WO2023001470A1

WO2023001470A1 - Amusement park ride, in particular a rollercoaster

Info

Publication number: WO2023001470A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/066986
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Mack Rides Ip Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2021-07-19
Filing date: 2022-06-22
Publication date: 2023-01-26
Also published as: CA3219567A1; DE102021118616A1; AU2022315816A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an amusement park ride (1), in particular a rollercoaster, comprising at least one car (10), which can be moved in an exit direction out of an exit (C) from an amusement ride area (30) with a first orientation (e.g. forwards) along a route (20) and, after the ride, the car (10) returns via an entry (D) in an entry direction while maintaining the direction of travel, wherein the amusement ride area (30) and the route (20) are designed in such a way that, while maintaining the direction of travel, the car (10) passes the entry (D) of the amusement ride area (30) in an entry direction, which is the opposite direction to the above-mentioned exit direction, enters, such that, in a subsequent ride, the car travels the route (20) in the opposite orientation (e.g. backwards) to the first orientation (e.g. forwards).

Description

Amusement park ride, especially roller coaster

The invention relates to an amusement park ride, in particular a roller coaster, with at least one vehicle which can be moved along a route with an exit direction from an exit from a ride area with a first orientation (e.g. "forward"), and in which the vehicle returns after driving through an entrance with an entrance direction.

Such rides are well known. For example, the "Europapark" amusement park in Rust, Germany, operates the "Alpenexpress" roller coasters and the high-speed "Blue Fire" and "SilverStar" roller coasters. In these any known roller coasters, several vehicles with seats are coupled to form a train which consists of a ride area, e.g. B. a train station in the forward direction out of an exit of the amusement ride area and travels along a route designed as a rail route. At the end of the journey, the train returns to the entrance with the vehicles at the rear of the amusement area. These roller coasters are designed in such a way that the passengers sit in their vehicles facing the route ahead. The majority of the roller coasters in operation are designed in this way.

In the meantime, roller coasters are also known in which the vehicles are arranged to rotate around their own axis while driving on the rails. Depending on the current position of the vehicle, the passengers sitting in it look in different directions. An example of such a roller coaster is the "Euro-Mir" in the above-mentioned Europapark. Finally, roller coasters are also known in which the vehicle or the train can optionally pass the route in the forward direction or in the reverse direction. An example of such a roller coaster is the "Fury" roller coaster in Bobbejaaland, Lichtaart, Belgium. The special thing about this roller coaster is that the passengers can use buttons on their passenger seats to decide whether the ride should be carried out forwards or backwards. The majority principle then determines the direction of travel. In the event of a tie in the voting, a random decision is made as to whether the journey should be carried out backwards or forwards. In order to be able to align the trains according to the selected direction of travel, there is a rotating platform in the amusement ride area, which turns the entire train in the corresponding direction.

Finally, so-called back-and-forth trains are known, in which the vehicles, in contrast to roller coasters, do not drive along a closed route, but only go back and forth on an open route. An example of such a reciprocating path is known from German Patent No. 10 2014 103 226 B4. The route of this ride is essentially a straight line with sections running almost vertically upwards at both ends. The vehicle can swing back and forth between the two ends, with a so-called "power splash" being generated as a special attraction when driving forwards through the middle section of the route, which is located in the two vertically projecting sections of the route, when the vehicle passes through at high speed a raised water level. see to move the vehicles out of the ride area onto the ride track.

The problem with the previously known amusement rides and rollercoasters is the fact that relatively complicated and costly rotating mechanisms have to be provided in order to provide the passengers with a driving experience that differs from simple forward travel. It is either necessary to equip the vehicles themselves with a rotating mechanism or to provide so-called rotating carousels in the amusement ride area of the amusement rides.

In addition, there is a need for the conventional roller coasters to convey different driving feelings to the passengers, which should also last as long as possible in accordance with the wishes of the passengers. The ride experience for passengers is particularly disappointing when they are traveling along a relatively boring stretch of a roller coaster and this roller coaster ride may only take place for a very short time because the roller coaster's route is short, for example for reasons of space. A possible solution to this problem can be that, in the case of a roller coaster ride, the route is traversed two or three times in a row. However, over time, the passengers feel bored, because the passenger already knows the roller coaster when driving through the route for the first time.

