Rides with rotating lift

Abstract

A ride system (10) for an amusement park includes multiple rooms (72) stacked on top of each other and ride vehicles (70). A method of transporting the ride vehicle (70) from a first room (72a) to a second room (72b) includes removing the ride vehicle (70) from the first room (72a), changing the vertical height of the ride vehicle (70), rotating the ride vehicle (70), and inserting the ride vehicle into the second room (72b).

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application No. 201980010748.0, filed on July 29, 2020, entitled "Ride with Rotation and Lifting". Background Technology

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to the field of amusement park rides. More specifically, embodiments of this disclosure relate to lifting systems for transporting rides from one location to another.

[0003] This section aims to introduce the reader to various aspects of the technology that may be involved in the various aspects of this disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is intended to help provide the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that these statements should be read in this regard and not as an admission of prior art.

[0004] An amusement park includes various features that provide a unique experience for each park guest. Some features may include rides that can travel along specific paths. These paths may include elements that enhance the guest's experience as the rides travel along them. For example, while traveling along the path, the rides may enter and exit several rooms, each containing elements designed to enhance the guest's experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The specific embodiments disclosed herein are summarized below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief overview of these specific embodiments, and these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. In fact, this disclosure may include various aspects that may not be set forth below.

[0006] In one embodiment, a ride system for an amusement park includes an attraction tower, a base configured to rotate around the attraction tower, a frame coupled to the base, supports for vertical columns coupled to the frame, and a ride vehicle disposed on the supports. The frame includes vertical columns, the supports are configured to move vertically along the vertical columns of the frame, and the ride vehicle is configured to carry passengers.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method of transporting a ride in an amusement park ride includes moving the ride vertically along a frame using a motion base lifting assembly, using a base attached to the frame and configured to rotate around a view tower to rotate the ride around a view tower comprising multiple rooms, and extending the ride into the rooms of the multiple rooms via the motion base lifting assembly.

[0008] In another embodiment, the ride system includes a view tower having multiple rooms positioned at different vertical locations within the view tower; a base configured to rotate around the view tower; a frame coupled to the base; a motion base lifting assembly coupled to the frame; and a ride vehicle coupled to the motion base lifting assembly. The frame includes vertical columns, wherein the motion base lifting assembly is configured to move vertically along the vertical columns of the frame. Furthermore, the base and the motion base lifting assembly are configured to rotate the ride vehicle around the view tower and to move the ride vehicle into and out of the multiple rooms. Attached Figure Description

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this disclosure will be better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar characters denote similar parts throughout the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 This is a plan view of an embodiment of a passenger system including a rotating lifting system according to one aspect of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is based on one aspect of the disclosure. Figure 1 A sectional perspective view of an embodiment of the riding system; Figure 3 It is a lifting assembly with a moving base according to one aspect of this disclosure. Figure 2 A sectional perspective view of an embodiment of the riding system; Figure 4 This is based on one aspect of the disclosure. Figure 3 An unfolded diagram of the motion base lifting assembly; Figure 5 It is based on one aspect of this disclosure Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for transporting a vehicle from a first room to a second room within a transportation system; Figure 6 Use based on one aspect of this disclosure Figure 3 and Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for inserting a vehicle into a room using a motion base lifting assembly; and Figure 7 This is based on one aspect of the disclosure. Figure 2 and Figure 3 A front view of an embodiment of the room with a ride system. Detailed Implementation

[0010] One or more specific embodiments will now be described. To provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of the actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be recognized that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, many implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific objectives, such as complying with constraints relating to the system and the business involved, which may vary from one implementation to another. Furthermore, it should be recognized that such development efforts can be complex and time-consuming, but will still be a routine design, fabrication, and manufacturing task for those of ordinary skill in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0011] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to a ride system that uses a lifting system to transport a ride from one room of the ride system to another. These rooms may be in different vertical positions relative to each other, and the lifting system can change the position of the ride to be in the same vertical position as one of the rooms. The lifting system can also move the ride into and out of each room. Each room may include display elements to enhance the experience of guests on the ride system. Thus, as guests move into each room in the ride, they encounter different display elements. Furthermore, the ride system can move in multiple degrees of freedom to provide specific sensations that would otherwise be impossible (or significantly reduced) to provide with a system that has only one degree of freedom (e.g., vertical movement). Additionally, the ride system can allow for many possible paths for the ride to traverse, thus creating the possibility of providing a different experience for each guest.

