Maurer Sohne Spinning Coasters-More Dangerous Spin

Another fatality occured in Japan on this type of coaster

http://www.rcdb.com/3762.htm?p=20016

While rider weight, restraint etc may have been factors, the Maurer Sohne design above does not appear to be as safe as this design

http://www.rcdb.com/2654.htm?p=13882

The Maurer Sohne design sits the riders in the center of the spin, and throws them toward the restraint, versus the 4-wide seating which puts the riders on the outside of the spin and uses the centrifugal force to throw the riders back against the seat (and making a safer ride).

I have the same issue with the outward facing giant frisbees such as "Delerium" at Kings Island versus the inner facing KMG Afterburner such as "The Claw" at Hershey. The Claw feels a lot safer to ride as you are not being hurled against the restraint. Plus there is nothing to hold onto on the "Delerium" type rides.

I don't recall ever being hurled into the restraint on a giant Frisbee.

While I can't argue the physics with you...the second type of spinning coaster actually has more fatalities associated with it, including two at Animal Kingdom, probably because the cars are so insanely large.

Maurer-Söhne has noted that the Tokyo Dome ride was built in 2000, and we know that the Dixie Landin' ride is also rather old (RCDB says it was used when it moved to Drievliet in 2004). Since those rides were built, Maurer-Söhne has redesigned the lap bar locking system used on the ride. Experience with the ride indicates that by sitting near the axis of rotation, the forces exerted by the ride are actually quite small, partly because the seats are on the axis of rotation, and partly because the cars don't really spin very fast compared to the Reverchon/Zamperla version.

Basically, I suspect that rotation is not a significant contributing factor in either incident. That said, I know pretty much exactly as much about the incidents as anybody else here; probably a little less.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I have the same issue with the outward facing giant frisbees such as "Delerium" at Kings Island versus the inner facing KMG Afterburner such as "The Claw" at Hershey. The Claw feels a lot safer to ride as you are not being hurled against the restraint. Plus there is nothing to hold onto on the "Delerium" type rides.

Well, given the speed and forces of the rides, if something went wrong in terms of seats/restraints to the point where people are being flung out, I doubt having something to hold onto will help for either one of those rides :p

Second, I'd say the forward force into the restraint on those pendulum rides is generally much smaller than those exerted in a top spin (re: Crypt... well, old programming maybe), and especially smaller than those on a flying coaster (re: Firehawk; also in the same park).

Basically, as long as the restraints are designed properly, and operate as designed, it should hold regardless of application. That is, if you feel like you're being pushed into the restraint, it's generally supposed to happen and is taken into account.

As for the accident, something went wrong and it's another sad tragedy. But it's important to note that in theory something could go wrong on any other ride as well; I'm just not particularly convinced that one design is automatically "safer" than the other based just on seat layout

I'm thinking extra seat belts on most rides (Cedar Fair) isn't such a bad idea.

I feel safer on MaxAir (Delerium) than any other ride in the park. I can recall the sensation of being "pushed down" at the bottom of a swing, but never pushed against the restraint

I'm remembering an excellent post that Dave A. made (here? or rec.roller-coaster) where he explained the physics of the Giant Frisbee. Basically the forces are downward not outward, pushing your butt into the seat, rather than your chest into the restraints.

However, I will defer to Dave A. to correct me.

I prefer the Gerstlauer design over the Maurer Sohne one. Always felt weird sitting with the rest of my family at my back instead of across from me. http://www.rcdb.com/3031.htm?p=12154

CreditWh0re, that was a feature article I put together for Guide to the Point. I think it was "lost" in the transition to PointBuzz (along with the article about Top Thrill Dragster).

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

That stuff is all still around somewhere. I'll see if I can easily grab it.

A later (2007) Maurer Sohne spinner issue also had issues. On Crush Coaster at Disneyland Paris, a rider somehow managed to get out of the car during the ride. The man claimed the "restraint came undone" and he got out of the ride because he "would fall during the loops!". The ride was looked over by Disney, manufacturer and authorities and no issues were found. Disney then added lap bar sensors and for the longest time, you were not allowed to lower the lap bar yourself. Cast members had to push it in until a light near the control booth turned green.