Powered coaster
When powered coaster or driven roller coaster are coasters referred to in which the train, unlike traditional roller coasters, has a built own drive. These tracks get by without a lift hill or other external acceleration.
Usually three-phase motors are used as drive , which are supplied with power via conductor rails below the train on the tracks. Either the train's running wheels are driven or there is an additional running surface between the rails for special drive wheels. The speed can be continuously regulated and no additional external brakes are required, as the drive is also used for braking.
There are systems for stationary and transportable use. The stationary systems are also usually characterized by their compact design and a relatively small footprint. In many cases, the railways are designed as a family attraction, which means that they do not reach particularly high speeds or extreme accelerations.
Manufacturer
One of the largest manufacturers of powered coasters is the Mack Rides company from Waldkirch . In addition to the classic Blue Enzian model , the company also offers powered roller coasters as Inverted Coaster under the product name Inverted Powered Coaster . Both models are optionally available with controlled or freely rotating seats as a spinning coaster . The first Inverted Powered Coaster is Arthur in Europa-Park , which opened in 2014.
Other manufacturers are or were among others: Pinfari , SBF Visa , Schwarzkopf , Soquet , Vekoma and Zamperla .
variants
A special curiosity was Soquet's transportable looping train in the French Parc Saint-Paul . As the name suggests, it had a loop and was, as far as known, the only powered coaster with inversion . Most of the looping was done without a drive. After an accident in 2005, however, the railway was taken out of service and dismantled.
Another rare variant was Dragon Flyer in the English Camelot Theme Park . This train was not powered by electric motors as usual, a diesel engine was instead housed in the first car of the train . The railway was shut down in autumn 2012 when the park was closed and is currently waiting for a buyer or its scrapping.
The concept for the mountain and city coaster , which was planned to transport people and loads, was similar to a powered coaster. The cars should get their energy from batteries that are charged in the stations. In addition to a test track, only one system could be implemented incompletely before the developer company had to file for bankruptcy.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Inverted Powered Coaster at Mack Rides. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on April 18, 2014 ; Retrieved April 17, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Data and images on looping in the RCDB. Retrieved April 8, 2013 .
- ↑ Data and images on Dragon Flyer in the RCDB. Retrieved April 8, 2013 .
- ↑ http://airtimers.com/verkauf-und-verrostet-ein-blick-in-den-camelot-theme-park/0020807/
