System and method for combustion effects

Abstract

A special effect system may include a fog generating device configured to generate a fog, a performance element including one or more compartments, and a controller communicatively coupled to the fog generating device. The mist generating device may include one or more positive pressure sources and one or more negative pressure sources. The controller may perform operations including: applying negative pressure from the one or more negative pressure sources to the one or more compartments for a period of time; allowing fog to enter one or more compartments after a period of negative pressure; and applying a positive pressure from the one or more positive pressure sources to cause mist to escape from the one or more compartments to trigger a combustion effect.

Description

Background Art

[0001] This section is intended to introduce to the reader various aspects of the technology that may be related to various aspects of the technology described and / or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful to the reader in providing background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light and are not an admission of prior art.

[0002] Throughout amusement parks and other entertainment venues, special effects can be used to help visitors immerse themselves in the experience of a ride or attraction. An immersive environment can include three-dimensional (3D) props and scenery, robotic or mechanical elements, electrical or chemical elements, and / or display surfaces for presenting media. For example, an immersive environment can be provided via a display member configured to produce a visual combustion effect (e.g., a smoke, cloud, or fog effect). However, the infrastructure for producing such combustion effects is bulky and not suitable for rapid deployment of effects. Accordingly, there is a desire to improve systems and methods for replicating the appearance of combustion effects to provide a more realistic, appropriate, and / or desirable interactive experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Certain embodiments that are equivalent in scope to the originally proposed subject matter are outlined below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the proposed subject matter, but rather, these embodiments are only intended to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. In fact, the subject matter may include a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments described below.

[0004] In an embodiment, a special effects system can include a fog generation device configured to generate fog, a display element including one or more compartments, and a controller communicatively coupled to the fog generation device. The fog generation device can include one or more positive pressure sources and one or more negative pressure sources. The controller can perform operations including: applying a negative pressure from one or more of the negative pressure sources to one or more of the compartments for a period of time; after the period of negative pressure, allowing fog to enter one or more of the compartments; and applying a positive pressure from one or more of the positive pressure sources to cause the fog to escape from one or more of the compartments to trigger a combustion effect.

[0005] In an embodiment, a special effects method can include instructing, via a controller, a fog generation machine to generate fog and instructing, via the controller, a negative pressure to be applied from one or more vacuum blowers to one or more compartments for a period of time to evacuate one or more of the compartments. The method can also allow fog from the fog generation machine to fill one or more of the compartments after a period of time and instruct, via the controller, a positive pressure to be applied from one or more compressed air supply sources to one or more of the compartments to generate a combustion effect.

[0006] In an embodiment, a scenic spot system may include: a display element including a compartment configured to store and release fog; one or more dampers configured to open or close to control the air flow to and from the compartment; one or more vehicles configured to move along a path adjacent to the display element; and one or more controllers communicatively coupled to the display element and the vehicles. The controller may determine the position of the vehicle and, based on the position of the vehicle, instruct one or more compressed air supply sources and / or one or more blowers to apply positive pressure to release the stored fog from the compartment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the drawings, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a special effects system according to an aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is according to an aspect of the present disclosure Figure 1 rear view of an embodiment of a compartment used within a special effects system; Figure 3A is according to an aspect of the present disclosure before triggering a combustion effect Figure 1 side view of an embodiment of a compartment used within a special effects system; Figure 3B is according to an aspect of the present disclosure after triggering a combustion effect Figure 1 side view of an embodiment of a compartment used within a special effects system; Figure 4 is according to an aspect of the present disclosure for operating Figure 1 flowchart of an embodiment of a method for operating a special effects system to produce a combustion effect; Figure 5 is according to an aspect of the present disclosure Figure 1 schematic diagram of an embodiment of a special effects system; Figure 6 is according to an aspect of the present disclosure for operating Figure 5 flowchart of an embodiment of a method for operating a special effects system to produce a combustion effect; and Figure 7 is according to an aspect of the present disclosure including Figure 1 block diagram of an embodiment of a scenic spot system having a special effects system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles "a", "an", and "the" are intended to mean that there is one or more elements. The terms "comprising", "including", and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not to be construed as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

[0009] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. To provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in the specification. It should be recognized that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as meeting system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Additionally, it should be recognized that such development work may be complex and time-consuming, but would still be routine work of design, construction, and manufacturing for those of ordinary skill in the art who would benefit from the present disclosure.

[0010] The present disclosure is directed to providing combustion special effects for an amusement park or a theme park. An amusement park may include various features, such as rides (e.g., roller coasters), theatrical shows, set designs, performers, and / or decorative elements to provide entertainment to visitors. Special effects may be used to complement or enhance the facilities in order to provide a more immersive and / or unique experience to visitors. For example, special effects simulating real-world elements may be presented to create a more realistic atmosphere for visitors.

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a special effects system that presents combustion effects (e.g., spontaneous combustion) in a realistic manner. In an embodiment, the combustion special effect may be a rapid deployment effect, such as a rapid laser destruction. Achieving a rapid change from an initially undamaged configuration to a burned or otherwise affected configuration can be challenging. Additionally, since the attraction cycle repeats throughout the day, it is also beneficial to quickly restore the display elements to their undamaged configuration for the next cycle without leaving smoke or other effect traces. The combustion effect may include smoke, fog, or other visual features that pervade the entire environment, and they may take some time to dissipate between cycles. Additionally, a large amount of smoke used to achieve more visually impactful special effects is difficult to generate quickly. Therefore, combustion effects are generally not suitable for rapid deployment and rapid reversal.

[0012] This embodiment provides a display element (e.g., an animated character, a prop, a statue, an object) that operates as part of a realistic and / or immersive environment to provide entertainment to visitors. The display element may be coupled to a fog generation device and one or more blowers (e.g., fans) via one or more fluid conduits (e.g., pipes). Since generating fog may be a slow process, the fog generation device may remain on and continuously generate fog. The display element may include one or more compartments for storing fog and allowing an expected amount of fog to accumulate before triggering a combustion effect. Before triggering the combustion effect, the fog may travel through the conduit to remain in the compartments of the display element.

