"Spring Loaded"

I keep hearing the phrase "spring loaded" as an answer to why B&M and Intamin coasters are smoother than other companies' coasters. Well how is it exactly the wheels are spring loaded? Are there actually springs connected the wheel mounts? If they are, how is it that they work? The springs wouldn't compress the top and upstop wheels against the track because a spring pushes away, not contracts. The only thing I've come up with looking at closeups of the wheel mounts on Xcelerator and MF is that there seems to be some kind of black pieces (rubber washers?) that pressure each wheel bogey against the track.

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"This time I think ... I think it's ... it's going to work!" - Dr.Bruce Banner

I'm not sure about all the technicalities (maybe rideman could help you), but I do know that with spring loaded assemblies, the actual wheel mounts almost "adapt" to the track, so that the chasis stays straight but the wheels are still gliding in the direction of the track.

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How much more floorless can they get?

That's about right. B&M and Intamin's wheels are in contact with the track at all times. Older Arrow's are not, and thus the ride bangs around a lot because the car is allowed to shift in position on the track.

Make sense?

-Nate

Since when can't springs contract?

Never heard of a slinky? :)

Trampolines too use a contracting magnet, as do many beds.

Not at all saying that Intamin et al use this sort of spring, but who knows, not me on this one.

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So what if the best coaster in Australia is a second hand Arrow?