EP0998339B1 - Dispositif de divertissement - Google Patents

Dispositif de divertissement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0998339B1
EP0998339B1 EP98936755A EP98936755A EP0998339B1 EP 0998339 B1 EP0998339 B1 EP 0998339B1 EP 98936755 A EP98936755 A EP 98936755A EP 98936755 A EP98936755 A EP 98936755A EP 0998339 B1 EP0998339 B1 EP 0998339B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carriage
track
amusement device
track portion
chassis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98936755A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0998339A1 (fr
Inventor
Jacob Hubert Marie Houben
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vekoma Tech BV
Original Assignee
Vekoma Tech BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vekoma Tech BV filed Critical Vekoma Tech BV
Publication of EP0998339A1 publication Critical patent/EP0998339A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0998339B1 publication Critical patent/EP0998339B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
    • A63G7/00—Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an amusement device comprising an elongated track and a carriage which is movable over said track, which carriage comprises a chassis which is capable of movement over said track, as well as a seating part provided with seats, which can pivot through at least 180° with respect to said chassis.
  • seating part used herein is understood to mean that part of the carriage which is capable of accommodating one person or a number of persons in a sitting, standing or recumbent position.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an amusement device wherein the pivoting of the carriage takes place in a more spectacular manner.
  • said track comprises an upwardly extending track portion
  • said amusement device comprises means for pivoting the seating part of the carriage through 180°, about a pivot axis intersecting a plane comprising the track perpendicularly, near an upper end of said upwardly extending track portion.
  • the track comprises an upward, preferably substantially vertically extending track portion, whereby the end portion is located near an upper part of said track portion.
  • the pivoting of the seating part, the stopping of the carriage and the moving of the carriage in downward direction must be carried out within the shortest possible space of time so as to achieve an optimum approximation of the movement of a stunt plane.
  • a vertical downward movement also called a “tail slide”
  • Said vertical downward movement is continued during said pivoting.
  • said tail slide which is simulated with the method according to the invention, the movement of a stunt plane is approximated even more.
  • An embodiment of the amusement device according to the invention is characterized in that said amusement device comprises a number of carriages positioned one behind the other, whose chassis are coupled, whereby the seating parts of the individual carriages can be individually pivoted through at least 180°.
  • Figures 1A-1D show an amusement device 10 according to the invention, which comprises an elongated track 11 and a carriage 12, which is movable over said elongated track 11.
  • the amusement device 10 which is shown in Figures 1A-1E comprises one carriage 12, which is shown in several successive positions 1-8 on track 11.
  • the elongated track 11 comprises a substantially horizontal track portion 13, two upwardly curved track portions 14, 15, which adjoin said horizontal track portion 13 on either side thereof, an upwardly sloping track portion 16, which adjoins said curved track portion 14, an upwardly curved track portion 17, which adjoins track portion 16, and two vertically extending track portions 18, 19, which adjoin track portions 17 and 15 respectively.
  • the vertically extending track portions 18, 19 are supported by two vertically extending columns 20, 21, which are provided with tubes which are interconnected to form a lattice construction.
  • Track 11 is provided with two parallel tubes 22, 23, over which carriage 12 can move.
  • Carriage 12 is to that end provided with a chassis 24, which, as is shown in Figures 2, 3, is provided with four sets of guide rollers 25, which each comprise at least one wheel 26, which rolls on a tube 22, 23, two wheels 27, which roll along the side of the tube, and at least one wheel 28, which rolls against the underside of the tube 22, 23.
  • Assemblies 25 of this kind are known per se and need not be explained in more detail, therefore.