[0012] The ride system disclosed herein may have several ride vehicles surrounding a room tower. The ride system may include a lifting system for moving the ride vehicles into the room. In one embodiment, the lifting system moves the ride vehicle vertically to align the ride vehicle with the height of one of the ride vehicles in the room. The lifting system then rotates the ride vehicle to align it with an opening in the room, and then inserts the ride vehicle into the room through the opening.

[0013] Throughout the operation of the ride system, the lifting system can move and / or rotate the ride vehicle several times to insert it into different rooms and / or different openings within those rooms. Each room of the ride system may include display elements, such as props (e.g., electronic animations) and / or displayed images (e.g., projected images), which can enhance the guest experience as the ride vehicle enters the room. Different rooms may include different display elements to provide guests with a unique experience. Furthermore, rooms may include different display elements at different time intervals within the ride system. For example, when the ride vehicle first enters the room, the display elements may include several images on the room's walls. When the ride vehicle enters the room a second time, the images may be removed, but several electronic animations may remain in the room.

[0014] Therefore, the riding system described herein can be used to enhance the guest experience in many different ways. For example, the riding vehicle can move with many degrees of freedom, such as rotation and translation, which may produce sensations felt by the guests on the vehicle. Furthermore, the riding vehicle can enter and leave rooms within the riding system, wherein these rooms include display elements that can further enhance the guest experience. Various guest experiences can be generated through the combination of the movement of the riding system and the display elements in each room, allowing for different possible riding routes. The components and operation of the riding system will be discussed further below.

[0015] Switch to the attached image. Figure 1 This is a floor plan of an embodiment of a ride system 10 that can be located in an amusement park. Figure 1 As illustrated, the riding system 10 includes a viewing tower 12 disposed within a housing 14. The viewing tower 12 may extend toward the ceiling of the housing 14 in the y-direction (i.e., the vertical direction). In one embodiment, the viewing tower 12 may be located substantially at the center of the housing 14. Within the housing 14, a base 16 may surround the viewing tower 12. The base 16 may rotate about the viewing tower 12 while the viewing tower 12 remains in a stationary position (e.g., the viewing tower 12 does not rotate). In one embodiment, the base 16 may be circular and include a hole in its center, in which the viewing tower 12 may be located. In this way, the base 16 may rotate independently of the viewing tower 12. For example, the viewing tower 12 may be coupled to a non-rotating segment of the housing 14 (e.g., at the bottom of the housing 14), and the base 16 may be coupled to a rotating segment of the housing 14. In one embodiment, the base 16 may be rotatable about the viewing tower 12 in one or both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

[0016] The base 16 may include a frame 18 arranged as a vertical column extending in the y-direction toward the ceiling of the housing 14. The frame 18 may be coupled to the base 16 such that rotation of the base 16 drives the frame 18 to rotate about the landscape tower 12. The frame 18 may remain stationary relative to the base 16. Furthermore, the frame 18 may be coupled to a motion base lifting assembly 20. The motion base lifting assembly 20 is configured to move along the vertical column of the frame 18 (i.e., in the y-direction), thereby changing its vertical position. In one embodiment, the vertical column of the frame 18 may be rectangular, and the motion base lifting assembly 20 may be coupled to the side of the vertical column of the frame 18. In this way, rotation of the base 16 may also cause rotation of the motion base lifting assembly 20 about the landscape tower 12.

[0017] The lift controller 22 can be communicatively coupled to the display element of the riding system 10 to control the movement of components of the riding system 10. The lift controller 22 can be located within the housing 14, such as in the observation tower 12, or it can be located outside the housing 14. The lift controller 22 may include a memory 24 having stored instructions for controlling one or both of the base 16 and the motion base lifting assembly 20. Additionally, the lift controller 22 may include a processor 26 configured to execute such instructions. For example, the processor 26 may include one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more general-purpose processors, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the memory 24 may include volatile memory (such as random access memory (RAM)) and / or non-volatile memory (such as read-only memory (ROM)), an optical disc drive, a hard disk drive, or a solid-state drive.

