I know this might seem like a dumb question because it's so basic, but I still wonder why specific companies stick to specific designs of railing on coasters. Is it that they particularly "believe" that they do it the best way, is this some kind of "branding", or is it that they are bound by patents?
How come B&M, Intamin, Arrow/Vekoma, Morgan, Togo, Pinfari, etc, all have specific rail profiles?
Isn't there some kind of evolution for an optimum going on making all rides B&M- or Intamin- "smooth" ?
Do outside-rails (such as found on Arrow, Morgan, Togo, etc) in fact contradict a smooth ride?
And no, it doesn't matter from a ride quality standpoint where you put what wheels. The decision to put guide wheels inside or outside is based on the amount of space required for the guide wheels, engineer preference, and the fabricator's choice whether to build more complicated axles or more complicated track ties. Mechanically, both designs function exactly the same.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
For the trains there shouldn't be a big difference since the wheel assembly basically just needs to be turned 180° to change from outside - to inside trails. (Of course, with outside rails, the entire train can be lowered to a position in between the rails, making the wheel assembly easier to attach to the car - and also lowering the leverage effect that the wheels and rails have to endure during lateral rotations as the center of gravity is closer to the rails, and the the rails are spaced futher apart)
I just wondered whether there is a reason why B&M and Intamin are in general smoother rides than e.g. Arrows (although Tenessee Tornado and the Millenium Coaster are supposed to be two perfectly smooth rides). *** Edited 2/24/2004 1:52:36 PM UTC by superman***
Don't patent issues come into play too? I would think that mechanical patents exist regarding each companies tracks/structures/train chassis/wheel configurations and who knows what else.
Am I wrong?
superman said:
But isn't it maybe easier to create track and train exactly according to calculations if the track-ties are shorter as opposed to embracing the entire width of the train?For the trains there shouldn't be a big difference since the wheel assembly basically just needs to be turned 180° to change from outside - to inside trails. (Of course, with outside rails, the entire train can be lowered to a position in between the rails, making the wheel assembly easier to attach to the car - and also lowering the leverage effect that the wheels and rails have to endure during lateral rotations as the center of gravity is closer to the rails, and the the rails are spaced futher apart)...
based on what was stated in the second paragraph Dave, wouldn't this make outside rails a smoother ride? I have also wondered this question, as on C-oa-sterforce.com, they list that inner wheels "hunt", or bounce side to side when going on track (which they also list for the upstops and running wheels on oblivion, which they say is why the drop isn't exactly 90 degrees, but 87.5) I have learned on this site, however, that that site isn't really accurate.
http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=36941
superman said:
Do outside-rails (such as found on Arrow, Morgan, Togo, etc)
Actually, Togo rides have rails on the inside and wheels on the outside. You can clearly see that in these pictures:
http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery33.htm?Picture=2
http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1219.htm?Picture=1
That proves it really makes no difference where the wheels are; you can have a rough ride either way.
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