Abstract: A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.

Abstract: A passenger restraint device of a fairground ride passenger unit, having a passenger space, includes a position-adjustable restraint element and a lockable hydraulic adjuster which acts on the restraint element. The lockable hydraulic adjuster has a cylinder-piston unit and a hydraulic accumulator. The hydraulic accumulator and the cylinder-piston unit of the hydraulic adjuster form a structural unit with a cylinder of the cylinder-piston unit and a cylinder of the hydraulic accumulator arranged next to and parallel to each other as part of the integrated cylinder assembly. A common closure cover is provided on each end face of the integrated cylinder assembly. Please replace the specification with the attached substitute specification. A marked-up and clean version of the amended specification is submitted herewith.

Abstract: An apparatus for an amusement park includes a bogie system positioned on a track. The bogie system directs motion along the track. The apparatus also includes an arm extending radially outward from the bogie system. The arm is rotatably coupled to a body of the bogie system. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a vehicle positioned on the arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic spin control includes a main chassis, a passenger chassis, a circular magnetic array, and a chassis-mounted fin. The main chassis is configured to ride on a track. The passenger chassis is rotatably supported on the main chassis and the passenger chassis is configured to support one or more passengers. The circular magnetic array is coupled to the passenger chassis such that the passenger chassis rotates with the circular magnetic array. The chassis-mounted fin is coupled to the main chassis and extends into a magnetic field of the circular magnetic array. The chassis-mounted fin includes a conductive material and operates as an eddy current brake to dampen rotation of the passenger chassis with respect to the main chassis. The chassis-mounted fin extends into the magnetic field and leaves at least a portion of the magnetic field unobstructed to allow a track-mounted fin to pass into the magnetic field.

Abstract: A mobile unit for transportation of at least one passenger comprises a car accommodating this passenger and an assembly device for fitting this car on a mobile support in rotary manner with respect to a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The assembly device comprises a single first crown rigidly secured to the car and assembled by a bearing to a second crown performing securing to the mobile support.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a control unit configured to be disposed on-board at least one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle. The control unit also is configured to receive an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle traveling in a transportation network. The control unit also is configured to change a speed of said at least one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated time to arrive at the event. A method is provided that includes, at one of a first vehicle or a second vehicle, receiving an updated time of an event involving the first vehicle and the second vehicle in a transportation network. The method also includes changing a speed of said one of the first vehicle or the second vehicle in response to the updated tune to arrive at the event.

Abstract: An animal entertainment device comprises a guide unit and a wheel that travels on the guide unit.

Abstract: A motion platform for use in a simulator comprising linear slides providing surge and sway, and a rotary table providing yaw. A payload carrying platform is mounted on the rotary table via three bell cranks to provide heave, pitch and roll.

Abstract: A mobile unit for transportation of at least one passenger comprises a car accommodating this passenger and an assembly device for fitting this car on a mobile support in rotary manner with respect to a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The assembly device comprises a single first crown rigidly secured to the car and assembled by a bearing to a second crown performing securing to the mobile support.

Abstract: An amusement park ride adapted for fully rotating a passenger compartment in response to vehicle motion along a guide track. The ride includes a vehicle chassis that engages the guide track and travels along the ride path during operation of the ride. The ride further includes a cam-based positioning assembly that is supported by the vehicle chassis to move with it along the guide track. The positioning assembly operates in response to being moved along the guide track to rotate the passenger compartment. The positioning assembly rotates the passenger compartment in counterclockwise and clockwise directions to provide 360-degree rotation. The positioning assembly includes a cam shaft with three cam follower pairs offset along the shaft and extending outward from the shaft at angular offsets, and three cam rails are used to selectively position the followers to rotate the cam shaft and set the position of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A ride system is provided that allows selective relative positioning of vehicles in an amusement or theme park ride to simulate racing or other effects. The ride system includes a chassis that is adapted to be supported by and to travel on or along a length of track of a particular ride. A support is attached to the chassis and moves with the chassis during operation of the ride. The ride system includes first and second passenger vehicles that are spaced apart on and supported by the support. A drive assembly is linked to the support and configured to rotate the support about its central axis. During support rotation, the first and second vehicles are moved concurrently relative to the track to alter their relative positioning. The vehicles are each rotated about an axis that extends parallel to the rotation axis, and the rotation may be independent or concurrent.