  • Carriage 12 furthermore comprises a seating part 29, which comprises four pairs of seats 30 positioned one behind the other.
  • Seating part 29 can be pivoted with respect to chassis 24, about a pivot axis 31 extending transversely to the chassis, by means of a rim 131.
  • Carriage 12 is to that end provided with a friction wheel 132, which is rotatably supported about an axis of rotation extending transversely to pivot axis 31 and to the elongated track.
  • Friction wheel 132 is coupled to rim 131 by means of a transmission (not shown).
  • Near the upper ends of the vertically extending track portions 18, 19, track 11 is provided with a friction track 133, on which friction wheel 132 rolls.
  • Amusement device 10 furthermore comprises two moving mechanisms 32, 33, which are each provided with an engaging device 34, which can be detachably coupled to chassis 24, and with a cable 35 connected to engaging device 34, which is passed over a guide roller 38 near an upper end 36, 38 of the vertically extending track portions 18, 19, which continues vertically in downward direction, and which is connected, after being passed over a guide roller 39, to a winch 40 near the underside of vertical upright 20, 21.
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the amusement device shown in Figure 1A, showing the position carriage 12 occupies near arrows II-II.
  • the cross-sectional view shows upright 21, which is provided with rods 41, 42, 43, which are interconnected to form triangles.
  • the rods are connected near their ends to vertically extending tubular sections 44, 45, 46.
  • Tubular section 46 is provided with a number of spaced-apart U-shaped carriers 47.
  • the ends of legs 48, 49 of U-shaped carriers 47 are connected to parallel tubes 22, 23.
  • Chassis 24 is provided with an elongated fin-shaped flange 50, which can be coupled to engaging device 34 by means which are known per se.
  • FIGS 4A-4C show engaging device 34, which forms part of a separate patent application NL-A-1005727 of the applicant and which will be explained only briefly, therefore.
  • Engaging device 34 comprises a number of pairs of cams 134, which can be rotated under spring force in directions indicated by arrows P7 and P8.
  • Engaging device 34 is furthermore provided with two slides 135, 136 which can be moved against spring force in directions indicated by arrows P5, P6, and which are provided with pins 137 positioned opposite said cams 134.
  • Track 11 is provided with a clamping device (not shown), by means of which forces can be exerted on slides 135, 136 in directions indicated by arrows P5, P6.
  • the starting point is position 1, in which position carriage 12 is present in horizontal track portion 13.
  • a boarding station is located near said horizontal track portion 13, from where persons can get in and off carriage 12.
  • Persons seated on seats 30 look in a direction of transport indicated by arrow P1.
  • the engaging device 34 coupled to carriage 12 is moved by winch 40 in the direction of transport indicated by arrow P1, over horizontal track portion 13, curved track portion 14, sloping track portion 16 and curved track portion 17 to vertical track portion 18, where carriage 12 reaches position 2.
  • the seating part 29 is disconnected from chassis 24, after which it is pivoted about horizontal pivot axis 31 in the direction indicated by arrow P2 (see Figure 1B, position 3; Figure 3), and subsequently it is connected to chassis 24 again.
  • the carriage is brought to a standstill, and carriage 12 takes up the position 4 shown in Figure 1C. It is preferred to have the completion of the pivoting movement and the stopping of the carriage take place simultaneously, in order to optimally approximate the sensation of an aeroplane diving about a horizontal axis.
  • the pivoting of the seating part 29 takes place in the manner as described with reference to Figure 2, for example.
  • the stopping of carriage 12 can take place in several manners.
  • a second possibility is to use the engaging device 34 shown in Figures 4A-4C, whereby the engaging device 34 connected to flange 50 of carriage 12 is decelerated, and slides 135, 136 are urged towards each other by means of a clamping device.
  • slides 135, 136 are moved towards each other and cams 134 are disconnected from flange 50.
  • Carriage 12 will be brought to a standstill as a result of the force of gravity, which force of gravity subsequently causes carriage 12 to move in downward direction.
