US-12623157-B2 - Amusement device

US12623157B2US 12623157 B2US12623157 B2US 12623157B2US-12623157-B2

Abstract

An amusement device ( 1 ) includes a transport apparatus ( 2 ) for passengers with a transport track ( 5 ) with transport track sections ( 13 - 19 ), a passenger transport unit ( 4 ) moving in a direction of travel ( 9 ), and a transport drive device ( 8 ). The passengers are accommodated on the respective transport unit ( 4 ) with a passenger orientation ( 10 ). The transport track ( 5 ) has a transport track course which is curved and twisted in regions with one or more downhill stretches ( 6 ), and at least one abrupt change of the transport track course by approximately 90° with a deflection unit ( 7 ) there which is configured as a stationary, greatly curved transport track section ( 8 ) and/or as a rotational device ( 27 ) with a movable transport track section ( 19 ). A variation unit ( 11 ) changes the passenger orientation ( 10 ) relative to the direction of travel ( 9 ) of the transport unit ( 4 ).

Inventors

Patrick Spieldiener

Assignees

Raw Tex International Establishment

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210902
Priority Date: 20200904

Claims (20)

1 . An amusement facility comprising: a transport device for passengers, which has a transport path with a plurality of transport path sections; a transport unit for passengers, the transport unit being configured to move along the transport path in a travel direction; and a deflection unit, wherein the passengers are received with a passenger orientation at the transport unit, wherein the transport device comprises a drive device for the transport unit, wherein the transport path comprises a transport path course, which is curved in at least some areas and is twisted in at least some areas, and comprises one or more gradient sections, and at least one abrupt change in the transport path course by about 90° with the deflection unit arranged there, wherein the at least one deflection unit is configured as a rotating device with a movable transport path section, wherein the transport device has a variation unit for changing the orientation of the passengers relative to the travel direction of the transport unit, and wherein the variation unit is controlled for changing the passenger orientation and the rotating device such that the variation unit performs opposite rotations about a vertical axis of the transport unit.
2 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the transport path comprises a guide device with a plurality of guide sections for the transport unit.
3 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising scenery arranged at the transport path for the entertainment of the passengers in connection with the abrupt change in the transport path course.
4 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the transport path comprises a braking unit in front of the abrupt change in the transport path course in the travel direction.
5 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the transport path comprises a gradient section directed downwards in the travel direction subsequent to the abrupt change in the transport path course.
6 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflection unit comprises a stop unit and/or a drive unit for the transport unit.
7 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflection unit is arranged between at least two transport path sections, which are oriented at right angles to one another.
8 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the transport path has two abrupt changes in the transport path course by about 90° with the deflection unit located there, between which abrupt changes there is arranged a transport path section which is sloped downwards in the travel direction.
9 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the at least one deflection unit is arranged at an intersection of three or more transport path sections.
10 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the variation unit rotates the passenger orientation at the transport unit at the time of the abrupt change or after the abrupt change in the transport path course.
11 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the variation unit is configured to rotate the passenger orientation about the vertical axis of the transport unit in a direction at right angles to the travel direction.
12 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the transport unit comprises a chassis and the vertical axis is arranged centrally at the chassis of the transport unit.
13 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the axis of rotation of the rotating device and the vertical axis of the variation unit coincide.
14 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a transport path section adjoining the at least one deflection unit is configured as a dead-end section or cul-de-sac with an upright braking ramp for braking and for a reversal of the travel direction of the transport unit.
15 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the rotating device comprises a controllable rotary drive and a rotatable transport path section for the transport unit.
16 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the rotating device is arranged between two or more transport path sections that are oriented at right angles to one another and end separately, wherein the rotating device is controllable such that the transport unit arriving at the one transport path section may continue after the rotation to a different transport path section adjoining in the transverse direction, or the transport unit arriving at the one transport path section may continue without rotation to a different transport path section that is flush adjoining.
17 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the rotating device has a single stationary rotating part for receiving the rotatable transport path section.
