SK2692000A3 - Fall attraction for theme parks and fairgrounds - Google Patents

Abstract

A fall attraction for theme parks and fairgrounds comprises a seating carrier (7), a rail track (2) mounted on a tower or mast for guiding the seating carrier (7) and means (12, 13) for transporting the seating carrier to the uppermost section of the rail track. The rail track has a vertical or sloping fall section (8) over which the seating carrier is able to execute a free fall and a braking section, adjoining said vertical or sloping fall section, to bring the seating carrier to a standstill. In order to increase the attractive sensation and to improve safety, the braking section of the rail track has a safety section (9) which extends upwards and over which the seating carrier can be slowed down by an upward movement and can then fall back.

Description

FALL ATTRACTION FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND LUNAPARK

Technical field

The invention relates to an attraction which simulates a fall for amusement parks and amusement parks, comprising a drifting carrier with seats, a rail for guiding a seat carrier mounted on at least one tower or mast, and a rail track having at least one vertical or inclined drop portion on which the entrained carrier with the seats performs a free fall, and an adjacent braking portion which is intended to stop the entrained carrier with the seats and the means for transporting the latter to the uppermost part of the rail track.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Attractions of this type that mimic a fall are described in US-A 3,885,503.

Amusement parks and amusement parks are becoming increasingly popular facilities in which people find themselves in situations of mortal danger. A known fall simulation attraction has an initial braking path in the lowermost portion of the free fall portion and a second, substantially horizontal braking path adjacent the substantially perpendicular portion of the attraction.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fall-simulating attraction as outlined in the preamble in such a way as to increase its attractiveness while at the same time increasing its safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a fall-simulating attraction for this purpose is characterized in that the braking portion of the rail track has a safety section that extends upwards on which the carrier carrier with the seats can be retarded by moving upwards and then falling back.

Importantly, the seat carrier, which is subjected to a movement imitating a fall, is braked by gravitational force such that after the fall, the carrier is guided to a bend of the track on which it moves upwards. The braking may be enhanced or controlled by other means.

The track may be in a closed loop or may be a closed, non-closed track. Usually, a closed loop is preferred.

In order to increase the amusement value, the entrained carrier with the seats may be rotatably attached to at least one hinge pin per carriage that moves on or along the rail. The various rotational movements about the vertical and / or axis of rotation could be controlled by hydraulic, mechanical or pneumatic devices. Free rocking and circular movements around the hinge pins are not excluded. Auxiliary rails may be used alongside the hydraulic cylinders in order to control or perform rotary movements of the entrained carrier with the seats. In this case, for example, rollers or other guiding elements are mounted on the entrained carrier with the seats, which are able to interact with these auxiliary rails on certain parts of the travel path. In order to convey the entrained carrier with seats to the upper part of the rail track, various devices such as a cable or chain in the form of a loop having one or more stops fixed to the carrier or a magnetizable overhead track may be used.

The entrained carrier with seats may have one, two or more floors with seats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the schematic drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a fall simulating attraction according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the attraction turned 90 ° with respect to the side view of FIG. 3; FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The attraction of the amusement parks or amusement parks shown in FIG. 1 and 2, comprises a perpendicular mast 1 on which a rail track 2 is fastened, the rail track 2 consisting of two rail loops 3 and 4 which are at a distance from each other and connected to each other. In the case of a mobile embodiment, the mast 4 is supported by a plurality of support arms 4. In case of stable installation, the support arms can be replaced by anchor ropes and the tower is on a board that is anchored to the ground.

The carriage 6 has wheels, rollers, sliders or magnetizable elements, thus being able to move along the rail track. The open or closed nacelle 7, which is shown, for example, with two floors on which a row of seats is fixed, is suspended on the carriage 6. The carriage 6 and the nacelle 7 together form a drag carrier with seats.

