Pivot Coaster Hub Mechanism for Lateral Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement ride vehicles lack the ability to incorporate lateral motion, which limits the dynamic experience for passengers and fails to provide unobstructed views and varied sensations.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting amusement ride system where a hub rotatably couples a passenger chassis to a main chassis, allowing lateral rotation and control of spin speed and radius, enabling the passenger chassis to change orientation relative to the track, providing unobstructed views and varied sensations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fixed amusement ride vehicle is used, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the dynamic experience and passenger engagement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The passenger chassis is made dynamically movable relative to the main chassis through a hub assembly that allows lateral rotation. This enables the passenger chassis to change orientation during the ride, providing dynamic experiences such as unobstructed views and varied sensations while maintaining a relatively simple overall vehicle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is divided into separate functional components: a main chassis that travels on the track and a passenger chassis that can rotate independently. This segmentation allows the passenger chassis to provide dynamic motion while the main chassis maintains structural simplicity for track operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed orientation passenger chassis is used, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the unobstructed views and varied sensations are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The hub assembly provides a rotational joint that allows the passenger chassis to laterally rotate relative to the main chassis. This dynamic capability enables orientation control for unobstructed views and varied passenger sensations while using standard mechanical components that are relatively easy to manufacture and assemble.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lateral motion is added to the passenger chassis, then the passenger engagement is improved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub assembly serves as a rotational joint that provides lateral motion capability. The spin control system uses a relatively simple mechanism with a spin control assembly that can induce or inhibit lateral rotational motion, maintaining control simplicity while enabling engaging lateral motion experiences.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub acts as an intermediary component between the main chassis and passenger chassis, providing the rotational function. This mediator allows lateral motion capability while keeping the control system simple, as the hub mechanically couples the two chassis components and enables controlled rotation without complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for providing lateral movement on a roller coaster includes a main chassis, a passenger chassis, and a hub. The main chassis is configured to ride on a track. The passenger chassis is rotatably supported on the main chassis via the hub. The hub and main chassis are behind the passenger chassis. The hub allows the passenger chassis to perform a full lateral rotation relative to the main chassis.