[0001] The invention relates to equipment for a funfair, affording places to a certain number
of passengers who are solidly anchored internally of a moving ride, for example constituted
by a closed shell.
[0002] WO-A-95/12188 discloses an example of a device for a funfair.
[0003] The invention relates to the field of equipment which offers passengers a random
series of unordered and unpredictable ride trajectories.
[0004] The passengers' enjoyment consists in being subjected to centrifugal forces and accelerations
which vary continuously in direction and sort.
[0005] The aim of the invention is to make available an equipment which realises the above
movements on a continuous trajectory which varies without any continuity of course,
but randomly.
[0006] The aim is attained by an equipment which rotates unorderedly about an axis which
continuously changes within a bundle of axes all passing through a point.
[0007] The point can be fixed or can be subjected to unordered movements.
[0008] The equipment is constituted by a closed shell, generally of an ovoid shape, preferably
spherical, internally of which are located places for the passengers to sit, for example
solidly anchored seats which receive and securely hold the passengers.
[0009] The shell is supported on a frame by means for constraining which enable the shell
to rotate about a diameter axis thereof which axis changes continuously thanks to
the motion imparted on the shell.
[0010] The means for constraint can be of various nature, and in themselves of known type,
such as a trio of pirouetting wheels, a trio of idle spherical bearings, or even means
for support based on an air cushion, or simple sliding supports having a low friction
coefficient.
[0011] The motion allowed by the means for constraint comprises a succession of rotations
which, in the case of a open or closed spherical shell, maintain the centre of the
spherical shell fixed with respect to the frame.
[0012] The frame can be subjected in turn to unordered movements.
[0013] The invention further comprises means for imparting the desired movements on the
shell with respect to the frame, as well as means for imparting the unordered movements
on the frame.
[0014] The constructional and functional advantages and characteristics of the invention
will emerge clearly from the detailed description that follows, illustrated by the
figures of the appended drawings, which illustrate a preferred but non-limiting embodiment,
given by way of example.
The first embodiment relating to the closed shell configuration is not an embodiment
of the invention but useful for the understanding thereof.
Figure 1 illustrates the invention in a perspective view in a first embodiment thereof.
Figure 2 is a section along line II-II of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail of figure 1.
Figure 4 is section along line IV-IV of figure 2.
Figure 5 shows the invention is a perspective view, in a second embodiment thereof.
Figure 6 is a view along section VI-VI of figure 5.
Figure 7 is a detail of figure 1.
[0015] With reference to the first embodiment, illustratred in figures 1-4, 10 denotes a
base frame constituted by three beams 11 which are coplanar and diverging and positioned
at 120° from one another.
[0016] A column 12 rises from the ends of each of the three beams 11.
[0017] At the ends of the beams 11, in proximity to the columns 12, are located two identical
forks 111, one only of which is visible on the right of figure 1, and a further fork
111', , all of which forks 111, 111' are each rotatable about an axis thereof, which
axis preferably converges together with the axes of the other forks towards a common
point, fixed relative to the frame 10.
[0018] Each of the two forks 111 bears an idle wheel 112, while the further fork 111' bears
a wheel 113 keyed on the shaft of an electric motor 114 fixed to the fork.
[0019] The rotations of the shaft of the motor 114 are controlled by an encoder, not illustrated,
and are commanded by an electric processor according to a predetermined program.
[0020] The axis of the fork 111' bearing the motor 114 is connected to the shaft of a motor
115 which causes the fork 111' to rotate at random.
[0021] The rotations of the fork 111', which preferably have an oscillating motion, are
controlled by an encoder, not illustrated, and are commanded by an electronic processor
according to a predetermined program.
[0022] A shell 20, in the first embodiment having a spherical conformation, rests on the
three wheels 112, 113, a centre of which shell 20 preferably coincides with the point
of convergence of the rotation axes of the forks 111, 111'.
[0023] At the top of the columns 12 are located three identical forks 121 which are each
free to rotate about an axis thereof, which axis preferably converges, together with
the other axes, towards the point of convergence of the rotation axes of the forks
111 and 111'.
[0024] Each of the three forks 121 bears an idle wheel 122.
[0025] The three wheels 122 are placed in sliding contact with the spherical closed shell
20 having the centre thereof preferably coinciding with the point of convergence of
the rotation axes of the forks 111, 111' and 121.
[0026] The forks 111 and 121 with the relative wheels realise a system of pirouetting wheels,
i.e. wheels which can be freely oriented in all directions by rotating about the rotation
axes of the respective forces.
[0027] By activating the motor 114 the spherical shell 20 is set in rotation about the axis
passing through the centre and parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel 113.
[0028] By activating the motor 115 the direction of the axis of the motor 114 is changed,
as is the rotation axis of the spherical shell 20 (figure 7).