This is where the present invention comes in.

The invention aims to provide an amusement park ride, and in particular a roller coaster, in which, with simple means and without the use of complicated Turning mechanisms, it is possible to drive through the route with under different driving impressions.

This goal is solved by an amusement ride and in particular a special roller coaster with the features of claim 1 ge.

Further developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims which refer back to patent claim 1 .

The amusement ride according to the present invention thus provides at least one vehicle, which exits from an amusement ride area with a first orientation (e.g.

B. "Forward") along a route and in which the vehicle returns after the trip while maintaining its direction of travel via an entrance with an entrance direction. According to the invention, the amusement ride area and the route are designed in such a way that the vehicle can move while maintaining its direction of travel during the The entrance to the amusement ride area passes through the entire journey, with an entry direction that is opposite to the previous exit direction. This means that the route can easily be passed in the opposite orientation to the first ("backwards") during a subsequent journey, without the need for time-consuming Rotating mechanisms must be provided.

The essential core of the present idea is that the vehicle leaves the amusement ride area with an exit direction and enters the amusement ride area again at the end after covering the route in exactly the opposite direction, without the vehicle having to reverse direction, e.g it at reciprocating the case is done. As a result of this measure, the vehicle is already in the amusement ride area with an orientation that was rotated 180° to the previous ride. The vehicle therefore no longer needs to be turned at great expense in order to reverse the next time it is driven on the route.

Appropriately, a complete ride for the passengers on such a roller coaster consists of first completely moving the route in the right-of-way direction and then immediately covering the same route in the reverse direction. This has the decisive advantage that, on the one hand, the total travel time for the passenger is doubled and, in addition, the passenger is given two different driving experiences, namely driving forwards and driving backwards on the same route. It goes without saying that it is within the scope of the invention for the vehicle to initially travel backwards through the route and then in the forward direction.

In a development of the invention, it is provided that the amusement ride area has both the exit and the entrance for the route on one of its sides, in particular the front side. The advantage here is that the driving business area can be designed relatively simply. For example, only the front and, if necessary, the two short sides need to be provided with decorative elements. For example, the rear of the ride area may also be connected to other buildings. According to the invention, it is no longer necessary to drive through the area of the ride, as is the case with conventional roller coasters. This creates optimal design options for the ride even when space is limited. In a development of the invention, it is provided that the exit and entrance in the amusement ride area are offset in height to one another. It makes sense for the exit to be higher than the entrance. The exit can be designed in such a way that due to the height of the exit alone, complex acceleration devices of the ride can be dispensed with or such acceleration devices only have to be used to a limited extent for the route. With such a height displacement of the exit and entry, it is expedient to provide a lifting device in order to raise the ride vehicle from a lower level, namely the entry, to the upper level, namely the exit.

Instead of a height offset from the exit and entrance or in addition to these, a lateral offset can also be implemented. In this case, the exit and entrance are next to each other, lifting devices are not necessary. In this case, however, care must be taken to ensure that the vehicle is accelerated at or after the exit for the subsequent journey on the route. This can follow with so-called LSM accelerators, but also with devices in which the vehicles initially overcome a difference in height after leaving the area of the fairground ride. Chain drives or gear drives or the like are suitable for this, for example.

Instead of devices for height offset or lateral offset of the vehicles, it is also possible to provide a switch in the area of the ride or in the area of the ride, which ensures that the vehicle initially exits from the ride area onto the actual one Route of the ride can reach. At the end of the route, the vehicle reaches the points and returns to the amusement ride area on the same rail track from which it previously started. It goes without saying that with this solution the vehicle is turned 180° in the amusement ride area after the end of the journey and can be used for another journey.

In addition, it is expedient for the vehicle to be coupled to a route section, for example a rail section, in the area of the amusement ride area. When the vehicle moves up or down in the area of the amusement ride area, the vehicle and the route section are brought out to the starting point or actual route.

