Ferris wheel ride

Abstract

The invention relates to a Ferris wheel ride with a spoked wheel (12) with a plurality of gondolas (14) arranged on it for passengers, a support structure (16) in which the spoked wheel (12) is rotatably mounted, and an entry area (24) for the entry and exit of passengers into the gondolas (14) and the gondolas (14).from the gondolas (14), wherein photovoltaic elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 56) are arranged on the spoked wheel (12), the gondolas (14), the support structure (16) and / or the entrance area (24), and the Ferris wheel ride (10) has at least one electric motor (26) and an electrical energy storage device (28) electrically connected to the photovoltaic elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 56), which is configured to store electrical energy from the photovoltaic elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 56), wherein the electric motor (26) is electrically connected to the energy storage device (28) in such a way that the spoked wheel (12) can be driven in a controlled manner by the electric motor (26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a Ferris wheel ride according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The invention relates to Ferris wheels as rides, such as those regularly appearing at fairs or festivals in the form of transportable Ferris wheels or as permanently installed Ferris wheels as city attractions, such as the Vienna Ferris Wheel in the Prater in Vienna or the so-called "London Eye" or "Millennium Wheel" in London.

[0003] The power requirements of such Ferris wheel rides are generally high, as large masses around the perimeter of the Ferris wheel, i.e., at a great distance from the center of rotation, must be accelerated and decelerated regularly, typically with each boarding and disembarking. Furthermore, such Ferris wheel rides are designed to attract attention and are therefore typically equipped with intensive lighting. The lighting is intended to make the rides visible from afar and serve as a point of orientation. However, this intense lighting also leads to high power requirements. The electricity costs of such Ferris wheel rides are therefore generally high.

[0004] From WO 2016 / 007740 A1, a Ferris wheel ride of the generic type is known which can be provided with solar cells which, if appropriate together with storage batteries, can provide a large part of the energy required to rotate the Ferris wheel, at least during balanced or substantially stationary operation in which the rolling friction is relatively low due to an improved bearing system.

[0005] DE 94 11 765 U1 describes a manually or solar-powered miniature Ferris wheel. Trapezoidal solar collectors are mounted on its supporting pillars, which feed an electric motor via a buffer battery. The solar energy, in turn, is only sufficient to keep the wheel moving once it's started. For higher rotational speeds, human muscle power is used as an additional propulsion system in addition to the solar-electric drive.

[0006] The invention is based on the task of further reducing the electricity costs of Ferris wheel rides.

[0007] The invention solves this problem with the features of a Ferris wheel ride according to claim 1.

[0008] The Ferris wheel ride according to the invention comprises a spoked wheel with a plurality of gondolas for passengers arranged thereon, a support structure in which the spoked wheel is rotatably mounted, and an entry area for passengers entering and exiting the gondolas. Photovoltaic elements are arranged on the spoked wheel, the gondolas, the support structure, and / or the entry area. The Ferris wheel ride further comprises at least one electric motor and an electrical energy storage device electrically connected to the photovoltaic elements, which is configured to store electrical energy from the photovoltaic elements. The electric motor is electrically connected to the energy storage device such that the spoked wheel can be driven under the control of the electric motor.

[0009] The invention makes it possible to reduce the electricity costs of Ferris wheel rides to zero, since the electricity required to operate a Ferris wheel ride can be generated using the photovoltaic elements arranged on the Ferris wheel ride.

[0010] The operation of a Ferris wheel ride according to the invention therefore does not require the use of fossil fuels and thus avoids the release of carbon dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere. The invention thus provides a sustainable concept for an amusement device, namely a ride in the form of a Ferris wheel.

[0011] The invention further enables the operation of a Ferris wheel ride independently of conventionally required power connections. The Ferris wheel ride according to the invention is therefore advantageously suited for uncomplicated operation, for example, at festivals where suitable power connections are often unavailable or have to be created first, which is complex and expensive. This is particularly the case for festivals held on meadows or agricultural land. The Ferris wheel ride according to the invention can thus advantageously be set up and operated practically anywhere, even on sites with no or no suitable power connections.

