Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
  • A63G21/00—Chutes; Helter-skelters
  • A63G21/22—Suspended slideways

Definitions

• the attachment member is arranged at a second angular displacement about the line, wherein the first angular displacement and the second angular displacement are different.
• the set of wheels is arranged to resist, at least in part, forces in 1 , 2 or 3 mutually orthogonal directions, for example due to the weight of the load and/or pitching, rolling and/or yawing of the trolley.
• the set of wheels is arranged to resist, at least in part, forces in 2 mutually orthogonal directions, for example due to the weight of the load and/or pitching, rolling and/or yawing of the trolley, while permitting movement of the trolley in a third mutually orthogonal direction, for example along, down and/or up the rail.
• the set of wheels includes a first subset of wheels, including the first wheel, the second wheel and optionally, the third wheel and/or the fourth wheel.
• the first subset of wheels includes more than four wheels.
• the first subset of wheels are arranged to roll on an upper and/or lateral portion or portions of the rail and thereby transfer, at least in part, a weight due to the load on to the rail and/or forces due to movement, for example pitching and/or yawing, of the load on to the rail. In this way, pitching and/or yawing of the trolley about the rail may be resisted.
• the set of wheels includes a second subset of wheels, including a fifth wheel and optionally, a sixth wheel, a seventh wheel and/or an eighth wheel.
• the second subset of wheels includes more than four wheels.
• the second subset of wheels are arranged to roll on a lower and/or lateral portion or portions of the rail and thereby transfer, at least in part, forces due to movement, for example pitching and/or yawing, of the load on to the rail. In this way, pitching and/or yawing of the trolley about the rail may be resisted.
• the set of wheels includes a third subset of wheels, including a ninth wheel and optionally, a tenth wheel.
• one or more or all of the wheels of a subset of wheels are generally in contact with the rail.
• one or more or all of the wheels of a subset and/or a subset of wheels are generally not in contact with the rail, spaced apart therefrom by a gap in a range from 1 mm to 10 mm, preferably in a range from 3 mm to 7 mm, but may contact the rail during yawing, pitching and/or rolling of the trolley.
• the first wheel is rotatable in the first plane about the first axis and the second wheel is rotatable in the second plane about the second axis, wherein the first plane and the second plane define the line.
• the line is the intersection of the first plane and the second plane and the rail comprises a cylindrical running surface defining a cylinder axis, wherein the line is substantially coincident, in use, with the cylinder axis.
• the line is substantially coincident, in use, with the cylinder axis when the line is within 20%, preferably within 15%, more preferably within 10%, most preferably within 5% of the cylinder axis as a percentage of a radius of the cylindrical running surface.
• the first axis and/or the second axis is tangential to a radius normal to the line.
• the first wheel comprises a tyre formed from a polymeric composition, for example a thermoplastic such as polyurethane or nylon, having one or more bearings, for example ball bearings such as deep-groove ball bearings, therein.
• a polymeric composition for example a thermoplastic such as polyurethane or nylon
• bearings for example ball bearings such as deep-groove ball bearings, therein.
• Polyurethane is preferred.
• the bearings are sealed (i.e. having a seal, also known as a shield or a closure), thereby reducing a maintenance requirement and/or improving safety.
• Type ZZ, 2RS and/or 2RU seals are preferred.
• the first wheel (for example, a tyre thereof) has an outside diameter in a range from 40 mm to 80 mm, preferably in a range from 50 mm to 70 mm.
• the attachment member is arranged at the second angular displacement about the line, wherein the first angular displacement and the second angular displacement are different.
• the trolley is arranged to move from the first configuration to the second configuration due to a force transverse to the line (i.e. a lateral force, a transverse force) due, at least in part, movement of the load transverse to the line.
• a force transverse to the line i.e. a lateral force, a transverse force
• the load may move transversely to the line due to centripetal forces thereon when the trolley travels round a curved portion of the rail.
