The invention relates to an amusement ride having at least one platform which is connected in an articulated manner to retaining elements which hold the platform.
Amusement rides are known (DE 10 2008 005 859 A1), in which a platform is connected via retaining elements in the form of λ-drives or straight rods to drives which are moved along guides. With the aid of the drives, the platform can be adjusted in different positions and orientations.
It is the object of the invention to configure the generic amusement ride so that the movement of the platform is achieved in a constructively simple manner.
This object is solved in an amusement ride of the aforementioned kind according to the invention in that the retaining elements are cables, which are under tensile stress during operation of the amusement ride.
In the amusement ride according to the invention, the retaining elements are formed by cables which are under tensile stress during operation of the amusement ride. As a result of this configuration, the platform is held securely in each position and orientation.
A cable is to be understood not only as cables in the narrower sense but in general as flexible elements which can be placed under tensile stress and with which the functions described in the claims and in the description of the figures can be executed.
The effective length of the cables can advantageously be varied. As a result, the platform on which several cables act can be adjusted very simply into the desired positions and/or orientations.
The cables are advantageously wound onto cable winches for variation of the effective cable length.
In an advantageous embodiment the cables are connected to drives which are movable along guides. With the aid of these drives which form carriages, the platform can be moved along the guides to the desired extent. These guides can extend in most diverse directions depending on the configuration of the amusement ride. Through coordinated movement of the cable ends, a movement of the platform in the desired direction and orientation can be achieved.
If a complete control of all six degrees of freedom (three translational and three rotational degrees of freedom) of the platform is to be achieved, at least seven cables are required then. In an advantageous arrangement an increase in the number of cables leads to an increase in the possible movement space. With a reduced movement dynamics of the platform in which less than six degrees of freedom are provided, the number of cables can be reduced to the number of degrees of freedom. In such a case, the platform's own weight is used to stabilize its movement.
It is particularly advantageous if these drives are provided with cable winches onto which the cables can be wound. It is thereby possible to vary the effective length of the cables during travel of the drives. As a result, the platform can be adjusted into the desired positions and/or orientations during travel.
A dedicated motor is advantageously used for driving the cable winches so that the length variation of the cables can be varied by winding on or unwinding independently of the movement of the drives.
Instead of the cable winches, the effective cable length can also be varied by connecting the ends of the cables facing away from the platform to pivotable levers. The levers are advantageously one-armed levers to the free ends of which the cable ends are fastened. The turning of these levers brings about a comparable effect to the winding of the cables. With such a configuration the platform can also be moved in a defined manner in up to six degrees of freedom.
An optimal adjustment of the platform is obtained if the cable winches or the levers are drivable independently of one another.
The amusement ride can also be configured to that it has no drives which are movable along rails. The platform is then adjusted by adjusting the effective cable lengths in a coordinated manner.
If at least some of the cables are provided redundantly, the supporting function of the remaining cable(s) is ensured in the event of failure of one cable. In addition, the load-bearing capacity is increased due to the redundantly provided cables.
In a preferred embodiment at least one elastically resilient element is located in at least in some of the cables or in the connection of the cables to the platform or in the connection of the cables at the end remote from the platform. Such elements can, for example, absorb energy when the amusement ride is at a standstill, for example, and limit or intercept forces which occur as a result in the event of a loss, for example, when synchronising the cable winches or when suddenly tensioning individual cables.
In this case, it is possible that the elastically resilient element is effective permanently. However it is also possible that the elastically resilient element only becomes effective when for example the cable tension is released. The cable tension is monitored by corresponding sensors and the like and the elastically resilient element is then released when the cable tension falls below a predefined value or a non-controlled braking process (stop 0) is initiated. The elastically resilient element is primarily of interest to be passively activated when there is a loss of supply voltage, e.g. in the event of a power failure or in the event of a control error. In this rest current principle, the elastically resilient element is automatically activated as soon as the supply voltage decreases.
In an advantageous embodiment, at least one energy dissipation element is provided in at least some of the cables. It forms an irreversibly plastically deformable element, preferably in the form of a crumple element that absorbs excessive forces which occur when the amusement ride is at a stand-still, for example, as a result of a defect, due to plastic deformation. This prevents any overloading of the structure of the amusement ride and/or the passengers located on the platform.
The energy dissipation element, like the elastically resilient element can be disposed in the cables but also at the connecting points to the platform or to the drive.
The energy dissipation element can be effective permanently or in the case of braking of the cables or the platform.