In one embodiment of the invention, a train station is provided where passengers can board and disembark the vehicles. Such a station can be remote from the amusement ride area, but must then be connected to the amusement ride area by a route section. However, it is also possible that the ride area itself serves as a station for the passengers and is designed accordingly with an entry and exit platform.

The invention is explained in more detail below in connection with several figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an amusement ride with an amusement ride area in which a lifting device is arranged, and a vehicle that can be moved on a route in a first driving variant, FIG. 2 shows the amusement ride from FIG. 1 in a second driving variant,

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a ride according to the invention with a switch in the area of the ride area in a first ride variant,

FIG. 4 shows the amusement ride from FIG. 3 in a second driving variant, and

FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an amusement ride in which the vehicle can be moved laterally in the area of the amusement ride.

In the following figures, unless otherwise stated, the same reference symbols designate the same parts with the same meaning.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fairground ride, as can be set up in an amusement park. The ride is provided with the reference numeral 1 and has one or more vehicles 10, the rich drive from a 30 Fahrbetriebsbe on a route 20 and at the end of the route 20 arrive back at the fairground area 30.

The route 20 is, for example, as a roller coaster leads formed with different driving elements such. B Loopings, steep descents or climbs, spiral windings, steep uphill curves or the like. The amusement ride area 30 may be a train station for the passengers. However, the train station can also be placed at a distance from the amusement ride area 30 , as indicated by dashed lines in FIG being. The station then to be provided is denoted by the reference numeral 60 in FIG.

The vehicle 10 leaves the amusement ride area at its front 31 and has a suitable exit C here. After the vehicle 10 leaves the exit C of the amusement ride area 30 and then passes the route 20, the vehicle 10 returns via an entrance D the fairground ride area 30. For this purpose, the entrance D of the fairground ride area 30 is also arranged on the front side 31 of the fairground ride area 30. The entrance D of the amusement ride area 30 is offset in height from the exit C of the amusement ride area 30 and, in the present case, clearly below the exit C. In FIG upper position from which the vehicle 10 can leave the amusement ride area 30 via its exit C, with the reference symbol B.

The vehicle 10 can be raised from its lower position A to the upper position B by means of a suitable lifting device 40, which is located within the area of the amusement ride 30 or in the area of the area of the amusement ride.

As can be seen from Figure 1, with such an arrangement of the ride 1 or the roller coaster, the vehicle 10, after completing the route 20, is in the lower position A in the opposite direction compared to the upper position B when the vehicle C left the ride area has.

In the representation of Figure 1, the vehicle C is in the upper position B facing forwards to the route 20. This means that the front 11 of the vehicle 10 points to the route 20 . The rear 12 of the vehicle 10 is oriented opposite to the route 20, ie it points away from the route 20 in the direction and orientation shown in FIG. The vehicle 10 typically has passenger accommodation, particularly seats. The arrow 30 indicates the line of sight of the passengers inside the vehicle 10 when they look straight ahead according to their seating position. In Figure 1, reference number 22 designates the direction of travel of vehicle 10 on route 20. Reference number X designates the direction of travel of vehicle 10 directly at exit C of fairground ride area 30. The direction of entry into entrance D of fairground ride area 30 is shown in FIG 1 is denoted by the reference Y. The entry direction Y, as shown immediately in FIG. 1, is opposite to the exit direction X, even though the vehicle 10 does not change its direction of travel 22 over the entire route 20 . However, the routing for the vehicles 20 is designed in such a way that the vehicle 10 enters the amusement ride area 30 in the opposite direction to that in which it exited previously. The passengers seated in the vehicle 10 therefore look in the exact opposite direction after arriving in the amusement ride area 30 as they previously exited the amusement ride area 30 . The reference number 13 in the lower position A of the amusement ride area 30 indicates this.

