Hybrid vehicle system and method

Abstract

To provide an improved amusement park ride having multiple transportation modes.SOLUTION: An amusement park system accordance to present embodiments includes: a ride vehicle configured to move along a path; an aquatic portion of the path defined by a water flow path; and an aerial portion of the path defined by a track configured to support a bogie. The ride vehicle is configured to freely float and move along the water flow path in response to currents of the water flow path. The ride vehicle is configured to be carried along the track by the bogie.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims priority and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 742,124, entitled "HYBRID RIDE VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS", filed on October 5, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to the field of amusement parks. Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and equipment used with amusement park rides.

Background Art

[0003] This section is for introducing readers to various aspects of technologies that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure described below. This discussion is considered useful in showing the background situation to readers and facilitating a better understanding of various aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, these descriptions should not be regarded as admitting prior art, but should be understood as being read from the above perspective.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Amusement parks (or theme parks) have become significantly more popular since the early 20th century. Some amusement park rides can include water rides configured to carry users only along waterways. Other amusement park rides can include roller coaster rides configured to carry users only along tracks with bogie carriages. However, such narrow riding formats may lead to limiting the user experience. Therefore, it is currently recognized that improved amusement park rides with multiple modes of transportation may sometimes be desirable to enhance the guest experience.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The following summarizes some embodiments within the same scope as the subject matter of the original claims. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but rather are merely intended to outline some of the disclosed embodiments. In fact, the present disclosure can include various forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments shown below.

[0006] According to one embodiment, an amusement park ride system includes a vehicle configured to move along a path, a submerged portion of the path defined by a water flow path, and an aerial portion of the path defined by a track configured to support a bogie carriage. The vehicle is configured to freely float and move along the water flow path in response to the flow of the water flow path. The vehicle is configured to be carried along the track by the bogie carriage.

[0007] In another embodiment, a vehicle system includes a vehicle having slots disposed inside the hull of the vehicle and configured to freely float on a liquid along a flow path. The vehicle system further includes a bogie carriage configured to move along a track and couple to the vehicle via the slots.

[0008] In a further embodiment, an amusement park system includes a vehicle configured to move along a geographical path. The amusement park system further includes a bogie carriage configured to move along a track, engage with the vehicle, carry the vehicle along the track, and disengage from the vehicle.

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] The present disclosure provides embodiments of a vehicle system having both an underwater vehicle portion and an aerial vehicle portion (e.g., multiple modes of transportation). For example, the vehicle system can include a vehicle configured to function as both a boat floating along a water flow path of the underwater portion and a roller coaster moving along an aerial track of the aerial portion. Generally, an amusement park can include a vehicle attraction having a boat configured to float along a waterway. The amusement park can also include another vehicle attraction having a coaster configured to move along a track. However, the only, and sometimes predictable, vehicle formats of these attractions lead to limiting the user experience. Some amusement park vehicles attempt to solve this problem by utilizing a vehicle that moves along a track that can include an aerial portion and an underwater portion. However, simply transitioning between an aerial track and an underwater track still provides only a limited experience. In practice, since the vehicle is limited to the underwater track in the underwater portion, the user does not obtain the fully floating buoyancy effect associated with actually being on a boat. In fact, it becomes a slow and predictable roller coaster that simply has water contact. Accordingly, this specification provides a hybrid vehicle attraction that includes one or more transitions between ride formats. In some embodiments, each ride format can be made distinct and independent so that the transitions between ride formats are unpredictable. In practice, the transitions between ride formats serve to surprise the user and enhance their level of entertainment.

[0012] Specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure include a vehicle configured to freely float on water and couple to a track via an engagement assembly (e.g., a prong, a forklift) extending from a bogie carriage. While the vehicle is floating in the underwater portion of the vehicle, the user can be unaware of the subsequent changes in the vehicle format. In fact, the user may think that this vehicle looks like just a boat that cannot transition to an aerial vehicle format. When the vehicle couples to the bogie carriage, the bogie carriage can further enhance the thrill factor for the user by carrying the vehicle along the vehicle track while causing the vehicle to pitch, roll, and / or yaw.

[0013] Based on these, FIG. 1 shows a vehicle system 10 (e.g., an amusement park attraction) of an amusement park 12. The vehicle system 10 includes a plurality of vehicles 14 configured to move along a path 16 of the vehicle system 10. The path 16 includes an underwater portion 18 having a flow path 20 defined by an artificial flume 22. The path 16 also includes an aerial portion 24 defined by a track 26. As described herein, the vehicle 14 is configured to freely float along the underwater portion 18 and be carried by a bogie carriage 28 in a direction as indicated by an arrow 29 along the aerial portion 24. The vehicle 14 can be the subject of various thematic effects, such as animatronic show elements and special effects, when moving along the path 16.

[0014] Specifically, at the start of the vehicle cycle, the user can board and alight from the boarding platform 32 onto the vehicle 14. In some embodiments, while the user is boarding / alighting from the boarding platform 32 onto the vehicle 14, the vehicle 14 can be supported by the conveyor 34 disposed adjacent to the boarding platform 32. The conveyor 34 can move the vehicle 14 at a consistent speed and height in front of the boarding platform 32 so that the user can easily board the vehicle 14. In some embodiments, the conveyor 34 can instantaneously stop the vehicle 14 in front of the boarding platform 32 so that the user can board the vehicle 14. In some embodiments, the conveyor 34 can be partially or fully submerged in the water of the flow path 20.

