Linear motor driven amusement ride and method of controlling

[0001] The invention relates generally to entertainment queues, and in particular queues where participants ride on or on vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In previous decades, the popularity of water entertainment queues has increased. These queues provide a similar experience that can be experienced in a roller-coaster ride, with additional effects in the form of water cooling and excitement resulting from the possibility of splashing.

[0003] The most popular water queues are gutter-type slides in which the participant moves along a channel or "gutter" with his body, either on a vehicle or in a vehicle. Water flows in the gutter ensuring proper lubrication between the body / vehicle and the gutter surface and to ensure the aforementioned cooling and splashing effect. Usually, the participant's movement in the gutter is mainly controlled by the shape of the gutter (hills, slopes, turns, falls, etc.) in combination with the force of gravity.

[0004] As participants' expectations of sensations increased, the demand for movement control of participants in the gutter increased. Thus, various types of techniques were used to accelerate and inhibit the participant, other than the force of gravity. For example, the participant can be accelerated or decelerated by powerful water jets. In other queues, a conveyor belt was used to move the participant to the top of the hill, which the participant would not have been able to reach by the momentum. For safety reasons, such solutions are used only in water queues in which the participant moves in the gutter while sitting in the vehicle.

[0005] However, such a participant's movement control may raise safety and comfort concerns even when he or she is driving a vehicle. For example, a sufficiently strong water jet to set the vehicle in motion may lead to injury to the participant if it is hit in the face or back of the head, which may occur when the participant falls out of the vehicle. Similarly, a participant who extends limbs outside the vehicle may be injured by a fast-moving conveyor belt.

[0006] WO2004 / 085744 describes a method of operating a floating magnetic railroad car. During normal operation, the vehicle of the floating magnetic roller coaster does not come into contact with the roller coaster guide. Linear synchronous motors are used to raise the queue vehicle and move it forward. However, when it is necessary to stop the vehicle, the linear synchronous motors are turned off and the queue drops to the edges. To ensure that the queue vehicle gently slopes over the edges, the vehicle is equipped with skates and the guide edges are coated to ensure a smooth slope of the vehicle when it stops.

[0007] WO 98/31444 A discloses an entertainment queue using a vehicle. The vehicles include wheel gutters that hide the top and bottom wheels rolling along the track and hold the wagon to it.

[0008] Document US-B1-6 397 755 discloses an entertainment queue with vehicles and relates to linear synchronous motors only as a means of compensating for air resistance or friction or as a secondary propulsion source. The vehicles move on ordinary rollers on a pair of rails.

[0009] Document US 2005/098057 relates to magnetic levitation queues having rails along which the vehicle moves. The vehicle has guide wheels that roll along the track. [0010] Document WO9631938 A1 describes an active linear induction motor system that has the advantage of an air carrier system for guiding and supporting SAILRAIL®. In this case, an additional element to the motor is a support rail, which working surface can have a convex or concave, which is electrically conductive and has electromagnetic material in close proximity to the working surface. The main element of the engine is a slide, which cooperates with the rail and provides support for the load carried by the system. It can be seen that in special cases the system will work just as well, using pressurized fluid, such as water, as an active suspension or support medium. In a particular embodiment, an elevated tubular system for transporting people and goods is disclosed that can be used for fast transport in urban agglomerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The invention provides a sliding surface of an entertainment queue according to claim 10, an entertainment queue vehicle according to claim 12, a method of controlling the sliding motion of a vehicle according to claim 1.

[0012] The sliding surface is a water slide. The linear motor may include a reaction plate mounted at the bottom of the vehicle and a linear induction motor unit mounted below the sliding surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] An embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rising trough of the section according to an embodiment of the invention after removing the sliding surface to show the elements below;

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the part of the rising section gutter shown in Figure 1, after removing the side walls of the gutter to show the vehicle;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side section view of the part of the rising section trough shown in Figure 1 with the vehicle mounted;

Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view from the front of the part of the rising section gutter shown in Figure 1, with the vehicle mounted;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of an exemplary control system on the rising section of the gutters shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bowl of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a partial view of the funnel of the third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a chute part of the rising section of the fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 10 is a side view of a gutter train element in accordance with the method of carrying out the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] The invention relates to entertainment queues in which participants ride in vehicles sliding on a sliding surface. The term is used in the entertainment queue industry, "sliding" means the act of moving essentially smoothly along a sliding bearing surface while maintaining contact with it. It has the opposite meaning to "turning", which refers to the act of moving along the bearing surface, due to the relative rotation of the wheels, rollers, bearings, etc.

