EP2931393B1 - Water amusement ride having a floating body - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a preferably rotating water ride with at least one watercraft, which is moved in a body of water and has at least one place for receiving passengers.

Such a water ride is z. B. off DE 10 2004 062 315 A1 known. The waterborne floating body of a watercraft is articulated with a landing gear, which is guided by a arranged on the water bottom rail, so that it can perform limited transverse or lifting movements relative to the chassis. The chassis is pulled in one embodiment by means of a guided over pulleys pull rope through the water. This water ride is therefore a water ride equipped with rails, in which the individual watercraft drive along the track in a kind of streambed along.

For such bound to rails watercraft describes the DE 10 2006 053 664 B3 to provide below the vessel a special float, which is rotatably mounted on a frame. On the underside of the floating body, a paddle wheel connected to this is arranged so that the float is set in rotary motion when driving through the water. Passengers can board these watercraft via a special landing platform at the stop of the water ride, where the watercraft must dock gently at this stop.

Another watercraft that relies on rails running within a stream or river bed is in EP 1 671 686 B1 described. The float and the chassis are coupled there via coupling elements to each other. The coupling elements ensure that the float is fixed after lowering the landing gear of the vessel.

A rotating water ride, namely a water carousel, is off CH 183488 known. This rotating water ride has a float with places to accommodate passengers. The float is equipped as an annular, buoyant shell, are arranged in the seats for receiving persons. The annular float can be rotatably mounted around a mast or anchor in the water and rotatably mounted about its attachment point by means of rowing or by means of an auxiliary motor. At the outer edge of the float can z. B. a sloping board can be provided, from which the bathers can spin with enough rapid rotation into the water. In addition, ropes or rings may be attached to the float so that people floating in the water can be carried along. Access to the seats provided in the float is accomplished via a drop bridge that passengers must cross.

Another turning water ride is out of the DE 10 2009 053 439 A1 known. It discloses the features of the preamble of present claim 1. In this rotating water ride a circular, large platform is provided, which protrudes in a dormant state of the water ride business from the water surface of the water and is in an operating condition below the water surface. This allows the passengers to get to their seats in the water vehicles dry while resting on the water ride reach. On the large, circular platform are preferably several smaller, circular individual platforms, which also rotate to each other. The vessels are also rotating on these small single platforms. For example, three watercraft can be placed on each of the individual platforms, in which, for example, four passengers can each take place. Essential in this rotating water ride is that when lifting the large platform, the individual platforms are automatically lifted by suitable coupling elements with. When lifting the platform with the individual platforms - depending on the size of the rotating water ride - several tons of weight must be moved axially.

Documents US 3 967 570 A and US 8,286,574 reveal lifting equipment for watercraft. The present invention aims to provide a rotating water ride, in which a lifting of the platform can be done with less energy. Another object is to provide a suitable driving device for the water ride business.

The former goal is achieved by a water ride with the features of claim 1.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is thus essentially based on designing the already known from the previously known water ride platform carrier and / or the platform itself, that this have at least one float. Floating bodies are known to have a buoyancy force with respect to the surrounding medium, which in the present case is water during operation of the water ride business according to the invention. Thus, less effort is required to lift the platform than in a conventional water ride. As a result, the platform can be raised with significantly lower energy consumption when establishing a state of rest, ie at the end of the driving operation. By such a reduced energy consumption, the drive devices for lifting the platform can be equipped with less power and thus build lighter and smaller. In addition, it is possible to raise the platform more quickly overall due to the existing float in the platform support and / or in the platform.

The platform carrier is preferably located in the center of the rotating water ride business and is designed star-shaped or cross-shaped. When using three arranged on the large platform single platforms, which also rotate, it is advisable to design the platform support in a star shape with three at an angle of 120 ° to each other arranged platform arms. In addition, it is also possible to provide any other shape for the platform support, in particular a platform support with a cross structure in which the arms are at an angle of 90 ° to each other. Other platform forms are also possible. With regard to the geometric design of the platform support almost no limits are set. It is essential for the platform carrier that it is coupled to the platform or is in communication and that a raising and lowering of the platform is possible.

According to the present invention, it is such that this platform carrier and / or the platform itself is equipped with at least one, preferably a plurality of floats, so-called pontoons or in general terms buoyancy bodies or buoyancy elements. In the simplest case, these floats can be integrated in the preferably made of metal platform support as Hohlwandungen or trays.