[0015] Once the user has finished boarding the vehicle 14, the conveyor 34 can move the vehicle 14 to a position downstream of the conveyor 34 with respect to the flow direction of the flow path 20 of the underwater portion 18 as indicated by the arrow 29. Thereafter, the vehicle 14 can freely float along the length of the underwater portion 18. That is, in some embodiments, the movement of the vehicle 14 can be controlled by the flow in the flow path 20. In other words, the vehicle 14 can be free of any elements / features used to couple the vehicle 14 to any element disposed within the underwater portion 18 to move the vehicle 14 along the underwater portion 18. In fact, apart from the conveyor 34, the underwater portion 18 can be free of any mechanical elements for moving the vehicle 14 along the flow path 20. For example, the water flow used to move the vehicle 14 along the path 16 can be caused by the inclination of the artificial waterway 22 and / or by a mechanical propulsion system 35 such as a water jet or a propeller disposed along the flow path 20. Although the propulsion system 35 is shown at specific points along the path 16, it should be understood that it can be disposed throughout the underwater portion 18 of the path 16. Generally, the movement of the vehicle 14 while it is in the underwater portion 18 can be a direct result of the ripples, waves and flow of the flow path 20. This results in a random and unpredictable movement of the vehicle 14 similar to the typical movement of a boat on the water, thereby enhancing the thrill factor for the user. In fact, in some embodiments, unlike conventional watercraft where there are tracks underwater, the vehicle 14 is supported only by the buoyancy of the water in the underwater portion 18.

[0016] Generally, the vehicle 14 can move along at least a portion of the flow path 20 as indicated by the arrow 29 with the front portion 40 generally facing downstream of the flow path 20. In some embodiments, the vehicle 14 may sway (e.g., yaw) to some extent while moving along the flow path 20, but generally it can be oriented with the front portion 40 facing downstream of the flow path 20. The bogie carriage 28 is configured to couple to the vehicle 14 after the vehicle 14 has completed moving the length of the underwater portion 18 and reached the end point 36 (e.g., transition zone) of the underwater portion 18. That is, in some embodiments, the bogie carriage 28 can be positioned at the end point 36 while the vehicle 14 is approaching the end point 36. Thereafter, as will be described in more detail below, the vehicle 14 can be positioned on the bogie carriage 28 and engaged with the bogie carriage 28, or vice versa. In some embodiments, the vehicle 14 can be rotated (e.g., by about 180°) so that the front portion 40 generally faces upstream of the flow path 20 before reaching the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18. Specifically, the underwater portion 18 can include a rotation system 42 (e.g., turntable) configured to rotate the vehicle 14 within the flow path 20. In some embodiments, the rotation system 42 can include a large animatronic that moves the vehicle 14 in combination with a show effect of rotating water and / or rotating the vehicle 14. In this way, a user facing the front portion 40 of the vehicle 14 can be prevented from noticing the bogie carriage 28 disposed downstream of the vehicle 14 at the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18. This makes the transition to the aerial portion 24 of the path 16 appear unexpected to the user, which helps to enhance the thrill factor of the ride system 10. The bogie carriage 28, when engaged (e.g., coupled) to the vehicle 14, can carry the vehicle 14 along the aerial portion 24 of the path 16. The bogie carriage 28 and the track 26 are configured to cooperate to cause pitching, yawing, and rolling of the vehicle 14 when the vehicle 14 is carried along the track 26 of the aerial portion 24 by the bogie carriage 28.

[0017] After the bogie carriage 28 and the vehicle 14 have finished moving along the length of the aerial portion 24, the bogie carriage 28 can place the vehicle 14 in the underwater portion 18 of the path 16 and detach from the vehicle 14. Specifically, as shown in the figure, the bogie carriage 28 can place the vehicle 14 at the starting point 50 of the underwater portion 18 such that the front portion 40 of the vehicle 14 faces downstream of the flow path 20. When the bogie carriage 28 detaches from the vehicle 14, the vehicle 14 can freely float along the flow path 20 to the conveyor 34. When the vehicle 14 moves ahead of the bogie carriage 28, the bogie carriage can move along the track 26 towards the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18 as indicated by the arrow 51 to pick up another vehicle 14 from the end point 36. In some embodiments, the bogie carriage 28 can move away from the vehicle 14 in a parallel direction opposite to the flow direction of the flow path 20 as indicated by the arrow 52. In fact, in some embodiments, the bogie carriage 28 can move away from the vehicle 14 faster than the vehicle 14 can float away from the bogie carriage 28 in response to the flow in the flow path 20. Thus, rather than simply allowing the vehicle 14 to float away from the bogie carriage 28, the bogie carriage 28 saves time by moving away from the vehicle 14 and can quickly move to the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18 to pick up another vehicle 14.

