Launched roller coaster

As Launched Coaster (German catapult rollercoaster or launching roller coaster ) refers to a roller coaster, in which the train is not a hill ( lift hill ) transported up to then accelerate through potential energy, but is accelerated catapult-like on a mostly straight path.

For the " launch " there are different types of drives. Are usual both flywheels, pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, as well as electrical traction systems, the latter (such as magnetic levitation ) based on the principle of the linear motor. In most drives a steel cord in a circumferential fixed carrier ( also called catch car or trolley ) is hooked to the roller train. The rollers over which the cable runs are driven, thus accelerating the train. At the end of the acceleration section, the Caddy mechanism is released automatically from the train. The carrier is slowed down and then moved back to the starting position.

In addition to the type name Launched Coaster there are several vendor-specific type names. Intamin names its trains for example Accelerator Coaster.

Flywheels

The first Catapult roller coasters were developed in 1976 by Anton Schwarzkopf. His early models used a weight that was dropped in order to accelerate the train. In later systems a ton flywheel is accelerated by a motor. To start the stored energy in the disk is transferred to a steel rope and therefore the trolley by a safety clutch.

  • Example: Turbine ( Schwarzkopf shuttle loop) in Walibi Belgium (Belgium )

Pneumatics

In addition to the distance of pneumatically driven tracks a cylinder through which also runs the steel cable runs. A slide in the cylinder is secured against the Caddy on the steel rope. He is moved in the opposite direction and thus drives the train A sudden increase in pressure on one side of the slide.

  • Examples: Dodonpa in Fuji -Q Highland ( Japan) by S & S Power Inc. (USA)
  • Ring ° racer in the ring ° werk at the Nürburgring in the Eifel region of S & S Power Inc. (USA)

Hydraulic

Launched Coaster Modern use as a drive usually a system of hydraulic motors. Here is a hydraulic fluid is pumped via pump into storage containers. In other pressure vessels, nitrogen is highly compressed, the necessary energy can be saved so relatively slowly and evenly. At the start of the compressed gas pushes the hydraulic fluid out of the memory by means of lines to the hydraulic motors arranged in a circle. How can very quickly be transferred to a central shaft, the total amount of energy, which then drives the steel cable. The world record roller coaster Formula Rossa in Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the train arrives with such a drive inside of 4.9 seconds, a speed of 240 km / h

LIM / LSM

The acronym LIM stands for " Linear induction motors " or LSM for " Linear Synchronous Motors". The functioning is similar to that of a rotating electric motor, with the difference that the electromagnets not placed around a cylinder, but mounted flat. Unlike the other drives here no Caddy is accelerated on a steel cable, but either the train or a driver directly driven.

  • Examples LSM: Formule X in Drievliet Family Park (Netherlands) by Maurer Söhne
  • Curse of Novgorod at Hansa - Park ( Germany ) by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, additionally this still has a 90 ° chain lift
  • Blue Fire Mega Coaster at Europa-Park ( Germany ) by Mack Rides
  • Xpress in Walibi Holland (Netherlands) Vekoma
  • Examples LIM: California Screamin ' at Disney's California Adventure (USA) by Intamin AG Switzerland

Friction wheels

A few roller coasters use for shooting down a path of increasingly faster-running friction wheels.

  • Examples: Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure by Bolliger & Mabillard
  • Jet Rescue at Sea World, Australia by Intamin
Hydraulics Torque limiter Heide Park Resort Hansa-Park The Incredible Hulk (roller coaster)
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