Ferris wheel installation comprising guide structure for gondolas having sliding ball joints

Abstract

To provide a Ferris wheel installation that makes it possible to limit the stresses generated in the region of the interface between the gondolas and the wheel rim of the Ferris wheel.SOLUTION: A Ferris wheel installation (10) has at least one gondola (14) connected to a wheel rim structure (12) via a guide structure (16) including at least one bearing (20). Of at least two opposing raceways of the bearing (20), a first raceway (26) is firmly connected to a gondola (14) and a second raceway (28) is firmly connected to the support body (32). A support body (20) is connected to the wheel rim structure (12) by two sliding ball joints (42), the sliding axis centers (200) of the two sliding ball joints (42) being parallel to and apart from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a Ferris wheel facility comprising: a wheel rim structure rotatable about a horizontal revolution axis; and at least one cage (gondola) connected to the wheel rim structure via a guide structure so as to rotate relative to the wheel rim structure about a rotation axis that is parallel to the revolution axis of the wheel rim structure and spaced apart from the revolution axis of the wheel rim structure, thereby maintaining the position of the cage during wheel rim rotation in most cases. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes an installation of this type in which each cage is guided to rotate relative to the wheel rim of the Ferris wheel by large diameter bearings that surround the cage.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a car mounting device used in such facilities. The device comprises an outer ring body that is firmly connected to the wheel rim of the Ferris wheel, and an inner ring body that is firmly connected to the rotating side of the car. These two ring bodies can rotate relative to each other via a spacer bearing. The outer ring body has three protrusions that are angularly spaced apart on the same plane, thereby securely supporting the car on the wheel rim.

[0004] For large facilities intended to accommodate a large number of passengers, the cage can be guided to rotate relative to the wheel rim by two large coaxial bearings spaced apart from each other, as described in Patent Document 3, for example.

[0005] When these cage bearings are connected to the Ferris wheel wheel rim at multiple fixed points, there is a risk that the cage's rotation axis may become misaligned with the orbital axis of the Ferris wheel wheel rim. In addition, when two bearings are used to guide the cage, there is a risk that the rotation axes of the two bearings may become misaligned. Such misalignment can cause stress and wear, adversely affecting the lifespan of the equipment. However, correcting such misalignment when installing the cage on the Ferris wheel wheel rim is not only time-consuming but also extremely delicate, due to the size of the equipment.

[0006] If the installation of a car is planned during facility renovations, the specifications of the existing wheel rim of the Ferris wheel, which had not been an issue during the course of operation up to that point, may not necessarily match the specifications and dimensional tolerances of the car, making these difficulties even more pronounced.

[0007] Even after installation, misalignment can occur due to deformation over time, for example of a Ferris wheel wheel rim, whether such deformation is permanent and due to aging, or periodic, particularly due to thermal expansion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] German Patent No. 476892 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2012 / 140330 [Patent Document 3] French Patent Invention No. 3088014 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to propose a technical solution that makes it possible to reduce the stresses that occur in the area of ​​the boundary between the wheel rim and the cage of a Ferris wheel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This object is achieved by a Ferris wheel installation according to the present invention, which includes a wheel rim structure rotatable about a horizontal revolution axis, and at least one cage connected to the wheel rim structure via a guide structure including at least one bearing, which allows the cage to rotate relative to the wheel rim structure about a rotation axis that is parallel or substantially parallel to the revolution axis of the wheel rim structure and spaced apart from the revolution axis of the wheel rim structure.

[0011] According to the present invention, the bearing is connected to the wheel rim structure by two sliding ball joints, whose sliding axes are parallel to and spaced apart from each other. A sliding ball joint is a connection that provides three degrees of freedom in rotation and one degree of freedom in translation. The sliding ball joints give the bearing freedom of position and orientation in space relative to the wheel rim structure, so that when the cage rotates relative to the wheel rim structure, no significant stress is generated at the interface between the bearing and the wheel rim structure.

[0012] In practice, the bearing has at least two opposing raceways relatively guided for rotation about the bearing's rotation axis, a first of the two raceways being rigidly connected to the cage and a second of the two raceways being rigidly connected by the sliding ball joint to a support connected to the wheel rim structure. The raceways may be formed by a one-piece or multi-part bearing ring. In one embodiment, the first of the two raceways is the outer ring raceway of the bearing and the second of the two raceways is the inner ring raceway of the bearing. The reverse configuration is also possible.