[0012] According to the invention, the gondolas have gondola roofs and side panels, wherein the gondola roofs and / or side panels are fully or partially covered with photovoltaic elements. The gondolas of Ferris wheel rides are in constant motion during operation. Thus, a portion of the gondolas is permanently oriented toward the sun and away from shadow zones, which can occur particularly in the lower area of ​​the spoked wheel. The gondola roofs and / or side panels of the gondolas are therefore particularly suitable for the installation of photovoltaic elements.

[0013] The invention provides for the nacelle roofs and / or side panels to be completely or partially covered, e.g., glued, with flexible photovoltaic elements. The photovoltaic elements can thus advantageously be adapted to curved or arched surfaces on the nacelles or nacelle roofs. Thus, the contour of the nacelles remains unchanged, even if photovoltaic elements are subsequently attached to the nacelles.

[0014] According to the invention, the spoked wheel has spokes, with spoke spaces formed between adjacent spokes in which photovoltaic elements are arranged. Large areas are created between the spokes of the spoked wheel, which can be used for the arrangement of photovoltaic elements. Thanks to large photovoltaic surfaces, a high nominal power of the installed photovoltaic elements is advantageously achieved.

[0015] According to the invention, the coverage of the spoke spaces with photovoltaic elements is higher in an area adjacent to the spoke wheel's axis of rotation than in an area radially further away from the spoke wheel's axis of rotation. This is advantageous because in an area close to the axis of rotation, the maximum lever arm acting upon rotation of the spoke wheel is shorter in relation to the ground surface than in an area distant from the axis of rotation. This reduces the Ferris wheel's susceptibility to wind by lowering the tipping moment caused by wind. The ride's stability can thus be ensured even in strong winds.

[0016] A further development of the invention provides that the spoke spaces used for arranging photovoltaic elements are formed between spokes adjacent to each other in the tangential direction of the spoked wheel. The photovoltaic elements are thus arranged in a substantially vertical plane. This results in an advantageous constant alignment of the photovoltaic elements despite rotation of the spoked wheel in one direction.

[0017] Another development of the invention provides that the spoke spaces used for the arrangement of photovoltaic elements are formed alternatively or additionally between spokes adjacent in the axial direction of the spoked wheel. In this case, the perpendiculars of the surfaces of the photovoltaic elements rotate around the rotation axis of the spoked wheel. Such an arrangement is advantageous because these surfaces do not offer any relevant lateral wind resistance, i.e., in the axial direction of the spoked wheel, and thus the lateral wind pressure exerted by these surfaces, i.e., in the axial direction of the spoked wheel, is negligible.

[0018] According to a further development of the invention, the photovoltaic elements arranged in the spaces between the spokes have a wind-permeable structure.

[0019] This significantly reduces wind resistance. The wind pressure acting on the spoked wheel is also significantly reduced. This allows for the use of larger areas for photovoltaic elements and thus a higher installable nominal power of photovoltaic elements.

[0020] A further development of the invention provides that the photovoltaic elements arranged in the spoke spaces comprise or are a wind-permeable photovoltaic film. Such a film has the advantage of being light and thin. This is advantageous with regard to the transportability of the Ferris wheel ride according to the invention, as the weight to be transported and the required transport space are thus reduced. In one embodiment of the invention, this photovoltaic film is stretched over a frame that is mounted in the spoke spaces.

[0021] A further development of the invention provides that the support structure has support pillars that are fully or partially provided with photovoltaic elements arranged on panels, preferably alignable panels, and / or covered, for example, with flexible photovoltaic elements. According to a further development, it is further provided that photovoltaic elements are arranged, for example, glued, on a disk-like surface, preferably an alignable surface, or panels, preferably an alignable panel, on the support pillars in the region of the axis of rotation of the spoked wheel. Such assembly of panels is advantageous because it takes place at fixed mounting points and thus avoids rotating mounting points. Rotating mounting points require more complex and therefore more expensive designs due to the alternating loads resulting from the rotation.Thanks to the attachment of panels to fixed mounting points, such structures can be designed in a less complex and therefore less costly manner.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the entry area has a canopy that is completely or partially covered with photovoltaic elements and / or the entry area is enclosed by a fence that is completely or partially made of photovoltaic elements or has photovoltaic elements. The canopy of the entry area is generally a large, fixed surface. It allows for the installation of a comparatively large photovoltaic electrical power output. The fence extends along a substantial length and therefore also allows for the installation of a comparatively large photovoltaic electrical power output.