[0015] In the case of a waterslide, slip is generally facilitated by the water being a lubricant between the vehicle and the sliding surface. In this case, from time to time, when the water layer is deep enough and the vehicle has sufficient speed or lubrication, the contact between the vehicle and the gutter may temporarily lose, when the vehicle moves through a thin layer of water. However, this type of movement is still considered slip in the context of the slide chute.

[0016] At this point, embodiments will be discussed.

[0017] Water gutter slides usually include a channel or "gutter" to which water is supplied and in which a sliding vehicle is housed. To increase the experience of participants, the gutter contains hills, falls and turns. Despite the fact that the amusement queue described below relates to a gutter slide, it should be remembered that in a broad sense, the invention generally relates to amusement railways.

[0018] Figure 1 shows an example of an ascending chute section 10, according to a first embodiment of the invention, in which the vehicle typically moves from right to left. In fact, the section shown is connected at the entrance 12 and the exit 14 to successive sections of the gutter to ensure continuity of the gutter from the beginning to the end of the passage. The presented section is supported on a suitable frame (not shown) or an inclined section of the terrain (not shown). In the figure, the sliding surface 16 of the chute has been removed to show the elements under the surface 16.

[0019] In Figures 2-4, the chute 10 has an integrated sliding surface 16 (removed in Figure 1 to show the elements hidden under it) and two side walls 18 (removed in Figure 2 to show the vehicle 20). The sliding surface 16 is the surface on which the vehicle 20 slides, while the side walls 18 help to keep the vehicle 20 in the chute 10. The sliding surface 16 and the side walls 18 can be made of any material with suitable strength and rigidity and can be smooth to allow adequate slip of the moving vehicle 20. In the embodiment, the sliding surface 16 and the side walls 18 are made of fiberglass, in particular, they are a combination of a neo-isotal gel coat, cut strands of E-Glass or S-Glass fiber, rovings and isotal or ortotal resins.

[0020] In the embodiment shown, the vehicle 20 is a raft adapted to carry one or more persons, which in the lower part is provided with a lower vehicle surface 22 adapted to slide along the sliding surface 16 of the chute 10 during normal operation. The vehicle 20 in the embodiment has side tubes 24, cross benches 26 and handles 28.

[0021] To transfer the thrust to the vehicle 20, appropriate means are provided to allow the vehicle to move along the uphill section of the chute 10. This force is necessary when, for example, the vehicle speed 20 at the end of the entrance 12 of the section shown is insufficient to propel the vehicle 20 and bring it to the exit 14 of the section shown at the right speed only due to momentum. To provide the external force necessary to achieve the required speed at the outlet 14 of the illustrated section of the gutter 10, the illustrated section 10 was equipped with a linear motor.

[0022] There are many linear motors, including linear induction (LIM) motors and linear synchronous motors that are suitable for the current application. The exemplary linear motor used in the embodiment shown is a linear squirrel-cage induction motor.

[0023] Conceptually, the linear induction motor used in the embodiment is a standard squirrel cage motor whose stator units are spaced in a linear configuration and the rotor has been replaced with a substantially flat reaction plate. In other embodiments, the rotor may be replaced by other elements, a curved reaction plate, an electromagnet or a permanent magnet, for example. Stator units, known as linear induction motor units ("LIM units") when unfolded flat, contain three-phase windings around a laminated iron core. After supplying power to LIM units in the form of alternating current (AC), a magnetic field current wave is generated. While the rotary motor generates rotor rotation, the flat stator of the linear induction motor generates linear movement of the reaction plate.