[0013] In fact, there is a reference position of the guide structure where the rotation axis of the bearing and each sliding axis of the sliding ball joint are parallel to each other. Preferably, the rotation axis of the bearing is equidistant from each sliding axis at the reference position.

[0014] The two ball joints collectively provide the bearing with a degree of freedom of movement relative to the wheel rim structure. the bearings are free to rotate about tilt axes that are flush with and perpendicular to the respective sliding axes in the first contact position; and / or ● At the first contact position, the bearing can rotate freely around a swing axis that intersects with the rotation axis of the cage (in actuality, this movement involves translation of each sliding ball joint in opposite axial directions).

[0015] In one embodiment, the guide structure includes a stopper device having at least one first stopper rigidly connected to the bearing opposite a first corresponding stopper rigidly connected to the wheel rim structure, wherein the first stopper and the first corresponding stopper contact each other at a first contact position according to a first contact area so as to restrict translational movement of the bearing relative to the wheel rim structure in a first translational direction parallel to the sliding axis.

[0016] The first stop allows stresses, especially wind stresses, to be dissipated from the cage to the wheel rim structure.

[0017] Preferably, said first contact area is located less than 10 cm from a plane containing each sliding axis and / or less than 10 cm from a median plane between two of said sliding axes.

[0018] In one embodiment, the stopper device has at least one second stopper rigidly connected to the bearing opposite a second corresponding stopper rigidly connected to the wheel rim structure, and the second stopper and the second corresponding stopper contact at a second contact position according to a second contact area so as to restrict translational movement of the bearing relative to the wheel rim structure parallel to the sliding axis in a second translational direction that is opposite to the first translational direction.

[0019] In one embodiment, the stopper device allows translation of the bearing relative to the wheel rim structure parallel to the rotation axis of the cage and has an axial clearance between the first contact location and the second contact location. In an alternative embodiment, the first contact location and the second contact location are coincident and the stopper device prevents translation of the bearing relative to the wheel rim structure parallel to the rotation axis of the cage.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, each sliding ball joint comprises a plain bearing. In another embodiment, each sliding ball joint comprises a ball joint bearing, for example a spherical bearing.

[0021] In one embodiment, the wheel rim structure has two parallel shield bodies defining spacer recesses for receiving parts of supports rigidly connected to the bearings and the two sliding ball joints. Preferably, the two shield bodies are attached to a common plate fixed to the wheel rim of the wheel rim structure. Preferably, the corresponding stops for limiting the translational movement of the bearings are rigidly connected to the common plate.

[0022] In one embodiment, the guide structure includes at least one further bearing forming a rotation axis, which further bearing is rigidly connected to the cage and connected to the wheel rim structure (preferably by two further sliding ball joints whose sliding axes are parallel to and spaced apart from each other), and which further bearing is spaced from the bearing at a distance of more than 1 meter parallel to the rotation axis of the cage.

[0023] In practice, the further bearing has at least two further opposing raceways relatively guided for rotation about the rotation axis of the further bearing, a first of the two further raceways being rigidly connected to the cage and a second of the two further raceways being rigidly connected to a support which is connected to the wheel rim structure by the further sliding ball joint.

[0024] Preferably, each sliding axis of the two further sliding ball joints and the rotation axis of the further bearing are parallel, and preferably each sliding axis of the two further sliding ball joints coincides with one of the sliding axes of the two sliding ball joints within a manufacturing tolerance.

[0025] The two further ball joints collectively provide the further bearing with a degree of freedom of movement relative to the wheel rim structure. the further bearing is free to rotate about a further tilt axis which is coplanar with and perpendicular to each further sliding axis in the further contact position; and / or - At the further contact position, the further bearing is free to rotate about a further oscillation axis that intersects the rotation axis of the further bearing.