In one embodiment, it is e.g. possible that a plurality of hollow bodies, so floating bodies, are incorporated in the cross-shaped platform carrier. It is also possible that the float or hollow body in the platform support, if desired, are partially flooded with water to set the desired buoyancy force due to the use of a floating body in the platform carrier targeted.

It is also within the scope of the invention to place in one of the hollow body of the platform support an electromotive or hydraulic drive device, on the one hand to lift the platform and on the other hand to put the platform and any existing individual platforms in rotation.

In a further development of the invention it is provided that not only in the platform carrier or in the platform, a float is incorporated or this carries a float. Rather, it is also possible that such floats on or in which the individual platforms are arranged, are incorporated. Also, these floats can, if desired, be partially flooded with water to adjust the desired buoyancy targeted.

It is within the scope of the invention to form the platform also in several parts, wherein the platform can also rotate. It has z. B. proven to be favorable to place on a preferably circular platform several smaller circular, also rotating individual platforms. Both the large platform and the individual platforms can be rotated. When lifting the platform, the individual platforms are lifted automatically via suitable coupling elements.

In further embodiments of the invention, the platform has at least one further floating body and / or the individual platforms each have at least one further floating body. Since these other floating bodies also cause buoyancy forces, they enhance the buoyancy force provided by the floating bodies or buoyancy elements provided according to the invention in the platform carrier or in the platform.

Fig. 1 bis 3:

Das aus der bereits genannten DE 10 2009 053 439 A1 bekannte, drehbare Wasserfahrgeschäft,

Fig. 4:

eine transparente, perspektivische Ansicht eines Beispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen drehbaren Wasserfahrgeschäfts,

Fig. 4a, 4b:

teilweise Schnitte zur Fig. 4

Fig. 5:

eine Einzelheit des Plattformträgers von Figur 4 in Seitenansicht, und

Fig. 6, 7, 9 und 10:

ausschnittsweise Darstellungen des Plattformträgers und einer Plattform bzw. Einzelplattform samt zugehörigen Schwimmkörpern, und

Fig. 8:

eine spezielle Ausführungsform eines Schwimmkörpers.

The rotating water ride according to the invention will be explained in more detail below in connection with several figures based on embodiments. Show it:

1 to 3:

That from the already mentioned DE 10 2009 053 439 A1 well-known, rotatable water ride,

4:

a transparent, perspective view of an example of a rotatable water ride according to the invention,

4a, 4b:

partial cuts to Fig. 4

Fig. 5:

a detail of the platform carrier of FIG. 4 in side view, and

6, 7, 9 and 10:

partial views of the platform support and a platform or single platform including associated floats, and

Fig. 8:

a special embodiment of a float.

In the following figures, like reference numerals designate like parts with the same meaning, unless otherwise indicated.

In FIG. 1 is, for ease of understanding the present invention, an example of one of those already mentioned above DE 10 2009 053 439 A1 known rotating water ride shown in perspective. The water ride is generally designated by the reference numeral 1. The water ride 1 has a circular outer contour with a border 2. Within this boundary 2 is a rotating platform 10, which reaches close to the boundary 2 of the water ride 1. This platform 10 is designed as a turntable and can rotate about the central axis A, for example in a clockwise direction. On or within this platform 10 or this turntable there are several, in the illustrated embodiment, four individual platforms 11, which are also arranged rotatably about their respective axis. The axes of rotation of the individual platforms 11 are designated by the reference symbol B. As can be seen, the individual platforms 11 are again designed as a turntable. By suitable drive means turn these individual platforms 11 preferably in the opposite direction than the platform 10, so here, for example, counterclockwise.

From the individual platforms 11 several watercraft 20 are held. Such watercraft are for example from the cited above DE 10 2006 053 664 B3 already known in itself. These vessels 20 are placed distributed on the individual platforms 11 and can also rotate about their respective axis.

An example of a suitable watercraft shows FIG. 2 , The vessel has a suitable float 23 on which several seats 21 are arranged for passengers. The watercraft 20 can be equipped with spray guns 22 to increase the driving and game fun. Appropriately, the watercraft 20 have a peripheral boundary, in which recesses 24 are recessed to facilitate the loading and unloading of the watercraft 20 for passengers.

While driving, d. H. when rotating platform 10 and also rotating individual platforms 11 and preferably also rotating watercraft 20, the water ride 1 is filled within the boundary 2 so high with water that protrude from the water surface only the watercraft 20 with their seats 21. For the passengers, this gives the impression that the individual watercraft 20 are floating on the water surface and, moreover, that there are no further retaining elements.