In an advantageous embodiment, in the region of the platform or in the region of the cable winches, cable tensioning elements act on at least some of the cables, which pretension and deflect the corresponding cable. A defined resilience and compensation for the cable tensions is thereby ensured. In particular, such a design is advantageous with two or more parallel guided cables.
In a simple embodiment, the cable winches are disposed in the region above the platform where the cables are held tensioned under the weight of the platform.
The drives and/or the motors of the cable winches or the lever are advantageously connected to a common controller.
An optimal adjustment of the platform with regard to position and orientation is obtained when the drives and/or the motors of the cable winches or the levers lie in a control circuit of the controller. Then the platform can be reliably adjusted into the desired positions and orientations.
Advantageously the motor of the cable winch or the lever lies in a drive train which is provided with at least one brake for a cable drum of the cable winch or for the lever.
If the brake is provided redundantly, stoppage of the amusement ride is ensured in the event of failure of an individual brake. The redundantly provided brakes furthermore increase the braking effect.
It is advantageous if one brake is provided on the motor side and the other brake is provided on the cable drum side.
In order to obtain a force limitation in the cables in a simple manner, in an advantageous embodiment of the cable drum, a friction drive, for example, with slipping clutch is provided before this.
Further details of the invention are obtained from the further claims, the description and the drawings.
The invention is explained in detail by means of some embodiments shown in the drawings. In the figures
a shows an embodiment of an amusement ride according to the invention in which the platform is connected to carriages by means of invariable-length retaining elements,
The amusement ride according to
In the exemplary embodiment the retaining structure 1 consists of vertical supports 8 each bearing two rails 2 running parallel to one another and horizontally. The supports 8 are arranged in a distributed manner over the length of the rails 2. The rails 2 lie opposite one another and advantageously at the same height. The superposed rails 2 advantageously lie in a common vertical plane.
At the upper end and close to the lower end transverse members 9, 10 protrude from the supports 8, the rails 2 being fastened at the free ends thereof.
Depending on the configuration of the amusement ride, the rails can be of different length. The platform 7 can thus be moved over longer distances, for example, several hundred meters, along the rails. Such amusement rides are, for example, roller coasters in which the platform 7 is moved over such long distances. The rails 2 are shown as running horizontally, only as an example in the drawings. Depending on the configuration of the amusement ride, the rails 2 can have a different course, for example, curved upwards or downwards or to the side or intertwined in the manner of a roller coaster, for example.
The rails 2 can also form a closed path, e.g., a ring. It is thereby possible to move a plurality of platforms 7 one behind the other through the same course.
The carriages 3 which have winches 5 for winding the cables 4 are moved along the rails 2. With the aid of the carriages 3 the winches 5 are moved along the rails 2 according to their course.
The carriages 3 are driven by separate motors.
The cables 4 are configured so that they can reliably support the platform 7. The cables 4 can, for example, be made of steel or of synthetic or natural fibres. The cable ends 6 are fastened to the platform 7 at defined points The other cable ends are wound onto the winches 5 which are provided on the carriages 3. The winches 5 are driven with a safety-related drive system so that it is possible to transport persons. With the winches 5 the free cable length can be measured by, for example, detecting the degree of rotation of the winches 5. Accordingly, the winches 5 can be specifically turned so that a defined free cable length is adjusted. If this is necessary, the winches 5 can be provided with sensors to assist the control and regulation of the movement and orientation of the platform 7.
The carriages 3 are moved on the rails 2 so that the cables 4 are always under tension. As a result, the platform 7 is securely held in any position and orientation. The fastening of the cable ends 6 on the platform 7 is selected with a view to the positional stabilisation of the platform 7.
The platform 7 which, in the exemplary embodiment according to
The own weight of the platform 7, the additional weight of the passengers and dynamic loads during travel of the platform 7 are distributed over the individual cables 4.
The carriages 3 are driven independently of one another. The winches 5 on the carriages 3 are also driven rotatably independently of one another. It is thereby possible to bring the platform 7 into the most diverse positions and orientations during travel along the rails 2. This adjustment of the platform 7 is also possible when no movement takes place along the rails 2. In such a case the amusement ride can be without rails. The movement of the platform 7 is then accomplished by varying the effective cable length of the various cables 4.
As an example,
In the position according to
Since the movement path 11 runs in a parabolic shape, the winches of the carriages 3 are accordingly turned continuously in the required direction. The carriages 3 themselves travel at the same speed along the rails 2.
