Roller coaster maintenance vehicle
OwnerJonathan I. Gordoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A roller coaster maintenance vehicle includes a platform with a set of wheels arranged to ride on a roller coaster track structure. The platform includes a propulsion system which allows it to traverse the track structure independent of the roller coaster propulsion system. In one embodiment, a person rides on the vehicle and controls its movement. In another embodiment the vehicle is remotely controlled. Remotely controlled vehicles preferably include one or more inspection apparatus for inspecting the track structure. Optionally, the remotely controlled vehicles also include remotely controlled repair/maintenance equipment such as a robotic arm with a power tool coupled to its free end.
Claims19
A roller coaster maintenance vehicle for a roller coaster having at least one track structure and a roller coaster propulsion system operatively arranged to propel roller coaster cars along said at least one track structure, said maintenance vehicle comprising:
- a platform including support structure configured to support at least one person;
- a set of wheels operatively mounted to said platform and arranged to engage and ride on said at least one roller coaster track structure, said set of wheels including at least two wheels with axes of rotation substantially orthogonal to each other;
- and
- a maintenance vehicle propulsion system mounted to said platform and arranged to propel said platform along said at least one track structure, said maintenance vehicle propulsion system being independent of the roller coaster propulsion system.
A roller coaster maintenance vehicle for a roller coaster having at least one track structure and a roller coaster propulsion system operatively arranged to propel roller coaster cars along said at least one track structure, said maintenance vehicle comprising:
- a platform;
- a set of wheels operatively mounted to said platform and arranged to engage and ride on said at least one roller coaster track structure, said set of wheels including at least two wheels with axes of rotation substantially orthogonal to each other;
- a maintenance vehicle propulsion system mounted to said platform and arranged to propel said platform along said at least one track structure, said maintenance vehicle propulsion system being independent of the roller coaster propulsion system;
- and
- a tool bin coupled to said platform.
A roller coaster maintenance vehicle for a roller coaster having at least one track structure and a roller coaster propulsion system operatively arranged to propel roller coaster cars along said at least one track structure, said maintenance vehicle comprising:
- a platform;
- a set of wheels operatively mounted to said platform and arranged to engage and ride on the at least one roller coaster track structure;
- a maintenance vehicle propulsion system including a motor mounted to said platform and arranged to propel said platform along said at least one track structure, said maintenance vehicle propulsion system being independent of the roller coaster propulsion system;
- a support structure mounted to said platform and being configured to support at least one person;
- and
- a controller coupled to said maintenance vehicle propulsion system and located where a person supported by said support structure can operate said controller, said controller being configured to cause said maintenance vehicle propulsion system to propel said platform both forward and reverse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.