The rail track 2 is in a perpendicular plane (and may be slightly inclined) and has two portions 60,9 extending obliquely from the top to the bottom portion, two horizontal portions 60, 11 and bent portions connecting these portions to each other.

The carriage 6 with the nacelle 7 can be transported to the top along the inclined portion 3 or 9 by any of the displacement mechanisms. In the example shown, the displacement mechanism is a cable or chain loop 12 which is driven by rollers or gears and which has one or more stops (jaws, hooks) 13 to engage the carriage 6.

People in the nacelle 7 should be given the opportunity to enjoy the view from the top of the rail, but after some time the nacelle reaches the upper edge of the section £ 3 and the hook connection is broken, causing the carrier 6, 7 to be carried. freefall down. At the lowest part of the rail track, the car travels upward, through the bent sections between sections 3 and 11, the straight section 11 and the bent sections between sections 11 and 9, into the slope section 9, decelerates and falls back and until additional braking means are provided , it stops after a few back and forth movements, suspended on the horizontal part 11. It is not excluded that this fall is slowed and controlled by the brakes.

The portions 8, 9 may also have a greater or lesser slope, or the sections are bent and perpendicular between portions 3 and 11 and between portions 11 and 9 may have a much larger radius of curvature, even if the horizontal portion 11 is omitted and replaced by interconnected bent sections.

Instead of a cable or chain loop 12 with a stop 13, it is also possible to use a drive unit embedded in the entrained seat and / or track carrier as a driving part for lifting the carrier with seats 6, 7, and this built-in drive unit could also provide some braking or the magnetic track used in modern trains shall be used.

The nacelle 7 is connected to the trolley by a horizontal hinge pin 14 and the lower part of the carrier 7 could also be connected to its upper part by a perpendicular hinge pin. The rotation of the nacelle around these pins could be controlled by hydraulic cylinders, motors or other drive means not shown.

In the example of FIG. 3, it is not a loop-shaped track 2 but is open-ended and, moreover, the carriage 6 with the nacelle 7 moves on the inside into an L-shaped track. The fall path is perpendicular and the braking path is wider. (The mast has been omitted for clarity).

It will be understood that numerous modifications, alternatives and additions are possible within the scope of the present invention. An essential feature is a rail track with part of the fall and part of the braking, in which a falling seat carrier, which may or may not be steered, decelerates, inter alia, in an upward movement.

Claims (7)

A fall simulating attraction for amusement parks and amusement parks, comprising a drifting carrier (7) with seats, a rail track (2) for guiding a drifting carrier (7) with seats mounted on at least one tower or mast, and a rail track having at least one a vertical or inclined fall section (8) on which the carried carrier (7) carries out a free fall, and an adjacent braking section intended to stop the carried carrier with the seats and means (12, 13) for transporting the carried carrier (7) so seats on the uppermost part of the rail track (2), characterized in that the braking portion of the rail track has a safety section (9) extending upwards on which the carrier (7) with the seats can be retarded by moving upwards and then falling down fall / back. 2. Attraction mimicking the fall according to claim 1, v y z on the - čuj ú c a clothes m that The rail path / 2 / forms closed loop. 3. Attraction imitate the task the fall according to claim 1, v y z on the - čuj ú c a clothes m that The rail path / 2 / forms the final, non-closed path. Fall-like attraction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entrained carrier (7) with seats is pivotally connected to at least one hinge pin on a carriage that moves on or next to the rail. Ί A fall-like attraction according to claim 4, characterized in that one or more auxiliary rails are added which can drive the carried carrier (7) with the seats to certain suspension positions. Fall-like attraction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for lifting the entrained carrier (7) with the seats are made of a cable or chain (12) in the form of a loop with stops. Fall-like attraction according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means for lifting the entrained carrier (7) with the seats form a magnetizable suspension path. Fall-like attraction according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means for lifting the entrained carrier (7) with the seats consist of a drive unit added to the carrier. Fall-like attraction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entrained seat carrier (7) has two or more seat levels.