An inspection system for inspecting the track of an amusement ride with at least one rail. A vehicle is provided that is designed to ride along the track. The vehicle supports cameras. The cameras are positioned in unobstructed areas. The cameras image the rail from different angles as the vehicle rides along the track. The images recorded by the cameras are reviewed to identify any defect or issue with the rail or its supporting framework that may impact from the safety of the ride.

A tower ride is disclosed with suspended cars mounted on rails that that forms track that is a complete double helix path for the car without having to turn the car or switch tracks. The car is suspended from a four truss track, riding on the two bottom rails for stability. Another embodiment is a roller coaster track mounted on a tower.

A tower ride is disclosed with suspended cars mounted on rails that that forms track that is a complete double helix path for the car without having to turn the car or switch tracks. The car is suspended from a four truss track, riding on the two bottom rails for stability. Another embodiment is a roller coaster track mounted on a tower.

In a rollercoaster trigger system to output a data signal to a control unit for triggering and controlling an event at a predetermined track position, a beacon plate with a certain aperture pattern and a sensor set is provided to send a trigger signal and a data signal to the control unit. The sensor set includes a first and a second trigger sensor which provide together the trigger signal to readout the data of the beacon plate when together simultaneously detecting a first and second trigger aperture of the aperture pattern. A read sensor is provided for reading data from the aperture pattern by detecting a presence or absence of a read aperture. The data signal is obtained by the control unit when the trigger signal is generated.

A braking system for slideway guided amusement vehicles providing both manual and automatic braking for the slideway guided amusement vehicles is provided. The braking system includes at least one brake handle, a first shaft fixed to the at least one brake handle, a first gear concentrically positioned on and free to spin independently of the first shaft, an actuator fixed to the first shaft for providing a linear motion to a stop pin, an inlet opening on the first gear for receiving the stop pin, a second gear coupled to the first gear, concentrically fixed on a second shaft for mounting spinnably and extending horizontally to a chassis of a vehicle, at least one friction member attached to the second shaft, a tensioning means, and a control unit adapted to remove the stop pin from the inlet opening via the actuator.

A braking system for slideway guided amusement vehicles providing both manual and automatic braking for the slideway guided amusement vehicles is provided. The braking system includes at least one brake handle, a first shaft fixed to the at least one brake handle, a first gear concentrically positioned on and free to spin independently of the first shaft, an actuator fixed to the first shaft for providing a linear motion to a stop pin, an inlet opening on the first gear for receiving the stop pin, a second gear coupled to the first gear, concentrically fixed on a second shaft for mounting spinnably and extending horizontally to a chassis of a vehicle, at least one friction member attached to the second shaft, a tensioning means, and a control unit adapted to remove the stop pin from the inlet opening via the actuator.

A water ride system with a flume that includes one or more sections in which a raft is unguided (except with flume sidewalls) to provide a dynamic experience with side-to-side movement and rotation. Further, the flume is configured to include one or more controlled or guided sections in which a raft is funneled or directed into a keyed guided portion of the ride path and then later released into one of uncontrolled or unguided sections of the flume. A raft includes a keyed guide assembly, mounted upon a lower surface of the raft body, that includes a pair of spaced apart guide members. In a guiding subsection of the flume, the bottom wall or lower surface of the flume includes a raised portion that includes a guideway or groove for receiving the guide assembly, whereby the raft has it directional and rotational movements guided in the flume.

A water ride system with a flume that includes one or more sections in which a raft is unguided (except with flume sidewalls) to provide a dynamic experience with side-to-side movement and rotation. Further, the flume is configured to include one or more controlled or guided sections in which a raft is funneled or directed into a keyed guided portion of the ride path and then later released into one of uncontrolled or unguided sections of the flume. A raft includes a keyed guide assembly, mounted upon a lower surface of the raft body, that includes a pair of spaced apart guide members. In a guiding subsection of the flume, the bottom wall or lower surface of the flume includes a raised portion that includes a guideway or groove for receiving the guide assembly, whereby the raft has it directional and rotational movements guided in the flume.

A ride system includes a tunnel, a vehicle ride path, a ride vehicle, and a projection system. The tunnel includes a first end and a second end and is curved between the first and second ends. The vehicle ride path extends within the tunnel from an entrance at the first end of the tunnel to an intermediate position within the tunnel. The second end of the tunnel is not visible from the intermediate position. The ride vehicle travels along the vehicle ride path and decelerates as the ride vehicle approaches the intermediate position. The projection system projects images onto one or more walls of the tunnel, such that the images are synchronized with the deceleration of the ride vehicle and a perceived speed of the ride vehicle, as perceived by a guest in the ride vehicle, exceeds an actual speed of the ride vehicle.

A ride system includes a tunnel, a vehicle ride path, a ride vehicle, and a projection system. The tunnel includes a first end and a second end and is curved between the first and second ends. The vehicle ride path extends within the tunnel from an entrance at the first end of the tunnel to an intermediate position within the tunnel. The second end of the tunnel is not visible from the intermediate position. The ride vehicle travels along the vehicle ride path and decelerates as the ride vehicle approaches the intermediate position. The projection system projects images onto one or more walls of the tunnel, such that the images are synchronized with the deceleration of the ride vehicle and a perceived speed of the ride vehicle, as perceived by a guest in the ride vehicle, exceeds an actual speed of the ride vehicle.