Moving system for vehicles of an amusement ride and method for operating such a moving system

Abstract

Moving system ( 1 ) for at least one vehicle ( 50 ) of an amusement ride ( 100 ), the moving system ( 1 ) comprising a support structure ( 2 ) which is fixed to the ground or to a base platform, at least one pivoting arm ( 10′, 10″; 20′, 20 ″) coupled to said support structure ( 2 ) to pivot around a pivot axis (A 1 ′, A 1 ″; A 2 ′, A 2 ″) with respect to the support structure ( 2 ), and at least one movable rail portion ( 3 ) for supporting the vehicle ( 50 ), constrained to said at least one pivoting arm ( 10′, 10″; 20′, 20 ″), wherein said at least one pivoting arm ( 10′, 10″; 20′, 20 ″) is pivoted to perform one or more oscillations for moving said movable rail portion ( 3 ) supporting the at least one vehicle ( 50 ) from a first position P 1 wherein said rail portion ( 3 ) is in connection with said first fixed rail portion ( 101 ).

1 . A moving system ( 1 ) for at least one vehicle ( 50 ) of an amusement ride ( 100 ), the moving system ( 1 ) comprising
 a support structure ( 2 ) fixed to the ground or to a base platform,   at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) coupled to said support structure ( 2 ) to pivot around a pivot axis (A 1 ′, A 1 ″; A 2 ′, A 2 ″) with respect to the support structure ( 2 ), and   at least one movable rail portion ( 3 ) for supporting the vehicle ( 50 ),   constrained to said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″), wherein said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) is pivoted to perform one or more oscillations for moving said movable rail portion ( 3 ) supporting the at least one vehicle ( 50 ) from a first position (P 1 ) wherein said rail portion ( 3 ) is in connection with a first fixed rail portion ( 101 ) of the amusement ride ( 100 ).   
     
     
         2 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein after said one or more oscillations said movable rail portion ( 3 ) supporting the at least one vehicle ( 50 ), reaches at least one second position (P 2 ) wherein said rail portion ( 3 ) is in connection with a second fixed rail portion ( 102 ) of the amusement ride ( 100 ). 
     
     
         3 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising at least a pair of pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″), constrained to opposite sides of said movable rail portion ( 3 ) with respect to its longitudinal axis (X). 
     
     
         4 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising two pairs of pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″), wherein the pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) of each pair of pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) are constrained to opposite sides of said movable rail portion ( 3 ) with respect to its longitudinal axis (X). 
     
     
         5 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 4  wherein said pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) of said at least one pair of pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″), opposed to each other, are pivotable around the respective pivot axes (A 1 ′, A 1 ″; A 2 ′, A 2 ″) in parallel planes. 
     
     
         6 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said movable rail portion ( 3 ) is rotatably constrained to the at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) at a respective at least one rotation axis (A 3 ′, A 3 ″; A 4 ′, A 4 ″) of the movable rail portion ( 3 ) with respect to said at least one arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″). 
     
     
         7 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one oscillation of the at least one arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) around the respective pivot axis (A 1 ′, A 1 ″; A 2 ′, A 2 ″) with respect to said support structure ( 2 ), results in the rotation of said movable rail portion ( 3 ) around the rotation axis (A 3 ′, A 3 ″; A 4 ′, A 4 ″) of the movable rail portion ( 3 ) with respect to said at least one arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″). 
     
     
         8 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one oscillation of the at least one arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) with respect to said support structure ( 2 ), results in said movable rail portion ( 3 ) rotating around the at least one rotation axis (A 3 ′, A 3 ″; A 4 ′, A 4 ″) in order to maintain its longitudinal axis (X) parallel with respect to the ground. 
     
     
         9 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) is pivoted to perform one or more oscillations with an angle equal to or less than 180° starting from the resting position (P 1 ) of the moving system ( 1 ). 
     
