Gate system and method for rotating loading platform

Abstract

The present embodiment relates to a gate system for an amusement park attraction. The gate system includes a loading platform configured to rotate about a central vertical axis of the loading platform and a gate positioned on the loading platform. The gate is configured to transition between a closed position and an open position. A gate actuation system is coupled to the loading platform and configured to actuate the gate between the closed position and the open position based on feedback indicating a position of a ride vehicle relative to the gate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a gate system for an attraction, a method for controlling the passage of passengers during loading or unloading of a ride vehicle at an attraction, and a gate system for controlling the passage of passengers in a loading area of ​​an amusement ride. Background Art

[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various technical aspects that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is considered to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that these statements are to be read from this perspective, rather than as an admission of the prior art.

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of amusement parks. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for managing the traffic of customers in attractions of amusement parks. Recently, there has been increasing interest in improving the efficiency of loading passengers into ride vehicles of attractions of amusement parks. For example, some attractions may include a loading system that enables the ride vehicle to move continuously along a loading area (such as a rotating loading platform) when passengers are unloaded from the ride vehicle and when new passengers are loaded into the ride vehicle. The continuous movement of the ride vehicle along the loading area (such as a rotating loading platform configured to accommodate future and previous ride vehicle passengers) presents a challenge. For example, it may be difficult to regulate or manage the loading and unloading of customers into the ride vehicle. More particularly, since both the ride vehicle and the rotating loading platform can be in motion, it may be difficult to ensure that customers enter and exit the ride vehicle from the loading area at the appropriate time. Therefore, there is a need for a system and method configured to manage the traffic of customers in such amusement park attractions. Summary of the invention

[0004] Some embodiments corresponding in scope to the original claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, but these embodiments are only intended to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. In fact, the subject matter can include various forms that may be similar or different from the embodiments illustrated below.

[0005] In an embodiment, a gate system for an amusement park attraction includes: a loading platform configured to rotate about a central vertical axis of the loading platform; a gate positioned on the loading platform, wherein the gate is configured to transition between a closed position and an open position; and a gate actuation system coupled to the loading platform, wherein the gate actuation system is configured to actuate the gate between the closed position and the open position based on feedback indicating a position of a ride vehicle relative to the gate.

[0006] In an embodiment, a method for controlling passenger access during loading or unloading of a ride vehicle at an amusement park attraction includes: directing the ride vehicle along a loading path extending around a rotating loading platform; utilizing a gate actuation system positioned on the rotating loading platform to detect a position of the ride vehicle relative to a shotgun gate positioned on the rotating loading platform; and automatically transitioning the shotgun gate from a closed position to an open position based on the position of the ride vehicle relative to the shotgun gate.

[0007] In an embodiment, a gate system for controlling the passage of passengers in a loading area of ​​an amusement ride comprises: a rotating loading platform configured to rotate about a rotation axis, wherein the rotating loading platform includes a gun-type gate disposed thereon; a ride vehicle configured to travel along a loading path extending around the rotating loading platform, wherein the ride vehicle includes a gate activation system configured to provide feedback indicating the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gun-type gate; and a gate actuation system configured to receive feedback indicating the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gun-type gate, and configured to transition the gate between an open position and a closed position based on the feedback. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings, and in which:

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a loading system for an amusement park attraction according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 2 is a partially schematic top view of an embodiment of a loading system for an amusement park attraction according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0011] Figure 3 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a loading system for an amusement park attraction of a gate system illustrating the loading system according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a loading system having a gate system for an amusement park attraction according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 5 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of an electrical actuation system for a gate system of an amusement park attraction according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 6 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a mechanical actuation system for a gate system of an amusement park attraction according to aspects of the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 7 is a partially schematic top view of an embodiment of a mechanical actuation system for a gate system for an amusement park attraction according to aspects of the present disclosure; and

[0016] Figure 8 is a partially schematic top view of an embodiment of a mechanical actuation system for a gate system for an amusement park attraction according to aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive, and mean that there may be additional elements in addition to the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted to exclude the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

[0018] The disclosed embodiments generally relate to a gate system, which is configured to manage the passage of customers in a loading system of an amusement park ride or attraction. In particular, the disclosed technology relates to a gate system, which is configured to selectively enable and prevent passengers from entering and / or exiting a ride vehicle, and prevent passengers from falling on a loading platform of the loading system. A portion of the loading platform can be configured to rotate when a passenger is loaded into and unloaded from a ride vehicle. For example, the loading platform can include a continuously rotating turntable that rotates in unison with the movement of a loading area track portion of a neighboring ride vehicle along a track (the ride vehicle travels along the track). The travel speed of the ride vehicle can substantially match the rotation speed of the loading platform, so that the relative movement between the ride vehicle and the loading platform is negligible, thereby facilitating passengers to load and unload from the ride vehicle. In other words, in a loading / unloading configuration, the edge of the loading platform can be stationary relative to the edge of the ride vehicle to create a static physical interface or virtual engagement between the ride vehicle and the loading platform.

[0019] To manage the passage of customers during the process of loading or unloading a ride vehicle, disclosed embodiments of the loading system include a gate system that selectively enables and prevents passengers from entering and / or exiting the ride vehicle from the loading platform based on the position of the ride vehicle relative to the carousel or loading platform. The gate system includes a plurality of gates (such as swing gates or "gun gates") positioned on the loading platform, the plurality of gates being configured to align with corresponding ride vehicles (e.g., passenger seat locations of the ride vehicle) during loading and unloading of the ride vehicle. In some embodiments of the gate system, a stationary rail or a fixed rail (such as a "gun rail") may extend between each of the plurality of gates to prevent customers from exiting the loading platform toward the ride vehicle except through an open gate of the gate system.