[0023] A further development of the invention provides for the canopy to be completely or partially covered, e.g., glued, with flexible photovoltaic elements. The shape of the photovoltaic elements can thus be adapted to the shape of the canopy. The canopy can thus easily be curved, for example, without any particular challenges with regard to the installation of photovoltaic elements.

[0024] According to a further development of the invention, the capacity of the electrical energy storage device and the rated power of all photovoltaic elements on the Ferris wheel are dimensioned such that the operation of the Ferris wheel is ensured independently, i.e., without an additional supply of electrical energy. The Ferris wheel can thus be operated independently, i.e., without the need for additional power connections or other power generators.

[0025] A further development of the invention provides that the electric motor can be switched to generator mode in such a way that the rotational energy released when the spoked wheel is decelerated is converted into electrical energy and stored in the electrical energy storage device. This type of operation is particularly sustainable and environmentally friendly, as it allows for the recovery of the rotational energy into electrical energy.

[0026] Further developments of the invention claimed in claim 1 emerge from the subclaims, the description and the drawing. The aforementioned advantages of features and combinations of several features are exemplary and can be used alternatively or cumulatively, without the advantages necessarily having to be achieved by embodiments according to the invention. Further features can be seen from the drawing - in particular the illustrated geometries and the relative dimensions of several components to one another as well as their relative arrangement and operative connection. The combination of the features according to the invention with features of different embodiments of the invention or with features of subclaims is also possible, deviating from the selected references to the claims, and is hereby proposed. This also applies to features that are illustrated in the drawing or mentioned in their description.These features may also be combined with features of different claims. Likewise, features listed in subclaims may be omitted for further embodiments of the invention.

[0027] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a Ferris wheel ride according to the invention in a side view and Fig. 2 shows the Ferris wheel ride in a simplified side view offset by 90°.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a Ferris wheel ride 10 according to the invention. The Ferris wheel ride 10 comprises a spoked wheel 12 with a plurality of gondolas 14 for passengers arranged thereon. The spoked wheel 12 is rotatably mounted in a support structure 16, which has support pillars 18, 20 mounted on a substructure 22. The substructure 22 also serves to accommodate an entry area 24, which is provided for passengers boarding and disembarking from the gondolas.

[0029] At least one electric motor 26 drives the spoked wheel 12, preferably by means of pressure rollers driven by the electric motor 26 pressing against the spoked wheel 12 in the region of the substructure. The electric motor 26 is supplied with electrical energy from an electrical energy storage device 28.

[0030] In a ticket booth 30, passengers can not only pay their fare. The ticket booth 30 also houses a control panel for controlling the drive, in particular the electric motor 26, of the Ferris wheel ride 10. The spoked wheel 12 can be driven and braked using the control panel. Furthermore, the operation of the Ferris wheel ride 10 can be monitored using the control panel.

[0031] The Ferris wheel ride is equipped with a variety of photovoltaic elements 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44. These photovoltaic elements 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 are arranged on the spoked wheel 12, the gondolas 14, the support structure 16 and the entry area 24, namely photovoltaic elements 32 on gondola roofs 45 of the gondolas 14, photovoltaic elements 34 on side panels 46 of the gondolas 14, photovoltaic elements 36 on a canopy 48 of the entry area 24, photovoltaic elements 38 on the substructure 22, photovoltaic elements 40 in spaces 50 between adjacent spokes 52 of the spoked wheel 12 - referred to here as spoke spaces -, photovoltaic elements 42 on the support pillars 18, 20 of the support structure 16 and photovoltaic elements 44 in an area adjacent to the axis of rotation 54.During daylight hours, these photovoltaic elements convert sunlight into electrical energy and store the generated electrical energy in the electrical energy storage device 28. This electrical energy is used to drive the electric motor 26.