Abstract: A carriage assembly for mounting to a track following a curvilinear path, said assembly comprising a trolley mountable to said track through a track engagement assembly, an orientation of the trolley varying with an orientation of the track; a carriage rotationally mounted to the trolley, such that the carriage is free to rotate about two axes relative to the trolley, wherein rotation about the two axes maintains the carriage in a horizontal orientation independent of the orientation of the track.

Abstract: A ride system is provided that allows selective relative positioning of vehicles in an amusement or theme park ride to simulate racing or other effects. The ride system includes a chassis that is adapted to be supported by and to travel on or along a length of track of a particular ride. A support is attached to the chassis and moves with the chassis during operation of the ride. The ride system includes first and second passenger vehicles that are spaced apart on and supported by the support. A drive assembly is linked to the support and configured to rotate the support about its central axis. During support rotation, the first and second vehicles are moved concurrently relative to the track to alter their relative positioning. The vehicles are each rotated about an axis that extends parallel to the rotation axis, and the rotation may be independent or concurrent.

Abstract: Playground equipment comprising a revolving ring for standing or sitting on is according to the invention composed of ring segments (1) which are connected by means of connecting pieces (2) for forming a closed ring. The revolving ring is mounted somewhat above the base by means of legs (3) and by adapting the length of the legs, an inclined revolving plane may be obtained. The structure itself comprises a stationary ring (5, 6) on which a revolving ring (4) provided with wheels or rolls (9, 10) may roll. The revolving ring (1) fits tightly about the stationary part of the playground equipment and it is not possible to separate the parts apart once the playground equipment has been assembled and held together by means of locking rings (12).

Abstract: A roller coaster ride comprising a carriage adapted for travel along a track in a predetermined direction and a plurality of seats interconnected to and positioned exteriorly from the carriage. The seats are capable of 360 degree rotation about a longitudinal axis which extends perpendicular to the direction of travel. The seats may further be spaced apart from the carriage in a downward direction by a central arm and perpendicular to said direction of travel.

Abstract: A roller coaster ride comprising a carriage adapted for travel along a track in a predetermined direction and a plurality of seats interconnected to and positioned exteriorly from the carriage. The seats are capable of 360 degree rotation about a longitudinal axis which extends perpendicular to the direction of travel. The seats may further be spaced apart from the carriage in a downward direction by a central arm and perpendicular to said direction of travel.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod at least one of which are attached to each side of a carriage that travels along a track. The pods are each mounted to the carriage for 360° that are interconnected to the side walls of a carriage that rides along a track in a predetermined direction of travel. One or more riders sit and are restrained in the pods which are capable of spinning 360 degrees about a horizontal axis that extends transverse to the direction of travel. The riders may control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod at least one of which are attached to each side of a carriage that travels along a track. The pods are each mounted to the carriage for 360° that are interconnected to the side walls of a carriage that rides along a track in a predetermined direction of travel. One or more riders sit and are restrained in the pods which are capable of spinning 360 degrees about a horizontal axis that extends transverse to the direction of travel. The riders may control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod, in which one or more riders sit and are restrained, and which spins under power about a horizontal axis according to the passenger's active control. The riders control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod. The modularized pod may be used in conjunction with many different types of amusement devices, including, but not limited to roller coasters, carrousels, Ferris wheels, virtual reality units, centrifugal tumblers. The modularized pod may also be used in conjunction with flight and space training and simulation units.

