Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Tiltable Mast
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a support construction for an amusement ride,
comprising a base
frame for supporting the amusement ride and one or more support masts
connected to a mast frame, wherein
the one or more support masts and mast frame are connected to the base frame.
Background art
German Utility model DE 2020/17005306 Ul discloses a transportable carousel on
a trailer with a
flat platform, a central structure, and a plurality of support arms pivotally
connected to the central structure,
each of which can be raised and lowered by means of a compressed air,
characterized by several pairs of
height-adjustable supports attached below the platform to a chassis of the
trailer and the height of which is
adjustable.
European patent application EP2055362A1 discloses an upright support structure
for a fairground
attraction, comprising a base and two masts which each have a lower end
pivotally connected to an outer end
of the base and which each extend obliquely upward therefrom and which are
mutually pivotally connected
at their upper outer ends, wherein each of the masts consist of at least two
segments connected pivotally to
each other, wherein at least one of the pivotally connected segments of each
mast is pivotable about an axis
which is substantially parallel to an upright main plane defined by the masts
and the base.
US3552747A relates to a PORTABLE FOLDING FERRIS WHEEL. The towers and derrick
wheel
are raised to an upright and locked position.
In general, an amusement ride having e.g. a wheel frame may be vertically
supported by a single
(cantilevered) or twin-sided support frame connected to a part of the wheel
frame, wherein the single or twin-
sided support may support the amusement ride mounted at ground level, or on a
plurality of trailers at ground
level for a transportable amusement ride. In the latter, small transportable
amusement rides may be
permanently mounted on trailers and can be moved intact, whereas larger
transportable amusement rides are
typically designed to be repeatedly and re-built.
During the assembly of state-of-the-art amusement rides, the support frame is
typically mounted on
a trailer in a slanted manner. To elaborate, for the example of a support
frame comprising a twin-sided support,
two support masts, otherwise known as support towers or support columns in the
field, are raised and lifted
at an angle to the (main) plane of the wheel frame of the amusement ride, i.e.
in a pre-determined slanted
fashion. The two support masts arc then connected together to a part of the
wheel frame, and the rest of the
amusement ride structure is assembled and built around this framework.
Although such an arrangement is typically used for (di s)a sse mbl ng
amusement rides, the re are
several drawbacks to this approach. For example, raising and lowering the
support masts in a slanted manner
is labour-intensive, where, in particular, this can also prove to be quite
time-consuming for a transportable
amusement ride having a plurality of trailers. Furthermore, with increasing
size, the load of the amusement
ride and support masts become heavier, making it more difficult to
(dis)assemble the support masts in a
slanted manner.
As a result, there is a need to overcome these drawbacks, and provide a
support frame that can be
repeatedly (dis)assembled in a simple fashion without the difficulties and
issues described herein.
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Summary of the invention
The present invention therefore provides a support construction for an
amusement ride, comprising
a base frame for supporting the amusement ride, one or more support masts
connected to a mast frame,
wherein the at least one of the one or more support masts and mast frame are
connected as a unity to the base
frame, and
wherein the the at least one support mast and mast frame are tiltable in unity
around a main axis.
The amusement ride may comprise any suitable mechanical structure, for
example, a Ferris wheel, a
pendulum ride or enterprise for a fairground attraction.
The amusement ride is supported by the base frame, wherein the base frame
supports and bears the
weight of the amusement ride. The base frame is placed on, for example, the
ground, and the base frame
thereby supports the amusement ride thereon. The base frame may comprise any
structure known to the skilled
person that is capable of supporting an amusement ride, for example, an
rectangular-shaped structure
comprising landings for passengers to enter in and out of the amusement ride.
The one or more support masts are configured to support the amusement ride in
a position suitable
for the amusement ride to operate. In this light, the one or more support
masts may be connected to the
amusement ride for supporting the amusement ride with the base frame.
As an exemplary example, for an amusement ride comprising a Ferris wheel, the
one or more support
masts are configured to support the amusement ride in a substantially vertical
position, wherein one end of
one or more support masts are connected to a part of the Ferris wheel, wherein
the Ferris wheel operates by
rotating at its central axis.