[0018] As described herein, the operation of the vehicle system 10 can be controlled using the attraction controller 60. The controller 60 can be any device employing a processor 62 (which can represent one or more processors), such as an application-specific processor. The controller 60 can also include a memory device 64 that stores instructions executable by the processor 62 to perform methods related to the vehicle system 10 described herein to control the operation. The processor 62 can include one or more processing devices, and the memory device 64 can include one or more tangible non-transitory machine-readable media. By way of example, such machine-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to hold or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and that is accessible by the processor 62, or any general-purpose or special-purpose computer or other machine including the processor. For example, as will be described in more detail below, the attraction controller 60 can be used to ensure the engagement between the bogie carriage 28 and the vehicle 14, ensure the disengagement between the vehicle 14 and the bogie carriage 28, and determine the rotation or sway of the vehicle 14 as the vehicle 14 moves along the track 26 of the aerial portion 24. The attraction controller 60 can also monitor and control aspects related to the timing of the vehicle 14 as the vehicle 14 progresses through the vehicle system 10.

[0019] With this in mind, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle system 69 that includes a vehicle 14 and / or a bogie truck 28. Specifically, FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a vehicle 14 engaged with a bogie truck 28 at the end point 36 (e.g., transition area) of the underwater portion 18. As shown, the bogie truck 28 includes a wheel assembly 70 configured to couple to a track 26. The illustrated bogie truck 28 also includes an attachment arm 72 that extends from the wheel assembly 70 and is coupled to the vehicle 14 via a prong 74 (e.g., forklift structure, attachment extension). As shown, the attachment arm 72 can include an overhead structure 79 such as a canopy. The overhead structure 79 can serve to further contribute to an authentic user experience by blocking the user's view from the wheel assembly 70 and other elements of the bogie truck 28. The vehicle 14 can be formed of any suitable material configured to contribute to the buoyancy of the vehicle 14. Further, the shape of the vehicle 14 should not be limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, in some embodiments, the vehicle 14 can be in the shape of a sailboat.

[0020] As described above, the vehicle 14 is configured to float along the flow path 20 of the underwater portion 18 as indicated by the arrow 29. While moving along the flow path 20, the front portion 40 of the vehicle 14 can rotate approximately 180 degrees so that it faces downstream of the flow path 20. Thus, after rotation, the vehicle 14 can approach the bogie truck 28 disposed at the end point 36 in an upstream-facing orientation and couple to the prong 74 of the bogie truck 28. The bogie truck 28 can move from a second path 81 different from the path 16 and arrive at the end point 36 in front of the vehicle 14. When the vehicle 14 approaches the bogie truck 28, the movement direction of the vehicle 14 can be controlled at least partially due to interaction with a positioning system 75 that can include a trough 76 (e.g., a channel, conduit, funnel) configured to contact, guide, and center the vehicle 14 to couple it to the bogie truck 28 at a predetermined position 78. Specifically, the vehicle 14 can include wheels 80 or other friction-reducing elements coupled to the outer periphery of the vehicle 14 and extending laterally outward from the vehicle 14 to interact with the wall of the trough 76. In this way, the wheels 80 of the vehicle 14 can interact with the trough 76 to smoothly guide the vehicle 14 onto the predetermined position 78 and the prong 74. As shown, in some embodiments, both the trough 76 and the wheels 80 can be completely or partially submerged in the water of the flow path 20 so as to block the user's view from the trough 76 and the wheels 80.

[0021] When the bogie carriage 28 engages with the vehicle 14, it can carry the vehicle 14 further along the path 16. In some embodiments, the end 36 of the underwater portion 18 and the start point of the aerial portion 24 can be adjacent to the waterfall 82. Thus, when the bogie carriage 28 engages with the vehicle 14, it can move the vehicle 14 across the waterfall 82 along the track 26 and continue to advance along the aerial portion 24 of the path 16. The vehicle 14 is configured to produce pitch, roll, and yaw while moving along the aerial portion 24 of the path 16. Specifically, the vehicle 14 is configured to roll (e.g., rotate) relative to a wheel assembly 70 coupled to the track 26. For example, the wheel assembly 70 can be coupled to a mounting arm 72 via a rotation mechanism 84. The rotation mechanism 84 is configured to rotate the mounting arm 72 relative to the wheel assembly 70 or to enable rotation of the mounting arm 72, thereby rotating (e.g., rolling) the vehicle 14 while the vehicle 14 is coupled to the prong 74. In some embodiments, the pitch and yaw of the vehicle 14 can be controlled by the orientation of the track 26. That is, the track 26 can cause pitch and yaw of the entire bogie carriage 28 and the vehicle 14 in response to its orientation and curvature. On the other hand, in some embodiments, the bogie carriage 28 can also include an inclination mechanism 88 configured to cause pitch and / or yaw of the vehicle 14 while the vehicle 14 is being carried along the track 26. Further, water may be collected in the seat area 89 or the like when the vehicle 14 moves along the flow path 20. Thus, in some embodiments, the bogie carriage 28 can use the inclination mechanism 88 to tilt the vehicle 14 (e.g., change the angle, make it diagonal) to drain any stored water in the vehicle 14 from the vehicle 14, thereby reducing the weight of the vehicle 14.

