Rail-Guided Towing Vehicle With Drifting Connection Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger transport systems, such as amusement rides, lack flexibility and controllability, providing a uniform driving experience without allowing passengers to influence the movement of the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A rail-guided passenger transport system featuring a drive unit with a guiding device and a bogie, coupled to a vehicle with a passenger receptacle, allowing rotational movement and lateral or vertical deviations from the predetermined track, enabling flexible and controllable driving situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the guide device is located underground or below the water surface, then the passengers have an unobstructed view, but complicated structural measures are required and the driving surface must be interrupted with gaps
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the guide device below the driving surface (underground or underwater), the patent inverts the arrangement by positioning the guide device laterally adjacent to and above the driving surface. The bogie runs on the lateral rail while the vehicle moves on the driving surface, eliminating the need for gaps or complex underground structures while maintaining clear passenger views.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connection unit allows rotational movement, then the driving experience becomes flexible and controllable, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing the vehicle to perform rotational movements relative to the drive unit. This enables the vehicle to swing out or drift obliquely or laterally relative to the direction of travel, providing flexible and controllable driving experiences without requiring overly complex mechanical structures.
3Ease of operation
If the drive unit is arranged laterally and above the vehicle, then the viewing direction is not disturbed and the driving surface can be designed without interruption, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device is positioned in a different spatial dimension - laterally adjacent to and above the driving surface rather than below it. The bogie runs on the lateral rail while the vehicle moves on the driving surface, utilizing the third dimension (height) to resolve the conflict between unobstructed views and structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for transporting passengers has a drive unit and a vehicle that is pulled by the drive unit. The drive unit includes a stationary guiding device like a rail which is arranged laterally at a distance and above at a height relative to the vehicle. The drive unit also includes a bogie which is movably attached to the guiding device. A connection unit couples the bogie to the vehicle by a joint, so that drifting of the vehicle is possible.