The Walt Disney Company

Ted W Fredrick

Kenneth D Salter

Daniel A Armstrong

Randall C Danta

Francis K Weigand

Michael G Kilbert

Jody D Gerstner

A transport system for moving along a track on a support surface. The system includes a body, a guide system and a powered self-steering caster assembly. The guide system cooperates with the track to apply lateral forces to the body to guide it along a predetermined path when a propulsive force is applied to the body. The powered self-steering caster assembly has a pivot joint and a wheel driven by a motor. The wheel has a center of rotation and is rotatably mounted to engage the support surface and roll in a forward direction. The pivot joint is mounted to the body to allow the wheel to pivot about a predetermined axis intersecting the support surface forward of the engagement between the wheel and the support surface. The wheel drives the body and pivots in response to frictional side slip forces between the wheel and the support surface without restraint from a steering linkage. An optional viscous damper mounted between the body and the caster assembly allows operation of the transport system at speeds in excess of those available without such a damper.

Conveying device with self steering powered caster

An improved amusement ride and ride vehicle that permit a passenger to control the rotation of a passenger car as the vehicle travels along a ride course. The ride vehicle includes a support tube upon which the passenger car is rotatably mounted and a passenger operable steering mechanism. The ride vehicle also includes a spin shaft that extends down through the support tube. The spin shaft permits the use of safety systems that are mounted to the chassis of the ride vehicle. Control logic may be used to turn the passenger cars to a preferred orientation at the end of the ride. The ride vehicle itself may be barbell shaped to permit it to turn sharp corners along the ride course. The passenger car also includes a readily adjustable lap bar that is self-releasing. A slot cover, a plow assembly for displacing the slot cover and a slot cover switch are also provided.

Amusement ride having spinning passenger cars

Growing community of inventors

Saugus, CA, United States of America

Ted W Fredrick