Ride vehicle connection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345198-B2
Application number	US-201916421206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2019
Priority date	Apr 8, 2019
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle connection system in accordance with present embodiments includes a first connection mechanism having a shaft with a first portion coupled to a second portion by a hinged joint. A locking element extends from the second portion. Guides extend on opposing sides of the second portion such that a channel is formed between the guides and the guides block movement of the second portion about the hinged joint outside of the channel. The guides are positioned between the locking element and the hinged joint along the shaft. A second connection mechanism is configured to couple with the first connection mechanism and includes a locking box configured to receive the locking element via an aperture in the locking box and configured such that rotation of the locking element while in the locking box via rotation of the shaft interlocks the locking element with the lock box.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle connection system, comprising:
a first connection mechanism, comprising:
a shaft including a first shaft portion coupled to a second shaft portion by a hinged joint;
a locking element extending from the second shaft portion;
guides extending on opposing sides of the second shaft portion such that a channel is formed between the guides and the guides block movement of the second shaft portion about the hinged joint outside of the channel, wherein the guides are positioned between the locking element and the hinged joint along a length of the shaft; and
a second connection mechanism configured to couple with the first connection mechanism, the second connection mechanism comprising:
a locking box configured to receive the locking element via an aperture in the locking box and configured such that rotation of the locking element while in the locking box via rotation of the shaft interlocks the locking element with the lock box.

2. The vehicle connection system of claim 1 , comprising a support structure engaged with the first shaft portion and configured to support the shaft while allowing for rotation of the shaft.

3. The vehicle connection system of claim 1 , comprising a servo motor, wherein the first shaft portion comprises a servo motor shaft configured to be rotated by the servo motor about a longitudinal axis of the servo motor shaft.

4. The vehicle connection system of claim 1 , wherein the hinged joint comprises a clevis joint.

5. The vehicle connection system of claim 1 , comprising an annular wedge coupled to the second shaft portion, wherein the annular wedge is configured to extend partially into the locking box and engage with a boundary of the aperture when rotated relative to the aperture.

6. The vehicle connection system of claim 5 , wherein the annular wedge is asymmetric about a longitudinal axis of the second shaft portion.

7. The vehicle connection system of claim 1 , wherein the second connection mechanism comprises a roll shaft coupled to the locking box via an additional hinged joint.

8. The vehicle connection system of claim 7 , comprising a roll shaft support configured to support the roll shaft while facilitating rotation of the roll shaft about a longitudinal axis of the roll shaft.

9. The vehicle connection system of claim 7 , comprising an extension from the roll shaft and an engager configured to be actuated to engage the extension to block rotation of the roll shaft.

10. The vehicle connection system of claim 9 , wherein the extension comprises an eyelet and the engager comprises a pin configured to extend through the eyelet.

11. The vehicle connection system of claim 7 , comprising an actuator configured to extend an additional locking element into engagement with the locking box to resist rotation of the locking box about the additional hinged joint.

12. The vehicle connection system of claim 11 , wherein the additional locking element comprises an elongate structure extending transverse to an axis of rotation of the additional hinged joint such that engagement of the elongate structure with a surface of the locking box blocks rotation about the axis of rotation.

13. The vehicle connection system of claim 11 , wherein the actuator comprises a linear electromechanical actuator.

14. A vehicle connection system, comprising:
a first connection mechanism including a locking box configured to engage a first locking element of a second connection mechanism;
a roll shaft of the first connection mechanism coupled to the locking box via a hinged joint, wherein the roll shaft is configured to rotate relative to a roll shaft support configured to support the roll shaft;
an extension from the roll shaft and an engager configured to be actuated to engage the extension to block rotation of the roll shaft; and
an actuator configured to extend a second locking element into engagement with the locking box to resist rotation of the locking box about the hinge joint.

15. The vehicle connection system of claim 14 , wherein the extension comprises an eyelet and the engager comprises a pin configured to extend through the eyelet.

16. The vehicle connection system of claim 14 , wherein the second locking element comprises an elongate structure extending transverse to an axis of rotation of the hinged joint such that engagement of the elongate structure with a surface of the locking box blocks rotation about the axis of rotation.

17. The vehicle connection system of claim 14 , comprising the second connection mechanism, wherein the second connection mechanism comprises the first locking element disposed on a distal end of a shaft.

18. The vehicle connection system of claim 17 , wherein the shaft comprises two shaft portions coupled by an additional hinged joint.

19. A system, comprising:
a first vehicle;
a first connector coupled to the first vehicle and comprising a locking element extending from a shaft, wherein a first portion of the shaft is coupled to a second portion of the shaft about a first hinged joint, and wherein the shaft is configured to axially rotate;
a second vehicle; and
a second connector coupled to the second vehicle and comprising an engager, a locking box configured to receive the locking element and interlock with the locking element upon rotation of the locking element, a second hinged joint, and a roll shaft coupled to the locking box via the second hinged joint, wherein the roll shaft includes an extension having an eyelet, and wherein the engager is configured to engage the extension via a pin that extends through the eyelet of the extension.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first connector comprises guides configured to block rotation about the first hinged joint in a lateral direction, and wherein the second connector comprises a first locking element configured to block rotation of the roll shaft and a second locking element configured to block rotation of the locking box about the second hinged joint.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Delgado Nicholas Alexander
• Nuñez Osorio Vanessa Elizabeth
• Phillips Christopher André
• Morrison Ryan Ramong

Classifications

• A63G7/00 Primary

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

• A63G21/04

  with fixed rails · CPC title

• B60D1/04 Primary

  Hook or hook-and-hasp couplings · CPC title

• A63G1/24

  with seats performing movements in a horizontal plane, other than circular movements · CPC title

• B60D1/246

  for actuating the hitch by powered means · CPC title