Rotating platform coaster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11071922-B2
Application number	US-201916696653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2019
Priority date	Apr 1, 2019
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for an amusement park includes a bogie system that moves along a ride path, a platform coupled to the bogie system, and a plurality of seats coupled to a surface of the platform. The platform may rotate about a guide axis with respect to the bogie system, and the plurality of seats may rotate about the guide axis with the platform.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for an amusement park, comprising:
a bogie system configured to move along a ride path;
a platform coupled to the bogie system, wherein the platform is configured to rotate about a guide axis with respect to the bogie system;
a plurality of seats coupled to a surface of the platform and configured to rotate about the guide axis with the platform;
a sensor configured to detect a position of a seat of the plurality of seats with respect to the platform; and
a controller configured to control rotation of the platform based on the position of the seat of the plurality of seats.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a slot, and wherein the seat of the plurality of seats is configured to move along the slot with respect to the platform.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seat of the plurality of seats is rotatably coupled to the platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a position of the platform with respect to the ride path, and wherein the controller is configured to receive feedback indicative of the position of the platform from the sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control the rotation of the platform about the guide axis based on the feedback from the sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the seat of the plurality of seats is coupled to the platform via a gimbal system.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the gimbal system is configured to maintain a position of the seat of the plurality of seats with respect to the ride path.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
an interactive component configured to be handled by a guest positioned the seat of the plurality of seats; and
a target positioned along the ride path and configured to be activated by the interactive component, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive feedback from the interactive component, the target, or both upon activation of the interactive component; and
control the rotation of the platform about the guide axis based on the feedback.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein each seat of the plurality of seats is configured to move along a respective slot of the plurality of slots.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each seat of the plurality of seats is configured to move along the respective slot independent from other seats of the plurality of seats.

11. A system, comprising:
a bogie system configured to direct motion along a ride path;
a platform coupled to the bogie system, wherein the platform is configured to rotate about a guide axis with respect to the bogie system;
a plurality of seats coupled to a surface of the platform and configured to rotate about the guide axis with the platform;
a first actuator configured to rotate the platform about the guide axis;
a second actuator configured to rotate the platform about a tilt axis, wherein the tilt axis is oriented crosswise to the guide axis;
a sensor configured to determine a position of a seat of the plurality of seats with respect to the platform; and
a controller configured to control the first actuator, the second actuator, or both, based on the position of the seat of the plurality of seats with respect to the platform.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first actuator comprises a gear assembly driven by a motor.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second actuator comprises a pivot assembly having a pivot structure and a plurality of telescoping actuators coupled to the pivot structure.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator based on a position of the platform with respect to the ride path.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the seat of the plurality of seats is rotatably coupled to the platform.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the platform comprises a third actuator configured to move the seat of the plurality of seats away from the platform, toward the platform, or both.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the seat of the plurality of seats comprises a base having a telescoping segment coupled to the third actuator that enables the seat of the plurality of seats to move away from the platform, toward the platform, or both.

18. A system for an amusement park, comprising:
a track defining a ride path;
a bogie system coupled to the track, wherein the bogie system is configured to direct motion along the ride path;
a platform coupled to the bogie system, wherein the platform is configured to rotate about a guide axis with respect to the bogie system;
a first seat coupled to a surface of the platform and configured to rotate about the guide axis with the platform;
a second seat coupled to the surface of the platform and configured to rotate about the guide axis with the platform;
a sensor configured to determine a first position of the first seat, a second position of the second seat, or both with respect to the platform; and
a controller configured to control rotation of the platform based on the first position of the first seat, the second position of the second seat, or both.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the track comprises a dead end, and wherein the bogie system is configured to move toward the dead end in a first direction and away from the dead end in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the platform is configured to rotate approximately 180 degrees with respect to the bogie system upon reaching the dead end.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Hall Gregory S
• Mcveen Keith Michael

Classifications

• A63G33/00

  Devices allowing competitions between several persons, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A63G31/14 Primary

  with planes mounted on springs; with movable planes · CPC title

• A63G31/08

  with looping, hopping, or throwing motions of the substructure · CPC title

• A63G7/00 Primary

  Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks · CPC title

• A63G31/04

  with jolting substructures · CPC title