R.D.'s Patent's thread.

[QueerRudie]

Ever wondered what the Corkscrew looked like before it was built?

 

Does the idea of Anton Schwarzkopf's rides make you happy?

 

Here's the thread for you.

 

Doing some research on my own patents, I found a lot of the older patents in PDF form- so I'm going to be posting them every now and again for all to see.

 

Here's the first installment of Roller Coaster and Ride patents.

 

Our three for today are the first major developments in ride designs. The first is the mother of all coasters, the patent by Karl Bacon and Edgar Morgan for an Amusement Device in the form of a Bobsled: The original Matterhorn Bobsleds patent from 1955.

 

US3167024.pdf

The Morgan and Bacon patent for the Arrow Tubular Steel track Bobsled

 

The second of today's batch of patents is that of Herr Schwarzkopf's Shuttle loop design- the original Flywheel Shuttle Loop patent from 1978.

 

US4165695.pdf

Schwarzkopf's First Shuttle Loop Patent

 

 

And finally, a bit of Bolliger & Mabillard: The first B&M Inverted Coaster patent from 1993.

 

US5272984.pdf

B&M go inverted with this one.

 

A word about these patents: They are public domain documents- and are for all to see. Over the next few weeks/months, I'll be posting more of these gems- as our history is tied into these devices!

 

Enjoy,

R.D.

Edited June 6, 2011 by QueerRudie

[The SETGO Guys]

This is great!

I can defiantly add to the list!

[beatle11]

Awesome!! Looking forward to more of these!

[coasterlover420]

You can find a whole lot if you go to Google Patents and just start searching a bunch of things. (I.e. "roller coaster" "amusement" "bolliger" etc...)

[DougMJr]

So cool! Looking forward to more patents and updates.

 

^I'm defiantly going to be exploring google patents when I get some free time. Never really thought of going on there before now.

[QueerRudie]

I've been using a different search engine- and I've pulled down all of Anton Schwarzkopf's patents, and I'm working on Karl Bacon/Edgar Morgan's series as well.

 

The goal is to get all the patents up- and with more historical stuff on them- and there's a huge number of 'never ran' patents as well beyond the different ones you'll see focused here.

 

There are also quite a few out there that I think we'll see in the future in parks- but those are for future posts!

 

R.D.

[BrandonR]

I fear you may be duplicating some work here. Here's a list someone has already compiled of coaster-related patents: http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/v/a/vac3/table.html

[QueerRudie]

Today's update is on a coaster we all love to hate- and on one that has yet to be built.

 

First, for those who are wondering why I'm doing this: Because it's history. Not because other people have done it before, as they have on their own sites- but because it's our history- good or bad. Some sites tend to come and go. TPR is here to stay- and this is part of it's history as well.

 

Onto the show!

 

Today's Patents feature designs that just didn't make it very far. The first is from those crazy Japanese people at TOGO, in the form of their patent for the ball-socket type axle system used on the Viper and Manhattan Express (distress?) coasters.

 

After the success (?) of the early generation TOGO Heartline coasters (Ultra Twister at SixFlags Astroworld, Six Flags Great Adventure, and now dying slowly at SixFlags America) TOGO decided to improve on the heartline coaster design to allow for full-sized and complete circuit tracks. At their Ohio Testing grounds, they assembled a test track, featuring a DIVING heartline twist, in addition to two additional inversions. The first twist was removed, and the prototype was moved to Six Flags Great Adventure, opening up as Viper.

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Viper[/coastertube]

 

The ride itself wasn't bad in concept... but it was world-famous for being rough, painful and one of the worst TOGO designs ever built. It had a short shelf life, though- running from 1995-2000, then returning from 2002-2004. Put down out of it's misery shortly thereafter, the Viper was removed, and El Toro took it's place.

 

From the same design series came the Manhattan Express coaster at New York, New York Hotel Casino park in Las Vegas. An elongated version of the heartline design, this 203 foot tall coaster has a tremendous history of being a coaster that causes Tourette's syndrome in it's riders. Having experienced it first hand, I can tell you that this is NO JOKE. It's that bad.

 

Mmmmmm... Punishment.

