Mobile subassembly for receiving and conveying at least one passenger and associated attraction installation

Abstract

Mobile subassembly (30) to receive and convey at least one passenger, comprising a support (20), a cabin (22) and a cabin (22) guide (32) in relation to the support (20) in rotation around a horizontal reference axis (200). The mobile subassembly (30) is equipped with a stabilization system (36) comprising at least one gear ring (38) attached to the support (20), at least one sprocket (40), a motor (66) comprising a motor shaft which turns around an axis which is fixed in relation to the cabin (22) a kinematic transmission chain between the motor shaft and the sprocket (40), and a coupling mechanism to guide the sprocket between an engagement position with the gear ring, in which the first sprocket is able to mesh with the first gear ring (38), and an uncoupled position in which the first sprocket (40) is a distance away and disengaged from the first gear ring (38).

Claims

1. A mobile subassembly for receiving and conveying at least one passenger, comprising a support, a cabin and a cabin guide for guiding the cabin in relation to the support in rotation around a reference axis common to the support and the cabin, with the reference axis horizontal when the mobile subassembly is in an operational state, with the mobile subassembly equipped with a stabilization system comprising at least one gear ring connected to the support and centered on the reference axis, at least one sprocket linked to the cabin so as to mesh with the gear ring, and motorized drive device for driving the sprocket, the motorized drive device comprising a motor, the motor comprising a motor shaft rotatable about a fixed axis in relation to the cabin, the motorized drive device comprising a kinematic transmission chain between the motor shaft and the sprocket, wherein the stabilization system comprises a coupling mechanism for guiding the sprocket between an engagement position with the gear ring and an uncoupled position, wherein the sprocket in the engagement position is rotatable about a drive axis parallel to the reference axis and the sprocket in the uncoupled position is a distance away and disengaged from the gear ring, wherein the kinematic transmission chain comprises a transmission joint.

2. The mobile subassembly of claim 1, wherein the transmission joint comprises a double universal joint or a homokinetic joint.

3. The mobile subassembly of claim 1, wherein the transmission joint comprises a transmission joint entry element driven by the motor shaft and a transmission joint exit element attached to the sprocket and rotatable about the drive axis, wherein in the engagement position, the transmission joint entry element is rotatable about an entry axis parallel to and at a distance from the drive axis.

4. The mobile subassembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism guides the sprocket between the engagement position and the uncoupled position along a planar trajectory.

5. The mobile subassembly of claim 4, wherein the coupling mechanism is able to guide a sprocket pivot movement around a pivoting axis parallel to the reference axis, between the engagement position and the uncoupled position.

6. The mobile subassembly of claim 5, wherein the pivoting axis is fixed in relation to the cabin.

7. The mobile subassembly of claim 6, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a guide lever which pivots around the pivoting axis and which has a bearing to guide the sprocket in rotation around the drive axis.

8. The mobile subassembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises an actuator to move the sprocket from the engagement position to the uncoupled position.

9. The mobile subassembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator is supplied by an autonomous power source housed in the cabin.

10. The mobile subassembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator is irreversible.

11. The mobile subassembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism is bistable.

12. The mobile subassembly of claim 1, wherein the stabilization system comprises at least one additional sprocket linked to the cabin so as to mesh with a corresponding gear ring constituted by the gear ring or by an additional gear ring attached to the support and centered on the reference axis, additional motorized drive resources able to drive the additional sprocket, comprising an additional motor with an additional motor shaft which turns round a fixed axis in relation to the cabin and an additional kinematic transmission chain between the additional motor shaft motor and the additional sprocket, and an additional coupling mechanism able to drive the additional sprocket between an additional engagement position with the corresponding gear ring and an additional uncoupled position, wherein the additional sprocket in the engagement position is rotatable about an additional drive axis parallel to the reference axis and the additional sprocket in the uncoupled position is a distance away and disengaged from the corresponding gear ring, wherein the additional kinematic transmission chain comprises a transmission joint.

13. The mobile subassembly of claim 12, wherein the corresponding gear ring comprises an additional gear ring centered on the reference axis and located axially at a distance from the gear ring.