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the bogie carriage 28 engaged with the vehicle 14 at the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18. As shown, the bogie carriage 28 includes a wheel assembly 70 coupled to the track 26. In some embodiments, the track 26 can include a drive system 91 configured to move the bogie carriage 28 along the track 26. Further, in some embodiments, the bogie carriage 28 can include a drive system 91 configured to drive the bogie carriage 28 along the track 26. The bogie carriage 28 also includes a mounting arm 72 extending from the wheel assembly 70 to the prong 74 and configured to engage the vehicle 14. The vehicle 14 includes one or more seats 86 configured to hold and secure one or more users 87. The vehicle 14 further includes a slot 90 extending within the hull 92 (e.g., body, chassis) of the vehicle 14. The slot 90 is configured to receive the prong 74 of the bogie carriage 28. In practice, in some embodiments, as shown, the slot 90 can penetrate most of the length of the hull 92 of the vehicle 14, and the prong 74 can also be of approximately the same length. Further, focusing on some aspects of the embodiment, the view of FIG. 3 is simplified to show only one slot 90 and one prong 74. However, it should be understood that the bogie carriage 28 can include one or more prongs 74, and the vehicle 14 can include a corresponding number of one or more slots 90 configured to receive the one or more prongs 74.

[0023] The prong 74 can include a tapered (e.g., rounded, pointed) tip 94 disposed at the distal end 96 of the prong 74. Similarly, the slot 90 can include a flared orifice 98 configured to receive the prong 74. In this way, the distal end 96 of the prong 74 can be easily inserted into the flared orifice 98 of the slot 90. For example, the flared shape of the flared orifice 98 and the tapered shape of the tapered tip 94 function like a funnel to guide the distal end 96 of the prong 74 into the slot 90 even if the prong 74 is not perfectly aligned with the slot 90 during its insertion. Further, as shown, the flared orifice 98 of the slot 90 can be disposed at the rear of the vehicle 14. Also, the flared orifice 98 can be made relatively small compared to the size of the vehicle 14. In this way, by making the user 87 unaware of the presence and / or purpose of the slot 90, a thrill element of being surprised by the engagement of the bogie 28 can be further added. When the prong 74 is inserted into the slot, the bogie 28 can be passively engaged with the vehicle 14 using the locking system 100.

[0024] Generally, the locking system 100 is configured to prevent the prong 74 from exiting the slot 90 once the prong 74 is inserted into the slot 90. For this purpose, the locking system 100 can include one or more pawls 102 coupled to the prong 74. The locking system 100 also includes one or more recesses 104 disposed within the inner wall 106 of the slot 90. The pawls 102 are configured to be biased outwardly from the prong 74 to contact the inner wall 106 and retract and expand into the recesses 104 when the prong is inserted into the slot 90. Further, the pawls 102 are configured to cooperate with the recesses 104 to prevent the prong 74 from exiting the slot 90. In some embodiments, the pawls 102 can be biased outwardly towards the recesses via a spring mechanism.

[0025] The locking system 100 further includes one or more sensors 108 configured to detect (e.g., identify) the position of the detent 102. For example, the position of the extended detent 102 can indicate that the bogie carriage 28 is coupled to the vehicle body 14. That is, when the detent 102 is extended outwardly, it can be indicated that the detent 102 is disposed within the recess 104. Similarly, the position of the retracted detent 102 can indicate that the bogie carriage 28 is not engaged with the vehicle body 14. That is, when the detent 102 is retracted inwardly, it can be indicated that the detent 102 is not disposed within the recess 104. In some embodiments, one or more sensors 108 can be configured to identify the distance that the prong 74 is inserted into the slot 90. For example, the one or more sensors 108 include proximity sensors configured to detect the distance between the distal end 96 of the prong 74 and the rear wall 110 of the slot 90. In some embodiments, when the sensor 108 detects that the detent 102 has transitioned from an extended position (while disposed outside the slot 90) to a retracted position (while the prong 74 is inserted into the slot 90) and then back to the extended position (when the detent 102 is disposed within the recess 104), the controller 60 can determine that the bogie carriage 28 is engaged with the vehicle body 14.

[0026] The locking system 100 can further include one or more actuators 112 configured to disengage the bogie carriage 28 from the vehicle 14. Specifically, the actuator 112 is configured to overcome the outward biasing force of the detent 102 and retract the detent 102. When the detent 102 is in the retracted position, the prong 74 can be withdrawn from the slot 90 to disengage the bogie carriage 28 from the vehicle 14. Thus, the prong 74 is configured to passively engage with the vehicle 14 (e.g., via the biased detent 102) and actively disengage from the vehicle 14 (e.g., via the actuator 112). In practice, the prong 74 can engage with the vehicle 14 using any suitable passive coupling system or method and disengage from the vehicle 14 using any suitable active (e.g., electric) system.

[0027] Furthermore, as described above, the vehicle 14 can pitch to drain any residual water that may accumulate in the seating area 89 from the vehicle 14 when moving through the underwater portion 18 of the path 16. In some embodiments, the vehicle 14 can pitch using the tilt mechanism 88 as described above. In some embodiments, the vehicle 14 can pitch using the inclined surface 114 or ramp of the positioning system 75 where a conveyor mechanism can be utilized. For example, the vehicle 14 can move onto the inclined surface 114 that can be disposed within the trough 76 prior to engagement with the bogie carriage 28. When the vehicle 14 moves onto the inclined surface 114, the vehicle 14 can be disposed at a certain tilt angle. In this way, the liquid accumulated within the vehicle 14 can flow out of the vehicle 14 through the water distribution pipe 115 or the like. In some embodiments, similarly, the vehicle 14 can be disposed at a certain tilt angle to drain the liquid from the rear portion of the vehicle 14 through a water distribution pipe or the like. Further, in some embodiments, the tilted position of the vehicle 14 while disposed on the inclined surface 114 can prevent the vehicle 14 from moving to the aerial portion 24 of the path 16 when the vehicle 14 is not sufficiently engaged with the bogie carriage 28. To explain, prior to engagement with the bogie carriage 28, the vehicle 14 can be disposed at a certain angle on the inclined surface 114 as shown. Thereafter, the prong 74 of the bogie carriage 28 can be inserted into the slot 90 of the vehicle 14 at a similar angle. When inserted into the vehicle 14, the bogie carriage 28 can attempt to lift the vehicle 14 by pulling in a direction parallel to the angle of the slot 90. In this way, if the prong 74 is not sufficiently engaged with the vehicle 14, the vehicle 14 can simply slide off the prong 74 and remain on the inclined surface 114 while the bogie carriage 28 moves away. In some embodiments, the angle at which the bogie carriage 28 disengages from the slot 90 can be due to the corresponding angle of the track 26 when the bogie carriage 28 moves along the track 26. In some embodiments, this angle can be about 10° - 45° or any other suitable angle.

