Ride system with vehicle support for suspension and floating operation
A ride system includes a ride vehicle made of a buoyant material configured to float in a liquid. A bogie of the ride system includes a vehicle support positioned under the ride vehicle, and the bogie is configured to travel along a track. An extender is coupled to the vehicle support and coupled to the ride vehicle. The extender is configured to transition between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration to allow the ride vehicle to float in the liquid within a range of motion relative to the vehicle support.
1 . A ride system, comprising:
a ride vehicle comprising a buoyant material configured to float in a liquid;
a bogie configured to travel along a track;
a vehicle support coupled to the bogie, wherein the ride vehicle is disposed between the vehicle support and the track; and
a plurality of extenders coupled to the vehicle support and coupled to the ride vehicle, wherein the plurality of extenders is configured to transition between a retracted configuration that retains the vehicle proximate to the vehicle support and an extended configuration that allows the ride vehicle to float in the liquid within a range of motion relative to the vehicle support, wherein a first amount of the plurality of extenders are on a first side of the ride vehicle, wherein a second amount of the plurality of extenders are on a second side of the ride vehicle, and wherein the first amount is different than the second amount.
2 . The ride system of claim 1 , wherein each extender of the plurality of extenders is individually operable to transition between respective retracted configurations and extended configurations.
3 . The ride system of claim 1 , wherein an extender of the plurality of extenders comprises a piston, which comprises a piston arm configured to transition out of a piston housing as the piston transitions from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.
4 . The ride system of claim 1 , wherein an extender of the plurality of extenders comprises a connector insert and a base receptacle, and wherein the connector insert is configured to extend into the base receptacle when the extender is in the retracted configuration.
5 . The ride system of claim 4 , comprising a flexible cable or a rigid rod moveably coupling a body of the connector insert to the base receptacle.
6 . The ride system of claim 4 , wherein the connector insert is coupled to the vehicle support and the base receptacle is coupled to the ride vehicle.
7 . The ride system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extenders is coupled to the vehicle support and the ride vehicle in a triangular arrangement, and wherein each extender of the plurality of extenders is individually operable to transition between respective retracted configurations and extended configurations such that the ride vehicle is moveable side-to-side and forward-to-backward.
8 . The ride system of claim 1 , comprising one or more actuators wherein the plurality of extenders is configured to be actuated by the one or more actuators.
9 . The ride system of claim 1 , wherein an extender of the plurality of extenders comprises an extending portion and a housing portion, and wherein the extending portion is configured to be retracted into the housing portion via a winch.
10 . The ride system of claim 1 , wherein an extender of the plurality of extenders comprises a piston arm and a piston housing, and wherein a position of the piston arm relative to the piston housing is configured to be adjusted via hydraulics.
11 . The ride system of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the ride vehicle comprises a front portion of the ride vehicle, and wherein the second side of the ride vehicle comprises a back portion of the ride vehicle.
12 . A ride system, comprising:
a ride path including a suspended portion and an aquatic portion;
a track extending along the ride path;
a bogie configured to engage with and travel along the track;
a ride vehicle positioned under the track and configured to transport riders;
a vehicle support of the bogie positioned under the ride vehicle and configured to support the ride vehicle through the suspended portion of the ride path; and
a plurality of extenders coupling the ride vehicle to the vehicle support, wherein the plurality of extenders is configured to retract and secure the ride vehicle to the vehicle support through the suspended portion of the ride path, and wherein the plurality of extenders is configured to extend and retract in response to buoyancy of the ride vehicle positioned within a liquid through the aquatic portion of the ride path, wherein a first amount of the plurality of extenders are on a first side of the ride vehicle, wherein a second amount of the plurality of extenders are on a second side of the ride vehicle, and wherein the first amount is different than the second amount.
13 . The ride system of claim 12 , wherein the bogie comprises a motion base configured to raise and lower the vehicle support relative to the track.
14 . The ride system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of extenders is configured to passively allow transitioning between respective extended configurations and respective retracted configurations.
15 . The ride system of claim 12 , comprising a plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of extenders is configured to be actuated into respective extended configurations and respective retracted configurations by the plurality of actuators.
16 . The ride system of claim 12 , comprising a locking feature configured to secure an extender of the plurality of extenders into a fixed configuration.
17 . The ride system of claim 12 , wherein an extender of the plurality of extenders comprises a piston, which includes a piston arm configured to transition into and out of a piston housing.
18 . A method of ride system operation, the method comprising:
positioning a ride vehicle into a body of a liquid using a bogie, wherein the bogie is coupled to a track via a wheel assembly and configured to travel along the track, and the bogie is coupled to the ride vehicle via a ride vehicle support, which is coupled to the ride vehicle via a plurality of extenders, wherein a first amount of the plurality of extenders are on a first side of the ride vehicle, wherein a second amount of the plurality of extenders are on a second side of the ride vehicle, and wherein the first amount is different than the second amount;
transitioning at least one extender of the plurality of extenders from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration as the ride vehicle becomes buoyant in the liquid; and
allowing the ride vehicle to move within a motion envelope defined by the retracted configuration and the extended configuration as the ride vehicle experiences buoyant forces in the liquid, wherein the extended configuration positions the ride vehicle closer to the track and the wheel assembly as compared to the retracted configuration.
19 . The method of ride system operation of claim 18 , comprising lifting the ride vehicle out of the liquid by moving the bogie.
20 . The method of ride system operation of claim 19 , wherein lifting the ride vehicle causes the at least one extender of the plurality of extenders to transition to a fully retracted configuration.