Rollercoaster launch system
OwnerJoop Roodenburg, Peter De Vininventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a launching system made of a gripping conus connected to a wire that is connected to a winch system, a turning sheave, and a lifting cylinder that is affixed to a base, wherein the winch system has a motor driven hydraulic pump connected to an accumulator system connected to a hydraulic motor that drives a winch drum, and wherein an attached booster system is made of a cylinder connected to accumulator system and a set of sheaves connected to wire that is connected to a gripping conus that moves or stops a cart.
Claims12
A launching system for a roller coaster comprising:
- a. a gripping conus;
- b. a connecting wire operably connected to the gripping conus;
- and
- c. a drive means connected to the gripping conus via the connecting wire, wherein said drive means comprises:
- i. a winch system;
- ii. a turning sheave;
- and
- iii. a lifting cylinder removably connected to the connecting wire at its upper end and fixably mounted on a base.
A rollercoaster comprising a launching system, wherein the launching system connects temporarily to a roller cart that is moving on a track.
A method for launching rollercoaster carts comprising:
- a. pressurizing a plurality of hydraulic accumulators in a launching system;
- b. bringing a connecting conus to its starting position;
- c. lifting a connecting wire at its starting position;
- d. connecting the connecting conus and a receiving conus;
- e. energizing a hydraulic motor and speeding up a plurality of carts;
- f. lowering the speed of the connection wire;
- g. disconnecting the connecting conus and the receiving conus;
- h. lowering the connecting wire;
- i. returning connection conus to the starting position;
- and
- j. bringing forward another plurality of carts.
A method for emergency braking of rollercoaster carts comprising:
- a. lifting up a connection wire;
- b. bringing a connecting conus to its ending position;
- c. moving the connecting conus to its starting position;
- d. matching speed of a plurality of carts and the connecting conus;
- e. catching the plurality of carts;
- f. lowering the speed of the plurality of carts by using a hydraulic motor as an hydraulic pump;
- and
- g. stopping the plurality of carts.
A method for lowering the installed power of a rollercoaster launching system comprising:
- a. using a hydraulic pump of a winch system to pressurize a plurality of high pressure accumulators;
- b. using the winch system to extend a cylinder of a booster system to its starting position and to move a connecting conus to its starting position;
- c. closing a valve between the booster system cylinder and the plurality of high pressure accumulators;
- d. lifting a connection wire to its starting position;
- e. connecting the connecting conus and a receiving box;
- f. opening the valve between a booster system cylinder and the plurality of high pressure accumulators;
- g. energizing a hydraulic motor and speeding up a plurality of carts;
- h. lowering the speed of the connection wire;
- i. disconnecting the connecting conus and the receiving box;
- j. lowering the connection wire;
- k. returning the connection conus;
- and
- l. bringing forward another plurality of carts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.