[0020] Each gate in the gate is configured to open and close based on the position of the corresponding ride vehicle relative to the loading platform and therefore relative to the position of the gate. More specifically, when the ride vehicle (e.g., the passenger seat position of the ride vehicle) is not close to one of the gates or gate paths or is not (relative to the rotation axis of the loading platform) aligned radially with one of the gates or gate paths, the gate will remain in a closed position to prevent customers from exiting the loading platform at inappropriate times. When the ride vehicle approaches the gate or gate path and is radially aligned with the gate or gate path, the gate system will open the gate so that customers can enter or exit the ride vehicle. As discussed in detail below, the gate system includes a gate actuation system that is configured to control the actuation of the gate between the open position and the closed position. The gate actuation system may include a detector, a sensor, an actuator, a mechanical linkage, a cam, or any other suitable component used to realize the actuation of the gate based on feedback indicating the position of the ride vehicle. The ride vehicle may include a gate activation system for the gate system. The gate activation system is configured to provide feedback to the gate actuation system. For example, the gate activation system of the ride vehicle may include an identifier, a marker, a transmitter, an engagement feature, or any other suitable component configured to provide feedback to the gate actuation system indicating the position of the ride vehicle. These and other features of the disclosed embodiments will be discussed in detail below.

[0021] Throughout the following discussion, it should be understood that the "radial alignment" between a ride vehicle and a gate refers to the radial alignment of the space or section of the loading platform occupied by the gate when the corresponding gate is in a closed configuration (relative to the rotation axis of the loading platform). For example, once the ride vehicle arrives at the gate along the loading platform, the ride vehicle and the corresponding gate can become initially aligned radially. As a result, the gate system can make the gate transition from the closed position to the open position, and in the open position, the gate can no longer be aligned radially with the ride vehicle. On the contrary, when a passenger enters or exits the ride vehicle, the gate passage created by the gate in the open configuration is aligned radially with the ride vehicle. In addition, "radial alignment" can refer to the basic alignment of the ride vehicle and the gate or gate passage within an acceptable tolerance (e.g., within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more degrees of the circumference of the loading platform, within 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or more centimeters, etc.).

[0022] Now turning to the attached figure, Figure 11 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a loading area 10 of a loading system 12. As shown, the loading area 10 may be part of an overall ride system 14 (e.g., an amusement ride or attraction). For example, passengers may be loaded into a ride vehicle 16 in the loading area 10, may travel along an attraction path 18 of the ride system 14, and may return to the loading area 10 to unload from the ride vehicle 16. While traveling along the attraction path 18, the passengers may be exposed to a variety of experiences, such as virtual reality, alternate reality, environmental interaction, multiple ride paths, water features, special effects, etc. It should be noted that portions of the ride system 14 (such as the attraction path 18) have been intentionally simplified in order to focus on aspects of the loading system 12.

[0023] The loading system 12 includes a loading platform 20, an entrance 22, and a loading path 24 for the ride vehicle 16. The entrance 22 may include a ramp 26, stairs, an elevator, or other paths leading to a stationary portion 28 of the loading platform 20 from below the loading platform 20, above the loading platform 20, or an area adjacent to the loading platform 20. As shown, the loading platform 20 may extend circumferentially around a central vertical axis 30 to form a substantially planar surface on a plane orthogonal to the central vertical axis 30. In addition to the stationary portion 28, the loading platform 20 also includes a rotating portion 32 (e.g., a rotating platform). The stationary portion 28 and the rotating portion 32 each extend around the central vertical axis 30 (e.g., the axis of rotation), and the rotating portion 32 extends circumferentially around the stationary portion 28 relative to the central vertical axis 30 and extends radially outward from the stationary portion 28. As shown, the stationary portion 28 may be substantially circular, wherein the center of the stationary portion 28 is coaxial with the central vertical axis 30 and concentric with the rotating portion 32. However, in other embodiments, the stationary portion 28 and the rotating portion 32 may have other configurations (e.g., non-circular), and / or the loading system 12 or loading bay 10 may have additional stationary platforms, rotating platforms, etc. For example, the loading bay 10 may include a stationary platform on one side of the loading path 24 opposite the loading platform 20.

[0024] As mentioned above, the loading area 10 also includes a gate system 34, which is configured to manage the passage of customers in the loading area 10, and more particularly configured to selectively enable and prevent passengers or customers from traveling between the loading platform 20 and the ride vehicle 16. The ride vehicle 16 enters the loading area 10 from the attraction path 18. For example, the ride vehicle 16 can travel from the attraction path 18 to the first side 36 of the loading area 10, and can travel clockwise 38 along the loading path 24 toward the second side 40 of the loading area 10. As shown, the loading path 24 can be at least partially arranged around the perimeter (e.g., circumference) of the loading platform 20. The loading path 24 may include a track or conveyor along which the ride vehicle 16 travels. When the ride vehicle 16 is moving along the loading path 24, passengers can load and unload the ride vehicle 16 as allowed by the gate system 34.

