Patent Description:
There are various applications that utilize mechanisms to accelerate and stop a vehicle carrying passengers. For example, trains, roller coasters, and the like, may utilize one or more linear induction motors (LIMs) or linear synchronous motors (LSMs) to accelerate a ride vehicle or car along a track and bring the ride vehicle or car to rest at a desired location. LIMs and LSMs are essentially electric motors that have been unrolled with the rotors lying flat in a linear configuration. LIMs and LSMs produce the force to move a ride vehicle or car by producing a linear magnetic field to attract or repel conductors or magnets in the field. LIMs and LSMs typically include a rotor secured to the track and a stator secured to the moving ride vehicle or car, or vice versa. In LIMs, the rotor may include linear coil windings included in a ferrite core to which three-phase electric alternating current (AC) power may be supplied. The rotor may be covered by a panel. The stator may include a conductor, such as an aluminum steel panel, also referred to as a reaction plate. On the other hand, in LSMs, the rotor may be one or more permanent magnets and the stator may be the coil, both of which may be covered by separate panels. In either scenario, when AC power is supplied to the coil, a magnetic field may be produced. In LIMs, the reaction plate may generate its own magnetic field when placed in the rotor's magnetic field due to induced eddy currents, and the two magnetic fields may repel or attract, thus causing the vehicle to accelerate or slow down. Likewise, in LSMs, when the energized coil stator passes by the permanent magnets in the rotor, electrically controlled magnetic fields may repel or attract, thereby causing the vehicle to accelerate or slow down.

<CIT> describes a waterslide amusement ride having in a portion thereof, a linear induction motor to efficiently and effectively affect the motion of a vehicle sliding on the ride. The linear induction motor comprises linear induction motor units embedded below a sliding surface, and a reaction plate mounted to the bottom of the vehicle. Depending on the configuration of the linear induction motor units and the reaction plate, the linear induction motor drive can be used to accelerate the vehicle, decelerate the vehicle, maintain the speed of the vehicle up an uphill section, or rotate the vehicle.

<CIT> describes a transportation system for levitated propulsion of a vehicle relative to a guideway having first sections for linear vehicle travel and second sections for turning movements of the vehicle is disclosed. The system includes AC-excited magnets for low-speed levitated travel in pivot turns, guideway switching areas, and curving sections of guideway including superelevated structure. The system includes guideway mounted primary electrical members in pivot turns and guideway switching areas. In switching areas vehicle steering is provided by null flux loops located on the guideway structure. In the curving sections of guideway, there is a dovetail trough containing secondary electrical members that interact with deployable primary electrical members on the vehicle which are independently positioned and powered for propelling the vehicle along the curving sections.

<CIT> describes a method involving arranging a movable magnetic portion relative to an induction portion. The time characteristic curve is detected to detect induced electrical measurement value in induction portion. Two consecutive characteristic points in time characteristic curve are selected. The temporal distance for characteristic points is determined. The dimension of the magnet portion is assigned and stored in memory device corresponding to characteristic points, for determining relative speed of magnetic portion and induction portion. An independent claim is included for device for determining relative speed of movable elements.

The present invention provides a motion simulator ride assembly according to Claim <NUM> and a method of powering a linear synchronous motor (LSM) installed on a track according to Claim <NUM>.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a system includes a linear synchronous motor (LSM) including a rotor comprising alternating pole permanent magnets, with each permanent magnet being secured to rotor panels of a roller coaster track, wherein the rotor panels form an articulated spine, such that each rotor panel forms a vertebra of the spine and each rotor panel is separated by a flexible substrate that allows the spine to bend around a helix's arc of a compound curve. The rotor is installed on two sides of a compound curve portion of the roller coaster track, and the LSM comprises a stator comprising linear coil windings secured to the bottom of a ride vehicle disposed on the track. The ride vehicle includes a power source and a processor configured to determine how much power to supply to the linear coil windings and when to supply the power to maintain sufficient air gaps between the stator and the rotor vertebrae panels and to cause the power source to supply the power as determined throughout the compound curved portion of the roller coaster track.