The movement paths 11 indicated in
The use of winches 5 on the carriages 3 enables the platform 7 to be made to execute the most diverse movements. During the entire movement of the platform 7 the cables 4 are always under tensile stress so that the platform 7 is safely held at all times.
A high mobility and dynamics of the movements of the platform 7 can be achieved with the cables 4. In the embodiments described the effective free length of the cables 4 is achieved by winding and unwinding the cables 4 onto or off the winches 5. The effective free cable length that is set with the aid of the winches 5 and the movement of the carriages 3 along the rails 2 is predefined by a central controller 12 (
Depending on the type of amusement ride, it is possible that the platform 7 has less than six degrees of freedom. With a reduced movement dynamics, the number of winches 5 can then be reduced to the number of degrees of freedom. In this case, the weight of the platform 7 is used to stabilise its movement.
A redundancy of the cables can also be provided so that three cables can be provided as a double parallelogram in linear arrangement or in triangular arrangement as well as four cables in a row, as parallelograms or in a columnar arrangement.
In the exemplary embodiments it possible that the carriages 3 can be moved on the rails 2 controlled at different speeds so that the platform 7 executes the desired movement path 11. In such a case, invariable-length retaining elements 4 can also be used which in this case need not consist of cables but can also be rods, for example, made of steel or fibre composite materials such as carbon or glass fibre.
The use of additional redundant cables 4 (
The stop 16 is released so that the compression spring 14 can again tension the cable 4 and from now on is active as a resilient element.
In the exemplary embodiment according to
The plastically deformable element can be provided not only in the cable but also in the drive train of the winch 5. Such a design is described further below with reference to
The embodiments described with reference to
In the previously described amusement ride the carriages 3 are provided with the winches 5 or the levers 31 in the region above and below the platforms 7. It is also possible to provide the winches 5 or the levers 31 only in the region above the platform 7. In this case, the own weight of the platform 7 is used so that all the cables 4 remain in the tensioned state.
In the embodiments of amusement rides described, the winches 5 or the levers 31 are connected to the carriages 3 so that they are moved together with them. Embodiments are also possible in which one or more winches 5 or levers 31 are connected to the retaining structure 1 in a movably fixed or rigid manner on the rails 2.
In a simpler embodiment of the amusement ride, it is also possible to arrange all the winches 5 or levers 31 in a positionally fixed manner. Then the platform 7 can be adjusted into different positions and orientations in the movement space spanned by the winches or levers. In such a case carriages 3 are not provided.
The amusement ride can be further configured so that the platform 7 only has two translational degrees of freedom with or without a rotational degree of freedom. In such a case the platform 7 moves in the horizontal or in the vertical plane. For such a configuration preferably two, three or four winches 5 or levers 31 are used.
Instead of the carriages 3, cable winches provided in a positionally fixed manner can be provided in the two rails 2. The platform 7 can also be moved in the horizontal plane by coordinated triggering of the cable winches.
It is further possible to provide a purely translational movement for the platform 7 in the space with three degrees of freedom.
Various types of drive systems of the amusement ride are described in detail with reference to
The drive train 34 is provided with a position sensor 37 on the motor side, which for example is an angle encoder. The rotational position of the drum 26 and therefore the free cable length can be detected with the position sensor 37.
In order that the motor 29 is stopped in a defined and reliable manner, the motor is provided with a brake 38 for the rotational drive of the drum 26. The motor 29 can thus be brought to a standstill both via the motor braking torque and also independently of this via the brake 28.
The cable 4 that is wound onto the drum 26 or unwound from it is connected via the defined elastic element 14 (
The cable 4, the elements 14 and the platform 7 form a transmission element 39 that is part of the drive system. The slipping clutch 36 is advantageously provided in the drive train 34 but need not be part of the drive train 34. In this case, the drum 26 is directly connected to the transmission 35. The elastically resilient element 14 is also not absolutely essential but an advantageous feature.
The drive train according to
This drive system is characterised by its redundant configuration which on the one hand ensures a plate-shaped alignment of the platform-side cable ends and on the other hand ensures sufficient failure safety due to the redundancy in the machine elements.
In this embodiment not only the drums 26 but also the motor 29, the transmission 35, the slipping clutch 36 and the position sensor 37 are provided in a redundant manner. Such a configuration ensures a high failure safety.