It looks so smooth... but it feels so ROUGH!

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=manhattan_express_pmws[/coastertube]

 

Here is the patent in all it's glory- including the original design that was mutated into becoming Viper at SFGAdv.

 

TOGO HeartlineLooping (VIPER).pdf

Patented Pain!

 

The second set of patents today is based upon a ride not yet built.

 

Werner Stengel has become one of the most prolific designers in the industry today- with over 500 coasters under his belt since starting his firm in the 1970s. He has worked with quite a few greats- Including Anton Schwarzkopf, Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, as well as the industry firms such as Intamin AG, Premier Rides, and Vekoma. Some of his legacy coasters include the never-operated Alpenflug (The first suspended coaster from Germany), Millenium Force and Maverick at Cedar Point, as well as the soon-to-be-opened Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa.

 

The patents I've chosen represent his works of fiction so far. The Vertical rotating tower coaster element features four sides- and a track that reverses direction by rotating 90 degrees. It is a great idea, making it so far as to be included in the RCT III rides package- which is what you'll see below. You can find this coaster in the Games Exchange- allowing you to download the ride itself and to play with it.

 

A concept coaster of the Spinning Tower Ride

The tower rotates four times to complete a circuit- two times foreward, two times backwards.

Yes, I DID make it pink. Get over it. I like it.

 

You can find this coaster HERE: http://www.themeparkreview.com/game_exchange/track.php?id=1881

 

And here are the two patents Stengel filed for this project:

 

Stengel- Four way freefall tower coaster #1.pdf

One of two- there are two different patents for the same concept and mechanism.

Stengel- Four Way freefall tower coaster #2.pdf

The second patent, featuring the mechanism itself, not just the ride in concept.

 

Enjoy these bits of theme-park history (and non history.) I'm working on something fun for next time!

 

R.D.

[PSiRockin]

Oh, Viper... well at least El Toro came out of that!

 

And that tower lift is weird, I had forgotten that it was actually patented!

[Ace Of Spades]

I always wondered where that Rotating Tower coaster concept came from!

 

Fascinating thread RD!

[QueerRudie]

Update #3.

 

Let's get screwed... Arrow Corkscrewed, that is.

 

In 1968, Arrow began to toy with the idea of the inversion rollercoaster for the second time in coaster-history. After several years of testing ideas, it was decided to do the inversions in the form of an elongated double helix, in order to disperse the g-forces that had plagued early attempts at looping coasters.

 

In 1973, Arrow built the first protoype Corkscrew element at the Mountain View, California testing grounds. The simple double-helix Corkscrew plus a drop tower and a brake were built, and a full-sized train was assembled on site to allow for the ride to be tested in full scale. A success, the original tower was cut off, a chain lift was installed, and the completed ride was then used as a sales tool.

 

Late in 1974, the prototype Corkscrew was sold- and moved to the south to Knott's Berry Farm, where it operated from 1975- 1989, before relocating to Silverwood park, Athol, Idaho, where it still runs today.

 

 

A video of one of the 'stock' first models of the Arrow Corkscrew is below- this one is from the 1979 built Corkscrew at Nagashima Spa Land park, Nagashima, Japan.

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=corkscrew[/coastertube]

 

Several models of the Corkscrew were opened throughout the country, including models that featured a single loop (Corkscrew at Cedar Point) and airtime hills (Turn of the Century at the Marriott Great America Parks).

 

Here is a link to a RCT II re-creation of the Turn Of The Century corkscrew coaster:

 

Download Turn Of the Century for RCT II

 

TotC.bmp

An overview of Turn Of the Century, at RedLine Park.

 

Now- for the good stuff: Here is the original Arrow Corkscrew Patent- you will notice there's some subtle differences between what was patented- and what was actually built!

 

Arrow Corkscrew.pdf

The Arrow Corkscrew Patent.

 

Read about the prototype Arrow Corkscrew HERE!

 

Our second patent today is another in the 'If only it had been built' collection- and is the solution to the greatest mystery of Anton Schwarzkopf's career.

