AMUSEMENT RIDE, IN PARTICULAR WATER AMUSEMENT RIDE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH AN AMUSEMENT RIDE

Abstract

The present invention relates to an amusement ride (1), in particular a water amusement ride, having at least one rail guide (10) with at least one vehicle (20), preferably at least two vehicles, which accommodate/s at least one passenger and which can travel, guided on the rail guide (10), a route (11) in a direction of travel, wherein the at least one vehicle (20) or one of the at least two vehicles (20) can be moved by an active drive (50, 60) counter to the direction of travel, at least in sections. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating such an amusement ride (1).

Claims

1. An amusement ride (1), in particular a water amusement ride, having at least one rail guide (10) with at least one vehicle (20), preferably at least two vehicles, which accommodate/s at least one passenger and which can travel, guided on the rail guide (10), a route (11) in a direction of travel, characterized in that the at least one vehicle (20) or one of the at least two vehicles (20) can be moved by an active drive (50, 60) counter to the direction of travel, at least in sections.

2. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rail guide (10) of the route (11) runs, at least in sections, in a body of water (5).

3. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the route (11) can be circulated by the at least one vehicle (20) in the direction of travel.

4. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the body of water (5) flows at least in regions in the direction of travel, and in that the vehicle (20) can be passively driven and taken along at least in sections by the current of the body of water (5).

5. The amusement ride (1) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (20) comprises a rail vehicle (30) and a buoyant boat (40) for accommodating the at least one passenger, the boat (40) being coupled to the rail vehicle (30) by means of a connecting device (25) which allows the boat (40) to float above the rail vehicle (30) and allows limited transverse and/or longitudinal movement of the boat (40) relative to the rail vehicle (30) when the boat (40) is afloat.

6. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the boat (40), in the floating state, can be moved transversely and/or longitudinally in an angular range of ±50°, preferably ±30°, relative to the rail vehicle (30).

7. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting device (25) comprises at least one actuator (26) which allows the boat (40) to actively perform a transverse, longitudinal, or lifting movement relative to the rail vehicle (30).

8. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting device (25) comprises articulated rods (28).

9. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that lockable coupling elements (27) are provided, by means of which the position and/or location of the boat (40) relative to the rail vehicle (30) can be fixed.

10. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a rotational joint (35) is provided, by means of which the boat (40) can be rotated about a vertical axis (Z) relative to the rail vehicle (30).

11. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a control element (36) is provided, by means of which the boat (40) can be rotated about a vertical axis (Z) relative to the rail vehicle (30).

12. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a second active drive (60) is provided which can drive the at least one vehicle (20) independently of the first active drive (50).

13. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (20) has at least one coupling device (15) by means of which at least one of the active drives (50, 60) can be coupled and/or decoupled.

14. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one coupling device (15) can switch between the first active drive (50) and the second active drive (60).

15. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first active drive (50) and/or the second active drive (60) is a cable drive (62), a conveyor chain drive, a gear drive, a friction drive, a lantern gear drive, a linear synchronous drive, a linear induction drive, or a magnetic drive.

16. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the active drives (50, 60) is fixed to the vehicle.

17. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (20) is supplied with electrical energy inductively, by cable, by means of a wiper (49), and/or by means of at least one battery, a supercapacitor, or a fuel cell.

18. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (20) has a mast (44) with means for transmitting electrical energy.

19. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one electrical conductor (19) is arranged at least in sections over the route (11), and in that the means on the mast (44) contact the at least one electrical conductor (19) to transmit electrical energy.

20. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the route (11) has at least one section in which the vehicle (20) emerges completely or partially from the body of water.

21. The amusement ride (1) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (20) has a control device (70) and in that the control device (70) enables the at least one passenger to actively influence the driving behavior of the vehicle (20).

22. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (70) has an interface (75) which can be connected to a personal mobile terminal (80) of the passenger, and in that the passenger can use their personal mobile terminal (80) to actively influence the driving behavior of the vehicle (20).

23. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (70) allows the driving behavior of the vehicle (20) to be influenced for a limited time or in sections.

24. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving behavior relates to the speed, the direction of travel, rotation about the vertical axis, and the longitudinal and/or transverse mobility.

25. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rail guide (10) has at least one switch (13).

26. The amusement ride (1) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that at least one effect vehicle (90) is provided, which can travel on the at least one rail guide (10).

27. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one effect vehicle (90) can be guided onto the route (11) and/or from the route (11) by means of the at least one switch (13).

28. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one effect vehicle (90) is configured to be able to accelerate or push the at least one vehicle (20).

29. The amusement ride (1) according to one claim 1, characterized in that the effect vehicle (90) is configured to travel completely below a water surface of the body of water (5).

30. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the effect vehicle (90) has at least one control element for moving objects and/or animating effects.

31. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the effect vehicle (90) has actuating means which allow the effect vehicle (90) to actuate the coupling device (15) and/or lockable coupling elements (27).

32. The amusement ride (1) according to the preamble of claim, characterized in that a station (9) with a waiting area is provided, and in that, in the waiting area, at least one competition among the passengers is held and evaluated, and in that the passengers are assigned seats or functions in the at least one vehicle (20) depending on the result.

33. The amusement ride (1) according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the route (11) has a section with a basin (8), it being possible to raise and lower a water level in the body of water (5) in the basin (8) in a controlled manner.

34. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rail guide (10) has at least one rocker (18), the rocker (18) being pivotable about at least one axis, preferably transversely to the direction of travel.

35. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 33, characterized in that when a predetermined water level is reached in the basin (8), the vehicle (20) continues driving over the rocker (18) in the direction of travel.

36. A method for operating an amusement ride according to claim 1.

37. An effect vehicle (90) for an amusement ride according to claim 26.

Description

[0063] An exemplary embodiment of an amusement ride according to the invention, in particular a water amusement ride, and three developments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0064] FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified representation of an amusement ride having a rail guide with at least one vehicle which can accommodate at least one passenger and which can travel, guided on the rail guide, a route in a direction of travel;

[0065] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a vehicle of the amusement ride according to FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an effect vehicle and of a vehicle of the amusement ride according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0067] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a route section with a dead end and a switch; and

[0068] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a route section with a basin and a rocker.

[0069] Identical or functionally identical components are identified below with the same reference symbols. For the sake of clarity, not all parts that are the same or functionally the same are provided with a reference number in the individual figures.

[0070] FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified view of an amusement ride 1 from above. The amusement ride 1 is a water amusement ride which has a natural or artificial body of water 5. The artificial body of water 5 can have one or more lakes, streams, or whitewater courses. The amusement ride 1 also has a rail guide 10, which can have at least one guide rail (not shown), preferably two parallel and spaced apart guide rails (also not shown). The rail guide 10 predefines a route 11 for at least one vehicle 20, the at least one vehicle 20 being able to travel, guided on the rail guide 10, the route 11 in a direction of travel. The direction of travel is shown in FIG. 1 by means of arrows in the vehicles 20, the direction of travel corresponding to a main direction of travel, which typically follows a gradient in the body of water 5 and describes a direction of movement from a starting point in a station 9 to an end point, possibly also in the station 9.

[0071] The route 11 can—as shown in the exemplary embodiment illustrated—be a closed circular path and a plurality of vehicles 20 can circulate along the route 11 one behind the other, as a result of which the present amusement ride 1 is designed for a high throughput of passengers and continuous operation.

[0072] The rail guide 10 or the route 11 can have a large number of sharp bends, the sharp bends being able to simulate a journey through a canyon or white water and it being possible for rocks, flotsam, islands, or other objects to be arranged in the body of water 5 beyond the route 11. Due to the sharp bends, the vehicle 20 can meander around the objects along the route 11, simulating dangerous situations and building up an arc of suspense by means of multiple abrupt changes of direction.

[0073] Straight sections of the route 11 can be used to execute quick descents or to accelerate the vehicle 20—as will be described in detail below.

