The present invention relates to the field of amusement rides, wherein one or more passenger carriers, each capable of receiving one or more passengers are guided and supported by an amusement ride guide structure. Provision is made for a launch system for launching the one or more passenger carriers.

In a prior art embodiment, for instance EP 1261403, an amusement ride installation has a launch system comprising a launch guide structure supporting and guiding the at least one passenger carrier to be launched along a launch path, said launch guide structure being interconnected to the amusement ride guide structure, a drive means providing a variable drive speed, and drive means-carrier connection means, including at least one mechanical connecting member, such as a cable, providing a temporary mechanical connection between the drive means and the at least one passenger carrier to be launched.

The known launch system is adapted to accelerate said at least one passenger carrier - using a winch and a connecting cable temporarily connected to a passenger carrier - from a starting position along a launch path until at least a predetermined terminal launch speed has been reached by said the passenger carrier, after which said passenger carrier is disconnected from said connecting cable and said at least one passenger carrier travels further along the amusement ride path.

In the known system the carrier is launched with great acceleration. This exposure to great acceleration is thrilling for the passengers. Also it allows for an attractive layout of the installation compared to gravity based launch installation, wherein the carriers first travel up a ramp at relatively slow pace and are then released so as to accelerate based on gravity alone.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved amusement ride installation.

The present invention provides an amusement ride installation according to claim 1. The invention allows for an enhanced control of the launch itself. In this manner all sorts of situations can be dealt with, such as a too strong acceleration due to a reduced number of passengers in the carriers or a too slow acceleration due to head wind, (unexpected) increase in frictional resistance, etc. In the prior art installation there is no control over the launch speed, and thus launch acceleration, during the launch itself. In the known installation only the terminal launch speed is used as a set-point and it is ensured that this terminal launch speed is reached. One drawback associated therewith is, for example, that in the prior art installation passengers may be subjected to undesirable large accelerations, even if only during a very short period(s).

Preferred embodiments of the installation and associated advantages are described in the subclaims and the description, which follows.

The present invention further relates to a method for operating an amusement ride installation.

A non-limitative example of an amusement ride installation according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the appended drawing. In the drawing:

• Fig. 1 schematically shows an amusement ride installation;
• Fig. 2 a schematic side view of the launch system of the installation of figure 1 prior to a launch;
• Fig. 3 the view of figure 2 at the start of the launch;
• Fig. 4 the view of figure 3 at the moment of disconnection;
• Fig. 5 a top view of the launch system;
• Fig. 6 a schematic view of the launch winch and cable;
• Fig. 7 a further schematic view of the winch and associated variable speed drive means;
• Fig. 8 schematic the launch winch and associated launch control means;
• Fig. 9 an example of a desired launch curve; and
• Fig. 10 a further example of a desired launch curve.
• Figure 1 shows an example of an amusement ride installation 1 according to the invention. In this example the installation 1 has a guide structure 2 formed by amusement ride guide structure 2a and launch guide structure 2b, which are here interconnected to form an endless guide structure. The amusement ride guide structure 2a here includes an upward ramp 3 connected to the essentially horizontal launch guide structure 2a. The ramp 3 is followed by a spiralling section 4 and a return section 5 which connects to the other end of the launch guide structure 2b.

It can be envisaged that the launch path provided by the launch guide structure is inclined so as to elevate or descend in the direction of the launch. It can also be envisaged that the lauch path is non-linear, e.g. including a curved launch path.

It is clear that the amusement ride structure can have all sorts of designs, e.g. including at least one of a curve, looping, screw, etc.

It can be envisaged that the launch guide structure is only temporarily connected to the amusement guide structure during launch and disconnected therefrom after the carrier(s) have left the launch path. For instance a switch assembly could be arranged between the launch guide structure and the amusement guide structure.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1 the amusement ride guide structure 2a and the launch guide structure 2b together define a continuous looped structure, but of course other arrangements are also possible.

The guide structure 2 supports and guides one or more passenger carriers 10, here a train of interconnected passenger carriers 10, each adapted for supporting one or more passengers. In this example each carrier 10 has wheels or rollers 11 engaging on parallel rails which form the guide structure 2.