14. The mobile subassembly of claim 13, wherein the motor and the additional motor are placed head to tail, with the motor shaft and the additional motor shaft parallel but not coaxial.

15. An attraction installation compressing at least one fixed structure and at least one mobile subassembly for receiving and conveying at least one passenger, the mobile subassembly comprising a support, a cabin and a cabin guide for guiding the cabin in relation to the support in rotation around a reference axis common to the support and the cabin, the mobile subassembly being driven and guided in relation to the fixed structure so that the mobile subassembly support follows a trajectory which forms a loop in a vertical plane of a fixed reference frame and, in relation to a fixed revolution axis perpendicular to the vertical plane and parallel to the reference axis, rotates 360° by traveling one turn of the loop trajectory, wherein the mobile subassembly is equipped with a stabilization system comprising at least one gear ring connected to the support and centered on the reference axis, at least one sprocket linked to the cabin so as to mesh with the gear ring, and motorized drive device for driving the sprocket, the motorized drive device comprising a motor, the motor comprising a motor shaft rotatable about a fixed axis in relation to the cabin, the motorized drive device comprising a kinematic transmission chain between the motor shaft and the sprocket, wherein the stabilization system comprises a coupling mechanism for guiding the sprocket between an engagement position with the first gear ring and an uncoupled position, wherein the sprocket in the engagement position is rotatable about a drive axis parallel to the reference axis and the sprocket in the uncoupled position is a distance away and disengaged from the gear ring, wherein the kinematic transmission chain comprises a transmission joint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will arise from reading the following description, with reference to the annexed figures.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a partial view of an attraction installation in accordance with the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is an axial cross sectional view of a mobile subassembly of the installation in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view of the mobile subassembly in FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 is a detail of FIG. 3, illustrating in particular the implantation of a stabilization system of the mobile subassembly in FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 is a front view of the stabilization system in FIG. 4, in an uncoupled position.

(7) FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the mobile subassembly in FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates an electrical diagram for a switching circuit of a synchronous machine of the stabilization system.

(9) FIG. 8 is an isometric detail view of the integration of the stabilization system in FIG. 4, in a mobile subassembly in FIG. 2, in an engaged position.

(10) FIG. 9 is an isometric detail view of the integration of the stabilization system in FIG. 4, in the mobile subassembly in FIG. 2, in an uncoupled position.

(11) For more clarity, the identical or similar elements are marked by identical reference symbols on all the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(12) FIG. 1 illustrates a Ferris 10 installation with a horizontal revolution axis 100, comprising a fixed structure 12 mounted on the ground via one or more feet 14, with this fixed structure 12 forming a guide bearing 16 for a wheel rim 18 in rotation around a revolution axis 100 fixed in relation to the ground 14. The rim is provided at its edge of supports 20 of cabins 22. The revolution axis 100 constitutes preferably a revolution symmetry axis of N for the rim, where N is the number of supports 20 and cabins 22.

(13) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each cabin 22 presents an interior volume V to receive and convey one or more passengers, marked out between a cabin floor 26 and a cabin ceiling 28. The support 20 and the associated cabin 22 then form a mobile subassembly 30 to receive and convey one or more passengers. This mobile subassembly 30 comprises in addition a guide 32 for the cabin 22 in relation to the support 20 in rotation around a reference axis 200 common to the support 20 and the cabin 22, horizontal and parallel to the revolution axis 100.

(14) The 32 is constituted here of two coaxial bearings 34 distant from each other, so that the center of gravity of the cabin 22 is between two transverse vertical planes perpendicular to the reference axis 200, each cutting one of the two bearings 34. Preferably, the two bearings 34 are located in mirror position to each other in relation to a median transverse vertical plane P of the cabin 22, perpendicular to the reference axis 200 and containing the unloaded center of gravity G of the cabin 22. Each bearing 34 comprises at least a first bearing ring, for example an interior ring 34.1, attached to a ring 20.1 on the support 20, at least a second bearing ring, for example an exterior ring 34.2, attached to a ring 22.2 on the cabin 22, and one or more rows of bearing bodies 34.3 able to run on tracks formed on the first bearing ring 34.1 and the second bearing ring 34.2. Each of the two bearings 34 surrounds the interior volume V so that a part of each bearing 34 is under the floor 26, and another above the ceiling 28.

