AMUSEMENT RIDE

Abstract

The present invention relates to an amusement ride (1), having a frame (10) that can be rotated about a vertical axis (Z), with at least one first seat row arrangement (20) with a linkage (30), at least one row of seats (40), each with at least one seat (41) for a passenger, and a lifting device (50), the at least one row of seats (40) being connected to the linkage (30) via a joint (45), the linkage (30) connecting the joint (45) to the frame (10), and the lifting device (50) being able to lift the row of seats (40) in the orientation of the vertical axis (Z).

Claims

1. An amusement ride (1), comprising: a boarding and/or alighting area (8) and an experience area (9), a frame (10) with at least one seat row arrangement (20), wherein the at least one first seat row arrangement (20) comprises a linkage (30) with at least one row of seats (40) with at least one seat (41) for a passenger and a lifting device (50), wherein the at least one row of seats (40) is connected to the linkage (30) via a joint (45), wherein the linkage (30) connects the joint (45) and the frame (10), wherein the lifting device (50) can lift the at least one row of seats (40) of the at least one first seat row arrangement (20) in the orientation of a vertical axis (Z), and wherein the at least one row of seats (40) can be positioned in the boarding and/or alighting area (8) and the experience area (9).

2. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame can be rotated about the vertical axis (Z) between the boarding and/or alighting area (8) and the experience area (9).

3. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one row of seats (40) can be moved into the boarding and/or alighting area (8) and the experience area (9) by lifting or lowering in the vertical axis (Z) between the boarding and/or alighting area (8) and the experience area (9).

4. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one row of seats (40) can be moved into the boarding and/or alighting area (8) and the experience area (9) by a movement in an axis transverse to the vertical axis (Z) between the boarding and/or alighting area (8) and the experience area (9).

5. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint (45) has at least two degrees of freedom.

6. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint (45) is a ball joint, a Cardan joint, or a universal joint.

7. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one actuator (51, 52, 53) is provided and in that the at least one actuator (51, 52, 53) is designed to cause a rolling movement, a pitching movement, and/or a yaw movement of the at least one row of seats (40) about the joint (45).

8. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one actuator (51, 52, 53) comprises a crank drive (55) and/or a rotational drive.

9. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that two actuators (51, 52, 53) are provided which can jointly produce the rolling movement and/or pitching movement of the at least one row of seats (40).

10. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the linkage (30) is a parallelogram linkage with at least two transverse limbs (32) and at least one vertical limb (34).

11. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one vertical limb (34) is arranged parallel to the vertical axis (Z).

12. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one vertical limb (34) is coupled at one end to the lifting device (50).

13. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting device (50) is a telescopic piston, preferably a hydraulic pressure cylinder.

14. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one row of seats (40) has a plurality of seats (41) arranged adjacent to one another and/or in that the row of seats (40) has a concave shape.

15. The amusement ride (1) according claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first seat row arrangement (20) has at least two rows of seats (40) which are spaced apart from one another.

16. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one additional seat row arrangement (21) is provided, and in that the at least one additional seat row arrangement (21) is arranged on the frame (10) at a distance from the first seat row arrangement (20).

17. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the first seat row arrangement (20) and the at least one additional seat row arrangement (21) are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical axis (Z).

18. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that an opaque and/or sound-insulating wall (24) is provided between the first seat row arrangement (20) and the second seat row arrangement (21).

19. The amusement ride (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that it is possible to move the two seat row arrangements (20, 21) alternately between the boarding and/or alighting area (8) or the experience area (9) by rotation about the vertical axis (Z), lifting or lowering in the vertical axis (Z), or a movement in an axis transverse to the vertical axis (Z).

Description

[0034] Two exemplary embodiments of an amusement ride according to the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a highly simplified schematic view from above of an amusement ride with a frame that can be rotated about a vertical axis and two oppositely arranged seat row arrangements, each with one row of seats that are movably supported on the frame by means of a linkage, and

[0036] FIG. 2 is a highly simplified and schematic side view of the amusement ride according to FIG. 1,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged representation of detail A according to FIG. 2,

[0038] FIG. 4 is a highly simplified and schematic plan view of the amusement ride according to FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged representation of detail B according to FIG. 4,

[0040] FIG. 6a shows a second exemplary embodiment of the amusement ride, the joint being designed as a Cardan joint, and

[0041] FIG. 6b shows a sectional representation of the Cardan joint according to section line A-A according to FIG. 6a.