The guide structure is in practice most likely of rigid design but it can also be envisaged to have the guide structure (or part thereof) embodied as a cable or the like.

A passenger carrier 10 can have widely differing designs, e.g. a carrier which is suspended below the guide structure, e.g. for a single or multiple passengers, a wheeled vehicle for one or multiple passengers, a carrier wherein a passenger is sitting, lying, suspended in a harness, sitting as on a bike, etc.

In this amusement ride installation 1 the train of passenger carriers 10 is launched by a launch system, so that the train of carriers 10 is accelerated very fast to a high terminal launch velocity. It is noted that the terminal launch velocity can vary upon conditions, such as the total weight of the carriers and passengers, but also on basis of the desired thrill for the passengers. The terminal launch velocity is only intended to guarantee that the launched carriers enter the amusement ride path with the desired speed.

An example of the launch system will now be discussed in detail with reference to the drawings.

The launch system includes a drive means providing a variable drive speed, embodied here as a winch 20 having a rotatable winch drum 21 for a connection cable 22 and associated winch drive means 23 providing a variable winch drive speed. The connection cable 22 provides a temporary connection between the winch 20 and the carriers 10 during the launch. It will be clear that instead of a cable, a chain, belt or similar flexible force-transmitting element can be used as well.

The winch drive means 23 include at least one hydraulic pump 40 and at least one hydraulic motor 41, which drives the winch drum 21. In this embodiment pump 40 and motor 41 are in a closed circuit arrangement. For driving the pump 40 a motor 48, e.g. an electrical motor or a combustion motor, is provided. In practice many motors, e.g. 5 or 10 or even more motors 41 can be associated with a single winch 20. It is also possible to have multiple winches and associated connection cables in a single launch system.

As an alternative for a winch, or in combination therewith, one or more linear hydraulic rams may be used as a drive means, e.g. in an embodiment wherein a cable sheave assembly is displaceable by means of one or more hydraulic rams. Electrically driven winches are also possible.

As enormous amount of energy is needed for a launch during a short period, the hydraulic system here includes an accumulator system, including gas reservoirs 43 interconnected to an accumulator 59, the other end of which is connected to the hydraulic motor 41 via a hydraulic line. This allows storing a large amount of energy. A valve assembly 57 controls the release of hydraulic fluid under pressure from the accumulator system 43 to the motor 41. A return line 56 connects the motor 41 to the pump 40.

The motor 41 can be of the type having axial pistons of variable stroke, in this example having a swash plate with a controllable angle. The pump 40 can be of the same type. A controller 46 provides control of the swash plate angle of the motor 41. A similar controller 46 is provided for the pump 40.

The hydraulic system used preferably includes what is known as secondary control in the field of hydraulic motors.

The connection cable 22 here has both ends connected to the drum 21 in opposite winding directions. A guide sheave 24 is mounted at the starting end of the launch guide structure 2b, while the winch 20 is mounted here underneath the ramp 3. The upper run of the cable 22 lies between the rails of the guide structure (see figure 5).

A further cable sheave 25 with associated lifting means 26 is placed near the guide sheave 24 for moving up and down the upper run of cable 22.

In this example an engagement member 28, embodied here as a conical part, is fastened on the connection cable 22, which member 28 can engage on an associated engagement part 12 of the rearward passenger carrier 10.

In a variant not shown in the drawings the launch system includes a pusher cart and an associated pusher cart guide structure, said pusher cart being connected to said cable 22 and said pusher cart being adapted to engage said at least one passenger carrier 10 to be launched during launch thereof and disconnect therefrom. In a practical embodiment thereof the pusher cart guide structure diverts the pusher cart from the launch path so that the pusher cart is disconnected from said passenger carrier.

As can be seen from the figure 4 the member 28 is disconnected from the passenger carrier 10 as the carrier 10 moves onto the ramp 3. Thus a temporary connection is established between the drive means (winch 20, cable 22, member 28) and the at least one passenger carrier 10 to be launched.

