Fail-safe ride simulator
First Claim
1. A ride simulator, comprising:
- a base;
a platform mounted for movement relative to said base;
an actuation mechanism operatively arranged between said platform and base, said actuation mechanism including a plurality of electro-mechanical servoactuators acting between said platform and said base for selectively causing relative movement therebetween; and
fail-safe means operatively arranged to continuously monitor the condition of said actuation mechanism and to cause said platform to move automatically toward a predetermined position relative to said base in the event of any unsafe and uncontrolled condition of said actuation mechanism resulting in (a) exceeding a predetermined disparity between commanded and actual positions, (b) exceeding a predetermined range of travel, (c) applying a command that exceeds a permissible range of travel, or (d) applying a command rate that exceeds predetermined limits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fail-safe ride simulator (10) broadly includes a base (11), a platform (13) mounted for movement relative to the base, an actuation mechanism (14) operatively arranged between the platform and an actuation mechanism operatively arranged between the platform and the base. The actuation mechanism includes a plurality of electro-mechanical servoactuators (23) acting between the platform and base for causing relative movement therebetween. A fail-safe circuit (34) is operatively arranged to continuously monitor the condition of the actuation mechanism, and to cause the platform to move automatically toward a predetermined position relative to the base in the event of an unsafe condition in the actuation mechanism.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A ride simulator, comprising:
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a base; a platform mounted for movement relative to said base; an actuation mechanism operatively arranged between said platform and base, said actuation mechanism including a plurality of electro-mechanical servoactuators acting between said platform and said base for selectively causing relative movement therebetween; and fail-safe means operatively arranged to continuously monitor the condition of said actuation mechanism and to cause said platform to move automatically toward a predetermined position relative to said base in the event of any unsafe and uncontrolled condition of said actuation mechanism resulting in (a) exceeding a predetermined disparity between commanded and actual positions, (b) exceeding a predetermined range of travel, (c) applying a command that exceeds a permissible range of travel, or (d) applying a command rate that exceeds predetermined limits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. The method of operating a ride simulator having a base, having a platform mounted for movement relative to said base, and having a plurality of electro-mechanical servoactuators acting between said platform and base for selectively causing relative movement therebetween, comprising the steps of:
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commanding said platform to move relative to said base; monitoring at least one performance parameter of said servoactuators; monitoring the response of said platform to such commanded motion; and causing said platform to move automatically toward a predetermined position relative to said base, notwithstanding such commanded motion, whenever (a) said servoactuators exceed a predetermined disparity between commanded and actual positions, (b) said servoactuators exceed a predetermined range of travel, (c) a command is applied that exceeds a permissible range of travel, or (d) a command rate is applied that exceeds predetermined limits.
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17. A ride simulator, comprising:
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a base; a platform mounted for movement relative to said base; an actuation mechanism operatively arranged between said platform and base, said actuation mechanism including a plurality of electro-mechanical servoactuators acting between said platform and said base for selectively causing relative movement therebetween; and fail-safe means operatively arranged to continuously monitor the condition of said actuation mechanism and to cause said platform to move automatically toward a predetermined position relative to said base in the event of any unsafe and uncontrolled condition of said actuation mechanism resulting in (a) exceeding a predetermined disparity between commanded and actual positions, or (b) exceeding a predetermined range of travel.
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18. The method of operating a ride simulator having a base, having a platform mounted for movement relative to said base, and having a plurality of electro-mechanical servoactuators acting between said platform and base for selectively causing relative movement therebetween, comprising the steps of:
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commanding said platform to move relative to said base; monitoring at least one performance parameter of said servoactuators; monitoring the response of said platform to such commanded motion; and causing said platform to move automatically toward a predetermined position relative to said base, notwithstanding such commanded motion, whenever (a) said servoactuators exceed a predetermined disparity between commanded and actual positions, or (b) said servoactuators exceed a predetermined range of travel.
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Specification