[0028] Furthermore, as described above, the attachment arm 72 and the vehicle 14 are configured to rotate (e.g., sway) with respect to the wheel assembly 70 of the bogie carriage 28. For this purpose, the bogie carriage 28 can include a rotation mechanism 84 (e.g., a motor) configured to rotate the attachment arm 72 with respect to the wheel assembly 70. Further, one or more sensors 108 of the bogie carriage 28 can include proximity sensors configured to detect the angular position of the attachment arm 72 with respect to the wheel assembly 70. As will be described below, in some embodiments, the rotation mechanism 84 can be controlled to rotate the attachment arm 72 to a desired position based on the measured angular position from the proximity sensors of the one or more sensors 108.

[0029] In some embodiments, one or more operations of the bogie carriage can be controlled by a bogie carriage controller 120. In practice, the one or more sensors 108, the actuator 112, the rotation mechanism 84, and the tilt mechanism 88 can be communicatively coupled to the bogie carriage controller 120. Specifically, as will be described in more detail below, the bogie carriage controller 120 can utilize the data obtained from the one or more sensors 108 to control the operations of the actuator 112, the rotation mechanism 84, and the tilt mechanism 88. In fact, in some embodiments, each bogie carriage 28 of the vehicle system 10 can include a bogie carriage controller 120. For this purpose, each bogie carriage controller 120 of the bogie carriages 28 of the vehicle system 10 can be communicatively coupled to the attraction controller 60 to convey data indicative of each respective bogie carriage 28 to the attraction controller 60. The attraction controller 60 can also utilize the data obtained from each respective bogie carriage controller 120 to provide relevant vehicle information to the attraction operator through, for example, the user interface 122. The relevant vehicle information can include, for example, whether the bogie carriage 28 is engaged with the vehicle 14, the position of the bogie carriage 28 along the path 16, and the normal operating condition of the bogie carriage 28.

[0030] For this purpose, one or more sensors 108, actuators 112, rotation mechanism 84, tilt mechanism 88, bogie controller 120, and attraction controller 60 can be communicably coupled via a communication system 124. In some embodiments, the communication system 124 can communicate through a wireless network such as a wireless local area network [WLAN], wireless wide area network [WWAN], near field communication [NFC], or Bluetooth. In addition to, or alternatively to, this, the communication system 124 can also communicate through a wired network such as a local area network [LAN] or wide area network [WAN]. For example, in some embodiments, the communication system 124 can include a conductive medium 126 that communicably couples the sensors 108, actuators 112, tilt mechanism 88, and rotation mechanism 84 to the bogie controller 120. The communication system 124 can include a bus bar coupled to the track 26 and configured to facilitate communication between the bogie 28 (e.g., bogie controller 120) and the attraction controller 60. For example, the wheel assembly 70 of the bogie 28 can include one or more brushes (e.g., carbon brushes) that can electrically couple the bogie 28 (e.g., bogie controller 120) and the attraction controller 60. Further, in some embodiments, the vehicle system 10 can include a single controller (e.g., attraction controller 60) that includes the functionality of both the bogie controller 120 and the attraction controller 60 as described above.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the engagement and disengagement process 135 between the bogie 28 and the vehicle 14. First, it should be noted that the following description of FIG. 4 can refer to the elements shown in FIG. 3.

[0032] In block 136, the prong 74 of the bogie truck 28 can be inserted into the slot 90 of the vehicle 14. Specifically, as described above, with the bogie truck 28 fixed, the vehicle 14 can move onto the prong 74. On the other hand, in some embodiments, during the operation represented by block 136, the bogie truck 28, the vehicle 14, or both of them can also be made movable. As described above, when the prong 74 is inserted into the slot 90, it can passively engage with the vehicle 14 via the detent 102 and the corresponding recess 104. Also as described above, the vehicle 14 can ensure correct engagement and drainage of excess water from the vehicle 14 by engaging with the bogie truck 28 at a certain inclination angle.