• the load may move transversely to the line due to oscillation of the load, such as a user swinging from side to side (i.e. rolling of the trolley).
• the attachment member is arranged to move from the first angular displacement to the second angular displacement in an arc, for example of increasing height or elevation, about the line. In this way, movement of attachment member may be smooth, enhancing user experience and/or safety, while work must be done to move the attachment member from the first configuration to the second configuration, as described above.
• the rail comprises a cylindrical running surface defining a cylinder axis, wherein the line is substantially coincident, in use, with the cylinder axis, wherein the attachment member is arranged to move from the first angular displacement to the second angular displacement in an arc about the line and wherein the arc is concentric with the cylindrical running surface.
• the attachment member comprises a roller arranged to roll on the guide.
• the trolley is arranged to move from the first configuration to the second configuration, for example in an arc, by rolling of the attachment member on the guide.
• resistance to movement of the attachment member due to friction between the attachment member and the guide may be reduced.
• wear of the guide and/or the attachment member may be reduced, compared with sliding of the attachment member, thereby reducing a maintenance requirement and/or improving safety.
• the attachment member comprises one or more bearings, for example ball bearings such as deep- groove ball bearings, and the roller is mounted thereon. In this way, resistance to movement of the attachment member due to friction between the attachment member and the guide may be further reduced.
• the roller is a grooved roller, for example having a circumferential groove, such as a circumferential radiused groove.
• the roller has a maximum outside diameter in a range from 20 mm to 50 mm, preferably in a range from 30 mm to 40 mm.
• the roller is a grooved roller, having a circumferential radiused groove, and the guide has a circular-cross section.
• a radius of the groove corresponds with a radius of the guide.
• the radius of the grove is at least the radius of the guide.
• the radius of the groove is larger than the radius of the guide, for example in a range of 1 % to 20 %, preferably in a range from 3% to 10%.
• the attachment member is rotatable about a normal to the line, while maintaining a sufficiently large contact area between the roller and the guide, so as to reduce contact stresses thereon.
• the inventors have determined that repeated rolling of the roller on the guide and/or the relatively high contact stresses due to the relatively small contact area between the roller and the guide, may result in failure, for example cracking, of the roller and/or the guide.
• failure for example cracking
• the repeated rolling combined with the relatively high contact stresses, results in fatigue crack initiation and/or growth.
• Corrosion resistance is preferred.
• Stainless steel SAE Types 304 and 316 are suitable.
• the roller may be coated or polished, for example, to improve fatigue resistance.
• the rail comprises a non-linear, for example a curved, portion.
• the non-linear portion enables the rail to curve around obstacles, for example, and/or to increase user enjoyment, as described above. It should be understood that the non-linear portion is generally sideways, though the rail may curve sideways and up or down also.
• the rail may be as described with respect to the second aspect.
• Figure 6 schematically depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rail assembly of Figure 5;
• Figure 9 schematically depicts a transverse cross-sectional view of the rail assembly of Figure 8, in the first configuration and in the second configuration;
• Figure 1 schematically depicts a perspective view of the rail assembly 1 according to an exemplary embodiment, including the trolley 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.
• Figure 2 schematically depicts an end view of the rail assembly 1 of Figure 1 .
• Figure 3 schematically depicts a side view of the rail assembly 1 of Figure 1 .
• Figure 4 schematically depicts a plan view of the rail assembly 1 of Figure 1 .
• Figure 5 schematically depicts a plan view of the rail assembly of Figure 1 .
• Figure 6 schematically depicts a longitudinal cross- sectional view of the rail assembly of Figure 5, particularly in the plane B-B of Figure 5.
• Figure 7 schematically depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rail assembly of Figure 5, in more detail, particularly of a region B of Figure 5.
