WO2004041380A1

WO2004041380A1 - Amusement rides

Info

Publication number: WO2004041380A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/001139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eliiot Lawrence Hall
Original assignee: E & J Hall Investments Limited
Priority date: 2002-11-05
Filing date: 2003-03-18
Publication date: 2004-05-21
Also published as: AU2003214426A1

Abstract

An amusement ride is provided which is in the form of a Ferris wheel which is located close to a body of water (W), such that, during rotation of the Ferris wheel, gondolas (16) of the Ferris wheel at their lowest points are below the surface of the body of water (W). A platform (P) is provided on the land mass, by which passengers may enter the gondolas, prior to being lowered into the water. Preferably the gondolas are watertight and airtight, and if desired, escape means in the form of a hatch (18) may be provided for each gondola.

Description

Amusement Rides

Description of Invention

This invention is concerned with improvements relating to amusement rides, particularly of the kind having a large wheel-like frame mounted vertically for rotation about a horizontal axis, and which carries a plurality of passenger support modules mounted on the frame in a manner such that, as the frame rotates, the support modules remain in a fixed orientation such that persons within the modules may comfortably be conveyed around the axis of the wheel.

The first ride of this kind was invented in the USA by Mr G.W.G. Ferris, and amusement rides of the kind set out in the last preceding paragraph will hereinafter be referred to as "Ferris wheels".

In the original construction of the Ferris wheel, the passenger support modules were rudimentary seats, into which passengers were strapped, suspended freely in gimbals. Over the years however rides of this kind have become more sophisticated, and, in part for reasons of safety and in part for reasons of comfort, the passenger support modules are frequently currently in the form of partly enclosed chambers or "gondolas" which are driven about parallel axes positively to maintain them in their fixed orientation.

The most popular Ferris wheel operational in the UK currently is the "London Eye", and it will herein be assumed that the skilled man will be familiar with this, both from constructional and operational points of view.

A conventional Ferris wheel, including the London Eye, relies on its interest by elevating passengers to a larger height and showing them the surrounding vista (town, countryside), as well of course as subjecting them to the experience of being lifted high into the air and being returned to ground level. According to this invention there is provided a Ferris wheel adapted for use at a location where, during its operation, the observation chambers are transported through a body of water.

The body of water may be a lagoon, but may be the sea. If desired, the Ferris wheel may be mounted over an aquarium, into which during use of the Ferris wheel, the observation chambers are transported.

Thus for example the Ferris wheel may be mounted on land adjacent to a lagoon, a reservoir, aquarium etc., in a manner such that a lower part at least of the Ferris wheel extends below the water level. The passengers will experience the thrill of being conveyed underwater, to see fish or marine mammals such as dolphins and (if appropriate) underwater structures such as coral reefs.

Typically the Ferris wheel may be mounted in a manner such that the water level is midway or below, with an entrance being provided at or about the same level as the axis, so that passengers may experience a ride into the air above the body of water, as well as being conveyed into the body of water. If desired however the wheel may be primarily submerged with an entrance being provided to an uppermost one or two of the chambers only.

Alternatively if desired, the body of water may be provided by a waterfall into which and, if desired, behind which, passengers may be conveyed in the rotation of the Ferris wheel.

According to this invention there is also provided a Ferris wheel the chambers of which are watertight and preferably also airtight.

By the term "watertight" as used herein, we mean more watertight than the London Eye, which is designed simply to keep out rain. In accordance with this invention, the term "watertight" means sufficiently watertight to keep out water, when the passenger support module is being conveyed beneath the water, or into a body of water such as a waterfall. Preferably, the Ferris wheel is also airtight, such that air in the passenger support chambers will not escape, for example when the chamber is being transported beneath the water level.

Preferably the Ferris wheel comprises means to supply air or oxygen to the chambers as may be necessary for example, in the event of an extended period of submergence.

According to this invention there is also provided a method of providing an amusement ride, involving the use of a Ferris wheel having watertight passenger support gondolas, in which the Ferris wheel is located in or adjacent to a body of water, through which the gondolas are conveyed during operation of the Ferris wheel.