[0033] In block 138, a controller (e.g., the attraction controller 60, the bogie truck controller 120, or both) can verify the engagement between the bogie truck 28 and the vehicle 14. Specifically, one or more sensors 108 can collect data indicating the engagement level between the prong 74 and the slot 90 and transmit this data to the controller. The controller can analyze this data and determine the engagement level based on the data. In some embodiments, the engagement level can be based on the measured angular position of the detent 102 of the prong 74. That is, if the detent 102 has an outward angle away from the prong 74, it can indicate that the detent 102 is disposed within the recess 104, thereby preventing the prong 74 from slipping out of the slot 90 and indicating sufficient engagement. Further, in some embodiments, the bogie truck 28 can apply a force for pulling out of the slot 90, and one or more sensors 108 can be configured to measure this force. For example, one or more sensors 108 can measure the pressure that the detent 102 exerts on the surface of the recess 104 to measure this force. If this force exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the controller can determine that the bogie truck 28 is sufficiently engaged with the vehicle 14. In some embodiments, the controller may determine that the bogie truck 28 is not sufficiently engaged with the vehicle 14. In such embodiments, the controller can interrupt the operation of the vehicle system 10. In other embodiments, if the controller determines that the vehicle 14 is disposed on the prong 74 but not engaged with the prong 74, the controller can transmit one or more signals to the bogie truck 28 to cause the bogie truck 28 to push the vehicle 14 to an auxiliary position different from the path 16.

[0034] In block 140, when the controller verifies / determines that the vehicle 14 and the bogie 28 are sufficiently engaged, the bogie 28 can carry the vehicle 14 along the aerial portion 24 of the track 26. The bogie 28 is configured to rotate or sway the vehicle 14 with respect to the wheel assembly 70 while carrying the vehicle 14 along the track 26. Specifically, a rotation mechanism 84 extending between the wheel assembly 70 and the attachment arm 72 is configured to rotate the vehicle 14 in response to an input from the controller. As the bogie 28 approaches the end of the aerial portion 24 of the path 16 (e.g., the starting point 50 of the underwater portion 18), one or more sensors 108 can collect data indicating the angular positions of the attachment arm 72 and the vehicle 14. One or more sensors 108 can transmit this data to the controller. The controller can analyze this data and transmit one or more signals to the rotation mechanism 84 to cause the rotation mechanism 84 to rotate the attachment arm 72 to center the vehicle 14. As used herein, the expression centering the vehicle 14 can mean rotating the vehicle 14 to a desired angular position that may depend on the design of the vehicle system 10. That is, in some embodiments, the center position of the vehicle 14 can be such that the front portion 40 of the vehicle 14 is parallel to the direction of the path 16 or facing the direction of movement of the vehicle 14. In some embodiments, the center position of the vehicle 14 can mean that the front portion 40 of the vehicle 14 is facing the dispatch direction or the direction of the flow path 20 of the underwater portion 18.

[0035] In block 141, the bogie carriage 28 can be detached from the vehicle 14 by disposing the bogie carriage 28 in the underwater portion 18 of the path 16 via the vehicle 14. Specifically, as briefly described above, the controller can send one or more signals to the actuator 112 to detach the bogie carriage 28 from the vehicle 14 by retracting the brake 102 toward the plunger 74. When the vehicle 14 is detached from the bogie carriage 28, it can move along the flow path 20 of the underwater portion 18 in response to the water flow in the flow path 20. In some embodiments, the bogie carriage 28 can be separated from the vehicle 14 as described above. When the plunger 74 of the bogie carriage 28 is disposed outside the vehicle 14, the bogie carriage 28 can move to the end point 36 to engage with another vehicle 14.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle 14 when approaching the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18. In fact, the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18 can be defined by an area of the flow path 20 adjacent to the waterfall 82 or another similar feature (e.g., cliff, ditch). In this embodiment, the vehicle 14 can approach the end point 36 of the underwater portion 18 with its front portion 40 facing the waterfall 82. In this way, a user disposed inside the vehicle 14 can be excited by seeing the waterfall 82, which serves to enhance the thrill element of the vehicle system 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the bogie carriage 28 can approach the vehicle 14 from the rear of the vehicle 14 as shown. In this way, the user can be prevented from noticing that the vehicle 14 is about to be coupled to and lifted by the bogie carriage 28. In fact, similar to the above-described embodiment, the vehicle 14 can be controlled to some extent by a trough 76 configured to guide the vehicle 14 to a predetermined position 78 where the bogie carriage 28 can engage with the vehicle 14.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle 14 at the time when the vehicle 14 is coupled to the bogie truck 28. As shown, in some embodiments, the bogie truck 28 can guide the vehicle 14 to the stagnant position of the waterfall 82 over a certain period of time. In the illustrated embodiment, after the bogie truck 28 is coupled to and engages with the vehicle 14 before approaching the waterfall 82, a part of the vehicle 14 can hold the vehicle 14 against the waterfall 82 with a part of the vehicle 14 exceeding the edge 130 of the waterfall 82. In this way, the user can feel as if the vehicle 14 is about to fall into the waterfall 82 at any moment. As described above, the bogie truck 28 is configured to cause pitching and rolling of the vehicle 14. In some embodiments, the bogie truck 28 is configured to pitch the vehicle 14 forward beyond the waterfall 82 as indicated by the arrow 132. In this way, the vehicle 14 can reduce its weight by discharging any water accumulated inside. Specifically, the bogie truck 28 is configured to pitch the vehicle 14 forward via an inclination mechanism 88 configured to adjust the angular position of the vehicle 14 with respect to the wheel assembly 70 disposed above the vehicle 14. As described above, the bogie truck 28 also includes a rotation mechanism 84 configured to rotate or pitch the vehicle 14 with respect to the wheel assembly 70. When the vehicle 14 engages with the bogie truck 28, the bogie truck 28 can lift the vehicle 14 from the underwater portion 18 of the path 16 and continue to move along the aerial portion 24 of the path 16. Then, after the vehicle 14 finishes moving the length of the aerial portion 24, the bogie truck 28 can place the vehicle 14 at the starting point 50 of the flow path 20.