[0026] In one embodiment, the guide structure comprises a further stopper device having at least one first further stopper rigidly connected to the further bearing opposite a first further corresponding stopper rigidly connected to the wheel rim structure, wherein the first further stopper and the first further corresponding stopper come into contact at a first further contact position according to a first further contact area so as to restrict translational movement of the further bearing relative to the wheel rim structure in a first translation direction parallel to the sliding axis, and wherein the further stopper and the further corresponding stopper come into contact at the further contact position according to a contact area located less than 10 cm from a plane containing each sliding axis and / or less than 10 cm from a median plane between two of the sliding axes.

[0027] In one embodiment, the cage has a cylindrical central portion and two nose-cone shaped side portions, and the first track surface is attached to a junction between the central portion and the side portions.

[0028] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a Ferris wheel facility according to one embodiment of the present invention, specifically showing the wheel rim of the Ferris wheel, the car, and the guide structure of the car. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the details of the guide structure. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the details of the guide structure. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sliding ball joint of the guide structure taken along a cutting plane C shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of a stopper device of the guide structure taken along a cutting plane S shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a further stopper device of the guide structure. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] For ease of understanding, the same or similar structures / components are designated by the same reference numerals in the text and drawings. The embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below are given by way of non-limiting examples of the present invention.

[0031] 1 is a diagram showing a portion of a Ferris wheel facility 10. The Ferris wheel facility 10 includes a wheel rim structure 12 that is rotatable about a horizontal revolution axis, and a cage 14 that is connected to the wheel rim structure 12 via a guide structure 16 so as to rotate relative to the wheel rim structure 12 about a rotation axis that is parallel to the revolution axis of the wheel rim structure 12 and spaced apart from the revolution axis of the wheel rim structure 12.

[0032] By way of example, the cage 14 may have an oval structure, for example consisting of a cylindrical central section 14.1 surrounded by two nose-cone shaped end sections 14.2. The cage 14 shown is large and can accommodate a considerable number of passengers, more than a dozen, seated or standing.

[0033] The guide structure 16 of the cage 14 includes at least one bearing 20. Preferably, the guide structure 16 includes two bearings 20 located on respective spaced apart planes. Ideally, the planes are parallel. Ideally, the rotation axes 100 of the bearings coincide with each other and jointly form the rotation axis of the cage. In this embodiment, each bearing 20 is located on the connecting plane between the cylindrical central portion 14.1 and one of the nosecone-shaped end portions 14.2 of the cage 14 structure, and has a diameter of more than 1.5 meters, preferably more than 2 meters.

[0034] Each bearing 20 has two bearing rings 22, 24 that form opposing raceways 26, 28. Rolling elements 30 roll on the opposing raceways 26, 28, thereby guiding relative rotational movement about a rotation axis 100 between the two raceways 26, 28 of the bearing 20. In particular, the first race 22 that forms the first raceway 26 is rigidly connected to the cage 10, and the second race 24 that forms the second raceway 28 is rigidly connected to a support 32. The support 32 is connected to a plate 34 that is rigidly connected to the wheel rim structure 12. In one variant, the support 32 and the races 24 can form a single piece.

[0035] The plate 34 is preferably formed as a single piece so that its dimensions are fully controlled, for example having two parallel shield bodies 36 defining a spacer recess 38 therebetween in which a portion of the support 32 is received. The plate 34 has a connecting portion 40 that is secured to the body of the wheel rim structure 12.

[0036] The plate 34 and the support 32 are kinematically connected by two sliding ball joints 42 whose sliding axes 200 are parallel to and spaced apart from each other. In the context of the present invention, a sliding ball joint is a mechanical connection that ensures three degrees of freedom in rotation about a center of rotation and one degree of freedom in translation along the sliding axis from the center of rotation. In some applications, the movement corresponding to the rotational degree of freedom can be very small, e.g., less than 5°. The translational degree of freedom can be on the order of 20 mm. However, these values ​​are merely examples, as they can vary significantly depending on the geometric imperfections of the capsule structure and the dimensions of the capsule and the bearing. Larger clearances are not excluded. Preferably, the sliding axes 200 of the two sliding ball joints 42 are parallel to the rotation axis 100 of the bearing 20 they support, at least at the center reference position of the guide structure 16. Each of these ball joints 42 is housed between two parallel shields 36 of the plate 34.