[0018] During operation of the seating system 10, the lift controller 22 can control the movement of the base 16 and / or the movement of the motion base lifting assembly 20. For example, the lift controller 22 can send a signal to the actuator 28 to cause the base 16 to rotate. In one embodiment, the lift controller 22 can cause the base 16 to rotate clockwise at a first time interval and counterclockwise at a second time interval during operation of the seating system 10. Furthermore, the lift controller 22 can activate the actuator 28, which is configured to move the motion base lifting assembly 20 along the vertical column of the frame 18. As an example, the lift controller 22 can activate the actuator 28 to raise the height of the motion base lifting assembly 20 to a higher vertical position. The lift controller 22 can also be configured to simultaneously rotate the base 16 and move the motion base lifting assembly 20. In one embodiment, instructions can be programmed to predetermine the movement of components during operation of the seating system 10.

[0019] In one embodiment of the riding system 10, there may be multiple frames 18 coupled to the base 16, each frame coupled to an associated motion base lifting assembly 20. Although Figure 1 Four frames 18 and four moving base lifting assemblies 20 are depicted coupled to the base 16 around the landscape tower 12 at uniform intervals. However, any number of frames 18 and moving base lifting assemblies 20 coupled to the base 16 in any suitable arrangement is possible. Furthermore, multiple lifting controllers 22 may be present. As an example, each lifting controller 22 may control a corresponding moving base lifting assembly 20. However, in a particular embodiment, a single lifting controller 22 may control the movement of all moving base lifting assemblies 20 and the movement of the base 16. Moreover, the base 16, the landscape tower 12, and the outer shell 14 may have any suitable shape.

[0020] To further illustrate the components and movement, Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional perspective view of an embodiment of the riding system 10. The riding system 10 includes an embodiment of a housing 14, which is shown in shape as a cylinder defined by walls 54 (e.g., outer walls). Within the center of the housing 14, a viewing tower 12 extends upward from the bottom 58 of the housing 14 to near the ceiling 60 of the housing 14. A base 16 may surround the lower portion (e.g., a portion of the bottom 58), and the base 16 may be configured to rotate while the bottom 58 and the viewing tower 12 remain stationary. The housing 14 may also remain stationary when the base 16 rotates. Although... Figure 2 The base 16 is depicted as being in contact with the housing 14, but in one embodiment, the base 16 may not be coupled to the housing 14.

[0021] Frame 18 can be coupled to base 16 and extends vertically toward ceiling 60. Figure 2 In this embodiment, frame 18 is shown as a rectangular vertical column, but in another embodiment, frame 18 may be a vertical column of a different shape. In yet another embodiment, frame 18 may be a different structural type (e.g., a bundled tubular structure) that may include vertical columns extending toward ceiling 60. In one embodiment, frame 18 may be at the same height as landscape tower 12. As described above, frame 18 may be coupled to base 16 such that rotation of base 16 also causes frame 18 to rotate about landscape tower 12. To stabilize frame 18, there may be several rods 66 extending from frame 18 toward wall 54. Rods 66 may contact the interior of wall 54 to prevent frame 18 from moving (e.g., tilting).

[0022] As described, the associated motion base lifting assembly 20 can move along the frame 18 to adjust its vertical position. Furthermore, the motion base lifting assembly 20 may include a seating device 70, which may include a seat for a passenger using the seating system 10. The seating device 70 may be mounted on the motion base lifting assembly 20 in such a way that the seating device 70 can move relative to the frame 18. For example, in addition to changing its vertical position when the motion base lifting assembly 20 moves along the frame 18, the seating device 70 may also rotate or move laterally (e.g., closer to the center of the housing 14).