[0074] The at least one vehicle 20, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 by way of example, is configured to accommodate at least one passenger, preferably a plurality of passengers. The passengers can board the vehicle 20 at an entrance in the station 9 and, after traveling the route and completing the ride experience, the passengers can preferably leave the vehicle 20 again in the station 9 via an exit.

[0075] The passengers are seated in the vehicle as intended, it being possible for a plurality of rows of seats to be arranged in the vehicle and for each row to have a plurality of seats arranged side by side.

[0076] With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the vehicle 20 comprises a rail vehicle 30 and a boat 40, the boat 40 being firmly connected to the rail vehicle 30 by means of a connecting device 25.

[0077] The rail vehicle 30 has an undercarriage 31 with running and support wheels 32 which are only indicated in the drawings and which support the rail vehicle 30 on a guide rail of the rail guide 10. The running and support wheels 32 preferably embrace the guide rail, as a result of which the rail vehicle 30 is securely held on the rail guide 10. The rail vehicle 30 can have two or more axles with running wheels and support wheels 32, in which case each axle can be held so that it can rotate about a center of rotation relative to the rail vehicle 30 and in this way particularly tight bends can be negotiated.

[0078] The boat 40 has the seat(s) for the passenger(s) and is a buoyant body that can float freely in the body of water 5 even with its maximum allowable load.

[0079] The connecting device 25 is shown in an extremely simplified manner in the accompanying figures and comprises a plurality of articulated rods 28 which mechanically firmly connect the rail vehicle 30 and the boat 40 to one another. The connecting device 25 enables the boat 40 to perform typical water movements relative to the rail vehicle 30, thus allowing said boat to float above the rail vehicle 30 and also allowing limited transverse and/or longitudinal movements of the boat 40 relative to the rail vehicle 30 when the boat 40 is afloat. The transverse movement takes place about a transverse axis Y and the longitudinal movement takes place about a longitudinal axis X. The resulting movements are indicated by double arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3. This mobility of the boat 40 relative to the rail vehicle 30 allows the boat 40 to roll, tilt, or rock and thus convey the feeling of a boat ride that is as realistic as possible.

[0080] However, the connecting device 25 restricts the longitudinal and transverse movements of the boat 40 to a predetermined range in order to ensure safe operation of the amusement ride 1 at all times and to protect the boat 40 from capsizing and from pronounced heeling.

[0081] Furthermore, the connecting device 25 can have one or more actuators 26 which can impart a longitudinal or transverse movement on the boat 40. The actuator 26 can be activated in synchronization with animations or performances that can be presented to the passengers along the route of the amusement ride 1, as a result of which a movement of the boat 40 by the at least one actuator 26 is coordinated with the animation or performance.

[0082] Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows that the vehicle 20 has a rotational joint 35 which allows the boat 40 to be rotated about a vertical axis Z of the rail vehicle 30. The boat 40 can be rotated about the vertical axis Z of the rail vehicle 30 by means of a corresponding control element 36.

[0083] Furthermore, lockable coupling elements 27 can be provided, by means of which the position and/or location of the boat 40 relative to the rail vehicle 30 can be fixed. In particular, the coupling elements 27 can fix the location and/or the position of the boat 40 in the station 9 so that the passengers can board and disembark the boat 40 without the boat heeling or only heeling to a limited extent.

[0084] The amusement ride 1 can also have at least one active drive 50; in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the amusement ride 1 has a first active drive 50 and a second active drive 60.

[0085] The first active drive 50 is fixed to the vehicle 20 or fixed to the rail vehicle 30 and comprises a motor 55 of any design. The motor 55 is preferably an electric motor 55 which is characterized in that it drives the vehicle 20 substantially noiselessly and the passenger does not consciously perceive the active drive 50 of the vehicle 20.

[0086] The second active drive 60 can be operated independently of the first active drive 50 and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is a cable drive 62 which is configured to pull the vehicle 20 along the route 11 at least in sections.

[0087] The vehicle 20 also has a coupling device 15, and the coupling device 15 can comprise clamps 16 and couplings, thus allowing the vehicle 20 to switch between the active drives 50, 60 at any time. The coupling device 15 can, for example, use the clamp 16 to couple the vehicle 20 to the second active drive 60, i.e., the cable drive 62, which is designed, for example, to pull the vehicle over a longer distance with the aid of a plurality of deflection rollers at a high speed, but also, if necessary, at a constant speed. In this case, the coupling device 15 can decouple the first active drive 50.

