GB1490018A - Amusement rides - Google Patents

Abstract

1490018 Amusement rides ARROW DEVELOPMENT CO INC 14 Feb 1975 [19 Feb 1974] 6397/75 Heading A6M An amusement ride comprises passenger carrying vehicles 11 a pair of rails 13 and 15 fixed with respect to the ground to carry and guide the vehicles 11 over a predetermined path a portion of which, between 25 and 27, follows a helical shape extending an axial length corresponding to at least one cycle of the helix and the helices of the rails 13 and 15 being congruent and having a common substantially horizontal axis with respect to the ground. In a preferred embodiment a passenger loading station 17 is located at the foot of a steep upgrade portion 19 of track up which the cars are mechanically assisted whereafter they enter a descent 23 leading to the helical portion beginning at 25 and ending at 27, transition sections 33 and 35 providing smooth entry and exit therefrom. The rails 13 and 15 (Figure 5) are connected at intervals by brackets 47 and 49 at their outer and facing sides with respect to the track to a support rail 43 which is anchored to the ground at intervals by posts 45 and follows a similar helical path, but of larger radius than that of the rails, this path having a pitch angle of between 40‹ and 90‹. A part of the cars may project below axis of wheels 55 and 57 toward the support rail 43 to lower the centre of gravity of the cars with respect to the rails and each car has a cluster of three wheels 55, 57 and 59 on each side, the wheel 59 contacting the underside of the rail with respect to the car to retain the car in contact with the rails in the event of accidental speed reduction in the helical region of the track. Additionally wheels are provided to contact the inside of the track.