Notwithstanding air or oxygen supply systems can be relatively complicated to engineer, and thus expensive. Additionally, provision must be made for evacuation of the observation chambers, for example in the event of a mechanical failure in the Ferris wheel, whereby passengers are trapped under water.

Thus preferably each observation chamber comprises a conduit, the amusement ride being adapted for use at a location where, during its operation, the observation chambers are transported through a body of water such that the conduit extends through a surface of the body of water.

The portion of the conduit which extends above the surface may, in use, have an opening which provides fluid communication between the observation chamber and a source of air.

Additionally or alternatively, the conduit may be closed, for example by a lid, in normal use and be adapted to open in an emergency situation so that fluid communication may be provided between the observation chamber and a source of air. In this case, the conduit is preferably of sufficient size to allow a person to pass through the conduit and thus escape from the observation chamber.

Thus, the conduit may provide an air supply means and/or an escape means from the observation chamber in the event of an emergency, or indeed during normal use.

Typically, the conduit is generally vertical. It may extend only a short distance, perhaps 0.5m, through the surface, when the amusement ride is in use. If the conduit is provided with a lid this preferably includes fastening means which may conveniently be opened from either inside or outside the conduit. If, on the other hand, the conduit is open to air it preferably includes a hook-shaped end portion adapted such that the outlet of the conduit is directed generally downwardly.

The conduit may comprise an opening which is closed in normal use and may have a further, narrower, conduit which provides fluid communication between a source of air and the observation chamber in normal use.

The observation chamber may further comprise a ladder, conveniently situated in the conduit, which may be used by the passengers in the course of any evacuation.

Such a conduit may be used in many different types of amusement rides. It is, however, particularly suitable for amusement rides having watertight observation chambers. It is also particularly suitable for use with amusement rides of the Ferris wheel type, as set out in our co-pending application.

According to this invention, there is also provided a method of providing an amusement ride, involving the use of observation chambers each comprising a conduit, in which the amusement ride is located in or adjacent to a body of water, through which the chambers are conveyed during operation of the amusement ride, such that in the use of the ride the conduits extend upwardly a distance such that upper ends of the conduits are located above the surface of the water.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a Ferris wheel which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention by way of example, and a modified construction thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of the Ferris wheel which is the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view thereof; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view based on Figure 1 showing the modified version of the preferred embodiment; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a gondola of the modified version. The Ferris wheel which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is designed to be mounted above a body of water W, such that almost 50% of the wheel extends below the water level. The Ferris wheel comprises a support means shown schematically by the numeral 10, mounted on a land mass L adjacent to the body of water, supporting an axle 12 by which the Ferris wheel is supported in a cantilevered manner above the body of water. The periphery 14 of the Ferris wheel supports a plurality of passenger support modules in the form of enclosed chambers or gondolas 16, which are specifically watertight and airtight.

In use a platform P will be provided on the land mass, by which passengers may enter a chamber 16, conveniently prior to it being lowered into the water. Drive means (not shown) conveys the Ferris wheel in steps in conventional manner, taking each chamber in turn into the water, enabling passengers to have the thrill of being submerged, and to see fish, coral reefs, wrecks of ships etc., beneath the water, prior to being conveyed out of the water, for an aerial view of the body of water and the surrounding countryside.

It will of course be appreciated that the gondola may be operated in the reverse rotational direction. An air supply is preferably provided (not shown, but self-evident to the skilled man) whereby a supply of air or oxygen may be delivered to the chambers, particularly those beneath the water.

The body of water may be sea water, or an aquarium or reservoir, a river, although preferably a clear river, a coral reef, or the like. If desired the axle 12 may be mounted on pistons, whereby the Ferris wheel may be moved vertically in relation to the body of water.

The Ferris wheel, which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, is designed to be mounted near a body of water W, such that, when an observation chamber, or gondola 16 of the wheel is at its lowest point, the passengers therein are approximately 4.5m (or approximately 15ft) below the surface level of the body of water W, thus, in this embodiment, about 25% of the gondolas 16 are submerged at any one time, as shown in Figure 1.

