Funfair Ride Shell with Dynamic Axis Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing funfair ride equipment fails to provide passengers with a continuous, randomly varying ride trajectory without continuity of course, limiting the thrill and unpredictability of centrifugal forces and accelerations.

Innovation Solution

A closed shell, preferably spherical, is designed to rotate unorderedly about a continuously changing axis, supported by a frame with means such as pirouetting wheels or air cushions, allowing for unordered movements and random trajectory changes, while ensuring passenger safety with securely anchored seats and a ballast weight for stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the shell rotates about a fixed axis, then the ride trajectory is predictable and continuous, but passenger enjoyment and thrill are reduced due to lack of randomness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictability of ride trajectoryVSAvoidrandomness of ride trajectory
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rotation axis of the shell changeable rather than fixed. The shell can rotate about any diameter axis, and this axis can continuously change direction during operation. This dynamic adjustment of the rotation axis creates unpredictable and random ride trajectories, thereby improving passenger enjoyment while maintaining mechanical reliability through controlled motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the shell is constrained to rotate about a fixed diameter axis, then the mechanical structure is simple, but the ride experience lacks variety and excitement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of constraint mechanismVSAvoidvariety of ride trajectories
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional rotation about a fixed axis to three-dimensional rotation about any diameter axis. The shell is constrained to rotate about a diameter axis that can point in any direction, adding spatial dimensions to the motion. This dimensional expansion enables diverse and exciting ride trajectories while maintaining relatively simple mechanical constraints through spherical support elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rotation axis changes continuously, then passenger enjoyment increases due to random trajectories, but control and stability become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverandomness of trajectoryVSAvoidstability of rotation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a ballast weight fixed to the shell to counterbalance the random motions and maintain stability. The ballast weight acts as a counterweight that helps stabilize the shell's center of gravity, ensuring that the continuous changes in rotation axis do not compromise the overall stability and control of the ride system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The equipment delivers a thrilling, unpredictable ride experience with continuous variation in centrifugal forces and accelerations, enhancing passenger enjoyment while maintaining safety and stability through controlled and randomized motion.

Implementation Method 1

means for support based on an air cushion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir cushion: Air Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

simple sliding supports having a low friction coefficient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

The passengers' enjoyment consists in being subjected to centrifugal forces and accelerations which vary continuously in direction and sort

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP1882504B1Equipment for funfair
Publication Date: 2010.09.01 ACHA SRL
  • EP1882504B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1882504B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1882504B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An equipment for a funfair comprises: - a rigid closed shell (20) provided internally thereof with at least a place for a passenger; - a frame (10) for supporting the shell (20), - being means for constraining and supporting the shell which enable the shell (20) to rotate about an axis which varies continuously throughout a range of a plurality of axes having any orientation; - and means for imparting rotations on the shell, which rotations are unordered with respect to the axis.