Big wheel roundabout amusement ride
AssigneeWilliam J. Kitchen
InventorsWilliam J. Kitchen, John H Chance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circular track may be flat or hilly. Riding on the track is a big wheel sized larger than a rider compartment. The rider compartment is supported out bound from the big wheel's axle. The big wheel's inbound axle is attached to a radius arm which is powered by a conventional rotating hub. The radius arms are pivotally connected to the hub to allow an up and down movement on a hilly track. The rider compartment has a magnetic coupler assembly to the axle to enable an automatic and/or a rider controlled head over heels spinning of the rider compartment while the big wheel is traveling in its circular path around the hub.
Claims22
A roundabout ride comprising:
- a track having a constant radius length from a central hub;
- said central hub having a plurality of radius arms affixed to the hub;
- said central hub having a power source to rotate the central hub;
- each radius arm having an outbound end affixed to an axle of a wheel which rides on the track;
- said axle of said wheel having an axle assembly including an extension which supports a rider carriage on one side of the wheel;
- said axle assembly further comprising a gimbaled support for the rider carriage;
- wherein the axle provides the exclusive support for the rider carriage;
- wherein the rider carriage is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it;
- and
- wherein the rider compartment is able to spin 360° either forward or backward.
A roundabout ride comprising:
- a powered central hub which provides a rotational movement to a radius arm;
- said radius arm having an outbound end attached to a wheel traveling along a support surface;
- said wheel having an axle assembly which supports a rider seat outbound from the wheel;
- said axle assembly having a gimbaled bearing to allow the seat to rock;
- wherein the axle provides the exclusive support for the rider carriage;
- and
- wherein the rider carriage is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it;
- and
- wherein the rider compartment is able to spin 360° either forward or backward.
A roundabout ride comprising:
- a track having a constant radius length from a central hub;
- said central hub having a plurality of radius arms affixed to the hub;
- hub;
- each radius arm having an outbound end affixed to an axle of a wheel which rides on the track;
- said axle of said wheel having an axle assembly including an outbound extension which supports a rider carriage and an inbound bracket which supports a self propelling motor;
- said axle assembly further comprising a gimbaled support for the rider carriage;
- wherein said rider carriage provides a rocking motion as the central hub rotates;
- wherein the self propelling motor moves the wheel around the track;
- wherein the rider carriage is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it;
- and
- wherein the rider compartment can spin a 360° either forward or backward.
An amusement ride comprising:
- a conveyance rail and a wheel rollable over the conveyance rail;
- said wheel having a hub assembly supporting a rider frame on one side of the wheel, said wheel and said hub assembly having a single axle;
- said rider frame having a rider support to hold a rider during a ride;
- wherein the wheel is raised to a high point of the conveyance rail assembly and released to ride along the conveyance rail as guided;
- wherein the axle which provides the exclusive support for the rider frame;
- wherein the rider support is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it;
- and
- the rider frame can be selectively flipped around 360°.
An amusement ride comprising:
- a conveyance rail and a large wheel rollable on the conveyance rail;
- said large wheel having an axle supporting a rider frame on one side;
- said axle being the exclusive support for the rider frame;
- wherein the rider frame supports a holder for a rider;
- wherein the rail assembly has a hoist means functioning to raise the large wheel to a high point and release it to travel down the conveyance rail;
- the rider frame having a flip mechanism connected to the axle functioning to selectively engage the rider frame to the large wheel, thereby flipping the rider frame around;
- and
- wherein the conveyance rail forms a closed loop track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.