A modified form of gondola is shown in Figures 3 and 4. A conduit 18 extends, generally vertically, from the top surface of the gondola 16 for a substantial distance. The height of the conduit is such that it extends through the surface of the body of water W when the passenger gondola 16 is at its lowest point, and it extends beyond the surface of the body of water W to a height such that an opening in the conduit may be provided which is unlikely to be fouled by waves. As shown in this embodiment a typical height may be approximately equivalent to the height of the gondola 16.

The conduit 18 comprises a main conduit 20, which may be cylindrical or have some other cross section, and a lid 22. The main conduit 20 and the lid 22 are secured together by fastening means 24, which may be opened either from the outside or the inside of the conduit 18.

A second, much narrower, conduit 26 extends, also generally vertically, a relatively short additional distance from the lid 22. The second conduit 26 provides, in use, fluid communication between the gondola 16, and the air, even when the gondola 16 is underwater. It has a hook-shaped end which prevents rain, dust or small objects from entering the air supply. Additionally a ladder

28 is shown stored in the conduit. Optionally, a winch (not shown) may be stored in the conduit also. In normal use the passengers in the gondola 16 are provided with a constant supply of fresh air which may enter the gondola 16 by the main conduit 20 and the air supply conduit 26. Since the conduit 18 extends beyond the water level, the supply of air is uninterrupted and water, rain, etc., is most unlikely to enter the gondola 16 by means of the conduit 18. Furthermore, in an emergency, a passenger may pull down the ladder 28 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2, and climb through the main conduit 20 using the ladder 28. The passenger may undo the lid 22 at fastening means 24, open the lid, and escape from the gondola 16. Disabled passengers may be evacuated using the winch (not shown). Thus, there is no need for a submarine to be on hand if an emergency evacuation is required.

It will be understood by the skilled reader that although the invention has been described in relation to Ferris wheels it is suitable for use in many different types of amusement ride.

In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for perfoi ing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A Ferris wheel adapted for use at a location where, during its operation, the observation chambers are transported through a body of water.

2. A Ferris wheel according to claim 1 wherein the body of water is a lagoon, the sea, or an aquarium.

3. A Ferris wheel according to one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the Ferris wheel is mounted adjacent to a body of water in a manner such that a lower part at least of the Ferris wheel extends below the water level.

4. A Ferris wheel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the Ferris wheel is mounted in a manner such that the water level is midway or below, and entrance being provided at or about the same level as the axis.

5. A Ferris wheel according to claim 1 wherein the body of water is provided by a waterfall into which, and behind which, passengers are conveyed in the rotation of the Ferris wheel.

6. A Ferris wheel wherein the chambers are watertight.

7. A Ferris wheel according to claim 6 wherein the chambers are airtight.

8. A Ferris wheel according to one of claims 6 and 7 comprising means to supply air of oxygen to the chambers.

9. A method of providing an amusement ride, involving the use of a Ferris wheel having watertight passenger support gondolas, in which the Ferris wheel is located at or adjacent a body of water, through which the gondolas are conveyed during operation of the Ferris wheel.

10. A Ferris wheel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each observation chamber comprises a conduit.

11. A Ferris wheel according to claim 10 wherein a portion of the conduit which extends above the surface has an opening which provides fluid communication between the observation chamber and a source of air.

12. A Ferris wheel according to one of claims 10 and 11 comprising a closure means by which the conduit may be closed.

13. A Ferris wheel according to any of claims 10, 11 and 12 wherein the conduit is of a size sufficient to allow a person to pass through the conduit.

14. A Ferris wheel according to claim 13 comprising a ladder situated in the conduit.

15. A method of providing an amusement ride involving the use of observation chambers each comprising a conduit, in which the amusement ride is located in or adjacent to a body of water, through which the chambers are conveyed during operation of the amusement ride, such that in the use of the ride, the conduit extends upwardly a distance such that the upper ends of the conduits are located above the surface of the water.

16. A Ferris wheel constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of providing an amusement ride, when carried out substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and or shown in the accompanying drawings.