Patent Publication Number: US-9833718-B2

Title: Movable screen

Description:
The present invention relates to a movable screen, and particularly to a movable screen forming part of an amusement apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a movable screen which is synchronised with the movement of a passenger conveying apparatus in a themed entertainment environment. 
     Theme parks, amusement parks, film studio parks and the like typically include themed rides. In such rides, passengers embark upon a conveying apparatus at an embarkation location, are conveyed through a themed environment, and disembark at a disembarkation location. The themed environment may, for example, be themed in relation to a motion picture, a television show or series, or a historical period. 
     While travelling through the themed environment, the movement of the conveying apparatus is preferably synchronised with features of the themed environment. Features of the themed environment with which the movement of the passenger conveying apparatus may be synchronised include, but are not limited to, audio effects, visual effects, lighting effects, pyrotechnic effects, animatronics apparatuses, projections screens, stationary and/or moving prop items, water effects, smoke or vapour effects, wind effects, odour effects and actors. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,137,205 discloses a carousel for use in the themed environment of an amusement ride. The carousel includes a number of concave screens. The carousel and screens are rotatable about a fixed axis in order to synchronise with the movement of one or more passenger conveying apparatuses. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a movable screen apparatus, the movable screen apparatus including a screen and a base configured for movement over surface, wherein the movable screen apparatus includes a guidance arrangement and a drive arrangement, wherein further said guidance and drive arrangements are operable, in use, to move the screen apparatus along a pre-defined looped path, wherein the looped path is defined by a physical track which is contactable by the guidance arrangement. 
     The term looped path refers to a continuous path such that the movable screen is able to move around circuits of the path. The looped path may be of any shape. 
     The physical track may, for example, be defined by one or more raised rails. Alternatively, the physical track may be defined by one or more recessed channels. In such an embodiment, the guidance arrangement includes a guide member configured for engagement with the physical track. The guide member may comprise a wheel or roller. 
     Where the looped path is a physical track, the drive arrangement mat include a drive member configured for engagement with the physical track. The drive member may comprise a drive wheel or roller. In such an embodiment the drive and guidance arrangements may be combined. 
     Preferably, the base is provided with ground engaging formations which support the base for movement over a surface. For example, the base may be provided with a plurality of wheels. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the base of the movable screen apparatus may take the form of an automated guided vehicle or AGV. In such an embodiment, the pre-determined looped path may not be defined by a physical feature, such as a channel or rail, with which the base interacts. The path may, for example, be defined by instructions contained within the guidance system. Alternatively, the path may be defined by external reference makers located within the themed entertainment environment which are recognised by the guidance system. It will be appreciated that alternative means for defining a looped path for the AGV to follow may be provided. 
     The screen may be a projection screen which is configured to display images projected from a projector. The screen may be flat or curved. Alternatively, the screen may be configured so as to be able to generate images. For example the screen may be an LCD, LED, OLED, LEP or equivalent display medium display. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided the combination of a movable screen apparatus of the type described and a looped path defined by a physical track. 
     Multiple movable screen apparatuses may be provided on the looped path. 
     The combination may further include a passenger conveying apparatus, the passenger conveying apparatus being movable past the looped path, and movement of the passenger conveying apparatus is synchronised with movement of the movable screen apparatus and the display of images on the screen as the passenger conveying apparatus passes the looped path. 
     The passenger conveying apparatus may include a multi axial manipulator. The passenger conveying apparatus may be an AGV. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a themed environment including a movable screen apparatus as described above, a looped path and a passenger conveying apparatus, wherein the movable screen apparatus is movable around the looped path within the themed environment, the passenger conveying apparatus is movable through the themed environment past the looped path, and movement of the passenger conveying apparatus and the display of images on the screen is synchronised with movement of the movable screen apparatus as the passenger conveying apparatus passes the looped path. 
     The passenger conveying apparatus may include a multi axial manipulator. The passenger conveying apparatus may be an AGV. 
    
    
     
       An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a movable screen according to the present invention and a passenger conveying apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top plan view of the movable screen and passenger conveying apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of a plurality of movable screens, a plurality of passenger conveying apparatuses and guidance tracks in a first configuration; and 
         FIG. 4  shows a top plan view of a plurality of movable screens, a plurality of passenger conveying apparatuses and guidance tracks in an alternative configuration. 
     
