PARK RIDE WITH DROP SWING PROPULSION

Number: 20250065237
Published: 2025-02-27
Filed: 2024-11-13
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: Laffin; Kristopher M.
CPC: A63G31/02; A63G7/00; A63G31/007; A63G27/00; A63G21/00
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Drop-swing-propulsion park ride hardware.

Abstract

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

FIELD

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. BACKGROUND

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.

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, that allow them to push the entertainme

Claims

1. A method of propelling a vehicle along a ride having different track levels, the method comprising: receiving a vehicle on a linkage track section under a perceived motion of the vehicle, the linkage track section coupled to a linkage assembly and configured to move between the different track levels; and causing a movement of the linkage assembly to move the vehicle between the different track levels, wherein the movement is configured to continue the perceived motion of the vehicle without stopping a motion of the vehicle along the ride. || 10. A method of propelling a vehicle along a ride path having an upper track level and a lower track level, the method comprising: receiving, at the upper track level, a vehicle on a linkage track section, the linkage track section configured to move between the upper and lower track levels; moving the linkage track section from the upper track level to the lower track level, wherein the moving generates an energy for the vehicle; and releasing, at the lower track level, the vehicle to travel upon the ride path using, for propulsion, the energy generated by the moving the linkage track section from the upper track level to the lower track level. || 17. A method of propelling a vehicle along a ride having an upper track level and a lower track level, the method comprising: receiving, at the upper track level, a vehicle on a linkage track section under a perceived motion of the vehicle, the linkage track section coupled to a linkage assembly and configured to move between the upper and lower track levels; causing a movement of the linkage assembly to move the linkage track section from the upper track level to the lower track level, wherein the movement is configured to: continue the perceived motion of the vehicle without stopping a motion of the vehicle along the ride, and generate an energy for the vehicle; and releasing, at the lower track level, the vehicle to travel off the linkage track section using, for propulsion, the energy generated by the movement of the linkage track section from the upper track level to the lower track level.