[0013] In an embodiment, the fog generation device is located outside and away from the display element. The display element and the compartments can be of any suitable shape or size. For example, the compartment can be designed as the torso of the display element to provide a realistic and immersive experience to visitors. Additionally, the compartment may include one or more outlets that serve as escape points for the fog. To trigger the combustion effect, positive pressure can be applied to the compartment, forcing the fog to discharge outward through the compartment outlets and making the combustion effect visible. In some cases, one or more compressed air supply sources can be used to apply positive pressure to the first compartment and push the fog out at high speed for the main combustion effect. Then, a fan can be used to apply positive pressure to force the remaining fog in the second compartment to discharge for the secondary combustion effect. Compared with the main combustion effect, the secondary combustion effect can be a slower effect and last for a longer period of time. In this way, the combustion effects provided by the special effects system can be presented in layers to provide a visualization of unique and / or realistic combustion effects (including spontaneous combustion) to visitors in the amusement park.

[0014] In view of the foregoing, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a special effects system 50 for generating a combustion effect. For example, the special effects system 50 may include a fog generation device 52 located outside but coupled to a display element 54. One or more fluid conduits 56 (e.g., pipes) may couple the fog generation device 52 to the display element 54. By placing the fog generation device 52 outside the display element 54, the size and material constraints of the components within the special effects system 50 can be reduced or eliminated. For example, the display element 54 can be of any suitable shape, size, or material because the display element 54 serves as a central point for storing fog rather than generating fog. Additionally or alternatively, one or more fluid conduits 56 can be made of any suitable material to handle the flow of air and / or fog, while the pipes within the fog generation device 52 can have material constraints to prevent fog.

[0015] In an embodiment, the fog generating device 52 may include a fog machine that operates to generate fog upon startup. For example, since the generation of fog may be a slow and time-consuming process, the machine may be active (e.g., turned on) before, during, and after the combustion effect. In the on state, fog generating material may enter the machine to generate fog. For example, the fog generating machine may mix active ingredients (such as propylene glycol, glycerin) and water to produce a thick vapor that visually resembles fog or smoke. In another example, the fog generating machine may heat a compound (such as carbon dioxide, liquid nitrogen, water) to produce fog. The pipes leading to the fog generating machine may be made of stainless steel with insulation or may be high-pressure water pipelines to accommodate the fog generating material. To produce the combustion effect, the fog generating device 52 may include one or more blowers (such as fans) and one or more compressed air supply sources to generate positive pressure and push the fog outwards. The fog generating device 52 may also include one or more vacuum blowers configured to generate negative pressure to prevent the fog from emanating from the display element 54 before the combustion effect.

[0016] In some cases, the fog from the fog generating machine may travel through one or more fluid conduits 56 to the display element 54. The central block 57 may cover and / or support one or more fluid conduits 56. For example, the central block 57 includes one or more holes to support the fluid conduits 56. The display element 54 may include one or more compartments 58 for storing fog before the combustion effect. One or more compartments 58 may be made of non-permeable material to hold the fog and include multiple escape points (such as openings) for the fog to produce the combustion effect. To produce the combustion effect, a compressed fluid such as air (e.g., pressurized air, compressed air) may be applied to one or more compartments 58 via one or more fluid conduits 56 to push the fog outwards. In some cases, one or more compartments 58 may be individually coupled to one of the one or more fluid conduits 56. For example, one or more compartments 58 may include a first compartment 58a coupled to a first fluid conduit 56a and a second compartment 58b coupled to a second fluid conduit 56b. As further described herein, it may be beneficial to include one or more compartments 58 within the display element 54 to control the visual appearance of the combustion effect.

[0017] For illustrative purposes, the display element 54 may be a snowman, and one or more compartments 58 may form the body (e.g., the torso) of the snowman. To create a realistic and / or immersive environment, the display element 54 may also include one or more accessories 60 and / or fittings 62. For example, the accessory 60 may be the head of the display element 54, and the fitting 62 may include a hat and a cape worn by the display element 54. Additionally, the accessory 60 and the fitting 62 may be used to hide one or more elements of the special effects system 50 (e.g., one or more fluid conduits 56, the motion controller 64, the fog generation machine 110) from the view of the visitors. Although the illustrated embodiment depicts the display element 54 as a snowman, in other embodiments, the display element 54 may include a character image such as a vampire, a dragon, a troll, a humanoid creature, an alien, or a house, a volcano, food, or any suitable object to provide an immersive burning effect to the visitors.

[0018] The display element 54 may be coupled to a motion controller 64 (e.g., a display action device), which is configured to support and coordinate the movement of the display element 54. For example, the motion controller 64 may include a movable arm 66 (e.g., a robotic arm, a movable member) coupled to the display element 54. The display element 54 may be actuated by the motion controller 64 via the movable arm 66. In this way, the motion controller 64 may create visual effects perceivable by the visitors, such as the display element 54 appearing to fly, float, levitate, fall, walk, etc. In some cases, the display element 54 may be static, and the motion controller 64 may provide additional support to the display element 54. In another example, the motion controller 64 may be supported by a transmission line (e.g., one or more cables), which may extend along (e.g., within, beside) the motion controller 64 and supply power and / or data to the display element 54. As an example, the power supplied via the transmission line may enable the display element 54 to vividly depict reactions or interact with other display elements of the attraction system. In this way, the operation and animation of the display element 54 may enhance the experience perceived by the visitors.

[0019] The special effects system 50 may include a support structure 68 to support the motion controller 64 and / or the fog generation device 52. The support structure 68 may include an elevated platform (e.g., a table, a bracket) to support the motion controller 64 and the fog generation device 52. In some cases, the support structure 68 may also be coupled to the display element 54 and provide additional support to the display element 54. Also in some embodiments, the special effects system 50 may not include a support structure.