In accordance with another aspect, a method of powering a linear synchronous motor (LSM) installed on a track is provided. The method comprises obtaining data related to an amusement ride vehicle disposed on the track and a compound curved portion of the track, wherein a rotor of the LSM is installed on two sides of the compound curved portion of the track, the rotor comprising alternating pole permanent magnets, with each permanent magnet being secured to rotor panels of the track, wherein the rotor panels form an articulated spine, such that each rotor panel forms a vertebra of the spine and each rotor panel is separated by a flexible substrate that allows the spine to bend around a helix's arc of a compound curve, and a stator of the LSM comprising linear coil windings is secured to the bottom of the ride vehicle; determining, using a processor, how much power to supply to the linear coil windings from a power source and when to supply the power to maintain sufficient air gaps between the stator and the individual panels and to cause the power source to supply the power as determined throughout the compound curved portion of the track; and supplying power from the power source to the linear coil windings as determined throughout the compound curved portion of the track.

Mechanisms that are used for launching and braking ride vehicles or cars are often utilized in ground transportation systems, such as trains, and in amusement park rides, such as roller coasters. The mechanisms may include linear induction motors (LIMs) and/or linear synchronous motors (LSMs). LIMs and LSMs may include two elements, a stator and a rotor, that are spaced apart by an air gap. It is desirable to keep the air gap tight (e.g., within a certain threshold distance) to generate a thrust vector and to increase the efficiency of the mechanisms. Generally, applications that utilize LIMs or LSMs arrange the rotors in straight lines or shallow curves on the track. This is often due to a key component in creating an efficient LIM or LSM, which is maintaining the air gap between the stator and the rotor. It is now recognized that, as the curves of the track become more compound, maintaining the air gap becomes more difficult.

As noted above, the LIMs and LSMs utilized in these applications generally install the rotor in a straight or shallow curve portion of a track. As such, in LIMs, the stator may include panels (e.g., aluminum panels), referred to as reaction plates herein, which are generally broken up into flat articulated segmented panels so that they may interact with the opposing element and maintain the air gap during the straight or shallow curve portion of the tracks to launch or stop the ride vehicle or car. The air gap between the stator and the rotor is directly proportional to the efficiency of the LIM or LSM. Thus, if the air gap is not maintained, electric slip may occur that affects the efficiency of the LIM or LSM. In turn, the LIM or LSM may use more energy than is necessary to propel or slow down the vehicle. However, managing the air gap may be difficult for a number of reasons including the inaccuracies of the track, the softness of the wheels, and the strength of the magnetic attraction or repulsion between the stator and the rotor, among others.

These difficulties may be magnified in a compound curve portion of a track, such as a corkscrew, where the stator and rotor are forced to follow a radius that is ascending, descending, or continuous. In addition to the difficulties above, the ride vehicle or car may be pitching and rolling throughout a compound curve, and that may increase the difficulty of maintaining a near constant (e.g., below a threshold) air gap. As a result, these mechanisms are not typically utilized in compound curves. Nevertheless, it is now recognized that there exists a need for improved motion control (e.g., braking or launching) mechanisms, especially ones that may be utilized in compound curve portions of a track.

Thus, the presently disclosed embodiments are directed to systems and methods for a motion control mechanism to manage the air gap between the rotor and the reaction plates. In particular, the disclosed techniques may be of particular advantage because they may overcome the difficulties listed above in managing the air gap in compound curve portions of tracks. Accordingly, present embodiments enable a ride vehicle or car to be further accelerated or slowed during these track portions efficiently instead of relying on momentum alone to traverse the compound curve. It is to be appreciated that examples are provided comprising a number of features, and that some features described are not relevant to the scope of the claims. The description of such features is present to illustrate the context of the invention only.