The one or more support masts are connected to a mast frame, wherein the one
or more support masts
and mast frame are connected as a unity to the base frame. The mast frame is a
structure that may form a part
of the base frame, or it may be a separate structure that is connected to a
part (e.g. a bottom and/or side
surfaces) of the base frame. The mast frame is connected to the base frame,
and the one or more support masts
are connected as a unity with the mast frame, allowing the one or more support
masts to be connected to the
base frame for supporting the amusement ride with the mast frame.
To that end, the one or more support masts and mast frame are tiltable in
unity around a main axis.
The one or more support masts and mast frame are tiltable in unity with
respect to the base frame. The one or
more support masts and mast frame are connected as a unity, thereby forming a
single, unity structure that
may tilted. Thus, the mast frame and support mast form and act like one part
with respect to tilt around the
main axis. In contrast in US3552747A, the towers are pivotally mounted to the
base members. There is no
mast frame that tilts in unity with the support mast.
As known to the skilled person, the main axis may be any axis to sufficiently
assemble and tilt the
unity structure towards the amusement ride. In an embodiment, the main axis is
substantially parallel to a
main plane of the base frame.
By tilting the one or more support masts and mast frame as a unity
(stnicture), the unity can be
connected to the amusement ride. The one or more support masts no longer need
to be raised in a slanted
manner, since the tilting of the one or more support masts and mast frame as a
unity allows the one or more
support masts to be mounted in a 'straight' fashion, and thereafter tilted to
towards the amusement ride for
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connection therewith. Since the unity is connected to the base frame, this
allows the base frame to still support
and bear the weight of the amusement ride.
Thus, by connecting the at least one support mast and mast frame as a unity
(to the base frame) and
tilting as a unity around the main axis, this allows the support construction
to be assembled more efficiently,
i.e. in a relatively short time and in a less labour-intensive 'flamer, yet
also be assembled in a simple fashion.
In case of a Ferris wheel, support masts are arranged at opposite sides of the
wheel to support the
wheel in a substantially vertical position. Both of the support mast forms a
unity with a respective mast frame.
The opposite units of a support mast and a mast frame then tilt in an opposite
angular direction to connect to
the wheel. The angular adustment range of the tilt is about 10 degrees however
any suitable range is
conceivable.
In an embodiment, the mast frame comprises a trailer. By having the mast
frame, comprising a trailer,
connected to the base frame, this enables the amusement ride to be
transportable. Furthermore, in this
embodiment, the mast frame is used not only just to tilt (with the one or more
support masts as a unity), but
it is also advantageously used as a transportation means, allowing a compact
and efficiently assembly of the
support construction for the amusement ride. The trailer may comprise a wheels
and a coupling system to
connect to the base frame.
In an embodiment, the mast frame is connected to the base frame in a hanging
manner. In particular,
the support construction further comprises a hook plate attached to the mast
frame for connecting the mast
frame to the base frame in the hanging manner. The mast frame hanging from the
base frame allows for a
better stability and controlled tilt of the support mast. Therefore the center
of gravity of the unity, that is the
mast frame and the corresponding support mast, is close and/or below the main
axis X. The hook plate is
configured to enable the one or more support masts and mast frame to 'hang' as
a unity onto the base frame.
By presence of the hook plate, the mast frame may all the more be further
suitably positioned and tilted to a
correct position.
In an embodiment, the base frame and hook plate are provided with fixation
members for fixing the
one or more supports masts and mast frame in a tilted position around the main
axis. That is, the fixation
members act as a locking mechanism for fixing the one or more support masts
and mast frame (as a unity
structure) in a tilted position. The tilted position may be pre-determined. By
allowing the fixation between
the base frame and hook plate, the tilted position of the unity structure is
sufficiently held by the base frame.
That is, the base frame may support the one or more support masts and mast
frame in their tilted position, and
also support and bear the weight of the amusement ride. The hook plate thereby
also tilts in-tandem, with the
unity, around the main axis for fixing the tilted position.