[0042] In the following, identical or functionally identical components in the one exemplary embodiment are identified by 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.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an amusement ride 1, which has a frame 10 which can be rotated about a vertical axis Z and is arranged coaxially with respect to the vertical axis Z. The vertical axis Z or the frame 10 is oriented vertically.

[0044] The amusement ride 1 also has two seat row arrangements 20, 21, which are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical axis Z on the frame 10. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 and 4, each seat row arrangement 20, 21 has three rows of seats 40 with a plurality of seats 41 or passenger receptacles, on which passengers 2 (not shown) can take a seat as intended. The seats 41 of the rows of seats 40 are each arranged along a longitudinal axis X of the respective rows of seats 40, each longitudinal axis X, in an initial state, being arranged transversely to a transverse axis Y which protrudes perpendicularly from the vertical axis Z in a radial direction. The orientation of the seats 41 in each row of seats 40 is preferably parallel to the transverse axis Y in the direction facing away from the vertical axis Z. The number of rows of seats 40 in the seat row arrangements 20, 21 is the same.

[0045] Each seat 41 can have a retaining device 42 by which the respective passenger can be held in the seat 41 in a form-fitting manner. The retaining device 42 can be, for example, a safety bar or belt as shown in FIG. 6a.

[0046] Each row of seats 40 is connected to the frame 10 via a linkage 30, with a joint 45 being arranged between the linkage 30 and the row of seats 40, by means of which the row of seats 40 can be rotated at a pitch angle ϕ and a roll angle θ. A rotation through a pitch angle ϕ of ±15° is shown in FIG. 2 on the left as an example. Each row of seats 40 can also be rotated about the joint 45 by the roll angle θ independently of the pitch angle, wherein the roll angle θ can be approximately ±10° according to the illustration in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the joint 45 allows a rotational movement in at least two degrees of freedom. The joint 45 is arranged in the transverse axis Y.

[0047] The joint 45 - as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 - can be designed as a ball joint, with the ball joint supporting the respective row of seats 40 in the respective longitudinal axis X centrally, that is, in a plane of the center of gravity.

[0048] The linkage 30 is designed as a parallelogram linkage, with each row of seats 40 being connected to the frame 10 via a parallelogram linkage. The parallelogram linkage has a plurality of transverse limbs 32 and vertical limbs 34 spanning a trapezium. The transverse limbs 32 are supported at one end on the frame 10 by a rotational joint 12 so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis and protrude from the frame 10 in the manner of a cantilever. At the other end, the transverse limbs 32 are connected on the side facing away from the frame 10 via the vertical limb 34 by means of additional rotational joints 12. On the side of the vertical limb 34 facing away from the frame 10,a support 36 is provided on which the joint 45 supporting the rows of seats 40 is arranged. A screen 38 can also be provided which blocks the passenger’s view of the technology of the amusement ride 1.

[0049] The rows of seats 40 in each seat row arrangement 20, 21 are arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another in the vertical axis Z, as a result of which there is a sufficient distance between the rows of seats 40 in order to avoid collisions, for example. The rows of seats 40 or the linkages 30 of the rows of seats 40 of the two seat row arrangements 20, 21 are preferably arranged symmetrically about the vertical axis Z.

[0050] Furthermore, a first actuator 51 and a second actuator 52 are provided on the support 36. The first actuator 51 and the second actuator 52 can be designed as a crank drive 55 and can each have a crank 58 and a connecting rod 57, each connecting rod 57 being coupled to the row of seats 40. Each connecting rod 57 is supported on the actuator 51, 52 on a crank 58 so that the connecting rod 57 applies a corresponding force or torque to the rows of seats 40 depending on the position of the crank or the direction of rotation of the actuator 51, 52. The torque caused by the force forces a rotational movement about a pivot point of the joint 45 and the corresponding row of seats 40 is deflected. The first actuator 51 and the second actuator 52 are arranged in the respective longitudinal axis X at a distance from the joint 45. In the transverse axis Y, the first actuator 51 and the second actuator 52 are arranged at a distance.

