Telescoping Arm Variable Radius Mechanism for Amusement Park Rides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing round iron amusement park rides lack excitement and interactivity, particularly for older guests, due to their low rotation rates and fixed seating orientations, limiting the thrill and engagement they can provide within the same space constraints.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a variable radius mechanism in the support arm assemblies, allowing passenger vehicles to change their distance from the central hub during rotation, combined with interactive control elements like joysticks, to enable horizontal movement and dynamic positioning within a 2D workspace, enhancing interactivity and thrill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the rotation rate of the drive assembly is increased to provide more thrill and excitement, then the ride becomes more exciting for older guests, but the space constraints and footprint of the ride are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the support arm length variable rather than fixed. The telescoping mechanism allows the arm length to change during operation, enabling the ride to achieve higher effective rotation speeds and more thrilling experiences without requiring a larger physical footprint. The arm can extend and retract dynamically to optimize the ride experience within the constrained space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of support arm length from a fixed value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted during operation. This parameter change allows the ride to provide varying degrees of thrill and excitement by controlling the arm length, while maintaining the same physical footprint. The variable arm length enables different ride configurations and experience levels without expanding the ride's physical footprint.
2Volume of moving object
If the support arm length is increased to provide more workspace and movement range, then the ride experience is enhanced, but the ride footprint and space requirements are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a telescoping support arm that can dynamically change its length during operation. This dynamic adjustment allows the arm to extend when more workspace is needed for enhanced ride experience and retract when minimal space is required, thereby providing large workspace capability without permanently occupying large footprint space.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping mechanism implements the nested doll principle by placing one arm section inside another, allowing the support arm to extend and retract within a compact structure. When retracted, the arm occupies minimal space; when extended, it provides sufficient workspace for an enhanced ride experience, effectively hiding the space requirement within the nested configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ride is modified to include variable radius mechanism and interactive control elements, then interactivity and thrill are increased, but the device complexity and cost of refurbishment are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the support arm assembly multi-functional by integrating both the telescoping mechanism for variable radius and the pivot mechanism for height adjustment into a single assembly. This universal design allows one component to provide multiple functions (variable radius control, height control, and structural support), thereby increasing interactivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic control elements that allow passengers to interact with and control the support arm assembly in real-time. The joystick control system enables passengers to dynamically adjust the arm angle and length, adding interactivity and versatility while using relatively simple control mechanisms that don't significantly increase overall device complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If the ride uses the original circular drive assembly to reduce startup costs, then the refurbishment cost is reduced, but the ride characteristics and thrill factor are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent retains the original static circular drive assembly but adds dynamic elements (telescoping support arms and interactive control systems) that enable variable radius and height adjustments. This approach allows the ride to provide thrilling experiences with varying speeds and positions while using the proven, cost-effective original drive assembly, thereby reducing refurbishment costs while enhancing ride excitement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ride system into two parts: the original circular drive assembly (retained for cost efficiency) and the new telescoping support arm mechanism (added for enhanced thrill). This segmentation allows the expensive dynamic components to be added only where needed for thrill enhancement, while the original drive assembly continues to provide the basic rotational function at low cost.
Data Source
AI summary
An amusement park ride that provides an interactive flying experience in a round ride setting by allowing vehicle passengers to move their vehicle in and out horizontally through a fly zone. The ride includes a central support assembly with a structure rotatable about a central axis at one or more rotation speeds. The ride also includes passenger vehicles and, for each vehicle, a support arm assembly that extends outward from the rotatable structure. The support arm assembly includes a support arm and a variable radius mechanism. The support arm is mounted to the rotatable structure and supports the passenger vehicle. The variable radius mechanism operates during rotation of the rotatable structure to vary the arm length or support location of the vehicle on the arm to vary the vehicle's rotation radius. The variable radius mechanism may include a telescoping arm that reciprocates the vehicle along a linear displacement path.