• the trolley 100 is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged at a second angular displacement D2 about the line L, wherein the first angular displacement D1 and the second angular displacement D2 are different. Since the attachment member 130 is moveable between the first configuration and the second configuration, transverse forces on the rail 10 may be reduced compared with a fixed attachment member, for example, as described above. In this way, a likelihood of the trolley 100 binding and hence braking on the rail 10 is reduced. In this way, a likelihood of injury and/or stranding of users may be reduced. In this way, user safety and/or trolley reliability may be improved.
• the trolley 100 is suitable for use with the rail 10 and is arranged to roll thereon. Generally, the trolley 100 is retained on the rail 10, for example by the set S of wheels 120, so that the trolley 100 may not be removed from (i.e. come off) the rail 10, in use.
• the set S of wheels 120 is arranged to retain the trolley 100 on the rail 10, so that the trolley 100 may not be removed from (i.e. come off) the rail 10, in use.
• the trolley 100 is captive on the rail 10, thereby improving safety.
• the set S of wheels 120 is arranged to resist, at least in part, forces in 2 mutually orthogonal directions, for example due to the weight of the load W and/or pitching, rolling and/or yawing of the trolley 100, while permitting movement of the trolley 100 in a third mutually orthogonal direction, for example along, down and/or up the rail 10.
• the first wheel 120A comprises a polyurethane roller, having an outside diameter of 62 mm, bonded to a deep-groove ball bearing, for example a SKF 6301 ZZ deep- groove ball bearing having a 12 mm bore and a 12 mm length.
• a deep-groove ball bearing for example a SKF 6301 ZZ deep- groove ball bearing having a 12 mm bore and a 12 mm length.
• the attachment member 130 comprises a D shackle 133, closed with an anchor bolt 134, and a grooved roller 132, having a circumferential radiused groove, wherein the attachment member 130 comprises two ball bearings 135A, 135B, wherein the grooved roller 132 is mounted on the anchor bolt 134 between the legs of the D shackle 133, spaced apart therefrom by two spacers 136A, 136B.
• the attachment member 130 is arranged to move from the first angular displacement D1 to the second angular displacement D2 in an arc, for example of increasing height or elevation, about the line L.
• the rail 10 comprises a cylindrical running surface defining a cylinder axis, wherein the line L is substantially coincident, in use, with the cylinder axis, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged to move from the first angular displacement D1 to the second angular displacement D2 in an arc about the line L and wherein the arc is concentric with the cylindrical running surface.
• the trolley 100 comprises the guide 112 coupled to the frame 110, arranged to guide 112 the attachment member 130 between the first configuration and the second configuration.
• the guide 112 comprises an arcuate portion, subtending an angle of about 100°.
• the guide 112 has a circular cross-section, whereby the guide 112 comprises a round bar, having a diameter of 12 mm.
• the guide 1 12 is formed from stainless steel SAE Type 316. Brackets are provided at each end of the round bar, the brackets including countersunk 8 mm diameter holes for fastening the guide 112 to the bars 110E and 11 OF using countersunk (alien key) bolts and nuts.
• the rail assembly 10 includes the rail 10 and the trolley 100.
• the rail 10 comprises a cylindrical running surface defining a cylinder axis, wherein the line L is substantially coincident, in use, with the cylinder axis, for example provided by a tube 1 1 having a circular cross-section and the rail 10 comprises a longitudinal flange 12 normal to the tube 1 1 (i.e. upstanding therefrom) extending continuously along the tube 1 1 .
• the tube 1 1 has an outside diameter of 60 mm and a wall thickness of 3 mm.
• the flange 12 is welded to the tube 1 1 , for example continuously or intermittently.

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• Carriers, Traveling Bodies, And Overhead Traveling Cranes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=66857942

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2019
  • 2019-06-07 EP EP19730513.9A patent/EP3817833B1/de active Active
  • 2019-06-07 WO PCT/GB2019/051583 patent/WO2019234441A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2019-06-07 CN CN201980052305.8A patent/CN112930221A/zh active Pending

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