Amusement park ride tunnel

• US 10,099,149 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Boyle, Patrick Devin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien
• Application Number:
  US14/873,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 472 59- 61, 472 88- 92, 472117, 472128, 472130, 434 29, 434 55
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 1/02 with masking tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 21/04 with fixed rails
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 31/16 creating illusions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 4/00 Accessories for roundabouts not restricted to one of groups A63G1/00 or A63G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks

Abstract

A ride system includes a tunnel, a vehicle ride path in the tunnel, an entrance disposed at a first end of the tunnel, a second end of the tunnel, one or more walls of the tunnel, and a projection system to project images onto the one or more walls of the tunnel. The tunnel is curved such that the second end of the tunnel is not visible at an intermediate position between the first end of the tunnel and the second end of the tunnel.

Claims

1. A ride system, comprising:

a tunnel;

a vehicle ride path in the tunnel, wherein the vehicle ride path comprises a track including a first track section and a second track section, wherein the second track section is disposed on a motion base;

an entrance disposed at a first end of the tunnel;

a second end of the tunnel, wherein the second end of the tunnel is configured to move relative to the first end of the tunnel;

one or more walls of the tunnel, wherein the tunnel is curved such that the second end of the tunnel is not visible from an intermediate position located on the track, between the first end of the tunnel and the second end of the tunnel, wherein the second track section is configured to disconnect from the first track section when one or more ride vehicles are at the intermediate position;

a set piece conveyance mechanism configured to convey set pieces along a length of the vehicle ride path; and

a projection system configured to project images onto the one or more walls of the tunnel.

2. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the projection system comprises one or more projectors disposed outside of the tunnel and wherein the one or more walls are translucent.

3. The ride system of claim 2, comprising additional walls that are not translucent.

4. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the projection system comprises one or more self-illuminating panels disposed on or forming the one or more walls.

5. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ride vehicles are configured to move along the vehicle ride path.

6. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the projection system is configured to detect a location of the one or more ride vehicles and to display images that simulate increased acceleration through the tunnel as the one or more vehicles move from the entrance to the intermediate position.

7. The ride system of claim 6, wherein the tunnel comprises an exit at the second end of the tunnel, and wherein the projection system is configured to display images that simulate deceleration as the one or more ride vehicles move from the intermediate position to the exit.

8. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a wind generation system configured to blow air toward the one or more ride vehicles disposed on the vehicle ride path.

9. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a platform disposed inside the tunnel at the intermediate position, wherein the platform is coupled to the motion base.

10. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a turntable disposed inside the tunnel at the intermediate position.

11. The ride system of claim 1, wherein the set piece conveyance mechanism is configured to move the set pieces within the tunnel along at least one side of the vehicle ride path.

12. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a motion system configured to rotate the tunnel.

13. An amusement park ride, comprising:

a set piece conveyance mechanism;

a tunnel comprising an entrance at a first end of the tunnel, a second end of the tunnel, and at least one wall; and

a ride path disposed in the tunnel and bounded by the at least one wall and the set piece conveyance mechanism, wherein the set piece conveyance mechanism is configured to convey set pieces along a length of the ride path, wherein the tunnel comprises a curved shape such that the second end of the tunnel is not visible at an intermediate position along the ride path between the entrance and the second end, wherein the second end of the tunnel is configured to move relative to the first end of the tunnel, wherein the ride path comprises a track including a first track section and a second track section on which the intermediate position is located, and wherein the second track section is disposed on a motion base configured to disconnect the second track section from the first track section when a ride vehicle is at the intermediate position.

14. The amusement park ride of claim 13, wherein the set piece conveyance mechanism comprises a carousel.

15. The amusement park ride of claim 13, wherein the set piece conveyance mechanism comprises a conveyor belt.

16. The amusement park ride of claim 13, wherein the set piece conveyance mechanism is positioned overhead of the ride path such that the ride vehicle on the ride path passes under the set piece conveyance mechanism.

17. The amusement park ride system of claim 13, wherein the set pieces are configured to pass on either side of the ride path as they pass along the length of the ride path.

18. The amusement park ride system of claim 13, wherein the tunnel decreases in diameter from the first end to the second end.

19. The amusement park ride system of claim 13, wherein the ride vehicle is configured to enter the tunnel via the first end, rotate, and exit the tunnel via the first end.