[0051] The first actuator 51 and the second actuator 52 are advanced in a mutually coordinated manner during the operation of the amusement ride 1. For example, a synchronous rotational movement in respective opposite directions of the two actuators 51, 52 according to FIG. 3 can produce a rolling movement according to FIG. 4 and a synchronous rotation in the same direction of rotation of the actuators 51, 52 can produce a pitching movement according to FIG. 2.

[0052] Furthermore, a lifting device 50 is provided, which according to the exemplary embodiment is a hydraulic cylinder. Each of the seat row arrangements 20, 21 has its own lifting device 50 which is designed to lift or lower all of the rows of seats 40 of the respective seat row arrangement 20, 21. The lifting device 50 can be supported at one end on the frame 10 or on a rotational platform from which the frame 10 can protrude in the vertical axis Z. At the other end, the lifting device 50 can be connected to the linkage 30, as a result of which an advance movement of the lifting device 50 can be converted into a movement of the rows of seats 40 that is approximately parallel to the vertical axis Z. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lifting device 50 can be connected to the respective linkage 30 or parallelogram linkage of the rows of seats 40 of each seat row arrangement 20, 21 via an additional vertical limb 34, with the additional vertical limb 34 acting as a synchronizing rod by means of which all rows of seats 40 of each seat row arrangement 20, 21 can be lifted and lowered synchronously.

[0053] The support 36 is held by the linkage 30 designed as a parallelogram linkage in such a way that the orientation of the support 36 remains unchanged in the spatial directions or Euler angles (roll, pitch, and yaw angles ϕ, θ, Ψ) when it is lifted or lowered.

[0054] When the amusement ride 1 is being operated, the lifting devices 50 of the different rows of seats 20, 21 can be controlled independently of one another and the respective actuators 51, 52 within a row of seats 20, 21 and the two rows of seats 20, 21 can be controlled independently, with the rows of seats 40 of a seat row arrangement 20, 21 preferably moving synchronously with one another.

[0055] The amusement ride 1 can also have a boarding and/or alighting area 8 and an experience area 9, with the frame 10 being able to be arranged approximately centrally between the boarding and/or alighting area 8 and the experience area 9.

[0056] The boarding and/or alighting area 8 can - as will be explained in detail below - have several levels that can be reached by stairs, by means of which passengers can get into the amusement ride 1 for an experience and, after riding the amusement ride 1, can leave the amusement ride 1 again. In order to ensure a smooth and throughput-optimized process, the passengers are directed to the amusement ride 1 through an entrance that is physically separate from an exit.

[0057] The experience area 9 can comprise a room with a projection surface, with the projection surface being designed as a picture dome 6 in the present embodiment, on which image representations can be reproduced. In addition, suitable means can be provided in the experience area 9 in order to reproduce stereophonic sound or special effects, through which a multimedia, multi-sensory, media-based experience can be presented to the passenger.

[0058] Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that one of the seat row arrangements 20 is arranged in the boarding and alighting area 8, while the second seat row arrangement 21 is arranged in the experience area 9. Passengers who are on one of the seats 41 of the row of seats 40 of the second seat row arrangement 21 can experience a multimedia, multi-sensory, media-based experience, while other passengers can board or alight in the boarding and/or alighting area 8. As soon as the experience is over, the frame 10 of the ride can be rotated about the vertical axis Z and the two seat row arrangements 20, 21 switch between the experience area 9 and the boarding and/or alighting area 8.

[0059] So that the passengers in the experience area 9 can experience the experience undisturbed, the frame 10 between the first seat row arrangement 20 and the second seat row arrangement 21 has a wall 24 which is as soundproof and opaque as possible and, together with a wall of the experience area 9, optically and acoustically decouples said arrangements.