[0029] The rotations of both motors 114 and 115 are controlled by an encoder which commands
a halt in a fixed position, which is also the rest position of the spherical shell
20.
[0030] The spherical shell 20 exhibits a door 21 for opening and gaining access to the inside
thereof, which door 21, in the rest position, is always in the same place, indicated
in figure 1, for access and exit of the passengers, using a removable staircase 300.
[0031] A ledge 22 is arranged at the same level as the door 21 (figure 2) on an internal
side of the spherical shell 20, and fixed by known means which are not illustrated.
[0032] The ledge 22 is on a diameter plane of the spherical shell 20, at an equator of the
spherical shell 20, and seats 23 are solidly anchored on the ledge 22, which seats
23 are equipped with security belts for retaining the passengers.
[0033] The spherical shell 20 can also contain a plurality of ledges in parallel positions,
or also a series of seats arranged randomly.
[0034] With the aim of improving passenger safety, a ballast weight 24 is used (figure 4);
the weight 24 is fixed to the shell in a special zone thereof i.e. a zone where it
will bring the shell back into the rest position should the motors 114, 115 break
down.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the ballast weight 24 is located internally of the
shell, at the lower "pole" thereof. Naturally, the weight of the ballast weight 24
is chosen taking into account the weight of the shell 20 including the weight of the
passengers and the power of the motors 114, 115.
[0036] The spherical shell 20 is generally constructed by welding segments of sheet metal
having a spherical profile, and can exhibit polar zones thereof constituted by a transparent
cap.
[0037] The random activation of the motors 114 and 115 can be commanded either manually
or, as mentioned before, via an electronic processor which responds to a special program.
[0038] In the second embodiment, shown in figures 5 and 6, the equipment exhibits a shell
220 having a hemispherical configuration.
[0039] The shell 220 is open rather than closed, as in the first embodiment.
[0040] With respect to the first embodiment as described above, in the second embodiment
the three columns with respective fixed forks with wheels located at the top thereof
are absent. All the remaining elements of the first embodiment are present in the
second embodiment, where they are denoted using the same numerical references with
the addition of the suffix "2". Thus, for the descriptions of those common elements,
reference is made to the description relating to the first embodiment.
[0041] In the above-illustrated examples the frame 10, 210 is fixed to the ground surface;
it could however be supported, at least at one of the beams 11, 211, by mobile rest
means which can impart unordered motion thereon.
[0042] The mobile means are easily imaginable by an expert in the field and are therefore
not described or illustrated further herein.
[0043] Although in the present invention the shell used to realise the equipment for a funfair
is represented and described with reference to spherical configurations, it would
however be possible to use any other configuration able to contain seats for passengers
and to be rotated about an axis which varies continuously throughout a plurality of
axes having any orientation. Purely by way of example, an alternative to the described
configurations might be shells having an elliptical shape.
1. Equipment for a funfair, comprising:
- a rigid shell (220) provided internally thereof with at least a place for a passenger;
- a frame (210) for supporting the shell (220)
- means for constraining and supporting the shell which enable the shell (220) to
rotate about an axis which varies continuously throughout a range of a plurality of
axes having any orientation, said means for constraining and supporting the shell
(220) are a trio of pirouetting wheels (2112, 2113) or a trio of idle spheres or means
for sliding having a low friction coefficient;
- means for imparting rotations on the shell, which rotations are unordered with respect
to the axis, the means for imparting unordered rotations on the shell are a wheel
(2113) arranged tangentially of the shell (20), the wheel being mounted on a fork
(2111'), an axis of which fork (2111') is free to rotate with respect to the frame
(10); a first electric motor (2114) having controlled rotations and being mounted
on the fork (2111') in order to set the wheel (2113) in rotation, and a second electric
motor (2115) having controlled rotations and being mounted on the fork (2111') in
order to set the fork (2111') in rotation with respect to the frame (210), characterised in that the equipment comprising an electronic processor which independently commands the
rotations of the first and second electric motors (2114, 2115) according to a program
ordering random movements thereof and in that the shell (220) exhibits an open hemispherical configuration.
2. The equipment of claim 1, characterised in that the axes about which the wheels (2112, 2113) pirouette converge towards a single
point.
3. Th equipment of claim 1, characterised in that the point is internal of the shell (220).
4. The equipment of claim 1, characterised in that at least a circular ledge is located internally of the shell, on which at least a
circular ledge a series of seats (223) for passengers is aligned.
5. The equipment of claim 4, characterised in that the shell (220) is provided with an opening (221) for access to seats (223).
6. The equipment of claim 1 characterised in that a ballast weight (224) is fixed internally of the shell (220), which ballast weight
(224) returns the shell (220) into a rest position.