[0020] Figure 2Rear view of an embodiment of one or more compartments 58 of the special effects system 50. The one or more compartments 58 may include one or more conduit ports 80 for receiving fog and one or more outlets 82 for releasing fog for combustion effects. The one or more compartments 58 may receive fog from a fog generation machine via one or more fluid conduits (such as, the fog generation device 52 and the fluid conduit 56 described with reference to Figure 1 ). Each of the one or more fluid conduits 56 may be coupled to each of the one or more compartments 58 via one or more conduit ports 80 (e.g., pipe ports). The one or more conduit ports 80 may be openings configured to receive the one or more fluid conduits 56 and are the entry points for fog. For example, the first fluid conduit 56 may be a hose and the conduit port 80 may be a port configured to receive and be coupled to the hose. In the illustrated example, the one or more compartments 58 include two conduit ports 80, however, in other embodiments, the one or more compartments 58 may include 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 or any suitable number of conduit ports 80. For example, the first compartment 58a may include three conduit ports 80 configured to receive the one or more fluid conduits 56.

[0021] One or more compartments 58 may be reservoirs for collecting and storing fog. To this end, one or more compartments 58 may be made of an airtight material such as fiber-reinforced plastic, thermoformed plastic, carbon fiber, metal, wood, or any suitable material for storing fog. To create a burning effect, one or more compartments 58 may include one or more outlets 82. One or more outlets 82 may be created by cutting or piercing through one or more compartments 58 to form an opening that allows the release of fog for the burning effect. For example, one or more outlets 82 may be round holes formed by removing portions of the airtight material of one or more compartments 58. In the illustrated example, one or more outlets 82 may include openings of different shapes and sizes. Additionally, the outlet openings may be covered by an open-weave material (e.g., cheesecloth, mesh, perforated material) that includes a plurality of openings for releasing fog from the compartment 58. The open-weave openings within the open-weave material (e.g., fabric) may be of any suitable shape or size. An open-weave material with a greater percentage of open area may allow fog to pass through at a greater rate compared to an open-weave material with a smaller percentage of open area, thus creating a greater burning effect visually. In other cases, the outlet openings may not be covered by an open-weave material, and fog may pass through at a greater rate compared to fog escaping from an outlet opening covered by an open-weave material. By controlling the number of one or more outlets 82, the shape and size of one or more outlets 82, and / or the shape and size of the open fabric within one or more compartments 58, the visual appearance of the burning effect may be controlled (e.g., adjusted). Additionally, the open-weave material may be painted to match the color and / or texture of one or more compartments 58 to camouflage or hide one or more outlets 82 from the view of visitors.

[0022] In the illustrated example, one or more compartments 58 include a central compartment 58a and a body compartment 58b (collectively referred to as one or more compartments 58). The central compartment 58a may include a first conduit port 80a for receiving fog via connection with one or more fluid conduits 56, and one or more outlets 82 for allowing the fog to escape. The body compartment 58b may include a second conduit port 80a for receiving fog, and one or more outlets 82 for allowing the fog to escape. In the illustrated example, the body compartment 58b may be larger in size compared to the central compartment 58a and may thus hold a greater volume of fog. As further described herein, the central compartment 58a may be used for a primary burning effect, while the body compartment 58b may be used for a secondary burning effect. In fact, the different shapes and sizes of the central compartment 58a and the body compartment 58b may allow for visually different burning effects. Thus, the burning effects provided by the special effects system 50 may be presented in layers to provide a visualization of a unique and / or realistic burning effect.

[0023] Although the illustrated example includes a central compartment 58a and a body compartment 58b, in some embodiments, the special effects system 50 may include two, three, four, five, or any suitable number of central compartments 58a and body compartments 58b to produce a combustion effect. The visual appearance of the combustion effect may be adjusted based on the number of one or more compartments 58, the number of one or more outlets 82 within the one or more compartments 58, or both. Additionally, since the one or more compartments 58 may be designed with any suitable number of conduit ports 80, the one or more compartments 58 may be coupled to any suitable number of one or more fluid conduits 56.

[0024] Figure 3A FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of one or more compartments 58 of the special effects system 50 that is in a configuration before or between combustion effect cycles (e.g., before triggering a combustion effect or after a combustion effect is completed but before starting the next combustion effect cycle). In the illustrated example, the one or more compartments 58 may be configured as a multi-space compartment including a central compartment 58a and a body compartment 58b to produce a combustion effect. The central compartment 58a may be located in the middle of the body compartment 58b, although the central compartment 58a may also be located adjacent to the body compartment 58b (e.g., above, below, to the left, to the right). In an embodiment, the central compartment 58a is separated or fluidly isolated from the body compartment 58b. Thus, in an embodiment, the fog stored in the central compartment 58a does not directly transfer from the central compartment 58a to the body compartment 58b, and vice versa. However, in some embodiments, the one or more compartments 58 of the multi-compartment configuration may include certain through-passages to permit direct gas transfer.

[0025] In the illustrated example, the central compartment 58a and the body compartment 58b may have different characteristics, resulting in visually different combustion effects. For example, the internal volume of the body compartment 58b may be larger than that of the central compartment 58a, allowing the body compartment 58b to store more fog. The central compartment 58a may have a total outlet surface area that is characterized as being larger than the total outlet surface area of the body compartment 58b (e.g., the area corresponding to the surface area of the compartment 58 that is removed or perforated to create an open passage). Thus, when constructed in a multi-compartment configuration, one or more compartments 58 may include different compartments with relatively different internal volumes and relatively different numbers and / or sizes of outlets 82. Additionally, the number of one or more second outlets 82b may be greater than the number of first outlets 82a, thereby altering the visual appearance of the generated combustion effect. However, each of the one or more second outlets 82b may be a smaller size compared to the first outlets 82a. For example, the first outlet 82a may have a surface area that is greater than the total surface area of the one or more second outlets 82b. Consequently, the fog may emanate from the one or more second outlets 82b in a slower manner compared to the fog released from the first outlet 82a. In this way, the central compartment 58a can be used to generate a primary combustion effect, while the body compartment 58b can be used to generate a secondary combustion effect.

[0026] To receive the fog, the central compartment 58a and the body compartment 58b may be coupled to the fog generating device 52 via one or more fluid conduits 56. As shown, the central compartment 58a may be coupled to the first fluid conduit 56a, and the body compartment 58b may be coupled to the second fluid conduit 56b. By coupling the central compartment 58a and the body compartment 58b separately, the movement of the fog to and from each of the one or more compartments 58 can be controlled individually. In this way, the visual appearance of the combustion effect can also be controlled.

