Amusement Ride Vehicle Drive Decoupling for Gravity Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amusement park rides face challenges in designing systems that allow for controlled vehicle speed and evacuation points upon power loss, as existing systems require frequent evacuation points along the track, increasing costs and limiting design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A track system with alternating evacuation and non-evacuation zones, combined with a drive assembly that decouples from the vehicle upon power loss, allowing vehicles to roll under gravity to designated evacuation points, using electromagnetic propulsion systems like linear synchronous motors or linear induction motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mechanical coupling is provided between the vehicle and the drive mechanism to tightly control vehicle speed, then speed control precision is improved, but upon power loss the vehicle is locked or frozen to the track requiring evacuation points at every location
Solution Approach 1:
The track is segmented into powered zones with drive mechanisms and unpowered zones without drives. Vehicles are mechanically coupled to drives only in powered zones, allowing speed control where needed, while unpowered zones allow free rolling and reduce evacuation requirements. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by spatially separating speed control functions from evacuation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical coupling between vehicle and drive mechanism is made dynamic rather than permanent. The coupling is engaged only when power is available and disengaged upon power loss, allowing the vehicle to transition from controlled motion to free rolling motion. This dynamic coupling reduces the need for continuous evacuation points while maintaining speed control when powered.
2Reliability
If evacuation points are provided at every location along the track to ensure safety upon power loss, then safety is improved, but track design flexibility and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Evacuation points are concentrated at specific locations (ends of unpowered zones, station areas) rather than distributed along the entire track. The track is segmented into zones where safety is ensured by zone design rather than continuous evacuation infrastructure, enabling more flexible and cost-effective track layouts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's own momentum and gravity to navigate unpowered zones between evacuation points. Vehicles coast through unpowered sections using kinetic energy and gravitational forces, eliminating the need for active propulsion or frequent evacuation infrastructure, thereby improving design flexibility while maintaining safety.
3Reliability
If a mechanical coupling is used to provide continuous propulsion, then propulsion reliability is improved, but the system cannot provide free rolling for gravity drops or steep inclines
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical coupling is designed to be dynamically engageable and disengageable. During gravity drops or steep inclines, the coupling is disengaged to allow free rolling and maximize gravitational acceleration. During normal powered operation, the coupling is engaged for reliable propulsion. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between propulsion reliability and gravity drop capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical coupling operates periodically rather than continuously - engaged during powered sections, disengaged during unpowered sections including gravity drops. This periodic engagement pattern allows the system to alternately provide reliable propulsion and free-rolling gravity assistance, achieving both objectives through temporal segmentation of drive operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables continuous control of vehicle speed and position, reduces the need for frequent evacuation points, and allows for more complex ride designs with gravity drops and variable speeds, while maintaining safety and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
using electromagnetic propulsion systems like linear synchronous motors or linear induction motors
Implementation Method 2
The non-evacuation zones or segments are inclined or sloped to cause vehicles to tend to travel under the influence of gravity toward a previous or next evacuation zone
Data Source
AI summary
An amusement park ride with one or more evacuation zones. The ride includes a track with a rail defining a ride path. The ride path includes at least one evacuation zone along a first length of the track at a first height and a non-evacuation zone along a second length of the track with one or more portions at a second height greater than the first height. The track is sloped in the non-evacuation zone toward the evacuation zone. The ride includes a vehicle supported on the rail via roller elements such as load bearing wheels. The ride includes a drive assembly that provides a driving force to selectively move the vehicle along the ride path. The drive assembly is adapted to automatically disengage from the vehicle upon loss of power. The vehicle is free rolling upon loss of power to travel to the evacuation zone based on gravity.