Big wheel roundabout amusement ride
A circular track may be flat or hilly. Riding on the track is a big wheel sized larger than a rider compartment. The rider compartment is supported out bound from the big wheel's axle. The big wheel's inbound axle is attached to a radius arm which is powered by a conventional rotating hub. The radius arms are pivotally connected to the hub to allow an up and down movement on a hilly track. The rider compartment has a magnetic coupler assembly to the axle to enable an automatic and/or a rider controlled head over heels spinning of the rider compartment while the big wheel is traveling in its circular path around the hub.
1. A roundabout ride comprising:
a track having a constant radius length from a central hub;
said central hub having a plurality of radius arms affixed to the hub;
said central hub having a power source to rotate the central hub;
each radius arm having an outbound end affixed to an axle of a wheel which rides on the track;
said axle of said wheel having an axle assembly including an extension which supports a rider carriage on one side of the wheel;
said axle assembly further comprising a gimbaled support for the rider carriage;
wherein the axle provides the exclusive support for the rider carriage;
wherein the rider carriage is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it; and
wherein the rider compartment is able to spin 360° either forward or backward.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the axle assembly further comprises a spin mechanism functioning to engage and disengage the rider compartment momentarily with the wheel while the wheel is traveling on the track, thereby imparting the 360° spin to the rider compartment either forward or backward.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rider can use a control mechanism to control the spin of the rider compartment.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the track has a hilly contour, and each radius arm has an inbound end, with a pivotable connection to the hub, thereby enabling the wheel to travel up and down around the track.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rider carriage supports a rider in an open seat, thereby imparting a free flight sensation to the rider.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the wheel has a diameter which is greater than a height of the rider carriage.
7. A roundabout ride comprising:
a powered central hub which provides a rotational movement to a radius arm;
said radius arm having an outbound end attached to a wheel traveling along a support surface;
said wheel having an axle assembly which supports a rider seat outbound from the wheel;
said axle assembly having a gimbaled bearing to allow the seat to rock;
wherein the axle provides the exclusive support for the rider carriage; and
wherein the rider carriage is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it; and
wherein the rider compartment is able to spin 360° either forward or backward.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the axle assembly further comprises a spin mechanism to engage the seat with the wheel to impart the 360° spin to the seat either forward or backward.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the support surface further comprises a circular track having a hilly contour.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the wheel has a diameter of greater than five feet.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the track is supported above a ground surface.
12. A roundabout ride comprising:
a track having a constant radius length from a central hub;
said central hub having a plurality of radius arms affixed to the hub;
hub;
each radius arm having an outbound end affixed to an axle of a wheel which rides on the track;
said axle of said wheel having an axle assembly including an outbound extension which supports a rider carriage and an inbound bracket which supports a self propelling motor;
said axle assembly further comprising a gimbaled support for the rider carriage;
wherein said rider carriage provides a rocking motion as the central hub rotates;
wherein the self propelling motor moves the wheel around the track;
wherein the rider carriage is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it; and
wherein the rider compartment can spin a 360° either forward or backward.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the axle assembly further comprises a spin mechanism functioning engages and disengages the rider compartment momentarily with the wheel while the wheel is traveling on the track, thereby imparting the 360° spin to the rider compartment either forward or backward.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the track has a hilly contour, and each radius arm has an inbound end, with a pivotable connection to the hub, thereby enabling the wheel to travel up and down around the track.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the rider carriage supports a rider in an open seat, thereby imparting a free flight sensation to the rider.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the wheel has a diameter which is greater than a height of the rider carriage.
17. An amusement ride comprising:
a conveyance rail and a wheel rollable over the conveyance rail;
said wheel having a hub assembly supporting a rider frame on one side of the wheel, said wheel and said hub assembly having a single axle;
said rider frame having a rider support to hold a rider during a ride;
wherein the wheel is raised to a high point of the conveyance rail assembly and released to ride along the conveyance rail as guided;
wherein the axle which provides the exclusive support for the rider frame;
wherein the rider support is suspended exclusively by the axle and has no support means beneath it; and
the rider frame can be selectively flipped around 360°.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the conveyance rail further comprises a closed loop track having a hilly contour.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the track is circular.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:
the track having a constant radius length from a central hub;
said central hub having a plurality of radius arms affixed to the hub;
said central hub having a power source to rotate the central hub; and
each radius arm having an outbound end affixed to the axle of the wheel which rides on the track.
21. An amusement ride comprising:
a conveyance rail and a large wheel rollable on the conveyance rail;
said large wheel having an axle supporting a rider frame on one side;
said axle being the exclusive support for the rider frame;
wherein the rider frame supports a holder for a rider;
wherein the rail assembly has a hoist means functioning to raise the large wheel to a high point and release it to travel down the conveyance rail;
the rider frame having a flip mechanism connected to the axle functioning to selectively engage the rider frame to the large wheel, thereby flipping the rider frame around; and
wherein the conveyance rail forms a closed loop track.
22. The amusement ride of claim 21 further comprising:
a central hub which provides a rotational movement to a radius arm;
said radius arm having an outbound end attached to the wheel.