Simulator ride

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9643094-B2
Application number	US-201514704201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2015
Priority date	May 5, 2015
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A flying simulator ride in accordance with present embodiments may include a suspended rotator ring capable of motion in six degrees of freedom. The flying simulator ride may also include a passenger support system suspended from the rotator ring wherein the passenger support system includes a first passenger support unit; and a second passenger support unit, wherein at least one of the first passenger support unit or the second passenger support unit are configured to move relative to one another to assume a stacked configuration and a loading configuration, wherein a distance between the rotator ring and the first passenger support unit is decreased in the stacked configuration relative to the loading configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flying simulator ride comprising:
a track;
a bogie coupled to the track;
a rotator ring;
a plurality of cables extending from one or more cable control assemblies coupled to the bogie and suspending the rotator ring from the bogie such that the rotator ring is capable of rotating with respect to the track and such that the rotator ring is capable of motion in six degrees of freedom; and
a passenger support system suspended from the rotator ring, wherein the passenger support system comprises:
a first passenger support unit; and
a second passenger support unit, wherein at least one of the first passenger support unit or the second passenger support unit are configured to move relative to one another to assume a stacked configuration and a loading configuration, wherein a distance between the rotator ring and the first passenger support unit is decreased in the stacked configuration relative to the loading configuration.

2. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , wherein each passenger support unit comprises an onboard control feature configured to control motion of the passenger support unit relative to a base member.

3. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , comprising a second bogie spaced apart along the track from the bogie and comprising a second passenger support system.

4. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cable control assemblies are configured to generate the motion by manipulating one or more of the plurality of cables.

5. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , wherein the first passenger support unit and the second passenger support unit each comprise a platform configured to support a passenger's feet.

6. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , wherein the first passenger support unit and the second passenger support unit each comprise a helmet, wherein the helmet comprises one or more speakers.

7. The flying simulator ride of claim 6 , wherein the one or more speakers of each respective helmet are configured to be independently controlled.

8. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , wherein the first passenger support unit and the second passenger support unit each comprise a chest harness configured to secure a passenger to a respective base member configured to be positioned at the passenger's back.

9. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , comprising a base member coupled to the first passenger support unit and positioned to hold the passenger support unit at an angle relative to a ground surface in the stacked configuration such that, in operation, the passenger's chest is pointed towards the ground surface.

10. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , wherein the first passenger support unit and the second passenger support unit are each configured to permit passenger arm and leg motion when a passenger is secured in the passenger support system.

11. The flying simulator ride of claim 1 , comprising a first base member coupled to the first passenger support unit, wherein the first base member is coupled to additional passenger support units to form a first passenger row.

12. The flying simulator ride of claim 11 , comprising a second base member coupled to the second passenger support unit, wherein the second base member is coupled to additional passenger support units to form a second passenger row.

13. The flying simulator ride of claim 12 , wherein the first passenger support unit is fixed relative to the first base member and the second passenger support unit is fixed relative to the second base member.

14. A flying simulator ride assembly comprising:
a bogie configured to move along a track;
a motion base;
a plurality of cables suspending the motion base from cable control assemblies coupled to the bogie to permit the motion base to move with six degrees of freedom;
an extending portion fixedly coupled to the motion base and extending away from the bogie; and
a passenger support system coupled to the extending portion, wherein the passenger support system comprises:
a first passenger row;
a second passenger row; and
a support coupled to the extending portion and the first passenger row and the second passenger row, wherein the support is capable of rotating with respect to the extending portion to change a position of one or more of the first passenger row or the second passenger row relative to the motion base.

15. The flying simulator ride assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first passenger row and the second passenger are configured to move between at least one passenger loading configuration and at least one flying simulation configuration.

16. The flying simulator ride assembly of claim 15 , wherein the support is orthogonal to the extending portion in the at least one passenger loading configuration.

17. The flying simulator ride assembly of claim 15 , wherein the support is non-orthogonal to the extending portion in the at least one flying simulation configuration.

18. The flying simulator ride assembly of claim 15 , wherein the cable control assemblies are configured to change a distance between the motion base and the track in the at least one passenger loading configuration relative to the at least one flying simulation configuration.

19. The flying simulator ride assembly of claim 14 , wherein the motion base comprises a rotator ring configured to rotate 360 degrees.

20. A method comprising:
rotating a first passenger row relative to a second passenger row to assume a passenger loading configuration;
increasing a distance between a track and a motion base to which the first passenger row and the second passenger row are coupled to assume the passenger loading configuration;
rotating the first passenger row relative to the second passenger row to assume a flying simulation configuration; and
decreasing a distance between the track and the motion base to assume the flying simulation configuration.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• White Nathanael G

Classifications

• A63G21/06

  with passing arrangements for cars · CPC title

• A63G21/20 Primary

  Slideways with movably suspended cars, or with cars moving on ropes, or the like · CPC title

• A63G21/08 Primary

  with additional rotation of cars · CPC title

• A63G21/22

  Suspended slideways · CPC title

• A63G21/04

  with fixed rails · CPC title