[0025] The gate system 34 includes a plurality of gates 42 disposed on the loading platform 20 (e.g., the rotating portion 32), the gates 42 being configured to remain in a normally closed position, thereby preventing customers from traveling between the loading platform 20 and the ride vehicles 16, until one of the ride vehicles 16 approaches one of the gates 42 and becomes radially aligned therewith (relative to the central vertical axis 30) and remains radially aligned with the corresponding gate 42. For example, each gate 42 may remain in a closed position until a passenger seat position of one of the ride vehicles 16 becomes radially aligned with the gate 42 and remains radially aligned with the gate 42.

[0026] As mentioned above, the loading path 24 is the path along which the ride vehicles 16 travel as they move together (e.g., together or at the same speed) with the rotating portion 32 of the loading platform 20. When traveling along the loading path 24, the ride vehicles 16 can travel at substantially the same rotational speed as the rotating portion 32 of the loading platform 20. In this way, the position and orientation of each ride vehicle 16 along the perimeter of the loading platform 20 can remain substantially constant. In other words, each ride vehicle 16 can maintain a temporarily fixed position relative to the circumference of the loading platform 20 while traveling through the loading path 24 and as the loading platform 20 rotates about the central vertical axis 30, so that the orientation of the loading platform 20 relative to the ride vehicle 16 (e.g., with the seats facing toward the center of the loading platform 20 or next to the edge of the loading platform 20) is substantially maintained.

[0027] Under the condition that the ride vehicle 16 is radially aligned with the gate 42 and travels at a substantially similar rotational speed, the gate system 34 is configured to open the gate 42 to enable passengers to enter or exit the ride vehicle 16 via the loading platform 20. Once the passengers have entered the ride vehicle 16 and the ride vehicle 16 reaches the end of the loading path 24 on the second side 40 of the loading area 10, the ride vehicle 16 re-enters the attraction path 18. When the ride vehicle 16 leaves the loading path 24 to re-enter the attraction path 18, the ride vehicle 16 is no longer close to the corresponding gate 42 and is radially aligned with it. In response, the gate system 34 is configured to close the gate 42 to prevent passengers from leaving the loading platform 20. The operation of the gate system 34 is based on feedback indicating the position of the ride vehicle 16 relative to the gate 42, and will be discussed in further detail below.

[0028] As will be appreciated, in some embodiments, existing passengers in the ride vehicle 16 may exit the ride vehicle 16 via the loading platform 20 on the first side 36 of the loading area 10, and new passengers may enter the ride vehicle 16 via the loading platform 20 on the second side 40 of the loading area 10. In other embodiments, one loading platform 20 may be used to load passengers into the ride vehicle 16, and another loading platform 20 may be used to unload passengers from the ride vehicle 16. It should be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be incorporated with the loading area 10 and / or loading platform 20 having any of a wide variety of configurations and / or utilities.

[0029] Figure 2 1 is a partial schematic top view of an embodiment of the loading area 10 and the loading system 12 illustrating the operation of the gate system 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the gate system 34 includes a plurality of gates 42 (e.g., gun-type gates) having a stationary fence 50 extending between each of the gates 42. The gate system 34 also includes a spacer fence 52 associated with each gate 42 for facilitating the formation of a line of passengers waiting to be loaded into one of the ride vehicles 16. The stationary fence 50 and the spacer fence 52 are fixed to the loading platform 20 and remain stationary relative to the loading platform 20 throughout the operation of the gate system 34.

[0030] As discussed above, the loading path 24 extends at least partially around the circumference of the loading platform 20, which is configured to rotate as passengers enter and exit the ride vehicle 16. The gate system 34 includes a gate 42 that is configured to remain in a closed position until one of the ride vehicles 16 is radially aligned with one of the gates 42 and travels with the gate 42 at a substantially common rotational speed. When one of the ride vehicles 16 is radially aligned with one of the gates 42 and travels with the gate 42, the gate system 34 (e.g., after a time delay) opens the gate 42 to enable passengers to enter or exit the ride vehicle 16 via the loading platform 20. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first ride vehicle 54 has been radially aligned with the first gate 58 (e.g., the gate passage of the first gate 58) of the gate system 34 (e.g., as indicated by the dashed line 56) and is traveling with it. Thus, the gate system 34 has actuated the first gate 58 to be in an open configuration to enable passengers to enter or exit the first ride vehicle 54. The second ride vehicle 60 is also radially aligned with the second gate 62 (e.g., gate passage) (e.g., as indicated by dashed line 64). Thus, the second gate 62 is also in an open configuration.

[0031] When the ride vehicle leaves the loading path 24 and reenters the attraction path 18, the ride vehicle 16 will no longer be radially aligned with the gate 42 or the associated gate passage, and the ride vehicle 16 can travel at a speed different from (e.g., faster than) the rotation speed of the loading platform 20. Once the gate system 34 detects that the ride vehicle 16 is no longer aligned with the gate 42 and traveling with the gate 42, the gate system 34 closes the gate 42 to prevent passengers from exiting the loading platform 20 via the gate 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the third ride vehicle 66 is leaving the loading path 24 and entering the attraction path 18. As shown, the third ride vehicle 66 is not radially aligned with the third gate 68 or the associated gate passage with which the third ride vehicle 66 was previously aligned. Therefore, the third gate 68 is illustrated as transitioning between an open configuration to a closed configuration (e.g., a closed configuration similar to the fourth gate 70 of the gate system 34) via the operation of the gate system 34.