    
    
     Referring firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown a movable screen apparatus generally designated  10  and a passenger conveying apparatus generally designated  12 . The movable screen  10  includes a concave screen  14  and a support frame  16 . The support frame  16  includes a plurality of wheels  18  which enable the movable screen apparatus  10  to be moved over a support surface  20 . The concave screen  14  includes a concave projection surface  22  upon which still and/or moving images can be projected from a projector (P). The projector (P) may, for example, be mounted on the support frame  16  or the passenger conveying apparatus  12 . In an alternative embodiment the screen  14  may be configured to display images without the need for a projector. For example, the screen  14  may be an LCD, LED, OLED, LEP or equivalent display medium display. It will further be appreciated that the screen  14  may have a shape other than the concave shape shown in the accompanying figures. For example, the screen  14  may be curved in an alternative manner or be substantially flat. 
     The support frame  16  is further provided with a pair of combined guide and drive rollers  24 . The rollers  24  are provided on the underside  26  of the frame  16  and cooperate with a guide rail  28  located upon the support surface  20  over which the movable screen apparatus  10  moves, in use. Both rollers  24  may be driven. In such an embodiment, each roller  24  is connected to a drive means such as, for example, an electric motor. In an alternative embodiment only one of the rollers  24  may be driven. In such an embodiment the other of the rollers  24  functions as an idler roller. The or each roller  24  has a surface that frictionally engages the guide rail  28 . It will thus be understood that rotation of the or each driven roller  24  results in movement of the movable screen  10  over the support surface  20 . The path along which the movable screen  10  travels is defined by the guide rail  28 . 
     The passenger conveying apparatus  12  includes a chassis  30  and a multi axial manipulator  32 . The chassis  30  includes a plurality of wheels  34  which enable the passenger conveying apparatus to be moved over the support surface  20 . The passenger conveying apparatus is further provided with a pair of combined guide and drive rollers  36 . The rollers  36  are provided on the underside  38  of the chassis  30  and cooperate with a guide rail  40  located upon the support surface  20  over which the passenger conveying apparatus moves, in use. 
     Both rollers  36  may be driven. In such an embodiment, each roller  36  is connected to a drive means such as, for example, an electric motor. In an alternative embodiment, only one of the rollers  36  may be driven. In such an embodiment the other of the rollers  36  functions as an idler roller. The or each roller  36  has a surface that frictionally engages the guide rail  40 . It will thus be understood that rotation of the or each driven roller  36  results in movement of the passenger conveying apparatus  12  over the support surface  20 . The path along which the passenger conveying apparatus  12  travels is defined by the guide rail  40 . 
     The multi axial manipulator  32  includes an arm  42 , a base  44  and a passenger carriage  46 . The base  44  is rotatably mounted to the chassis  30  such that manipulator  32  is rotatable relative to the chassis  30  about a first axis A-A. The arm  42  is pivotably mounted to the base  44  at a first end  42   a  such that it is pivotable relative to the base about a second axis B-B. Axis B-B is substantially perpendicular to axis A-A. 
     The opposite end  42   b  of the arm  42  is both pivotably and rotatably connected to the passenger carriage  46 . The passenger carriage  46  is pivotably connected to the arm  42  about a third axis C-C. The third axis C-C lies substantially parallel to the second axis B-B. The passenger carriage  46  is further rotatable about a fourth axis D-D. The fourth axis D-D is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the arm  42  and further lies substantially perpendicular to the second and third axes B-B, C-C. The manipulator  32  is provided with actuators to effect rotation and pivoting movement, as appropriate, about the axes A-A, B-B, C-C and D-D. 
     In the embodiment shown, the passenger carriage  46  includes four passenger seats  48 . Each passenger seat  48  includes a passenger restraint  50 . 
     In use, the movable screen apparatus  10  and passenger conveying apparatus  12  form part of an amusement ride. The passenger conveying apparatus  12  conveys passengers from a passenger embarkation point, through a themed environment, to a passenger disembarkation point. The embarkation point, themed environment and disembarkation point may be fully indoors, fully outdoors, or partially indoors and partially outdoors. As noted above, the movement path of the passenger conveying apparatus  12  is defined by the guide rail  40 . In a preferred embodiment the passenger conveying apparatus guide rail  40  is in the form of a closed loop, and thus the passenger conveying apparatus  12  is able to circulate around the loop. In such an embodiment the passenger conveying apparatus  12  can thus conveys passengers from the passenger embarkation point, through the themed environment, to the passenger disembarkation point on a first portion of the loop. The passenger conveying apparatus  12  can thereafter move from the disembarkation point back to the passenger embarkation point on the remainder of the loop. Multiple passenger conveying apparatuses  12  may be provided in spaced apart relation to one another on the loop. 