[0024] The reaction component or plate in a LIM motor is usually a sheet of electrically conductive metal, for example aluminum or copper. The conductive sheet can be clad with steel on one side to ensure the return paths of the stator magnetic flux. Currents induced in the reaction plate by the current field of the LIM units create a secondary magnetic field. It is the reaction between two magnetic fields that transfers a linear sequence to the reaction plate. The amount of thrust transmitted to the reaction plate is controlled mainly by the voltage and frequency of the electrical supply to the LIM units (supplied by the inverter, not shown) and the dimensions and materials of the reaction plate. The LIM string can be reversed if the polarity of the LIM units is changed.

[0025] In the context of the water slide entertainment queue, LIM can control various motion elements of the vehicle to which the reaction plate is mounted, depending on the configuration of the LIM units and the shape of the reaction plate. For example, LIM can cause the vehicle to accelerate or decelerate. It can also keep the vehicle on hill or force it to corner. If the reaction plate is round, it can also make the vehicle rotate.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the LIM units are located under the sliding surface 16 of the chute 10 at a suitable distance from each other in the direction of travel of the vehicle 20, and the reaction plate 32 is mounted at the bottom of the vehicle 20.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, each LIM unit in the embodiment is rectangular in shape and is substantially flat. In an embodiment, the dimensions of each LIM unit are 500mm length, 250mm width and 85mm height, and provides 600N thrust at 480V, 60Hz AC and 20% rigor. Of course, to generate the right thrust, other dimensions, voltages, frequencies and rigors are possible.

[0028] LIM units 30 are mounted along the frame 34 of the gutter to be just below the sliding surface 16 and substantially in the middle between the two side walls 18. The upper surface of the LIM units 30 can alternatively form part or all of the sliding surface 16. In any case, functioning the elements of the LIM 30 units are located underneath the sliding surface 16. To reduce costs, each LIM 30 unit is positioned at an appropriate distance from the other LIM 30 units. In an embodiment, the LIM 30 units are spaced every 571.5 mm from each other. LIM 30 units are electrically connected with a controlled power supply 36.

[0029] In an embodiment, the reaction plate 32 is substantially flat and rectangular. In other embodiments, different shapes of the reaction plate are possible, for example elliptical, round or square. In an embodiment, the reaction plate 32 is a 3.175 mm (1/8 ") sheet made of aluminum 1050, 1100, 1200 or 5005 and a 2.381 (3/32") sheet made of A36 galvanized steel attached to an aluminum sheet. The reaction plate 32 has a length of 1.828 mm (72 ") and a width of 457.8 mm (18"), where the width of the steel sheet is 50.8 mm (2 ") smaller for the width of the aluminum sheet, so that the aluminum sheet extends beyond the width of the steel sheet by 50.8 mm (2 ") on each side. Examples of suitable reaction plates are given in detail in the joint application "Reaction Component for a Linear Induction Motor" submitted together with the application, which has been incorporated here in its entirety.

[0030] The reaction plate 32 is attached to the bottom of the vehicle 20 and can be covered with the lower surface 22 of the vehicle to provide a smooth interaction surface between the lower surface 22 and the sliding surface 16 of the chute. The distance between the reaction plate 32 and the LIM 30 units can be minimized to increase the force transmitted to the vehicle 20 by the LIM30 units. In the exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface 22 of the vehicle may be made of vinyl rubber, and the space between the reaction plate 32 and the LIM units 30 is about 9.525-15.875 mm (3/8 "- 5/8") during operation. Other materials, for example fiberglass, can be used for the lower surface 22 of the vehicle. The vehicle 20 may be loaded with an evenly distributed load or a larger load from the rear portion of the vehicle 20 to try to maintain proximity between the bottom surface 22 and the sliding surface 16.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the chute 10 is equipped with support structures so that the sliding surface 16 is supported by the chute arm 34. Below the sliding surface 16 is a channel 38 housing the electric wires (not shown) and which allows water between the sliding surface 16 and the side walls 18 to drip down.

All electrical components are sealed and grounded for safety.

