EP0433557B2 - Looping the loop swing with parallel rows of seats - Google Patents

Abstract

The gondola (10) of a swingboat turning full circle and accommodating a plurality of passengers is suspended so that it oscillates between two parallel booms (5). The booms (5) are pivotally mounted about an axis (7) running horizontally between two vertical columns (2, 3) and can be motor-driven. The passenger gondola (10) is cardan-suspended on the ends of the booms (5). The booms (5) are synchronously driven and for this purpose are coupled together by a shaft (7). The cardan suspension of the passenger gondola (10) is achieved by means of pendulum arms (10a) on shafts (25) running transversely to the pendulum axis (11). The deflection of the shafts (25) in relation to the booms (5) is limited to a small angle. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a rollover swing with a passenger gondola that runs between two parallel ones Cantilevers are suspended in such a way that they free around their pendulum axis Can perform rollovers, and which in turn rotatable about a horizontal axis stored and driven by a motor, on a Base frame held by a vertical support is, the Fahrgatsitze with a small distance of their Head areas from the pendulum axis in the passenger nacelle are arranged that the line of sight the passenger is perpendicular to the pendulum axis.

US-A-2 158 073 is an amusement facility with a vertical one around its vertical axis known rotatable center post on the side flying towards each other over two double brackets are stored, each - on both sides of their axis of rotation extending - at their diametrical ends one Carrying the gondola, each of which has two passenger backs are arranged on the back. Each of the (total four) Gondolas is between one end of the double boom suspended from a swing axis, which near the upper back ends of the Passenger seats runs. The swing axis is as Shaft formed, which can be driven by an electric motor is. This can also be from those in the gondola seated passengers are turned on like a brake with which the nacelle opposite the Swing axis shaft can be locked.

This arrangement allows the individual passenger to its gondola regardless of the boom position any angular positions in relation to the boom to give: When the motor is operated at the same time and parking brake will force the nacelle rotated around the swing axis. The engine remains switched off, but the brake applied, so is the Angular position of the nacelle locked to the boom, and with the boom rotating, the nacelle swings no longer in their normal position, but moves with the boom in a rigid relative position to this, if necessary also in an overhead position.

Neither the gondola rotation caused by the engine around the swing axis over a full circular path take the braked gondola with you puts the boom over top dead center in this known amusement facility Rollover rocking process. One such sets a free rotation of the gondola around the swing axis ahead. The driving impression perceived by the passenger is in the event of a rollover (alternating upward deceleration and downward acceleration) a completely different one than a motor-driven one Circular motion.

Furthermore, the arrangement described and individual control of the (majority of) gondolas only with small gondolas for a maximum of two people realize because otherwise the worst Forces occurring coincidence are no longer sufficient would be manageable.

The modern technology of relevant amusement facilities on the other hand goes there, large gondolas intended for a large number of passengers (e.g. EP-B-140 238 and 231 051). For one thing, heightened this is the profitability of the ride operation, on the other hand and above all stimulate each other several, subject to the same movement sensations Experience has shown that people are mutual.

A rollover ride with a large gondola has proposed DE-A-33 21 599 with the aim of a quick and impressive driving experience enable labor-saving assembly and disassembly. The latter should be telescopic and on the base frame pivoted hinged supports will. The driving experience, however, is determined by the fact that the gondola does not swing freely on the arms is hung on, but is always held horizontally and only with the arms around their axis of rotation Can roll over. A rollover of the nacelle around its axis of rotation would not be possible, because it passengers would have to be in the relatively far below the rows of seats arranged so high Accelerations are suspended that the rollover not responsible from a medical point of view would.

In contrast, the invention aims to one Large number of passengers at the same time, namely in one Large gondola with the relatively simple means of conventional ones Rollover swing an interesting one Convey driving experience without excessive - subject to high accelerations, regardless of the seating position of the individual Passengers in the passenger gondola; different to at the ride of EP-B-140 238, at which too no rollover of the gondola is possible.

This object is achieved by the Features of claim 1 solved.

This is a rollover swing operation with a large gondola that accommodates many passengers possible without the head / neck area of the Passengers exposed to excessive accelerations becomes. Because when the passenger gondola rolls over, it adds up if necessary, the centrifugal force field of the nacelle rotation to that of boom rotation; in acceleration of gravity occurs during the downturn added. The resulting overall acceleration can be critical especially in the cervical region impact when directed perpendicular to the spine is (whip effect).

At the same time, the aforementioned arrangement of Passenger seats accepting two rows of passengers, who look in the same direction and therefore same driving impression when rocking and Overturning the large gondola have what the Back-to-back arrangement of the passenger seats according to US-A-2 158 073 is not the case.

