Accidental Launch
Does anyone know for sure if a ride such as Chiller or Medusa can be launched or dispatched if someone's restraint only LOOKS like it's locked properly in place, but really isn't?
On most coasters (I don't have intimate knowledge of those particular ones) the restraint is released by a mechanical or electrical connection in the station. When the train is not in the station, that connection is not there, and therefore the restraints are held in a 'locked' position. Very few rides actually check on the bar position, since if the bar is not fully locked, it can be by simply pulling on it.
The simple answer to the question is, "Probably."
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
The simple answer to the question is, "Probably."
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Last year on Medusa a rider unclipped the safety belt after the train was dispatched and the ride stopped immediately. There is a switch in each belt clip as well as on the harness itself. During coaster bash it was one of the safety features of the ride that was pointed out by the person doing the behind the scenes tour.
I wonder about the chiller though?
I wonder about the chiller though?
I don't know if these stops were caused my mechanical means or just a good eye on a ride op near an E-stop. With the B&M hyper trains, the restraint position makes part of the go-no go decision. My guess is that if the seat belt is fastened, the restraint is in an acceptable position and the system will dispatch. If the seat belt is unfastened, the restraint might move up slightly out of the acceptable position. Just an idea.
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
The chiller does have an emergency shut off if that happened. Thats why there are breaks on the upper LIMS on the tower. Also, does anybody remember when the chiller's LIM's on top didnt work, and the train was vallyed?
i wasnt there, but i heard the 7 people on board were pretty dizzy!!
i wasnt there, but i heard the 7 people on board were pretty dizzy!!
I thought the same thing but, when Medusa stopped one of the ride attendants came up the catwalk and went right to the seat that the belt was disconnected from and the operator on the speaker told her exactly which row and seat that it happened on.
I have another related question:
In the case of an emergency, can a coaster be stopped on the mid course brakes? If so would the stopping be done by an operator or the coaster's computer system?
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My name is Jason, and I'm addicted to coasters.
In the case of an emergency, can a coaster be stopped on the mid course brakes? If so would the stopping be done by an operator or the coaster's computer system?
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My name is Jason, and I'm addicted to coasters.
I got kicked out of sfgam on Batman for unbuckling my safety belt.... so I guess there is a sensor. THe whole train stopped..
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May 5th, Gurnee, Illinois, "I'm sprinting for V2"
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May 5th, Gurnee, Illinois, "I'm sprinting for V2"
There are a few ways that a train can end up stopped on a block brake:
1) Blocking violation.
If the next block isn't clear, the train will stop on the block brake automatically. The same is true if a sensor fails and the control system merely *thinks* that the next block isn't clear.
2) Loss of electrical power.
In the absence of electrical power, the brake system will revert to the "set" position, which will stop the train when it arrives.
3) Loss of air pressure.
In the absence of air pressure, the brakes won't open.
4) E-stop.
On most rides, when the operator hits an E-stop button, electrical power is disconnected from all systems on the ride. See "Loss of electrical power," above.
5) Ride stop.
Some rides have a 'clean' Ride Stop feature, which will stop the lift and allow the trains to proceed through the course to cascade onto the brakes closest to the station. See "Block violation."
Getting back to the original topic...
I've never seen a *coaster* with any switches on the safety belts, and I have never seen any coaster with any train telemetry on it once it leaves the station (except for pedal counters which are sometimes positioned on the lift). If an unbuckled safety belt results in a stopped train, it's a pretty safe bet that a sharp-eyed ride attendant who is watching for exactly that kind of thing is responsible for it.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
1) Blocking violation.
If the next block isn't clear, the train will stop on the block brake automatically. The same is true if a sensor fails and the control system merely *thinks* that the next block isn't clear.
2) Loss of electrical power.
In the absence of electrical power, the brake system will revert to the "set" position, which will stop the train when it arrives.
3) Loss of air pressure.
In the absence of air pressure, the brakes won't open.
4) E-stop.
On most rides, when the operator hits an E-stop button, electrical power is disconnected from all systems on the ride. See "Loss of electrical power," above.
5) Ride stop.
Some rides have a 'clean' Ride Stop feature, which will stop the lift and allow the trains to proceed through the course to cascade onto the brakes closest to the station. See "Block violation."
Getting back to the original topic...
I've never seen a *coaster* with any switches on the safety belts, and I have never seen any coaster with any train telemetry on it once it leaves the station (except for pedal counters which are sometimes positioned on the lift). If an unbuckled safety belt results in a stopped train, it's a pretty safe bet that a sharp-eyed ride attendant who is watching for exactly that kind of thing is responsible for it.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
kcies13-SFGAm says:
Just curious? You had a topic that talked about being kicked out of parks. Do you enjoy being kicked out? You seem to have a fetish for this type of thing. No disrepect but the way you talk is like this is normal behavior to you.
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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls
I got kicked out of sfgam on Batman for unbuckling my safety belt.... so I guess there is a sensor. THe whole train stopped..
Just curious? You had a topic that talked about being kicked out of parks. Do you enjoy being kicked out? You seem to have a fetish for this type of thing. No disrepect but the way you talk is like this is normal behavior to you.
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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls
On Arrow Dynamics' coasters particularly Canyon Blaster at the Adventuredome, there is a sensor at the base of the lift that checks if the pedal is down on each car as the train threads onto the lift. If a pedal is not in the "up" or locked position it will stop the lift. It doesn't however have a certain distance each restraint has to go down to. Chances are if a restraint isnt locked we would be able to tell in the station before we even dispatched the train. That's why when we check restraints we push down, then pull up.
At MGM however that's a different story. With Lightning Bolt our trains lap bars are released via electric charge to an hydraulic canister on the train. THANKS INTAMIN. Once the lap bars are unlocked they "fly" up automatically. Then you can pull them back down. The controls operator only presses a button to unlock them as they lock by themselves. If something happens and we need to individually unlock a car we must use a long metal bar "key" to unlock the restraint. A pain when you have two train op. Anyways, the only sensor that deals with the lap bars on this ride just makes sure the air is released so the bars can lock again. Sorry i confused you, if you ever rode it a lot you would understand better.
At MGM however that's a different story. With Lightning Bolt our trains lap bars are released via electric charge to an hydraulic canister on the train. THANKS INTAMIN. Once the lap bars are unlocked they "fly" up automatically. Then you can pull them back down. The controls operator only presses a button to unlock them as they lock by themselves. If something happens and we need to individually unlock a car we must use a long metal bar "key" to unlock the restraint. A pain when you have two train op. Anyways, the only sensor that deals with the lap bars on this ride just makes sure the air is released so the bars can lock again. Sorry i confused you, if you ever rode it a lot you would understand better.
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