[0027] Figure 3BA side view of an embodiment of one or more compartments 58 of the special effects system 50 during the operation of a combustion effect. For example, the central compartment 58a can be used for a larger primary combustion effect 90a, and the body compartment 58b can be used for a smaller secondary combustion effect 90b. To produce the primary combustion effect 90a, the first fluid conduit 56a connected to the central compartment 58a can generate a positive pressure, forcing the collected fog to be discharged outward through the first outlet 82a. Since the fog is stored centrally within the central compartment 58a, the fog can escape quickly from the first outlet 82a. In some cases, the attraction controller can direct the attraction system to generate additional special effects (e.g., lighting effects, audio effects, visual effects, odor effects) that occur in parallel with the primary combustion effect 90a. For example, the attraction controller can direct a laser to generate a visual effect (e.g., a sunbeam) to illuminate a display element 54 (e.g., a snowman), and the special effects system 50 can make the display element 54 appear to spontaneously combust (e.g., the primary combustion effect 90a).

[0028] During the primary combustion effect 90a, the body compartment 58b can continuously receive fog via the second fluid conduit 56b. Then, the second fluid conduit 56b can release a positive pressure into the body compartment 58b and force the stored fog to be discharged outward. Since the body compartment 58b includes one or more second outlets 82b, the fog can escape slowly from the body compartment 58b and visually present a smoldering or burning effect. Thus, the secondary combustion effect 90b may not appear as large visually as the primary combustion effect 90a. By presenting the primary combustion effect 90a and the secondary combustion effect 90b in a layered manner, the visual appearance of the combustion effect can be adjusted.

[0029] To further enhance the combustion effect, the display element 54 can be connected to accessories and / or fittings, such as the accessories 60 and / or fittings 62 described with reference to Figure 1 . For example, the fittings can include lightweight draping fabrics, such as loose clothing or fabric pieces. The fittings can be attached around one or more outlets 82 such that when one or more compartments 58 are under positive pressure, the fittings 62 can bulge outward to show visitors that a combustion effect is occurring. The fittings can also add a narrative feature for the visitors. For example, if the display element 54 is flying in the air via a motion controller 64, the fittings can move near the display element 54 to enhance the flying effect. In this way, the display element 54 can create a realistic and / or immersive environment for the visitors.

[0030] In view of the foregoing, Figure 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of an exemplary method 100 for operating the special effects system 50. Refer to Figure 1 、 2, the features shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B will be used to discuss method 100. Method 100 may start from an empty compartment state. Method 100 may be executed according to instructions stored on one or more tangible non-transitory machine-readable media, and / or instructions may be issued by a processor or processing circuit in the control system (e.g., the fog generation control system) described herein or another suitable controller. The blocks of method 100 may be executed in any suitable order. Additionally, certain blocks of method 100 may be omitted and / or other blocks may be added to method 100.

[0031] At block 102, the controller may receive a start signal. For example, the controller may receive an indication (e.g., user input, automatic signal) to trigger the combustion effect. In another example, the controller may receive a signal that triggers the combustion effect based on a sensor signal or a timing signal indicating the proximity of a visitor to the special effects system 50. In response to receiving the start signal, the controller may instruct one or more blowers to push fog into one or more compartments 58 (e.g., the central compartment 58a, the body compartment 58b) via one or more fluid conduits 56. As described herein, generating fog can be a slow and time-consuming process. Thus, the controller may instruct the fog generation machine within the fog generation device 52 to continuously produce fog, and the activation of the combustion effect may include opening a valve to allow the fog to enter one or more compartments 58. In some cases, the fog may first fill the central compartment 58a and then the body compartment 58b. In other cases, the fog may fill the central compartment 58a and the body compartment 58b in parallel. The fog may travel through one or more fluid conduits 56 to the compartments 58 by diffusion or by a low level of positive pressure that is set to facilitate the collection of the fog within one or more compartments 58, but the positive pressure is not high enough to blow the fog out through one or more outlets 82.

[0032] During the initial filling phase of the combustion effect, it may be beneficial to create a low level of negative pressure within one or more compartments 58 to prevent the release of fog before the visible phase of the triggered combustion effect. Thus, the filling phase of the combustion effect may include activating a certain level of negative pressure to prevent any fog in one or more compartments 58 from escaping through one or more outlets 82.

[0033] At block 104, the controller may instruct one or more devices of the fog generation device 52 to apply positive pressure to push the fog out of one or more compartments 58. The fog generation device 52 may include one or more air sources, which may generate air to create positive pressure to force the fog out of the compartment 58. Thus, a combustion effect may be produced. For example, the controller may instruct one or more compressed air supply sources to generate positive pressure to apply to the central compartment 58a. The positive pressure may push the fog out of the central compartment 58a, thereby creating a main combustion effect 90a. In another example, the controller may instruct one or more blowers to start and generate positive pressure to apply to the body compartment 58b. The one or more blowers may cause the fog to leave the body compartment 58b at a slower rate than the fog leaves the central compartment 58a, thereby creating a secondary combustion effect 90b. In an embodiment, the positive pressure for pushing the fog through one or more outlets 82 is higher than the pressure for filling one or more compartments 58.

[0034] Additionally or alternatively, the controller may instruct the scenic controller to generate lighting effects, sound effects, odor effects, mechanical effects, etc. in combination with the combustion effect. For example, the controller may instruct the motion controller 64 to actuate the display element 54 to produce an appearance of an attack followed by combustion. Additionally, the controller may instruct the scenic controller to generate a smoky or burnt smell to be transmitted to the visitors through the fog. In another example, the controller may instruct the scenic controller to generate sound effects generated together with the combustion effect to create an immersive environment for the visitors.

[0035] At block 106, the controller may receive a deactivation signal. For example, the controller may receive an indication (e.g., user input, automatic signal) indicating a reset of the special effects system 50. The controller may instruct one or more devices to enter an idle state. In other cases, the controller may instruct the motion controller 64 to return the display element 54 to a default position. At block 108, the controller may also instruct one or more devices of the fog generation device 52 to generate negative pressure to remove the fog from one or more compartments 58.

