U.S. patent application number 14/111156 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-10 for suspended track amusement ride.
The applicant listed for this patent is William J. Kitchen. Invention is credited to William J. Kitchen.
Application Number | 20140096699 14/111156 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47424572 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140096699 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kitchen; William J. |
April 10, 2014 |
Suspended Track Amusement Ride
Abstract
A suspended track amusement ride is disclosed. A cylindrical
rail is suspended from catenary curved tensioned support cables by
vertical attachment cables, creating a single rail track that can
be suspended over large distances.
Inventors: |
Kitchen; William J.;
(Windermere, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kitchen; William J. |
Windermere |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47424572 |
Appl. No.: |
14/111156 |
Filed: |
June 29, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
June 29, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US12/45042 |
371 Date: |
October 10, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61503345 |
Jun 30, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
104/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 7/00 20130101; A63G
21/04 20130101; A63G 21/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
104/53 |
International
Class: |
A63G 21/04 20060101
A63G021/04 |
Claims
1. A track for an amusement ride comprising: a plurality of support
towers; a tensioned loop of suspension cable attached to the
support towers; a loop of substantially rigid track suspended
beneath the suspension cable; said track adapted to support at
least one rider conveyance slidably attached to the track; and a
the rider conveyance being driven along the track.
2. The device of claim 1 where in the track further comprises a
substantially circular rail and a plate extending there from, said
plate being attached to the suspension cable.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the track is attached to the
suspension cable by attachment cables.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein a drive system mounted on the
rider conveyance drives the rider conveyance along the track.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the drive system comprises a
plurality of driving wheels driving the rider conveyance along the
track.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the loop of suspension cable is
comprised of sections strung between two of the plurality of
towers, each section being individually tensioned.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the loop of suspension cable is
comprised of sections strung between more than two towers, each
section being individually tensioned.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the loop of suspension cable is
comprised of a single loop of cable attached to all of the tower
and tensioned as a single unit.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the rider conveyance had riders
suspended beneath it.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the rider conveyance had riders
is a sitting position.
11. A track for an amusement ride comprising: a plurality of
support towers; a tensioned line of suspension cable attached to
the support towers; a substantially rigid track suspended beneath
the suspension cable; said track adapted to support at least one
rider conveyance slidably attached to the track; and a the rider
conveyance being driven along the track.
12. The device of claim 11 where in the track further comprises a
substantially circular rail and a plate extending there from, said
plate being attached to the suspension cable.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the track is attached to the
suspension cable by attachment cables.
14. The device of claim 11, wherein a drive system mounted on the
rider conveyance drives the rider conveyance along the track.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the drive system comprises a
plurality of driving wheels driving the rider conveyance along the
track.
16. The device of claim 11, wherein the suspension cable is
comprised of sections strung between two of the plurality of
towers, each section being individually tensioned.
17. The device of claim 11, wherein the suspension cable is a
single cable attached to all of the tower and tensioned as a single
unit.
18. The device of claim 11 wherein the rider conveyance had riders
suspended beneath it.
19. The device of claim 11 wherein the rider conveyance had riders
is a sitting position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming
the benefits of provisional application No. 61/503,345 filed Jun.
3, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Amusement rides are well known in the art. The amusement
ride industry has seen an increasing growth in what are called
thrill rides, rides that provide the appearance of danger to the
rider. Rides such as swing rides, sling shot rides and bungee jumps
are among the many thrill rides currently known. The safety of the
rider is always a primary concern, and always constrains the design
of rides. Other concerns include cost of installation and
maintenance, the size of the footprint (space needed on the ground)
and number of riders that can use the ride in a given interval of
time. Various types of cable supported rides are well known,
including ski lifts and other similar rides. Cable rides are
generally not considered suitable for thrill rides because of the
difficulties of moving the rider at the speeds necessary for a
thrill ride while being able to make sharp turns also considered
desirable in a thrill ride. Fixed track rides, rides with a solid
metal track, are considered better suited to thrill rides, but have
the disadvantage that the weight of the track requires a much
larger footprint to have a suspended track.
[0003] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations
related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not
exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become
apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the
specification and a study of the drawings.