[0037] Each sliding ball joint 42 has a ring 44 housed in a clevis 46 fixed to the support 32, for example. The ring 44 houses a sliding bearing 48, at least a portion of which is spherical. The sliding bearing 48 slides on a shaft formed by a pin 50, for example. The pin 50 is rigidly connected to two parallel shields 36 via two flanges 52, for example. The ring 36, rigidly connected to the clevis 46, has a spherical outer periphery and a sliding groove with a contour complementary to the outer contour of the sliding bearing 48, allowing it to rotate around the center of the bearing 48. The bearing 48 itself is movable along the axis 200 of the pin 50.

[0038] The sliding axes 200 formed by the pins 40 are parallel to each other. Each sliding ball joint 42 imparts three degrees of freedom of rotation and one degree of freedom of translation parallel to the axis 200 of the pin 50 to the connection between the support 32 and the plate 34, making it possible to correct misalignment between the support bodies 32 and between the rotation axes 100 of the two bearings 20.

[0039] The guide structure 16 includes a stopper device 54 for at least one of the supports 32 (two supports 32 in this example). Preferably, the stopper device 54 is accommodated between two shield bodies 36 of the plate 34. Each stopper device 54 (one is shown in FIG. 5 and the other in FIG. 6) has two stoppers 56, and each stopper 56 is rigidly connected to one of the shield bodies 36 of the plate 34, facing a corresponding stopper 58 that is rigidly connected to the support 32 (and therefore to the wheel rim structure 12). A first stopper 56 contacts the corresponding stopper 58 facing the first stopper 56 at a first contact position so as to restrict translational movement of the support 32 relative to the wheel rim structure 23 in a first translational direction parallel to the sliding axis 200. Similarly, the second stopper 56 contacts a corresponding stopper 58 opposite the second stopper 56 at a second contact position so as to restrict translational movement of the support 32 relative to the wheel rim structure 12 parallel to the sliding axis 200 in a second translational direction that is opposite to the first translational direction.

[0040] In any contact position, the contact area Z (shown in FIG. 2) between the target stopper 56 and its corresponding counter stopper 58 is located approximately midway between the sliding ball joints 42. For reference, the center of each contact area Z is preferably located less than 10 cm from the plane P including each sliding axis, and is preferably located less than 10 cm from the median symmetry plane S between the two sliding axes 200.

[0041] In this embodiment, in which a stopper device 54 is associated with each support 32, at least one of the two supports 32, the stopper 56, and the corresponding stopper 58 can be arranged so that the first contact position and the second contact position do not coincide, as shown in Figure 5, i.e., the support 32 can be arranged to translate parallel to the sliding axis 200 relative to the plate 34 over several millimeters between the first contact position and the second contact position. This allows the corresponding support 32 to translate parallel to each sliding axis 200 relative to the wheel rim structure 12, and can freely rotate about a virtual swing axis 300 that is perpendicular to a plane P including each sliding axis and intersects with the rotation axis of the bearing 100, and about a virtual tilt axis 400 that passes through the rotation center of each sliding ball joint 42.

[0042] For the other support 32, the first contact location and the second contact location are preferably aligned as shown in FIG. 6 to prevent translation of the support 32 relative to the wheel rim structure 12.

[0043] Each sliding ball joint 42 compensates for misalignment, particularly between the two bearings 20, thereby reducing waste and limiting mechanical stress during installation. The stopper device 54 also reduces the axial clearance of the cage 14 to the extent necessary to compensate for the misalignment, thereby absorbing axial stress due to wind, for example.

[0044] Each stop device 54 can be adjusted accordingly by increasing or decreasing (or actually eliminating) the corresponding axial clearance.

[0045] In one variant not shown, only one of the two supports 32 is connected to the wheel rim structure by a sliding ball joint 42, the other support 32 having no degree of freedom.

[0046] In another variant, the guide structure 16 is equipped with only one plate ensuring the connection of the two supports 32 to the wheel rim structure 12 .

