Anti-gravity attraction system with lever assembly

Abstract

An attraction system includes an arm having a first end and a second end, a passenger vessel coupled to the first end of the arm and configured to receive at least one passenger, a fulcrum engaged with the arm and disposed between the first end of the arm and the second end of the arm, and a counterweight disposed on a segment of the arm between the second end of the arm and the fulcrum, wherein the counterweight is movable across the segment of the arm. A vehicle of the attraction system is coupled to or integrated with the fulcrum, and the vehicle is configured to be moved along a vehicle path.

1 . An attraction system, comprising:
 an arm having a first end and a second end;   a passenger vessel coupled to the first end of the arm and configured to receive at least one passenger;   a fulcrum engaged with the arm and disposed between the first end of the arm and the second end of the arm;   a counterweight disposed on a segment of the arm between the second end of the arm and the fulcrum, wherein the counterweight is movable across the segment of the arm; and   a vehicle coupled to or integrated with the fulcrum, wherein the vehicle is configured to be moved along a vehicle path.   
     
     
         2 . The attraction system of  claim 1 , comprising a control system configured to control a movement of the counterweight across the segment of the arm. 
     
     
         3 . The attraction system of  claim 2 , wherein the control system comprises a manually operable controller such that the movement of the counterweight across the segment of the arm is controllable in real-time during a cycle of the attraction system. 
     
     
         4 . The attraction system of  claim 2 , wherein the movement of the counterweight across the segment of the arm is pre-programmed to the control system prior to starting a cycle of the attraction system. 
     
     
         5 . The attraction system of  claim 2 , wherein the control system is configured to control the movement of the counterweight across the segment of the arm based on:
 a speed or velocity characteristic of the passenger vessel;   an acceleration or deceleration characteristic of the passenger vessel;   a weight characteristic of the passenger vessel, the at least one passenger, or a combination thereof;   a passenger vessel position characteristic; or   a counterweight position characteristic.   
     
     
         6 . The attraction system of  claim 1 , comprising a track corresponding to the vehicle path. 
     
     
         7 . The attraction system of  claim 1 , comprising a carousel configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The attraction system of  claim 1 , comprising an actuator configured to move the counterweight across the segment of the arm, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an electronic actuator, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . An attraction system, comprising:
 an arm having a first end and a second end;   a passenger vessel coupled to the first end of the arm and configured to receive at least one passenger;   a fulcrum engaged with the arm and disposed between the first end of the arm and the second end of the arm; and   an arm path coupled to the second end of the arm and configured to enable the second end of the arm to move along the arm path, wherein movement of the second end of the arm path along the arm path is configured to impart movement to the first end of the arm and the passenger vessel.   
     
     
         10 . The attraction system of  claim 9 , wherein the fulcrum is coupled to or integrated with a vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The attraction system of  claim 10 , comprising a vehicle path along which the vehicle is configured to be moved. 
     
     
         12 . The attraction system of  claim 9 , comprising a carousel configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The attraction system of  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the arm is coupled to the arm path via a bogey. 
     
     
         14 . The attraction system of  claim 9 , comprising an arm path adjustment assembly, the arm path adjustment assembly comprising:
 a rotatable unit;   the arm path coupled to the rotatable unit; and   an additional arm path coupled to the rotatable unit, wherein the rotatable unit is configured to be rotated to enable selective engagement of the second end of the arm with the arm path and the additional arm path.   
     
     
         15 . The attraction system of  claim 9 , comprising:
 a frame structure engaged with the arm path; and   one or more actuators configured to move the arm path from a first position relative to the frame structure to a second position relative to the frame structure.   
     
     
         16 . A method of operating an attraction system, the method comprising:
 receiving a passenger in a passenger vessel coupled to a first end of an arm, wherein the arm comprises a second end opposing the first end, and the arm is engaged with a fulcrum between the first end and the second end;   controlling a movement of the second end of the arm and, by way of the fulcrum, the first end of the arm; and   controlling an additional movement of a vehicle coupled to or integrated with the fulcrum.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising controlling the movement of the second end of the arm by controlling translation of a counterweight across a segment of the arm extending between the second end of the arm and the fulcrum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising controlling the translation of the counterweight across the segment of the arm in real-time via a manually operable controller during a cycle of the attraction system. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising controlling the translation of the counterweight across the segment of the arm via a controller configured to receive pre-programmed counterweight movement instructions prior to a cycle of the attraction system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising controlling the movement of the second end of the arm via an arm path coupled to the second end of the arm and configured to guide the movement of the second end of the arm.