However, to allow passengers to get to the individual vessels 20 dry feet are means provided, which is at rest of the water ride, ie no longer rotating platform 10 and no longer rotating single platforms 11, the water level below the platform 10 and below the individual platforms 11. This can either be achieved by draining the water in the water ride 1 so far that the water level lies below the platform 10 or the single platform 11. However, it may also be provided a suitable lifting device that lifts the platform 10 via suitable coupling elements together with the individual platforms 11 and the local watercraft 20 above the water level and lowers to operate the water ride business again.

FIG. 3 shows the rotating water ride from FIG. 1 in section, with the water level 4 above the platform and above the individual platforms 11. If the water level 4 is above the platform 10 and the single platform 11, the water ride is ready for the operating condition, so ready for driving. The platform 10 and the individual platforms 11 can rotate. The individual vessels 20 seem to float on the water surface 4 in this operating state. To end this operating state, ie, the driving operation, the platform 10 is raised together with the individual platforms 11 until they protrude from the water level 4; the water ride takes its rest. In order to be able to carry out this, the platform 10 is arranged on a platform carrier 50 designed as a turnstile 36. This platform carrier 50 is also in the Fig. 1 seen. The platform carrier 50 is replaced by a z. B. from the already mentioned DE 10 2009 053 439 A1 known lifting device raised or lowered. He rests with wheels on the ground 3, leaving the entire device off Platform support 50, platform 10, individual platforms 11 and watercraft 20 can rotate in the lowered state.

In FIG. 4 is, highly abstracted, a similar, rotatable and circular platform 10 with three also preferably rotatable individual platforms 11 and each located there three watercraft 20 shown. In the center of the water ride 1 is again a platform support 50, which is now however particularly designed, in which this is equipped of a preferably metallic construction in star form with hollow chambers. These hollow chambers cause a buoyancy of the platform support 50 and thus serve as a float 55th

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4 the star-shaped platform support 50 is equipped with three platform support arms 51 arranged at an angle of 120 ° to one another, which each grip between the individual platforms 11. The three star-shaped platform support arms 51 of the platform support 50 have, starting from their respective ends in each case a plurality, in this case three concrete upwardly open hollow chambers 51a, 51b, 51c, all of which are air-filled. In the presentation of FIG. 4 the hollow chambers 51a, 51b, 51c of the platform support 50 are shown open at the top. If these hollow chambers 51a, 51b and 51c remain open at the top during the operation of the water ride, care must be taken that lowering of the platform support 50 together with the platform 10 only takes place to the extent that no water from above into the hollow chambers 51a, 51b , 51c can flow. In principle, however, it is also conceivable that the hollow chambers 51a, 51b, 51c are covered upwards, for example with a suitable plate or also with decoration material of the water ride business 1, so that they cause the desired buoyancy when flooded with water.

As in FIG. 4 As can be seen, in the outer hollow chambers 51 a of the individual platform support arms 51 of the platform support 50, special drive devices 60 are placed, which are described below in connection with FIG FIG. 5 also be explained in more detail. Overall, in each outer hollow chamber 51a of the three platform support arms 51 of the platform support 50 such drive devices 60 are placed, which are provided for lifting the platform support 50 itself and on the other hand also for rotating the entire platform 10 and also the individual platforms 11. This will be explained in more detail below.

As FIG. 4a In section, a drive device 60, which is an electromotive drive device 60, is placed in the outer hollow chamber 51a. This electromotive drive device 60 has the manner of a forklift to a lifting motor, grab on the lifting arms 64 under the platform support arm 51 to lift this and also can lower. However, the lowering can also be done by the weight of the entire arrangement. The drive device 60 is supported via a suitable axle 65 with an impeller 61 at the bottom 66 of the water ride 1 from. About one in FIG. 4a not shown further electromechanical or electromotive drive device 60, the impeller 61 and thus the platform support 50 and ultimately thus the water ride 1 are rotated.

Instead of in FIG. 4a sketched drive device 60, which operates in the manner of a forklift and engages under the platform support arms 51, it is possible to provide a drive device 60 as a hydraulic drive device, like this in FIG. 4b outlined. This hydraulic drive device 60 has a lifting cylinder, which engages at the top of the platform support 50 or the platform support arm 51 of the platform support 50 and the other end is coupled to the already mentioned impeller 61. The impeller 61 itself is in turn by an electromotive unit, the FIG. 4b not shown, powered to turn the watercraft 1 in rotation.

It goes without saying that the platform support 50 and in particular the outer hollow chamber 51a with the drive device 60 therein is designed so that the platform support 50 can be raised while the drive device 60 is supported on the floor 66 of the water ride 1.