  • carriage 12 After carriage 12 has been disconnected from engaging device 34, carriage 12 will be moved in a downward direction indicated by arrow P3 under the influence of the force of gravity.
  • Carriage 12 is then moved over horizontal track portion 18, curved track portion 17, sloping track portion 16, curved track portion 14, horizontal track portion 13 and curved track portion 15 to vertical track portion 19.
  • Engaging device 34 of moving mechanism 33 is coupled to carriage 12 on track portion 19, after which carriage 12 is moved to a position near the end 37 of vertical track portion 19 by means of winch 40.
  • Near end 37 (position 5) seating part 29 is pivoted about the horizontally extending pivot axis 31 in the direction indicated by arrow P2 (see Figure 1D, position 6; Figure 3), and carriage 12 is brought to a standstill.
  • carriage 12 takes up the position 7 shown in Figure 1E, after which engaging device 34 is disconnected from carriage 12 and carriage 12 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow P4 under the influence of the force of gravity. Since vertical track portion 19 is considerably longer than track portion 18, the sensation of being present in a vertically rising aeroplane, which subsequently makes a dive, is even stronger.
  • Carriage 12 then moves successively over vertical track portion 19, curved track portion 15, horizontal track portion 13, curved track portion 14 and sloping track portion 16.
  • Engaging device 34 of moving mechanism 32 is brought into engagement with fin-shaped flange 50 of carriage 12 on sloping track portion 16, and carriage 12 is brought to a standstill. Then the carriage is transported to horizontal track portion 13 in a direction opposed to arrow P1. The passengers present in carriage 12 get off and other passengers get in. It is possible, if desired, to pivot seating part 29 about pivot axis 31 on sloping track portion 16, so that the passengers also look in the direction of transport upon returning to horizontal track portion 13.
  • the carriage In order to simulate the sensation of a vertically rising and subsequently diving aeroplane even further, the carriage is first brought to a standstill, then it is moved in downward direction over a predetermined distance of a few metres, and during this downward movement it is pivoted through 180°, after which the carriage is moved further in downward direction. During said movement moved over said predetermined distance the carriage is connected to a claw device, by means of which the carriage is moved over said predetermined distance in a controlled manner. After the pivoting movement through 180° has been completed, and it has been assured that seating part 29 is interlocked with chassis 24, the claw is disconnected and the carriage is moved further in downward direction under the influence of the force of gravity.
  • the amusement device 10 with a number of coupled-together carriages 12, whereby the chassis 24 are coupled together and seating parts 29 can each pivot separately about a pivot axis 31 with respect to the associated chassis 24.
  • the seating parts can pivot in opposite directions, as is also done with aeroplanes flying one behind the other during stunt shows.
  • the pivoting of the seating part 29 with respect to chassis 24 may also take place by means of an electric motor.
  • the interlocking between the seating part and the chassis may be checked mechanically as well as electronically.
  • the track is U-shaped, whereby two vertically rising track portions are interconnected by a semicircular track portion. It is possible thereby to provide the semicircular track portion with a full looping.
  • the amusement device It is also possible to provide the amusement device with devices which blow smoke from the rear part of the carriage the moment it approaches the end position. If the carriage is shaped in the form of an aeroplane, this will give the impression of the aeroplane having engine trouble.
  • the carriage is brought to a standstill once at least one seating part of the carriage provided with seats has been pivoted through 180° about the pivot axis intersecting a plane comprising the track perpendicularly.
  • the seating part is pivoted through 180° and the carriage is brought to a standstill.
  • the carriage will be at a standstill the moment the pivoting movement through 180° is completed, and subsequently the carriage is moved in the opposite direction of transport, away from the end position.
  • the persons present in the carriage keep looking in the direction of movement of the carriage thereby.

