US 12,179,123 B2
Park ride with drop swing propulsion
Kristopher M. Laffin, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to Disney Enterprises, Inc., Burbank, CA (US)
Filed by DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC., Burbank, CA (US)
Filed on May 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/322,466.
Prior Publication US 2022/0362682 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. A63G 31/02 (2006.01); A63G 21/00 (2006.01); A63G 27/00 (2006.01)
CPC A63G 31/02 (2013.01) [A63G 21/00 (2013.01); A63G 27/00 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A park ride for propelling a vehicle using a combined drop and swing motion, comprising:
a passenger vehicle configured for rolling upon track components defining a ride path;
a load-in track section in the ride path engaging and supporting the passenger vehicle at a first elevation while the vehicle travels in a first direction along the ride path;
a linkage track section; and
a linkage assembly coupled to the linkage track section, wherein the linkage assembly first operates to position the linkage track section in a first position at the first elevation that is adjacent the load-in track section to receive and support the passenger vehicle and second operates to drop and swing the linkage track section with the passenger vehicle to a second position, at a second elevation less than the first elevation by a predefined amount, from which the passenger vehicle is released from the load-in track with energy generated by the drop and swing of the linkage track section, wherein the linkage assembly is rotated through a rotation angle to drop and swing the linkage track section from the first elevation to the second elevation while retaining the linkage track section in a horizontal plane during the drop and swing movement.