Taking into account a suitable distance the total center of gravity of the (occupied) gondola the arrangement of the pendulum axis is so that the horizontal component of the head gap of the pendulum axis is relatively low. In contrast plays the vertical component of this Distance hardly matters: is the head of the Passenger, for example, under the pendulum axis, expresses itself the centrifugal force of the rollover in an uncritical Compressive force on the spine. With the terraced rows of seats arranged one behind the other and should be the horizontal distance in the line of sight rear row of seats may be larger than that of the front, because the headrests of the rear row of the pendulum axis are facing the heads of those sitting there Passengers overturning against the supports be pressed while (for reasons of space) the seats the front row so far in front need that the swing axle behind their headrests lies and passengers overturn to one slight pitching motion (forward).

The spherical bearings of the passenger nacelle are preferred (on the pendulum arms) locking devices assigned in particular in the form of brakes, with which the passenger gondola in certain Angular position to the outriggers opposite fixable is; this is known per se from US-A-2 158 073. Here this allows those described below Fahrzyldus.

Another development of the new rollover swing is that each pendulum arm (the Fahrgaslgondel) gimbal on one on the boom attached shaft with a cross to the axis of rotation extending axis and - other than according to the EP-B-231 051 - by small angles to the Boom can be deflected. This way, constraints in the supports, the brackets and / or the Passenger gondola leaning forward with its pendulum arms, due to inaccuracies in the setup in particular a travel business and are almost inevitable. The deflection angle through a prestressed, annular Rubber element to be limited, which is on a coaxial Extension of the shaft arranged and from the pendulum arm is included The rubber element dampens at the same time Load change movements, such as when rolling over the passenger gondola occur.

Also the compensation of possibly occurring Squeezes serve the measure that one the boom transverse to its radial longitudinal extent is divided and the two parts around one to the axis of rotation the boom transverse axis against each other are pivotable to a limited extent.

Finally, there is an advantageous measure for travel operations one with a chassis for this purpose equipped rollover swing in that a water tank is provided for loading the chassis is that of telescopically nested or coaxially vertically extendable ring elements consists, on the inside, in the extended Condition upper ring a more flexible, the ring elements container lined in the extended state is attached, which is pushed together (emptied) state is folded. On this can be done on a relatively small footprint the receiving device for the required amount of water accommodate without the permissible total height of the water tank in the travel state - if the Tank is empty - to be exceeded.

The driving cycle mentioned above is as in Claim 8 described the result of a special Method for operating a rollover swing of the present type. It stands out that at the beginning of a driving cycle the boom from their vertically downward position initially against the forward direction of rotation deflected by an acute angle and the pendulum arms the still vertically hanging passenger gondola locked against the outriggers, that then the outrigger (with the Passenger gondola) rotated in the forward direction and the lock is released if - shortly before reaching the boom zenith position The center of gravity of the gondola is the vertical through the pendulum axis happened. The latter measure leads to a forward tilting of the previous one passenger gondola moved into an overhead position. The gondola swings around its pendulum axis through and is at the same time by the turning To some extent 'outdated' outrigger, so that yourself without further influence and from the stand away 'results in a rollover of the passenger gondola.

You have it with the drive speed of the boom in hand, the temporal and spatial course of the To influence the rollover process, such as that there is no further rollover, only for a second rollover etc. Also, if the locking of the passenger gondola opposite the booms with the help of a brake is used to directly influence the pendulum process be used.

Fig. 1 das neue Fahrgeschäft in Frontalansicht;

Fig. 2 in Seitenansicht

Fig. 3 in Draufsicht;

Fig. 4 die Anordnung der Sitzreihen in vergrößertem Maßstab;

Fig. 5 eine (teilweise geschnittene) Draufsicht auf ein Lager der Gondel-Pendelarme an den Auslegern;

Fig. 6 einen Schnitt gemäß der Linie A-A in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 eine Seitenansicht eines der Beschwerung eines Reisegeschäfts dienenden Wassertanks im Betriebszustand;

Fig. 8 eine Draufsicht auf den Wassertank in Fig. 1; und

Fig. 9 in schematischer Darstellung den Ablauf eines Fahrzyklus' bzw. einer Umdrehung der Ausleger.

The drawings illustrate the invention and its developments using exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Figure 1 shows the new ride in frontal view.

Fig. 2 in side view

Fig. 3 in plan view;

4 shows the arrangement of the rows of seats on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a (partially sectioned) top view of a bearing of the gondola pendulum arms on the arms;

6 shows a section along line AA in FIG. 5;

7 shows a side view of a water tank serving for weighting a travel business in the operating state;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the water tank in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 shows a schematic representation of the course of a driving cycle or a rotation of the boom.