There are numerous embodiments that may achieve these results in accordance with the present disclsoure. In one embodiment, actuators may be attached to the four corners of articulated reaction plates secured to the stator on the ride vehicle or car, and the actuators may morph or bend the articulated reaction plates continuously to match the shape of the rotor panels on the track as the ride vehicle or car pitches and rolls through the compound curve helix, thereby maintaining the air gap. In another embodiment, a physical bearing may be placed between the rotor and stator that establishes an air gap and keeps the gap nearly constant as the ride vehicle or car pitches and rolls throughout the compound curve. In another embodiment, hydraulic fluid may be injected between the rotor panels and the stator's reaction plates to provide a hydrodynamic bearing to manage the gap between the two elements. In yet another embodiment, alternating pole permanent magnets may be secured to individual vertebrae of an articulated spine of the rotor and the stator may include the coil windings. A flexible substrate may be located between the vertebrae to allow the spine to bend around the compound curvature of the track to enable the air gap to be maintained.

<FIG> illustrates a LIM including reaction plates <NUM> with actuators <NUM> attached to a ride vehicle <NUM> that is utilized in a compound curve <NUM> portion of a roller coaster track <NUM>. As depicted in the embodiment, the stator of the LIM may include the reaction plates <NUM> secured to the bottom of the ride vehicle <NUM>, and the rotor of the LIM may include the linear induction coils <NUM> embedded in the track <NUM> of the roller coaster. More specifically, the linear coils <NUM> may be placed in slots of a ferrite core installed throughout one or more portions of the track <NUM>, such as the compound curve <NUM>. The reaction plates <NUM> may be segmented and articulated aluminum panels or any conductive material. Articulated reaction plates <NUM> may refer to two or more reaction plates <NUM> joined by a flexible joint. This may enable the reaction plates <NUM> to flex and follow the rotor around the helix of the compound curve. Also, the reaction plates <NUM> may be the same length as the rotor (e.g., linear coil) panels to maintain the magnetic field generated by the linear coil, thereby maintaining the efficiency of the LIM. That is, a reaction plate that is the same size as the linear coil rotor may be capable of producing eddy currents proportional to the magnetic field generated by the linear coil rotor so efficiency may be maintained. Thus, if the linear coils <NUM> of the rotor are one meter long, the reaction plates <NUM> may each be one meter long, and so forth.

Since the stator reaction plates <NUM> are secured to the ride vehicle <NUM>, the reaction plates <NUM> move continuously with the ride vehicle <NUM> as it traverses a compound curve <NUM> in the track <NUM>. Further, as is typical with amusement park rides, one or more ride vehicles <NUM> may be attached to each other to form a train ride vehicle. Therefore, each ride vehicle <NUM> of the train ride vehicle may be rolled throughout the compound curve <NUM> at slightly different angles. As such, the reaction plates <NUM> on each of the ride vehicles <NUM> in the train may experience a different pitch and roll because the ride vehicles <NUM> are traveling through a helix or circle in the compound curve <NUM>. In order to maintain the air gap as close as possible between the rotor and the stator of the LIM of each ride vehicle <NUM> throughout the ascending, descending, or continuous radius of the compound curve <NUM>, it may be beneficial to curve the stator and/or the rotor to be nearly the same arc. Thus, the actuators <NUM>, which may be secured to each of the four corners of each reaction plate <NUM> and the ride vehicle <NUM>, may enable modifying the shape of the respective reaction plate <NUM> to a desired arc at different parts of the compound curve <NUM>, thereby maintaining an air gap with a near constant distance. For example, the average air gap across a one meter LIM (e.g., rotor and stator) may be one centimeter, where the air gap is two millimeters at an apex and seven to eleven millimeters at outside boundaries. Thus, in some embodiments, it is desirable to maintain the air gap at an average distance or within a range based on the length of the stator and rotor of the LIM. Achieving a near constant or consistent air gap throughout the compound curve <NUM> may enable the LIM to generate a consistent thrust cross vector that utilizes energy efficiently.

