Inspection System for Amusement Rides Having Tracks

Abstract

An inspection system for inspecting the track of an amusement ride with at least one rail. A vehicle is provided that is designed to ride along the track. The vehicle supports cameras. The cameras are positioned in unobstructed areas. The cameras image the rail from different angles as the vehicle rides along the track. The images recorded by the cameras are reviewed to identify any defect or issue with the rail or its supporting framework that may impact from the safety of the ride.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inspection system for the track of an amusement ride, wherein said amusement ride has a support framework that supports a rail, and wherein said support framework creates obstructed areas and unobstructed areas proximate said rail along said track, said inspection system comprising:
 a vehicle that rides along said track; and   a plurality of cameras supported by said vehicle in said unobstructed areas, wherein said plurality of cameras image said rail from different angles as said vehicle rides along said track.   
     
     
         2 . The inspection system according to  claim 1 , further including a distance measuring device for determining how far along said track said vehicle has moved while imaging said rail. 
     
     
         3 . The inspection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle rides on wheel clusters that engage said rail, wherein each wheel clusters contain wheels that engage said rail at different orientations. 
     
     
         4 . The inspection system according to  claim 1 , further including a motor within said vehicle for moving said vehicle along said track. 
     
     
         5 . The inspection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cameras produce video images of said rail as said vehicle moves along said track. 
     
     
         6 . The inspection system according to  claim 5 , further including a monitoring station, remote from said vehicle, for viewing said video images. 
     
     
         7 . The inspection system according to  claim 6 , further including a transceiver on said vehicle for exchanging data with said monitoring station. 
     
     
         8 . The inspection system according to  claim 1 , further including a retractable arm on said vehicle for supporting at least one of said cameras. 
     
     
         9 . The inspection system according to  claim 1 , further including a safety brake for automatically stopping said vehicle along said track should said vehicle travel above a threshold speed. 
     
     
         10 . The inspection system according to  claim 1 , further including activators for selectively orienting said cameras. 
     
     
         11 . An inspection system for the track of an amusement ride, wherein said amusement ride has a support framework that supports rails and a vehicle that rides along said rails, said inspection system comprising:
 an inspection system that mounts to said vehicle and moves with said vehicle along said rails, said inspection system including a plurality of cameras that simultaneously image said rails from a plurality of camera positions as said vehicle moves along said rails.   
     
     
         12 . The inspection system according to  claim 11 , further including a distance measuring device for determining how far along said rails said vehicle has traveled. 
     
     
         13 . The inspection system according to  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of cameras produces video images of said rails as said inspection system travels with said vehicle along said rails. 
     
     
         14 . The inspection system according to  claim 13 , further including a monitoring station, remote from said vehicle, for viewing said video images. 
     
     
         15 . The inspection system according to  claim 14 , further including a transceiver on said vehicle for exchanging data with said monitoring station. 
     
     
         16 . The inspection system according to  claim 11 , further including activators for selectively orienting said cameras. 
     
     
         17 . An inspection system for the track of an amusement ride, wherein said amusement ride has a support framework that supports rails, said inspection system comprising:
 a vehicle that rides along said rails;   a plurality of cameras supported by said vehicle, wherein at least some of said plurality of cameras has activators for adjusting orientation, wherein said plurality of cameras simultaneously images said rails from different points of view as said vehicle rides along said rails.   
     
     
         18 . The inspection system according to  claim 17 , further including a distance measuring device for determining how far along said rails said vehicle has moved while imaging said rails. 
     
     
         19 . The inspection system according to  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of cameras produces video images of said rails as said vehicle moves along said rails. 
     
     
         20 . The inspection system according to  claim 19 , further including a monitoring station, remote from said vehicle, for viewing said video images.