Cantilevered roller coaster system

A cantilevered roller coaster system, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting a lower track structure and an upper track structure, the lower and upper track structures defining a path of travel, each of the lower and upper track structures having a respective center line spaced apart by a gauge distance over the path of travel, said lower track having a variable rotational position with respect to its center line along the path of travel to define a changing roll angle;
• a ride vehicle supported remote from the upper and lower track structure;
• a primary chassis supported for movement along the lower track structure;
• a secondary chassis supported for movement along the upper track structure;
• a fulcrum pivotally mounted relative to the secondary chassis;
• a strut arrangement having a lower end pivotably attached to the primary chassis and an upper end pivotably connected to the ride vehicle, the strut arrangement being mounted for sliding movement back and forth through the fulcrum, and
• a drive mechanism for moving the ride vehicle, the primary chassis, the secondary chassis, the fulcrum and the strut arrangement relative to the lower and upper track structure,
• whereby, a change in the rotational position of the primary chassis corresponding to the changing roll angle of the lower track structure on its center line changes the angular position of the ride vehicle relative to the upper and lower track structures, and a change in the gauge distance causes the strut arrangement to slide through the fulcrum and changes the distance between the ride vehicle and said track structures.

A roller coaster amusement ride comprising a dual track structure having upper and lower tracks and respective center lines therefor;

• said center lines defining a gauge distance that changes along the length of said dual track, said lower track having a variable rotational position with respect to its center line along the length of said lower track to define a changing roll angle;
• respective upper and lower chassis mounted for movement along said tracks:
• a motion translation arrangement interconnecting the upper and lower chassis at one end and carrying a ride vehicle at the other end;
• said motion translation arrangement being operative in response to the changing roll angle of the lower track and to changes in gauge distance between said tracks to respectively vary an angular position of the ride vehicle relative to the track structure and a distance between the ride vehicle and the track structure.