Abstract: A track switching element for providing a ride experience in an amusement ride that includes a pivotable track section that has a longitudinally extending support beam with a longitudinally extending upper surface, a first end and a second end, the support beam includes a pivot element located between the first end and the second end, and a longitudinally extending rail that is adapted to receive a vehicle and that is located adjacent the upper surface. The rail communicates with an entry rail section when the pivotable track section is in a first position. A support structure cooperates with the pivot element such that the pivotable track section is pivotable about the pivot element from the first position to at least a second position such that the rail communicates with an exit rail section in the second position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport system, comprising a transport track (9), made of at least one rail, at least one vehicle to be transported and a rolling device, whereby said vehicle, provided with the rolling device, has a rolling resistance on said rail, said transport track comprises several descending sections (14?, 14?, 14??), having a descending gradient which is sufficient to increase the rolling resistance and insufficient to generate a continuous acceleration of the vehicle on the rail and ascending sections (12?, 12?, 12??) and whereby the transport track has a course, along which no vehicle at a point is lifted higher than the altitude of said vehicle at this point on a transport track with a single descending section, having the aforementioned gradient.

Abstract: The toy vehicle track board has a lateral extent which can be square, oval or circular, with a lateral extent or diameter of 15″ to 60″, one preferred diameter being 30″, a thickness of ⅛″ to ¾″, one preferred thickness being {fraction (5/16)}″ and at least one track in the board extending at least partially around the board and having a depth between ⅙″ and ½″, one preferred depth being {fraction (3/16)}″.

Abstract: A process and a device for the control and/or regulation of a wagon body tilt system (1) for a railed vehicle, e.g., a train. Limit values with respect to comfort are taken into consideration for this purpose. In an equivalent way, these limit values preset a comfort scale for a rail camber or tilt (.phi..sub.c) as desired tilt values (.phi..sub.desired, .phi..sub.des. Speed, .phi..sub.des. accel.) for the control and/or regulation of a wagon body (2) as relevant value based on the system limits and permit a subsequent regulation within the adjustment system (4) of the wagon body (2) only within these limits. If at least one limit value for comfort and/or parameters describing the system is exceeded, these desired tilt values (.phi..sub.desired, .phi..sub.des. speed, .phi..sub.des. accel.) are then adapted by taking into account this at least one exceeded limit value and are converted to adapted desired tilt values (.phi.'.sub.desired, .phi.'.sub.des. speed, .phi.'.sub.des. accel.

Abstract: A cushioned braking system for cushioning the impact of a moving vehicle for amusement for children. The braking system comprises a double ended air cylinder having a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end. A first head member and a second head member close the first and second cylinder ends, respectively. A first piston rod extends axially outward from the cylinder through the first head member. A first piston is on the first piston rod within the cylinder. A second piston rod extends axially outward from the cylinder through the second head member. A second piston is on the second piston rod within the cylinder. A spring assembly resiliently connects the first piston to the second piston within the cylinder. The spring assembly serves to bias the first and second pistons toward a reference position. The cylinder also has a vent for controlling air flow within the cylinder.

Abstract: A trolley includes a track having first and second ends. A pivot is located between the first and second ends of the track so that movement of the first end of the track causes opposite movement of the second end of the track. A counterweight is located near the first end of the track so as to apply downward force. A trolley is movable along a portion of the track located between the pivot and the second end of the track. The trolley has a handle or carriage for a user. The combined weight of the user and the trolley overcomes the counterweight so as to move the second end of the track downward causing the trolley to move along the track toward the second end of the track. The counterforce is sufficient to move the second end of the track upward and to return the trolley to the starting position when the weight of the user is released from the trolley. The trolley moves between a first platform located near the starting position and a second platform lower than the first platform.

Abstract: To provide a railroad car design that allows the car to travel at high speeds over current roadbeds at very low fuel costs per mile a special rail is formed. This rail has the form of a wave shaped on its top with the troughs and crests of the wave repeating themselves every several feet apart continuously down both tracks for the whole distance of the railroad. When a wheel of this multi-wheeled car comes over the crest of a wave it has encountered as it moves down this wave formed track, the wheel immediately begins supporting its computer calculated portion of the weight of the car on a cushion of air pressure forced into its supporting air cylinder at that moment and rolls down the face of the wave in its desired direction of travel.

Abstract: A cable conveyance having a storage region for garaging the carriers which an be decoupled from the transport cable. The carriers are displaced along a transport rail to the storage regions by a reversible drive and are permitted to move by gravity along storage rails into this region or by positively tilting these storage rails back to the transport rail to return to the cable. Thus within the storage region the displacement of the carriers is by gravity only and there is no need to provide a special drive for entrainment of the carriers along the storage rails.