Patent ID: 8371227

Claim:
A ride system providing crossing vehicle paths, comprising: a first omnimover assembly including a first track and a first continuous vehicle chain defining a first loop movable along a first ride path defined by the first track, the first vehicle chain including a plurality of vehicles linked together and vertically supported above the first track of the first omnimover assembly at a first height along all of the first ride path; a second omnimover assembly including a second track and a second continuous vehicle chain defining a second loop movable along a second ride path defined by the second track, the second vehicle chain including a plurality of vehicles linked together and vertically supported below the second track of the second omnimover assembly at a second height along all of the second ride path, wherein the second track is spaced apart from and at a higher elevation than the first track; and a synchronization mechanism operating to synchronize movements of the first and second vehicle chains, wherein a rate of movement of the first vehicle chain is equal to a rate of movement of the second vehicle chain, wherein the first ride path crosses the second ride path at a cross over point when the ride system is viewed in plan view, and wherein the vehicles of the first and second vehicle chains are supported within first and second ranges of elevations at the cross over point, the first and second elevation ranges at least partially overlapping.