A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a rolling degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A static universal bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.

A gap covering system for an amusement park attraction includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. The gap covering system includes a ride vehicle coupled, through the gap, to a transport. The transport is configured to propel the ride vehicle along a loading path of the loading platform. The gap covering system includes a magnetic zipper positioned adjacent to the loading platform and configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration in at least a portion of the magnetic zipper. The magnetic zipper is configured to cover the gap in the first configuration and is configured to allow the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position on the loading platform in the second configuration.

An overhead guide track system for automated material handling and storage facilities wherein at least one transfer unit is suspended from carriages that travel along the track system, and wherein the track system includes a plurality of first and second inverted T beams being assembled in an X-Y manner such that the first and second support beams intersect with one another in perpendicular relationship and wherein each of the first and second inverted T beams includes horizontal flanges connected to a central vertical web, and wherein at least one end of a plurality of the vertical webs of the first and second inverted T beams are connected to vertically oriented pedestals at a plurality of intersections of the first and second inverted T beams and which pedestals have transfer plates over which the carriages pass and through open gaps between the horizontal flanges at the intersections and the transfer plates.

An overhead guide track system for automated material handling and storage facilities wherein at least one transfer unit is suspended from carriages that travel along the track system, and wherein the track system includes a plurality of first and second inverted T beams being assembled in an X-Y manner such that the first and second support beams intersect with one another in perpendicular relationship and wherein each of the first and second inverted T beams includes horizontal flanges connected to a central vertical web, and wherein at least one end of a plurality of the vertical webs of the first and second inverted T beams are connected to vertically oriented pedestals at a plurality of intersections of the first and second inverted T beams and which pedestals have transfer plates over which the carriages pass and through open gaps between the horizontal flanges at the intersections and the transfer plates.

The embodiments herein provide an onboard track switching mechanism for a railroad vehicle to switch from one track to another. Currently available onboard railroad vehicle switching mechanisms employ complicated coordination between one or more switching wheels and complex control systems. Accordingly, system and method for enabling a railroad vehicle to switch tracks is disclosed. The system comprises a a running track that supports an automotive a switching track comprising a set of static components and a switching mechanism installed on the automotive. the switching mechanism configured for controlling the movement of one or more switching wheels such that when activated, the switching mechanism is configured to facilitate engagement of the one or more switching wheels with the switching track for carrying out a track changing operation for the automotive.

A gap covering system for an amusement park attraction includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. The gap covering system includes a ride vehicle coupled, through the gap, to a transport. The transport is configured to propel the ride vehicle along a loading path of the loading platform. The gap covering system includes a magnetic zipper positioned adjacent to the loading platform and configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration in at least a portion of the magnetic zipper. The magnetic zipper is configured to cover the gap in the first configuration and is configured to allow the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position on the loading platform in the second configuration.

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. A guardrail assembly having a plurality of guardrail units is coupled to the first portion, where the guardrail units are configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The guardrail units are configured to block access to the gap when in the first position. The ride vehicle includes an engagement feature configured to interface with an individual guardrail unit of the guardrail units to selectively transition the individual guardrail unit from the first position to the second position. The individual guardrail unit is configured to permit the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position adjacent to or on the loading platform in the second position.

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. A guardrail assembly having a plurality of guardrail units is coupled to the first portion, where the guardrail units are configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The guardrail units are configured to block access to the gap when in the first position. The ride vehicle includes an engagement feature configured to interface with an individual guardrail unit of the guardrail units to selectively transition the individual guardrail unit from the first position to the second position. The individual guardrail unit is configured to permit the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position adjacent to or on the loading platform in the second position.

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.

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. A guardrail assembly having a plurality of guardrail units is coupled to the first portion, where the guardrail units are configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The guardrail units are configured to block access to the gap when in the first position. The ride vehicle includes an engagement feature configured to interface with an individual guardrail unit of the guardrail units to selectively transition the individual guardrail unit from the first position to the second position. The individual guardrail unit is configured to permit the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position adjacent to or on the loading platform in the second position.