Vehicle Amusement Rides Using Pressurized Gas to Launch It

Abstract

A vehicle ( 2 ) movable along a track ( 3 ) of an amusement ride comprising at least one launch tube ( 4 ) inside which a gas is injected to accelerate said at least one vehicle ( 2 ) is disclosed. The vehicle ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of rollers ( 2 b ) for moving the vehicle along the track ( 3 ) and at least one pressure surface ( 20, 20 ′) arranged at the rear portion of the vehicle, and on which the launching force generated by the gas injected into the launch tube is exerted. The pressure surface comprises at least one movable portion ( 21 ) between at least one deployed position and at least one folded position. The at least one movable portion ( 21 ) is moved under an aerodynamic force applied on it.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A vehicle movable along a track of an amusement ride having at least one launch tube, inside of which a gas is injectable to accelerate the vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of rollers adapted to move the vehicle along the track; and   at least one pressure surface arranged at a rear portion of the vehicle, and on which a launching force generated by the gas injected into the launch tube is exertable;   wherein the pressure surface includes at least one movable portion movable under an aerodynamic force applied on it and movable between at least one deployed position and at least one folded position.   
     
     
         28 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein the movable portion is movable from the deployed position to the folded position under the aerodynamic force applied by an air flow impacting on it during forward movement of the vehicle along the track. 
     
     
         29 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein, in the folded position, the movable portion is inclined with respect to a forward movement direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The vehicle according to  claim 29 , wherein, in the folded position, the movable portion is inclined at an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to the forward movement direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein, in the folded position, the movable portion is inclined at an angle (a) less than 180 degrees and/or (b) equal to or less than 170 degrees with respect to a forward movement direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein, in the deployed position, the movable portion is substantially perpendicular with respect to a forward movement direction of the vehicle. 
     
     
         33 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , further comprising a support adapted to maintain the movable portion in the deployed position. 
     
     
         34 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein the movable portion includes a substantially flat surface. 
     
     
         35 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein the pressure surface includes a fixed portion. 
     
     
         36 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein the movable portion is rotatable with respect to at least one fixed portion of the pressure surface. 
     
     
         37 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein the vehicle includes two pressure surfaces. 
     
     
         38 . The vehicle according to  claim 27 , wherein the movable portion forms at least part of a boundary portion of the pressure surface. 
     
     
         39 . An amusement ride, comprising:
 at least one vehicle as recited in  claim 27 ;   a track, along which the vehicle is ridable;   at least one hollow launch tube for the vehicle; and   a gas supply adapted to inject gas inside the launch tube.   
     
     
         40 . The amusement ride according to  claim 39 , wherein the pressure surface forms a substantial seal with a lateral surface of the launch tube. 
     
     
         41 . The amusement ride according to  claim 39 , wherein the pressure surface arranged at a rear portion of the vehicle forms with a lateral surface of the launch tube and a closed end of the launch tube a chamber inside which gas is injectable. 
     
     
         42 . The amusement ride according to  claim 39 , wherein the track includes at least one rail on which the vehicle is ridable by the rollers. 
     
     
         43 . An amusement ride, comprising:
 at least one vehicle adapted to accommodate at least one passenger and movable along a track;   at least one hollow launch tube having a first end and a second end, at least one of the ends being open to allow the vehicle to exit from the launch tube; and   a gas supply adapted to inject gas inside the launch tube, the gas supply including at least one tank adapted to store the gas;   wherein (i) the tank is adapted to store the gas at (a) high pressure, (b) a pressure of at least 6 bars, and/or (c) a pressure of at least 8 bars and/or (ii) the gas supply is adapted to inject the gas into the launch tube at gauge pressure (a) at or below 2 atm, (b) at or below 1.5 atm, and/or (c) at 1 atm.   
     
     
         44 . The amusement ride according to  claim 43 , wherein the tank is adapted to supply the gas at (a) at least one position and/or (b) at least two different positions inside the launch tube. 
     
     
         45 . The amusement ride according to  claim 44 , wherein the at least two different positions are arranged in succession along a direction along which the vehicle is moveable inside the launch tube when the vehicle is launched. 
     
     
         46 . The amusement ride according to  claim 43 , wherein the gas supply includes at least two tanks adapted to store the gas. 
     
     
         47 . The amusement ride according to  claim 46 , wherein the gas supply includes (a) 2 to 10 tanks, (b) 2 to 7 tanks, (c) 3 to 5 tanks, and/or (d) 5 tanks. 
     
     
         48 . A method of operating an amusement ride, as recited in  claim 43 , comprising:
 storing the gas the tank (a) at high pressure, (b) at a pressure of at least 6 bars, and/or (c) at a pressure of at least 8 bars and/or supplying the gas inside the tube from the tank at a gauge pressure (a) at or below 2 atm, (b) at or below 1.5 atm, and/or (c) at 1 atm.   
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein the gas is supplied from the tank at (a) at least one position inside the launch tube, (b) at least two different positions inside the launch tube, and/or (c) at least two different positions in succession inside the launch tube. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein the amusement ride includes at least two tanks for storing the gas, and wherein, during the supplying, the tanks are fluidically connected in succession to the launch tube to inject the gas in the launch tube. 
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 50 , wherein one of the tanks is fluidically connected to the launch tube, and, after a predetermined amount of time, at least one other tank is fluidically connected to the launch tube to inject the gas in the launch tube. 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is (a) less than or equal to 1 second, (b) less than or equal to 0.8 seconds, (c) less than or equal to 0.5 seconds, and/or (d) less than or equal to 0.3 seconds.