[0032] The gutter 10 in the embodiment is further equipped with proximity sensors 40 before the section shown and throughout the section shown so that the voltage and / or frequency of the power supply of the LIM units 30 can be adjusted to provide the desired vehicle speed at the output 14 of the section shown . Proximity sensors can be, for example, inductive proximity detectors. One model of proximity sensor that can be used is the Turck Weld Field Immune Proximity Sensor 1646631 magnetic field proximity sensor.

[0033] During operation, water is introduced into the section of the chute 10 by means of known methods, for example water nozzles mounted in the side walls, due to the force of gravity from a higher place in the chute, etc. Water provides lubrication between the lower surface 22 of the vehicle and the sliding surface 16 gutters 10 to facilitate the movement of the vehicle 20 over a given section. In an embodiment, the water layer on the sliding surface 16 has a depth of 1-3 mm, but it should be remembered that other depths are also possible.

[0034] At the beginning of the queue, the vehicle 20 is lowered from the starting position (not shown) of the chute and moves along it. As shown in Figure 5, LIM is controlled by a controller. In particular, when the vehicle 20 approaches the illustrated distance, proximity sensors 40 mounted before the illustrated distance measure the speed of the vehicle 20 between the individual sensors. This information is transmitted to the processor 42, which, based on the measured speed, calculates the necessary voltage and frequency supplied to the LIM units 30, which will generate sufficient force to ensure that the vehicle 20 reaches the exit 14 of the trough section 10 shown at the desired speed. To increase the accuracy of the calculations, you can also use vehicle weight detectors (not shown), installed as far as possible at the beginning of the queue. The processor then sets the power supply 36 to supply this voltage and frequency to the LIM 30 units.

[0035] As the vehicle 20 climbs the depicted section of the chute 10, the magnetic field generated by the LIM units 30 will transmit a linear thrust to the reaction plate 32 mounted at the bottom of the vehicle 20, making it maintain its speed or accelerate in the depicted section 10 As the vehicle 20 travels along the section of the gutter 10 shown, subsequent proximity sensors 40 will monitor its speed and the power to the LIM 30 units will be adjusted accordingly. In an embodiment, the LIM 30 units are powered in the correct order to provide thrust to the vehicle 20 when it is above the energized LIM 30 unit.

[0036] While the above-mentioned proximity sensors 40 detect the vehicle position 20, other sensors could be used to measure one or more positions, linear speed, rotational speed and direction of vehicle movement 20 and cause the LIM units 30 to operate in so as to generate, by means of a particular solution, the movement of the vehicle 20, e.g., by braking the vehicle 20, slowing its rotation or changing the direction of movement.

[0037] As described, the illustrated embodiment limits the need for a direct external force to be applied to the vehicle 20 to help it uphill, which translates into driving safety and increases the comfort of the rider and the aesthetic appearance.

[0038] Although the embodiment has been described with reference to an entertainment queue element, it should be understood that it can be used in the case of an entertainment queue using such an element, the method of using LIM to generate vehicle movement in the entertainment queue, a queue vehicle equipped in a reaction plate cooperating with a queue equipped with LIM, and a sliding surface equipped with LIM mounted from below.

[0039] In addition, although the embodiment has been described in detail with respect to the gutter train, it should be understood that the invention can also be applied to other types of entertainment queues. For example, Figure 6 shows a bowl type queue or queue element in which LIM units are built around the bowl to provide vehicle movement around the bowl before it is released and helical movement toward the center is possible. The bowl type queue is described in US Patent No. D521,098, issued May 16, 2006. Figure 7 shows a funnel queue or queue element in which LIM units are built along the sides to increase or decrease the amplitude with which the vehicle oscillates along the chute. The funnel queue is a full funnel which in Figure 7 includes a bevelled portion to allow the interior to be shown. This type of funnel queue has been described in US Patent No. 6,857,964 issued February 22, 2005, US Patent No. 7,056,220 issued June 6, 2006 and in co-filed US Application No. 11 / 381,557 filed May 4, 2006. In an alternative embodiment of the chute train shown in Figure 8, the invention may be used to accelerate the vehicle on a straight hill followed by an uphill turn.

