Trackless dark ride vehicle, system, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9815490-B2
Application number	US-201514821649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2015
Priority date	May 11, 2011
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A motion assembly that produces pitch and roll motions includes lower and upper plates. A pivotable coupling having upper and lower shafts extending from its center is coupled between the upper and lower plates. At least two linear actuators are coupled between the plates. Extension and retraction of the actuators pivots the upper plate about the pivotable coupling relative to the lower plate. A vehicle includes two steerable propulsion wheels coupled to a chassis. A lower plate of a pitch and roll assembly, similar to that just described, couples to the chassis via a slew bearing. Seating is coupled to the upper plate. The seating rotates with respect to the chassis via controlled rotation of the slew bearing with reference to the chassis. The seating can be rotated to point in any direction with respect to the chassis regardless of the direction the steerable propulsion wheels move the chassis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple degrees of freedom motion base assembly, the degrees of freedom comprising pitch and roll, the motion base assembly comprising:
a. a lower reaction plate defining a first horizontal plane, the lower reaction plate comprising:
i. a first outer boundary; and
ii. a center;

b. an upper reaction plate spaced apart from the lower reaction plate, the upper reaction plate defining a second horzintonal plane and comprising:
i. a second outer boundary;
ii. a center; and
iii. a longitudinal axis defined between each of two opposing ends of the second horizontal plane; and

c. a pivotable coupling, comprising:
i. an upper section coupled to the upper reaction plate proximate the upper reaction plate center, the upper section configured to allow substantially similar displacement of the upper reaction plate about the upper reaction plate center at either end of the two ends of the second horizontal plane; and
ii. a lower section pivotably connected to the upper section and coupled to the lower reaction plate proximate the lower reaction plate center;

d. two linear actuator assemblies spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the pivotable coupling with respect to the upper reaction plate longitudinal axis and from the pivotable coupling, each linear actuator assembly comprising:
i. an actuator coupling connected to the upper reaction plate intermediate the second outer boundary and the pivotable coupling;
ii. a connector connected to the lower reaction plate intermediate the first outer boundary and the pivotable coupling; and
iii. an electric linear actuator constrained to be extendable and retractable along a longitudinal axis of the electric linear actuator, the electric linear actuator comprising:
1. a selectively, forcibly extendable and retractable shaft defining the longitudinal axis of the electric linear actuator;
2. an electric actuator operatively coupled to the selectively, forcibly extendable and retractable shaft;
3. an upper portion coupled to the actuator coupling; and
4. a lower portion connected to the clevis assembly; and

e. an electrical power supply operatively in communication with the two electric linear actuators as a sole source of operating energy for the two electric linear actuators.

2. The multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of at least one linear electric actuator extends at least partially through the upper reaction plate.

3. The multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable coupling comprises a fixed length.

4. The multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical power supply comprises a rechargeable battery operatively in communication with the two electric linear actuator assemblies as a sole source of operating energy for the two electric linear actuators.

5. The multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator coupling comprises a gimbal.

6. The multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a clevis assembly.

7. A multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly, comprising:
a. a lower reaction plate, comprising:
i. a first outer boundary; and
ii. a center;

b. an upper reaction plate spaced apart from the lower reaction plate, the upper reaction plate defining a horzintonal plane and comprising:
i. a second outer boundary;
ii. a center; and
iii. a longitudinal axis defined between each of two opposing ends of the horizontal plane;

c. a pivotable coupling, comprising:
i. an upper section coupled to the upper reaction plate proximate the upper reaction plate center, the upper section configured to allow substantially similar displacement of the upper reaction plate about the upper reaction plate center at either end of the two ends of the second horizontal plane; and
ii. a lower section pivotably connected to the upper section and coupled to the lower reaction plate proximate the lower reaction plate center;

d. two linear actuator assemblies spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the pivoatble coupling with respect to the horizontal plane along the upper reaction plate longitudinal axis and from the pivotable coupling, each linear actuator assembly comprising:
i. an actuator coupling connected to the upper reaction plate intermediate the second outer boundary and the pivotable coupling;
ii. a connector connected to the lower reaction plate intermediate the first outer boundary and the pivotable coupling; and
iii. a linear actuator comprising:
1. an upper portion coupled to the actuator coupling extending at least partially through the upper reaction plate;
2. a lower portion connected to the clevis assembly; and
3. a transport assembly, comprising a chassis connected to the lower reaction plate.

8. The multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly of claim 7 , wherein the linear actuator comprises an electric linear actuator, a screw actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.

9. A multiple degrees of freedom motion assembly of claim 7 , wherein the connector comprises a clevis assembly.

10. A vehicle, comprising:
a. a chassis;
b. a first actively steerable propulsion wheel coupled to the chassis, the first actively steerable propulsion wheel rotatable in a first predetermined direction at a first predetermined speed along a preprogrammed route without the use of a mechanical track or a wire stretched along the preprogrammed route;
c. a second actively steerable propulsion wheel coupled to the chassis, the second actively steerable propulsion wheel rotatable in a second predetermined direction at a second predetermined speed along the preprogrammed route without the use of a mechanical track or a wire stretched along the preprogrammed route; and
d. a multiple degree of freedom motion base assembly, comprising:
i. a lower reaction plate coupled to the chassis, the lower reaction plate defining a first horizontal plane, the lower reaction plate comprising:
1. a first outer boundary; and
2. a center;

ii. an upper reaction plate spaced apart from the lower reaction plate and connected to the chassis, the upper reaction plate defining a second horzintonal plane and comprising:
1. a second outer boundary;
2. a center; and
3. a longitudinal axis defined between each of two opposing ends of the second horizontal plane; and

iii. a pivotable coupling, comprising:
1. an upper section fixed to the upper reaction plate proximate the upper reaction plate center, the upper section configured to allow substantially similar displacement of the upper reaction plate about the upper reaction plate center at either end of the two ends of the second horizontal plane; and
2. a lower section pivotably connected to the upper section and fixed to the lower reaction plate proximate the lower reaction plate center;

iv. two linear actuator assemblies spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the pivotable coupling with respect to the second horizontal plane along the upper reaction plate longitudinal axis and from the pivotable coupling, each linear actuator assembly comprising:
1. an actuator coupling connected to the upper reaction plate intermediate the second outer boundary and the pivotable coupling;
2. a connector connected to the lower reaction plate intermediate the first outer boundary and the pivotable coupling; and
3. an electric linear actuator constrained to extend and retract along a longitudinal axis of the electric linear actuator, the electric linear actuator comprising:
a. an upper portion coupled to the actuator coupling; and
b. a lower portion connected to the clevis assembly; and

v. an ele

Assignees

• Oceaneering Int Inc

Inventors

• Foster Samuel T
• Boshears Michael Wayne
• Grant Andrew
• Hass Frank Peter
• Jennings Clifford Allen
• King Eric Arthur
• Kroslowitz Kenneth Thomas
• Malghan Suhas Subhaschandra
• Sywak Stephen A

Classifications

• B62D5/0421 Primary

  Electric motor acting on or near steering gear · CPC title

• A63G21/08

  with additional rotation of cars · CPC title

• F16M2200/048

  for balancing translational movement of the undercarriage · CPC title

• A63G7/00

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

• A63G25/00 Primary

  Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor · CPC title