Amusement ride to move vehicles at least vertically

Abstract

An amusement moves vehicles at least vertically and comprises a vertical column; at least one vehicle to accommodate at least one passenger, movable at least along the vertical direction between maximum and minimum heights; a movement system for each vehicle configured to move the vehicle vertically; a control and command unit (CU) connected to the movement system; and, a pneumatic assembly comprising a cylinder and a piston which define a first chamber. The piston is connected to the vehicle to move between a maximum contraction position in which the vehicle is at the maximum height, and a maximum exposure position in which the vehicle is at the minimum height. The movement system comprises a first valve connected to the first chamber, whose opening and closing can be commanded by the control and command unit (CU) to control at least one movement of the vehicle.

1 . Amusement ride ( 1 ) to move vehicles at least vertically, comprising:
 a column ( 2 ) extending along a vertical direction (Y);   at least one vehicle ( 3 ) supported by said column ( 2 ), movable at least along said vertical direction (Y) between a maximum height (Hmax) and a minimum height (Hmin), said vehicle ( 3 ) being configured to accommodate at least one passenger;   a movement system ( 4 ) for each vehicle ( 3 ), configured to move said vehicle ( 3 ) along said vertical direction (Y);   a control and command unit (CU) operatively connected to at least said movement system ( 4 );   
       said amusement ride ( 1 ) being characterized in that said movement system ( 4 ) comprises at least one pneumatic assembly ( 5 ) comprising a cylinder ( 51 ) and a piston ( 52 ) movable within said cylinder ( 51 ), said piston ( 52 ) defining with said cylinder ( 51 ) a first chamber (C 1 ); said piston ( 52 ) being further operatively connected to said vehicle ( 3 ) so as to move between a maximum contraction position (P 1 ), in which said vehicle ( 3 ) is at the maximum height (Hmax), and a maximum exposure position (P 2 ), in which said vehicle ( 3 ) is at the minimum height (Hmin), said movement system ( 4 ) comprising a first valve (VC 1 ), which is connected to said first chamber (C 1 ), whose opening and closing can be commanded by said control and command unit (CU) to control at least one movement of said vehicle ( 3 ). 
     
     
         2 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) comprises an actuating device ( 31 ) operable by said passenger, for commanding at least one movement of the at least one vehicle ( 3 ) towards said maximum height (Hmax), said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) further comprising a sensor ( 32 ) operatively connected to said actuating device ( 31 ) and configured to detect an actuation thereof by a passenger, said sensor ( 35 ) being in communication with said control and command unit (CU). 
     
     
         3 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the movement system ( 4 ) comprises a compressor (K), in fluid communication with said first chamber (C 1 ) for injecting high pressure air into said first chamber (C 1 ) and wherein said control unit (CU) is configured to command said compressor (K) for injecting high pressure air into said first chamber (C 1 ) when the actuation of said actuating device ( 31 ) is detected by said sensor ( 35 ). 
     
     
         4 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first valve (VC 1 ) comprises a timer for commanding the opening and/or closing of said first valve (VC 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said movement system ( 4 ) comprises:
 at least one cable (F,F 1 ,F 2 ) connected, at one end thereof, to said vehicle ( 3 ) and configured to tow said vehicle ( 3 );   a fixed anchoring point (FP) connected to said cable (F) at a second end opposite said first end;   at least one first fixed idler assembly ( 6 ), configured for sliding said at least one cable (F,F 1 ,F 2 ); and   at least one second movable idler assembly ( 7 ) configured for sliding said at least one cable (F,F 1 ,F 2 );   
       wherein said piston ( 52 ) of the at least one pneumatic assembly ( 5 ) is connected to said second idler assembly ( 7 ). 
     
     
         6 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said first idler assembly ( 6 ) comprises at least one first pulley in contact with said at least one cable and/or said second idler assembly ( 7 ) comprises at least one second pulley in contact with said at least one cable (F, F 1 , F 2 ). 
     
     
         7 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said movement system ( 4 ) comprises two cables (F 1 ,F 2 ) and wherein said anchoring point (FP) comprises a tilt sensor operatively connected to said control and command unit (CU), said tilt sensor being configured to detect changes in the tilt of the anchoring point (FP) as a result, for example, of the breaking of one of the cables (F 1 ,F 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said piston ( 52 ) defines with said cylinder ( 51 ) a second chamber (C 2 ), said second chamber (C 2 ) being connected to a second valve (VC 2 ) to facilitate the air input and/or output into/from said second chamber (C 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said column ( 2 ) comprises a fixed base portion ( 21 ) and a rotating portion ( 22 ), said rotating portion ( 22 ) being configured to rotate around said vertical direction (Y). 
     
     
         10 . The amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising detecting means for detecting weight of said at least one vehicle ( 3 ), said detecting means operatively connected to said control unit (CU). 
     
     
         11 . An operating method to operate an amusement ride ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 boarding at least one passenger on said at least one vehicle ( 3 );   lifting said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) by injecting high pressure air into said first chamber (C 1 );   dropping said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) by opening said first valve (VC 1 );   stopping the drop, and bouncing the vehicle ( 3 ) by closing said first valve (VC 1 ); and   disembarking said at least one passenger from said at least one vehicle ( 3 );   
       wherein said lifting step, dropping step, drop stopping and bouncing step are repeated at least once before the disembarking step. 
     
     
         12 . The operating method according to the  claim 11 , wherein said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) comprises an actuating device ( 31 ) operable by said passenger, for commanding at least one movement of the at least one vehicle ( 3 ) towards said maximum height (Hmax), said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) further comprising a sensor ( 32 ) operatively connected to said actuating device ( 31 ) and configured to detect an actuation thereof by a passenger, said sensor ( 35 ) being in communication with said control and command unit (CU),
 and wherein said lifting step of said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) is commanded by an actuation of said actuating device ( 31 ).   
     
     
         13 . The operating method according to  claim 11  further comprising, after the boarding step of at least one passenger, a step of detecting the weight of said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) and wherein said lifting step and dropping and bouncing step are performed in accordance with said weight detecting step. 
     
     
         14 . The operating method according to  claim 11  wherein, when said at least one vehicle ( 3 ) reaches said maximum height (Hmax) during the lifting step, said drop stopping and bouncing step is carried out in the proximity of said minimum height (Hmin). 
     
     
         15 . The operating method according to  claim 11  wherein said piston ( 52 ) defines with said cylinder ( 51 ) a second chamber (C 2 ), said second chamber (C 2 ) being connected to a second valve (VC 2 ) to facilitate the air input and/or output into/from said second chamber (C 2 ), and
 further comprising, while performing the lifting step and the dropping step and the drop stopping and bouncing step, a step of rotating the movable portion ( 22 ) of said column ( 2 ).