[0023] The movement of the motion base lifting assembly 20 and the movement of the ride pod 70 can position the ride pod 70 in one of the rooms 72 in the observation tower 12. As an example, in the observation tower 12, there may be several rooms 72 stacked on top of each other, each room having an opening 74. The motion base lifting assembly 20 can change the vertical position of the ride pod 70 so that the height of the ride pod 70 matches the height of one of the rooms 72. The ride pod 70 can also rotate to face the room 72 and then move laterally (e.g., extend toward the room 72) to enter the room 72 through the opening 74. In one embodiment, the room 72 may be rectangular and include openings 74 on one or more sides. The ride pod 70 can then enter any room 72 through any opening 74. For example, the lifting controller 22 can activate the actuator 28 ( Figure 1 The motion base lifting assembly 20 is used to align the vertical position of the vehicle 70 with the room 72, the base 16 is rotated to align the vehicle 70 with the opening 74, and then the vehicle 70 is rotated and extended into the room 72. In one embodiment, there may be several frames 18 coupled to the base 16, and therefore several motion base lifting assemblies 20 and vehicle 70 associated with the frames 18.

[0024] In one embodiment, the motion base lifting assembly 20 and / or the riding vehicle 70 can move independently of each other. Figure 3 It is a sectional perspective view of a riding system 10 having several frames 18 coupled to a base 16 and a corresponding motion base lifting assembly 20 coupled to each frame 18. In particular, Figure 3A plurality of frames 18a, 18b, 18c within the outer shell 14 are depicted in detail, each extending from the base 16 to the ceiling 60. Each frame 18 includes a rod 66 extending outward toward the wall 54, and each frame 18 is coupled to a corresponding motion base lifting assembly 20a, 20b, 20c, which includes corresponding riding vehicles 70a, 70b, 70c, each riding vehicle including corresponding passengers 80a, 80b, and 80c. Furthermore, the observation tower 12, located at the center of the outer shell 14, includes a plurality of rooms 72a, 72b, and 72c, which are stacked on top of each other, with room 72a located closest to the ceiling 60 (i.e., at the highest vertical position), room 72c located closest to the bottom 58, and room 72b located between rooms 72a and 72c.

[0025] As described above, the base 16 is rotatable, the motion base lifting assemblies 20 are movable along their respective frames 18, and the ride 70 is movable, for example, positioning the ride 70 into one of the rooms 72 within the observation tower 12. In one embodiment, the movement of the motion base lifting assemblies 20 and / or the movement of the ride 70 can be performed independently of each other. As an example, motion base lifting assembly 20a can be raised toward the ceiling 60, and motion base lifting assembly 20b can simultaneously be lowered toward the bottom 58. Meanwhile, motion base lifting assembly 20c can remain stationary at its current position. In this way, at any given time, the motion base lifting assemblies 20 can be in different respective vertical positions relative to each other.

[0026] The ride-on vehicles 70 can also move independently. For example, ride-on vehicle 70a can rotate to face the observation tower 12, while ride-on vehicle 70b can rotate to face the wall 54. As ride-on vehicles 70a and 70b rotate, the motion base assembly 20c can move to adjust the height of ride-on vehicle 70c. Therefore, during the operation of the ride system 10, each ride-on vehicle 70 can move to different positions and in different ways.

[0027] Each ride 70 can also be associated with a corresponding projector 100 (shown as 100a, 100b, 100c), which projects associated images 102a, 102b, 102c. The projector 100 can project images 102 onto the inner surface of the wall 54, so that when the ride 70 rotates to face the wall 54, the passenger 80 can view images 102. The projector 100 can further enhance the guest experience by providing entertainment as the motion base lifting assembly 20 adjusts the position of the ride 70. As an example, when the motion base lifting assembly 20 moves vertically, the ride 70 can rotate to face the wall 54. The projector 100 can project images 102 to show a bird's-eye view of the scenery to simulate movement through the landscape. Furthermore, each projector 100 can project different images 102 from each other. For example, image 102a could have a desert view, image 102b could have a forest view, and image 102c could have a mountain view. Furthermore, since each vehicle 70 can experience different movements through the ride system 10, each projector 100 can be activated by the lift controller 22 at different times to correspond to the movement of the vehicle 70. Therefore, the experience of each passenger in each vehicle 70 can be different from one another.

[0028] Independent movement also allows each vehicle 70 to enter different rooms 72 within the observation tower 12. For example, vehicle 70a may enter room 72a through opening 74a at the same or different time as vehicle 70b may enter room 72b through opening 74b, while vehicle 70c may enter room 72c through opening 74d. As a further example, multiple vehicles 70 may move into the same room 72. For example, vehicle 70a may enter room 72a through opening 74c, and vehicle 70b may enter room 72a through opening 74a. During this time, vehicle 70c may be in a different room 72 (e.g., room 72b), not in any of the rooms 72, or also in room 72a through opening 74e.

