Amusement park ride and method for operating an amusement park ride

Abstract

A ride comprises two rails 4 a , 4 b , which extend in parallel at least in a certain section, on which rails respective vehicles 2 a or 2 b move. The rail 4 a comprises a reversal section 3, in which the rail 4 a is wound, so that a vehicle 2 a driving through the reversal section 3 is rotated into an overhead position. The first rail 4 a extends in the inversion portion above the second rail 4 b so that the heads of the passengers received in the vehicles 2 a and 2 b point towards each other in this section. At least the first car 2 a runs through an acceleration track B in overhead position, wherein a launch drive disposed in the acceleration track increases the velocity of the first vehicle 2 a.

1 . A ride for amusement parks and the like, comprising:
 at least one drive track having a guide means for guiding at least one vehicle along the drive track;   an overhead track section disposed along the drive track; and   a drive or a portion of a drive for accelerating the at least one vehicle, wherein the drive is disposed along at least a portion of the overhead track section.   
   
   
       2 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive is a launch drive. 
   
   
       3 . A ride according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive is a linear synchronous motor (LSM) or a linear induction motor (LIM). 
   
   
       4 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive is a friction wheel drive. 
   
   
       5 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive is disposed so that the vehicle is accelerated while driving through the overhead track section. 
   
   
       6 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive is configured so that the vehicle is accelerated after leaving the overhead track section. 
   
   
       7 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the ride further comprises a second drive, which is disposed along the drive track in front of the overhead track section. 
   
   
       8 . A ride according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive is disposed so that the vehicle is accelerated while driving through the overhead track section. 
   
   
       9 . A ride according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive is configured so that the vehicle is accelerated after leaving the overhead track section. 
   
   
       10 . A ride according to  claim 2 , wherein the ride further comprises a second drive, which is disposed along the drive track in front of the overhead track section. 
   
   
       11 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive track further comprises a track section with a downward slope, disposed in front of the overhead track section. 
   
   
       12 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive track comprises a second track portion which extends adjacent to the overhead track portion. 
   
   
       13 . A ride according to  claim 12 , wherein the second track section extends in a direction substantially parallel to the overhead track section. 
   
   
       14 . A ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide means is rails. 
   
   
       15 . A method for operating a ride for amusement parks and the like, comprising the following steps:
 a) providing a drive track having a guide means, in particular rails, for guiding at least one vehicle along the drive track, and an overhead track section disposed along the drive track;   b) providing at least one first vehicle along the drive track; and   c) accelerating the at least one first vehicle in at least a portion of the overhead track section and/or adjacent to the overhead track section.   
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first vehicle is accelerated during the exit from the overhead track section. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first vehicle is additionally accelerated before reaching the overhead track section. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the drive track provided in the method step a) further comprises at least one second track section which extends adjacent to the overhead track section, the method further comprising:
 d) providing at least one second vehicle to move along the at least one second track section while a first vehicle is moved in the portion of the overhead track section.   
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first vehicle is moved along the overhead track section while the second vehicle is moved along the second track section, so that a race situation between the first and the second vehicles is generated.