Linear motor driven amusement ride and method
AssigneeHm Attractions, Inc.
InventorsRichard D. Hunter, Andreas Tanzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waterslide amusement ride having in a portion thereof, a linear induction motor to efficiently and effectively affect the motion of a vehicle sliding on the ride. The linear induction motor comprises linear induction motor units embedded below a sliding surface, and a reaction plate mounted to the bottom of the vehicle. Depending on the configuration of the linear induction motor units and the reaction plate, the linear induction motor drive can be used to accelerate the vehicle, decelerate the vehicle, maintain the speed of the vehicle up an uphill section, or rotate the vehicle.
Claims27
An amusement ride feature comprising:
- a waterslide sliding surface;
- a vehicle configured to slide on the waterslide sliding surface and to convey at least one rider thereon;
- and
- a linear motor associated with the vehicle and configured to propel the vehicle as the vehicle slides on the waterslide sliding surface;
- wherein the linear motor comprises at least one reaction plate mounted to the vehicle.
An amusement ride which includes a feature comprising:
- a waterslide sliding surface:
- a vehicle configured to slide on the waterslide sliding surface and to convey at least one rider thereon;
- and
- a linear motor associated with the vehicle and configured to propel the vehicle as the vehicle slides on the waterslide sliding surface;
- wherein the linear motor comprises at least one reaction plate mounted to the vehicle.
A method of controlling the sliding motion of a vehicle sliding on a waterslide sliding surface in an amusement ride, comprising operating a linear motor associated with the vehicle to propel the vehicle as the vehicle slides on the waterslide sliding surface;
- wherein the linear motor comprises at least one reaction plate mounted to the vehicle.
A method of controlling the sliding motion of a vehicle sliding on a waterslide sliding surface in an amusement ride, comprising:
- providing the waterslide sliding surface;
- placing the vehicle on the waterslide sliding surface;
- and
- operating a linear motor associated with the vehicle and the waterslide sliding surface to propel the vehicle as the vehicle slides on the waterslide sliding surface;
- wherein the linear motor comprises at least one reaction plate mounted to the vehicle.
An amusement ride waterslide sliding surface for bearing a vehicle in sliding relationship thereto, said vehicle conveying at least one rider and having affixed thereto at least one reaction component, said waterslide sliding surface having located therebeneath, a plurality of linear induction motor units for interacting with the at least one reaction component affixed to the vehicle to propel the vehicle as the vehicle slides on the waterslide sliding surface.
An amusement ride vehicle configured to slide on an amusement ride waterslide sliding surface and to convey at least one rider thereon, said vehicle having affixed thereto at least one reaction plate for interacting with linear induction motor units associated with the waterslide sliding surface to propel the vehicle as the vehicle slides on the waterslide sliding surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.