[0029] To further illustrate the movement of the motion base lifting assembly 20 and the riding vehicle 70, Figure 4 yes Figure 3A developed view of the motion base lifting assembly 20b. As described above, the motion base lifting assembly 20b can move along the frame 18b to change its vertical position. A support 150 of the motion base lifting assembly 20b can be coupled to the frame 18b. The support 150 can include a horizontal member 152 and a vertical member 154. The side of the horizontal member 152 can be attached to the frame 18b, and the opposite side of the horizontal member 152 can extend away from the frame 18b. A projector 100b can be coupled to the horizontal member 152 (e.g., at the top side) and is positioned facing the wall 54 to project an image 102b onto the interior of the wall 54. The vertical member 154 can extend downward (e.g., along the frame 18b) from the side of the horizontal member 152 coupled to the frame 18b. The vertical member 154 can be coupled to an arm 156 at an attachment point 158. The arm 156 can be rectangular or another shape that can be coupled to the vertical member 154 near the side of the arm 156. The arm 156 can provide a platform for the vehicle 70b to lean against and attach to the motion base lifting assembly 20b.

[0030] The vehicle 70b can be coupled to the vehicle base 160 at coupling point 162 on the side of the vehicle base 160. The vehicle base 160 can be coupled to the arm 156 at the opposite location of the vehicle base 160. In this way, the vehicle 70b can be coupled to the motion base lifting assembly 20b, so that the movement of the motion base lifting assembly 20b can also move the vehicle 70b.

[0031] Furthermore, corresponding actuators 28 may be located at bracket 150, attachment point 158, vehicle base 160, and / or coupling point 162. Actuators 28 may be communicatively coupled to lift controller 22, such that lift controller 22 is configured to activate actuator 28 to move components of the motion base lifting assembly 20. For example, actuator 28 may translate bracket 150 along frame 18b to adjust the vertical position of motion base lifting assembly 20b. Actuators 28 at attachment point 158 ​​may rotate arm 156 about vertical assembly 154 in direction 166 (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise). Rotation may be performed in such a way that it does not cause contact between frame 18b and arm 156. Rotation of arm 156 then causes vehicle 70b to rotate. Actuators 28 may also cause vehicle 70b to rotate about coupling point 162. For example, coupling point 162 may be a ball-and-socket type connection between the vehicle 70b and the vehicle base 160, such that actuator 28 can cause the vehicle 70b to roll, pitch, and yaw about coupling point 162. Furthermore, actuator 28 can cause the vehicle base 160 to translate along arm 156. In one embodiment, the vehicle base 160 can move the vehicle 70b using telescopic methods, such as extending the vehicle 70b toward one of the rooms 72 and / or retracting the vehicle 70b from the room 72. Since the vehicle 70b can be subjected to multiple degrees of movement, the vehicle 70b may include a seat with constraints 168 (e.g., over-the-shoulder constraints) that secure the passenger 80b to the vehicle 70b during operation of the riding system 10.

[0032] As described herein, during the entire operation of the riding system 10, the riding tool 70 can be inserted into and withdrawn from one of the rooms 72 multiple times. In one embodiment, the riding tool 70 can be inserted into and withdrawn from different rooms 72 and / or different openings 74. Therefore, the riding system 10 can position the riding tool 70 to align it with the rooms 72 and the openings 74. Figure 5 An embodiment of method 170 for transporting a vehicle 70 from one room 72 to another (e.g., from room 72a to room 72b) is illustrated. All or some steps of method 170 may be performed (e.g., coordinated) by a lifting controller 22. At frame 172, a moving base lifting assembly 20 is moved, for example, to change its height to align with one of the rooms 72. That is, actuator 28 may move the moving base lifting assembly 20 along frame 18. Thus, the corresponding vehicle 70 may be at substantially the same height as room 72.