SUMMARY
[0004] An aspect of the amusement ride disclosed is to provide a
fixed track that is suitable for use as a thrill ride with a
minimal footprint on the ground.
[0005] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described
and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which
are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.
In various embodiments, one or more of the above described problems
have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are
directed to other improvements.
[0006] The amusement ride is a suspended fixed track loop that has
a means for conveying multiple riders in a generally front down
prone position. The single track rail is supported by tensioned
cables. To ensure rider safety there are a number of means to
reduce and/or limit the amount of sway and/or twisting that the
rides can experience.
[0007] A second embodiment of the amusement ride is a people mover
type ride using the tensioned cable supported track.
[0008] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments
described above, further aspects and embodiments will become
apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part
of this specification wherein like reference characters designate
corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the suspended track
amusement ride.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the rider
loading/unloading area.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a suspension tower.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a tilted suspension
tower.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the rider train.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the rider conveyance
assembly with riders with outer surface removed.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross section of a rider conveyance assembly
[0016] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of
the ride.
[0017] Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of the particular
arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other
embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced
figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and
figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather
than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose
of description and not of limitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a suspended track
amusement ride 100. A single rail track 101 is suspended in the air
from towers 102 by a catenary curved suspension cable 110. The
track 101 is a continuous loop that can be between 150 meters and
500 meters long.
[0019] The real limit on the length of the track 101 is the
strength of the track 101 and the suspension cable 110 and not any
limitations on the other elements of the ride. In the depicted
embodiment the loop is about 480 meters long. The towers can vary
in height between 6 and 60 meters tall, or higher. In the depicted
embodiment the towers range in height between 6 meters and 20
meters. The track 101 is attached to the towers 102 and is
supported by tensioned cable 110. Riders R are carried on a flyer
train 105 with rider conveyances in a generally front down
orientation in the depicted embodiment. If desired the riders could
be sitting in a seat or swing type device (not shown). In order to
make it easier to load the riders on flyer train 105, it may be
desirable to have two towers 102 be shorter than the other towers
102 to bring the flyer train 105 closer the ground at loading area
106. In some installations, this may not be desired. Maximum
distance between the towers is dependent on the height of the
towers and the terrain. If desired a second train (not shown) could
be provided on the opposite side of the suspended track loop from
the rider train 105 to add more passenger capacity.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a loading
area 106. A queue guide 107 is provided to organize and guide the
line of people waiting to ride on the suspended track amusement
ride 100. The design of such queue guides 107 to ensure safety and
minimize customer dissatisfaction with wait times is well known and
will not be further discussed here.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a tower 102 with the
suspension cable 110 attached to the tower 102 and the track 101
suspended from the suspension cable 110. In the depicted embodiment
the suspension cable 110 is a single loop of cable that is fed
through the towers 102 and tensioned and then attached to the tower
102. Cable 110 is slid through channels in the top of the towers
and then clamped in place in the channels when the desired tension
is reached. This method allows the whole cable 110 to be tensioned
all at the same time in one operation, helping to ensure that the
tension is even over the whole ride. If desired the suspension
cable 110 could be strung and tensioned between the towers 102 as
separate segments. In the depicted embodiment the suspension cable
110 is a 30 mm (11/8 inch) diameter steel cable. The track 101 is
suspended beneath the suspension cable 110 on attachment cables
104, which are 13 mm (1/2 inch) diameter cables in the depicted
embodiment attached to the suspension cable 110 with swaged clamps
in the depicted embodiment. The track 101 is a 15 cm (six inch)
diameter cylindrical rail 124 with a welded plate 125 on top that
the attachment cables 104 attach to with swaged clevis in the
depicted embodiment. Although the plate 125 is welded to the rail
124 in the depicted embodiment, other ways of attaching would work
as well, including casting the track as a single piece. In the
depicted embodiment the distance between the towers 102 varies
between 150 and 110 feet with between 15 to 10 feet of sag in the
suspension cable at the middle of the span. The amount of span and
swag will depend on the size of the ride and the wind loads the
ride 100 is designed to withstand. Stay cables 108 are used to
balance the tower 102 against the pull of the suspension cable 110
and the weight of the ride. The tension on the cable is between 4.5
to 4545.5 kilograms (10 to 100,000 pounds0 depending on the size of
the ride and the length of the spans.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a tilted suspension tower
140 with stay cables 141. This configuration of tower can be used
if there is a particular geometry of the track that is desired, but
for some reason a tower cannot be placed exactly where required in
an upright position.