In an embodiment, the fixation members comprise co-operating openings. That
is, the hook plate is
provided with an opening, the base frame is provided with an opening, wherein
the openings co-operate with
one another for fixing the one or more support masts and mast frame as a unity
in a tilted position around the
main axis. The co-operating openings may align with one another, i.e. they may
fully overlap with one
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another, for e.g. insertion of a locking pin therein. The co-operating
openings may have a congruent shape.
The position of the co-operating openings may be pre-determined in relation to
pre-determining the tilted
position of the one or more support masts and mast frame.
It is noted that the co-operating openings are an exemplary embodiment, and
other implementations
of the fixation members may be envisaged. For example, fixation members may
comprise a various latching
mechanisms, e.g. hook-and-eye or sliding latches.
In an embodiment, the hook plate comprises a cylinder connection. The cylinder
connection connects
with an actuator like a hydraulic cylinder; to tilt and maintain the unity
including the support mast in a desired
angular position. It will be clear that the cylinder connection may be
configured to connect to any suitable
actuator. The cylinder connection may be inserted into e.g. a small cavity in
the base frame where the
hydraulic cylinder can be accommodated. When tilting the hook plate by the
hydraulic cylinder, the at least
one support mast and mast frame tilt.
In an embodiment, the support construction further comprises a lift system
configured to lift the base
frame above a level. That is, the base frame is lifted to give sufficient
height above the level for the one or
more support masts and mast frame to be tilted as a unity in an easy and
simple manner. In particular, since
the mast frame may comprise a large bulky structure, the sufficient height
would enable tilling of the mast
frame without any contact (e.g. scraping) with the level. In this embodiment,
the level may comprise any solid
plane to which the base frame may be supported upon for supporting the
amusement ride. As non-limiting
examples, the level may comprise a ground level, a solid platform raised above
a ground level, or a solid
platform on a water surface. The lift system may comprise any system known to
the skilled person that is
capable of lifting a base frame. As non-limiting examples, the lift system may
comprise a plurality of jacks
(or jack systems) and/or hydraulic cylinders.
In an embodiment, the support construction further comprises a plurality of
support arms connected
between the one or more support masts and the mast frame. The support arms are
configured to even further
support the one or more support masts in their erected position, allowing for
a proper assembly of the support
construction. Also, by being connected between the one or more support masts
and the mast frame, the
plurality of support arms also further support the tilting of the unity by
keeping the unity in a good structure,
i.e. keeps the one or more support masts in an erected position for tilting
thereof. The plurality of support
arms may comprise hydraulic actuators, e.g. hydraulic cylinders.
In an embodiment, the one or more support masts and mast frame are pivotally
connected to the base
frame, for easy and proper tilting of the one or more support masts and mast
frame as a unity.
In an embodiment, the one or more support masts comprises a first mast column
and/or a second
mast column, wherein the first mast column and second mast column are similar
to one another. By presence
of only a first (or second) mast column, a single-cantilever support is
envisaged. By presence of a first and
second mast column, a double-cantilever support is envisaged.
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In an embodiment, the one or more support masts comprises a plurality of
modular parts. The
plurality of modular elements allow for easy assembly of the one or more
support masts. This embodiment
enables the one or more support masts to be easily put away for storage when
not in use, and also allow for
easy transportation thereof.
5
In an embodiment, the plurality of modular parts are articulately connected
for folding and/or
erecting the one or more support masts. For example, the plurality of modular
parts may be pivotally
connected. This embodiment enables the one or more support masts to be easily
erected at e.g. pivot joints
for assembling the support construction, and, likewise, be easily folded away
for storage. The one or more
support masts may be folded away on e.g the base frame, and have e.g several
pivot joints.
The present invention further provides an assembly of an amusement ride
comprising a support
construction according to any one of the embodiments described herein. As
mentioned above, the amusement
ride may comprise any suitable mechanical device or structure, e.g. a pendulum
ride or enterprise.
