Patent ID: 8517848
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: A63G

Abstract:
1. A carousel ride, comprising: an inner ring assembly comprising a first ring supporting a number of rider conveyance elements and a drive system operable to rotate the first ring about a center axis of the carousel ride; and an outer ring assembly comprising a second ring, concentric to the first ring, supporting a number of rider conveyance elements and a drive system operable to rotate the second ring about a center axis of the carousel ride, wherein the inner ring assembly or the outer ring assembly further comprises a vehicle positioning mechanism associated with each of the rider conveyance elements, each of the vehicle positioning mechanisms being independently operable to move the associated rider conveyance element through a range of heights defined by one of a plurality of motion profiles, each of the motion profiles defining a different pattern of movement for one of the rider conveyance elements during operation of the carousel ride, wherein the carousel ride controls the vehicle positioning mechanisms using at least two of the motion profiles.