Roller Coaster Vehicle Chassis with Central Rotation Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional roller coaster vehicles place excessive stress on the rail structure, leading to mechanical issues and high maintenance costs due to their design, which compromises user safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A roller coaster vehicle with a chassis featuring an openwork tubular structure and symmetrically distributed nacelles, each mounted for rotation around an axis parallel to the direction of advancement, reduces overhang and fatigue on the rail structure by distributing mass evenly and positioning electric motors and batteries to minimize weight and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seats are driven in rotation around a vertical axis and shell-shaped seats rotate around a horizontal axis, then user safety is improved, but the vehicle overhangs in turns causing significant stress on the rail structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the rotation axis through the center of the gondola rather than at the side. This central positioning ensures that when gondolas rotate, their center of gravity remains aligned with the rail structure, preventing overhang and reducing stress on the rails while maintaining safety through controlled rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the critical parameter of rotation axis position from an external or side-mounted position to a central position passing through the gondola's center of gravity. This parameter change fundamentally alters the mechanical behavior during rotation, eliminating the overhang effect that causes rail stress while preserving the safety benefits of controlled gondola rotation.
2Strength
If downward orientation of side members is used, then structural support is provided, but the vehicle overhangs in turns resulting in fatigue stresses on the rail structure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending side members downward from the chassis to provide support, the patent inverts the approach by positioning the rotation mechanism and support structure upward through the chassis center. This inversion ensures that rotational forces are transmitted through the center of gravity, preventing overhang-induced fatigue on the rail structure while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the rotation axis relative to the chassis structure, placing it centrally rather than at the periphery. This asymmetric design allows the support members to be oriented upward through the chassis, creating a configuration that eliminates overhang during rotation while preserving structural support capabilities.
3Reliability
If complex control systems are implemented, then user safety is enhanced, but maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the gondola's rotation is automatically controlled by its own center of gravity alignment with the central rotation axis. This passive, gravity-based control system eliminates the need for complex active control systems, reducing maintenance requirements while ensuring safe and stable rotation through inherent mechanical balance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle (1) for a roller coaster (2), comprising a chassis (5) guided along a rail structure (6) in a forward direction (A) by guide means (18) and at least two nacelles (8, 9) each mounted on the chassis so as to rotate about an axis of rotation (B, C). The chassis extends on a transverse plane (XY) perpendicularly to the forward direction (A) and in an opposite direction to the guiding means. According to the invention, the chassis has a plurality of spaced-apart tubes (20, 20a, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) forming a chassis having an openwork tubular structure, the chassis (5) connecting each nacelle to the guide means and connecting the two nacelles together via connecting means (21, 22) extending on a transverse plane (XY) of the chassis.