 

In the late 80s and early 90s, Schwarzkopf had entered semi-retirement, but the ride builders at BHS had retained him to do some consulting work, as well as develop additional rides- including what would have been his largest project ever at Alton Towers. At the same time, a mysterious model began to circulate around trade shows- of what looked like Anton's greatest triumph...

 

The Figure Eight LOOP!

 

As he had appeared with BHS, it was well assumed this was an Anton Schwarzkopf design, perhaps his greatest design ever. BHS marketed the coaster to many different showmen on the European Fairground circuit, but never was built.

 

In some cases, this was a true shame, as the ride itself was over-the top, size wise. Using the multi-articulated Schwarzkopf train, as well as many of the standards that Schwarzkopf had put into his rides, it would have been massive, as well as having the unique figure eight loops.

 

The model of Figure Eight Looping, a 'hidden' Schwarzkopf credit- never built.

 

However, this is where the legend ends, though. While Schwarzkopf did do the technical consulting on the ride, as well as development of the related engineering of it, we can't credit this to his handiwork- as it was a combination of both Werner Stengel, Anton Schwarzkopf, and others who produced this great design.

 

However, the actual -design- credit goes to Georg Potzsch, of Munich, DE. He patened the Figure Eight looping in 1985, well before the model was developed by BHS, Stengel and Schwarzkopf.

 

Schwarzkopf-BHS Figure Eight Looping elements.pdf

The patent for the Figure Eight Looping coaster, as used by BHS, Schwarzkopf and Stengel.

 

*****************************************

 

I'm now taking requests for future Patent Thread updates, including some that are already in the catalogue for things upcoming. i'm also working on some really weird patents for the future as well- so enjoy, and come back each week for a new update-

 

R.D.

[SoCalCoasters]

Figure 8 Loop may be the greatest never been built design in the world! Wow that looks incredible!

[DBru]

That's insanity.

 

How tall is that proposed model?

[B.A.B]

Were there any pictures of actual built prototypes at there plant.

[QueerRudie]

Dbru- As far as I remember (and that's saying a -LOT- as it's been nearly 20 years since I remember reading about it last!) the Figure 8 Looping was around 150-160 feet tall; granted, that's a rough, ROUGH memory of it.

 

B.A.B. - If you read the link I posted to Shane's Amusement Attic, that's the prototype in Mountain View- before it was taken down and moved to Knott's Berry Farm. It's the complete circuit, but those with Sherlock Holmes eyes can see some changes were made to it prior to it's arrival in Buena Park.

 

R.D.

[Airtime&Gravity]

I had no idea the figure-8 loop from RCT3 was based on a real element. It is a shame it was never built, as it looks like it would have been an amazing element. I don't think it would have caught on in the industry had it been built(if it was, I think it would've been as common as common as interlocking loops), but it looks like it would have been an intense and fun element.

[QueerRudie]

It is still entirely feasable we could see this element again- as with track design being more computer oriented nowadays, I'm sure that Intamin or Gerstlauer could do this... especially the latter, with it's flexible train design.

 

I would love to see this happen- as it's a great element, and for a place such as China, where the number 8 is signifigant, that could be a huge deal!

 

R.D.

[tiger01]

The figure of Eight loop option can be found on the Hyper Coaster in rct3. For your information!

 

MOD EDIT:

 

Look two posts up...

 

(Remember to read all the posts in the thread before posting, please!-)

R.D.

Games Forum Moderating Team

Edited April 26, 2011 by QueerRudie

[Inukaza]

I can see how a figure 8 element would work on a coaster. While of course it doesn't exist, I could imagine a loop on top of the "Non-inverted" loop on Rip Ride Rocket, which would create the inversion.

[B.A.B]

No I mean any prototypes for the figure eight loop.

[QueerRudie]

B.A.B: the ride never made it into production, so no working model is belived to exist- nor was a prototype track assembled.

[B.A.B]

Oh.

[QueerRudie]

5/2/11:

 

Today I wanted to take a trip in the W.A.B.A.C. machine for a bit, before blasting into the future.

 

Arrow's Log Flume

 

This theme park staple has been around since 1963, when Six Flags Over Texas installed the first variation in their park. Since then, the log flume (Particularly the Arrow varietal) has proliferated throughout the world- and it's been a staple at many parks for decades.