In an embodiment of the assembly, the amusement ride comprises a Ferris wheel
comprising a wheel
frame rotatable around a rotation axis. The support construction may be
connected to a part of the wheel
frame, e.g. a central part of the wheel frame, and is configured to support
the wheel frame in a substantially
vertical position. As known the skilled person, the rotation axis is at the
centre of the wheel frame. The wheel
frame may comprise any wheel frame for a Ferris wheel, e.g. a circular or
polygonal wheel frame.
In an embodiment of the assembly, the Ferris wheel is a transportable Ferris
wheel. The Ferris wheel
may be permanently mounted on trailers and/or frames and moved intact, or it
may be repeatedly dismantled
and rebuilt. In this light, the support construction, as described herein
presents, a suitable structure for such a
transportable Ferris wheel that is efficient to assemble and in a less labour-
intensive minter.
The present invention further provides a method for assembling a support
construction for an
amusement ride, comprising:
- Providing a base frame for supporting the amusement
ride, one or more support masts and a
mast frame;
- Connecting the one or more support masts to the mast
frame;
- Connecting the one or more support masts and mast frame as a unity to the
base frame;
- Tilting the one or more support masts and mast frame in unity around a
main axis, and
- Connecting the one or more support masts to the amusement ride for
supporting the
amusement ride with the base frame.
In this context, the method for assembling a support construction for an
amusement ride enables
the one or more support masts and the mast frame to be connected as a unity
(or unity structure) to the base
frame, and titled as a unity to connect to the amusement ride, thereby
connecting the amusement ride to the
base frame such that the base frame may support the load and weight of the
amusement ride. The method
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thereby allows an efficient manner to assemble such a support construction for
an amusement ride, e.g.
when building and dismantling an amusement ride.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises attaching a hook plate to the
mast frame, wherein
the hook plate and base frame are provided with fixation members, and fixing
the one or more support
masts and mast frame in titled position around the main axis. The unity
(structure) of the one or more
support masts and mast frame may be tilted around the main axis to a (certain)
titled position, whereby the
fixation members may fix the unity in the tilted position around the main
axis.
In an exemplary embodiment relating to the method, the fixation members
comprise co-operating
openings provided in the one or more support masts and mast frame, wherein the
unity may be tilted into
the titled position such that the co-operating openings e.g. align for
insertion of a pin therein to fix the unity
in the titled position.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises lifting the base frame above a
level. The base
frame may be lifted by any lift system suitable to the skilled person, for
example, a jack system, to give
sufficient height for proper tilting of the unity of the one or more support
masts and mast frame. The base
frame may be lifted at any step before tilting of the unity.
Short description of drawings
The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference
to the attached
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a support construction according to the invention in a perspective
view;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the support construction in Fig. 1;
Figs. 3A-B shows two perspective views of a part of the support construction;
and
Fig. 4 shows a further perspective view of the support construction in Fig. 1.
Description of embodiments
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a support construction for an amusement
ride 2. In this case, the
amusement ride 2 comprises a Ferris wheel comprising a wheel frame rotatable
around a rotation axis, where
the rotation axis is at the centre of the wheel frame. Such a Ferris wheel
having a wheel frame is known per
se, and may have a plurality of passenger cabins provided on a circumferential
rim thereof. However, it is
noted that the Ferns wheel in fig. 1 is an exemplary example, and amusement
ride 2 may be any suitable
structure.
In fig. 1, the support construction comprises abase frame 3 provided below the
amusement ride 2,
wherein the bottom of the amusement ride 2 (bottom of the wheel frame in this
case) is not in direct contact
with the base frame 3. The base frame 3 comprises a rectangular platform for
supporting the amusement ride
2.
The support construction further comprises one or more support masts 4a, 4b,
where, in fig. 1, two
support masts 4a, 4b arc shown to support the amusement ride 2 on two sides.
