Remote Release Restraint Latch With Redundant Rider Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement park ride systems lack effective and reliable mechanisms to securely restrain riders within ride vehicles during operation, preventing premature egress and ensuring safety, especially in hazardous areas.
Innovation Solution
A remote release locking mechanism with dual redundant latches is implemented, allowing secure restraint of riders using a lap belt or harness, which can be remotely actuated and deactivated to lock and unlock the restraint system at loading and unloading stations, ensuring safety throughout the ride.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single latch mechanism is used to secure the door, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability is compromised because the door can be forced open by applying sufficient force
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is divided into two independent latches (first latch and second latch) that work together to secure the door. Each latch provides a separate restraint, so that forcing the door open requires overcoming both latches simultaneously, significantly increasing security while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a force sensor that detects attempted door openings and triggers an alarm before the door can be fully compromised. This preemptive detection and response mechanism provides an additional layer of security that activates in advance of actual door breach
2Ease of operation
If manual operation of the latch is required, then the ease of operation is reduced for users with limited mobility, but the device complexity is minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical operation of the latch is replaced with an electric motor-driven system that can be controlled remotely via wireless communication. This substitution eliminates the need for physical manipulation of latch mechanisms, making the system accessible to users with limited mobility while adding electronic control components
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between the user and the latch mechanism, receiving commands via wireless communication and translating them into motor-driven latch operations. This intermediary layer provides ease of operation through remote control while managing the complexity through standardized communication protocols
3Reliability
If the latch mechanism is made robust and permanent to ensure security, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of repair is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The latch system is segmented into modular components (first latch, second latch, motor units, sensor) that can be independently replaced. This modularity allows specific faulty components to be swapped out without replacing the entire mechanism, maintaining high reliability through durable individual parts while improving repairability through component-level replacement
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for securing a rider (16) inside a ride vehicle (18) of an amusement park ride (10). For example, the disclosed systems and methods include a restraint system (e.g., lap belt (36), harness, restraint bar (e.g., lap bar, shoulder bar), and the like) that includes a locking mechanism (14) that is activated and deactivated remotely. The remote release locking mechanism (14) includes redundant latches (84) (e.g., a primary latch (84A) and at least one secondary, redundant latch (84B)) and encompasses a relatively small amount of components housed in a relatively small amount of space.