Not shown in the drawings is a braking system for braking said at least one passenger carrier at a position, e.g. at position 87, downstream of the position where said at least one carrier has been disconnected from said cable 22, e.g. a (electro-) magnetic or mechanical braking system.

The launch system is adapted to accelerate the train of passenger carriers 10 from a starting position "A" along said launch path until at least a predetermined terminal launch speed has been reached by the train of passenger carriers 10, whereafter said the rearward passenger carrier 10 (and thus the other carriers as well) is disconnected from the connecting cable 22 and the train of passenger carriers 10 travels further along the amusement ride path 2a.

For example the train of passenger carriers 10 is launched within 3 seconds to a terminal launch speed of 75 km/hr so that, on average, an acceleration of 0.7 G is obtained. It is envisaged that greater accelerations and higher terminal launch speeds are possible, e.g. accelerations (well) above 1 G and speeds over 120 km/hr.

As will be explained now in detail the launch system comprises launch control means 50 associated with and operably connected to said winch drive means 23.

The launch control means 50 include at least one desired launch characteristic representing the desired acceleration of the at least one passenger carrier during the launch thereof. In the example shown here the desired launch characteristic is a desired launch curve representing desired launch speed vs. position along the launch path for the passenger carrier 10 during the launch thereof.

The launch control means 50 are in general adapted for collecting at least one actual launch parameter and for comparing said actual launch parameter with said desired launch characteristic during said lauch. Further the launch control means 50 are adapted for adjusting said variable drive speed provided by the winch 20 on the basis of said comparison during said launch.

A desired launch characteristic is defined here as any sort of representation of the desired launch behaviour of a passenger carrier in relation to the position of the passenger carrier with respect to the launch path.

A desired launch characteristic can in practice be represented in all sorts of manners, e.g. as desired position of the carrier vs. elapsed time, desired acceleration vs. time or vs. position, desired launch speed vs. time or vs. position, etc.

Each of the above characteristics can be stored in many different manners, e.g. in form of a table, one or more mathematical formula's and one or more associated parameters, as a curve, etc. It will depend on the design of the control means 50 which manner is most suitable to the desired control of the launch of the carriers 10.

In this example multiple desired launch curve 60a - 60e are refererred to, each representing desired launch speed vs. position along the launch path for the passenger carrier 10 during the launch thereof.

The launch control means 50 here further include speed detection means 70 associated with said launch control means 50 for detecting actual launch speed of the passenger carrier 10 during the launch thereof.

The launch control means 50 further include position detection means 75 associated with said launch control means 50 for detecting actual position of the passenger carrier 10 during launch.

The launch control means 50 are adapted for comparing said actual launch speed with said desired launch speed and adjusting said drive speed of the winch 20 accordingly during the launch in order to effect as closely as possible said desired launch speed of the passenger carrier 10. This is depicted in figure 8 with comparator means 51.

In the example shown here the speed detection means 70 is adapted to detect the angular speed of the winch drum 21. As the winch drum 21 here has a constant diameter, this speed of the drum 21 is representative for the speed of the cable 22 and thus of the passenger carrier 10 on which the engagement member 28 engages. It is clear that other means could be provided to measure actual launch speed, such as a suitable acceleration sensor mounted on the carrier, communicating wireless to the launch control means 50.

The position detection means 75 here are adapted to calculate the actual carrier 10 position on the basis of the detected actual launch speed by means of the speed detection means 70. It is clear that other means for detecting the position of the carrier 10 could be provided, such as sensors mounted along the launch path.

It will be clear to the man skilled in the art that the installation could as an alternative be equipped with means of detecting the actual carrier position and then have the speed detection means adapted to calculate the actual carrier speed on the basis of the detected actual carrier position.

The launch control means 50 here is adapted to detect the actual launch speed and to control said launch with a frequency of at least 1 kHz, preferably at least 10 kHz, more preferably at least 20 kHz or even 50 kHz or more. This allows to accurately control the launch of the train of passenger carriers 10 during the launch. It is noted that with lower frequencies, e.g. of at least 10 Hz it will be difficult to obtain a satisfactory control of the launch.

