DE29707929U1 - Earthquake simulator - Google Patents

Description

Earthquake simulator for entertainment and educational purposes for use in amusement parks

Simulators for use in amusement parks are known in the form of a computer-controlled moving cabin in which a film is shown on a screen. The movements shown in the film are synchronously translated into movements in the cabin, thus creating the driving feeling corresponding to the film.

An earthquake sensing device housed in a building is known from a museum.

The well-known simulators are operated by operating personnel. The simulation effect is controlled by computer programs that are selected by the operating personnel and over which the passengers have no direct influence.

The object of the invention is to build an earthquake simulator that can be entered and exited by users even during operation and whose movement intensity can be controlled by the users

The advantage of such a simulator is that no operating personnel is required and that users can determine the earthquake intensity to which they are willing to expose themselves.

A further object of the invention is to create boundary conditions for the experience of an earthquake that make the experience of the quake feel stronger than the physical stresses that the users are expected to endure. In this way, stronger quakes can be experienced without any safety risk.

A further object of the invention is to design the drives in such a way that self-service is possible with only 2 operating elements, one to increase the intensity and one with priority to reduce the intensity. In this way, self-service with instructions in sign language is possible which is independent of the language.

The aim of the invention is to create an attractive facility for amusement parks that allows guests to test their limits in a real experience and to experience and learn a lot of interesting things about an interesting topic in our world.

According to the invention, the objects of the invention are achieved by the interaction of several features.

In order to give the simulator a look that fits the theme of earthquakes, the invention proposes a volcanic cone as the shape that you can walk into. Inside the volcanic mountain there is a small square that is designed like a village square and where the earthquake can be experienced.

The invention is explained using a drawing that shows a cross-section through the volcano.

A footbridge (1) leads inside the volcano to an almost circular area that is bordered by an outer railing (2). In the middle, a small island is surrounded by the inner railing (3). This creates a circular path with railings on both sides so that every guest can hold on safely during the earthquake.

In the middle of the island there is a stand (4) on which lamps are attached in the style of street lamps, which provide dim lighting in the room. Above the plate there is a hemispherical vault (5) which represents the starry sky at night and from which small round lights - the stars - and in one place the moon shine.

The round space is designed as a disc, which is supported in the middle by a kind of ball joint ( 6 ).

Near the outer edge, the disk is held by two special crank gears (7 and 8) offset by 90° and set in a spatially oscillating movement, which also has a rotating component around the center of the disk. Both crank gears are driven by motors with continuously variable speed control.

One of the two crank gears ( 7 ) is equipped with a device in addition to the speed control, which allows the stroke acting on the disc to be continuously adjusted with the help of a servomotor ( 9 ). The crank drive works

(10) onto a lifting arm (11).

The lifting rod ( 12 ), which transmits the stroke to the disc, is on the lifting arm

(11) is arranged so that it can be moved by means of a linear bearing. The servomotor^ 9 ) controls the position of the lifting rod ( 12 ) on the lifting arm (11) and thus the stroke path, which has the effect of tilting the disc.

The second crank mechanism (8), which is arranged offset by 90° (shown in the same plane in the drawing), has 2 connecting rods that work offset by 90° and thus cause a horizontal and a vertical movement. The horizontal movement causes the movement component rotating around the center of the disk. The vertical movement causes a tilting movement of the disk offset by 90° to the drive (7).

Since the two drives run at different speeds, the sum of the motion components results in a constantly changing and unpredictable earthquake movement

Through this movement, guests experience a wave-like lift and

-3-

-3 -

Sinking movement, a tilting movement of the ground and a pushing movement as

when the ground is pulled out from under their feet.

Since the quake intensity that guests can physically tolerate is smaller than what can actually occur in intense earthquakes, the invention also provides an optical illusion. In order to make the movements appear larger to guests than they have to physically endure, the semi-spherical vault (5), which represents the starry sky, is moved by cables in the opposite direction to the movements of the disc.

Not every guest wants to be exposed to an earthquake for the same length of time or to the same intensity. In order to meet the different wishes of the guests in this regard, two measures have been taken.

a) The speed of the drives of the quake movement and the lifting height of the lift drive (7) can be controlled by the passengers continuously or in several stages. For this purpose, mushroom buttons (13) in two different colors, e.g. red and green, are attached to the railings. If one of the red mushroom buttons is pressed by a passenger, the intensity of the quake decreases. If one of the green mushroom buttons is pressed, the intensity increases unless a red mushroom button is pressed at the same time.

b) The access to the volcano is designed in the form of a torsionally flexible web ( 1 ) which is fixed on the outside by a longitudinal guide ( 14 ) which allows slight tilting, pushing and turning movements.

The end is a thin sheet of metal that moves slightly on a flat surface. The inside is designed in a similar way, but instead of the longitudinal guide it has a swivel joint (15). The part of the smaller tilting movement is compensated by the torsionally soft construction, while the part of the rotary movement is absorbed by the swivel joint. This construction makes it possible to enter and leave the simulator at any time, even during full operation.

Claims (9)

Protection claims: 1. Earthquake simulator characterized in that the building in which the earthquake is simulated has the shape of a cone-shaped volcano (Krakatowa volcano). 2. Earthquake simulator characterized in that the quaking round square is entered via a footbridge (1) which is designed to be torsionally flexible and is held at its ends by a longitudinal guide (14) and a swivel joint (15). 3. Earthquake simulator characterized in that it is equipped with a hemispherical vault ( 5 ) which represents the starry sky. 4 Earthquake simulator according to claim 3, characterized in that the hemispherical vault (5) is driven in the opposite direction to the movements of the place. 5. Earthquake simulator characterized in that the space in the middle is supported by a kind of ball joint. 6. Earthquake simulator characterized in that the disk is set in motion by two offset crank gears ( 7 + 8 ). 7. Earthquake simulator characterized in that one of the crank gears (7) is equipped with a device which, with the aid of a servomotor (9), allows the stroke acting on the disc to be continuously adjusted. 8. Earthquake simulator according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the crank gears has two connecting rods arranged offset by 90°, one of which causes a component rotating about the center of the disk. 9. Earthquake simulator characterized in that Mushroom buttons are installed in places that are easily accessible for passengers, with which passengers can control the intensity of the movements themselves.