A more detailed illustration of a reaction plate <NUM> is depicted in <FIG>. In the depicted embodiment, the reaction plate <NUM> includes an actuator <NUM> secured to each one of the plate's four corners. As shown, the linear coil rotor <NUM> is grounded in the track <NUM>. The actuators <NUM> may be hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, or the like. The actuators <NUM> may function to bend the reaction plate <NUM> to the proper geometric shape around the helix in order to match the arc of the rotor's linear coil panels so that a near constant air gap <NUM> may be maintained. In some embodiments, if the actuators <NUM> are electric, the ride vehicle <NUM> may include a power source to supply power to the electric actuators <NUM>. The actuators <NUM> may be configured to operate in conjunction to dynamically bend the reaction plate <NUM> in numerous directions. As will be discussed below, the actuators <NUM> may receive commands from one or more processors executing processor-executable code stored on one or more memories to actuate at certain times and in desired ways. Further, one or more sensors, such as proximity sensors, may be utilized to obtain data related to the position of the ride vehicle <NUM> and the track <NUM> and send the data to the one or more processors. The processors may utilize the sensor data in a closed loop system to perform mathematical calculations to determine which actuators <NUM> to actuate and how they should perform to maintain the air gap <NUM>.

To aid the discussion, a set of axes will be referenced. For example, a latitudinal axis <NUM> may run from the front to the rear of the reaction plate <NUM>, and a longitudinal axis <NUM> may run from side to side of the reaction plate <NUM>. As the ride vehicle <NUM> travels through the compound curve <NUM>, the reaction plate <NUM> may experience heave, pitch, and roll from the helix of the track <NUM> that may cause distance between the reaction plate <NUM> and the linear coil rotor <NUM>. Thus, to adjust to the roll, the actuators <NUM> may be configured to actuate and bend the reaction plate <NUM> around the latitudinal axis <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM>. To adjust to the pitch, the actuators <NUM> may be configured to actuate and bend the reaction plate <NUM> around the longitudinal axis <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM>. To adjust to the heave, the actuators <NUM> may be configured to extend or retract in a vertical direction, as shown by arrow <NUM>. In this way, the actuators <NUM> may bend and/or move the reaction plate <NUM> to follow the linear coil rotor <NUM> panels throughout the helix of the compound curve <NUM> to maintain a near constant air gap <NUM> as the ride vehicle <NUM> pitches, rolls, and heaves.

It should be noted that the reaction plate <NUM> may be sized appropriately and made of one or more suitable materials so that it may be flexible and allow the actuators <NUM> to bend it as desired. For example, in an embodiment, the reaction plate <NUM> may be approximately one eighth of an inch thick, one meter long, and one half of a meter wide. Also, as previously mentioned, the reaction plate <NUM> may include an aluminum panel, which may increase its flexibility. To further illustrate, <FIG> depicts a side view of the reaction plate <NUM>. In the depicted embodiment, the top <NUM> of the reaction plate <NUM> may be made of a ferrite material (e.g., iron) and the bottom <NUM> of the reaction plate <NUM> may be made of a non-ferrite material (e.g., aluminum). The non-ferrite material may be conductive so that when the material passes through the magnetic field generated by the linear coil, the non-ferrite material may induce eddy currents (shown in <FIG> as currents <NUM>), thereby creating its own opposing magnetic field that reacts with the linear coil's magnetic field to accelerate or decelerate the ride vehicle <NUM>. The top <NUM>, which may also be referred to as a backing plate, may inhibit the eddy currents from being lost and, therefore, energy being lost, by utilizing the ferrite material (e.g., iron). Because a backing plate <NUM> is utilized, this embodiment represents a single sided LIM; however, as discussed in detail below, in some embodiments the backing plate may not be utilized and the LIM may be double sided (e.g., include coils on both sides of the reaction plate).

