Truss track assembly and side mount roller coaster vehicle

Abstract

A novel truss track assembly for use in transporting passenger vehicles provides two sets of tracks for supporting two passenger vehicles concurrently. The truss track assembly includes four running rails for mounting passenger vehicles and a central support rail. A series of frame elements are periodically secured to the running rails and the central support rail to support and maintain the parallel relationship of the running rails and the central support rail. The truss track assembly may be “split” into two individual truss track assemblies wherein the individual truss track assemblies each accommodate a passenger vehicle or a train of passenger vehicles. The present invention further provides a novel side-mount vehicle suitable for mounting of the present invention on the truss track assembly. The side-mount vehicle improves sight line feature by locating the passengers off to the side of the track; rather than locating them above the track as with conventional designs, or below the track as with suspended designs. A side-mount passenger vehicle travels along a pair of parallel rails fixed in space. The rails of the present invention remain oriented in an essentially vertical plane with respect to a seated passenger, as opposed to the horizontal orientation associated with more conventional roller coaster rides. Seats are positioned on a cantilevered beam which is affixed at one end to a main chassis beam. The main chassis beam is secured to the parallel rails through two sets of wheel assemblages. The side-mount feature of the present invention enhances and intensifies passenger thrill and excitement because of substantially unrestricted passenger view in all directions, resulting in a “free flying” experience.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.