To provide a compact stiff structure for a roller coaster, main bearing posts (3) are coupled at one end to support elements (1, 35) and at other ends to a closed path track (4) on which passenger cars can move. The track is formed of successive sections which present a spatial figure of varying curvature. These sections form, selectively, passenger loading and unloading sections (22, 23, 24); a hoisting section (8), a descending section (10), in the direction of the travel of the car, downstream of a peak point (9), spiral, S-shaped, and turn sections (20, 21, 50, 51, 52) and, further, a closed loop (17) arranged in, essentially, a vertical plane. The peak (18) of the loop (17) is located below peaks (9, 15) of ascending and descending sections, and the track sections above the loop are coupled to the loop by additional stiff posts (19). The path of travel of the cars is up a hoist section (8) to a peak (9), then through descending (10, 12) and ascending (11, 13) sections with intervening turns (50, 51) into the loop (17), over the peak (18) and then, with more turns, S-shaped sections (21) and/or spiral sections (52, 20, 21), through the loop (17), to terminate at the passenger loading/unloading section (22-24). Preferably, the loading/unloading section is a structure which has a central part (23) carrying the track, and laterally projecting wing parts (22, 24), with guard walls, which can be folded over the cars to form a compact shipping unit.

A vehicle track and vehicle of the same general class of vehicles which includes toboggans, bobsleds, roller coasters, and other free-falling vehicles. The track includes a multiplicity of longitudinally joined, juxtaposed track sections and stanchions for supporting the section at selected elevations above the ground. Each section further includes a rigid supporting frame extending between adjacent stanchions and a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart rails secured to the frame in a vertically spaced-apart relationship thereto. The frame and rails define therebetween an elongated channel. The vehicle includes an enclosure dimensioned to accomodate at least one person and to be received within the aforementioned channel. A plurality of wheels are rotatably mounted to the vehicle and in rolling engagement with the rails by means of axles secured to the vehicle at points above the bottom of the vehicle enclosure. Keeper means are secured to the vehicle for maintaining the wheels in engagement with the rails.

A rail-borne vehicle for a roller coaster has a front axle and a rear axle each connected by a swivel joint with a respective bearing plate which is joined to the vehicle body through a set of shock absorbers carried at the end of a pair of transverse outrigger arms. The outrigger arms of the front bearing plate are pivotally secured thereto for swinging about a central longitudinal axis. Each axle consists of two wheel-bearing stubs rigid with a common axle housing on which a power shaft for a traction wheel is journaled in resiliently mounted bearings, the traction wheel being frictionally engageable with an ancillary track member located between the rails along uphill stretches of the vehicular path. A motor aboard the vehicle, energizable by bus bars extending alongside the ancillary track member, is connected with the traction wheels of both axle housings through universally jointed shafts and is coupled through a freewheel with a releasable brake preventing reverse rotation of the motor and backsliding of the vehicle on an upgrade. The power shaft is coupled with the traction wheel through an overrunning clutch enabling free coasting of the vehicle at high speeds.

A novel truss track assembly for use in transporting passenger vehicles provides two sets of tracks for supporting two passenger vehicles concurrently. The truss track assembly includes four running rails for mounting passenger vehicles and a central support rail. A series of frame elements are periodically secured to the running rails and the central support rail to support and maintain the parallel relationship of the running rails and the central support rail. The truss track assembly may be "split" into two individual truss track assemblies wherein the individual truss track assemblies each accommodate a passenger vehicle or a train of passenger vehicles. The present invention further provides a novel side-mount vehicle suitable for mounting of the present invention on the truss track assembly. The side-mount vehicle improves sight line feature by locating the passengers off to the side of the track; rather than locating them above the track as with conventional designs, or below the track as with suspended designs. A side-mount passenger vehicle travels along a pair of parallel rails fixed in space. The rails of the present invention remain oriented in an essentially vertical plane with respect to a seated passenger, as opposed to the horizontal orientation associated with more conventional roller coaster rides. Seats are positioned on a cantilevered beam which is affixed at one end to a main chassis beam. The main chassis beam is secured to the parallel rails through two sets of wheel assemblages. The side-mount feature of the present invention enhances and intensifies passenger thrill and excitement because of substantially unrestricted passenger view in all directions, resulting in a "free flying" experience.

A recreational mountain slide is basically a double-rail track down which a wheeled cart rolls. The rails are channels of substantially rectangular cross-section laid such that each provides a top, a bottom, and an inside vertical face, each such face being substantially flat, continuous, and unobstructed throughout the length of the track. The rails are mounted on supports which are adjustable and readily removable, being attached to the rails solely along their outer vertical faces. The front wheels of the cart are steerable by the rider. Each wheel is of constant diameter throughout its width and is wider than the rail on which it runs. The wheels are restrained from sliding laterally or jumping vertically off the track by members mounted on the cart in position to bear on the inside vertical face or the bottom face, respectively, of the adjacent rail. The cart also has brakes which can bear upwardly on the bottom face of the rail. The slide is equipped with a timer system actuated by passage of the cart to show the time taken in traversing the slide.