Restraint Locking

[nitral]

I was wondering how roller coaster restraints lock when the operator pushes the button. Is there like a signal that makes them lock? or is there some thing built into the station that makes it lock?

 

Thanks.

[WillMontu]

I'm assuming that there's something in the station that mechanically locks the restraints on the cars (since they are usually unpowered)

[CoasterFanatic]

Restraints aren't so much locked by operators as unlocked. The default for all restraints (and trust me ... it is a good thing) is locked.

 

The way they are locked differs by manufacturer, but most are spring loaded and ratched. Intamin's, on the other hand, are mostly hydraulically locked.

[benzo41190]

I think that there is some sort of sensor thing in the station. When the train is in the station, power is sent through the trains. The restraints are on a ratchet that is locked into place whn people enter. When a train comes back in, the Op presses a button the the ratchet moves, causing the restraint to come up.

 

So if a train has stalled on a brake run or has valleyed, someone has to come up with a big battery and connect it to the train. Then they are able to release the restraints.

[bgwfreak]

Ok I've got a question.

 

How do the buzz bars work on the older woodys?

 

Why does it buzz so loud and what type of system is it that unlocks them.

[benzo41190]

^ I think because power is beign sent into the lapbap so it opens up. American Eagle still has that loud buzzing sound!

[Imhotep]

Are B&M restraints hydraulically locked?

[CoasterFanatic]

^ B&M bars/OTSRs ratched closed.

 

Benzo, most trains do not have any sort of motor to "accept power" from the station.

 

For more, this is a decent page to look at:

www.coasterquest.com/howitworks.htm

[timetrial3141592]

My theory is that they are locked by a huge clamp or something.

[Jumboshrmp]

On B&M coasters, below the station there is a "lever" that controls the restraints for every two cars in the train.

They are locked by default, as coasterfanatic said, however, when the ride op pushes the button, this lever pushes up, pushing up on a device with wheels that unlocks the train. I may be mistaken, what i just said may be backwards, but I am pretty sure down=locked.

See the red lever to the right of the wheels (the one with the green sensor)?

http://www.rcdb.com/ig2662.htm?picture=61

I am almost 100% positive that that is the device that unlocks the restraints.

[CoasterFanatic]

^ That is it and a good example. On PTCs with ratching bars the bar that pushes the locking mechanism is on the side of the train, but very similar.[/img]

Spring-loaded release on the side of the train

[Guest]

I know most older PTC's and NAD's have locking mecahnisms on the train itself, but they can control it from the control booth. I could be mistaken though.

[okinawaboy11]

On coasters with PTC trains. I belive. There is a hydrolic arm under the station that applies pressure to a sort of button on the side of each car (it's under the step of the train, unable to see it when the train is in the station). Releasing the restraints.

 

EDIT: Oops, didnt read what coasterfanatic said. He got it spot on with the PTC trains.

 

Intamin Mega's have the same almost. Except its on the bottom of the train. I'm not sure if it uses a magnetic field. OR if it lifts up and presses a button. Someone confirm.

 

If someone had a shot of the station (Without the train) of like S:RoS or MF, I could show you what a mean.

[trustkill22]

I always thought that on Intamins Megas they have those pads with the I think 4 like brass or copper strips of metal and I thought they transfer power because I was looking at the Control Panel and they had lots of info like whose seat is closed and open it was actually pretty sweet.

 

And also because a friend of mine was on the back seat of the train and I was waiting for the front so she was a train ahead and when she pulled out of the station I gave her a high-five and I got the biggest shock of my life. It was awful, So I learned a lesson that day.

[haiderodes]

The mechanical (moving) locking/unlocking mechanism from my experience is typically called a "platen".

 

On Arrows there is traditionally one long single platen that is moved up and down by hydraulic arm/pump. On the underside of the train there is a vertical-oriented wheel attached to an arm that unlocks the restraints for that particular car. As the platen is raised the wheel moves along the metal surface. That motion in turn unlocks the restraint. You can most clearly see this on Arrow Suspended coasters.

