Combination giant swing and rolling carriage amusement ride

Abstract

A combination amusement ride including an elevated track, a first passenger carriage that rides along the track, and a second passenger carriage that swings from the track or a structure supporting the track. The first passenger carriage typically includes a frame that rides along the track and seat portion that is pivotally coupled to the frame. In addition, the at least one rapid-winding winch typically propels the first passenger carriage along the track. The rapid-winding winch typically includes a power unit, a toothed rack coupled to the power unit, a pinion gear having teeth engaged with the teeth of the toothed rack, an axel having a first diameter coupled to the pinion gear, a drum having a second diameter that is significantly greater then the first diameter coupled to the axel, and a cable wound around the drum and attached to a passenger carriage.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . An amusement ride, comprising: 
 an elevated track;    a first passenger carriage that rides along the track; and    a second passenger carriage that swings from the track or a structure supporting the track.    
     
     
         2 . The amusement ride of  claim 1 , wherein the first passenger carriage includes a frame that rides along the track and seat portion that is pivotally coupled to the frame.  
     
     
         3 . The amusement ride of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rapid-winding winch coupled to the first passenger carriage.  
     
     
         4 . The amusement ride of  claim 3 , wherein the rapid-winding winch comprises: 
 a power unit;    a toothed rack coupled to the power unit;    a pinion gear having teeth engaged with the teeth of the toothed rack;    an axel having a first diameter coupled to the pinion gear;    a drum having a second diameter that is significantly greater then the first diameter coupled to the axel:    a cable wound around the drum and attached to a passenger carriage;    whereby operating the power unit to drive the toothed rack causes the cable to be wound onto the drum under the influence of a mechanical advantage comprising the difference between the respect diameters of the axel and drum and to thereby launch the passenger carriage to effect an amusement ride.    
     
     
         5 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 4 , wherein the power unit comprises an elastic member and a charging system.  
     
     
         6 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 5 , wherein the charging system a hydraulic cylinder and the elastic member comprises a plurality of coil springs.  
     
     
         7 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the coil springs are concentrically received with in sleeves.  
     
     
         8 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 7 , wherein the charging system compresses the coil springs to charge the springs with energy for launching the amusement ride carriage.  
     
     
         9 . An amusement ride launching system comprising: 
 a power unit;    a toothed rack coupled to the power unit;    a pinion gear having teeth engaged with the teeth of the toothed rack;    an axel having a first diameter coupled to the pinion gear;    a drum having a second diameter that is significantly greater then the first diameter coupled to the axel:    a cable wound around the drum and attached to a passenger carriage;    whereby operating the power unit to drive the toothed rack causes the cable to be wound onto the drum under the influence of a mechanical advantage comprising the difference between the respect diameters of the axel and drum and to thereby launch the passenger carriage to effect an amusement ride.    
     
     
         10 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 9 , wherein the power unit comprises an elastic member and a charging system.  
     
     
         11 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 10 , wherein the charging system a hydraulic cylinder.  
     
     
         12 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic member comprises a plurality of coil springs.  
     
     
         13 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 12 , wherein the a plurality of the coil springs are concentrically received with in sleeves.  
     
     
         14 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 13 , wherein the charging system compresses the coil springs to charge the springs with energy for launching the amusement ride carriage.  
     
     
         15 . A combination amusement ride comprising: 
 a giant swing amusement ride supported by a tower; and    a rolling carriage amusement ride comprising a passenger carriage riding on a track supported by the tower.    
     
     
         16 . The combination amusement ride further comprising a comprising at least one rapid-winding winch for propelling the passenger carriage along the track of the rolling carriage ride.  
     
     
         17 . The amusement ride of  claim 16 , wherein the rapid-winding winch comprises: 
 a power unit;    a toothed rack coupled to the power unit;    a pinion gear having teeth engaged with the teeth of the toothed rack;    an axel having a first diameter coupled to the pinion gear;    a drum having a second diameter that is significantly greater then the first diameter coupled to the axel:    a cable wound around the drum and attached to the passenger carriage;    whereby operating the power unit to drive the toothed rack causes the cable to be wound onto the drum under the influence of a mechanical advantage comprising the difference between the respect diameters of the axel and drum and to thereby launch the passenger carriage to effect an amusement ride.    
     
     
         18 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the power unit comprises an elastic member and a charging system; and    the elastic member comprises a plurality of coil springs.    
     
     
         19 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 18 , wherein the a plurality of the coil springs are concentrically received with in sleeves.  
     
     
         20 . The amusement ride launching system of  claim 19 , wherein the charging system compresses the coil springs to charge the springs with energy for launching the amusement ride carriage.