Take a brief look at the power source of roller coasters

Roller coasters are a common type of amusement equipment in amusement parks, which have good playing effects and are loved by many players. They have also appeared in many different categories. Do you know the classification of power sources for this device? Let the editor from the roller coaster pillar manufacturer give you a brief explanation first.

1. Chain elevator

The roller coaster train itself does not have an electric motor: during the majority of its operation, the train relies on gravity and momentum to move. In order to accumulate potential energy, the train needs to be lifted to the top of the initial hill or launched with greater thrust.

The traditional lifting device is a long chain (or multiple chains), similar to the chain of a bicycle, but larger. It is installed under the track and extends upwards along the lifting slope. This chain is fixed in a loop, which has transmission devices at the top and bottom of the track. The transmission device at the bottom of the track is rotated by an electric motor.

By rotating the chain loop, it continuously moves towards the top of the track like a long conveyor belt. The roller coaster uses several chain locking springs and sturdy chain hooks to secure the chains. When the train reaches the bottom of the hill, the lock spring will clamp the chain links. Once the chain lock spring is hooked, the chain will pull the train towards the mountaintop. At the high point, the lock spring is released and the train begins to move down the hill. The clattering sound you hear from the chain is actually the sound of the anti slip device, to prevent the train from slipping back to the station and causing accidents when the motor fails.

2. Catapult

In some newer roller coaster designs, the train is launched by a catapult. There are several ways to launch a catapult, but their functions are basically the same. These systems do not drag the train up the hill to accumulate potential energy, but rather allow the train to gain a large amount of kinetic energy in a relatively short period of time at the beginning, allowing it to start running.

Linear induction motor is one of the commonly used catapult systems. A linear induction motor uses an electromagnet to create a magnetic field above the track and below the train, and attracts the two magnetic fields to each other. The electric motor moves the magnetic field above the track, pulling the following train to move along the track at a higher speed. The main benefits of this system are its speed, efficiency, durability, accuracy, and controllability.

3. Friction wheel

This roller coaster uses dozens of rotating friction wheels to propel the train up and up the hill. These wheels are arranged in two adjacent columns along the track. They clamp the bottom (or top) of the train in the middle, pushing the train forward. It is often used when climbing slopes and turning (because the chain cannot turn laterally on a horizontal plane) or to adjust the speed of the train before the chain hoist so that it can be equal to the speed of the chain.