The Walt Disney Company

Mark S Mesko

Bruce S Johnson

Joseph O Garlington

Ted W Frederick

Charles E Schrader

Gregory L Bahrman

Aidan J Bradley

The present invention provides a drive system for a suspended or ground based roller coaster. Each vehicle has an attached drive fin. A plurality of pairs of drive wheels (pinch rollers) are disposed about the track and sequentially engage the drive fin to provide driving force. The drive wheels have a special linkage arrangement that permits the wheels to operate on curves or in a straight path. The linkage also provides self adjusting of the tension applied by the drive wheels to the drive fin to reduce wear and prevent slippage. The present invention uses pivots and tie bars to allow the system to articulate to accommodate the chording effects of the driven vehicle in a curve or helix. The self adjusting drive wheels operates during contact with the drive fin. The turning of the drive wheels in contact with the drive fin causes the drive wheels to generate a pinch force in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle drive fin. The applied force and drive wheel gap are self adjusting, providing more reliable operation, longer wear, and reducing or eliminating maintenance.

Articulated pinch drive

The present invention is an apparatus for producing position signals in response to induced pivoting motion of the apparatus by an user. The signals generated by the control device can be used to operate computer systems, entertainment systems, and automated processes. A circular contact disk is coupled to a suspension block that includes a universal joint allowing the contact disk to pivot in 360.degree.. The suspension block comprises a pneumatic spring for providing continuous suspension of the contact disk in response to motion of the contact disk. The suspension block further comprises dampers for providing continuous damping in response to motion of the contact disk. Also, the suspension block comprises stop cylinders for stabilizing the contact disk in a reference state. Transducers coupled to the contact disk generate position signals in response to motion of the contact disk. A chassis is coupled to the suspension block, thereby supporting the input mechanism. The contact disk includes a steering fixture perpendicularly disposed to a surface of the contact disk for facilitating pivotal motion. The chassis comprises an upper and lower chassis. Compliant pivots couple the upper chassis to the lower chassis, thereby allowing rotation of the upper chassis in a direction perpendicular to a supporting surface. The system further comprises an air cylinder coupled between the upper chassis and lower chassis for vertically displacing the upper chassis. The air cylinder is also used to weigh the user.

Apparatus for providing position signals

A system and method for movement of self-propelled vehicles in-line along a rail under external control is intended to ensure safe spacing between vehicles to avoid collisions. Each vehicle is driven by its own variable speed motor. The speed of the vehicles is controlled by a stationary cam extending beside the rail. The edge of the cam rises and falls in a predetermined manner and is sensed by a cam follower on each vehicle. The cam follower is coupled to a transducer which produces a control signal for varying the vehicle speed in response to the rise or fall of the cam edge. Each vehicle pulls along a tail which extends behind the vehicle and is guided for motion alongside the edge of the cam. If a rear vehicle approaches a forward vehicle sufficiently closely for the cam follower of the rear vehicle to be raised from the cam edge by contact with the tail of the forward vehicle, the transducer of the rear vehicle is thereby caused to signal its drive motor to move the rear vehicle at a speed no faster than the forward vehicle, to avoid collision with it.

Growing community of inventors

Valencia, CA, United States of America

Mark S Mesko