[0032] In the area adjacent to the axis of rotation 54 of the spoked wheel 12, the photovoltaic elements 44 are arranged with a higher coverage, ie a high number of photovoltaic elements per area, than in an area radially further away from the axis of rotation 54, in which the photovoltaic elements 40 are arranged such that only a fraction of the spoke spaces 50 are provided with photovoltaic elements 40, for example only every second spoke space 50 is provided with photovoltaic elements 40.

[0033] The photovoltaic elements 44 within the rotation axis 54 are advantageously mounted on the support structure 16 and thus are not rotatable. Alternatively, however, these photovoltaic elements 44 can be mounted on the spokes 52 of the spoked wheel 12 and thus follow the rotation of the spoked wheel 12.

[0034] Furthermore, the photovoltaic elements 36, 38, and 42 are not arranged on the spoked wheel 12 and therefore do not follow the rotation of the spoked wheel 12. The photovoltaic elements 36, 38, and 42, as well as advantageously (but not necessarily) the photovoltaic elements 44, are therefore arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. However, these photovoltaic elements 36, 38, 42, and possibly 44, can be arranged in an alignable manner. This enables these photovoltaic elements 36, 38, 42, and possibly 44, to be aligned toward a position optimized with regard to the incidence of light. Advantageously, these photovoltaic elements 36, 38, 42, and possibly 44, are arranged on alignable panels.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows the Ferris wheel ride 10 in a side view offset by 90° in a simplified representation, in particular without gondolas 34 and the details of the entry area 24, to illustrate the arrangement of photovoltaic elements 56 in spoke spaces 58 which are formed between two spokes 52 adjacent in the axial direction of the spoked wheel 12, ie in the direction of the axis of rotation 54.

[0036] In contrast, Fig. 1 the arrangement of photovoltaic elements 40 in spoke spaces 50 formed between two spokes 52 adjacent in the tangential direction of the spoked wheel 12, ie in the direction of rotation of the spoked wheel 12.

[0037] Both arrangements are provided alternatively or cumulatively. The cumulative arrangement, i.e., the arrangement of photovoltaic elements 40, 56 in spoke spaces 50, 58, which are arranged, on the one hand, between two spokes 52 adjacent in the tangential direction of the spoked wheel 12 and, on the other hand, between two spokes 52 adjacent in the axial direction of the spoked wheel 12, provides a particularly high yield of electricity from solar energy. The cumulative arrangement is particularly advantageous for Ferris wheel rides with increased power requirements, such as Ferris wheel rides with air-conditioned gondolas.

[0038] Additional surfaces of the Ferris wheel ride 10 can be used for the installation of photovoltaic elements in the form of panels and / or flexible photovoltaic elements, particularly photovoltaic foil. For example, such installation can be provided on the housings of spotlights for illuminating the Ferris wheel ride 10, on the ticket booth 30, and on the railings of the Ferris wheel ride 10.

[0039] Overall, thanks to the photovoltaic elements 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 56 arranged on the Ferris wheel ride 10, the invention enables autonomous operation of the Ferris wheel ride 10 without the need for a separate power connection. Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to reduce power consumption from the public power grid in inner cities. The Ferris wheel ride 10 according to the invention is thus versatile, cost-effective, and can be operated sustainably from an environmental perspective.

[0040] The Ferris wheel ride according to the invention has no upper limit regarding its height, the number of gondolas on the Ferris wheel, the maximum number of people in a gondola, the maximum load capacity of a gondola, and / or the maximum load capacity of the entire Ferris wheel ride. These parameters can be chosen to any size.