[0036] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a special effects system 50 including a fog generation device 52 and a display element 54. As described herein, the fog generation device 52 may be located outside the display element 54 to reduce or eliminate the complexity of the display element 54 and / or one or more compartments 58. The fog generation device 52 may be coupled to one or more compartments 58 via one or more fluid conduits 56, and the fluid conduits 56 may include flexible pipes made of any suitable material. In the illustrated example, the fog generation device 52 may be coupled to the central compartment 58a via a first fluid conduit 56a and to the body compartment 58b via a second fluid conduit 56b. It may be beneficial to use separate fluid conduits 56 for each of the central compartment 58a and the body compartment 58b to control the visual appearance of the combustion effect.

[0037] As shown, the fog generation device 52 may include a fog generation machine 110, one or more devices (e.g., a vacuum blower 112, a fan 121), one or more ducts 114, one or more valves 116, one or more dampers 118, and one or more compressed air supply sources 120. When activated, the fog generation machine 110 may generate fog for the special effects system 50. For example, the fog generation device 110 may combine an active ingredient and water to generate fog. In another example, the fog generation unit 110 may heat the ingredient to generate fog. In yet another example, the fog generation device 110 may release a fluid into the atmosphere to generate fog. Additionally, the fog generation device 110 may be coupled to one or more blowers (e.g., fans) that may generate positive pressure to push the fog from the fog generation device 110 into one or more ducts 114.

[0038] In some cases, one or more ducts 114 may be made of a high-performance material that can withstand fog. For example, fog may be generated by heating liquid nitrogen, and thus one or more ducts 114 may include insulation materials to reduce or eliminate freezing due to nitrogen. In another example, the fog may include steam, and thus one or more ducts 114 may include insulated high-pressure water pipelines to withstand the heat or pressure for generating the steam for the fog. Additionally or alternatively, one or more ducts 114 may be made of stainless steel, carbon steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, or other suitable materials. However, when the fog moves through the special effects system 50, certain fog characteristics may dissipate, and the material limitations for one or more fluid conduits 56 may be reduced or eliminated.

[0039] One or more ducts 114 may be coupled to one or more valves 116 and / or one or more dampers 118 to control the movement of fog within the special effects system 50. For example, one or more valves 116 may include check valves that allow air or fog to flow in a specific direction (e.g., from the fog generation machine 110 to the compartment 58). In another example, one or more valves 116 may include ball check valves with a closing member that may open when the pressure is above a threshold and re-seal the valve when the pressure is below the threshold. Additionally or alternatively, a controller may instruct one or more valves 116 to open or close based on an indication (e.g., user input, automatic signal).

[0040] One or more dampers 118 may also be used to control the flow of air or fog within the fog generating device 52 and / or the special effects system 50. The one or more dampers 118 may include three-way dampers, two-way dampers, single-blade dampers, inlet guide vane dampers, isolating dampers, valves, etc. In one case, the one or more dampers 118 may include a three-way damper that receives air at an inlet and releases air at an outlet. The one or more dampers 118 may also receive air from or transfer air to a third port. In certain configurations, receiving or transferring air from the third port may cause the one or more dampers 118 to move from an open position to a closed position, or vice versa. In another example, the one or more dampers 118 may be pneumatically operated valves that change between an open or closed position based on pressure being above or below a threshold. For example, when the pressure is below the threshold, the one or more dampers 118 may close to stop the flow of air within a portion of the one or more ducts 114, and when the pressure is above the threshold, the one or more dampers 118 may open to allow the flow of air within the one or more ducts 114. In certain cases, the controller may respond to a received activation signal to indicate that the one or more dampers 118 are opened to produce a combustion effect, and respond to a received deactivation signal to indicate that the one or more dampers 118 are closed to reset the special effects system 50.

[0041] The special effects system 50 may include one or more devices that generate positive or negative pressure (e.g., the devices of the fog generating device 52). By way of example, the one or more devices may include one or more vacuum generating devices or one or more air flow generating devices. By way of example, the one or more devices may include one or more vacuum blowers 112, one or more blowers 113, one or more electric blowers, one or more fans 121, or any suitable device for generating an air flow for air or fog movement. As shown, the one or more devices may include one or more vacuum blowers 112 configured to draw air or fog to create a negative pressure within the one or more fluid conduits 56 and / or the one or more compartments 58. The one or more vacuum blowers 112 may draw air from the one or more fluid conduits 56 into the one or more dampers 118 for transfer out of the fog generating device 52. In another example, the one or more fluid conduits 56 may create a Venturi effect to draw air out of the one or more compartments 58. In another example, the one or more devices may include a blower 113, such as a fog blower, that generates positive pressure to push the fog generated by the fog generating machine 110 into the one or more ducts 114. In an embodiment, the blower 113 may be the same as the fan 121 and is configured to apply positive pressure to the system. For example, the blower 113 and the fan 121 may be blowers configured to push fog out of the one or more compartments 58.

[0042] The fog generating device 52 may further include one or more compressed air supply sources 120 configured to generate a positive pressure for the main combustion effect 90a. The one or more compressed air supply sources 120 may include motor-driven devices (e.g., including an air compressor, a vacuum air compressor) for pressurizing air based on one or more settings. For example, the settings may include the speed, pressure, volume, duration of pressurization, etc. of the motor. The controller may receive an indication of the settings and instruct the one or more compressed air supply sources 120 to pressurize the air based on the settings. The one or more compressed air supply sources 120 may receive air from an inlet valve, compress the air to a desired volume, and release the pressurized air through an outlet valve. The pressurized air may enter the central compartment 58a via the first fluid conduit 56a and push the collected fog outwards, thereby generating the main combustion effect 90a.

[0043] In some cases, one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116 may control the movement of air to and from the central compartment 58a. In the illustrated example, the central compartment 58a may be coupled to the fog generating machine 110, one or more compressed air supply sources 120, and one or more vacuum blowers 112. The one or more vacuum blowers 112 may draw air to create a negative pressure within the central compartment 58a. Additionally or alternatively, the fog generating machine 110 may be activated and generate fog to fill one or more conduits 114 of the fog generating device 52. In response to receiving a start signal, the controller may instruct one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116 to open to allow the fog to travel into the central compartment 58a. After a period of time, the controller may instruct one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116 to close, thereby preventing the fog from traveling into the central compartment 58a. The controller may instruct the one or more compressed air supply sources 120 to release pressurized air into one or more conduits 114 to generate a positive pressure within the central compartment 58a to generate the main combustion effect 90a.