[0032] Figure 31 is a partial side view of a schematic loading area 10 illustrating one of the ride vehicles 16 approaching one of the gates 42 of the gate system 34. The illustrated embodiment also includes elements of the ride vehicle 16 and the gate system 34 that enable opening and closing of the gate 42 when the ride vehicle 16 is radially aligned with the gate 42. More specifically, the ride vehicle 16 includes a gate activation system 80, and the gate system 34 includes a gate actuation system 82. More specifically, the gate actuation system 82 is associated with one of the gates 42 of the gate system 34. The gate activation system 80 works in conjunction with the gate actuation system 82 to open and close the gate 42 based on the position of the ride vehicle 16 relative to the gate 42. To this end, the gate activation system 80 includes a feature configured to provide feedback to the gate actuation system 82 indicating the position of the ride vehicle 16. The gate actuation system 82 receives the feedback and controls the operation of the gate 42 based on the feedback. The gate actuation system 82 can actuate the gate 42 to transition from the closed position to the open position when the gate actuation system 82 detects feedback from the gate activation system 80 indicating radial alignment between the gate 42 and the ride vehicle 16. Similarly, when the gate actuation system 82 detects that the ride vehicle 16 is no longer radially aligned with the gate 42, the gate actuation system 82 can actuate the gate 42 to transition from the open position to the closed position.

[0033] As will be discussed in detail below, the gate activation system 80 and the gate actuation system 82 can have any of a variety of configurations and components. For example, the gate activation system 80 and the gate actuation system 82 can be configured to utilize electrical systems and components (e.g., sensors, motors, controllers, etc.) to activate and actuate the gate 42. In another embodiment, the gate activation system 80 and the gate actuation system 82 can include mechanical components (e.g., linkages, gears, cams, etc.) configured to activate and actuate the gate 42 without electrical power. Other embodiments can utilize a combination of electrical and mechanical components to provide the functionality described herein.

[0034] Figure 4 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a loading area 10 illustrating a ride vehicle 16, a loading system 12, and various components of each. It will be appreciated that certain embodiments of the ride vehicle 16 and the loading system 12 may include additional components not shown, and / or may omit certain components illustrated in the present embodiment.

[0035] The ride vehicle 16 includes a drive system 90, a controller 92, and a gate activation system 80. The drive system 90 may include components configured to drive the ride vehicle 16 along the loading path 24 and / or along the attraction path 18. For example, the drive system 90 may include rollers, motors, transmissions, gears, chains, any combination thereof, or any other suitable components configured to drive the ride vehicle 16 along the loading path 24 and / or the attraction path 18. In some embodiments, the drive system 90 may be a component or system of the loading path 24 or the loading system 12 and may engage with the ride vehicle 16 to translate the ride vehicle 16 along the loading path 24.

[0036] As mentioned above, the gate activation system 80 includes one or more components configured to provide feedback to the gate actuation system 82 of the gate system 34 indicating the position of the ride vehicle 16 (e.g., the position of the ride vehicle 16 relative to the gate actuation system 82 and / or the gate 42). For example, the gate activation system 80 may include an identifier 94, a transmitter 96, and / or an engagement feature 98. The identifier 94 may include a retroreflective mark (e.g., paint, tape, panel, fabric, etc.), a barcode (e.g., a linear barcode, a matrix barcode, etc.), or other images, objects, symbols, etc. that can be detected, sensed, or scanned. The transmitter 96 may be configured to output light, sound waves, electrical signals, radio frequency signals, magnetic fields, or another form of energy or matter for detection by the gate actuation system 82. The engagement feature 98 may be configured to provide a physical or virtual engagement between the ride vehicle 16 and the loading system 12 (e.g., the gate actuation system 82). For example, the engagement feature 98 may include a boss or other protruding feature, a magnet, a hook, a gear, an eyelet, a shaft, or other component that may physically or virtually engage with the gate actuation system 82 .

[0037] The controller 92 of the ride vehicle 16 is configured to adjust the operation of one or more components of the ride vehicle 16, such as the drive system 90 and the gate activation system 80. The controller 92 can adjust the operation of the drive system 90 to adjust the speed of the ride vehicle 16 along the loading path 24. For example, the controller 92 can control the operation of the drive system 90 to cause the ride vehicle 16 to travel along the loading path 24 (e.g., at a speed greater than the rotation speed of the loading platform 20) so that the ride vehicle 16 approaches one of the gates 42 of the gate system 34 and eventually aligns radially therewith. Similarly, if the speed of the ride vehicle 16 along the loading path 24 is greater than the rotation speed of the loading platform 20, the controller 92 can operate the drive system 90 to decelerate. The controller 92 can further adjust the operation of the drive system 90 so that the ride vehicle 16 maintains radial alignment with one of the gates 42 (e.g., based on communication and / or feedback between the gate activation system 80 and the gate actuation system 82).

[0038] The loading system 12 includes: a loading platform 20; a motor 100 configured to drive rotation of a rotating portion 32 of the loading platform 20; a controller 102; a gate 42 of a gate system 34; and a gate actuation system 82 for the gate 42. The controller 102 can be configured to control the operation of the motor 100 to adjust the rotation speed of the loading platform 20. The operation of the motor 100 can be controlled based on feedback from any of the ride vehicles 16, feedback from the gate system 34, feedback from the loading system 12, and / or feedback from any other part of an amusement park ride or attraction, such as an operator interface.