After the vehicle 10 has traveled the route 20, starting from the upper position C in the amusement ride area 30 and has entered the entrance D of the amusement ride area 30 in the opposite orientation, the passengers of the vehicles 10 have completed a first lap of their journey. After the vehicle 10 in the opposite orientation in relation to has arrived in the amusement ride area 30 right at the exit, the lifting device 40 conveys the vehicle 10 to its upper position C. This is shown in FIG. The vehicle 10 is then ready to start a second lap. However, the passengers are now sitting in their passenger accommodations or seats, oriented backwards to the route 20 . The passengers then have a completely different driving experience on this second lap than on the first lap. In addition, the total travel time is significantly increased by driving through the route 20 twice, so that the driving pleasure for the passengers is also increased in this respect. The effect that the passengers have the same driving experience when driving through a route 20 twice, as has been customary up to now, is avoided by the opposite orientation of the passengers in the second round.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicles 10 in the amusement ride area 30 are on route sections 27 which are lifted by the lifting device 40 together with the vehicles 10 . These route sections 27 are designed in such a way that a seamless transition within the amusement ride business area 30 from these route sections 27 to the route 20 at exit C or at entrance D is guaranteed. The lifting device 40 lifts not only the vehicle 10, but also the route section 27 associated with this vehicle 10, which is preferably designed as a short track section.

The mode of operation of this additional track section 27 in the amusement ride area 30 is as follows.

The vehicle 10 is in its upper position C on this route section 27, which is directly connected to the route cke 20 is coupled. The vehicle 10 can thus drive out of the exit C via the route section 27 in the amusement ride area 30 onto the route 20 . After the vehicle 10 has started from its upper position B on the route 20 , the route section 27 is moved to its lower position A via the lifting device 40 and coupled there to the end of the route 20 . As a result, the vehicle, after completing the route 20 , can drive into the entrance D of the amusement ride area 30 and there drive onto the section 27 of the route provided. In the next step, this route section 27 together with the retracted vehicle 10 is returned to the upper position B by means of the lifting device 40 .

Although only a single vehicle is shown in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, which is traveling on route 20, several vehicles can also be provided for this purpose. For example, parking and waiting areas are provided in the ride area 30, where z. B. a second vehicle is waiting.

In connection with FIGS. 3 and 4, a second exemplary embodiment of an amusement ride is presented. Instead of a lifting device 40, the fairground ride 1 now has a switch or a switch arrangement 24, which is placed within the ride area 30 or in the area of the ride area 30. At its front 31, the amusement ride area 30 has a driveway that also serves as a driveway. The route section 27 is coupled to a route section 25 which is arranged between the amusement ride area 30 and switch 24 . The vehicle drives on this route section 25 both when exiting driving out of the amusement ride area 30 as well as when entering the amusement ride area 30.

The vehicle 10 in turn has a front 11 and a rear 12 . The line of sight of the passengers in the vehicle 10 is in turn marked with the reference number 13 . When starting the amusement ride area 30, the vehicle 10 leaves the amusement ride area 30 and drives first onto the route section 25 and then onto the switch 24, which is set in such a way that the vehicle 10 first travels up an incline in order to have enough energy for the subsequent journey. especially a roller coaster ride. For this purpose, a towing section 26 of the route 20 follows the switch 24 . For example, a gear drive, a chain drive or similar can be provided for this purpose. It is also conceivable for an electromagnetic acceleration section to follow after the switch 24 here.

After the vehicle 10 has left the switch 24, the switch 24 is switched to the dashed position shown in Figure 3, so that the vehicle 10 can return to the amusement ride area 30 after completing the route 20 via the previously traveled route section 25. The vehicle 10 is then positioned in the amusement ride area 30 in the opposite orientation compared to the position in which it was previously positioned in the amusement ride area 30 .