[0044] In the illustrated example, the body compartment 58b may be coupled to two or more devices of the fog generating machine 110 and the fog generating device 52. For example, the body compartment 58b may be coupled to one or more vacuum blowers 112 that create a negative pressure within the body compartment 58b. The controller may instruct one or more vacuum blowers 112 to draw air to create a negative pressure within the body compartment 58b and prevent fog from escaping the body compartment 58b before the secondary combustion effect 90b is generated. The controller may also instruct one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116 coupled to one or more ducts 114 to open to allow air to flow from the body compartment 58b to one or more vacuum blowers 112. During or after the primary combustion effect 90a, the controller may instruct one or more dampers 118 and / or valves 116 to open to allow fog from the fog generating machine 110 to enter the body compartment 58b via one or more fluid conduits 56. After the primary combustion effect 90a, the controller may instruct one or more fans 121 to create a positive pressure within the fog generating machine 110, thereby pushing the fog out of the body compartment 58b to generate the secondary combustion effect 90b.

[0045] In an embodiment, the fog generating machine 110 may be in an active state (e.g., an on state) and continuously generate fog. As described herein, fog generation can be a slow and time-consuming process. Thus, it may be beneficial to keep the fog generating machine 110 in an active state to continuously generate fog and control the movement of the fog by opening or closing one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116. Additionally, the components of the fog generating device 52 may take some time to enter an active state. For example, transitioning one or more fans 121 from an idle state to an active state may take a period of time, which can cause a delay in the combustion effect. In another example, one or more compressed air supply sources 120 may take a certain amount of time to pressurize air. Thus, it may be beneficial to keep certain components of the fog generating device 52 in an active state and control the movement of air by opening or closing the associated one or more valves 116 and / or one or more dampers 118. Accordingly, by controlling the opening or closing of one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116, the visual appearance of the combustion effect can be controlled.

[0046] The fog generation device 52 can be controlled by a fog generation controller 122 (e.g., a control system). The controller 122 can include a memory 124 and a processing circuit 126. The memory 124 can 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, a solid-state drive, or any other non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions for operating the special effects system 50 and / or the fog generation device 52. The processing circuit 126 can be configured to execute such instructions. For example, the processing circuit 126 can 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.

[0047] In an embodiment, the fog generation controller 122 can set, adjust, and / or change one or more parameters of the combustion effect to control the visual appearance of the combustion effect, the duration of the combustion effect, the length of the combustion effect, etc. For example, the fog generation controller 122 can instruct one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116 to open or close, which can result in applying positive or negative pressure to one or more compartments 58. In another example, the fog generation controller 122 can instruct the fog generation machine 110, one or more air flow devices, or one or more compressed air supply sources 120 to be active or idle before, during, or after the combustion effect. In an embodiment, the controller 122 can instruct the fog generation device 52 to remain active to generate fog, negative pressure, or positive pressure. Additionally, the fog generation controller 122 can instruct the motion controller 64 to actuate the display element 54 to create a realistic and immersive environment for the visitors. In this way, the fog generation controller 122 can create a visually realistic combustion effect and a realistic and / or immersive environment for the visitors.

[0048] Figure 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 150 for operating the special effects system 50. By way of example, the display element 54 can be the snowman described with reference to Figure 1 and the scene can include the snowman spontaneously combusting after being exposed to a light beam. The combustion effect can occur in two steps. For example, when exposed to the light beam, the snowman may experience a large outburst in the torso area (e.g., the main combustion effect), followed by a smoldering or charring effect (e.g., the secondary combustion effect).

[0049] To prepare for the combustion effect, the special effects system 50 may generate and store fog. At block 152, the controller 122 may instruct the fog generation device 52 to start and generate fog. For example, the controller 122 may send an instruction to the fog generation machine 110 to enter an active state for fog generation. In another instance, the controller 122 may instruct the fog generation machine 110 to be in an active state to continuously generate fog. In this case, the controller 122 may not send an instruction to the fog generation machine 110, and the machine 110 may remain in the active state of generating fog.

[0050] At block 154, the controller 122 may instruct one or more vacuum blowers 112 to create a negative pressure in the compartment 58 by drawing air from the compartment 58. For example, the controller 122 may instruct one or more vacuum blowers 112 to be in an active state and draw air within the special effects system 50. The controller 122 may also instruct one or more dampers 118 associated with the one or more vacuum blowers 112 to open to apply the negative pressure to the compartment 58. For example, by opening the associated one or more dampers 118, the first vacuum blower among the one or more vacuum blowers 112 may be allowed to draw air from the central compartment 58a via the first fluid conduit 56a, and the second blower among the one or more vacuum blowers 112 may be allowed to draw air from the body compartment 58b via the second fluid conduit 56b. In other cases, the air drawn into the first vacuum blower among the one or more vacuum blowers 112 from the central compartment 58a may escape through the outlet of the first vacuum blower, and the air drawn into the second vacuum blower from the body compartment 58b may escape through the outlet of the second vacuum blower.

[0051] At block 156, the controller 122 may receive a start signal. The start signal may be a signal indicating a user input or an automatic signal indicating the triggering of the combustion effect. For example, the controller 122 may receive a user input indicating the generation of the combustion effect. In another instance, the controller 122 may receive a signal from the memory 124 indicating the generation of the combustion effect. In response to receiving the start signal, the controller 122 may instruct one or more dampers 118 to close. Thus, the negative pressure applied to the one or more compartments 58 may be stopped.

[0052] At block 158, the controller 122 may indicate, based on a start signal, that one or more dampers 118 are opened to allow fog to fill one or more fluid conduits 56 and / or one or more ducts 114. When the fog generation machine 110 generates fog, the fog may enter one or more ducts 114 coupled to the machine 110. The controller 122 may indicate that one or more dampers 118 coupled to one or more ducts 114 are opened to allow the fog to flow into one or more fluid conduits 56 (e.g., a first fluid conduit 56a, a second fluid conduit 56b). In some cases, the controller 122 may indicate that one or more dampers 118 coupled to the first fluid conduit 56a are opened to fill the first fluid conduit 56a with fog; then, after a period of time, the controller 122 may indicate that one or more dampers 118 coupled to the second fluid conduit 56b are opened to fill the second fluid conduit 56b. Thus, the fog may be stored in the central compartment 58a before the body compartment 58b.