In the exemplary embodiment according to
The drive systems according to
By reference to
Although in the exemplary embodiments according to
The elastically resilient element is controlled by data processing in a computer. The movement of the platform 7 in up to six degrees of freedom is freely programmable. Movement profiles that are pre-calculated or to be determined during operation of the amusement ride are executed by means of the drive systems of the amusement ride described. It is thereby possible to change the movement of the platform 7 at short intervals on a single installation of the amusement ride. As a result of the processing of the data during operation, the movement of the platform 7 can also be adapted to the behaviour or the inputs of the passengers so that an interaction is possible during the travel.
The controller 12 (
For example, a carriage 1 and a carriage n are shown in
Since the movement of the platform 7 is freely programmable, in particular movements can be produced which cause the illusion of specific movement sequences in the passengers.
Thus, the illusion of weightlessness can be produced in the passengers by moving the platform 7 on a parabolic movement path 11 such as is shown as an example in
The movement path 11 of the platform 7 can also be formed so that the passengers on the platform 7 have the sensation of a partial or complete acceleration due to gravity. The movement is produced so that the relative acceleration of the platform 7 downwards acts to counteract the force of gravity for a time interval. This produces the impression of weightlessness for the passengers on the platform 7.
The platform 7 can also be moved to that it executes rotary movements in which the instantaneous pivot point can be determined independently of the technical configuration of the amusement ride. The passenger thus has the illusion of a pendulum motion of the platform 7 with a pivot point which can lie outside the platform 7 or even outside the amusement ride.
By appropriate programming of the movement path, the illusion of a flight movement can also be imitated where the behaviour of vehicles, aircraft or other (fictitious) flying objects such as birds, dragons etc. can be imitated. To this end the movements of the platform 7 can be composed of lines and curves so that for example the flapping of wings can be perceived by the accelerations. As is described and set out with reference to
With the aid of the controller 12, it is further possible to make the movement state of the platform 7 follow a reference movement. Such a reference movement can be predefined by the operator or by multimedia sources such as simulations or films. As a result of the exact path control of the platform 7, the movement of the platform can communicate with the reference movement.
The movement of the platform 7 can also be changed by inputs made by the passengers. Corresponding input devices 41 can be provided on the platform 7 at which the passengers can make their inputs. By this means, for example, the behaviour of ships, boats, vehicles, aircraft, space ships and the like can be recreated and made to come alive for the passenger.
In particular, the free controllability of the amusement ride makes it possible to switch between different types of movement in the course of the travel or between individual trips without mechanical adaptation of the amusement ride.
In order to enable the described possibilities for path control, a sensor-based detection of the operating state of the platform 7 is provided. For this purpose in particular a length, speed, acceleration and force measurement is made in the cables 4 or, if rods are used, in these rods. The measurement of the movement state of the platform 7 can be made with gyroscopes or with (differential) satellite navigation (GPS) to determine the actual movement.
The controller 12 is provided to produce the control profiles for the drives with the program generator 40 or with the input device 41 that can be actuated either by the operating staff of the amusement ride or by the passenger.
The controller described can also be used for such embodiments in which the amusement ride has no winches 5 or levers 31. In this case, the cables 4 have a constant length and can, for example, be replaced by rods. In this case, the movement of the platform is accomplished only by appropriate movement of the carriages 3 along the rails 2 (
If the amusement ride does not have any carriages but only invariable-position winches 5 or levers 31, the desired value is transmitted to the corresponding winch/lever motor 29. The sensors 47 detect the angle of rotation and therefore the free cable length and return the corresponding actual value to the controller 12. The regulator 44 optionally generates a regulating signal in order to accordingly regulate the corresponding winch/lever motor 29.
The cable 4 is otherwise connected directly to the platform 7. The cable 4 can, however, also be connected to the platform 7 via at least one element 14.
The drive train according to
The cable 4 is connected directly to the platform 7. However, it is also possible to connect the cable via at least one element 14 to the platform 7.
The spring element 49 is not effective during normal operation of the amusement ride. The clutch 50 is engaged and bridges the spring element 49. The drum 26 is driven directly by the transmission 35. With loss of energy (risk of slackening cable tension), the clutch 50 is disengaged. The spring element 49 can now tension the cable 4 and enables a certain resilience of the drive train.
The drive train according to
The drive system according to
The force sensors 51 can be provided on all the cables 4 of the amusement ride but also on only one or several of the cables. This embodiment is an example for the redundant arrangement of the position and force sensors 37, 51 to increase the safety.