On a base frame (platform) 1 are two vertical Supports 2 and 3 attached. At the top ends the supports 2, 3, the hubs 4 are supported by brackets 5, that of electric motors 6 reversible and driven with speed control can. The two drives are through a cardan shaft 7 coupled together.

The boom 5 have on the other side of the Hubs 4 counterparts 5a, on which counterweights 9 are attached. These are preferably sized that their total weight is the total weight of the Passenger gondola 10 corresponds to half the occupation.

The passenger gondola 10 is in the free end The ends of the boom 5 are parallel to the axis 7 extending axis 11 freely swinging, and by means of pendulum arms 10a, which in comparison with the arms 5 are short. Each bearing 11a is one - shown in Fig. 6 - associated with the brake the pendulum movement of the passenger gondola 10 to Standstill influenced, or a certain angular position the pendulum arms 10a locked to the arms 5 can be. Two rows 12 of seats 13 for Passengers are terraced at different heights arranged in the passenger gondola 10, namely such that the rows 12 are parallel to the axis 7 extend.

The arrangement of the seats 13 with respect to the pendulum axis 11 is shown in FIG. 4. The seats 13 of the rear row of seats 12 - in the direction of view of the passengers - have head restraints 14 which are at about the same height as the axis 11 and in when the gondola 10 is at rest a horizontal distance of around 1 m behind it. The headrests 14 of the front, slightly lower row of seats 12 are correspondingly lower and below the pendulum axis 11, but at the same time also in front of this at a horizontal distance which is smaller than that of the other row 13. The overall center of gravity (gravity line) S _{Ges of} the gondola 10 is below the pendulum axis 11 and thus between the rows of seats 13.

The left boom 5 in Fig. 1 is divided transversely, and the two parts are somewhat against each other about the axis 15 pivotable so that a disparallelism of the two booms 5 do not cause constraining forces on the Gondola 10 leads; supplementary is that described below Training of the bearing 11a to be considered.

With the flange 16, this is enlarged in FIG. 5 Bearing 11a shown attached to the boom 5 (Fig. 1), so that its housing 17 each part of the boom 5 forms. This also includes what can be seen in FIG. 6 - Housing 18 of a braking device, the following will be described in more detail. In the housing 17 is a ball slewing ring 19 with its outer ring 20 held; its inner ring 21 is part of a hub 22 of the bearing 11a.

On a plate also belonging to the hub 22 23 end shields 24 are attached, which a shaft Hold 25 on the hub 22, on the shaft 25 is under Mediation of a spherical ring segment 26 a socket 27 gimbaled, on which the pendulum arm 10a the gondola 10 is attached. This way you can each pendulum arm 10a slightly opposite the bearing 11a deflect. Everyone is limited and subdued such movement by an axially biased Rubber ring 28 on a coaxial extension 29 of the shaft 25 sits, and on the outside of a socket 30 is enclosed on the pendulum arm 10a.

On the other side of the plate 23 is one Brake drum 31 attached, which with the brake pads 32 a the brake drum 31 concentrically surrounding, generally designated 33 brake cooperates. The brake 33 is designed that it can withstand the torque that a passenger gondola angled relative to the boom 5 10 also when fully occupied Expiry of the operating cycle described above. The operation of the brake 33 - due to its interpretation explained above also a Represents locking device - takes place with the help of a concentric hose 34, the outside to the radially movable brake shoes 32 with the help of compressed air is a radially inward force can exercise.

Fig. 7 shows the support 3 one in the whole designated 35, the water tank in Fig. 1st is omitted, but what is indicated there (in Fig. 7 not shown) chassis of a travel business with the help of the weight of water in the operating state is able to strain. The water tank 35 consists of four nested concentric or coaxial ring elements 36, 37, 38 and 39 with vertical axis, which when emptied Pushed the water tank 35 down can be loosened after the connections 40 were. There is a inside of the elements 39 (not shown) container from a corresponding resistant plastic film or the like, which is attached to the upper edge of the upper ring 39 and fold in the lower part of the water tank 35 can, if this is emptied for travel and pushed together.

As can be seen in the bearing eye 41 in FIG. 7, the supports 2, 3 are transverse to the axes 7, 11 as well horizontal axes against each other articulated to the base frame 1 when the rollover swing trained as a mobile travel business is. The tilt axes are different Height above the base frame because then with the hubs 4 of the boom 5 for transport one above the other and thus space-saving and have it stored safely for transport.