[0053] At block 160, the controller 122 may collect the fog in one or more compartments 58. Since one or more compartments 58 may be under negative pressure, the fog may travel through one or more fluid conduits 56 and into the compartments 58. Since fog generation is a time-consuming process, it may be beneficial to use one or more compartments 58 as a central storage point before generating a combustion effect. Conversely, a combustion effect may be generated quickly by creating a positive pressure within the special effects system 50 to push the fog out of one or more compartments 58.

[0054] At block 162, the controller 122 may activate one or more devices of the fog generation device 52 to push the collected fog through one or more outlets 82 of one or more compartments 58. For example, the controller 122 may indicate that one or more compressed air supply sources 120 generate pressurized air. The pressurized air may create a positive pressure within the central compartment 58a and push the fog out to generate a main combustion effect 90a. In some cases, the pressurized air may fill one or more fluid conduits 56 and apply pressure to a valve among one or more valves 116. Thus, the pressurized air may travel through the first fluid conduit 56a to the central compartment 58a. The pressurized air may quickly push the fog collected within the central compartment 58a out through the first outlet 82a, thereby generating a main combustion effect.

[0055] In another example, the controller 122 may direct one or more fans 121 to generate an air flow to create a positive pressure within the body compartment 58b. The air may push the stored mist through one or more outlets 82 of the body compartment 58b to create a secondary combustion effect. For example, the controller 122 may direct one or more vacuum blowers 112 to be active and continuously generate an air flow. The controller 122 may direct one or more fans 121 to start generating high-speed air and then direct one or more dampers 118 to open so that the high-speed air can push the mist out of the body compartment 58b via one or more outlets 82. Compared with the pressurized air from one or more compressed air supply sources 120, the high-speed air from one or more fans 121 may move slower, exert less positive pressure, etc. Thus, the secondary combustion effect 90b may visually appear smaller than the primary combustion effect 90a. By presenting the primary combustion effect 90a and the secondary combustion effect 90b in a layered manner, a visually realistic combustion effect can be produced.

[0056] At block 164, the controller 122 may receive a deactivation signal. For example, the controller 122 may receive an indication (e.g., user input, automatic signal) to reset the special effects system 50. In response to receiving the deactivation signal, the controller 122 may direct one or more dampers 118 to close to stop the air flow to one or more compartments 58. For example, the controller 122 may direct one or more dampers 118 associated with one or more fluid conduits 56 to close to prevent air (e.g., compressed air, high-speed air) from entering one or more compartments 58. Additionally or alternatively, closing the dampers 118 may prevent the mist from entering one or more compartments 58. Thus, the display element 54 may be reset until a subsequent activation signal occurs. In an embodiment, the controller 122 may direct one or more devices of the mist generation device 52 to enter an idle state and stop pushing the mist into one or more compartments 58. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 122 may open one or more dampers 118 associated with negative pressure and draw the residual mist from one or more compartments 58. Further, the controller 122 may direct the motion controller 64 to move one or more compartments 58 to an initial position. The method 150 may return to block 152 to generate mist and return to block 154 to create a negative pressure in the compartment 58.

[0057] The method 150 may be executed according to instructions stored on one or more tangible non-transitory machine-readable media, and / or may be executed by a processor or processing circuit 126 on the control system (e.g., the mist generation controller 122) described herein or another suitable controller. The blocks of the method 150 may be executed in any suitable order. Additionally, certain blocks of the method 150 may be omitted and / or other blocks may be added to the method 150.

[0058] Figure 7FIG. 0 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an attraction system 180 of an amusement park that uses a special effects system 50. For example, the attraction system 180 may include roller coasters, motion simulators, water rides, walking attractions (e.g., mazes), etc. The attraction system 180 may also include special effects 182 that are operable to enhance the visitor experience provided by the attraction system 180. For example, the special effects 182 may include light effects, movable objects (e.g., robots), smoke effects, audio effects, etc. The special effects 182 may also include combustion effects generated by the special effects system 50. For example, the combustion effects may be used in parallel with other special effects 182 to create a realistic and / or immersive environment for the visitors.

[0059] The attraction system 180 may also include a ride 184 that may have a vehicle 186. The ride 184 may include, for example, a roller coaster, a water ride, a motion simulator, a dark ride, etc. To this end, in an embodiment, the vehicle 186 may move (e.g., translate, rotate, pivot) around a motion base and / or along a track of the attraction system 180. In additional or alternative embodiments, the vehicle 186 may remain stationary within the attraction system 180. One or more visitors may be positioned within the vehicle 186. The ride 184 may provide entertainment to the visitors via the movement of the vehicle 186, such as by providing certain movement sensations to the visitors. Additionally or alternatively, the special effects 182 may provide entertainment to the (one or more) visitors positioned within the vehicle 186, such as by providing realistic visual and / or audio effects.

[0060] In an embodiment, the special effects 182 may include a combination of electrical, visual, odor, smoke, audio, and fog effects. For example, the special effects 182 may include combustion effects generated by the special effects system 50 that are controlled by a fog generation controller 122 (as described with reference to Figure 5 ). The special effects system 50 may include a fog generation device 52 that is configured to generate fog, push the fog through one or more fluid conduits 56 coupled to one or more compartments 58, and control the visual appearance of the combustion effects by opening and closing one or more dampers 118 and / or one or more valves 116. Additionally, the special effects 182 may include sound effects, light effects, water effects, movement, visual effects, olfactory effects, etc. that may be used in parallel with the combustion effects. For example, the special effects 182 may include a light effect that simulates a sunbeam shining on a display element 54. The special effects 182 may include certain displays with visual effects to complement the combustion effects. As described herein, the special effects 182 may also include certain odors or audio to complement the combustion effects.

[0061] The attraction system 180 may also include an attraction control system 188 coupled to the fog generation controller 122 and the ride device 184. The attraction control system 188 may include a memory 190 and processing circuitry 192. The memory 190 may include volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM), and / or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), optical disk drives, hard disk drives, solid state drives, or any other non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes instructions for operating the attraction system 180. The processing circuitry 192 may be configured to execute such instructions. For example, the processing circuitry 192 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.