[0040] Although the embodiment has been described as an uphill section in the middle of the queue, it can be seen that the invention can also be used on other sections of the entertainment queue. For example, the LIM 30 units can be built up horizontally at the start stand to speed up vehicle 20 and put it into the queue. Alternatively, the LIM 30 units can be built on an uphill section near the start station to either take the vehicle 20 with the passenger up or return the empty vehicle 20 to the elevated station. In addition, LIM 30 units can be built at the end of the queue to release the vehicle 20 as it approaches the end or starting position. Naturally, the LIM 30 units can be built on exits to control the speed of the 20 vehicle exits.

[0041] Other applications are possible. For example, instead of a vehicle 20 containing only one reaction plate 32, several plates 32 can be mounted. In addition, as shown in Figure 9, instead of mounting the LIM units 30 under the sliding surface 16 of the trough 10 and the reaction plate 32 on the bottom of the vehicle 20, the LIM units 30 can be mounted outside and parallel to the side walls 18 of the trough 10 and the reaction plates 32 on the vehicle 20 can be located so that they lie parallel to the side walls 18 of the chute when the vehicle 20 is in the chute 10.

[0042] It should be understood that, although LIM in the embodiment shown is used to maintain the speed or acceleration of vehicle 20, LIM can also be used to drive a vehicle. For example, LIM can be used to brake vehicle 20, prevent acceleration of vehicle 20 on a downhill ride, or to stop it or change its direction. In addition, in a different configuration of LIM units 30 and reaction plates 32, LIM can be used to generate rotation of vehicle 20. For example, a linear motor force can be applied eccentrically to generate rotation of reaction plate 32. Alternatively, adjacent units can be rotated LIM 30 can generate a string in opposite directions. In addition, the selective work of many sets of LIM units in an angular system relative to each other can cause the vehicle to move on any trajectory. The LIM can also be used to make vehicle 20 be able to overcome corners. Of course, it is also possible to combine this type of movement, for example LIM, which causes the vehicle 20 to turn during deceleration or LIM, which causes the vehicle 20 to accelerate when cornering, as shown in Figure 8.

[0043] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, LIM can also be used to generate other traffic. For example, on the downhill section of the queue 50, followed by the uphill section 52, when the vehicle 20 rolls off on the section 50 and when entering the section 52, the LIM may operate so that the vehicle 20 reaches the appropriate height. Then the LIM can be turned off, causing the vehicle 20 to slide down the uphill section 52 again and up the slope 50. The vehicle 20 can then slide down the section 50 again and drive up the hill section 52, where the LIM can be restarted so that the vehicle 20 drives up the hill section 52 at the desired speed.

[0044] Although in the illustrated embodiments the vehicle 20 has been depicted as a flat-bottomed raft, it can be understood that the vehicle 20 according to the invention can be any vehicle adapted to carry at least one passenger in the entertainment queue, for example a tube-shaped vehicle, a vehicle multiplayer or platform type.

[0045] Despite the fact that in the embodiment shown, the drive in the form of a linear induction motor has been shown as comprising units of the linear induction motor 30 which are mounted underneath the sliding surface 16 and the reaction plate 32 mounted on the bottom of the vehicle 20, it can be seen that other configurations are also possible. For example, the units 30 of a linear induction motor can be mounted on the bottom of the vehicle 20 in a battery-powered form and remotely controlled, with a plurality of reaction plates 32 mounted under the surface 16.

[0046] Despite the fact that the gutter 10, LIM units 30, reaction plate 32 and other elements have been described in some cases giving them specific dimensions and imposing the material from which they are made, persons having knowledge in the given field will recognize that it is possible to use other dimensions and materials, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0047] Furthermore, despite the fact that the linear motor in the illustrated embodiments has been described in the form of a linear induction motor, it can be seen that it is possible to use other linear motors, such as, for example, linear synchronous motors. [0048] In some cases, details are given of the specific type of LIM used in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize the possibility of using other types of LIMs with different configurations, technical specifications, and dimensions without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0049] In the light of the above, many modifications and versions of the invention are possible. Thus, it should be remembered that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be implemented differently without departing from the scope of the claims.