18 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the transport unit comprises a passenger holder and a chassis with a drive for the meshing with the transport path.
19 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the variation unit is arranged between the passenger holder and the drive for changing the passenger orientation and the variation unit comprises a controllably driven rotating unit for active rotation of the passenger holder relative to the drive in relation to the vertical axis of the transport unit.
20 . An amusement facility in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the drive has a plurality of drive groups connected separately and independently to the chassis, wherein the variation unit for changing the passenger orientation comprises a respective rotary bearing of the drive groups that is rotatable about the vertical axis of the transport unit wherein the rotary bearings interact with a deflection unit, which is configured as a controllably driven rotating device with a plurality of rotating parts for the respective holder of a single rotatable path element of a rotatable transport path section.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a United States National Phase Application of International Application PCT/EP2021/074250, filed Sep. 2, 2021, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application 20 2020 105 107.5, filed Sep. 4, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention pertains to an amusement facility with a transport device for passengers, which has a preferably ring-shaped, closed transport path with a plurality of transport path sections (transport track sections) and with one or more transport units for passengers that can be moved, especially propelled, along the transport path in a travel direction. BACKGROUND Amusement facilities or so-called amusement rides in the form of roller coasters have become well known from practice. These amusement facilities have a transport device for passengers, which comprises a ring-shaped, closed transport path with a plurality of transport units for passengers that can be moved in a travel direction at and along the transport path. The passengers are received at the respective transport unit with a passenger orientation, e.g., with the orientation and the viewing direction in the travel direction or in the longitudinal direction of the transport unit. The transport device has a drive device for the transport unit or transport units. The transport path has a transport path course that is curved in at least some areas and is twisted in at least some areas and has one or more gradient sections. The transport units are accelerated with the drive device and can travel and accelerate on downward sloped gradient sections due to gravity and due to their own weight. They may also travel on upwards sloped gradient sections. The transport path may have a superelevation at the curved areas. The curved areas are configured as dynamic curves which are driven through rapidly and have a soft curvature or rounding with a large bending radius and with an arc angle of 150° and more. The path course may also have loopings, corkscrews and the like. The entertainment effect of such an amusement facility for the passengers is, above all, in the travel dynamics with high speeds of the transport units. On the other hand, scenery units, in which a transport unit is pulled with a towing device along a transport path with a usually flat course at a controlled and low speed, are known from practice. Sceneries, e.g., projection screens or video screens, pirate scenes, dinosaur parks or the like with three-dimensional structures and figures, etc., are constructed along the transport path. The travel dynamics of the transport unit is minimal. The entertainment value is, above all, in the scenery. SUMMARY An object of the present invention is to show an amusement facility improved with regard to the entertainment value and experience value. The present invention accomplishes this object with an amusement facility comprising a transport device for passengers, which has a preferably ring-shaped, closed transport path with a plurality of transport path sections (transport track sections) and with one or more transport units for passengers that can be moved, especially propelled. The transport unit is configured to move along the transport path in a travel direction. The passengers are received with a passenger orientation at the respective transport unit. The transport device comprises a drive device for the transport unit or for the transport units. The transport path has a transport path course, which is curved in at least some areas and is twisted in at least some areas and includes one or more gradient sections as well as and at least one abrupt change in the transport path course by about 90° with a deflection unit arranged there. The at least one deflection unit is configured as a stationary, highly curved transport path section and/or as a rotating device with a movable transport path section. The transport device has a variation unit for changing the orientation of the passengers relative to the travel direction of the transport unit. The amusement facility has a configuration similar to a roller coaster with the above-mentioned transport device and a transport path course with slightly dynamic curvatures, torsions, rising and falling gradient sections and corresponding travel dynamics. The transport path may have a ring-shaped, closed path course. However, the transport path may also have cul-de-sacs for a reversing motion of the transport unit which cul-de-sacs project laterally from the ring shape. The single transport unit or plurality of transport units present travel along the transport path and are set into motion and accelerated as needed by means of one or more external, stationary and/or carried-along drive devices. As a result, they may also travel over rising gradient sections. The transport path may also be divided into a plurality of transport path sections.