Roller coaster car having a force-isolated passenger compartment

• US 6,487,975 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gordon, Jonathan I.
• Original Assignee: Gordon, Jonathan I.
• Inventors: Gordon, Jonathan I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F.
• Application Number:
  US09/643,076
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 104/53, 104/57, 104/74, 104/83, 104/85, 104/295, 472/59, 472/43
• US Class Current: 104/53
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks

Abstract

A roller coaster ride includes a pair of spaced apart parallel tracks and a car assembly. The car assembly includes a superstructure with wheels which engage the track and a passenger compartment which is coupled to the superstructure but force-isolated from it by force controlling devices. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the force controlling devices include springs and pneumatic cylinders. The pneumatic cylinders are preferably controlled by an electrically operated pump/valve in response to signals from the roller coaster operator and/or a computer. The passenger compartment is preferably provided with a plurality of sensors for sensing velocity and acceleration as well as the condition of doors and restraints. According to one embodiment of the invention, the outputs from sensors are transmitted to the roller coaster operator and the operator manually activates pumps/valves to alter the forces acting on the passenger compartment. According to a second embodiment, the outputs from sensors are transmitted to a central computer which sends signals to the pumps/valves in response to a program which responds to the sensor signals. According to a third embodiment, the outputs from sensors are transmitted to an onboard computer which sends signals to the pumps/valves in response to a program which responds to the sensor signals.

Claims

1. A roller coaster car, comprising:

a) a superstructure having wheels adapted to ride on a track;

b) a passenger compartment coupled to said super structure;

c) a plurality of force controlling devices coupled to said superstructure and said passenger compartment for altering forces imparted on said passenger compartment; and

d) a force sensor for measuring force exerted on said passenger compartment and producing an electrical signal in response thereto.

2. A roller coaster car according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of force controlling devices includes at least one pneumatic cylinder.

3. A roller coaster car according to claim 2, wherein:

said plurality of force controlling devices includes at least one spring.

4. A roller coaster car according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said force controlling devices is electrically operable.

5. A roller coaster car according to claim 1, further comprising:

e) transceiver means coupled to said force sensor and said at least one electrically operable force controlling device, wherein

said electrical signal is transmitted to a location outside said roller coaster car, and

said at least one electrically operable force controlling device is operable from said location outside said roller coaster car.

6. A roller coaster car according to claim 5, wherein:

said force sensor-includes at least one accelerometer.

7. A roller coaster car according to claim 1, further comprising:

e) processor means coupled to said force sensor and said at least one electrically operable force controlling device, wherein

said processor means receives said electrical signal and operates said at least one electrically operable force controlling device in response to said electrical signal and a program.

8. A roller coaster car according to claim 7, wherein:

said force sensor includes at least one accelerometer, and

said program is designed to activate said at least one electrically operable force controlling device in such a way as to mitigate acceleration of said passenger compartment.

9. A roller coaster ride, comprising:

i) a track; and

ii) at least one roller coaster car, said car comprising

a) a superstructure having wheels adapted to ride on said track;

b) a passenger compartment coupled to said super structure;

c) a plurality of force controlling devices coupled to said superstructure and said passenger compartment for altering forces imparted on said passenger compartment; and

d) a force sensor for measuring force exerted on said passenger compartment and producing an electrical signal in response thereto.

10. A roller coaster ride according to claim 9, wherein:

said plurality of force controlling devices includes at least one pneumatic cylinder.

11. A roller coaster ride according to claim 10, wherein:

said plurality of force controlling devices includes at least one spring.

12. A roller coaster ride according to claim 9, wherein:

at least one of said force controlling devices is electrically operable.

13. A roller coaster ride according to claim 9, wherein said roller coaster car further comprises:

e) transceiver means coupled to said force sensor and said at least one electrically operable force controlling device, wherein

said electrical signal is transmitted to a location outside said roller coaster car, and

said at least one electrically operable force controlling device is operable from said location outside said roller coaster car.

14. A roller coaster ride according to claim 13, wherein:

said force sensor includes at least one accelerometer.

15. A roller coaster ride according to claim 9, wherein said roller coaster car further comprises:

e) processor means coupled to said force sensor and said at least one electrically operable force controlling device, wherein

said processor means receives said electrical signal and operates said at least one electrically operable force controlling device in response to said electrical signal and a program.

16. A roller coaster ride according to claim 15, wherein:

said force sensor includes at least one accelerometer, and

said program is designed to activate said at least one electrically operable force controlling device in such a way as to mitigate acceleration of said passenger compartment.

17. A roller coaster ride according to claim 9, wherein:

said at least one car includes a plurality of substantially identical cars.

18. A roller coaster ride according to claim 17, wherein:

said plurality of cars are coupled in a string.

19. A roller coaster ride according to claim 9, further comprising:

iii) locating means for determining the location of said car relative to locations on said track; and

iv) actuation means coupled to said locating means and said force controlling devices for actuating one or more of said force controlling devices at predetermined track locations.

20. A roller coaster ride, comprising:

i) a track;

ii) at least one roller coaster car, said car comprising

a) a superstructure having wheels adapted to ride on said track;

b) a passenger compartment coupled to said super structure; and

c) a plurality of translation devices coupled to said superstructure and said passenger compartment for moving said passenger compartment relative to said superstructure;

iii) locating means for determining the location of said car relative to locations on said track; and

iv) actuation means coupled to said locating means and said translation devices for actuating one or more of said translation devices at predetermined track locations.

21. A roller coaster car, comprising:

a) a superstructure including a first ring and a second ring, said first ring having a first diameter lying in a first plane, said second ring having a second diameter lying in a second plane which is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said first plane;

b) a passenger compartment extending completely through said first plane; and

c) a plurality of dynamic force controlling devices coupled to said first ring and to said passenger compartment for altering forces exerted on said passenger compartment, said passenger compartment being movable relative to said first and second planes.

22. A roller coaster car according to claim 21, wherein:

said plurality of force controlling devices includes at least four force controlling devices spaced approximately ninety degrees apart.

23. A roller coaster car according to claim 21, wherein:

said passenger compartment includes at least one door which opens down and out and provides treads for walking up into said passenger compartment.