The amusement rides described are characterised by a high flexibility and an excellent riding experience. The amusement rides have similar performance properties (speed, acceleration, track length, passenger capacity) to the conventional roller coasters. Possible performance indices are given as an example hereinafter. These values are not to be understood as restrictive values.
The platform 7 can thus have a weight in the range of for example 200 kg to 4000 kg which corresponds to a conveying capacity of, for example, 1 to 10 persons. The platform 7 can have a maximum rotational acceleration of the order of magnitude of 90°/s and a translational acceleration of about 2 to 3 g. In this case, the platform 7 can have a typical rotational speed of 90°/s and a typical translational speed of about 10 m/s.
The amusement ride is provided with a safety monitoring system that evaluates all the control and sensor signals in order to monitor correct operation of the amusement ride. Here it is advantageous if a multichannel design of a monitoring device is used. To this end redundant signals of the drives and sensors are used by the active elements carriage 3 and winch 5. In the event of an unexpected state, the safety monitoring system initiates a defined stoppage of the amusement ride, for example, by means of an emergency stop. As is described by reference to
As the various embodiments of the drive systems show, elements can be provided in the drive system which guarantee the maintaining of a minimum force even when a subsystem fails. An ordered stoppage of the amusement ride without crashing of the platform 7 is then ensured.
If the brakes are provided redundantly according to the embodiment from
With a view to the safety of the amusement ride, the force, position, speed and/or acceleration sensors described are advantageously provided on several or all of the parallel guided cables 4. The force limitation of the cables 4 is achieved by torque limitation by the slipping clutches 36 described as an example in the drive train (
If a decentralised multi-channel motor controller is used, the movement behaviour during a stoppage of the amusement ride in the case of an emergency stop can also be ensured autonomously without connection to the central control system 12. In this case, a local energy storage system can be used for the drives. In this case, the drives of the individual carriages 3 shown in
The various elements of the amusement ride can be combined with one another depending on the configuration of the amusement ride. Individual machine elements can be provided redundantly so that in the event of a failure of individual machine elements, further operation of the amusement ride is nevertheless still possible or the amusement ride can be fixed without risk for the passengers on the platform 7.
The embodiments described show that the spring elements can be used in the drive train, in particular the springs in the cables 4, the torsional springs in the drum 26 of the winch 5 and the springs 33 at the fixing points of the cables on the platform.
The free programmability of the movement path of the platform 7 enables longer distances to be travelled and the movement profile of the platform 7 to be varied without changing the mechanical construction of the amusement ride.
The amusement rides can be used for most diverse applications. For example, it is possible to use them for amusement rides in which the experience of accelerations and for this an exciting riding experience are produced. The platform 7 can also be employed for use in the dark.
As a result of the mobility described, the platform 7 can also be used as a moving platform in film screenings in which the platform 7 and therefore the passengers synchronously execute movements with the film to be seen in each case.
The platform 7 can also be used as a moving platform for simulators.
The amusement ride is characterised by its constructive simplicity. The transmission of force between the carriage 3 and the platform 4 is accomplished merely through the cables 4 or corresponding rods. The movement path 11 of the platform 7 can be freely programmed in at least two degrees of freedom, in particular in six degrees of freedom (three translational and three rotational degrees of freedom). Defined acceleration or movement states can be simply produced with the superordinate controller 12. Defined paths and trajectories can also be travelled with the superordinate controller 12. If the carriages 3 are moved along the rails 2, the platform 7 can be transported over greater distances where the platform 7 can executed most diverse movements in a controlled manner during travel. The platform 7 can be controlled in various ways. The movement, the speed and the acceleration of the platform 7 can be controlled so that these are experienced as pleasant or as thrills.
Since the cables 4 and the platform 7 only have a relatively small own mass, a high dynamics of the platform 7 can be achieved in a simple manner. The structure of the amusement ride only has a very small interfering contour so that for the passengers of the platform, for example, the illusion of flying is produced.
Since the platform 7 does not move directly on rails, the movement sequence of the platform 7 cannot be foreseen or only with very great difficulty for the passengers, thus increasing the thrill of the ride.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2011 114 371 | Sep 2011 | DE | national |
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Number | Date | Country |
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10 2008 005 859 | Jul 2009 | DE |
1 063 064 | Dec 2000 | EP |
2 394 720 | Dec 2011 | EP |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130079169 A1 | Mar 2013 | US |