[0062] In addition, the attraction control system 188 may cause additional special effects to be generated before, during, or after the combustion effect. For example, the attraction control system 188 may control the movement of the vehicle 186 within the attraction system 180 and / or various outputs provided by the fog generation controller 122. In an embodiment, the attraction control system 188 may set, adjust, and / or vary one or more parameters of the combustion effect in order to control the appearance of the visual combustion effect provided. As an example, the attraction control system 188 may operate the combustion effect to cause the display element 54 to appear to move or travel in a certain manner relative to the vehicle 186. For example, the attraction control system 188 may direct the display element 54 to move toward the vehicle 186 and combust before reaching the vehicle 186. In another example, the attraction control system 188 may direct the display element 54 to move near the vehicle 186. In an embodiment, the combustion special effect is initiated based on the vehicle 186 being within a certain distance from the display element. For example, a vehicle position signal is provided to the special effects system 50.

[0063] The special effects system 50 may be added to new and existing special effects. In addition, the special effects system 50 described herein may be installed in both new and existing display elements 54 (e.g., objects). The installation of the special effects system 50 includes incorporating a compartment within the graphic or object and coupling it to the fog machine equipment and / or the motion controller. For example, the special effects system 50 may be applied to animated characters or other non-anthropomorphic shapes or objects having cavities. Additionally or alternatively, the object may be coupled to the motion controller to move the object relative to other special effects in the system.

[0064] Although only certain features of the invention have been shown and described herein, many modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

[0065] The technology presented and claimed herein is cited and applied to specific instances of physical objects and actual properties, which significantly improves the art and is thus not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Additionally, if any claim appended to the end of this specification contains one or more elements designated as "means for (performing) (function)... " or "step for (performing) (function)... ", then it is intended that such elements be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claim containing elements designated in any other way, such elements are not intended to be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

Claims

1. An effect system, comprising: A fog generation device configured to generate fog and comprising: One or more positive pressure sources; and One or more negative pressure sources; A display element comprising one or more compartments; and A controller communicatively coupled to the fog generation device, wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising: Applying a negative pressure from the one or more negative pressure sources to the one or more compartments for a period of time; After the period of the negative pressure, allowing fog from the fog generation device to enter the one or more compartments; and Applying a positive pressure from the one or more positive pressure sources to cause the fog to escape from the one or more compartments to trigger a combustion effect.

2. The effect system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more compartments comprise a central compartment configured for a main combustion effect and a body compartment configured for a secondary combustion effect.

3. The effect system according to claim 2, wherein the central compartment comprises one or more outlets configured to release fog for the main combustion effect, and the body compartment comprises additional outlets configured to release fog for the secondary combustion effect.

4. The effect system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more positive pressure sources comprise one or more blowers, one or more compressed air supply sources, one or more fans.

5. The effect system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more compartments comprise one or more outlets configured to release the fog during the combustion effect.

6. The effect system according to claim 5, wherein the outlet comprises a covering, and the covering comprises a perforated material.

7. The effect system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising: Receiving a deactivation signal; and Instructing a negative pressure damper among a plurality of dampers to open to apply a negative pressure from the one or more negative pressure sources to the one or more compartments for a period of time.

8. The effect system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising: Receiving a start signal; Instructing the negative pressure damper among the plurality of dampers to close after the period of time; and Instructing a positive pressure damper among the plurality of dampers to open to allow the fog to enter the one or more compartments.

9. The effect system according to claim 1, wherein the fog generation device comprises one or more vacuum generation devices configured to apply the negative pressure to the one or more compartments.

10. The effect system according to claim 9, comprising a negative pressure damper among a plurality of dampers coupled to the one or more vacuum generation devices, wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising: instructing the negative pressure damper among the plurality of dampers to open to apply a negative pressure from the one or more vacuum generation devices to the one or more compartments.

11. The effect system according to claim 1, wherein the fog generation device is configured to generate the fog.

12. An effect method, the method comprising: Instructing a fog generation machine to generate fog via a controller; Directing, via the controller, a negative pressure to be applied from one or more vacuum blowers to one or more compartments for a period of time to evacuate the one or more compartments; Allowing fog from the fog generating machine to fill the one or more compartments after the period of time; And Directing, via the controller, a positive pressure from one or more compressed air supply sources to be applied to the one or more compartments to generate a combustion effect.

13. The method according to claim 12, including directing, via the controller, a negative pressure damper to open to apply the negative pressure to the one or more compartments.

14. The method according to claim 13, including: Directing, via the controller and in response to receiving a start signal, the negative pressure damper to close; And Directing, via the controller, a positive pressure damper to open to allow fog from the fog generating machine to enter the one or more compartments.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the fog is configured to travel through one or more fluid conduits before entering the one or more compartments.

16. The method according to claim 14, including: Directing, via the controller and in response to receiving a deactivation signal, the positive pressure damper to close; And Directing, via the controller, the negative pressure damper to open to apply the negative pressure for a period of time.

17. The method according to claim 16, including: Filling a first compartment of the one or more compartments with fog from the fog generating machine; Applying, via the controller, a positive pressure from the one or more blowers to the first compartment to generate a first combustion effect; Filling a second compartment of the one or more compartments with fog from the fog generating machine; And Applying, via the controller, a positive pressure from the one or more blowers to the second compartment to generate a second combustion effect, wherein the second combustion effect is visually less than the first combustion effect.

18. An attraction system, comprising: A display element including compartments configured to store and release fog; One or more dampers configured to open or close to control the air flow to and from the compartments; A vehicle configured to move along a path adjacent to the display element; And A controller communicatively coupled to the display element and the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to: Determine the position of the vehicle; and Based on the position of the vehicle, direct a positive pressure to be applied to release stored fog from the compartments.

19. The attraction system according to claim 18, including a fog generating machine configured to generate fog, and wherein the one or more dampers are configured to open to allow the fog to be stored within the compartments.

20. The attraction system according to claim 18, including one or more blowers activated by the controller to apply the positive pressure.

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