(15) The guide 32 enables the cabin floor 26 to be maintained horizontal by authorizing the rotation of the support 20 around the revolution axis 100 of the Ferris wheel 10 in a direction S1 with the rotation of the cabin 22 in relation to the support 20 around the reference axis 200 in the opposite direction S2.

(16) To synchronize these rotations, the mobile subassembly 30 is equipped with a stabilization system 36. This stabilization system 36 is duplicated here and comprises two gear rings 38 attached to the rings 20.1 of the support 20 and centered on the reference axis 200, positioned preferably each near one of the bearings 34. Each of the gear rings 38 is associated with a sprocket 40, mounted on the cabin 22 so as to mesh with the associated gear ring 38. Each sprocket 42 is associated with drive resources 42.

(17) Each sprocket 40, driven by motorized drive resources 42, meshes with the associated gear ring 38 attached to the support 20, to maintain the floor 26 of the cabin 22 horizontal.

(18) In this embodiment, each gear ring 38 has teeth 38.1 turned radially towards the interior, and the associated sprocket 40 is located above the ceiling 28 of the interior space V of the cabin 22, held with a teeth zone 38.1 also located above the interior ceiling 28 of the cabin 22 and the associated sprocket 40. This positioning prevents a foreign object, which falls onto the teeth 38.1 in the part of the teeth 38.1 located under the horizontal plane H containing the reference axis 200, from traveling to the sprocket 40 and blocking it.

(19) The rotation axes 400 of the sprockets 40 are positioned preferably near the reference axial plane Q, either directly in the reference axial plane Q, as illustrated in FIG. 5 or on one side of the reference axial plane Q, within an angular sector A less than or equal to ±60° in relation to the reference axial plane, around the reference axis.

(20) Each sprocket 40 is linked to the cabin 22 by a coupling mechanism 46, illustrated in detail in FIG. 8, to guide the sprocket 40 between an engagement position with the associated gear ring 38 and a disengaged position. In engaged position, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the sprocket 40 meshes with the associated gear ring 38 while in disengaged position, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 9, the sprocket 40 is a distance away from the associated gear ring 38.

(21) Each coupling mechanism 46 comprises a guide lever 48 which pivots around a pivoting axis 50 which is fixed in relation to the cabin structure 22. The guide lever 48 carried a guide bearing 52 for the associated sprocket 40 in rotation around a drive axis 400.

(22) An actuator 54, coupled to a motor 55, is used to pivot the guide lever 48, via a bistable transmission 56. In this embodiment, the bistable transmission 56 comprises a transmission lever 58 which pivots around an axis 60 which is fixed in relation to the cabin 22 and parallel to the reference axis 200, and a transmission link rod 62 between the transmission lever and the guide lever 48. A first end of the actuator 54 is mounted pivoting in relation to an axis 64 which is fixed in relation to the cabin 22 and an opposite end of the actuator 54 is articulated on the transmission lever 58. The subassembly constituted by the actuator 55 and its motorization system 55 is preferably irreversible in that it is not necessary to maintain a power supply to maintain it in a given position. This may be the case in particular if the actuator is constituted of an irreversible captive screw. The motor 55 is preferably an electric motor. Of course, the skilled person is able to propose numerous variants for this system, which conserve its functions. As the articulation and pivoting axes are parallel to the reference axis 200, the movement of the whole of each coupling mechanism 46 is a flat movement to guide a pivoting of the rotation axis 400 of the associated sprocket 40 around the pivoting axis 50, between the engagement position and the uncoupled position.

(23) The motorized drive resources 42 associated with each sprocket 40 comprise a reversible permanent magnet synchronous machine 66 for which the motor shaft, via a kinematic chain 68 comprising a reducer 70 and a homokinetic joint 72 drive the associated sprocket 40 in rotation. In this embodiment, the casing of the synchronous machine 66 is attached in relation to the cabin 22. The homokinetic joint 72 is produced here as standard by two universal joints 72.1, 72.2 linked by a shaft 72.3 to accommodate the movements of the sprocket 40 induced by the coupling mechanism 46.

