WO2019114928A1

WO2019114928A1 - Free fall simulator

Info

Publication number: WO2019114928A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/082304
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Indoor Skydiving Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-12-12
Filing date: 2017-12-12
Publication date: 2019-06-20

Abstract

The invention relates to a free fall simulator, in particular comprising a closed air circuit, comprising an air duct (19) that includes a flight chamber (10) in which people can remain suspended in the air as a result of an upward vertical air flow, a lower opening at a lower end, an upper opening at an upper end, and at least one fan for generating the air flow, and a safety net (11) on the base of the flight chamber (10), and an associated net suspension (12) which can be accessed from below or the side via a corresponding opening device (16).

Description

Freefall simulator

description

The invention relates to a free-fall simulator, in particular with in itself

closed air circulation.

A free-fall simulator is a device designed to allow a person in a vertically ascending air flow to pass through a person

Floating chamber passes to keep in a hovering position. Often such free-fall simulators have a closed air duct. The air flow is thereby via the air duct after its exit from an upper opening to a lower opening of the floating chamber

returned, so that forms a closed circuit.

Furthermore, it is known that such free-fall simulators have a safety net at the lower end of the floating chamber. The safety net is usually attached or suspended in a network trench surrounding the safety net. In the case of known free-fall simulators, access to this network trench takes place from above, in particular a visitor's room (which adjoins the floating chamber). This network trench is covered in known solutions with metal plates, which (to allow access to the network trench) can be opened or opened. In the prior art, in particular, the not inconsiderable noise that arises during operation of free-fall simulators is problematic. Particularly in the case of free-fall simulators for private individuals, an optically appealing appearance of the free-fall simulator is also of great importance.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a free-fall simulator which minimally impairs the experience of free-fall by the user or a visitor, in particular in the visitor's room, in particular in which a noise annoyance and / or visual impairment is minimized in a simple manner. become. This object is achieved by a free-fall simulator according to claim 1.

In particular, the object is achieved by a free-fall simulator, preferably with self-contained air circuit comprising an air duct with a floating chamber in which persons can float as a result of a vertically upward air flow, with a lower opening at a lower end and an upper opening at an upper End and at least one

Blower for generating the air flow. Furthermore, the free-fall simulator preferably comprises a safety net at the bottom of the hovering chamber and an associated network suspension (network attachment), wherein the network suspension (network attachment) from below or the side, via a corresponding

Opening device, is accessible.

A particular aspect of the invention is a safety net

to propose, the suspension is - preferably exclusively - accessible from below (or side) ago. As a result, can be dispensed with hinged metal plates above the network attachment. By dispensing with such hinged metal plates can be a corresponding optical

Impairment avoided (or at least reduced) and the noise can be reduced because the known hinged metal flaps could be identified as a significant source of noise. In particular, it has been recognized according to the invention that noise from the floating chamber could escape through a net suspension space (network trench) via the metal flaps of the prior art into the visitor space. In addition, leakage currents could not always be completely suppressed, which could also represent an additional source of noise. An accessibility from below should in particular be understood to mean a corresponding opening device which is either permanently open or at least openable (and possibly recloseable) such that a person can reach the net suspension through this opening device (without one above the net suspension lying room,

in particular visitors' room). Accordingly one should

Accessibility of the page in particular when a person (without a room, especially visitors room, above the

Net suspension) the net suspension can reach from the side. In general, according to the present invention, accessibility shall be provided without requiring a person to be above the level of an entrance area adjacent to the float chamber and / or above the level of the lower end (as defined, in particular, by the safety net) of the float chamber at any time.

In a concrete embodiment, access to the net suspension from above (permanently), in particular flow-tight, blocked, preferably by a, in particular permanently installed, cover plate. The cover plate may in particular be a metal plate, preferably of steel. A thickness of the cover plate is preferably at least 0.5 cm, more preferably at least 2 cm, still more preferably at least 5 cm. By such a (relatively thick) cover plate, a good sound reduction can be made possible. Since in the prior art, the cover plates had to be folded up or opened, such thicknesses could not (reasonably) be realized.

In this respect, it is also an independent aspect of the present invention to provide in a free-fall simulator a comparatively thick cover plate (metal plate, in particular record) above a net suspension space (Netzgrabens), to whose (its) cover, in particular a plate with a minimum thickness, as in the previous section specified.

The opening device preferably has (at least in a maximum open state) an opening area of at least 0.2 m ² , preferably at least 0.5 m ² , more preferably at least 1.0 m ² . In a specific embodiment, the opening device may have a ring shape, wherein the ring shape surrounds the air duct (in a region below a level of the safety net). In such a way a simple accessibility (especially from below) can be done.

An opening of the opening device preferably extends (at least substantially) horizontally.

In a specific embodiment, a network suspension space (in particular network trench) is provided, in which the network suspension (network attachment) is arranged. Preferably, the opening means is provided (in whole or in part) in a bottom portion of the mesh trench. So can be done in a simple manner access to the suspension (attachment) of the safety net.

According to the embodiment, an intermediate space (preferably pressure space) is located between an upstream of the floating chamber

Air duct section, in particular input nozzle, and a surrounding shell, in particular housing provided.

The opening device preferably connects the intermediate space and a net suspension space (s), in particular a network ditch (s). This can be easily created a way to provide access to the network suspension.