[0041] The following reference numbers are used in the figures: 10 Ferris wheel ride 12 Spoked wheel 14 Gondola 16 Supporting structure 18 Supporting pillar 20 Supporting pillar 22 Substructure 24 Boarding area 26 Electric motor 28 Electrical energy storage 30 Ticket booth 32 Photovoltaic elements 34 Photovoltaic elements 36 Photovoltaic elements 38 Photovoltaic elements 40 Photovoltaic elements 42 Photovoltaic elements 44 Photovoltaic elements 45 Gondola roof 46 Side paneling 48 Canopy 50 Spoke spaces 52 Spoke 54 Rotation axis 56 Photovoltaic elements 58 Spoke spaces

Claims

1. Ferris wheel ride with a spoked wheel (12) with a plurality of gondolas (14) arranged thereon for passengers, a supporting structure (16) in which the spoked wheel (12) is rotatably mounted, and a boarding area (24) for passengers to board and alight from the gondolas (14), wherein photovoltaic elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 56) are arranged on the spoked wheel (12), the gondolas (14), the supporting structure (16) and / or the boarding area (24), and the ferris wheel ride (10) comprising at least one electric motor (26) and an electrical energy storage device (28) which is electrically connected to the photovoltaic elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 56) and is set up to store electrical energy from the photovoltaic elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 56), the electric motor (26) being electrically connected to the energy storage device (28) in such a way that the spoked wheel (12) can be driven by the electric motor (26) in a controlled manner, characterized in that a) the gondolas (14) have gondola roofs (45) and side panelings (46) in such a way that the gondola roofs (45) and / or side panelings (46) are completely or partially covered with photovoltaic elements (32, 34) in such a way that the gondola roofs (45) and / or side panelings (46) are completely or partially covered, for example glued, with flexible photovoltaic elements (32, 34), and / or b) the spoked wheel (12) has spokes (52) with spoke spaces (50, 58) formed between adjacent spokes (52) in such a way that photovoltaic elements (40, 56) are arranged in spoke spaces (52, 58) in such a way that in an area adjacent to the axis of rotation (54) of the spoked wheel (12), the occupancy of the spoke spaces (50) with photovoltaic elements (44) is higher than the occupancy of the spoke spaces (50) with photovoltaic elements (40) in an area radially more distant from the axis of rotation (54) of the spoked wheel (12).

2. Ferris wheel ride according to claim 1, characterized in that the spoke spaces (50) are formed between spokes (42) which are adjacent in the tangential direction of the spoked wheel (12).

3. Ferris wheel ride according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spoke spaces (58) are formed between spokes (42) which are adjacent in the axial direction of the spoked wheel (12).

4. Ferris wheel ride according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the photovoltaic elements (40, 56) arranged in the spoke spaces (50, 58) have a wind-permeable structure.

5. Ferris wheel ride according to claim 4, characterized in that the photovoltaic elements (40, 56) arranged in the spoke spaces (50, 58) have or are a wind-permeable photovoltaic film.

6. Ferris wheel ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structure (16) has support pillars (18, 20) which are completely or partially provided with photovoltaic elements (42) arranged on panels, preferably alignable panels, and / or are covered, e.g. glued, with flexible photovoltaic elements (32, 34).

7. Ferris wheel ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that photovoltaic elements (44) are arranged, for example glued, on a disk-like surface, preferably an alignable surface, or panels, preferably an alignable panel, on the support pillars (18, 20) in the area of the axis of rotation (54) of the spoked wheel (12).

8. Ferris wheel ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boarding area (24) has a canopy (48) which is completely or partially covered with photovoltaic elements (36) and / or the boarding area (24) is enclosed by a fence which is completely or partially formed from photovoltaic elements or has photovoltaic elements.

9. Ferris wheel ride according to claim 8, characterized in that the canopy (48) is completely or partially covered, e.g. glued, with flexible photovoltaic elements (36).

10. Ferris wheel ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capacity of the electrical energy storage device (28) and the rated power of all photovoltaic elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 56) on the Ferris wheel ride (10) are dimensioned such that the operation of the Ferris wheel ride (10) is self-sufficient, i.e. without additional supply of electrical energy.

11. Ferris wheel ride according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric motor (26) can be switched to generator operation in such a way that the rotational energy released when the spoked wheel (12) is braked is converted into electrical energy and stored in the electrical energy storage device (28).

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