Patent ID: 6042382
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: A63G

Abstract:
A centripetal acceleration movement apparatus comprising:a base support having a rotatable portion rotatably disposed about a first axis;a carrying means having a center of mass and being attached to the rotatable portion of the base support and being positioned remotely with respect to the first axis for carrying at least one passenger, the carrying means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart seating assemblies for carrying a plurality of passengers, each seating assembly having its own individual center of mass positioned remotely with respect to the first axis;a rotating means for rotating the rotatable portion of the base support about the first axis and thereby causing the attached carrying means to (i) orbit said first axis along an orbital movement path and (ii) apply a centripetal force to the at least one passenger;a motion picture means for producing a motion picture display confined to orbital movement with the carrying means in a manner sufficient to enable said motion picture display to be viewed by a seeing passenger being carried by said carrying means; andvariable balancing means for counter-balancing the carrying means about the first axis responsive to changes in position of the center of mass of said carrying means, to thereby maintain said center of mass of said carrying means substantially coincident with said first axis, the variable balancing means further comprising:a central storing means for storing fluid therein;a plurality of individual tanks disposed in a fixed relationship with respect to the plurality of spaced-apart seating assemblies, respectively, said individual tanks being disposed in fluidic communication with the central storage means;valve/pumping means for (i) selectively pumping fluid in selectable quantities from the central storage means to the individual tanks, and (ii) selectively pumping fluid in selectable quantities from the individual tanks to the central storage means; andsensing means for sensing weight changes in the seating assemblies and controlling the valve pumping means responsive to said weight changes by selecting quantities of fluid to be pumped into and from the individual storage tanks.