Claims

1. A wheel rim structure (12) rotatable about a horizontal revolution axis, at least one gondola (14) connected to the wheel rim structure (12) via a guide structure (16), comprising: wherein the guide structure (16) includes at least one bearing (20) forming a rotation axis (100), the bearing has at least two opposing raceways (26, 28) that are relatively guided to rotate about the rotation axis (100) of the bearing (20), in the Ferris wheel facility (10), a first raceway (26) of the two raceways is firmly connected to the gondola (14), and a second raceway (28) of the two raceways is firmly connected to a support (32), the Ferris wheel facility (10), wherein the support (32) is connected to the wheel rim structure (12) by two sliding ball joints (42), and the sliding axes (200) of the two sliding ball joints (42) are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other.

2. The Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 1, wherein the rotation axis (100) of the bearing (20) is parallel to each of the sliding axes (200) of the sliding ball joints (42) at a central reference position.

3. The Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 2, wherein the rotation axis (100) of the bearing (20) is equidistant from each of the sliding axes (200) at the central reference position.

4. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the guide structure (16) includes a stopper device (54) having a first corresponding stopper (58) firmly connected to the bearing (20) and at least one first stopper (56) firmly connected to the wheel rim structure (12) facing the first corresponding stopper (58), and the first stopper (56) and the first corresponding stopper (58) contact according to a first contact area (Z) so as to restrict a translational movement parallel to the sliding axis (200) of the bearing (20) in a first translational direction with respect to the wheel rim structure (12) at a first contact position.

5. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 4, the center of the first contact area (Z) is located less than 10 cm from the plane (P) including each of the sliding axes (200) and / or less than 10 cm from the median plane (S) between the two sliding axes (200). The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

6. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 4, the stopper device has at least one second stopper (56) firmly connected to the wheel rim structure (12) facing a second corresponding stopper (58) firmly connected to the bearing (20). The second stopper (56) and the second corresponding stopper (58) are in contact at a second contact position so as to restrict the translational movement parallel to the sliding axis (200) of the bearing (20) with respect to the wheel rim structure (12) in a second translational direction opposite to the first translational direction. The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

7. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 6, the stopper device (54) enables axial translation of the bearing (20) with respect to the wheel rim structure (12) parallel to the rotation axis (100) of the bearing, and has an axial clearance between the first contact position and the second contact position. The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

8. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 6, the first contact position and the second contact position coincide, and the stopper device (54) prevents axial translation of the bearing (20) with respect to the wheel rim structure (12) parallel to the rotation axis (100) of the bearing. The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

9. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the guide structure (16) includes at least one additional bearing (20) that forms a rotation axis (100), and the additional bearing (20) is more than 1 meter away from the bearing (20) at a distance parallel to the rotation axis (100) of the bearing. The additional bearing (20) has at least two additional opposing raceway surfaces that are relatively guided to rotate around the rotation axis of the additional bearing. The first raceway surface of the two additional raceway surfaces is firmly connected to the gondola (14), and the second raceway surface of the two additional raceway surfaces is firmly connected to a support (32) connected to the wheel rim structure by the additional sliding ball joint. The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

10. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 9, the additional bearing (20) is connected to the wheel rim structure (12) by two additional sliding ball joints (42), and the sliding axes (200) of the two additional sliding ball joints (42) are parallel to each other and separated from each other. The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

11. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 10, each of the sliding axes (200) of the two additional sliding ball joints (42) is parallel to the rotation axis (100) of the additional bearing (20). The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

12. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 10, the guide structure (16) includes an additional stopper device (54) having at least one first additional stopper (56) firmly connected to the wheel rim structure (12) facing a first additional corresponding stopper (58) firmly connected to the additional bearing (20). The first additional stopper (56) and the first additional corresponding stopper (58) contact at a first contact position to regulate the translational movement parallel to the sliding axis (200) in the first translational direction of the additional bearing (20) with respect to the wheel rim structure (12). The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

13. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 12, the additional stopper device (54) enables axial translation of the additional bearing (20) with respect to the wheel rim structure (12) in an axial direction parallel to the rotation axis (100) of the additional bearing (20). The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

14. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to claim 12, the additional stopper device (54) prevents axial translation of the additional bearing (20) with respect to the wheel rim structure (12) in an axial direction parallel to the rotation axis (100) of the additional bearing (20). The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

15. In the Ferris wheel facility (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the pitch circle diameter of the bearing (20) is more than 1.5 meters. The Ferris wheel facility (10) is characterized by this.

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