As in particular the sectional representation of FIG. 4a shows, the hollow chambers 51b and 51c but also the hollow chamber 51a act as a float, since they are completely or partially filled with air, thus increasing the buoyancy of the platform support 50.

By providing one or more such hollow bodies 51a, 51b, 51c or floating body 55 in the platform support 50, the buoyancy of the entire arrangement can be selectively influenced to effectively relieve a lifting device, thus effectively relieving the force to be provided by the lifting device.

As in FIG. 4 shown, the individual platforms 11 in turn have a single platform support 12 in the center of the respective individual platforms 11. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4 These single deck vehicles have 12 ones Seen triangular shape from above and an extension in the depth, so that these single platform support 12 also sit in the lowered platform 10 in the water. These individual platform supports 12 may also have a floating body in that they are completely or partially hollow-wall-shaped, for example, and thus form a floating body.

In addition, it is, though it is in FIG. 4 not shown, readily possible to place in the construction of the platform 10 itself one or more floats, which may also be flooded with water.

The one or more floats 55 of the platform 10 and possibly the one or more floats 12 of the individual platforms 11 facilitate by their buoyancy forces lifting the entire arrangement of the water. The buoyancy forces generated by the floats 55 make it possible to change the platform support 50 together with the platform 10 and the individual platforms 11 at a lower energy consumption and within a shorter time when switching to the idle state, compared to the previously known water rides.

In FIG. 5 is a vertical section through the in FIG. 4 (see there the section line V - V) shown arrangement in the region of one of the three seated at the outer end in the hollow chamber 51 a of the platform support 50 driving device 60. This drive device 60 is an electromotive drive unit, which on the one hand serves to lift the platform support 50 - and thus also the entire platform 10 - and to set the platform support 50 in rotation. The drive device 60 sits for this, as related to FIG. 4a already mentioned, in an outer hollow chamber 51a on the outer The hollow chamber 51a is designed so that below the hollow chamber 51a, an impeller 61 is placed, which is driven at a desired rotation of the platform support 50 and thus the platform 10 of the drive device 60. For this purpose, the impeller 61 sits on a floor 66 of the water ride 1. The same goes for the in FIG. 5 unseen, other two drive devices 60.

A lifting of the platform 10 is readily possible with this drive device 60 in that the drive device 60 has suitable means for lifting the platform carrier 50. For this purpose, the drive device 60 provides means that allows an axial adjustment of coupling elements along an axis 65, which are fixed for example to the platform support 50 or at least the platform support 50, z. B. like a forklift under attack. However, it is also possible that other drive means are used to turn the platform 10 on the one hand in rotation and on the other hand to raise. For this purpose, suitable drive device, for example, in the aforementioned DE 10 2009 053 439 A1 the applicant specified.

As mentioned, the hollow chamber 51 a, in which the drive device 60 is placed, designed to be open at the top, that is designed in the manner of a tub. Since the hollow chamber 51a is open at the top, it is possible to integrate the entire vertical guide technology and the drive technology in a dry and easy to maintain space. The drive devices 60 act as drivers for the platform 10 and the individual platforms 11, but are always with a defined weight on the bottom of the water ride 1 preferably mounted on the runner. Preferably, to get now To increase this insurgency weight when starting and braking the water ride 1 and to cope with the effects of the inertia of the water when starting and the deceleration deceleration, the complete construction with people, decorations, etc. pulled up to the drive devices 60 except the central axis. With this technique, the coefficient of friction on the impeller 61 is selectively increased only when the torques are higher. Turning between starting and braking reduces the system load accordingly. The maneuver load is limited with this technique from floats and drive devices that act as drivers, to about 1/5 of the nominal load, ie the load that would be present without such floats or hollow chambers 51 a, 51 b, 51 c. This saves energy and time and protects the components involved accordingly. In addition, such an arrangement is also very easy to maintain because z. B. the complete drive devices 60 can be easily lifted out with vertical guidance with a filled pool with a crane upwards.

FIG. 6 shows a section of another example of a platform support 50, which is designed as H-beam in cross section. In this part of the platform support 50 (as well as in the remaining part) a plurality of floating bodies 55 are integrated, that is, they are arranged within the platform support 50. The platform support 50 acts here as a whole as a kind of floating body. The floats 55 may be of any body shape, such as. B. spherical, as in the FIG. 6 indicated, cuboid or they may have an ellipsoidal cross-section.

