Amusement ride

Abstract

A launched zipline amusement ride has a carrier 200 carrying a rider 202 . The carrier 200 is adapted to move along a tensioned, suspended cable 102 . A launch mechanism 300 engages with the carrier 200 between an engagement and a release position 304 to accelerate the carrier 200 along the cable 102 , and to disengage from the carrier 200 at the release position 304.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A launched zipline amusement ride comprising:
 a track line comprising a tensioned, suspended cable;   a carrier for carrying a rider, the carrier comprising a carrier trolley adapted to move along the track line;   a launch mechanism that is arranged to engage with the carrier between an engagement position and a release position to accelerate the carrier together with the rider in a first direction along the track line between the engagement position and the release position, and to disengage from the carrier at the release position to propel the carrier together with the rider along the track line in the first direction.   
     
     
         37 . The amusement ride according to  claim 36 , wherein the track line is inclined in a generally upwards direction from a lower point proximal to the release position to a higher point distal from the release position, such that the carrier is propelled by the launch mechanism toward the higher point against the force of gravity. 
     
     
         38 . The amusement ride according to  claim 37 , further comprising a catching mechanism arranged to releasably couple to the carrier as the carrier approaches the higher point. 
     
     
         39 . The amusement ride according to  claim 38 , wherein the catching mechanism is arranged to pull the carrier towards the higher point when the carrier is unable to reach the higher point under its own momentum. 
     
     
         40 . The amusement ride according to  claim 37 , wherein the carrier is released at or near the higher point to return to the lower point under gravity. 
     
     
         41 . The amusement ride according to  claim 36 , wherein the track line is inclined in a generally downwards direction from a higher point proximal to the release position to a lower point distal from the release position, such that acceleration of the carrier toward the lower point is assisted by the force of gravity. 
     
     
         42 . The amusement ride according to  claim 40 , configured to decelerate the carrier at or near the lower point. 
     
     
         43 . The amusement ride according to  claim 36 , wherein the launch mechanism comprises a driven, elongate member extending between pulleys of a pulley system, wherein the elongate member is releasably coupled to the carrier. 
     
     
         44 . The amusement ride according to  claim 43 , further comprising an energy source that is operatively connected to the elongate member to drive the elongate member. 
     
     
         45 . The amusement ride according to  claim 44 , wherein the launch mechanism comprises a launch dolly operatively connected to the driven elongate member and arranged to push the carrier along the track line in the first direction. 
     
     
         46 . The amusement ride according to  claim 45 , wherein the driven elongate member extends adjacent to a portion of the track line. 
     
     
         47 . The amusement ride according to  claim 45 , wherein the driven elongate member is suspended on a cable that extends adjacent to the track line and/or is supported by a structure. 
     
     
         48 . The amusement ride according to  claim 45 , wherein the carrier is released at or near the higher point to return to the lower point under gravity, wherein: the carrier trolley is configured to act on the launch dolly in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction such that inertia of the driven elongate member and pulley system operatively connected to the dolly decelerates the carrier. 
     
     
         49 . The amusement ride according to  claim 36 , further comprising a boost mechanism that is arranged to engage with the carrier between a boost engagement position and a boost release position to accelerate the carrier in the first direction along the track line, and to disengage from the carrier at the release position to propel the carrier along the track line in the first direction, wherein the boost engagement position is spaced apart from the release position of the launch mechanism. 
     
     
         50 . The amusement ride according to  claim 36 , wherein the launch mechanism comprises a launch dolly operatively connected to the track line and arranged to move along the track line to push the carrier along the track line in the first direction to the release position, wherein the launch dolly comprises a driving source for driving along the track line. 
     
     
         51 . The amusement ride according to  claim 45 , wherein the launch dolly is arranged to re-engage with the carrier in a braking region along the track line to decelerate the carrier in the second direction along the track line, wherein the launch dolly is arranged to be moving in the second direction at the moment of re-engagement between the launch dolly and the carrier. 
     
     
         52 . The amusement ride according to  claim 49 , wherein the launch dolly is configured to decelerate the carrier to a point on the track line where it is brought to a complete stop. 
     
     
         53 . The amusement ride according to  claim 50 , wherein the launch dolly is configured to decelerate in response to, prior to, or following re-engagement with the carrier. 
     
     
         54 . The amusement ride according to  claim 49 , wherein a sensor is provided to detect a parameter of the carrier when moving in the second direction, wherein the launch dolly is moved along the track line in the second direction in response to the parameter. 
     
     
         55 . The amusement ride of  claim 51 , wherein the sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, speed, proximity, photoelectric, pressure or position sensor to measure the parameter.