DE29913225U1 - Roller coaster amusement device - Google Patents

Description

- 1 - DESCRIPTION

Amusement device in the form of a roller coaster

The invention relates to an amusement device in the form of a roller coaster, consisting of a track system and a number of passenger carriers which are guided on the track system by means of a chassis which surrounds the rails.

In all known roller coasters, the chassis and passenger supports are connected to form a structural unit in such a way that the passengers can sit above or below the tracks. In the example of the EU-O 545 860 Bl, the seats are arranged hanging from the chassis below the tracks, with the legs in the open air.

The invention is based on the object of further increasing the experience for the passengers.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the individual passenger carrier has laterally extending arms, for example in the manner of aircraft wings, on which the seats, including protective devices for accommodating the

Passengers are arranged.
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In contrast to the state of the art, the places for accommodating passengers are located at the side of the tracks or rails, whereby the invention allows numerous possibilities for the placement of the places. These can, for example, be arranged on the top of the booms, for example in such a way that the passengers can sit, lie down, kneel or stand.

can take.

However, it is also planned that the places for accommodating passengers are arranged on the underside of the booms, for example in the form of hanging seats or loungers. Of course, the places can be located both on the top and on the bottom of the booms.

Finally, it is possible to arrange seats for the passenger carriers at the free end of the boom, which can also be designed as swinging seats - similar to those on chain carousels.

Overall, the passenger carrier with its seats and outriggers can be designed in such contours that the impression of an airplane, zeppelin, rocket or the like is created. It is also possible to design the outrigger (wing) in a bent manner to further reinforce the impression of an airplane.

Finally, it is intended that several passenger carriers are coupled together to form a train. In this case, the individual passenger carrier can have a chassis at the rear and a coupling at the front for coupling to the passenger carrier in front. The front passenger carrier or each individual passenger carrier in the train, on the other hand, has two chassis arranged one behind the other. It is also possible to couple two or more passenger carriers, each of which has two chassis, together using rods, chains or the like.

These and other features of the invention emerge from the drawing. The invention is shown schematically in it.

Figure 1:

a front view of a passenger carrier with side outriggers, .

10

Figure 2:

a front view according to Figure 2 with seats for passengers arranged hanging on the booms,

Figure 3:

a front view according to Figure 2 with bent booms,

15 Figure 4:

a side view of a vehicle made up of several passenger carriers
train,

20

Figure 5:

a plan view of the train according to Figure 4 and

Figure 6:

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a stand with a lateral cross member and the track system arranged on it in a reduced view.

The example in Figure 1 shows the front view of a passenger carrier (2) which is guided on a track system (1) shown in section with the help of chassis (3). As is usual with roller coasters, the track system (1) consists of rails (4) running parallel to one another, which are connected to one another by crossbars (5) and are attached to supports, bases, foundations or the like (not shown). Instead of the rails, other guides can also be used for the chassis (3) of the passenger carrier (2), for example support profiles, support tubes or the like.

Each passenger carrier (2) has a chassis (3) for each rail (4), which is equipped in the usual way with running wheels (22) which surround the individual rail (4) on at least three sides. Such arrangements are known and do not require further description. If other guides are provided for the running wheels instead of the rails (4), then care must be taken that the guides are gripped by the chassis in a form-fitting manner.

Figure 1 shows that the seats (7) for accommodating passengers are arranged on the top side (8) of the boom (6) of the passenger carrier (2). These can be seats, loungers or arrangements for kneeling or standing for passengers. As is usual with such amusement rides, each seat (7) is provided with a protective device (15) which ensures that passengers cannot be harmed when the amusement ride is in operation.

(14) designates a seat frame that is connected to the boom (6) and offers space for two people sitting next to each other.

It is of course possible to change or enlarge these places (7) as required to accommodate passengers. The only essential feature of the invention is that the places (7) are arranged on the boom (6) to the side of the track system (1).

In the example in Figure 2, the passenger seats (7) are arranged on the underside (9) of the boom (6). Here too, seat frames (14) are connected to the boom (6), whereby the number of passengers on the seat frames (14) can be chosen as desired.

Support devices for standing, kneeling or hanging, as in space gliders, can be provided. The support devices do not necessarily have to be rigidly connected to the boom (6).