In the example shown the launch control means 50 preferably include a computer system 80 having a memory 81 in which a database containing multiple desired launch curves 60a - 60e are stored.

A suitable computer program allows an operator of the launch system to select one of said desired launch curves, here represented in figure 8 by selector means 82. It is noted that an automatic (pre-) selection of one or more suitable launch curves can also be envisaged.

The computer system 80 further comprises logging means 85 for logging an actual launch speed curve representing actual launch speed, e.g. vs. carrier position, during a launch.

The launch control means 50 further comprise an acceleration calculation means 90 calculating actual acceleration during a launch. The computer system 80 comprises logging means 92 for logging an actual launch acceleration curve representing actual launch acceleration, e.g. vs. carrier position, during a launch.

In a possible embodiment the launch control means further include a maximum allowable acceleration associated with a desired launch curve 60, e.g. 1.0 G, said control means 50 being adapted to adjust the launch speed such that actual acceleration is within said maximum allowable acceleration.

A desired launch characteristic can include an acceleration stretch, wherein said at least one passenger carrier 10 is accelerated, and a constant terminal launch speed stretch following said acceleration stretch, wherein said predetermined terminal launch speed is maintained, preferably during between 0.05 and 0.5 seconds. An example of such a desired launch curve is depicted in figure 9.

In the acceleration stretch a constant acceleration can be represented, but also an acceleration stretch having a variable acceleration is possible.

It can also be envisaged that the acceleration stretch contains at least two sub stretches of representing different accelerations. This is depicted in figure 10. For instance it can be envisaged that a first, relatively limited acceleration is used to have the passengers be pressed into their seats or the like and then to proceed with a greater second acceleration.

The launch control means 50 can include weighing means 140 for weighing said a passenger and/or a passenger carrier with passenger(s) therein. In a further embodiment the launch control means having a database for multiple launch characteristics can be equipped with selection means 82 which are adapted to select a desired launch characteristic at least in dependency on the result obtained by weighing means. In this manner the weight variation can be dealt with.

The launch control means 50 could also include means 120, e.g. a keyboard of the computer system 80, for inputting the age of the at least one, preferably all passengers. In such an embodiment, and with a database of multiple launch characteristics, the selection means 82 could be adapted to (pre-)select a launch characteristic at least in dependency on the input age(s). In this manner e.g. a "teenager launch" and an "elderly launch" could be distinguished between.

The launch control means 50 can include camera means 100 for obtaining an image from each passenger and storage means 101 for storing said image, e.g. on disk or tape, preferably in combination with the actual launch characteristic undergone by said passenger. This allows for establishing proof that a certain passenger has been subjected to a particular launch, e.g. in case of liability issues. For instance only the maximum actual accelerations during a launch are stored.

The launch control means 50 can further include at least one sensor 110 for at least one environmental parameter, e.g. temperature, wind speed, wind direction, rain. Preferably the selection means 82 are adapted to select a launch curve 60a - 60e in dependency of said environmental parameter sensor. It is for instance possible to adapt the launch to the temperature, so as to compensate for effects of the temperature on the frictional forces acting of the carriers 10. The wind speed and/or direction can be used in the same manner, so as to compensate for the effects of the wind on the launch. Rain can have effect on the frictional forces acting on the carriers 10 and thus can be a parameter as well.

The launch control means 50 can include graphic display means 130, e.g. a computer monitor for the operator, for displaying the desired and/or actual launch curve.

In a possible embodiment the graphic display means include a display 131 located such that said desired and/or actual launch curve are visible for at least one passenger. This could be a display mounted on the carrier 10 in front of the passenger(s), a large screen display mounted above or along the launch path. Also it can be envisaged having a display of the launch curve at the location where passenger are waiting and/or boarding the carrier 10.

In a further possible embodiment the launch control means include means for obtaining a physical parameter from each passenger, e.g. hart rate, blood pressure, and storage means for storing said parameter, preferably in combination with the actual launch curve undergone by said passenger. For instance each passenger could be given a hart rate sensor, e.g. embodied as a watch, which transmits the hart rate to the control means.