Claims (7)

  1. Dispositif de divertissement (10) comprenant un chemin allongé (11) et un chariot (12) mobile sur le dit chemin, ce chariot (12) comprenant un châssis (24) capable de se déplacer sur le dit chemin, ainsi qu'une partie d'assise (29) pourvue de sièges (30), qui peut pivoter d'au moins 180° par rapport au dit châssis (24), caractérisé en ce que le dit chemin comprend une partie de chemin disposée vers le haut (18, 19), et en ce que le dit dispositif de divertissement (10) comprend des moyens pour faire pivoter sur 180° la partie d'assise (29) du chariot (12), autour d'un axe de pivotement (31) qui coupe perpendiculairement un plan contenant le chemin, au voisinage d'une extrémité supérieure de la partie de chemin (18, 19) disposée vers le haut.
  2. Dispositif de divertissement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la partie de chemin disposée vers le haut est orientée substantiellement verticalement.
  3. Dispositif de divertissement selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le dit dispositif de divertissement (10) comprend des moyens pour déplacer le chariot (12) d'une distance prédéterminée vers le bas, ainsi que des moyens pour séparer ensuite le dit chariot (12).
  4. Dispositif de divertissement selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que le dit dispositif d'amusement (10) comprend un certain nombre de chariots (12) placés l'un derrière l'autre, dont les châssis (24) sont couplés, de sorte que les parties d'assise (29) des chariots individuels (12) peuvent pivoter individuellement sur au moins 180°.
  5. Dispositif de divertissement selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que les parties d'assise (29) des chariots individuels (12) peuvent pivoter dans des directions opposées.
  6. Dispositif de divertissement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le dit chemin comprend une partie de chemin (13) qui est substantiellement horizontale, deux parties incurvées vers le haut (14, 15) prolongeant la partie de chemin horizontale (13) à ses deux extrémités, ces parties incurvées se prolongeant par des parties de chemin substantiellement verticales (18, 19) sur leurs côtés éloignés de la dite partie horizontale (13).
  7. Dispositif de divertissement selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce qu'une station d'embarquement est placée au voisinage de la dite partie horizontale.
EP98936755A 1997-07-23 1998-07-22 Dispositif de divertissement Expired - Lifetime EP0998339B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1006652 1997-07-23
NL1006652A NL1006652C2 (nl) 1997-07-23 1997-07-23 Werkwijze voor het bedrijven van een amusementsinrichting alsmede een dergelijke amusementsinrichting.
PCT/NL1998/000421 WO1999004875A1 (fr) 1997-07-23 1998-07-22 Procedes d'utilisation d'un dispositif de divertissement et dispositif de divertissement

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0998339A1 EP0998339A1 (fr) 2000-05-10
EP0998339B1 true EP0998339B1 (fr) 2004-01-14

Family

ID=19765401

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98936755A Expired - Lifetime EP0998339B1 (fr) 1997-07-23 1998-07-22 Dispositif de divertissement

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0998339B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE257737T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU8563698A (fr)
DE (1) DE69821111D1 (fr)
NL (1) NL1006652C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999004875A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19809641C2 (de) * 1998-03-06 2002-09-05 Abc Engineering Gmbh Flums Vergnügungsbahn, insbesondere für Jahrmärkte und Vergnüngsparks
DE10042597C1 (de) * 2000-08-30 2002-01-24 Werner Stengel Freifall-Turm für eine Achterbahn
US6755749B2 (en) 2000-09-08 2004-06-29 Werner Stengel Free-fall tower for a roller coaster
ITMI20022084A1 (it) * 2002-10-02 2004-04-03 Zamperla Antonio Spa Apparato per il divertimento.
WO2018213926A1 (fr) * 2017-05-26 2018-11-29 Nakhei Nejad Mohammad Appareil comportant un véhicule entraîné par câble et destiné à transporter une personne ou un chargement au-dessus d'un obstacle

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1474335A (en) * 1921-11-07 1923-11-13 Sebastian L Petrino Amusement apparatus
US1422032A (en) * 1922-03-27 1922-07-04 Chapman Frank Amusement device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1999004875A1 (fr) 1999-02-04
DE69821111D1 (de) 2004-02-19
AU8563698A (en) 1999-02-16
ATE257737T1 (de) 2004-01-15
NL1006652C2 (nl) 1999-01-26
EP0998339A1 (fr) 2000-05-10

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