FIG. 7 shows a section of the platform 10. In the platform 10, several floats 55 are integrated, ie, they are located within the platform 10. The floats 55 may be of any body shape, such as. B. spherical, as in the FIG. 7 indicated, cuboid or even of ellipsoidal cross section, as also in the FIG. 7 indicated. However, such an arrangement of floats 55 may according to the invention also have the individual platforms 11. This is due to the additional indication of the reference numeral 11 in the FIG. 7 indicated.

Of particular advantage is an embodiment of the water ride according to the invention, in which the floating body 55 and / or the other floating body 55 are designed so that they can be flooded, usefully with water. Such flooding has the consequence that the aforementioned buoyancy effect when flooding the floating body 55 and / or the other floating body 55 is omitted. In such a case, the platform carrier 50 together with the platform 10 and the individual platforms 11 can then be lowered significantly faster when changing from the idle state to the operating state than in an unflowed state of the (optionally further) floating body 55. Such floatable float 55 is in FIG. 8 shown: the float 55 shown there has a lockable port for admitting z. As water (and again to pump out the water) on; this is in FIG. 8 indicated schematically on the right edge of the float 55.

The FIGS. 9 and 10 show the platform support 50 and the platform 10 or one of the individual platforms 11 in a lateral plan view (in the case of the platform support 50, however, only one end of the turnstile 36 is shown as representative of the entire platform support 50). In these embodiments of the water ride according to the invention are the (possibly further) floating body 55 is not an integral part of the platform support 50 and the platform 10 and the individual platforms 11, but as separate parts connected to these in each case, for. B. by gluing, welding, riveting or by other joining techniques. Again, this is only shown in a very schematic way.

By the total number and / or size of the floating body as well as by flooding or non-flooding of the floating body, the total buoyancy of the rotatable water ride business can be influenced in any direction. Thus, both the dynamics in the changes from the idle state to the operating state of the water ride business as well as vice versa can be adjusted to a desired behavior of the water ride as well as the achievable savings in required energy. Furthermore, by means of the present invention, even greater acceleration and braking values of the water ride business can be transmitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Water ride

2

boundary

3

ground

4

Water level, water surface

10

platform

11

Single platform

12

Single platform support

20

water craft

21

seat

22

spray gun

23

float

24

recess

36

turnstile

50

platform support

51

Plattformträgerarm

51a

hollow

51b

hollow

51c

hollow

55

Floating body, another floating body, hollow chamber,

60

driving device

61

Wheel

63

Chain

64

lifting arm

65

axis

66

ground

A

Rotary axis of the platform

B

Rotary axis of the single platform

X

Axis of the watercraft

P

arrow

Z

movement direction

V V

cut

Claims (12)

1. Water amusement ride with at least one watercraft (20), which is movable in a body of water and which has at least one space (21) to accommodate passengers, comprising a platform (10) which in the idle state of the water amusement ride (1) is raised above the surface (4) of the body of water and which in the operating state is at least partially below the water surface, and a platform carrier (50) by means of which the platform (10) can be lifted out above the water surface (4), wherein the platform carrier (50) and/or the platform (10) are equipped with at least one floating body (55), and in that the platform (100) is rotatable parallel to the water surface (4).
2. Water amusement ride according to claim 1, characterised in that the platform carrier (50) has integrated hollow chambers (51a, 51b, 51c), which serve as buoyancy element or floating bodies (55).
3. The water amusement ride according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that individual platforms (11) which are equipped with additional buoyancy elements or floating bodies (55) are arranged on the platform (10).
4. Water amusement ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the buoyancy elements or floating bodies (55) is submersible.
5. Water amusement ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the additional floating bodies (55) is arranged on an individual platform (11).
6. Water amusement ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the platform carrier (50) is designed in a star shape or a cross shape with platform carrier arms (51).
7. Water amusement ride according to claim 6, characterised in that a drive unit (60) is arranged on or in each of the platform carrier arms (51) at the end.
8. Water amusement ride according to claim 7, characterised in that the drive device (60) is arranged in a hollow chamber (51a) of the platform carrier arm (51).
9. Water amusement ride according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the water amusement ride (1) has an electromotive and/or hydraulic drive device (60) for raising the platform (10).
10. Water amusement ride according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that a plurality of drive devices (60) are provided, each of which is arranged at an end of a platform carrier arm (51) of a platform carrier (50).
11. Water amusement ride according to claim 10, characterised in that the drive devices (60) are each arranged in a hollow chamber of (51a) at an end of a platform carrier arm (51).
12. Water amusement ride according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the drive devices (60) are electromechanical or hydraulic drive devices (60).

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