- Number
- 11005339
- Published
- 2021-05-11
- Filed
- 2020-03-06
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Herrejon; Guillermo L., Sebesta; Robert A.
- CPC
- H02K7/1846; A63G23/00; H02K7/1853; A63G1/16
- Verdict
- Low Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Ride hardware: spinning ride with onboard power generation.
Abstract
A spinning ride system adapted to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy onboard each of its vehicles. The system includes a passenger vehicle with a chassis for receiving a passenger. The system includes a ride structure including a support arm supporting the passenger vehicle, and the ride structure moves the support arm along a ride path. The system includes a mounting sleeve statically attached to the chassis and pivotally coupled to the support arm. A user input mechanism is attached to the mounting sleeve adapted to receive user input forces to cause the chassis to have movements relative to the support arm. The system includes an electrical component provided on or in the chassis and includes a kinetic energy conversion assembly with an electrical generator converting kinetic energy of the chassis during the movements (e.g., spinning) to electrical energy used to power the electrical component.
Background
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description (1) The present description relates, in general, to amusement park rides with onboard power in its vehicles. More particularly, the description relates to an amusement park ride with spinning or spin-capable vehicles (“a spinning amusement park ride”) in which each vehicle is configured to enable generating of onboard power during ride operations. 2. Relevant Background (2) Amusement parks continue to search for ways to continue to entertain and excite their visitors. In this regard, operators of amusement parks are always looking for new ride designs and for ways to make existing rides more interesting to encourage riders to enjoy the ride multiple times per visit to the park. (3) In some cases, the basic ride structure is retained and the passenger vehicles are updated or reconfigured to enhance the ride experience. For example, a ride may include vehicles in which the body or chassis is supported on a ride structure that moves the vehicles along a ride path, and each body or chassis is allowed to be moved or oriented in response to input from its passengers or riders. In one well-known design, the body or chassis is designed to take on the appearance of giant teacups that can be spun about a center vertical axis as the vehicle is moved along a ride path by the underlying ride structure. To update the ride, each vehicle may be modified to include electronic components that create special effects such as unique lighting, differing sound
Claims
1. A ride system adapted to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy, comprising: a passenger vehicle with a chassis for receiving a passenger; a ride structure including a support arm supporting the passenger vehicle, wherein the ride structure moves the support arm along a ride path during operations of the ride system; a mounting sleeve statically attached to the chassis and pivotally coupled to the support arm; a user input mechanism attached to the mounting sleeve adapted to receive user input forces to cause the chassis to have movements relative to the support arm in response to the user input forces; an electrical component provided on or in the chassis; and a kinetic energy conversion assembly with an electrical generator converting kinetic energy of the chassis during the movements to electrical energy used to power the electrical component, wherein the electrical generator is mounted to the chassis, and wherein the kinetic energy conversion assembly includes a first support member statically mounted to the support arm, a second support member attached to an input drive shaft of the generator, and a drive member supported upon the first and second support members, whereby the spinning of the chassis causes the drive member to rotate the input drive shaft about its central axis. ||
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8. A ride system adapted to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy, comprising: a vehicle with a body for receiving a passenger; a ride structure including an arm supporting the body of the vehicle, wherein the ride structure moves the arm and the body along a ride path during operations of the ride system; a mounting sleeve pivotally coupled to the arm; a user input mechanism attached to the mounting sleeve adapted to receive user input forces from the passenger and, in response, to transmit the user input forces to the body to cause spinning of the body relative to the arm; an electrical component provided onboard the body of the vehicle; and an electrical generator converting kinetic energy of the body during the spinning into electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is used to power the electrical component, wherein the spinning is first in a counterclockwise direction and second in a clockwise direction during the movements, wherein the electrical generator includes an alternator, wherein the ride system further comprises a battery electrically coupled to an outlet of the alternator to store the electrical energy and electrically coupled to the electrical component or a controller of the electrical component, and wherein the ride system further comprises a first support member statically mounted to the arm, a second support member attached to an input drive shaft of the alternator, and a drive member supported upon or by the first and second support members, whereby the spinning of the body causes the drive member to rotate the input drive shaft about its central axis. ||
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12. A ride system adapted to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy, comprising: a vehicle with a chassis for receiving one or more passengers; a support arm supporting the vehicle, wherein the vehicle moves with the support arm along a ride path during operations of the ride system; a mounting member attached to the chassis and pivotally coupled to the support arm, whereby the mounting member and the chassis move together relative to the support arm; a mechanism attached to the mounting member adapted to receive user input causing the mounting member and the chassis to have spinning movements relative to the support arm in response to the user input; an electrical component provided on or in the chassis; and a kinetic energy conversion assembly with a battery and with an electrical generator using the spinning movement of the chassis to generate electrical energy stored in the battery for use in powering the electrical component, wherein the electrical component includes at least one of a light, a display element, and an audio element, wherein the electrical component is coupled to the electrical generator to receive the electrical energy from the electrical generator during the movements of the chassis, and wherein the electrical component has operations varying with a magnitude of the electrical energy. ||
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16. A ride system adapted to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy, comprising: a vehicle with a body for receiving a passenger; a ride structure including an arm supporting the body of the vehicle, wherein the ride structure moves the arm and the body along a ride path during operations of the ride system; a mounting sleeve pivotally coupled to the arm; a user input mechanism attached to the mounting sleeve adapted to receive user input forces from the passenger and, in response, to transmit the user input forces to the body to cause spinning of the body relative to the arm; an electrical component provided onboard the body of the vehicle; and an electrical generator converting kinetic energy of the body during the spinning into electrical energy, wherein the electrical energy is used to power the electrical component, wherein the spinning is first in a counterclockwise direction and second in a clockwise direction during the movements, wherein the electrical component is coupled to the electrical generator to receive the electrical energy from the electrical generator during the movements of the body, and wherein the electrical component has operations that vary with a magnitude of the electrical energy. || 1.