[0088] A plurality of cable drives 62 with different speeds can also be provided, with the coupling device 15 having a plurality of clamps for coupling. The active drives 50, 60 can also run in different directions, which makes it possible for the vehicle to drive at least in sections along the route 11 counter to the direction of travel.

[0089] In the present exemplary embodiment, the first active drive 50 is firmly connected to the vehicle 20. The drive 50 can be supplied with energy by an energy store in the vehicle 20. If electrical energy is required to operate the vehicle 20, the electrical energy can be provided by a battery. It is also conceivable for the electrical energy to be transmitted inductively or by cable to the vehicle 20 along the route 11. Capacitors or supercapacitors, caps or supercaps, and/or fuel cells can also be used in order to supply the vehicle 20 with electrical energy at least temporarily.

[0090] As can be seen from FIG. 2, the vehicle 20 or the boat 40 can have decorative elements such as a mast 44 and a sail 45, but also nautical instruments (not shown). The mast protrudes from the boat 40 and has a wiper at its free end 46 which is designed to contact an electrical conductor which is arranged above the route 11.

[0091] To personalize the ride experience for the passenger, the vehicle 20 can have a control device 70 which allows the passenger to influence the driving behavior of the vehicle 20 while riding on the vehicle 20. For example, controls 72 can be provided on the vehicle 20 or on the boat 40 so that the passenger can slip into the role of a captain or a steersman in order to actively influence the driving behavior of the vehicle 20 for a limited time or in sections by using inputs. For example, the passenger can accelerate or brake the vehicle 20, drive it backward or forward, or specifically deflect the boat 40 in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction by means of the at least one actuator 26.

[0092] An interactive waiting area can be provided in the station 9, in particular in the entrance area and thus before riding on the at least one vehicle 20 of the amusement ride 1. Games, quizzes, and other competitions can be held in the interactive waiting area and the results can be evaluated. Based on the result, the seats and roles of the passengers during the ride can be allocated for the journey on the amusement ride 1.

[0093] Such a role can be, for example, the commander, gunner, helmsman, steersman, captain, or similar. Accessories such as a captain's hat, a control, or terminal for the control unit or similar can also be issued. The control device 70 can have an interface 75 which is designed to receive control signals, preferably wirelessly. The passenger can, for example, install software or an app on their personal terminal 80, which evaluates the corresponding inputs by the passenger and sends control signals to the control device 70 via the interface 75.

[0094] FIG. 3 shows a schematic detail of FIG. 1, in which an effect vehicle 90 follows the vehicle 20 in a section of the route 11.

[0095] The effect vehicle 90 is preferably an autonomously driving vehicle with an undercarriage 91 and rotatingly mounted running and support wheels 92 which support the effect vehicle 90 on the rail guide 10. The effect vehicle 90 preferably or predominantly travels completely below the water surface of the body of water 8 and is therefore protected from the passenger's view. The effect vehicle 90 can be driven by a corresponding active drive 50, 60.

[0096] The effect vehicle 90 can be guided onto the route 11 from a starting position by means of a switch 13 and can leave the route 11 by means of a second switch 13 and be guided back to the starting position via a bypass 14. The bypass 14 is shown in FIG. 1 by a dashed line.