 

Arrow developed many different installation styles for their Log Flumes, including different and custom boats, variations in gauge of the trough, and exciting elements such as the Spillway- a coaster drop for a flume, the dual-trackway drop (HersheyPark and Magic Mountain had those) and combinations of all of these rides (The Great America parks where two different flumes were installed into one site). \

 

You can read about the Arrow flumes from Shane's Amusement Attic HERE!

 

For those who like flumes, here's a mock-up I built in RCT III for demo purposes.

 

A splashing success no matter how they built it.

Looking at it from the rear.

The spillway element, as seen in RCT III

 

Download this demo flume HERE- in the Games Exchange!

 

And now: Onto the patents!

 

The first of the patents covers the original Arrow loading station, and mechanisms therein; this is the 'standard' for many of the earlier park installations.

 

Arrow Log Flume.pdf

The original Log Flume Patent.

 

Later, Arrow refined the platform, and many later rides featured the Rotary Loading option. Similar to Intamin's Rotary loader for their River Rapids rides, this was also offered as a retrofit for some flumes. As far as my research goes, no log flumes ever were retrofitted with the rotary loading platform.

 

Arrow Log Flume - Rotary Platform.pdf

The Arrow Rotary loading platform.

 

Two of the add-ons to custom flumes were the Dual trackway drop, and the Spillway. The dual drop was featured on many later hydroflumes and log flumes, and Kennywood installed the Spillway element on their Log Jammer flume in 1974.

 

Arrow Log Flume - Dual Drop (Spillways).pdf

The Dual Drop system, as featured on many rides

Arrow Log Flume - Spillway with recovery.pdf

The Spillway element, which gave your flume that 'coaster' feel to it.

 

Intamin's Rocket Coasters (Accelerators)

 

This staple of many parks is one of the favorites of many TPR members. From it's initial development as a prototype at Knott's Berry Farm (The Excelerator) to the later generations of coasters featuring many variations in design, it is clear that Intamin came up with a winning design.

 

The actual basis for it goes back to a long time legend in coaster circles, Mr. Reinhold Spieldiener, and his sons, who worked under contract with Intamin to develop this evolution off the original flywheel catapult design perfected by Anton Schwarzkopf. Ironically, Spieldiener also is credited with the modern vertical loop, working again with Schwarzkopf in creating the Clothoid (Klothoide) element shape now used on many looping coasters.

 

While early models, and some later ones, too, used a flywheel clutch design, LSM technology is working it's way into the designs as well, including the smaller inversion variants that are now featured at Cedar Point (Maverick) under the stock name Blitz coasters.

 

The prototype can be seen in a POV by Robb Alvey http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=xlr8r_m4sc[/coastertube]]HERE!

 

The Blitz coaster (Maverick) can be seen HERE!

 

I created a mock-up of the ride itself for RCT III players as well- my own variation on the Accelerator coaster theme:

 

Intamin Launched Sexiness.

Looking at the curvacious goodness...

Fan turns and overbanked turns- usually seen on a few of these models.

 

Download the ride HERE- In the Games Exchange!

 

And now, the Patent itself!

 

The patent for the Accelerator coaster is a close variation of the actual prototype itself. Some things were modified for the actual park use, but since then variations have been installed in other parks with a similar effect.

 

Intamin Xcellerator Launch Patent.pdf

Intamin Launched GOODNESS!

 

*******************************

And now, a word from our sponsor:

 

If you like this thread, POST A MESSAGE IN IT! Let me know what you think of it- and be sure to keep checking in on Mondays for updates. I've got quite a few new patents saved up for the future- including the H.G. Traver Safety Cyclones, the original Flying Turns patents, and hundreds of others to go through. But this thread won't live without your love back- Let me know what you want to see, and I'll try to do my best to get it to you.

 

R.D.

[The SETGO Guys]

Like usual, Great job! I love the diversity....I would be interested in seeing the Intamin River Rapids patents!

 

Keep up the awesome work!

-Zach

[Ace Of Spades]

Another great update, thanks RD!

 

Think you could post a pic of an actual Arrow spillway?