Octopus (ride)

When polyp is a go-round. It is still very widespread and commonly found at fairs and amusement parks.

History

The first model of this amusement ride was called polyp. It was built in 1962 by the company Klaus and had significantly less movement directions than today's versions of this driving business. It is no longer in use, but the name polyp is still used in some rides of this type. By 1980, a polyp of Bakker and Ihle was built. Ihle, however, has only built the gondolas, this polyp polyp Klaus sees the very similar. In contrast to this, there are still some versions be found primarily in the Netherlands.

Developed in 1968, Schwarzkopf GmbH the first ride with the name Monster I. In contrast to the first variant possessed the monster four directions of movement: for example, turned the entire complex, while the "poor " eccentric rose and fell. At the same time, the gondola crosses and the individual gondolas turned around its own axis. From this option, only two were built. They were too heavy for mobile use. The first copy has been placed in the Swedish Liseberg Park, the second in the Spanish amusement park "Casa de Campo ".

There followed in 1971 by the Monster II: It had five arms, at the end of four gondolas were individually rotatable mounted and thus offered space for up to 40 people. In contrast to the later Monster III it has a slanted podium. Three Schwarzkopf Monster II in 2010 in Germany still on the journey, one is in the Dutch theme park Slaghaaren. A total of five specimens have been built. (Source: Fair & Park Revue Issue 3/ 98 ( Monster I & II ) Author: Ton Koppei )

In 1979, finally appeared the monster III. The first copy was a " giant crab " to the Munich-based company Aigner. It is equipped with a flat panel as the Monster 2 also the gondolas turned around its own axis. It thus has as well as the Monster II four directions of movement. The number of pods per arm was increased to five, so up to 50 people simultaneously participate in a ride. Were made ​​a number of species, from Kinzler from Stuttgart had at times even a double. (Source: Kirmes & Park Revue Issue 5/ 98 ( Monster III ) Author: Ton Koppei ) Four of them are in the year 2010 in Germany still traveling. Some Schwarzkopf Monster III are in the Benelux countries on the road, a few are located at fixed amusement parks. (see also: Active rides the Schwarzkopf company ). The different variants were visually always adapted to current fashion trends.

Construction

The ride consists of a rotating central portion, from which five arms extend in a high arc to over the ground. The arms converge in the central part of the ride and can move up and down on a curved Stahlauslager. While driving, the Stahlauslager is booted, so that the arms are brought into an inclined position. This arms hang down on one side about two feet above the ground, while they touch on the other side almost the floor. At the end of each arm there is a gondola also rotatable cross on which - depending on the design - four or five gondolas are attached, which also rotate about their own axis and can accommodate two people. For older types, such as they were produced until the early 1970s, the gondolas and cable crosses are not mobile under certain circumstances. The central part, the nacelle and the gondolas crosses itself are driven by electric motors. In addition, the gondolas are also freely ( see also Typical driving elements).

There are also versions in which the arms are individually lifted hydraulically ( see picture).

Typical driving elements

The combination of rotating midsection, eccentric Stahlauslager, rotating gondola crosses and rotating gondolas created for the passenger an extremely unbalanced movement, which is typical for this ride.

By skillful shifting of body weight, a passenger can also manually enable the nacelle to rotate, and so reinforce the unique driving feeling. This requires great force used against the centrifugal forces, therefore, this process is also referred to as " sporten ".

The rates are subject to constant change while driving to prevent a stable motion. In this way, the gondolas remain in rotation, the forces are changing every second and the ride is kept exciting.

Active rides the company Schwarzkopf

This part describes the rides the Schwarzkopf company, which was the only manufacturer of this travel business for many years. Distributors were these under the name Monster, Monster II and III Monster. From the first version only two copies were manufactured and exported to Sweden and Spain. From Monster III are five models which are all still in use ( see table). The other still in use models thus correspond to the Monster II

During the winter break 2000/2001 an extensive remodeling took place: it was modern airbrush techniques for decorating used the sound system enhanced by digital technology changed the control of conventional relay -controlled technology on electronics, as well as improves the drive. The octopus is now running fully electronic.

Another reconstruction followed in 2006, in which the number of the gondola support was reduced from five per gondola cross ( as in usual monster III ) to just four cable carrier. Thus, the octopus can accommodate up to 40 people simultaneously.

After the central building of the octopus was damaged in 2008 in a traffic accident, we renewed the paint and took the opportunity to replace the conventional incandescent lamps with LED technology. Therefore, the terminal value of the octopus is due to the power -efficient lighting technology somewhat below the terminal value mentioned above. In addition, the heavily damaged caps were replaced by normal, since the original black head caps are no longer available. During the renovations, the octopus has been replaced in many fairs by other monsters like Big monster.

The company Uhse was with her octopus regularly showman at various festivals, including the Bremer free market or the Oldenburg Kramer market. Octopus is now in the possession of Messrs. Mark man from Bonn.

Messrs. Mark man builds their business on a regular basis, among others, on the Anna Kirmes Düren, on the Pützchen market in Bonn, in Bocholt and roadstead but also travels to far to the south of Germany, for example, Nuremberg and Dachau.

In addition to these classical polyp versions created some newer variants of this fairground ride in which the installation Sombrero, which is in Salau / Spain in operation and per gondola can accommodate up to 10 people.

Rides from other manufacturers

This ride is now produced by many other manufacturers, which are operated under various names. Some examples: Beach polyp, Octopus, Super Spider, Jumbo Polyp, Pirates of the pirates.

Hazards

Waiting guests are spread in this ride ( as with many other carousels as well) around the entire platform. Since there is only a partial barrier on most models, there is a theoretical risk that people enter into the flight radius of gondolas and incur serious injuries. However, such accidents are absolutely exceptional. Some stores have therefore additionally with cameras, so that the operator of the checkout out has an optimal overview on the road.

Accidents

Although the rides of this type are considered to be quite safe, there were some incidents. Thus, a 13 - year-old student was thrown in the Polyp Ride of the Heide- Park Soltau from a gondola and seriously injured in 1988. In 1983, a pensioner and her 2 - year-old grandson fell while playing a ride from her gondola on the same ride, the pensioner died shortly afterwards. Evidence of malfunction of the ride, there was not in both cases.

On the evening of October 27, 2011, there was an accident on the Bremer free market, as the suspension of a gondola tore at the octopus and hurled against multiple viewers at the edge of the platform. A total of nine people were injured, some seriously.