[0097] The effect vehicle 90 is configured to interact with the vehicle 20 in a section between the two switches and can have a control element 95 for actuating objects and/or for animating or creating effects. For example, the control element can raise or lower a monster 99. In particular, if the effect vehicle 90 is located completely below the water surface, the monster 99 can emerge suddenly from the body of water 5. The at least one control element 95 can also actuate cannons or water cannons in order to simulate an attack by a pirate ship, for example. A development that is not shown can have an effect vehicle 90 which, for example, accelerates the vehicle 20 to a particularly high speed when traveling in a straight route section. For this purpose, the effect vehicle 90—as already described above in a different context—can be guided onto and away from the route 11. The effect vehicle 90 is a power-trimmed vehicle which can be pushed by the vehicle 20. The effect vehicle 90 can be used as a “booster” or “launch torpedo” with the appropriate decoration to push the vehicle 20 and then be decoupled from it. For this purpose, the effect vehicle 90 can be positioned either behind, in front of, or to the side of the vehicle 20. It is also possible to use a plurality of effect vehicles 90. The effect vehicle 90 can have actuating means with which the effect vehicle 90 can actuate the coupling device 15 and/or the lockable coupling elements 27 of the at least one vehicle 20. For example, the effect vehicle 90 can actuate the coupling device 15, whereby the active drives 50, 60 are decoupled so that the boat 40 is fixed in location and position relative to the rail vehicle 30 by the lockable coupling elements 27 until the speed is reduced again.

[0098] The vehicle 20 can be braked in the body of water 5 by means of a “big splash”. For this purpose, the rail guide 10 initially runs close to the water surface of the body of water 5 and then submerges, as a result of which the boat 40 dips into the water, causing a “splashdown” with a corresponding spray.

[0099] FIG. 4 shows that the route 11 can have a dead end 12. Animations or performances can be shown to the passenger at the dead end 12, while the switch 13 is switched below the water surface of the body of water 5 and the vehicle 20 can continue driving along the route in the opposite direction of travel.

[0100] As described above, the body of water 5 can have lakes that can be formed by a basin 8 along the route 11. The basin 8 has a peripheral basin edge 8′ as well as means for raising and lowering a water level in the basin 8 in a controlled manner.

[0101] In FIG. 5 these means are represented symbolically by a valve and a water reservoir in the area of a bottom of the basin 8, but, in the context of this invention, the water level in the basin 8 can be raised in any arbitrary way. For example, it is possible to raise the water level in the basin 8 by means of a gushing waterfall or to raise and lower it by opening a water-supplying sluice. For example, a dam breach can be represented in this way.

[0102] When the water level in the basin rises and falls, the boat 40 can float freely relative to the rail vehicle and thus follows the water level. The route 11 leads to the basin edge 8′ and a rocker 18 with a movable section of the rail guide 10 is arranged in the area of the edge basin edge 8′. The section of the rail guide 10 of the rocker 18 can be pivoted about at least one axis, preferably transversely to the rail guide 10, by suitable control elements. To drive the vehicle 20 “over” the basin edge 8′, the vehicle 20 first drives onto the rocker 18. The rocker 18 is then pivoted about the axis and the vehicle 20 can move off the rocker 18 and continue traveling along the route 11 normally. In FIG. 5, the rocker 18 and the vehicle 20 are shown in dashed lines after the rocker 18 has been pivoted. The dashed arrow in FIG. 5 symbolizes the travel path of vehicle 20 over the rocker 18.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0103] 1 Amusement ride [0104] 5 Body of water [0105] 8 Basin [0106] 8′ Basin edge [0107] 9 Station [0108] 10 Rail guide [0109] 11 Route [0110] 12 End [0111] 13 Switch [0112] 14 Bypass [0113] 15 Coupling device [0114] 16 Clamp [0115] 18 Rocker [0116] 19 Electrical conductor [0117] 20 Vehicle [0118] 25 Connecting device [0119] 26 Actuator [0120] 27 Coupling elements [0121] 28 Articulated rods [0122] 30 Rail vehicle [0123] 31 Undercarriage [0124] 32 Support wheels [0125] 35 Rotational joint [0126] 36 Actuator [0127] 40 Boat [0128] 44 Mast [0129] 45 Sail [0130] 50 Drive [0131] 55 Motor [0132] 60 Drive [0133] 62 Cable drive [0134] 70 Control device [0135] 72 Controls [0136] 75 Interface [0137] 80 Terminal [0138] 90 Effect vehicle [0139] 91 Undercarriage [0140] 92 Support wheels [0141] 95 Control element [0142] 99 Sea monster [0143] X Longitudinal axis [0144] Y Transverse axis [0145] Z Vertical axis