The ride vehicle <NUM> may include ride vehicle circuitry <NUM> to control the actuators as described above. Accordingly, <FIG> is a block diagram of ride vehicle circuitry <NUM>. The ride vehicle circuitry <NUM> may include a communication component <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and a power source <NUM>. The communication component <NUM> may include circuitry for enabling wireless communication with the ride vehicle <NUM> as it travels around a track <NUM>. As such, the communication component <NUM> may include a wireless card. The processor <NUM>, which may be one or more processors, may include any suitable processor or microprocessor capable of executing processor-executable code. The sensor <NUM>, which may represent one or more sensors, may include a proximity sensor configured to acquire positional information of the ride vehicle <NUM> (or portions thereof) in relation to the linear coil rotor panels installed in a track <NUM> and send the data to the processor <NUM>. In some embodiments, the sensor <NUM> may include an optic system that tracks information related to the ride vehicle <NUM> and/or the track <NUM>.

As an example, the processor <NUM> may run a closed-loop feedback system with the data obtained from the sensor <NUM> and determine which actuators to actuate and how they should perform based on where the ride vehicle <NUM> is located on the track <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may determine that some actuators should extend or retract to dynamically bend the respective reaction plate in the proper geometric shape to maintain a certain air gap distance as the ride vehicle <NUM> pitches, rolls, and/or heaves through a compound curve. The sensor <NUM> may continuously obtain and pass data to the processor <NUM>, which may continuously perform calculations and issue instructions to control the actuators as desired. In another embodiment, the communication component <NUM> may receive command instructions from a control system located externally from the ride vehicle <NUM>, such as in a command center for the ride, and the processor <NUM> may be configured to execute the received instructions.

The memory <NUM>, which may represent one or more memory components, may be any suitable articles of manufacture that can serve as media to store processor-executable code, data, or the like. These articles of manufacture may represent tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., any suitable form of tangible memory or storage) that may store the processor-executable code used by the processor <NUM> to perform the presently disclosed techniques. The memory <NUM> may also be used to store the vehicle information obtained by the sensor <NUM>, the command instructions received by the communication component <NUM>, or the like. The power source <NUM> may include any suitable power source, including, but not limited to, a battery, a solar panel, an electrical generator, or any combination thereof. The power source <NUM> may supply power to the actuators.

A flow diagram of a process <NUM> suitable for maintaining an air gap in a LIM throughout a compound curve by utilizing actuators secured to reaction plates and a ride vehicle <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The process <NUM> may include obtaining data related to the ride vehicle <NUM> and the compound curve (process block <NUM>), determining which actuators to actuate and the performance of the actuators based on the data using a closed loop system (process block <NUM>), and actuating the actuators as determined throughout traversal of the compound curve (process block <NUM>) by the ride vehicle <NUM>. The process <NUM> may be implemented as processor-executable code stored on one or more non-transitory, computer-readable mediums (e.g., memory <NUM>). More specifically, regarding process block <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> included in the ride vehicle circuitry <NUM> may obtain positional data of the ride vehicle <NUM> in relation to the track <NUM>. For example, one or more sensors <NUM> may detect how far the gap is between each reaction plate and the linear coil rotor panel installed in the track <NUM>. Also, the sensors <NUM> may detect the angle of the linear coil rotor panels' arcs throughout the compound curve. The sensors <NUM> may send this data to the processor <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may utilize the obtained sensor data to determine which actuators to actuate for each reaction plate, the actuation time, and the performance (e.g., extend, retract) of the selected actuators using a closed loop system (process block <NUM>). A control loop system may refer to a control system that automatically changes the output commands based on the difference between the feedback data and the input data. The input data in one embodiment may include data related to the air gap between the reaction plates and the linear coil rotor panels before actuation. As the ride vehicle <NUM> traverses the compound curve, the sensors <NUM> may monitor and provide feedback regarding the distance of the air gap between the reaction plate and the linear coil rotor panels after the actuation occurs to the processor <NUM> so that the processor <NUM> may make adjustments for subsequent actuators at that portion of the compound curve, if needed. For example, if the air gap is smaller than desired after actuation, the processor <NUM> may provide commands to the actuators of subsequent reaction plates to not extend as far in order to increase the air gap at that portion of the compound curve. After the actuators have been selected and their respective performance determined, the processor <NUM> may actuate the actuators accordingly (process block <NUM>) in an ongoing and continuously updated procedure. In this way, the processor <NUM> may dynamically control how the reaction plates bend and/or move to follow the linear coil rotor panels and maintain a near constant air gap by utilizing the actuators.