[0033] At frame 174, base 16 can rotate to align the seating 70 with one of the openings 74 in room 72. In one embodiment, seating 70 can be held at substantially the same height throughout the rotation of base 16. In another embodiment, seating 70 can be moved vertically during the rotation of base 16. This allows the actions associated with frames 172 and 174 to occur in a coordinated (e.g., consistent) manner. This can shorten the time required to align seating 70 with opening 74 and / or enhance the guest experience due to the induced movement.

[0034] After the vehicle 70 is aligned with the opening 74, the motion base lifting assembly 20 can extend the vehicle 70 to insert it into the room 72 at the frame 176. That is, the actuator 28 can extend the vehicle base 160 so that the vehicle 70 extends toward the room 72.

[0035] When the vehicle 70 is within room 72, the display elements within room 72 can be activated to further entertain the guests. After a period of time, at frame 178, the motion base lifting assembly 20 can retract the vehicle 70 from room 72. For example, actuator 28 can translate the vehicle base 160 to move the vehicle 70 out and away from room 72.

[0036] although Figure 5 Actions associated with frames 172, 174, 176, and 178 are shown to be performed sequentially, but in one embodiment, specific actions may occur between actions associated with frames 172, 174, 176, and 178 of method 170. For example, the motion base lifting assembly 20 may move along frame 18, the base 16 may rotate, and the motion base lifting assembly 20 may again move along frame 18. Other actions, such as movement of the vehicle 70 (e.g., rolling around coupling point 162) or movement of the arm 156 (e.g., rotation), can further enhance the guest experience by generating sensations for passenger 80 during transport by the vehicle 70. These sensations would otherwise not be generated by conventional lifts.

[0037] According to boxes 176 and 178, inserting and withdrawing the vehicle 70 relative to room 72 may also include a series of actions. Figure 6This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of method 200 for inserting the ride 70 into room 72. Prior to method 200, the ride system 10 may have already aligned the ride 70 with room 72 (e.g., including a rotating base 16 and a movable base lifting assembly 20 along frame 18). At this point, the arm 156 and the ride 70 can be positioned such that the passenger 80 faces the wall 54. Simultaneously, the projector 100 can project an image 102 onto the wall 54 for the passenger 80 to view. At frame 202, when the ride 70 is aligned with room 72, the arm 156 can rotate. For example, the arm 156 can rotate 90 degrees about the vertical member 154, such that the passenger 80 has also been rotated 90 degrees.

[0038] At frame 204, passenger 80 is additionally rotated by the rotation of ride 70 around coupling point 162. Ride 70 can rotate 90 degrees, such that the combination of the rotation of arm 156 and ride 70b has rotated passenger 80 to face room 72.

[0039] At frame 206, when passenger 80 faces room 72, the vehicle base 160 can then extend the vehicle 70. This extension movement of the vehicle base 160 allows the vehicle 70 to be inserted into room 72.

[0040] Although method 200 shows the actions associated with frames 202, 204, and 206 as being performed in a specific order, in one embodiment, the actions associated with frames 202, 204, and 206 may be performed in a different order. For example, the actions associated with frames 202 and 204 may be switched so that rotating the vehicle 70 may occur before rotating the arm 156. Furthermore, in another embodiment, some or all of the steps in method 200 may be performed simultaneously. That is, the actions associated with frames 204 and 206 may occur simultaneously so that the vehicle 70 can rotate while it is also extended by the vehicle base 160. Additionally, other movements may occur while frames 202, 204, and 206 are being performed. For example, the base 16 may rotate and / or the base lifting assembly 20 may move along the frame 18. Thus, method 200 can be performed while the vehicle 70 is still aligned with the room 72 (e.g., at the same vertical level). Some or all of the steps in method 200 may be performed (e.g., coordinated) by the lifting controller 22.

[0041] The vehicle 70 can be withdrawn from the room 72 using a method similar to method 200. For example, the method could still rotate the arm 156 and the vehicle 70, but this rotation could be performed in the opposite direction to that shown in the corresponding frames 202, 204. That is, the arm 156 could rotate 90 degrees, and the vehicle 70 could rotate 90 degrees, such that the passenger 80 faces the wall 54, similar to the position before the start of method 200. Furthermore, instead of extending the vehicle base 160 at frame 206, the method would retract the vehicle base 160. In one embodiment, this operation could occur before the rotation of the arm 156 and / or the rotation of the vehicle 70. As with method 200, some or all of the steps for withdrawing the vehicle 70 from the room 72 can be performed sequentially or simultaneously, and can be performed (e.g., coordinated) by the lift controller 22.