     
         10 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said movable rail portion ( 3 ) is connected to said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) such that a longitudinal axis (X) of said movable rail portion ( 3 ) is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis (A 1 ′, A 1 ″; A 2 ′, A 2 ″) of the at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″). 
     
     
         11 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) is pivoted to perform one or more oscillations for moving said movable rail portion ( 3 ) supporting the at least one vehicle ( 50 ) at least between said first position (P 1 ) and a second position (P 2 ), wherein said first position (P 1 ) and said second position (P 2 ) are disposed at different heights (h 1 , h 2 ) with respect to the ground, said second position (P 2 ) arranged at a height (h 2 ) greater than the height (h 1 ) of said first position (P 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , said method comprising the following steps:
 (a) moving at least one vehicle ( 50 ) from a first fixed rail portion ( 101 ) to said movable rail portion ( 3 ),   (b) pivoting said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) to perform one or more oscillations for moving said movable rail portion ( 3 ) supporting the at least one vehicle ( 50 ) from a first position (P 1 ) wherein said rail portion ( 3 ) is in connection with said first fixed rail portion ( 101 ).   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein after said one or more oscillations in said step (b), said movable rail portion ( 3 ) supporting the at least one vehicle ( 50 ) reaches at least one second position (P 2 ) wherein said rail portion ( 3 ) is in connection with said second fixed rail portion ( 102 ). 
     
     
         14 . An amusement ride ( 100 ) comprising at least one first fixed rail portion ( 101 ) and at least one second fixed rail portion ( 102 ) and at least one moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said moving system ( 1 ) moves at least one vehicle ( 50 ) at least between said first fixed rail portion ( 101 ) and said second fixed rail portion ( 102 ).   
     
     
         15 . The amusement ride according to  claim 14 , wherein said first position is located at a position of the ride comprising means for embarking and/or disembarking passengers. 
     
     
         16 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , comprising two pairs of pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″),
 wherein the pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) of each pair of pivoting arms ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) are constrained to opposite sides of said movable rail portion ( 3 ) with respect to its longitudinal axis (X) and are pivotable around the respective pivot axes (A 1 ′, A 1 ″; A 2 ′, A 2 ″) in parallel planes. 
 
     
     
         17 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said movable rail portion ( 3 ) is rotatably constrained to the at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) at a respective at least one rotation axis (A 3 ′, A 3 ″; A 4 ′, A 4 ″) of the movable rail portion ( 3 ) with respect to said at least one arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) and wherein the at least one oscillation of the at least one arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) around the respective pivot axis (A 1 ′, A 1 ″; A 2 ′, A 2 ″) with respect to said support structure ( 2 ), results in rotation of said movable rail portion ( 3 ) around the rotation axis (A 3 ′, A 3 ″; A 4 ′, A 4 ″) of the movable rail portion ( 3 ) with respect to said at least one arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″). 
     
     
         18 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) is pivoted to perform one or more oscillations with an angle equal to or less than 180° starting from the resting position (P 1 ) of the moving system ( 1 ). 
     
     
         19 . The moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one pivoting arm ( 10 ′,  10 ″;  20 ′,  20 ″) is pivoted to perform one or more oscillations for moving said movable rail portion ( 3 ) supporting the at least one vehicle ( 50 ) at least between said first position (P 1 ) and a second position (P 2 ), wherein said first position (P 1 ) and said second position (P 2 ) are disposed at different heights (h 1 , h 2 ) with respect to the ground, said second position (P 2 ) arranged at a height (h 2 ) greater than the height (h 1 ) of said first position (P 1 ). 
     
     
         20 . An amusement ride ( 100 ) comprising at least one first fixed rail portion ( 101 ) and at least one second fixed rail portion ( 102 ) and at least one moving system ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein said moving system ( 1 ) moves at least one vehicle ( 50 ) at least between said first fixed rail portion ( 101 ) and said second fixed rail portion ( 102 ), said first position located at a position of the ride comprising means for embarking and/or disembarking passengers.