1. Vorrichtung für einen Vergnügungspark, einschließlich:
- einer starren Schale (220) mit wenigstens einem Platz für einen Fahrgast;
- eines Rahmens (210) zum Tragen der Schale (220),
- Mittel zum Halten und Tragen der Schale, die es der Schale (220) ermöglichen, sich
um eine Achse zu drehen, die sich innerhalb einer Vielzahl von Achsen jeder Ausrichtung
abwechseln kann, wobei die Mittel zum Halten und Tragen der Schale (220) drei Lenkrollen
(2112, 2113) oder drei Leerlaufkugeln sind oder Gleitmittel mit einem niedrigen Reibungskoeffizienten.
- Drehungsübertragungsmitteln zum Übertragen von in Bezug auf die Achse ungeordneten
Drehungen auf die Schale, wobei die Mittel zum Übertragen von ungeordneten Drehungen
auf die Schale aus einem Rad (2113) bestehen, das die Schale (220) berührt und auf
einer Gabel (2111') befestigt ist, wobei sich eine Achse der Gabel (2111') frei in
Bezug auf den Rahmen (210) drehen kann; eines ersten elektrischen Motors (2114) mit
gesteuerten Drehungen, der auf die Gabel (2111') aufgebaut ist, um das Rad (2113)
in Drehung zu versetzen, und eines zweiten elektrischen Motors (2115) mit gesteuerten
Drehungen, der auf die Gabel (2111') aufgebaut ist, um die Gabel (2111') in Drehung
in Bezug auf den Rahmen (210) zu versetzen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung einen elektronischen Prozessor beinhaltet, der unabhängig die Drehungen
des ersten und des zweiten elektrischen Motors (2114, 2115) gemäß eines Programms
mit zufälligen Bewegungen bewirkt und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schale (220) offen und halbkugelförmig ist.
2. Die Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Achsen, um die sich die Rollen (2112, 2113) drehen, an einem Punkt zusammenlaufen.
3. Die Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich dieser Punkt innerhalb der Schale (220) befindet.
4. Die Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich wenigstens ein kreisförmiger Vorsprung im Inneren der Schale befindet, auf welchem
sich eine Sitzreihe (223) für Fahrgäste aufreiht.
5. Die Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schale (220) mit einer Öffnung (221) für Zugang zu den Sitzen (223) ausgestattet
ist.
6. Die Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Ballastgewicht (224) im Inneren der Schale (220) angebracht ist, welches die
Schale (220) in die Ruheposition zurückbringt.
1. Équipement pour une fête foraine, comprenant :
- une coque rigide (220) dotée à son intérieur d'au moins une place pour un passager
;
- un châssis (210) pour soutenir la coque (220)
- un dispositif pour contraindre et soutenir la coque qui permet à la coque (220)
de pivoter autour d'un axe qui varie continuellement parmi une gamme d'une multitude
d'axes ayant une orientation quelconque, ledit dispositif pour contraindre et soutenir
la coque (220) étant un trio de roues pivotantes (2112, 2113) ou un trio de sphères
libres ou un dispositif pour le coulissement ayant un faible coefficient de friction
;
- un dispositif pour transmettre les rotations à la coque, dont les rotations sont
désordonnées par rapport à l'axe, le dispositif de transmission des rotations désordonnées
à la coque étant une roue (2113) placée tangentiellement à la coque (20), la roue
étant montée sur une fourche (2111') dont un axe est libre de pivoter par rapport
au châssis (10) ; un premier moteur électrique (2114) ayant des rotations contrôlées
et étant monté sur la fourche (2111') afin de placer la roue (2113) en rotation et
un deuxième moteur électrique (2115) ayant des rotations contrôlées et étant monté
sur la fourche (2111') afin de placer la fourche (2111') en rotation par rapport au
châssis (210), caractérisé par le fait que l'équipement comprend un processeur électronique qui commande indépendamment les
rotations du premier et du deuxième moteur électrique (2114, 2115) selon un programme
ordonnant des mouvements aléatoires de ces derniers et par le fait que la coque (220) présente une configuration hémisphérique ouverte.
2. L'équipement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que les axes autour desquels les roues (2112, 2113) pivotent convergent vers un seul
point.
3. L'équipement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que le point se trouve à l'intérieur de la coque (220).
4. L'équipement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait qu'au moins un rebord circulaire se trouve à l'intérieur de la coque et que sur ledit
au moins un rebord circulaire est alignée une série de sièges (223) pour passagers.
5. L'équipement selon la revendication 4, caractérisé par le fait que la coque (220) est dotée d'une ouverture (221) pour accéder aux sièges (223).
6. L'équipement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait qu'un poids de ballast (224) est fixé à l'intérieur de la coque (220), ledit poids de
ballast (224) remettant la coque (220) dans une position de repos.