[0060] During the experience, the image can be displayed by at least one projector 5, which is arranged on the frame above or below one of the rows of seats. Depending on the image display, both the lifting device 50 of the seat row arrangement 20, 21 arranged in the experience area 9 and the first actuator 51 and/or the second actuator 52 can be actuated.

[0061] FIGS. 6a and 6b show a second exemplary embodiment of the amusement ride 1 which differs from the embodiment already described in the design of the joint 45.

[0062] The joint 45 is designed as a Cardan joint, which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment allows a movement through three spatial angles or Euler angles. The Cardan joint enables each row of seats 40 to be adjusted or pivoted into a rolling, pitching, and yaw movement or a superimposed movement in this spatial angle.

[0063] The joint 45 has a first joint shaft 61 and a second joint shaft 62 which are connected by an intermediate piece 65 . The first joint shaft 61 is arranged parallel to the linkage 30 and is rotatably connected to the linkage 30 or the support 36. Therefore, a rotation of the first joint shaft 61 results in a rolling movement at the roll angle ϕ. The second joint shaft 62 is arranged parallel to or at the rear of the row of seats 40 and can be rotatably connected to the row of seats 40 via a connecting means 43. A rotation of the second joint shaft 62 results in a pitching movement at the pitch angle θ.

[0064] The second joint shaft 62 surrounds the first joint shaft 61 in a frame section 64, the first joint shaft 61 and the second joint shaft 62 preferably being arranged in such a way that their theoretical central axes (represented by dashed lines) intersect. The frame section 64 can be cuboid in shape and provided with an opening that can be dimensioned such that the second joint shaft 62 can be pivoted by ±30° at the so-called yaw angle ψ, preferably ±15°, in a common plane formed by the two central axes.

[0065] The second joint shaft 62 is connected to the first joint shaft 61 via the intermediate piece 65, which has a third joint shaft 63, the third joint shaft 63 being arranged perpendicularly to the second joint shaft 62 and, starting from the frame section 64, being arranged in such a way that the central axes of the first joint shaft 61, the second joint shaft 62, and the third joint shaft 63 intersect at one point. The third joint shaft 63 is rotatably supported on the second joint shaft 62 or the frame section thereof 64 and is connected to the first joint shaft 61 for conjoint rotation.

[0066] Each of the joint shafts 61, 62, 63 is assigned an actuator 51, 52, 53, with the first actuator 51 driving the first joint shaft 61, the second actuator 52 driving the second joint shaft 62, and a third actuator 53 driving the third joint shaft 63.

[0067] The actuators 51, 52, 53 can be any rotational drives, with the actuators 51, 52, 53 preferably being hydraulic rotational drives. The first actuator 51 is supported on the linkage 30 or the support 36, the second actuator 52 on the row of seats 40, and the third actuator 53 can be arranged on either the first joint shaft 61 or the second joint shaft 62 and configured to rotate the third joint shaft 63 relative to the second joint shaft 62 to generate the yaw movement at the yaw angle Ψ.

[0068] As a result, an amusement ride 1 according to the invention is provided that can be operated in an optimized manner for a high throughput of passengers and has improved power utilization compared to the known amusement rides 1. With the innovative design of the amusement ride 1 the risk of injury is reduced and safe operation with a simultaneous reduction in the number of operators of the amusement ride 1 can be achieved.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Signs 1 Amusement ride 2 Passenger 5 Film projector 6 Picture dome 7 Wall 8 Alighting area 9 Experience are 10 Frame 12 Rotational joint 20 First seat row arrangement 21 Second seat row arrangement 24 Wall 30 Linkage 32 Transverse limb 34 Vertical limb 36 Support 40 Row of seats 41 Seat 43 Connecting means 45 Joint 50 Lifting device 51 First actuator 52 Second actuator 53 Third actuator 55 Crank drive 57 Connecting rod 58 Crank 61 First joint shaft 62 Second joint shaft 63 Third joint shaft 64 Frame section 65 Connexting portion X Longitudinal axis Y Transverse axis Z Vertical axis θ Pitch angle ϕ Roll angle Ψ Yaw angle