(24) A power switching circuit 74, illustrated in a diagram in FIG. 7, is used, in a first switching state, to link the stator windings 76 of the synchronous machine 66 to an electricity power supply 78 outside the cabin 22 via a power command 79, for motor use of the first synchronous machine 66. The switching circuit 74 is also used, in a second switching state, to link the stator windings 76 of the synchronous machine 66 to a dissipative ohmic circuit 80 for dissipative use of the synchronous machine 66.

(25) The power switching circuit 74 is preferably monostable, in that it requires an electricity supply from the electricity power supply 78 or the power command 79 to maintain itself in the first state, and that if there is no electricity supply it switches itself to the second state. The switching circuit 74 may notably comprise a monostable electromechanical contact or a monostable static contact.

(26) Finally, an electromechanically or hydraulically commanded friction brake 82 is positioned either directly on the motor shaft of the synchronous machine 66 or in the kinematic chain between the synchronous machine 66 and the sprocket 40, or on the gear ring 38. The friction brake 82 is preferably monostable, normally closed, and is activated by an embedded autonomous power source 84, which may, where applicable, also power the motor 55 of the actuator 54. Alternatively, the actuator motor 55 may be provided with a distinct embedded autonomous electricity power supply 155.

(27) Preferably, the supply and command circuits for the two parallel branches of the stabilization system 36 are independent.

(28) To maintain the floor 26 of the cabin 22 horizontal, the motorized drive resources 42 which may be controlled by the angular position of the wheel rim 12 around the revolution axis 100 of the Ferris wheel 10, for example by comparing a measurement of the angular position of the cabin around the revolution axis and a measurement of the angular position of the cabin in relation to the support. To this end, one of the bearings 34 may be instrumented to deliver a measurement of this angular position. Alternatively, the motorized drive resources 42 may be controlled by an inclinometer positioned in the cabin 22. Other physical scales may also be taken into account to command the motorized drive resources 42, notably the cabin load 22, the position of the loaded cabin's center of gravity 22 or the wind speed and direction, as well as the data from the previous cabin 22 in the Ferris wheel's 10 movement direction.

(29) The power needed is lower the closer the loaded cabin's center of gravity 22 is to a reference axial plane Q of the cabin 22, perpendicular to the floor 26 and containing the reference axis 200. In practice, the loaded cabin's center of gravity 22 is below a horizontal plane H containing the reference axis 200, between the reference axis 200 and the floor 26, or below the floor 26, which enables a degraded operating mode to be considered, in which, in the event of a malfunction of the motorized drive resources 42, the gravity effect enables the floor 26 to be held more or less horizontal. To this end, the space located under the floor is occupied by a cooling, heating or air conditioning unit 44 of the cabin 22, for which the weight contributes to lowering the cabin's center of gravity 22.

(30) The redundancy of the two branches of the stabilization system 36 increases the installation's availability. If there is no failure, the two motors operate in master-slave mode. When a motor 42 is defective, the associated sprocket 40 is uncoupled and the other motor 42 positions the cabin 22 on its own. In a similar way, if a foreign body positions itself between one of the sprockets 40 and the associated teeth 38.1, despite the positioning of the sprocket 40 below the teeth 38.1, the coupling mechanism 46 enables the sprocket involved 40 to be disengaged, and the other sprocket 40 positions the cabin 22 on its own.

(31) A failure diagnostic procedure may also be provided for if a malfunction is observed on the stabilization system, leading to the cabin floor tilting beyond a predetermined threshold. Proceed as follows in this case: first of all, stop the wheel rim 18 to stop the support 20 in relation to the fixed structure 12; cut the electricity power supply 78 of the two synchronous machines 66; when stopped, apply the two friction brakes 82; uncouple one of the two sprockets 40 from the associated gear ring 38; power the synchronous machine 66 linked to the other sprocket 40 so as to re-establish the stabilization command and check whether the cabin 22 returns to horizontal; if it does, restart the Ferris wheel 10; otherwise, recouple the sprocket 40 which was uncoupled and uncouple the sprocket 40 which was coupled power the synchronous machine 66 linked to the coupled sprocket 40 so as to re-establish the stabilization command and check whether the cabin 22 returns to horizontal; if it does, restart the Ferris wheel 10; otherwise, the failure encountered is affecting the two branches of the stabilization system 36 and requires the implementation of a degraded operating procedure.

