means.