Roller Coaster Vehicle Seats with Swinging Circular Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional roller coaster vehicles have stationary seats that do not provide a dynamic experience for passengers, limiting the thrill and engagement during the ride.
Innovation Solution
The seats are mounted on a circular frame that swings about a central horizontal axis as the vehicle moves along the track, allowing passive or active rotation due to gravitational and centripetal forces, enhancing the riders' experience by moving relative to the car and track.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seats are made stationary relative to the vehicle axles, then passenger safety and structural simplicity are improved, but ride dynamic experience and thrill are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the seats movable relative to the vehicle axles through a linkage mechanism. The seats can rotate and shift position in response to gravitational and centripetal forces during the ride, creating dynamic passenger experiences while maintaining safety through controlled mechanical linkages and harness systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies Segmentation by separating the seat assembly from the vehicle frame through independent linkages. Each seat is connected via its own linkage mechanism to the vehicle axles, allowing individual seat movement while the vehicle structure remains intact and safe.
2Adaptability or versatility
If seats are mounted on a circular frame that swings about a horizontal axis, then ride thrill and passenger engagement are improved, but vehicle structural complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The circular frame with swinging seats implements Dynamics by allowing the seat assembly to rotate and change orientation during the ride. The frame swings about a horizontal axis, enabling seats to tilt and rotate in response to forces during turns, hills, and loops, creating thrilling dynamic experiences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies Merging by combining the circular frame structure with the seat linkages. The frame integrates multiple functions: it supports the seats, provides the swinging mechanism, and connects to the vehicle axles through linkages, reducing the need for separate complex components.
3Device complexity
If seats rotate passively in response to gravitational and centripetal forces, then mechanical simplicity is improved, but control precision and safety management are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Self-service by designing the seat rotation mechanism to operate passively using gravitational and centripetal forces generated during the ride. The seats automatically rotate and position themselves in response to the vehicle's motion without requiring external motors or active control systems, simplifying the mechanical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive rotation system implements Feedback by allowing seats to respond automatically to forces generated during the ride. Gravitational and centripetal forces during turns, hills, and loops naturally rotate the seats to appropriate positions, with the mechanical linkage providing inherent feedback control.
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 design enhances the riders' experience by allowing them to swing inside the vehicle, providing a more dynamic and thrilling ride while maintaining safety through a damping system and braking control.
Implementation Method 1
the seats rotate passively in response to various gravitational and centripetal forces caused by the movement of the car along the track
Implementation Method 2
the seats rotate passively in response to various gravitational and centripetal forces caused by the movement of the car along the track
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A roller coaster vehicle is disclosed with seats that are mounted to a circular frame, and where the seats and the frame swing about a central horizontal axis passing between the seats, while the vehicle moves along a standard roller coaster track. The swinging or rotating of the seats with respect to the reference frame of the vehicle leads to a more intense riding experience. In a first preferred embodiment, the seats rotate passively in response to various gravitational and centripetal forces caused by the movement of the car along the track, but the seats could also be actively rotated by motors or other mechanical elements.