Such one or more support
masts 4a, 4b are known per se, and have a support column-like structure
comprising a suitable strong material
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e.g. steel. One (e.g. proximal) end of the one or more support masts 4a, 4b
are connected to the amusement
ride 2, and a second end (e.g. distal) opposite the first end is connected to
a mast frame 5. As mentioned
herein, the mast frame 5 is a part of the support construction, and may extend
along the width/length of the
base frame 3.
The one or more support masts 4a, 4b are connected to a mast frame 5 as a
unity (structure), and are
tiltable in unity around a main axis X. It is clear from fig. 1 that the unity
is tilted around the main axis X
such that the one or more support masts 4a, 4b may connect to the amusement
ride 2. As shown in fig. 1, the
one or more support masts 4a, 4b are connected to a central part of the wheel
frame of the Ferris wheel, i.e.
at the rotation axis. The main axis X is substantially parallel to the main
plane of the base frame 3, and it is
clear from fig. 1 that the rotation axis and main axis are different axes and
are (substantially) perpendicular
to one another.
Fig. 2 shows a side view of the support construction for the amusement ride 2.
In fig. 2, the one or
more support masts 4a, 4b and mast frame 5 are clearly shown to be tilted
position with respect to the (main
plane of the) amusement ride 2. In this light, the one or more support masts
4a, 4b may first be mounted (with
the mast frame 5) in a straight fashion, i.e. mounted upwards and parallel to
the main plane of the amusement
ride 2, and thereafter tilted with the mast frame 5 in unity around the main
axis X towards the amusement
ride 2 for cormeetion therewith.
There are two support masts 4a, 4b in figs. 1-2, wherein the two support masts
4a, 4b represent an
A-frame like structure for supporting thc amuscmcnt ridc 2 with the base frame
3. However, it is re-iterated
that the two support masts 4a, 4b in figs. 1-2 are exemplary examples, and it
is conceivable, for example, that
only one support mast 4a may support the amusement ride 2 from one side. In
case of a Ferris wheel 2 as
shown, the support masts 4a, 4b are arranged at opposite sides of the wheel 2
to support the wheel in a vertical
position from both opposite sides. Each respective support mast 4a, 4b forms a
unity with a respective mast
frame 5. These separate units or unities can tilt independently towards the
wheel 2 to connect the free ends of
the support masts with the wheel. Thus in this case each support mast 4a, 4b
is coupled to a separate mast
frame 5.
In fig. 2, the mast frame 5 comprises a trailer. The trailer is known per se
and is not described in
detail. As shown in fig. 2, the mast frame 5 comprising a trailer may be a
part of a plurality of trailers; for
example, a trailer may also be attached to a bottom of the amusement ride 2
itself. The trailers are arranged
for transportation purposes of the support construction and amusement ride 2.
Furthermore, the trailer in fig.
2 comprises wheels and a coupling system to connect to the base frame 3. The
trailers may be suitably
arranged and positioned in any way for proper transportation.
Furthermore, in fig. 2, the support construction further comprises a lift
system 6 configured to lift
the base frame 3 above a level L, wherein the lift system 6 is connected to
the base frame 3. The level L is
depicted as the dashed line in fig. 2, and may present any (flat) surface or
plane to which the base frame 3 is
lifted above, e.g. a ground level or a platform.
Here, the lift system 6 comprises a jack system with plates placed on the
level L, and the base frame
3 is jacked (i.e. raised) above the level L. Four jack systems (with four
plates) are positioned near/on the
corners of the (rectangular) base frame 3, as shown in fig. 2. However, it is
noted that this is an exemplary
example, and any number of jack systems may be envisaged. Further, the jack
system in fig. 2 is a non-liming
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implementation, and the lift system 6 may comprise any device known to the
skilled person, e.g. hydraulic
cylinders.
Moreover, in fig. 2, the support construction further comprises a hook plate 8
attached to the mast
frame 5, where the hook plate 8 comprises a arrow-like shape. As mentioned
herein, the hook plate 8 is
configured to allow the one or more support masts 4a, 4b and mast frame 5 to
'hang', as a unity, on the base
frame 3.