[0038] In addition, the vehicle 14 can be configured to move along various terrains. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle 14 can include drive wheels 139 configured to move on various terrains such as concrete, grassland, and soil, similar to an automobile. In fact, the vehicle system 10 can include a ground portion 142 of a path 16 configured for the vehicle 14 to move on. In this regard, as described herein, the vehicle 14 can be configured to move along various geographical paths such as the ground portion 142 and / or the underwater portion 18. The ground portion 142 of the path 16 can be an addition or alternative to the underwater portion 18 and / or the aerial portion 24 of the path 16. The vehicle 14 is configured to couple to the bogie carriage 28 via slots 90 (e.g., guide rails) disposed on the roof 144 of the vehicle 14. The slots 90 are configured to receive and couple to a series of engagement wheels 146 of the bogie carriage 28. That is, the bogie carriage 28 is configured to move along the track 26 via the wheel assembly 70 and insert the engagement wheels 146 into the slots 90. As will be described in more detail below, when the engagement wheels 146 are disposed within the slots 90, the slots 90 are configured to engage the engagement wheels 146.

[0039] For example, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the top of the vehicle car body 14. In the illustrated embodiment, a part of the slot 90 is removed to emphasize the lock system 100 of the slot 90. The lock system 100 can include one or more lock pins 148 that extend from the inner wall 150 of the slot 90 and engage the vehicle car body 14 with the bogie truck 28. For example, as described above, the engagement wheel 146 can move in parallel within the slot 90. When the engagement wheel 146 is disposed within the slot 90, the lock pin 148 can extend laterally away from the inner wall 150 (e.g., via the actuator 151). This extended arrangement of the lock pin 148 can ensure that the engagement wheel 146 is held within the slot 90 as shown. During unlocking, the lock pin 148 can retract into the inner wall 150 of the slot 90 (e.g., via the actuator 151). When the lock pin 148 retracts into the inner wall 150, the bogie truck 28 can disengage from the engagement with the slot 90 and move in parallel. Further, as shown, the vehicle car body 14 can include a rotation mechanism 84 configured to rotate the engagement wheel 146 and the vehicle car body 14 relative to the wheel assembly 70.

[0040] In some embodiments, the vehicle 14 can be configured to move outside of the path 16. For example, the vehicle 14 can be configured to transport a user throughout the amusement park 12 between attractions, hotels, parking lots, and stores. In such embodiments, the vehicle 14 can be configured to couple to a bogie cart 28, and the bogie cart 28 can be configured to carry the vehicle 14 across portions of the amusement park 12, for example, to avoid pedestrian traffic. Further, in some embodiments, the vehicle 14 can be configured to transition between the ground portion 142 of the path 16 and the water portion 18 of the path 16. For this purpose, the vehicle 14 can include drive wheels 139. In addition to, or alternatively to, this, the vehicle 14 can also include a floating system 200 (shown in FIG. 7) that allows the vehicle 14 to freely float along the water portion 18. The floating system 200 can include one or more materials / elements (e.g., air-filled elements) configured to provide buoyancy to the vehicle 14 when the vehicle 14 is disposed within the water portion 18.

[0041] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the vehicle 14 can be configured to couple to the bogie 28 via slots that penetrate the hull 92 of the vehicle 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle 14 can be configured to move over various terrains via the drive wheels 139 as described above, or can be configured to engage the bogie 28 via the prong 74 of the bogie 14 as described above in FIG. 3. In fact, the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is intentionally simplified to emphasize some aspects of the vehicle 14. Accordingly, it should be understood that the vehicle 14 and the bogie 28 can include additional elements that are described herein but not explicitly shown in FIG. 9. For example, the vehicle 14 in the illustrated embodiment can include a slot 90 that can include all of the features of the slot 90 described above with reference to FIG. 3. Further, the bogie 28 can also be configured to couple (e.g., engage) to the slot 90 via the prong 74 as described above with reference to FIG. 3. Accordingly, as described herein, the bogie 28 is configured to move along the track 26, engage the vehicle 14, carry the vehicle 14 along the track 26, and disengage from the vehicle 14. In general, it should be understood that the embodiments of the vehicle 14 and the bogie 28 as shown in FIGS. 1-9 can be combined in any suitable form.

[0042] Although only some embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it should be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications and variations that fall within the true spirit of the invention.

[0043] The technology claimed in this specification is directed to tangible articles and specific examples of a practical nature that surely improve the art, and thus is not abstract, intangible, or purely theoretical. Further, if any claim appended to the end of this specification includes one or more elements designated as "means for [performing] [function]" or "steps for [performing] [function]", such elements should be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). On the other hand, for any claim that includes elements designated in any other form, such elements should not be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

Description of the Signs

[0044] 14 vehicle 18 underwater part 28 bogie truck 36 end point 76 trough 78 predetermined position 82 waterfall

Claims

1. An amusement park system, comprising: A vehicle configured to move along a path; An underwater portion of the path defined by a water flow path; An aerial portion of the path defined by a track configured to support a bogie carriage; The vehicle is configured to freely float and move along the water flow path in response to the flow of the water flow path; The bogie carriage is coupled to the vehicle disposed at the end of the underwater portion and configured to carry the vehicle from the underwater portion along the track ahead along the aerial portion of the track; An amusement park system characterized by the above.