The embodiment in Figure 3 shows bent booms (6), which means that the seats (7) for the passengers are placed in an inclined position. This arrangement increases the amusement experience for the passengers, whereby it should be remembered that

&iacgr;&ogr; that the track system (1), as is usual with roller coasters, has steep gradients followed by sharp curves, which gives the passengers the feeling of flying.

In the example in Figure 6, a detail of the track system (1) is shown with a stand (20) on which a crossbeam (21) is located, the free front side of which carries the rails (4) and crossbars (5). The passenger carrier (2) guided on it has to rest on the stand when passing through these

(20) has an incline of more than 90 degrees, which also provides an enhanced driving experience. As with previously known amusement rides, the track systems (1) can have special shapes, such as loops, spiral sections or the like.

Figures 4 and 5 show several passenger carriers (2) coupled together to form a train (19). The front passenger carrier (2a) has two bogies (3) arranged one behind the other, whereas the following passenger carriers

(2) contain only one chassis at the rear and are connected via couplings (23) to the respective leading passenger carrier

(2). In this way, the hull (10) of the passenger carrier (2) is articulated like a link chain.

The passenger carriers (2) can be driven by external motors. For example, Figure 1 shows the

Arrangement of drive blades (11) on the underside of the passenger carriers (2) which are suitable for engagement with friction wheels. Brake blades (12) extend parallel to this and interact with stationary brakes (13).

The passenger carriers (2) can also be transported to the highest point of the track system (1) by linear motors, winches, chain or cable drives, so that they can then travel through the entire system under their own momentum.

The passenger carriers (2) can also have internal drive motors to enable them to overcome mountainous stretches under their own power. Linear motors or electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically driven friction wheels that act against stationary friction surfaces are particularly suitable for this purpose.

The track system (1) according to the invention does not have to

It must have a closed shape like a roller coaster. It can also be finite and have steep sections that the passenger travels through backwards and forwards.

The invention is therefore in no way limited to the embodiment shown, but includes all variants which are readily apparent to the person skilled in the art having knowledge of the disclosure of the invention.

— 7 — LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Track system 2 Passenger carrier 2a front passenger carrier 3 landing gear 4 rail 5 Crossbar 6 boom 7 Passenger seat 8th Top 9 bottom 10 hull 11 Drive sword 12 Brake sword 13 brake 14 Seat frame 15 Protective device 16 free end of the boom 17 Aircraft contour 18 Kink of the boom 19 Train 20 Stand 21 Cross member 22 Wheel 23 Support coupling

Claims (10)

1. Amusement facility of the type comprising a track system ( 1 ) and a number of passenger carriers ( 2 ) which are guided with the track system ( 1 ) by means of a chassis ( 3 ) which surrounds the rails ( 4 ), characterized in that the individual passenger carrier ( 2 ) has laterally extending arms ( 6 ), for example in the manner of aircraft wings, on which the seats including protective devices ( 15 ) for accommodating the passengers are arranged laterally at a distance from the rails ( 4 ). 2. Amusement installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the seats ( 7 ) are arranged on the upper side ( 8 ) of the booms ( 6 ), for example in such a way that the passengers can sit, lie, kneel or stand. 3. Amusement installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the seats ( 7 ) are arranged on the underside ( 9 ) of the booms ( 6 ), for example in the form of hanging seats or loungers. 4. Amusement facility according to claim 1, characterized in that the seats ( 7 ) are arranged at the free end ( 16 ) of the booms ( 6 ). 5. Amusement facility according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the passenger carrier(s) ( 1 ) have contours ( 17 ) of an aircraft. 6. Amusement facility according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the boom ( 6 ) (wing) is bent ( 18 ). 7. Amusement device according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that several passenger carriers ( 1 ) are coupled together to form a train ( 19 ). 8. Amusement device according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that a drive device external to the passenger carriers ( 2 ), e.g. linear drive, friction wheel drive, conveyor drive to the highest point of the track system or the like, is provided. 9. Amusement device according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the passenger carrier ( 2 ) has an internal drive, e.g. linear drive, friction wheel drive, rack and pinion drive or the like with an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic motor. 10. Amusement device according to claim 8, characterized in that the passenger carrier ( 2 ) in the area of the track system ( 1 ), in particular between the rails ( 4 ), has blades ( 11 , 12 ) for driving or braking.