Another embodiment of a system <NUM> to maintain a near constant air gap between a rotor and a stator of a LIM throughout a compound curve of a roller coaster is illustrated in <FIG>. This embodiment includes utilizing running bearings <NUM> and a running surface <NUM>. For purposes of discussion, a set of axes will be referenced. The axes include a latitudinal axis <NUM> that extends from the front to the rear of a reaction plate <NUM> and a longitudinal axis <NUM> that extends from side to side of the reaction plate <NUM>. The reaction plate <NUM> depicted may be secured to the bottom of a ride vehicle <NUM>. Indeed, there may be a plurality of segmented reaction plates <NUM> secured to the bottom of the ride vehicle <NUM> and they may be articulated in coordination to form certain overall shapes. Also, the reaction plate <NUM> may be aluminum and the same length as the linear coil rotor <NUM> (e.g., induction motor) that is secured to a track <NUM> so that the reaction plate <NUM> may efficiently generate eddy currents to oppose the magnetic field generated by the linear coil rotor <NUM>. Further, the reaction plates <NUM> may be sized appropriately to be flexible in order to bend according to the pitch and roll of the compound curve's helix.

In this embodiment, the linear coil rotor <NUM> may be substantially covered by the running surface <NUM>. The running surface <NUM> may be plastic to enable an object in contact with the running surface <NUM> to slide or roll. Likewise, running bearings <NUM> are secured to the bottom of the reaction plate <NUM> on both of its sides. The running bearings <NUM> may be strips that are several inches wide and several inches thick. The exact thickness of the running bearing <NUM> may be designed to provide an air gap <NUM> between the stator (e.g. reaction plate <NUM>) and the linear coil rotor <NUM> so that the LIM may produce an efficient thrust cross vector. In addition, the running bearings <NUM> may be in contact with and slide across the running surface <NUM> throughout the compound curve, thereby maintaining the air gap <NUM>.

However, the compound curve may cause the ride vehicle <NUM> to pitch and roll, so the running bearings <NUM> and the running surface <NUM> may be configured to comply with the pitch and roll of the helix. As such, the running bearings <NUM> and the running surface <NUM> may be bent around the latitudinal axis <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM>, throughout the compound curve. Additionally, the running bearings <NUM> and the running surface <NUM> may be bent around the longitudinal axis <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM>, throughout the compound curve. Although the attractive force of the linear coil and the reaction plate <NUM> may be strong at points throughout the compound curve, the running bearings <NUM> may inhibit the reaction plates <NUM> from clasping together with the linear coil rotor <NUM>.

In some embodiments, one or more trailing arms or other spherical joint mechanism may be attached to the segmented reaction plates <NUM> of the stator and/or the running surface <NUM> of the linear coil rotor <NUM> to apply thrust to gimbal as required to match the pitching and rolling of the ride vehicle <NUM> or car throughout the compound curve. The trailing arms may push the reaction plates <NUM> that include the running bearings <NUM> against the rotor's running surface <NUM>. The trailing arms may be aided by the magnetic force, which may pull the reaction plates <NUM> against the rotor's running surface <NUM> and cause the reaction plates <NUM> and the running bearings <NUM> to bend accordingly. Thus, the reaction plates <NUM> and the linear coil rotor <NUM> may be kept relatively parallel, thereby maintaining the near constant air gap <NUM>.