Fig. 9 shows in phases a) - e) the sequence of a Driving cycle 'with one revolution of the boom 5 and a rollover of the gondola 10. At the position a) it is the starting or resting position, in which passengers can get on and off. The arms 5 are directed downwards, and in its radial continuation depends on the nacelle 10 below. At the start of driving operations, the booms 5 initially clockwise by the angle α deflected. The gondola 10 still hangs vertically downward so that its vertical main plane with the main plane of the boom 5 the angle 180-α includes. When this angular position is reached lock it in place, the size of which has been previously determined the brakes 33 the aforementioned angular position between the arms 5 and the nacelle 10 (Position b).

Now the boom 5 against the Turned clockwise and take the locked one Gondola 10 in unchanged relative position with, see above that this is illustrated in the image from c) Moved overhead. The position c) illustrates at the same time the moment just before Reaching top dead center (zenith position) of the Boom 5 the center of gravity of the gondola 10 as a result his kinked position in relation to the outriggers 5 has reached the other side and therefore - already overweight in the representation of c) Counterclockwise rotation also achieved Has. At this moment, the brakes 33 released and the locking ended.

This can - as Figure d) shows - tilt the nacelle 10 and counterclockwise one turn accomplish. Because the boom 5 continues turn, they support the rollover of the gondola 10, which takes place approximately in the horizontal position of the boom 5, as shown in picture e).

Claims (8)

1. A loop-the-loop mechanical swing which has a passenger gondola suspended to swing between two parallel booms (5) in such a way that it can execute free loop-the-loops about its axis of swing (11), the said booms in turn being supported to be able to turn and be motor-driven about an axle (7) which runs horizontally and is carried by means of a vertical support (2; 3) an a base (1), the passengers' seats (13) being arranged in the passenger gondola (10) with the region of their heads at a short distance from the axis of swing (11) and in such a way that the passengers are looking in a direction perpendicular to the axis of swing (11), the booms (5) being supported between two supports (2, 3) arranged on the base (1), whilst merely two rows (12) of a number of passengers' seats (3) arranged side by side are provided and arranged terraced at different heights looking the same way in the passenger gondola (10), the horizontal distance of the headrests (14) of the back row from the axis of swing (11) lying in front of them being greater than the horizontal distance of the headrests (14) of the front row from the axis of swing lying behind them.
2. A loop-the-loop mechanical swing as in Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   locking mechanisms (33) are associated with the pendulum bearings (11a) of the passenger gondola (10), by which the passenger gondola (10) may be located in a certain angular position (α) with respect to the booms (5).
3. A loop-the-loop mechanical swing as in Claim 2,
      characterized in that
   each locking mechanism consists of a brake (33) which is arranged in the boom (5) concentrically about a brakedrum (31) fitted to the part of the bearing next the gondola.
4. A loop-the-loop mechanical swing as in one of the preceding Claims,
      characterized in that
   on a shaft (25) fastened to the boom (5) each swing-arm (10a) of the passenger gondola (10) is carried with a Cardan motion by a shaft running transversely to the axis of swing (11), and able to deflect through a small angle with respect to the boom (5).
5. A loop-the-loop mechanical swing as in Claim 4, characterized in that the angle of deflection is limited by a prestressed annular rubber element (28) which is arranged on a coaxial extension (29) from the shaft (25) and is embraced by the swing-arm (10a, 30).
6. A loop-the-loop mechanical swing as in one of the preceding Claims,
      characterized in that
   one of the booms (5) is subdivided transversely to its radial longitudinal extent and the two parts are able to swing to a limited extent with respect to one another about an axis (15) running transversely to the axis of rotation (7) of the booms (5).
7. A loop-the-loop mechanical swing for travelling service
      as in one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that
   for loading the chassis a water tank (35) is provided which consists of circular sections (36 - 39) which may be slid into one another telescopically or run out coaxially vertically, whilst a flexible container which lines the circular sections in the run-out state and is folded up in the collapsed and emptied state is fastened to the inner circular section (39) which in the run-out state is at the top.
8. A method of operation of a loop-the-loop mechanical swing
      which has a passenger gondola (10) suspended at the ends from relatively short swing-arms (10a) to swing between two parallel booms (5) which in turn are supported to be able to turn and be motor-driven about an axle (7) running between two vertical supports (2, 3) arranged on a base (1), characterized in that
   at the start of a running cycle the booms (5) from their position directed vertically downwards are first of all deflected through an acute angle (α) in the opposite direction to their forwards rotation and the swing-arms (10a) of the passenger gondola (10) which is still hanging vertically are locked with respect to the booms (5), that then the booms with the forwards tilted passenger gondola are turned in the forwards direction and the locking is released when - shortly before reaching the zenith position of the booms - the centre of gravity of the gondola has passed through the vertical through the axis of swing (11), whereupon the passenger gondola (10) executes one single free somersault.

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