     As the passenger conveying apparatus  12  moves through the themed environment its movement is synchronised with features of the environment. Features of the themed environment with which the passenger conveying apparatus  12  may be synchronised include, but are not limited to, audio effects, visual effects, lighting effects, pyrotechnic effects, animatronics apparatuses, projections screens, stationary and/or moving prop items, water effects, smoke or vapour effects, wind effects, odour effects and actors. 
     The movable screen apparatus  10  is located within the themed environment, and movement of the movable screen apparatus  10  is synchronised with movement of the passenger conveying apparatus  12 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show top plan views of a portion of a themed environment, generally designated  52 . In  FIG. 3  there is shown a length of the passenger conveying apparatus guide rail  40  forming part of passenger conveying apparatus guide rail loop  56 . There is also shown a length of the movable screen guide rail  28  which is formed into a closed loop  54 . The screen guide rail loop  54  is in the form of a squircle. The passenger conveying apparatus guide rail loop  56  extends around substantially three sides of the screen guide rail loop  54 . The screen guide rail loop  54  is thus located to the interior of the passenger conveying apparatus guide rail loop  56 . The screen apparatuses  10  and passenger conveying apparatuses  12  are provided with appropriate control systems to ensure that sufficient separation of individual units is maintained on the respective loops  54 , 56 , and that the motion of the screen apparatuses  10  and passenger conveying apparatuses  12  are synchronised at appropriate times. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the screen guide rail loop  54  is provided with four movable screen apparatuses  10 . The part of the passenger conveying apparatus guide rail loop  54  shown is provided with four passenger conveying apparatuses  12 . The movable screen apparatuses  10  circulate in a counter clockwise direction as indicated by arrows  58 . The passenger conveying apparatuses  12  also move in a counter clockwise direction as indicated by arrows  60 . 
     The movement of both the screen apparatuses  10  and passenger conveying apparatuses  12  are synchronised such that the passenger carriage  46  of each conveying apparatus faces the projection surface  22  of a concave screen  14 . Passengers conveyed by a passenger conveying apparatus  12  can thus experience images projected onto the projection surface  22 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative configuration for the themed environment  52 . Features common to the embodiment of  FIG. 3  are identified with like reference numerals. The configuration of  FIG. 4  differs in that the screen guide rail loop  54  is provided to the exterior of the passenger conveying apparatus guide rail loop  56 . The screen guide rail loop  54  is substantially kidney shaped. The screen apparatuses  10  circulate in a counter clockwise direction as indicated by arrows  58 . The passenger conveying apparatuses  12  circulate in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrows  60 . 
     By providing individually movable screen apparatuses  10  on a looped track, it will appreciated that the screens  10  are better able to synchronise with the movement of the passenger conveying apparatuses  12 . For example, the movement speed of a screen apparatus  10  may increase or decrease so as to match similar changes in speed of a conveying apparatus  12 . It will further be appreciated that a screen apparatus  10  may be moved a first range of speeds when synchronised with the movement of a conveying apparatus  12  and moved at a second range of speeds when not synchronised with the movement of a conveying apparatus  12 . As such, a screen may be accelerated around the guide track to a start position after a synchronisation period with a conveying apparatus  12  has ended. 
     The track  28  upon which the screens  10  are movable can be shaped to meet the individual requirements of a given installation. Movable screens  10  can thus be provided at a location where there is insufficient space of a carousel of screens. Individual screens  10  can be removed from the loop  54 , for example for the purposes of maintenance and/or repair. 
     In the embodiments shown, the movable screens  10  include a concave projection screen  14 . It will be appreciated that other types of screen may be utilised without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, flat or planar, or concave projection screens may be used. The screen may also, for example, not be of the projection type. Instead, the screen may be capable of displaying moving images in a self-contained manner. In such an embodiment, the screen may be an LCD screen. 
     In the embodiments shown, the movable screens  10  and passenger conveying apparatuses  12  each follow a path defined by a single raised track  28 , 40 . It will be appreciated that other track configurations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, multiple tracks may be utilised. The or each track may be defined be recessed channels. In yet a further embodiment, the movable screen apparatuses  10  and/or passenger conveying apparatuses  12  may include automated guided vehicles know by the acronym AGV. The movement of such vehicles is not governed by a physical track, but by a track defined by other means. Such means may, for example, comprise instructions provided to an onboard guidance system of the AGV. 
     In the embodiment shown, the passenger conveying apparatus  12  includes a multi axial manipulator  32 . It will be understood that other configurations of passenger conveying apparatus  12  may be used.