Systems and methods for inspection of fasteners in amusement park attractions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12305686-B2
Application number	US-202217975338-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2022
Priority date	Oct 27, 2022
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

An attraction system includes a first component, a second component, a fastener configured to couple the first component to the second component, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a torque stripe extending between the fastener and a reference point of the attraction system, wherein the RFID tag is configured to emit a radio frequency (RF) signal in response to the torque stripe being unbroken, and an RFID reader configured to detect the RF signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An attraction system, comprising:
a first component;
a second component;
a fastener configured to couple the first component to the second component; and
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising an RFID chip, an antenna, and a torque stripe extending from the RFID chip to the antenna and between the fastener and a reference point of the attraction system, wherein the antenna is configured to emit a radio frequency (RF) signal in response to the torque stripe being unbroken.

2. The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the torque stripe is configured to break in response to a torque of the fastener deviating from a target torque.

3. The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the torque stripe comprises a conductive ink.

4. The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID chip comprises processing circuitry, memory circuitry, or both.

5. The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is disposed on the fastener or at the reference point.

6. The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the first component or the second component comprises the reference point.

7. The attraction system of claim 1 , comprising:
an RFID reader configured to detect the RF signal; and
an autonomous vehicle on which the RFID reader is disposed, wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to traverse a track of the attraction system.

8. The attraction system of claim 1 , comprising:
an RFID reader configured to detect the RF signal; and
a drone on which the RFID reader is disposed.

9. The attraction system of claim 1 , comprising a track having the first component, the second component, or both.

10. The attraction system of claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of fasteners including the fastener and an additional fastener;
a plurality of RFID tags including the RFID tag and an additional RFID tag corresponding to the additional fastener; and
an RFID reader configured to:
determine, based on detecting the RF signal and failing to detect an additional RF signal corresponding to the additional RFID tag, that the fastener is properly fastened and that the additional fastener is not properly fastened; and
transmit a notification identifying the additional fastener and indicating that the additional fastener is not properly fastened.

11. The attraction system of claim 1 , wherein the torque stripe comprises a conductive ink, and the attraction system comprises one or more layers of non-conductive material configured to electrically insulate the conductive ink from conductive componentry of the attraction system.

12. A system, comprising:
a torque stripe at least partially positioned over a fastener that connects portions of a track of an attraction system, wherein the fastener is tightened to a torque corresponding to a target torque; and
an RFID tag comprising the torque stripe, an RFID chip, and an antenna configured to emit a radio frequency (RF) signal while the torque stripe is continuous, wherein the torque stripe extends from the antenna to the RFID chip while the torque stripe is continuous.

13. The system of claim 12 , comprising an RFID reader configured to determine that the torque corresponds to the target torque in response to detecting the RF signal emitted by the antenna, and configured to determine that the torque deviates from the target torque in response to the RFID tag failing to emit the RF signal to the RFID reader.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the torque stripe comprises conductive ink.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the torque stripe is configured to break in response to the torque deviating from the target torque.

16. The system of claim 12 , comprising:
a plurality of fasteners including the fastener and an additional fastener;
a plurality of RFID tags including the RFID tag and an additional RFID tag corresponding to the additional fastener; and
an RFID reader configured to:
determine, based on detecting the RF signal and failing to detect an additional RF signal corresponding to the additional RFID tag, that the fastener is properly fastened and that the additional fastener is not properly fastened; and
transmit a notification identifying the additional fastener and indicating that the additional fastener is not properly fastened.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the torque stripe comprises a conductive ink, and the system comprises one or more layers of non-conductive material configured to electrically insulate the conductive ink from conductive componentry of the system.

18. A method, comprising:
detecting, via a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a radio frequency (RF) signal emitted by an RFID tag comprising an RFID chip, and antenna configured to emit the RF signal, and a torque stripe extending between a fastener and a reference point of an attraction system and from the RFID chip to the antenna such that the torque stripe completes a circuit formed by the RFID tag;
determining, via the RFID reader and in response to the RFID tag failing to transmit an additional RF signal to the RFID reader, that the torque stripe is broken; and
generating, via the RFID reader and in response to determining that the torque stripe is broken, an electronic notification indicating a fault mode corresponding to the fastener.

19. The method of claim 18 , comprising forming the torque stripe extending between the fastener and the reference point of the attraction system and from the RFID chip to the antenna such that the torque stripe completes the circuit between the RFID chip and the antenna of the RFID tag.

20. The method of claim 18 , comprising generating, via the RFID reader and in response to determining that the torque stripe is broken, the electronic notification indicating that the fault mode corresponds to a torque of the fastener deviates from a target torque.

21. The method of claim 18 , comprising tightening the fastener to couple a track component corresponding to a first component of the attraction system with a second component of the attraction system such that a torque associated with the fastener corresponds to a target torque.

22. The method of claim 18 , comprising transmitting, via the RFID reader, an interrogation signal that is configured to power the RFID tag.

23. The method of claim 18 , comprising including, in the electronic notification, an identification distinguishing the fastener from an additional fastener of the attraction system.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Mall Jr Howard Bruce

Classifications

• G06K7/10386

  the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• A63G7/00

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

• G01L5/24

  for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed · CPC title

• F16B5/02

  by means of fastening members using screw-thread ({F16B5/0004 takes precedence}; construction of screw-threaded connections F16B25/00 - F16B39/00) · CPC title