Other

Versa Corporation

Terrain King Corporation

Walter F Larson

Jeffrey P Novotny

An amusement ride ( ) is disclosed which includes first and second vehicles ( ) which are supported in a cantilevered manner off cantilever beams ( ) from the stationary supporting track ( ) to provide the occupants with the impression of being unsupported. The vehicles ( ) are floorless to enhance the effect for the passengers. A coaster style floorless amusement ride ( ) is provided. A second embodiment of the amusement ride ( ) has a floor style vehicle ( ). It can also be a coaster style amusement ride ( ). A hubless and spokeless Ferris wheel ( ) is also provided.

Amusement ride without hubs and spokes

A tower (150, 200, 250) is disclosed which can be used for an amusement ride, having gondolas (20) or for advertising, having an advertising sign (252). The tower has a lower section (16) and an upper section (18) and a lifter, such as a hydraulic cylinder, to lift the upper section (18) between a retracted position and an extended position. At least one cable interconnects the gondola or advertising sign and the lower section so that the gondola or advertising sign is lifted at twice the rate as the upper section. The tower can be mounted on a rotatable base (152) which rotates the entire tower about a vertical axis. Also, counterweights (202) can be used to reduce the load necessary on the lifter to lift the upper section.

Tower

An amusement ride (10) is provided which includes a trailer (12) to make the ride portable. A park ride (10') is also disclosed for permanent installation at an amusement park or similar facility. In the portable ride (10), the tower (14) is moved by a double acting hydraulic cylinder (26) along the trailer from the transport position to a position where it is hingeably mounted to the trailer (12) by a hinge support (32). The double acting hydraulic cylinder (26) is also used to lift the tower to the erected position once the tower assembly is hinged to hinge support 32. In both the portable ride (10) and park ride (10'), the tower includes a lower section (16) and an upper section (18). A hydraulic cylinder lifts the upper section relative to the lower section. Cables (46) extend between a gondola and the lower section and are guided on pulleys over the upper end of the upper section. As the upper section moves vertically, the gondola will move vertically at about twice the velocity of the upper section.

Tower ride

A wheeled frame which is hydraulically powered and which will operate in either forward or reverse direction, with an over-ride control means to enable the wheeled frame to be driven in either direction, stopped and restarted in the same direction at the same speed by manipulation of the variable control means to vary the hydraulically powered fluid motor means to drive the wheeled frame from zero to maximum speed with the controls in one position and from zero to maximum speed with the controls in another position.

Growing community of inventors

Plainview, TX, United States of America

Walter F Larson