TOWING VEHICLE

Abstract

A system for transporting passengers has a drive unit and a vehicle that is pulled by the drive unit. The drive unit includes a stationary guiding device like a rail which is arranged laterally at a distance and above at a height relative to the vehicle. The drive unit also includes a bogie which is movably attached to the guiding device. A connection unit couples the bogie to the vehicle by a joint, so that drifting of the vehicle is possible.

Claims

1. A system for transporting passengers, comprising: a rail-guided drive unit comprising a guiding device and at least one bogie arranged at the guiding device; at least one vehicle having at least one passenger receptacle, the vehicle being coupled to the rail-guided drive unit and moved by said drive unit on or in water, or on land, or on a driving surface, wherein said drive unit is configured for at least pulling or pushing said vehicle; and a connection unit between the drive unit and the vehicle, wherein the drive unit is arranged at least one of laterally and above the vehicle, and wherein the connection unit is configured in such a way that the vehicle can perform at least one rotational movement relative to the drive unit, so that the vehicle or a part of the vehicle can swing out or drift obliquely or laterally relative to the direction of travel and relative to a track determined by the guiding device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is configured in such a way that the vehicle can perform a lateral translational movement (y) oriented transversely or perpendicularly to the direction of travel.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle can perform a translational movement (z) oriented transversely or perpendicularly to the direction of travel upwards and/or downwards relative to a horizontal plane.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit comprises a cantilever extending from the bogie towards the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit provides an articulated connection between the vehicle and the bogie.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the connection unit comprises an articulated joint arranged at the vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit comprises an arm extending from above towards the vehicle and being coupled to the vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle is pivotably connected to the arm.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises a positive-fit drive.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a deviation from a predetermined track and a swinging movement and a drifting movement of the vehicle is generated due to the accelerations of the vehicle induced by the route of the guidance device.

11. The system according to claim 1 or 10, wherein at least one of a deviation from a predetermined track and a swinging movement and a drifting movement of the vehicle is generated by an automatic or interactive control device.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a control device for interactive control of the speed of the vehicle, wherein the control device is actuated or manipulated by at least one passenger accommodated in the passenger receptacle.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a device for limiting the angle of rotation of the drift or swing-out movement of the vehicle.

14. The system according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle can perform a translational movement (z) oriented transversely or perpendicularly to the direction of travel upwards and/or downwards relative to a horizontal plane.

15. The system according to claim 5, wherein the connection unit comprises an articulated joint arranged at the vehicle.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of a deviation from a predetermined track and a swinging movement and a drifting movement of the vehicle is generated by an automatic or interactive control device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the figures. They show:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of a system for transporting passengers according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a system 1 according to the invention for transporting passengers, in particular a system which is used as an amusement ride.

[0034] The system 1 comprises a drive unit 2 and a water vehicle 3 pulled or towed by the drive unit 2.

[0035] The drive unit 2 comprises a stationary guiding device 20, for example in the form of one or more guide rails, which are attached to pillars 21. The guiding device 20 is arranged laterally at a distance d and above at a height h relative to the vehicle 3. The drive unit 2 further comprises a bogie 22, which is attached to the guide device 20 movably in an x-direction (corresponding to the direction of extension of the guide device 20). The bogie 22 is moved along the guide device 20 by a drive (not shown). In particular, the drive may be a positive-fit drive. For this purpose, at least along one or more sections of the route of the guiding device 20, a stationary engagement element, e.g. a toothed rack or chain, is attached to or adjacent to the guiding device 20. The bogie is provided with a complementary engagement element, for example a gear wheel, which is driven by the drive and is in engagement with the stationary engagement element.

[0036] The drive unit 2 further comprises a connection unit 23, by means of which the bogie 22 is coupled to the vehicle 3. The connection unit 23 may be, for example, a boom 230 with a vertical tow-bar 231 connected thereto. The boom 230 is rigidly attached to the bogie 22 and the tow-bar 231 is attached to the vehicle 3 by means of a joint 4. In particular, the joint 4, arranged at the front of the vehicle 3, allows drifting (swinging out the rear portion of the vehicle) when appropriate forces are applied to the vehicle 3, whether by centrifugal forces in a turn, or by a control (interactive or pre-programmed) that generates, for example, an instability (e.g., by moving a fin or rudder) that results in skidding, or that generates swinging out by active application of force.

[0037] In this embodiment, the vehicle 3 is a boat, but it could as well be a land vehicle that is moved on a driving surface (e.g. steel plates).

[0038] In principle, the vehicle 3 is guided along a travel track F, which is defined by a distance d between the guiding device 20 and the vehicle, and runs parallel to the guiding device 20 at the distance d.

[0039] Furthermore, the connection unit 23 may be configured in such a way that a deviation from the track F is possible by a movement of the vehicle in y-direction (perpendicular to the direction of travel). The deviation may be induced passively, for example by means of damping or external centrifugal forces, or actively, e.g. by means of an actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism may be a hydraulic mechanism, for example. The mechanism may comprise a telescopic structure.

[0040] Furthermore, the connection unit 23 may be configured to allow deviation from the track by moving the vehicle or part of the vehicle in a z-direction (perpendicular to the direction of travel and perpendicular to the travel surface), that is, upward and/or downward. The deviation may be induced passively, e.g., by means of damping that compensates, for example, for unevenness in the travel surface, reductions in the distance h of the guide device 20 from the travel surface, waves in the case of watercraft, etc. However, movement in the z-direction may also be induced actively, for example by an actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism may be, for example, a hydraulic mechanism. The mechanism may include a telescoping structure 232. Movements such as a jumping of the vehicle 3 may be generated thereby in a controlled or interactively triggered manner.

[0041] Drifting means a swinging out of a part, mostly the rear part, of the boat 3 about the articulation axis G, for example by an angle γ. The angle may be limited by a device for limiting the swinging out, for example to reliably prevent a collision of the swinging out rear part of the boat 3 with a pillar 21.