[0023] Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, a rider train 105 supports
the riders R on rider conveyances 130. In FIG. 6, the rider
conveyance 130 is shown with its outer casing removed. Multiple
rider conveyances 130 are mounted to the track 101 a given distance
D1 apart. In the depicted embodiment D1 is about 3.7 meters to
ensure that the riders R cannot come into contact with each other.
Other distances could be used as well, so long as safety
considerations are met. A rider support rod 118 is suspended by
hanger 143 from the rider conveyance 130. The rods 118 are
pivotally attached to connection members 117. The connection
members 117 function to reduce any forward and backward (relative
to the direction of travel of the rider R) sway of the rider R and
to tie the riders R in the rider train 105 together to prevent too
much strain on the track 101 being caused by each rider R being
able to sway individually when the riders R are coming out of a
turn. The connection members 117 are rigid in the depicted
embodiment.
[0024] Riders R are attached below the rod 118 on straps 119
attached to a flight suit 120 in at least two locations at the neck
and base of the spine of the rider R to prevent twisting of the
rider R. In the depicted embodiment straps 119 are made of webbing.
The flight suits 120 in the depicted embodiment are a modified hang
gliding suit with the two attachment locations, such as are used on
Skycoaster.RTM. amusement rides and other similar flight rides.
Between one to three riders R can be attached to a rod 118. For
safety reasons, it is probably desirable to make it difficult for
the riders to detach themselves from straps 119. This could be done
in a number of ways, including locking attachments or other means
known in the art.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view through a rider conveyance
130. The rider conveyance 130 has ten wheels in the depicted
embodiment that function to attach the rider conveyance 130 to the
track 101. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, there are four lower vertical
stabilizing wheels 131 and four upper vertical stabilizing wheel
132 that rider on the circular rail 124. Two horizontal stabilizing
wheels 133 ride along plate 125. At least two 132 wheel are driven,
in the depicted embodiment all of wheels 132 are driven. Plate 125
has electric feed rails 136 that carry power for the ride. The
rider conveyances 130 connect to the electric feed rails with a
contact armature (not shown) known in the art in the depicted
embodiment. Other methods of driving the rider conveyance along the
track would work as well, including being pulled by cables,
gravity, chain drives or other known methods.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rider carriage embodiment
of the rider conveyance for the suspended cable amusement ride 200.
The flexibility of the layout of the cable 101 that is allowed by
the towers 102 and the suspension cable 110 may be desirable in
standard cable lift uses, such as ski lifts, aerial viewing rides,
people movers or similar types of rides. A rider carriage 205 would
be used instead of suspending the riders R as in the other
embodiment. A loading platform 206 would be provided to allow the
riders R to come up to the level of the rider carriage 205, or the
cable 101 could dip low enough that this is not necessary. The
cable could either be moving slow enough (1.6-2.4 kilometer per
hour) that riders could walk on to the slowing moving rider
carriage 205 and then a ride operator would close and lock door 188
or the cable 101 could be stopped and the ride loaded and unloaded
as above. The design of the rider conveyances 130 allows the rider
carriage 205 to be easily stopped and started, unlike with standard
bull wheel type cable lifts.
[0027] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have
been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize
certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations
therefor. It is therefore intended that the following appended
claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such
modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations are
within their true sprit and scope. Each apparatus embodiment
described herein has numerous equivalents.
[0028] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used
as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no
intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude any
equivalents of the features shown and described or portions
thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should
be understood that although the present invention has been
specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional
features, modification and variation of the concepts herein
disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that
such modifications and variations are considered to be within the
scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims
[0029] In general the terms and phrases used herein have their
art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard
texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in
the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their
specific use in the context of the invention.
* * * * *