To that end, fig. 3A shows a perspective view of a part of the support
construction for the amusement
ride 2, and in particular, a more clear view of the hook plate 8 and the base
frame 3. Fig. 3B shows a similar
perspective view of the part of the support construction as shown in fig. 3A,
but without parts of the base
frame 3, and the hook plate 8 more clearly outlined.
In fig. 3A, the hook plate 8 is positioned in a 'window opening' near the side
of the base frame 3.
Since the hook plate 8 is attached to the mast frame 5, the hook plate 8 may
tilt within the 'window opening'
during tilting of the unity. The base frame 3 and hook plate 8 are provided
with fixation members 10, where,
in fig. 2, the fixation members 10 are co-operating openings. Here, the co-
operating openings are aligned, i.e.
the co-operating openings in the base frame 3 and hook plate 8 are (fully)
overlapping one another. In this
manner, the one or more support masts 4a, 4b and mast frame 5 are titled as a
unity such that the opening in
the hook plate 8 aligns with the opening in the base frame 3. Upon aligning
the co-operating openings, a pin,
for example, may be insert therein, and the unity is fixed in the tilted
positioned. With this in mind, it is
envisaged that when thc co-operating openings are aligned, the tided position
corresponds to a proper
positioning to connected the one or more support masts 4a, 4b to the amusement
ride 2.
Furthermore, in fig. 3a, the hook plate 8 further comprises a cylinder
connection 81. Here, the hook
cylinder connection 81 is provided on a side part of the hook plate 8. A tilt
control hydraulic cylinder (not
shown) is positioned within a 'cavity' of the base frame 3, in particular of a
portal frame 12 thereof The hook
plate 8 extends within the window opening of the portal frame 12. The fixation
members 10 are co-operating
openings. Here, the co-operating openings are aligned, i.e. the co-operating
openings 11 in the base frame 3
and opening 10 in the hook plate 8 are (fully) overlapping one another. Upon
aligning the co-operating
openings 10, 11, a pin, for example, may be inserted therein, and the unity is
fixed and can be tilted in the
desired angular position around the main axis X.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a further part of the support construction
for the amusement ride
2. Here, the support construction further comprises a plurality of support
arms 7 connected between the one
or more support masts 4a, 4b and the mast frame 5. Here, four support arms 7
arms provided for each of the
one or more mast supports 4a, 4b, but it is noted that this presents an
exemplary number of support arms 7.
The plurality of support arms 7 may be e.g. bolted and/or screwed onto the one
or more support masts 4a, 4b
and the mast frame 5, wherein opposite ends of the plurality of support arms 7
are connected thereto, i.e. one
end to the one or more support masts 4a, 4b and another end to the mast frame
5.
In fig. 3a, the one or support masts 4a, 4b are pivotally connected to the
mast frame 5 via pivot
connections Pl, and, thus, the plurality of support arms 7 are configured to
support the stability of the one or
more support masts 4a, 4b in their erected position, and support the tilting
thereof with the mast frame 5 as a
unity. The plurality of support arms 7 may comprise any device or structure
known the skilled person, for
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example, a hydraulic actuator. In a non-limiting example, for a hydraulic
cylinder, the one or more support
masts 4a, 4b may be erected by extension of the hydraulic cylinder.
Additionally, in fig. 4, the one or more support masts 4a, 4b comprises two
mast columns; a first
mast column 41a and a second mast column 42a. Here, a 'double-cantilever'
structure is envisaged to
connected and support the amusement ride 2, whereby an end of the first mast
column 41a is connected to
one end of the mast frame 5, and an end of the second mast column 42a is
connected to an opposite end of
the mast frame 5.
However, it is noted that this is an exemplary example, and it is conceivable
that the one or more
supports masts 4a, 4b may only comprise one mast column, e.g. the first mast
column 41a to form a 'single-
cantilever' stnicture, whereby the first mast colunni 41a is positioned in a
center part of the base frame 3.
The present invention has been described above with reference to a number of
exemplary
embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative
implementations of some parts or
elements are possible, and are included in the scope of protection as defined
in the appended claims.
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