[0039] As mentioned above, the gate actuation system 82 may include any of a variety of components configured to actuate the gate 42 between an open position and a closed position based on input and / or feedback from the gate activation system 80 of the ride vehicle 16. For example, the gate actuation system 82 may include an electrical system 104 (e.g., an electrical actuation system) and / or a mechanical system 106 (e.g., a mechanical actuation system). The electrical system 104 includes components that generally utilize electrical power, such as a sensor or detector 108, an actuator 110, and / or a controller 112 for cooperatively actuating the gate 42 based on feedback from the gate activation system 80. For example, the detector 108 may detect a specific presence of one of the identifiers 94 of the gate activation system 80 and / or a specific output from one of the transmitters 96 of the gate activation system 80. Based on the detection, the controller 112 may control the actuator 110 to open or close the gate 42. That is, when the detector 108 detects the output of the transmitter 96 and / or the presence of the identifier 94 indicating that the ride vehicle 16 is radially aligned with the gate 42, the controller 112 can operate the actuator 110 to transition the gate 42 to the open position. In some embodiments, after executing a time delay (which begins once an indication of radial alignment between the ride vehicle 16 and the gate 42 is detected), the controller 112 can operate the actuator 110 to transition the gate 42 to the open position. Thereafter, when the detector 108 detects feedback from the identifier 94 and / or the transmitter 96 indicating that the ride vehicle 16 is not radially aligned with the gate 42, the controller 112 can operate the actuator 110 to transition the gate 42 to the closed position. The operation of embodiments of the electrical system 104 is described below with reference to Figure 5 and discussed in more detail.

[0040] In lieu of or in addition to the electrical system 104, a mechanical system 106 of the gate actuation system 82 may also be included. The mechanical system 106 includes components that can actuate the gate 42 based on the presence and / or position of the ride vehicle 16 without utilizing electrical power. For example, the mechanical system 106 may include a cam 114, a gear 116, a linkage 118 (e.g., a lever, a bar, etc.), and / or other physical components such as springs, bearings, shafts, hooks, chains, belts, switches, etc. In operation, the engagement feature 98 of the gate activation system 80 may be configured to engage with the mechanical system 106 of the gate actuation system 82 to actuate the gate 42 between an open position and a closed position. More specifically, the components of the mechanical system 106 and the engagement features 98 may be configured and arranged so that when the ride vehicle 16 travels along the loading path 24 to become radially aligned with the gate 42, the engagement features 98 of the ride vehicle 16 physically contact and engage with the mechanical system 106 to transition the gate 42 from the closed position to the open position. Figure 6-Figure 8 The operation of embodiments of mechanical system 106 is discussed in greater detail.

[0041] Figure 5 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a loading system 12 having a gate actuation system 82 having an electrical system 104. The gate activation system 80 of the ride vehicle 16 includes an identifier 94 and a transmitter 96. In some embodiments, the ride vehicle 16 may include only the identifier 94 or only the transmitter 96. As discussed above, the identifier 94 and the transmitter 96 are configured to provide feedback to the electrical system 104 of the gate actuation system 82 located on or adjacent to the loading platform 20 indicating the location of the ride vehicle 16. Specifically, the detector 108 or sensor of the electrical system 104 is positioned adjacent to one of the gates 42 of the gate system 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the gate 42 is a double swing gun type gate having a first blade 120 and a second blade 122, each of which is configured to be positioned as shown in FIG. Figure 5 The closure is shown in Figure 1 and the closure is shown in Figure 2.

[0042] The detector 108 is configured to detect the location of the ride vehicle 16 based on the detection of the presence of one or more markers 94 and / or the output of one or more transmitters 96. In the illustrated embodiment, the ride vehicle 16 includes a first marker 124 positioned at an edge 126 in front or in front of the ride vehicle 16, and includes a second marker 128 positioned at an edge 130 in the rear or behind of the ride vehicle 16. The electrical system 104 of the gate actuation system 82 includes a first detector 132 positioned at a first end 134 of the gate 42 and a second detector 136 positioned at a second end 138 of the gate 42. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the detector 108 and the marker 94 may be positioned in any other suitable locations.

[0043] The first detector 132 and the second detector 136 may be optical sensors, cameras, or other detectors or sensors configured to detect the first marker 124 and the second marker 128. When the ride vehicle 16 travels along the loading path 24 and approaches the gate 42, the first marker 124 may become aligned (e.g., radially aligned) with the first detector 132 as indicated by the dashed line 140, and the second marker 128 may become aligned (e.g., radially aligned) with the second detector 136 as indicated by the dashed line 142. The first detector 132 and the second detector 136 are configured to detect alignment with the first marker 124 and the second marker 128, respectively, to verify that the ride vehicle 16 is radially aligned with the gate 42. To this end, the first marker 124 and the second marker 128 may be different and / or unique from each other so that, for example, the second detector 136 does not mistake detection of the first marker 124 for detection of the second marker 128. Once the respective alignment of the marker 94 with the detector 108 is detected and maintained (e.g., for a time delay period), the controller 112 of the gate actuation system 82 can operate the actuator 110 to open the gate 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the first blade 120 and the second blade 122 of the gate 42 each have a separate actuator 110 for adjusting the respective blade between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

[0044] The third detector 144 of the gate actuation system 82 is configured to detect the output of the transmitter 96 of the ride vehicle 16. As mentioned above, the transmitter 96 is configured to output light, sound, magnetic field, radio waves or any other suitable form of energy. The third detector 144 can be any suitable sensor configured to detect the output of the transmitter 96. Based on the detection of the third detector 144, the controller 112 can determine the position of the ride vehicle 16. For example, the controller 112 can be configured to determine that the ride vehicle 16 is radially aligned with the gate 42 based on the intensity, profile, amplitude, degree or other measurement value or quality of the output detected by the third detector 144. Although in the illustrated embodiment, the third detector 144 and the transmitter 96 are respectively positioned at the approximate center or midpoint of the ride vehicle 16 and the gate 42, in other embodiments, the third detector 144 and the transmitter 96 can be placed at any suitable position.

