Amusement park ride using motion-driven positioning for 360-degree vehicle orientation
US8573131B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2012 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/2107
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An amusement park ride adapted for fully rotating a passenger compartment in response to vehicle motion along a guide track. The ride includes a vehicle chassis that engages the guide track and travels along the ride path during operation of the ride. The ride further includes a cam-based positioning assembly that is supported by the vehicle chassis to move with it along the guide track. The positioning assembly operates in response to being moved along the guide track to rotate the passenger compartment. The positioning assembly rotates the passenger compartment in counterclockwise and clockwise directions to provide 360-degree rotation. The positioning assembly includes a cam shaft with three cam follower pairs offset along the shaft and extending outward from the shaft at angular offsets, and three cam rails are used to selectively position the followers to rotate the cam shaft and set the position of the passenger compartment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.