[0042] Back Figure 3 Each room 72 may include display elements to enhance the guest experience. For example, display elements may be animated images, projections, displayed images, other display elements, or any combination thereof, which may be activated, for example, when the vehicle 70 enters the room 72. In one embodiment, room 72 may also include different display elements relative to another room within the ride system 10. Thus, the passenger 80 can experience different things when entering different rooms 72. As an example, the passenger 80a may interact with display elements when entering room 72a, and then interact with different display elements when entering room 72b. In other embodiments, the passenger 80 may experience different display elements when entering the same room 72 at different times. For example, room 72a may include two different sets of display elements. The vehicle 70a may first enter room 72a through opening 74a, and the first set of display elements may be activated for the passenger 80a to experience. Later, the vehicle 70a may second enter room 72a through opening 74e, and the second set of display elements may be activated for the passenger 80a to experience. Therefore, although entering the same room 72a, passengers 80a can experience two different sets of display elements and have different experiences.

[0043] although Figure 3Each room 72 is depicted as open, such that the vehicles 70 are visible to each other when inserted into their respective openings 74. However, in an alternative embodiment, one of the rooms 72 may be modified to further divide into multiple separate rooms. For example, one of the rooms 72 may include walls and / or partitions such that when both vehicles 70 are within room 72, one vehicle 70 (e.g., vehicle 70a) is not visible to the other vehicle 70 (e.g., vehicle 70b). Thus, vehicles 70 can enter the separate rooms simultaneously, such that vehicles 70 are simultaneously in room 72, but are not visible to each other. Additionally or alternatively, the same vehicle 70 may enter some or all of the separate rooms at different times during the ride. The separate rooms may include different elements, and therefore, passengers 80 entering the respective separate rooms may experience different things.

[0044] The illustration shows vehicle 70 when it is inside observation tower 12. Figure 7 This is an embodiment of vehicles 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d simultaneously located in room 72a. In the illustrated embodiment, vehicle 70a is inserted through opening 74a, vehicle 70b through opening 74f, vehicle 70c through opening 74c, and vehicle 70d through opening 74e. In this embodiment, vehicles 70 and associated passengers 80a, 80b, 80c, and 80d face the center of room 72a. During this time, room 72a may include display elements to enhance the experience of passenger 80. For example, props (such as animated images and / or projectors) may be activated when vehicle 70 enters room 72a. Furthermore, vehicle 70 may also move (e.g., rotate, roll, pitch, yaw) while in room 72a to correspond to the activation of animated images and / or projections. This can further enhance the experience of passenger 80. In one embodiment, vehicles 70 may move relative to each other in different ways. For example, vehicle 70a can rotate, while vehicle 70b can yaw. Furthermore, because passengers 80 are located at different positions relative to each other within room 72a, they can have different views inside room 72a and thus view the displayed elements in room 72a from different angles. Therefore, the experience of each passenger 80 can be different.

[0045] As described above, the vehicle 70 can be inserted into the room 72a by extending the corresponding vehicle bases 160a, 160b, 160c, and 160d. In one embodiment, the vehicle base 160 can slide forward to extend the vehicle 70 into the room 72a. In another embodiment, the vehicle base 160 can utilize a telescopic mechanism to extend the vehicle 70 into the room 72a. The vehicle base 160 can also retract the vehicle 70 to remove it from the room 72a. Furthermore, although... Figure 7 The room 72a shows four vehicles 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d and four openings 74a, 74c, 74e, 74f, but there may be any suitable number of vehicles 70 and openings 74 in the room 72a.