(32) To this end, if the power supply 78 of the two asynchronous machines 66 fails, a “gravity” degraded operation procedure is implemented, comprising the following steps: first of all, stop the wheel rim 18 to stop the support 20 in relation to the fixed structure 12; when stopped, apply the two friction brakes 82; using the switching circuits 74, connect the windings 76 of each of the two synchronous machines 66 to the associated ohmic circuit 80; then release at least partially the friction brake 82, while the first sprocket 40 meshes with the first gear ring 38, with the cabin 22 brought by gravity to a stable position in relation to the support 20.

(33) The cabin 22 then starts moving under the effect of gravity, so as to align its center of gravity in a vertical plane containing the reference axis 200. In this phase, the two synchronous machines 66 constitute electromagnetic brakes, generating a braking torque proportional to the rotating speed of the cabin 22.

(34) This procedure is implemented preferably under the supervision of the installation's personnel, who are linked by audio or video to the passengers in the cabin 22, following a malfunction signal, which may be a diagnostic signal from the synchronous machines' electricity supply or a signal relative to the horizontal level of the cabin floor 22. Where applicable, the passengers may be given instructions to redistribute the load within the cabin 22 so that the stable position of the cabin corresponds to a horizontal position of the floor 26.

(35) Once the cabin 22 has stopped in a stable position, the Ferris wheel 10 may be restarted, at reduced speed, to take the defective cabin to the loading and landing area. During this Ferris wheel movement phase, various strategies are possible to try to preserve a relative horizontal level for the floor 26 of the cabin 22. A first strategy consists in conserving the sprockets 40 which are held with the gear rings 38, and the synchronous machines 66 in electromagnetic braking mode, to absorb the movements of the cabin 22 in this phase. A second strategy consists in disengaging the sprockets 40 before restarting the Ferris wheel 10.

(36) If the gravity degraded operating mode does not enable the position sought for the cabin 22 to be found, a subsidiary degraded operating mode is provided, which consists in reengaging the sprockets 40 with the associated gear rings 38, then applying the friction brakes 82 to connect the cabin 22 to the support 20, before restarting the Ferris wheel 10. This operating mode, which is much less comfortable than the previous one, modifies the orientation of the floor 26 as the Ferris wheel rotates. Communication is therefore required with the passengers in the cabin throughout the operation, which must be carried out at very low speed.

(37) Note that the gravity degraded operating mode and the subsidiary degraded operating mode may also be considered with a single synchronous machine 66 and a single sprocket 40.

(38) Naturally, the examples shown in the figures and discussed above are provided for information purposes only and are not limiting. It is explicitly provided for that the different embodiments illustrated may be combined to propose others.

(39) According to a simplified embodiment, the stabilization system 24 may only feature a single gear ring 38 associated with a single sprocket 40. The ring is then positioned preferably near a transverse plane containing the center of gravity of the unloaded cabin 22. If the guide 32 comprises two bearings 34, the single gear ring 38 is preferably positioned axially between the two bearings 34.

(40) The ring of each bearing attached to the cabin 22 may be the interior ring 34.1 or the exterior ring 34.2.

(41) The sprocket 40 rotation axis is preferably parallel to the reference axis 200, although a different orientation is also possible if the meshing between the gear ring 38 and the sprocket 40 is angular gear.

(42) The support is not necessarily a part of the rim 12 of a Ferris wheel 10. It may also be a mobile carriage on a guide track of a fixed structure of the type described in document EP 2 075 043, forming a closed loop, circular or not, in a vertical plane. In all the configurations considered, the movement of the support 20 in a loop translates to a rotation of the support 20 in relation to a fixed reference of one turn per loop turn traveled.

(43) It is emphasized that all the characteristics, as they appear to a skilled person from this description, the drawings and attached claims, even if in concrete terms they have only been described in relation with other determined characteristics, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other characteristics or groups of characteristics disclosed here, if this has not been expressly excluded or if technical circumstances make these combinations impossible or meaningless.