Guideway Section Movement Mechanism for Amusement Rides
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement ride guideway systems lack the capability to generate surprising and unpredictable movements, limiting the thrill and attractiveness of roller coaster rides.
Innovation Solution
A device that allows the guideway section to move independently of the guide structure, combining rotational and translational movements, with a support structure and drive device enabling various additional movements such as pendulum or rocking, and a fixing device to ensure safety and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the guideway section is moved along the guide structure between two guideway connectors, then the vehicle can be transported between locations, but the movement is limited to simple translational motion along a fixed path
Solution Approach 1:
The guideway section is made dynamically movable relative to the guide structure through a support structure with movable connections. The support structure includes first and second sections that can move relative to each other, allowing the guideway section to perform rotational movements about horizontal and vertical axes while being transported along the guide structure, creating complex three-dimensional trajectories
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into separate first and second sections that can independently move relative to each other. The first section connects to the guide structure while the second section connects to the guideway section, enabling independent control of translational and rotational movements through separate drive mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional movement means are added to the guideway section, then surprising and unpredictable movements can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the guideway section, enables translational movement along the guide structure, provides rotational movement about horizontal and vertical axes, and maintains structural connection between components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated mechanisms for each movement type
3Adaptability or versatility
If the guideway section performs complex superimposed movements, then the thrill and attractiveness of the ride is enhanced, but the control and safety become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device controlling the support structure's movement incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor the actual movement of the guideway section and adjust the drive forces accordingly. This ensures precise control of the complex movements and maintains safety by preventing excessive or uncontrolled motion while enabling the desired thrilling trajectories
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for moving a guide track section (20) of a guide track system (21) for vehicles (22) on a funfair ride back and forth between a first guide track connection piece (24) and a second guide track connection piece (26) which is arranged at a distance from the first guide track connection piece (24), wherein the first and second guide track connection pieces (24, 26) are part of the guide track system (21), comprising a guide track section (20) on which at least one of the vehicles (22) can be driven, a support structure (18) for supporting the guide track section (20), a guide structure (16) which is operatively connected to the support structure (18) and with which the support structure (18) is guided such that the guide track section (20) is movable along the guide structure from the first guide track connection piece (24) to the second guide track connection piece (26) and back again, and a drive mechanism (19) for moving the support structure (18) along the guide structure (16), wherein the support structure (18) comprises means (27) for executing a further movement of the guide track section (20) in addition to the movement along the guide structure (16).