Amusement ride with at least one longitudinal guide with a passenger vehicle capable of changes in height

A vertical transporter, comprising:

• a substantially vertically extending support structure;
• at least one vehicle movably supported on the structure for carrying cargo from an initial lower elevation to a final elevation;
• a lifting arrangement operatively associated with said support structure for elevating said at least one vehicle to the final elevation;
• a guide arrangement attached to an outside surface of the support structure for vertically guiding the vehicle along said outside surface;
• a detachment mechanism operatively mounted for disconnecting the vehicle from the lifting arrangement when the vehicle reaches the final elevation, said vehicle falling freely until it reaches a predetermined elevation;
• and
• a braking means including a braking section for applying a braking force in a direction perpendicular to the free fall direction for reducing the speed of the vehicle.

An amusement ride, comprising:

• a generally vertically extending support structure;
• at least one vehicle movably supported on the structure for carrying passengers from an initial lower elevation to a final elevation;
• a lifting arrangement operatively associated with said support structure for elevating said at least one vehicle to the final elevation;
• a guide arrangement projecting from an outside surface of the support structure for generally vertically guiding the vehicle along said outside surface;
• a detachment mechanism operatively mounted for disconnecting the vehicle from the lifting arrangement when the vehicle reaches the final elevation, said vehicle falling freely until it reaches a predetermined elevation;
• and
• a braking means for operatively interacting with the vehicle only after the vehicle reaches said predetermined elevation.

An amusement ride, comprising:

• a substantially vertically extending support structure:
• at least one vehicle movably supported on the structure for carrying cargo from an initial lower elevation to a final elevation;
• a lifting arrangement operatively associated with said support structure for elevating said at least one vehicle to the final elevation;
• a guide arrangement attached to an outside surface of the support structure for vertically guiding the vehicle along said outside surface;
• a detachment mechanism operatively mounted for disconnecting the vehicle from the lifting arrangement when the vehicle reaches the final elevation, said vehicle falling freely until it reaches a predetermined elevation;
• and
• a braking arrangement formed separate and apart from the lifting arrangement to reduce the vehicle speed and stop the vehicle during free fall.

An amusement ride, comprising:

• a vertical tower;
• vehicle means for carrying one or more passengers from an initial elevation near the base of the tower to a final elevation above the initial elevation;
• platform means adjacent to the base of the tower for regulating the flow of passengers to and from the vehicle means;
• lifting means for elevating the vehicle means from the initial elevation to the final elevation;
• detachment means for disconnecting the vehicle means from the lifting means when the vehicle means reaches the final elevation, wherein the vehicle means falls freely until it reaches a braking section located between the initial and final elevations;
• tower guide means attached to an outside surface of the tower for vertically guiding the vehicle means between the initial and final elevations;
• and
• a braking means including a braking section for applying a braking force in a direction perpendicular to the free fall direction for reducing the speed of the vehicle means and ultimately stopping said vehicle means.