[0045] The detection of the detector 108 is transmitted to the controller 112, which is configured to operate the actuator 110 based on the detection. The controller 112 includes a processor 146 (such as a microprocessor), which can execute software for controlling the components of the gate actuation system 82. The processor 146 can include multiple microprocessors, one or more "general purpose" microprocessors, one or more special-purpose microprocessors, and / or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or some combination thereof. For example, the processor 146 can include one or more reduced instruction set (RISC) processors. The controller 112 also includes a memory device 148, which can store information such as control software, lookup tables, configuration data, etc. The memory device 148 can include volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM) and / or non-volatile memory such as read-only memory (ROM). The memory device 148 can store a variety of information and can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, the memory device 148 may store processor-executable instructions including firmware or software for execution by the processor 146, such as instructions for controlling the actuator 110 based on various detections of the detector 108. In some embodiments, the memory device 148 is a tangible, non-transitory machine-readable medium that may store machine-readable instructions for execution by the processor 146. The memory device 148 may include a ROM, a flash memory, a hard drive, or any other suitable optical storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, or a solid-state storage medium, or a combination thereof. The memory device 148 may store data, instructions, and any other suitable data.

[0046] As mentioned above, additional control of the loading system 12 can be based on the detection of the detector 108. In an embodiment, the controller 102 of the loading system 12 can be configured to control the motor 100 to drive the rotation of the loading platform 20. For example, if the detector 108 detects feedback from the identifier 94 and / or the transmitter 96 indicating that the ride vehicle 16 and the loading platform 20 are moving at different speeds after being previously radially aligned (e.g., if the ride vehicle 16 is accelerated or decelerated relative to the rotation of the loading platform 20), the controller 102 can adjust the operation of the motor 100 to compensate. In other words, the controller 102 can control the motor 100 to (e.g., temporarily) accelerate or decelerate the rotation of the loading platform 20 so that the gate 42 and the ride vehicle 16 become radially aligned again. In some embodiments, the controller 92 of the ride vehicle 16 can be configured to operate the drive system 90 to similarly compensate for the uneven speeds of the ride vehicle 16 and the loading platform 20. To this end, the controller 92 of the ride vehicle 16, the controller 102 of the loading system 12, and / or the controller 112 of the gate actuation system 82 can be configured to communicate with each other. The controller 102 also includes a processor 150 and a memory device 152, which can be similar to the processor 146 and memory device 148 of the controller 112 discussed above.

[0047] Figure 6 1 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the loading system 12 and the gate system 34 illustrating an embodiment of the mechanical system 106. The illustrated embodiment includes three gates 42 of the gate system 34, each gate 42 illustrating a different configuration based on the engagement or disengagement of the gate 42 with a corresponding engagement feature 98 of the ride vehicle 16. For example, the first gate 160 of the gate system 34 is not engaged with any engagement feature 98 of any ride vehicle 16. Therefore, the first gate 160 is in a closed position to prevent any customer from passing on the loading platform 20. Each gate 42 may include a spring, a counterweight, or any other suitable feature for biasing the gate 42 in the closed position when the gate's mechanical system 106 is not engaged with any engagement feature 98 of any ride vehicle 16.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the second gate 162 of the gate system 34 is shown engaged with the engagement feature 98 of the first ride vehicle 54. The engagement feature 98 is a protrusion or boss 166 configured to physically engage with the mechanical system 106 of the gate 42. When the first ride vehicle 54 travels along the loading path 24 to approach the loading platform 20, the boss 166 contacts the pull rod 168 of the mechanical system 106 of the second gate 162. Specifically, the boss 166 contacts the angled surface 170 (e.g., cam surface) of the pull rod 168, which enables the boss 166 to maintain contact with the pull rod 168 when the first ride vehicle 54 travels along the circumference of the loading platform 20 on the loading path 24. In other embodiments, the pull rod 168 can have a cam surface having a different (e.g., non-angled) configuration configured to engage with the boss 166.

[0049] When the first ride vehicle 54 approaches the loading platform 20 along the loading path 24, the protrusion 166 applies a force to the tie rod 168, which moves the tie rod in a direction 172 (e.g., radially inward toward the central vertical axis 30 of the loading platform 20). At an end 174 of the tie rod 168 opposite the angled surface 170, the tie rod 168 is pivotally coupled to a rod 176. The rod 176 is also pivotally coupled to a first end 178 of a gate 42 (e.g., the second gate 162) via a hinge or other pivotable connection, a cam slot, a plate, and / or other coupling features. The second end 180 of the gate 42 is coupled to the loading platform 20 at a pivot point 182. Thus, while the second end 180 of the gate 42 can rotate about the pivot point 182, the second end 180 of the gate 42 remains coupled to the loading platform 20 at the pivot point 182. On the other hand, the first end 178 of the gate 42 is not limited to being coupled to a single pivot point of the loading platform 20 and can move along the loading platform 20. In some embodiments, the gate 42 can rotate about the pivot point 182 without the first end 178 of the gate 42 being coupled to the rod 176.

