Lift System

What coasters use the lift system from Ripsaw at "Knott's" Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America? It doesn't have a chain or anything, just what appears to be brakes alternating with quickly spinning wheels.

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Cedar Fair hates valleyfair... boohoo.

LocoSpitz said:
"What coasters use the lift system from Ripsaw at "Knott's" Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America? It doesn't have a chain or anything, just what appears to be brakes alternating with quickly spinning wheels.



Isn't this the lift system used by Hulk at IOA? It has the virtue of being able to rapidly accelerate the train.
Also, does anyone know how fast it is?

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Cedar Fair hates valleyfair... boohoo.
Most of Zierer's coasters use fiction wheel drive systems for lifts. The Lightning Bolt here in Las Vegas also uses this system. It works with the brake fin on the bottom of the cars. The wheels squeeze the fin and push it. The brakes are there in case the ride stops or the lift needs to stop. The brakes close stopping the train. The bad part of these systems is that you always have to replace tires and you can't run the train in the rain (trust me, ive seen a train of 20 people go up and lift and come right back down!. Some schwartzkof designs also use this system (Texas Tornado at SFAW).
Hulk's wheels can launch the train to 40 mph. They can however run in the rain becasue of the tunnel over the lift.
i belive they also use the same system on the woodstock coaster at cedar point.
janfrederick's avatar
I like being able to ride in the rain!

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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.
I don't believe B&M could use LIM's because Intamin already has the patent.

IOA can't afford it... I don't buy that one. Do you have any idea much money they poured into that park?

Also, why do you say IOA 'sucks'? Looks like you have never been there.
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Looking for ideas... *** This post was edited by APForce on 3/23/2001. ***
First off, cedarnuts, every single thing in your post was wrong. If you are gonna say crazy stuff like that, back it up somehow. If you are wrong, Somebody-Who-Knows for sure will let you know in a friendly manner.

ANYWAY.. back to the general topic. APForce, I'm not positive but I don't think Intamin has the patent for LIMs. Rides like FOF, the Chiller, and Joker's Jinx use them also and they are built by Premiere. Besides, aren't LIMs made by a company like Force Engineering or something like that? Anybody know for sure? That'd be a good thing to know...

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There are gobs of LIM and LSM patents out there, and I don't think Intamin or Vekoma have any of them. Vekoma has been developing LSM technology for amusement rides (in fact, Intamin's Superman: The Escape uses motors licensed from Vekoma), Intamin and Premier have both been using LIMs. Premier's LIMs have come from Force Engineering ( http://www.force.co.uk ) although some Force LIMs have been replaced with PSM units. It's these LIM builders who have the patents, not the ride builders. And if B&M wanted to do a LIM launch, I'm sure Force or PSM or any of a handful of other companies would be willing to provide the motors.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
janfrederick's avatar
I think that it is simply "easier" to engineer the drive tires...which means a cheaper coaster. Besides, you know what a pain it can be working with independent contractors (or a different company for that metter).

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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.
Jeff's avatar
Hulk's launch system is anything but cheap. Because of the burst of energy required for the motors to quickly ramp up and launch (I forget how many there are, but I seem to recall it's a three digit number), the electricity must be stored by converting it to mechanical energy using a bank of giant turbines. It is then quickly "poured" back into electricity for the motors to perform the launch.

The Discovery special on it last year had an engineer who said they'd brown-out Orlando every 90 seconds if this system wasn't in place.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

CA screamin at DCA uses LIMS for the lift instead of a chain.
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Home Park: Knotts Berry Farm!
but also Disneyland and DCA
Skull Mountain at SF GAdv. also uses the 'tires lift' system Quite smooth. *** This post was edited by Agent Johnson on 3/24/2001. ***
I dont know if its really a lift,, but the Whizzer at my home park. SFGA,, oh no wait, its just a motor or something,, its old, does anyone know what it does??
Vekoma also has a patent on LIM/LSM.

Thuur Crompvoets
I dont know if you've ever seen the Zierer-designed family coasters, but they use that system. It's called a Friction Wheel Lift System. It works the same way the Hulk system works, except this one doesn't blast riders up the lift.
ACEerCG's avatar
If I remember correctly, there is somewhere right aroud 240 motors on Hulk's lift hill. In essence, the design is not much different than the pinch wheels used to advance inverted trains into and out of the station on other B&M's.

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James Draeger
'00 CP Trips: 23
'01 New parks to visit: 9

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