Abstract: A method and system is provided for moving passengers in and out of an amusement ride of the type having a passenger cabin capable of movement in multiple degrees of freedom within an enclosure. The cabin includes ingrees doors on one side of the cabin and egress doors on the other side to admit and discharge passengers from seats within the cabin. Another set of ingress and egress doors are provided on opposite sides of the enclosure in respective alignment with the ingress and egress doors of the cabin when the cabin is at rest in a loading position. A plurality of ingress and egress platforms, located outside the operating envelope of the cabin when the cabin is in motion, are adapted to be moved to a deployed position when the cabin is in the loading position to connect the ingress and egress doors of the enclosure with the ingress and egress doors of the cabin. In this way, movement of passengers in and out of the cabin, which is spaced from the enclosure, is provided in a rapid and orderly fashion.

Abstract: A figure is disclosed having a head with a back projected image to animate the facial expression of the figure. The image is back projected onto the head's face by a wide angle lens inside the head having an extremely short focal length. The lens is adjustable for focusing and image registration purposes in vertical, horizontal and lateral directions with respect to the face by a lens adjustment system also inside the head. The image is brought inside the head to the lens by a coherent fiber optic bundle having a high resolution which transfers the image from a remote image source, such as a motion picture projector. Independent movement of the head in all directions with respect to other parts of the figure is provided by a motion device. The lens adjustment system and fiber optic bundle ensure that the image always remains in proper focus and registration on the face despite free and unrestricted movement of the head by the motion device.

Abstract: A fog producing apparatus for suspending fine particles of water in air in an economical and reliable manner. Ultrasonic transducers potted in an electrically insulative and liquidproof material are placed in a container in which a predetermined water level is maintained by a float and valve device. Alternatively, the potted transducers are suspended below floats floating on the surface of the water whereby the critical water depth over the transducers is automatically maintained. In addition compressed air is conducted through the emanating fog plumes to provide a more homogeneous and dispersed fog effect. A copious amount of fog can thereby be efficiently and reliably produced to create theatrical or visual effects.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing, powering and controlling walking animatronic figures or vehicles by magnetically attracting and/or repelling the feet of such structures, using various cooperative combinations of interacting ferromagnetic plates and electromagnets to guide and stabilize the structures along a platform, as well as facilitating transformer coupling of AC power and/or command signals from the platform to the walking figure without the need for an umbilical.

Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle for travel along a trackway defined by a pair of track rails. The vehicle includes a pair of transverse frames pivotally carried by an elongated main frame, with drive wheels carried by the transverse frames in driving engagement with upper surfaces of the track rails. Up-stop or pinch wheels below the drive wheels engage under sides of the track rails. The pinch wheels are pivotally mounted to the transverse frames by strut assemblies which hold the pinch wheels in constant forcible rolling engagement with the track rails at all times. This improves the driving traction of the drive wheels and provides constant up-stop protection against separation of the vehicle from the track rails. The strut assemblies are disconnectable to enable the pinch wheels to be pivoted out of interfering relation with the track rails so that the vehicle can be lifted from the track rails for maintenance, storage or the like.