[0050] As discussed above, the gate 42 is configured to be in an open position once the ride vehicle 16 is radially aligned with the gate 42 and / or the gate passage of the gate 42. More specifically, the gate actuation system 82 can be configured to open the gate 42 when the passenger seat of the ride vehicle 16 is radially aligned with the gate 42 or the gate passage of the gate 42. For example, the passenger seat 184 of the second ride vehicle 60 in the illustrated embodiment is radially aligned with the gate passage 188 of the third gate 190 of the gate system 34. As will be appreciated, when the third gate 190 is in the closed position, the third gate 190 can occupy the space of the gate passage 188. However, as shown, when the third gate 190 is in the open position, the gate passage 188 is unobstructed to enable customers or passengers to enter or exit the third ride vehicle 66.

[0051] As the ride vehicles 16 continue to travel along the loading path 24, the protrusions 166 of each ride vehicle 16 can slide along the angled surface 170 of the tie rod 168 until the protrusions 166 are no longer in contact with the tie rod 168. Once the protrusions 166 no longer apply force to the tie rod 168, the gate 42 can automatically return to the closed position, as indicated by the Figure 6 . The gate 42 can be automatically returned to the closed position due to the biasing force of an element (such as a spring) from the gate actuation system 82. As will be appreciated, the biasing force of the spring or other element can be selected so that the biasing force can be overcome by the force of the boss 166 on the pull rod 168 to make the gate 42 transition from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, the loading system 12 may include fixed elements (e.g., bosses, protrusions, etc.) positioned at the starting point and end of the loading path 24 that do not rotate with the loading platform 20. The fixed elements can be configured to unlock and lock the pull rod 168 of the gate system 34, respectively, to allow and prevent the movement of the pull rod 168.

[0052] The mechanical system 106 may include additional features to enhance the functionality of the gate actuation system 82. For example, Figure 7 and Figure 8 The pivot point 182 is shown in FIG. Figure 6 7-7, the gate 42 is coupled to the loading platform 20 at the pivot point 182. Figure 7 and Figure 8 .

[0053] The pivot point 182 includes a ratchet 200 having teeth 202 extending around the circumference of the ratchet 200. The ratchet 200 can be fixed for rotation with the gate 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical system 106 also includes a pawl 204, which can be coupled to the loading platform 20 or other components of the loading system 12 via a pin 206. The pawl 204 is configured to engage with the teeth 202 of the ratchet 200 when the gate 42 is in the closed position. For example, the mechanical system 106 can include a spring or other biasing element configured to maintain engagement between the pawl 204 and the teeth 202 when the gate 42 is closed. The engagement between the pawl 204 and the teeth 202 prevents the ratchet 200 from rotating (e.g., in a direction 208), and thus prevents the gate 42 from rotating and inadvertently transitioning from the closed position to the open position. In fact, even if a force is applied to the gate 42 in an attempt to push the gate 42 from the closed position to the open position, the engagement between the pawl 204 and the teeth 202 may prevent the gate 42 from rotationally moving toward the open position.

[0054] To enable rotation of the gate 42 from the closed position to the open position when a force is applied to the pull rod 168 (e.g., via the protrusion 166 of the ride vehicle 16), the mechanical system 106 includes a rod 210 that is pivotally coupled to the pawl 204 via a pin 212 at a first end 214 of the rod 210. A second, opposite end of the rod can be pivotally coupled to the pull rod 168 similar to the connection between the rod 176 and the pull rod 168 discussed above. When a force is applied to the pull rod 168, such as via the protrusion 166, the pull rod 168 (e.g., along the protrusion 166) is rotated. Figure 6 Movement of the rod 210 in the direction 172 shown in FIG. 2 may also cause the rod 210 to move (e.g., in the direction 216). As a result, the rod 210 may move as shown in FIG. Figure 8 204 is disengaged from the teeth 202 of the ratchet wheel 200 as shown in the figure, thereby enabling the gate 42 to be rotationally transitioned from the closed position to the open position. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the mechanical system 106 may include additional and / or alternative elements (e.g., cams, switches, gears, etc.) configured to achieve actuation of the gate 42 based on the position of the ride vehicle 16 without electrical power.

[0055] Thus, the presently disclosed embodiments relate to a gate system that is configured to selectively enable separate actuation of a gate (such as a gun-type gate) between an open position and a closed position based on the position of a corresponding ride vehicle of an amusement ride or attraction. When a ride vehicle approaches a loading area (such as a loading platform of an amusement ride), the position of the ride vehicle can be detected (e.g., electronically and / or mechanically), and the gate system is configured to open a gate corresponding to the ride vehicle when a specific position of the ride vehicle is detected by the gate system. For example, when the seat position of the ride vehicle is aligned with the gate, the gate system can open the corresponding gate. When the seat position is no longer aligned with the gate, the gate system is configured to transition the gate from the open position to the closed position, thereby regulating the passage of passengers of the ride at the loading area (e.g., loading and unloading of the ride vehicle).

[0056] Although only certain features of the present embodiment have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the present disclosure. Moreover, it should be understood that certain elements of the disclosed embodiments may be combined or exchanged with each other.

[0057] The technology presented and claimed herein is cited and applied to substantial objects and specific examples of a practical nature that arguably improve the art and are therefore not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Moreover, if any claim appended at the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "means for [performing] ... [function]" or "steps for [performing] ... [function]," it is intended that such elements be interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements not be interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

Claims

1. A gate system for an amusement park attraction, comprising: a loading platform configured to rotate about a central vertical axis of the loading platform; a gate positioned on the loading platform, wherein the gate is configured to transition between a closed position and an open position; A gate actuation system is coupled to the loading platform, wherein the gate actuation system is configured to actuate the gate between the closed position and the open position based on feedback indicating a position of a ride vehicle relative to the gate.

