Method of bogie replacement for turntable station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12564792-B2
Application number	US-202318390214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2023
Priority date	Jul 1, 2020
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for replacing a drive assembly. A system includes a bogie assembly comprising a wheel and a drive assembly configured to drive the wheel to roll on a top surface of a structure. The system further includes a translating cartridge movably mounted to a side surface of the structure. The translating cartridge pivots from a first orientation to a second orientation to couple with the drive assembly and decouple the drive assembly coupled to the translating cartridge from the bogie assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a wheel; a drive assembly configured to drive the wheel to roll on a top surface of a structure; and a cartridge configured to movably couple to a side surface of the structure, wherein the cartridge is configured to pivotally couple to the structure to enable the cartridge to pivot from a second orientation to a first orientation while the cartridge is coupled to the drive assembly to move the drive assembly away from the top surface of the structure.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is configured to move along the side surface of the structure while the cartridge is empty and in the first orientation to reach an unloading position relative to the drive assembly.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge is configured to:
move along the side surface of the structure while the cartridge is in the first orientation and coupled to the drive assembly to reach a position away from the unloading position.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises:
an adapter plate configured to detachably couple to the drive assembly; a tilting slide carriage coupled to the adapter plate, wherein the tilting slide carriage is configured to enable the cartridge to pivot between the first orientation and the second orientation; and one or more slide rails coupled to the adapter plate, wherein the one or more slide rails are configured to:
while the cartridge is empty and in the second orientation, slide the cartridge in a first direction toward the drive assembly to couple the adapter plate to the drive assembly; and
while the cartridge is coupled to the drive assembly and in the second orientation, slide the cartridge in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

5 . The system of claim 4 , comprising:
a counterbalance pivot formed between the cartridge and the side surface of the structure, wherein the counterbalance pivot is configured to offset a weight of the drive assembly as the cartridge pivots between the first orientation and the second orientation while the cartridge is coupled to the drive assembly.

6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:
a replacement drive assembly; and a second cartridge coupled to the replacement drive assembly and configured to:
movably couple to the side surface of the structure;
pivotally couple to the structure to enable the second cartridge to pivot from the first orientation to the second orientation while the second cartridge is coupled to the replacement drive assembly to move the replacement drive assembly toward the top surface of the structure;
decouple from the replacement drive assembly; and
pivot from the second orientation to the first orientation while the second cartridge is decoupled from the replacement drive assembly to move the second cartridge away from the replacement drive assembly.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the second cartridge is configured to:
move along the side surface of the structure while the second cartridge is in the first orientation and coupled to the replacement drive assembly to reach a loading position; and move along the side surface of the structure while the second cartridge is in the first orientation and decoupled from the replacement drive assembly to reach a position away from the loading position.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, while the cartridge is in the second orientation, the cartridge is configured to translate in a first direction toward the top surface of the structure and the drive assembly to enable the cartridge to couple to the drive assembly.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is configured to pivotally couple to the structure to enable the cartridge to pivot from the second orientation to the first orientation while the cartridge is coupled to the drive assembly to move the drive assembly away from the wheel that is configured to roll on the top surface of the structure.

10 . A method, comprising:
moving a cartridge along a side surface of a structure while the cartridge is in a first orientation to reach an unloading position relative to a drive assembly that is configured to drive a wheel to roll on a top surface of the structure; pivoting the cartridge from the first orientation to a second orientation; coupling the cartridge to the drive assembly while the cartridge is in the second orientation; and while the cartridge is coupled to the drive assembly, pivoting the cartridge from the second orientation to the first orientation to move the drive assembly away from the top surface of the structure.

11 . The method of claim 10 , comprising:
moving the cartridge along the side surface of the structure while the cartridge is in the first orientation and coupled to the drive assembly to reach a position away from the unloading position.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pivoting of the cartridge from the second orientation to the first orientation comprises:
offsetting a weight of the drive assembly as the cartridge pivots from the second orientation to the first orientation while the cartridge is coupled to the drive assembly.

13 . The method of claim 10 , comprising:
moving a second cartridge coupled to a second drive assembly along the side surface of the structure while the second cartridge is in the first orientation to a loading position relative to the drive assembly; pivoting the second cartridge from the first orientation to the second orientation while the second cartridge is coupled to the second drive assembly; decoupling the second cartridge from the second drive assembly; and pivoting the second cartridge from the second orientation to the first orientation while the second cartridge is decoupled from the second drive assembly.

14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising:
moving the second cartridge along the side surface of the structure while the second cartridge is in the first orientation and decoupled from the second drive assembly to a position away from the loading position.

15 . The method of claim 10 , comprising:
after the pivoting of the cartridge from the first orientation to the second orientation, translating the cartridge in a first direction toward the drive assembly to enable the coupling of the cartridge to the drive assembly; and after the coupling of the cartridge to the drive assembly and prior to the pivoting of the cartridge from the second orientation to the first orientation, translating the cartridge and the drive assembly together in a second direction opposite the first direction.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the pivoting of the cartridge comprises pivoting a portion of the cartridge, the translating of the cartridge comprises translating the portion of the cartridge or another portion of the cartridge, or any combination thereof.

17 . A system, comprising:
a bogie assembly coupled to a movable structure, the bogie assembly comprising:
a wheel; and
a drive assembly configured to drive the wheel to roll on a top surface of a stationary structure; and
a cartridge configured to movably mount to a side surface of the stationary structure, wherein the cartridge is configured to pivot from a second orientation to a first orientation while the cartridge is coupled to the drive assembly to move the drive assembly relative to the movable structure.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the cartridge is configured to:
move along the side surface of the stationary structure while in the first orientation to an unloading pos

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Gribbin Jr David Andrew
• Russell Jr Michael David
• Smith Harrison Raleigh
• Swando Daniel Roman

Classifications

• B23P19/04

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title

• B65G29/00

  Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones (mechanical projectors B65G31/00; screw or rotary spiral conveyors B65G33/00) · CPC title

• Y10T29/53404

  including turret-type conveyor · CPC title

• B61B1/02

  General arrangement of stations and platforms including protection devices for the passengers {(B61B1/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B23P19/00

  Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation {(connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K)}; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes (hand tools in general B25) · CPC title