The above object is further achieved by a method for

Inspection and / or maintenance and / or adjustment of a

Free-fall simulator of the above type, wherein the net suspension from below or the page for their review and / or maintenance and / or adjustment is achieved (ie, a person from below or the page access to the

Net suspension for its inspection and / or maintenance and / or

Adjustment, in particular without the person having to be at any time above a level, defined by an upper end of a safety net suspension space, in particular a Netzgrabens). The above object is further achieved by the use of an opening device provided below or at the side of a net suspension of a free-fall simulator, in particular of the type described above, to gain access to the net suspension, preferably for checking and / or maintaining and / or adjusting a free-fall simulator,

in particular for carrying out the above method.

Preferably, one opening (s) of the opening means surrounds the opening means

Air duct at least partially, in particular completely (in particular ring-like). For example, the opening over at least an angle of 90 °, preferably 180 °, more preferably 270 ° to the

extend over the appropriate section of the air duct, possibly over a full 360 ° angle (possibly apart from minor interruptions).

The opening device may have exactly one or more than one opening (each of which may possibly be closable on its own).

Preferably, the cover plate (metal plate, in particular steel plate) on the upper side (especially permanently) covered with a floor covering.

This floor covering is preferably not made of metal and comprises, for example, a plastic component and / or a wood component.

Further embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

The invention will also be described in terms of further features and advantages with reference to an embodiment, which is explained in more detail with reference to the figure. Hereby shows:

Fig. 1 is a schematic (partially sectioned) view of a

Inventive free-fall simulator (partial).

In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for identical and equivalent parts.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic (partially sectioned) side view of a free-fall simulator according to the invention (partial). Below a floating chamber 10 is here a safety net 11, which is attached via a net suspension 12 (edge) in a network trench 13. The mesh trench 13 is covered with a cover plate 14. The cover plate 14 is preferably not openable (for example, hinged), unless by intrinsically undesirable breaking a structure or by the release of provided for a permanent connection fasteners such. As screws or the like. In particular, the network trench 13 may be closed by a cover plate 14 which is already permanently installed by the customer.

The mesh trench 13 is at a bottom 15 of the mesh trench 13 via a

Opening device 16 with an opening 17 accessible. The network ditch

(Just as the opening means 16 and opening 17) run around a net suspension portion 18 of an air duct 19. At an inner edge of the mesh trench 13 has a (circumferential) outwardly projecting (or in relation to the network trench itself inwardly directed) flange 20.

The cover plate 14 rests (partially) on a foundation 21 (preferably made of concrete).

Above the cover plate 14 is a floor covering 22nd

The floor covering 22, in addition to the cover plate 14, may also cover (in particular without interruption) an adjoining section 23 (the upper side of which lies at least substantially at the same height as the upper side of the cover plate 14).

Below the net suspension portion 18 of the air duct 19 is preferably an inlet nozzle 24, which in turn may be surrounded by a gap 25 which is bounded (inwardly) by the inlet nozzle 24 and (outwardly) by a shell, not shown, or a corresponding housing ,

It should be noted at this point that all parts described above, taken alone and in any combination, especially in the

Drawings shown details are claimed as essential to the invention. Variations thereof are familiar to the person skilled in the art. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 floating chamber

11 safety net

12 net suspension

13 network ditch

14 cover plate

15 floor

16 opening device

17 opening

18 net suspension section

19 air duct

20 flange

21 foundation

22 Flooring

23 section

Claims

claims

1. free-fall simulator, in particular with self-contained air circulation, comprising

an air duct (19) having a floating chamber (10) in which persons can float as a result of a vertically upward air flow, having a lower opening at a lower end and an upper opening at an upper end and at least one fan for generating the airflow, and

a safety net (11) at the bottom of the floating chamber (10) and an associated net suspension (12), the net suspension (12) being accessible from below or from the side via a corresponding opening device (16).

2. Free-fall simulator according to claim 1,

d a d u rc h e ke n ze ze ch n et that

an access to the net suspension (12) from above, in particular flow-tight, is blocked, preferably by a fixed cover plate (14).

3. Free-fall simulator according to claim 1 or 2,

d a d u rch e ke n ze i ch n et that

the opening device (16) has an opening area of at least 0.2 m ² , preferably at least 0.5 m ² , further preferably at least 1.0 m ² , at least in a maximally opened state.

4. Free-fall simulator according to one of the preceding claims,

d a d u rc h e ke n ze ze ch n et that

an opening (17) of the opening device (16) at least partially, in particular completely surrounds the air duct (19).

5. Free-fall simulator according to one of the preceding claims,

d a d u rc h e ke n ze ze ch n et that

a net suspension space, in particular a network trench (13) is provided, in which the net suspension (12) is arranged, wherein the Opening means (16) is preferably provided in a bottom portion of the Netzgrabens.

6. Free-fall simulator according to one of the preceding claims,

d a d u rc h e ke n ze ze ch n et that

a space (25), preferably pressure space, between an upstream of the floating chamber adjacent

Air guide portion, in particular input nozzle (24), and a surrounding shell, in particular housing, is provided.

7. free-fall simulator according to claim 6,

d a d u rc h e ke n ze ze ch n et that

the opening means the space and a /

Net suspension space, in particular a / the network trench (13), interconnected.

8. A method for checking and / or maintaining and / or adjusting a safety net of a free-fall simulator according to one of the preceding claims,

the net suspension (12) from below or the side to her

Inspection and / or maintenance and / or adjustment is achieved.

9. Use one below or to the side of a net hanger

provided opening device of a free-fall simulator, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 7,

to gain access to this net suspension (12), preferably for inspection and / or maintenance and / or

Setting of a safety net of a free-fall simulator, in particular for carrying out the method according to claim 8.