Further, an embodiment of a system <NUM> to maintain a near constant gap between a stator, which includes one or more reaction plates <NUM>, and a rotor, which includes one or more linear coils <NUM>, of a LIM throughout a compound curve of a roller coaster track <NUM> by utilizing hydraulic fluid is illustrated in <FIG>. For purposes of discussion, a set of axes will be referenced. The axes include a latitudinal axis <NUM> that extends from the front to the rear of the reaction plate <NUM> and a longitudinal axis <NUM> that extends from side to side of the reaction plate <NUM>. The reaction plate <NUM> depicted may be secured to the bottom of a ride vehicle <NUM>. Indeed, there may be a plurality of segmented reaction plates <NUM> secured to the bottom of the ride vehicle <NUM> and they may be articulated. Also, the reaction plate <NUM> may be aluminum and the same length as the linear coil rotor <NUM> (e.g., induction motor) that is secured to a track <NUM> so that the reaction plate <NUM> may efficiently generate eddy currents to oppose the magnetic field generated by the linear coil rotor <NUM>. In addition, the reaction plates <NUM> may be sized appropriately to be flexible in order to bend according to the pitch and roll of the compound curve's helix.

In this embodiment, the system <NUM> may inject hydraulic fluid <NUM> in between the reaction plates <NUM> and the linear coil rotor <NUM> to maintain the gap. The hydraulic fluid <NUM> may be injected by one or more sprayers installed in the track <NUM> and/or the ride vehicle <NUM>. The system <NUM> may include seals <NUM> that retain the hydraulic fluid <NUM> after it is sprayed in between the reaction plates <NUM> and the linear coil rotor <NUM>. Also, the track <NUM> may include altered surface geometry <NUM> (e.g., grooves) that promote fluid flow. The hydraulic fluid <NUM> may include water that may function as a hydrodynamic bearing between the reaction plates <NUM> and the linear coil rotor <NUM> to prevent the two from contacting each other. Utilizing the hydraulic fluid <NUM> may reduce the structural requirements of the ride vehicle <NUM>. As the ride vehicle <NUM> traverses the helix of the compound curve, the reaction plates <NUM> may be bent around the latitudinal axis <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM>, and around the longitudinal axis <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM>, to match the pitch and roll of the ride vehicle <NUM> while the hydraulic fluid <NUM> is injected to prevent the reaction plates <NUM> from clasping to the linear coil rotor <NUM>. Since the hydraulic fluid <NUM> may be a non-compressible substance, the gap between the reaction plates <NUM> and the linear coil rotor <NUM> may be maintained, thereby maintaining the efficiency of the LIM.

It should be understood that the LIMs discussed above may be either single sided or double sided, as illustrated in <FIG>, respectively. The single sided LIM <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a stator <NUM> and a rotor <NUM>. The stator may include a reaction plate with a non-ferrite panel <NUM> (e.g., aluminum) that faces the rotor <NUM>. The non-ferrite panel <NUM> may be conductive and it may induce eddy currents when it is passed through a magnetic field generated by the rotor <NUM>. The reaction plate <NUM> may further include a backing plate <NUM> that is made of a ferrite material, such as iron. The backing plate <NUM> may inhibit the eddy currents induced in the non-ferrite material <NUM> from dissipating and being lost. The rotor <NUM> may include linear coils (e.g., induction motor) placed in between a ferrite core. The linear coils may be supplied three phase electric power to generate a magnetic field. The double sided LIM <NUM> depicted in <FIG> may include a reaction plate <NUM> made of a conductive material, such as aluminum, sandwiched between linear coils <NUM> (e.g., induction motors) on both sides of the reaction plate <NUM>. In both the single sided LIM <NUM> and the double sided LIM <NUM>, a near constant air gap may be maintained by utilizing the techniques described above.

