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2020: General Discussion

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Dave said:
One of the main ways Rita stalls is because the catch car disconnects early. Once the launch dog engages with the catch car and the train does that slow rock forwards and backwards the only thing keeping the dog engaged is the weight of the train. If the launch isn’t smooth the dog can retract and once it does it won’t engage again (it’s designed to lock quickly away from the catch car so in the event of a roll back it doesn’t smash back into the catch car).

The alternative is the system loses pressure, I’m pretty sure once the launch sequence is active an emergency stop doesn’t actually guarantee to stop the launch.

Rita rolls back less frequently as it takes the highest point at speed unlike the top hat models which tend to creep over at a slower speed and therefore have a small margin of error.
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That "slow rock" is the train being weighed isn't it? Allows the system to adjust speed/power accordingly.
 
spinba11 said:
I thought that’s the dog engaging on the catch car.
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That's what I thought till someone mentioned about it weighing the train but, as has already been said, the launch power can be varied, hence why the train is weighed before launching.
 
skyscraper said:
That "slow rock" is the train being weighed isn't it? Allows the system to adjust speed/power accordingly.
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No Intamin launch coasters don’t weigh the train. It calculates its speed based on the drum rotations from memory. the sequence is:

1) train is rolled forward just past the notch in the catch car, electric current releases launch dog.

2) kicker wheel drops and train rolls back until launch dog engages with catch car.

3) train launches, as it reaches full speed (about 2/3 of the way down the launch) the catch car decelerates. The launch dog runs up the slopes grove getting pushed back into its holding location and a magnet locks it in place.
 
Dave said:
No Intamin launch coasters don’t weigh the train. It calculates its speed based on the drum rotations from memory. the sequence is:

1) train is rolled forward just past the notch in the catch car, electric current releases launch dog.

2) kicker wheel drops and train rolls back until launch dog engages with catch car.

3) train launches, as it reaches full speed (about 2/3 of the way down the launch) the catch car decelerates. The launch dog runs up the slopes grove getting pushed back into its holding location and a magnet locks it in place.
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Thanks for that Dave. Hydraulic launches might be the most complicated and unreliable but they are also the most interesting from a technical perspective. (Coming from someone who is a real geek when it comes to the technical and operational aspect of coasters).
 
spinba11 said:
If the dog is held up by a magnet how does it get released, I know what Dave said but I want more detail.
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It uses an “energise to release” electromagnet. There is a contact on the train that links to a power rail. When power is passed through an ETR magnet it demagnetises allow the launch dog to drop (you can hear this happen, there is a loud “clunk” as the train moves forward). Once the train leaves the station the electric current cuts off so the electromagnet returns to field and the dog locks in place once it is pushed back up by the decelerating catch car.
 
skyscraper said:
(Coming from someone who is a real geek when it comes to the technical and operational aspect of coasters).
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You and me both! I love riding coasters but I'm equally at home just watching them, their brake mechanisms, lift hills etc. The whole mechanics of them just fascinate me. When I rode Forbidden Journey in Universal a few years ago, it broke down mid-ride. The lights came on and we were evacuated (still in sat in the robot arm cars). Needless to say I was in my element!

If Towers ever do a Behind the Scenes tour again, I'll be there even if it means my credit card will take a bashing!
 
Steve74 said:
If Towers ever do a Behind the Scenes tour again, I'll be there even if it means my credit card will take a bashing!
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Same here! I've been into the technical side of coasters for as long as I can remember, long before I actually found the courage to physically ride them. I've only had one evac, and I'm also one of these crazy people who wants that to happen to me. :p
 
Thameslink Rail said:

Thoughts?
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I'm booked into Splash Landings hotel on the 25th Sept, so will be at Oktoberfest. Will also go to Scarefest and fireworks too. Going by the SD measures Towers have put in place so far, I'm sure the mazes will be very well thought out in this regard. If they can manage the Dungeons, they'll be able to do the mazes. As for the public and how they stick to the rules, that's a different matter of course. Maybe they'll incorporate the measures into the story line of each maze with actors in character screaming at you in the queue lines telling you not to get too close.
 
I really wish they'd change the ticketing and do deals where you get park entry and a couple of mazes, instead of having to buy maze tickets separately.
 
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skyscraper said:
Same here! I've been into the technical side of coasters for as long as I can remember, long before I actually found the courage to physically ride them. I've only had one evac, and I'm also one of these crazy people who wants that to happen to me. :p
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I've never had an evac on a coaster (but really want one!), but seeing FJ with the lights on makes up for that a little bit!
 
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