2. The gate system of claim 1 , comprising the ride vehicle, wherein the ride vehicle includes a gate activation system configured to provide the feedback indicative of the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gate to the gate actuation system.

3. The gate system of claim 2, comprising an identifier of the gate actuation system attached to the ride vehicle, wherein the identifier comprises a retroreflective mark, an image, a bar code, or any combination thereof.

4. The gate system of claim 3, wherein the gate actuation system includes a detector configured to detect the marker, and the feedback indicative of the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gate includes detection of the marker.

5. The gate system of claim 2, wherein the gate activation system includes a protrusion extending from the ride vehicle, the gate actuation system includes a pull rod pivotally coupled to the gate, and the protrusion is configured to engage with the pull rod to pivot the gate from the closed position to the open position.

6. The gate system of claim 5, wherein the gate includes a ratchet, the gate actuation system includes a pawl configured to engage the ratchet in the closed position of the gate, the pawl being pivotally coupled to the pull rod, and engagement of the boss with the pull rod disengaging the pawl from the ratchet.

7. The gate system of claim 6, wherein the ratchet is rotationally fixed to the gate.

8. The gate system of claim 1, wherein the gate actuation system is configured to actuate the gate from the closed position to the open position based on feedback indicating that the ride vehicle is approaching the gate and radially aligned with the gate relative to the central vertical axis.

9. A gate system according to claim 8, wherein the gate actuation system is configured to: receive the feedback indicating that the ride vehicle is radially aligned with the gate relative to the central vertical axis; perform a time delay; and after performing the time delay, subsequently actuate the gate from the closed position to the open position.

10. The gate system of claim 8, wherein the gate actuation system is configured to actuate the gate from the open position to the closed position based on feedback indicating that the ride vehicle has transitioned from being proximate to the gate and radially aligned with the gate relative to the central vertical axis to not being proximate to the gate and / or not being radially aligned with the gate relative to the central vertical axis.

11. The gate system according to claim 1, comprising: a motor configured to drive rotation of the loading platform; as well as A controller is configured to adjust operation of the motor based on the feedback indicative of the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gate.

12. The gate system according to claim 1, comprising: the ride vehicle, wherein the ride vehicle includes a drive system configured to drive movement of the ride vehicle along a loading path extending around the loading platform; as well as A controller is configured to adjust operation of the ride vehicle based on the feedback indicative of the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gate.

13. A method for controlling the movement of passengers during loading or unloading of a ride vehicle at an amusement park attraction, comprising: directing the ride vehicle along a loading path extending around a rotating loading platform; utilizing a gate actuation system positioned on the rotating loading platform to detect a position of the ride vehicle relative to a gun-type gate positioned on the rotating loading platform; as well as The gun gate is automatically transitioned from a closed position to an open position based on the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gun gate.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gun gate comprises: A detector of the gate actuation system is used to detect a marker of the ride vehicle, wherein the marker is a retroreflective marking.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising: The gun gate is automatically transitioned from the closed position to the open position based on the position of the ride vehicle being proximate to the gun gate and radially aligned with the gun gate's axis of rotation relative to the rotating loading platform.

16. The method according to claim 13, comprising: engaging a protrusion protruding from the ride vehicle with a tie rod of the gate actuation system; as well as The movement of the pull rod is transmitted to the gun gate to transform the gun gate from the closed position to the open position.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising automatically transitioning the gun gate from the open position to the closed position based on the ride vehicle transitioning from a first position proximate to and aligned with the gun gate to a second position not proximate to and / or not aligned with the gun gate.

18. A gate system for controlling the passage of passengers in a loading area of ​​an amusement ride, comprising: a rotating loading platform configured to rotate about a rotation axis, wherein the rotating loading platform includes a gun-type gate disposed thereon; a ride vehicle configured to travel along a loading path extending around the rotating loading platform, wherein the ride vehicle includes a gate activation system configured to provide feedback indicative of a position of the ride vehicle relative to the gun-type gate; as well as A gate actuation system is configured to receive the feedback indicative of the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gun-style gate and to transition the gate between an open position and a closed position based on the feedback.

19. The gate system of claim 18, comprising a motor configured to drive rotation of the rotating loading platform and a controller configured to regulate operation of the motor, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the motor based on the feedback indicating the position of the ride vehicle relative to the gun-type gate to maintain radial alignment of the ride vehicle and the gun-type gate about the axis of rotation of the rotating loading platform.

20. A gate system according to claim 18, wherein the gate activation system includes a protrusion protruding from the ride vehicle, the gate actuation system includes a pull rod pivotally coupled to the gun-type gate, and the protrusion and the pull rod are configured to engage with each other to transition the gun-type gate from the closed position to the open position, so that when the ride vehicle is aligned with the gun-type gate, the gun-type gate is in the open position.

21. The gate system of claim 18, wherein the gate activation system comprises a retroreflective indicia affixed to the ride vehicle, and the gate actuation system comprises: a detector configured to detect the retroreflective marking; an actuator configured to actuate the gun-style gate between the open position and the closed position; as well as A controller is configured to control the actuator to actuate the gun-style gate from the closed position to the open position when detection of the retroreflective indicia by the detector indicates that the ride vehicle is aligned with the gun-style gate.

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