2. The bogie carriage and the track are configured to cause pitching, rolling, or yawing in the aerial portion of the path; The amusement park system according to Claim 1.

3. The bogie carriage is configured to disengage from the vehicle after the bogie carriage and the vehicle have moved through the length of the aerial portion; The amusement park system according to Claim 1.

4. The bogie carriage is configured to disengage from the vehicle at the start of the underwater portion; The amusement park system according to Claim 3.

5. After the bogie carriage disengages from the vehicle and the vehicle moves ahead of the bogie carriage, the bogie carriage is configured to move along the track toward the end of the underwater portion to pick up another vehicle; The amusement park system according to Claim 3.

6. The bogie carriage includes a locking system configured to engage the vehicle during the aerial portion of the path; The amusement park system according to Claim 1.

7. The locking system includes one or more actuators configured to disengage the bogie carriage from the vehicle after the aerial portion of the path; The amusement park system according to Claim 6.

8. Further comprising an attraction controller configured to provide vehicle information to an attraction operator, the vehicle information indicating whether the bogie carriage is engaged with the vehicle, the position of the bogie carriage along the path, and the normal operating state of the bogie carriage; The amusement park system according to Claim 1.

9. A vehicle system, comprising: A vehicle configured to move along a path, a bogie carriage, a submerged portion of the path defined by a flow path, an aerial portion of the path defined by a track configured to support the bogie carriage, comprising, wherein the vehicle includes a slot disposed inside the hull of the vehicle and is configured to freely float and move along the flow path in response to the flow of the flow path, the bogie carriage is configured to move along the track, and the bogie carriage includes a prong configured to extend into and engage with the slot to couple the bogie carriage to the vehicle. The prong is configured to engage with the inner wall of the slot via an attachment mechanism when the prong is inserted into the slot, and the bogie carriage is configured to carry the vehicle along the track. A vehicle system characterized by the above.

10. The attachment mechanism of the prong includes a detent, and the detent is configured to engage with a recess when the prong is inserted into the slot to couple the bogie carriage to the vehicle. The vehicle system according to claim 9.

11. The prong includes an actuator coupled to the detent, and the actuator is configured to retract the detent to disengage the detent from the recess and detach the prong from the slot. The vehicle system according to claim 10.

12. The bogie carriage includes an inclination mechanism configured to cause the vehicle to pitch and / or roll while the vehicle is coupled to the bogie carriage. The vehicle system according to claim 9.

13. Further comprising a sensor configured to detect an engagement level between the bogie carriage and the vehicle. The vehicle system according to claim 9.

14. The track or the bogie carriage includes a drive system configured to drive the bogie carriage along the track. The vehicle system according to claim 9.

15. The flow path includes a rotation system configured to rotate the vehicle relative to the flow path such that a front portion of the vehicle faces upstream with respect to the flow path. The vehicle system according to claim 9.

16. The flow path includes a waterfall disposed adjacent to the end point of the flow path. The vehicle system according to claim 9.

17. An amusement park system, A vehicle configured to move along a geographical path, the vehicle including a slot integrated with a roof of the vehicle, the vehicle, A bogie carriage, An underwater portion of the geographical path defined by a liquid flow path, An aerial portion of the geographical path defined by a track configured to support the bogie carriage, Comprising, The vehicle is configured to freely float and move along the liquid flow path in response to the flow of the liquid flow path, The bogie carriage includes engaging wheels configured to couple to the slot of the vehicle, the bogie carriage moves along a track, engages with the vehicle, transports the vehicle along the track, and is configured to disengage from the vehicle. An amusement park system characterized by that.

18. The liquid flow path is defined by an artificial waterway. The amusement park system according to claim 17.

19. The liquid flow path includes a waterfall disposed adjacent to the end point of the liquid flow path. The amusement park system according to claim 18.

20. The geographical path further includes a ground path, and the vehicle is configured to run along the ground path. The amusement park system according to claim 17.

21. The slot includes a lock pin coupled to an inner wall of the slot, the lock pin extends from the inner wall of the slot and is configured to lock the engaging wheel to the slot, and the lock pin is retracted into the inner wall to unlock the engaging wheel from the slot. Configured to do so. The amusement park system according to claim 17.

22. The geographical path includes a ground path, the vehicle includes drive wheels configured to drive the vehicle along the ground path, the vehicle includes a floating system configured to provide buoyancy for the vehicle to freely float along the liquid flow path, The vehicle is configured to transition between the ground path and the liquid flow path. The amusement park system according to claim 17.

23. The underwater portion of the geographical path includes a positioning system disposed at the end point of the underwater portion, and the positioning system includes a conveyor configured to support the vehicle and dispose the vehicle on the inclined portion of the liquid flow path including the end point of the underwater portion. The amusement park system according to claim 17.

24. The bogie carriage includes an inclination mechanism configured to longitudinally rock the vehicle while the vehicle is coupled to the bogie carriage. The amusement park system according to claim 17.

Images