Ride hardware with drop-swing propulsion (granted).
A park ride for use in theme parks, amusement parks, and other settings. The new ride includes a track defining a ride path for a passenger vehicle (or multiple vehicles that may be linked in a train). The vehicle is configured, such as with a bogie assembly with two to four or more wheels, to roll upon and engage the track. The ride includes a drop swing propulsion system that is adapted to drop a section of track upon which the passenger vehicle is supported from a first elevation to a second elevation that is lower than the first elevation. The dropping motion involves swinging the track with a linkage assembly, which with other components of the system may form a four-bar linkage, so as to impart a propelling force on the vehicle to move it along an exit track section provided at the second, lower elevation.
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description (1) The present description relates, in general, to rides and ride systems for use in amusement parks, theme parks, and other settings (“park rides”), and, more particularly, to a new park ride (and corresponding operating or control method for such a park ride) that includes one or more sections adapted to provide drop swing propulsion to a one or more passenger vehicles. The new park ride design is particularly well suited for use in roller coasters, water rides, and the like in which vehicles are configured to ride or roll, at least a portion of the time, upon a track. 2. Relevant Background (2) There is a continuing demand by visitors to amusement and theme parks, as well as other settings where rides are provided, for new and surprising ride experiences. Most existing park rides are based on very old ride designs and configurations with many of the more recent updates being limited to thematic elements including the surrounding scenery, audio and visual effects, and vehicle designs, which do not affect the physical ride experience and sensation itself. Park visitors have very high expectations and demand that rides provide unique experiences to encourage them to return to a park and to go on rides multiple times. (3) For example, nearly every park or park-like facility includes one or more roller coasters. Park visitors find roller coasters exciting and fun, but many park operators have turned to other rides, such as dark rides, tha
1. A park ride for propelling a vehicle using a combined drop and swing motion, comprising: a passenger vehicle configured for rolling upon track components defining a ride path; a load-in track section in the ride path engaging and supporting the passenger vehicle at a first elevation while the vehicle travels in a first direction along the ride path; a linkage track section; and a linkage assembly coupled to the linkage track section, wherein the linkage assembly first operates to position the linkage track section in a first position at the first elevation that is adjacent the load-in track section to receive and support the passenger vehicle and second operates to drop and swing the linkage track section with the passenger vehicle to a second position, at a second elevation less than the first elevation by a predefined amount, from which the passenger vehicle is released from the load-in track with energy generated by the drop and swing of the linkage track section, wherein the linkage assembly is rotated through a rotation angle to drop and swing the linkage track section from the first elevation to the second elevation while retaining the linkage track section in a horizontal plane during the drop and swing movement. ||
12. A park ride for propelling a passenger vehicle via a swing during a drop in elevation, comprising: at a first elevation, a load-in track section supporting and guiding the passenger vehicle; and a drop swing propulsion assembly including: a base support structure; a linkage track section; and a pair of spaced apart and parallel elongated arms, wherein each of the elongated arms is pivotably coupled, via coupling members, at a first end to the base support structure and at a second end to the linkage track section, wherein the base support structure, the linkage track section, and the elongated arms are arranged to each provide a link of a four-bar linkage, wherein the drop swing propulsion assembly first operates to position the linkage track section in a first position adjacent the load-in track section to receive the passenger vehicle and second operates to drop and swing the linkage track section with the passenger vehicle to a second position via concurrent rotation of the elongated arms through a predefined rotation angle, wherein the linkage track section has a horizontal plane orientation throughout the drop and swing while the elongated arms are rotated through the rotation angle, and wherein the linkage track section in the second position is at a second elevation less than the first elevation. ||
19. A park ride for propelling a passenger vehicle via a swing during a drop in elevation, comprising: a drop swing propulsion assembly configured as a four-bar linkage with a first link provided by a linkage track section, a second link provided by a base support structure, and third and fourth links provided by linkage arms each pivotally pivotably coupled at opposite ends to the linkage track section and the base support structure; a sensor assembly; and a system controller performing the steps of: processing first sensor data output by the sensor assembly to verify alignment of the linkage track section with a load-in track section; processing second sensor data output by the sensor assembly to determine when the passenger vehicle is positioned at and captured at an end of the linkage track section; and generating a control signal to operate the drop swing propulsion assembly to rotate the third and fourth links through a rotation angle to drop and swing the linkage track section from a first elevation to a lower second elevation while retaining the linkage track section in a horizontal orientation.