[0046] As described above, the ride system disclosed herein can provide one or more technical effects to enhance the visitor experience during operation of the ride system in an amusement park. For example, embodiments of the ride system may include a viewing tower housed within an enclosure, comprising several rooms, each with display elements to entertain guests. The viewing tower may be surrounded by a lifting system comprising a base rotating around the tower. The base may include frames extending vertically from the base, each frame being connectable to a motion base lifting assembly comprising a ride into which passengers can sit. The lifting system can transport the ride to the rooms of the viewing tower to entertain guests. The lifting system can utilize several degrees of freedom to generate sensations felt by guests that would otherwise not be provided by conventional lift systems that may include a limited number of degrees of freedom. For example, the lifting system can generate rotational motion by rotating the base and / or the ride, and can also generate translational motion by moving the motion base lifting assembly along the frames. The lifting system can also move the ride with further degrees of freedom (e.g., roll, pitch, yaw). Furthermore, during transport, the lifting system can project display images onto the walls of the enclosure. Thus, the ride system can enhance the guest experience when the vehicle is in one of the rooms in the observation tower and when the vehicle is transported to the room. The technical effects and problems described in this specification are illustrative and not limiting. It should be noted that the embodiments described in this specification can have other technical effects and can solve other technical problems.

[0047] While only certain features of this disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and alterations will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and alterations falling within the true spirit of this disclosure.

[0048] The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to physical and concrete examples of a practical nature, which significantly improve upon current technical fields and are therefore not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Furthermore, if any claim appended to this specification contains one or more elements designated as “means for [performing]...[function]” or “steps for [performing]...[function]”, it is intended to be interpreted pursuant to Section 112(f) of Title 35 of the United States Code. However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended not to be interpreted pursuant to Section 112(f) of Title 35 of the United States Code.

Claims

1. A ride system for an amusement park, comprising: Observation tower; A base configured to rotate around the landscape tower; A frame coupled to the base, wherein the frame includes vertical columns; A bracket coupled to the vertical column of the frame, wherein the bracket is configured to move in a vertical direction along the vertical column of the frame; A vehicle is mounted on the support frame, wherein the vehicle is configured to carry a passenger; The bracket is coupled to an arm of the frame, wherein the arm is configured to allow the bracket and the riding device to rotate relative to the vertical column of the frame; and The riding vehicle is coupled to a riding vehicle base of the arm, wherein the riding vehicle base is configured to move the riding vehicle along the arm, and wherein the riding vehicle is configured to rotate, roll, pitch, and yaw about the riding vehicle base.

2. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a controller configured to activate the one or more actuators, wherein, The one or more actuators are configured to rotate the base, move the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

3. The ride system of claim 1, comprising a projector coupled to the support, wherein, The projector is configured to project images onto the surface of the outer shell surrounding the landscape tower.

4. The riding system as described in claim 1, wherein, The landscape tower and the base are housed within the outer shell.

5. The riding system as described in claim 1, wherein, The landscape tower comprises rooms stacked vertically on top of each other.

6. The riding system as described in claim 5, wherein, The base is configured to allow the vehicle to rotate about the landscape tower, the support is configured to translate along the frame, and the vehicle is configured to move into and out of the room's opening.

7. The riding system as claimed in claim 6, wherein, The room includes electronic animated images, projections, displayed images, or any combination thereof.

8. The riding system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The landscape tower extends through the center of the base.

9. A riding system comprising: A landscape tower having multiple rooms located at different vertical positions within the landscape tower; A base configured to rotate around the landscape tower; A frame coupled to the base, wherein the frame includes vertical columns; A motion base lifting assembly coupled to the frame, wherein the motion base lifting assembly is configured to move vertically along the vertical column of the frame; and A ride-on vehicle coupled to the motion base lifting assembly, wherein the base and the motion base lifting assembly are configured to cause the ride-on vehicle to rotate around the landscape tower and to move the ride-on vehicle into and out of the plurality of rooms.

10. The riding system as claimed in claim 9, wherein, The motion base lifting assembly is configured to rotate the riding vehicle around the vertical column and to move the riding vehicle in a direction away from the frame.

11. The riding system of claim 9, comprising a housing surrounding the landscape tower, the frame, the motion base lifting assembly, and the riding vehicle.

12. The riding system of claim 11, further comprising a projector coupled to the motion base lifting assembly, wherein, The projector is configured to project an image onto the surface of the housing, and the motion base lifting assembly is configured to rotate the vehicle to face the surface of the housing, so that passengers on the vehicle can view the image.

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