 

As mentioned B&M's use the same basic idea except they have some electrical components to them. Hence the need for a battery to unlock seats when out of a station. On Arrows, however, its all mechanical, so all you have to do is step on the pedal to unlock a particular car....in fact some early Arrows only had pedals!

 

One interesting design is that used for the Disney Space Mountains (as well as a few of the basic dark rides). The platen is in a fixed position so when ever the train is in the load or unload area it remains unlocked. Once a train is advanced out of that area, then the train is "locked". That's why sometimes you see people get worried that thier lap bar isnt locked when they sit down.

 

While we are on the topic of restraints and I'm talking Disney...

 

I always thought it was interesting how Test Track and most other Disney rides with seat belts have a two stage seatbelt locking mechanism. That is, once you buckle the seatbelt it locks in its traditional manner. Additionally, there is another seperate electronic (?) lock that provides a second measure of security by preventing you from pusing down on the release. Next time you ride something like Indiana Jones Adventure or Test Track you'll notice you can open and close your seat belt at the load zone, but the minute you advance to the "seat belt check" area, you can no-longer release it.

[RaptorBoyASU]

^Actually not all B&Ms need a battery to unlock. I know that the inverts simply use the mechanical method.

 

On B&M inverts, there's a bar that comes down from near the track when inside the station to unlock the restraints. Most of them unlock two rows at a time, but some of the newer ones only unlock a single row at a time.

 

If you need to unload from one of the block brakes, or if the mechanism doesn't work in the station, there's a handled lever that you simply hook on the side of the train and pull down to turn the ratchet bar.

[haiderodes]

^ oh cool. never noticed that.

[bgwfreak]

Also PTC just changed their manual release on their trains. Instead of needing a key or whatever they call it, it just has a foot pedal release.

 

Voyage got the new system. There's a yellow foot pedal on the front of each car. (See pic)

[CoasterFanatic]

The platen is in a fixed position so when ever the train is in the load or unload area it remains unlocked.

 

I always liked this one the best. Thunderbolt (Kennywood) still unlocks the restraints using this method. I guess that means that the NAD trains have the release underneath the coaster.

[nitral]

thanks guys for the great responses!

[stormrider]

I once saw a picture of a Maurer Sohne ride that was in it's daily check, and the locking was based on the same principle as the anti roll back device. Also, there is a patent for the Arrow train design that uses a hydraulic pump and a valve box to control oil under and above a disc in the cylinder. So, when you pull the restraint down, the bottom of the cylindre fills up (the piston disc moves up) and when you try to push it up (the piston disc tries to move down) it goes against the oil and thus stays locked. The valve box unlocks the restraint by allowing oil flow to go to the other side of the piston.

[okinawaboy11]

I always thought that on Intamins Megas they have those pads with the I think 4 like brass or copper strips of metal and I thought they transfer power because I was looking at the Control Panel and they had lots of info like whose seat is closed and open it was actually pretty sweet.

 

Thats what I mean. Those little 4 strips

[coaster1]

When in all reality, it's really tiny midgets with crowbars underneith and beside the trains doing all the work .. all that other stuff is for show and "insurance" purposes.

[Jew]

As mentioned B&M's use the same basic idea except they have some electrical components to them. Hence the need for a battery to unlock seats when out of a station.

 

What B&M's need a battery pack to unlock seats? I know at least Stand-up and inverted coasters are mechanical. I know some Intamin rides need the battery pack though (Xcelerator being one example).

[Hurricane]

Same as Superman Escape, they have a battery pack in each of the 2 stations, and 3 or 4 in the Pre Launch area, they plug into a little grey box on the back of each car, I saw this happen when Superman Under parked, and the last 2 cars were not in the station, and the ride parked, and they needed to manually do it, and walk us off the ride.

 

I think most of the new Steel Intamin coasters use this method.