In yet another embodiment in accordance with the present invention, <FIG> illustrates a double sided LSM <NUM> that uses utilize permanent magnets <NUM> installed on rotor panels and a linear coil stator <NUM> to maintain a near constant air gap through a compound curve of a roller coaster track <NUM>. The permanent magnets alternate poles (e.g., north and south), as depicted, and the linear coil stator <NUM> is secured to a ride vehicle <NUM>. The permanent magnets <NUM> are secured to rotor panels <NUM> of the track <NUM> on both sides of the stator <NUM>. The rotor panels <NUM> resemble an articulated spine in that each portion that contains a permanent magnet <NUM> may be a vertebrae and the vertebrae may be separated by a flexible substrate (e.g., a scalloped region) <NUM> that allows the spine to bend around a helix's arc of a compound curve. For example, the flexible substrate may include a cable. The gap between the linear coil stator <NUM> and the permanent magnets <NUM> is maintained as the ride vehicle <NUM> pitches and rolls through the compound curve by the magnetic attraction and repulsion of the magnets to the magnetic field generated by the linear coil stator <NUM> on both sides of the stator <NUM> at the same time.

In this embodiment, the ride vehicle <NUM> may include circuitry <NUM> as discussed above for <FIG>. Specifically, since the linear coil stator <NUM> is attached to the ride vehicle <NUM>, the ride vehicle <NUM> may include a power source <NUM> to supply power to the windings of the coil in order to generate a magnetic field that attracts or repels the magnets <NUM> secured to the rotor panels, thereby bending or moving the rotor panels <NUM> via the flexible substrate as desired to maintain the air gap. Further, the memory <NUM> may store processor-executable code that the processor <NUM> utilizes to command the power source <NUM> to provide power at various times throughout the compound curve based on positional data received from sensor <NUM>. In other embodiments, the communication component <NUM> of the ride vehicle circuitry <NUM> may receive instructions from an external source, such as the amusement ride's command center, that dictate how to provide power to the linear coil stator <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of a process <NUM> suitable for maintaining an air gap in a LSM by supplying power to windings of linear coils, in accordance with an embodiment. The process <NUM> includes obtaining data related to the ride vehicle <NUM> and the compound curve (process block <NUM>), determining when to supply power to the windings and how much power to supply based on the data (process block <NUM>), and supplying power to the windings of the linear coils as determined (process block <NUM>). The process <NUM> may be implemented as processor-executable code stored on one or more non-transitory, computer-readable mediums.

More specifically, process block <NUM> may include obtaining data related to the ride vehicle <NUM> and the compound curve by utilizing sensors to detect air gaps between the linear coil stator and the permanent magnets on the rotor panels attached to the track <NUM>. If the air gap is too close to one rotor panel, then it is likely that the air gap is too large to the other rotor panel. The sensors may send the air gap data to the processor that may determine how much power to supply to correct the gap differences and when to supply the power (process block <NUM>). The processor may then command the power source to supply the power as determined, and the power source may perform accordingly (process block <NUM>). As a result, the permanent magnets may be attracted or repelled to the magnetic field of the linear coil windings to bend or move the rotor panels via the flexible substrate and the air gap may be changed. In this way, the gap between the linear coil stator and the permanent magnets attached to the rotor panels may be maintained on both sides of the LSM.

Claim 1:
A system, comprising:
a linear synchronous motor (LSM) (<NUM>) including a rotor comprising alternating pole permanent magnets (<NUM>), with each permanent magnet (<NUM>) being secured to rotor panels (<NUM>) of a roller coaster track (<NUM>), wherein the rotor panels (<NUM>) form an articulated spine, such that each portion that contains a permanent magnet (<NUM>) forms a vertebra of the spine and the vertebrae are separated by a flexible substrate (<NUM>) that allows the spine to bend around a helix's arc of a compound curve, wherein the rotor is installed on two sides of a compound curved portion of the roller coaster track (<NUM>), and a stator (<NUM>) comprising linear coil windings secured to the bottom of a ride vehicle (<NUM>) disposed on the track (<NUM>), the ride vehicle (<NUM>) comprising:
a power source (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to determine how much power to supply to the linear coil windings and when to supply the power to maintain sufficient air gaps between the stator (<NUM>) and the rotor panels (<NUM>) and to cause the power source (<NUM>) to supply the power as determined throughout the compound curved portion of the roller coaster track (<NUM>).