Amusement Ride Guide Device with Intersecting Tracks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current guide devices in amusement rides do not allow extensive interaction between passengers or varied racing experiences through deceleration or acceleration of vehicles on different tracks, limiting the thrill and excitement for riders.

Innovation Solution

A guide device with a first and second guideway, featuring a common interaction section where the normal vectors of both guideways point towards each other, allowing vehicles to interact and experience complex movements, including spirals, helices, and different accelerations, while ensuring safety through closed paths and symmetrical designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If guide tracks are designed to allow vehicles to race and interact, then passenger experience and thrill are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger interaction capabilityVSAvoidguide track configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nested guide tracks where one guide track is positioned inside the loop of another guide track, allowing vehicles to interact while maintaining organized spatial arrangement. This nesting configuration enables complex interactions without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces vertical dimensionality by arranging guide tracks in different vertical levels and using loop configurations, transforming a potentially two-dimensional race track into a three-dimensional structure. This dimensional change enables vehicles to pass each other, interact, and create thrilling maneuvers while maintaining clear separation and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If guide tracks are arranged parallel to allow racing, then vehicle interaction is enabled, but space utilization is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle racing capabilityVSAvoidspace occupied by guide tracks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places one guide track inside the loop of another guide track, creating a nested configuration that significantly reduces the overall space required compared to parallel arrangements. This nesting allows vehicles to race and interact while utilizing vertical and radial space more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curved and looped guide track configurations instead of straight parallel tracks. The circular loop structure allows vehicles to approach each other from different directions and interact dynamically, while the curvature enables compact spatial arrangement that improves space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If guide tracks allow close proximity interaction, then passenger excitement increases, but safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger interaction intensityVSAvoidride safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the guide track into distinct segments including entry sections, interaction sections, and exit sections. This segmentation allows vehicles to be separated into different zones at various times, enabling close interaction during designated interaction sections while maintaining safety through spatial separation in other sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes vertical dimensionality by arranging guide tracks at different heights and using loop configurations, allowing vehicles to pass close to each other horizontally while maintaining vertical separation. This dimensional approach enables intense passenger interaction while preserving safety through three-dimensional spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3685894B1Guide device, ride and method for operating a ride
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 MACK RIDES IP GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3685894B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3685894B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3685894B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a guide device (2) comprising a first guide track (10) and at least one second guide track (20), wherein the first guide track (10) and the at least one second guide track (20) each define a direction of travel vector (F1, F2) and a normal vector (N1, N2) which is oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel vector (F1, F2), wherein the first guide track (10) and the at least one second guide track (20) have at least one common interaction section (15), and wherein in the at least one interaction section (15) the normal vectors (N1, N2) of the first guide track (10) and of the at least one second guide track (20) point at least section by substantially opposite directions.