This is shown in FIG. The vehicle 10 is then ready for the second lap of the journey, so that the vehicle 10 can travel the route 20 again, but with the orientation reversed. A third exemplary embodiment of an amusement ride 1 is shown in FIG. The route 20 is only shown in sections in the area of the exit C and in the area of the entrance D of the amusement ride area 30 . Instead of a lifting device, as is provided in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the area of rides 30 now has a sliding device 50, which allows the vehicle 10 and expediently also an associated route section 27 to be moved laterally. This lateral displacement takes place in such a way that the vehicle 10 is coupled with the route section 27 to the route 20 at the exit C, so that the vehicle 10 can drive via the exit C onto the route 20 . The direction of travel is again identified by the reference symbol X. In this exemplary embodiment, there are two passenger accommodations in the form of seats 14 on the vehicle 10. After the vehicle 10 has left exit C of the amusement ride area 30, the vehicle 10 completes its journey on the route 20 and arrives at the amusement ride area 30 there the entrance D again. The entry direction Y is directed toward the amusement ride area 30, while the exit direction X was directed away from the amusement ride area 30. The vehicle 10 thus arrives at the amusement ride area 30 with an opposite orientation. Once there, the vehicle 10 is then moved laterally via the sliding device 50 so that it is back at its starting position to re-route the route 20, but with the opposite orientation, e.g. B. backwards to drive on. In order to bring the vehicle 10 from its drive-in position to the drive-out position, the pusher 50 moves the vehicle 10 in the required manner. For this purpose, the vehicle 10 is advantageously standing on a platform 32. On this platform 32, a route section 27 be present, which is coupled to the route 20 in the area of the exit C or in the area of the entrance D. In this exemplary embodiment, too, it is ensured that when driving through the route 20 twice, the passengers in the vehicle 10 drive through the route 20 forwards once and backwards once.

Reference List

1 ride

10 vehicle

11 Front

12 back

13 line of sight

14 seats 20 route 22 direction of travel

24 switch

25 route section

26 towing section

27 route section

28 rail section

30 ride area

31 front

32 Sliding platform 40 Lifting device 50 Sliding device 60 Train station 61 Route section A Lower position B Upper position C Exit D Entry X Exit direction Y Entry direction

Claims

patent claims

1. Amusement park ride (1), in particular a roller coaster, with at least one vehicle (10) which has a direction of travel (X) from an exit (C) of a ride area (30) with a first orientation (e.g. "forward") is movable along a route (20) and into which the vehicle (10) returns after the ride via an entrance (D) with an entrance direction (Y), since the area (30) and the route (20 ) are designed in such a way that the vehicle (10) drives into the entrance (D) of the amusement ride area (30) with an entrance direction (Y), which is opposite to the previous exit direction (X), while maintaining its direction of travel, in order to at a subsequent trip to travel the route (20) in the opposite orientation (e.g. "backward") to the first orientation (e.g. "forward").

2. Amusement park ride according to claim 1, d a r c h e n n s z i c h n e t that the ride area (30) has both an exit (C) and an entrance (D) for the route (20) on a front side (31).

3. Amusement park ride according to claim 1 or 2, d a d a r c h g e n n z e i c h n e t that the exit (C) and entrance (D) are offset in height to one another.

4. amusement park ride according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the exit (C) and the entrance (D) are laterally offset from one another.

5. Amusement park ride according to claim 1 or 2, d a d u r c h g e n n z e i c h n e t that the ride area (30) has a lifting device (40) by which the vehicle (10) can be moved from a lower position (A) to an upper position (B). to leave the ride area (30) from there via its exit (C), the vehicle (10) after driving over the route (20) in the lower position (A) entering the entrance (D) of the ride area ( 30) is retractable.

6. Amusement park ride according to claim 1 or 2, d a d u r c h g e n n z e i c h n e t that the route (20) in the area of the ride area (30) has a switch (24) and a route section (25) which is both exiting and entering from or Can be driven into the amusement ride area (30).

7. Amusement park ride according to claim 1, d a r c h e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the vehicle (10) in the area of the ride area (30) is coupled to a route section (28) and during a vertical and/or sideways movement in the area of the ride area (30) together with the route section (28) is movable.

8. amusement park ride according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the route (20) at least partially as a rail track is trained.

9. Amusement park ride according to one of claims 1 to 8, d a d a r c h e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the ride area (30) is a train station where passengers can board the vehicle (10).