Abstract: A method of controlling a dispensing system, having a robot that moves along a motion segment and applies a material to a workpiece, automatically determines a backup distance for the robot after an error has occurred during the dispensing of a first portion of the material. The backup distance is based on an operational speed of the robot. The robot is relocated to a backup position based on this backup distance to ensure that the robot reaches the operational speed at least by a time that the robot reaches a re-application position. The re-application position is at or near where the application of the first portion of the material ended. Therefore, gaps, overlaps, and puddles in the material on the workpiece are prevented.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod, in which one or more riders sit and are restrained, and which spins under power about a horizontal axis according to the passenger's active control. The riders control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod. The modularized pod may be used in conjunction with many different types of amusement devices, including, but not limited to roller coasters, carrousels, Ferris wheels, virtual reality units, centrifugal tumblers. The modularized pod may also be used in conjunction with flight and space training and simulation units.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod, in which one or more riders sit and are restrained, and which spins under power about a horizontal axis according to the passenger's active control. The riders control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod. The modularized pod may be used in conjunction with many different types of amusement devices, including, but not limited to roller coasters, carousels, Ferris wheels, virtual reality units, centrifugal tumblers. The modularized pod may also be used in conjunction with flight and space training and simulation units.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod, in which one or more riders sit and are restrained, and which spins under power about a horizontal axis according to the passenger's active control. The riders control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod. The modularized pod may be used in conjunction with many different types of amusement devices, including, but not limited to roller coasters, carrousels, Ferris wheels, virtual reality units, centrifugal tumblers. The modularized pod may also be used in conjunction with flight and space training and simulation units.

Abstract: A roller coaster or amusement park ride. The roller coaster comprises a track system capable of any directional travel, including horizontal, vertical, angled, curved, curvilinear, and retrograde directions. A carriage in which passengers reside is rotatable about the track system, either by programming or by passenger activation, providing for additional freedom of movement. The roller coaster may have a track through a clear tube (e.g., surrounded by water) and multiple, independent rides supported by the same support structure, providing increased excitement for the passengers.

Abstract: An amusement ride car is disclosed as having a pair of driving propellers mounted at the rear of the car operating in the manner of an air boat. The propellers are driven individually, and each is arranged for forward and reverse directional rotation thereby permitting the forward and reverse movement of the car as well as turning movement thereof when opposite rotation is effected. The car can be supported for near frictional movement upon a riding platform by means of water, caster wheels, or the combination thereof, or by means of air flotation principles. Rotational speed of the propellers, and their direction of rotation, is under control of control devices made available for one of the passengers.

Abstract: A car of a funicular railway with track sections of different gradients, having a compartment suspended from a hanger arm supported by a carriage. A jack keeps the compartment horizontal, whatever the gradient.

Abstract: A train system includes(a) a train car,(b) a support for the car adapted to be guided along a rail having variable angular tilt along its length and relative to horizontal, whereby the support assumes the tilt of the rail, and(c) a gimbal coupled between the car and support to accommodate rotation of the support relative to the car as the car travels lengthwise of and along the rail, whereby the car remains upright despite variable tilting of the rail along which the car travels.

Abstract: A train system includes(a) a train car,(b) a support for the car adapted to be guided along a rail having variable angular tilt along its length and relative to horizontal, whereby the support assumes the tilt of the rail, and(c) a gimbal coupled between the car and support to accommodate rotation of the support relative to the car as the car travels lengthwise of and along the rail, whereby the car remains upright despite variable tilting of the rail along which the car travels.

Abstract: An amusement device comprises a rider propelled rotatable riding device, such as a roundabout or merry-go-round, on which one or more riders propel themselves in a circular path. The device has two concentric vertically undulating tracks of different radii, such that they constitute inner and outer tracks. The undulations preferably are 180.degree. out of phase on the respective tracks. A rotatable structure is mounted for rotation concentrically with respect to the track, and carries a pair of freely rotatable wheels generally vertically movable for rolling along the undulating surfaces of the respective tracks.