Amusement ride and method of assembly

Abstract

An amusement ride such as a ferris wheel comprising a wheel rotatable around a central rotation axis and a wheel support structure for rotatably supporting the wheel in a substantially upright position. The wheel has first and second wheel flange arranged near the central rotation axis of the wheel; a peripheral rim configured to support a plurality of passenger capsules; and a plurality of spokes extending radially from the wheel flanges to the peripheral rim. The wheel support structure comprises two masts with individual bearing assemblies each configured to rotatably support one of the wheel flanges. The bearing assemblies are directly connected to the masts and are not connected to each other through a conventional hub.

1 . An amusement ride comprising
 a wheel rotatable around a central rotation axis and a wheel support structure for rotatably supporting the wheel in a substantially upright position,   the wheel comprising:
 a peripheral rim configured to support a plurality of passenger capsules; 
 a first wheel flange arranged around the central rotation axis of the wheel; 
 a second wheel flange arranged around the central rotation axis of the wheel and spaced from the first wheel flange along the central axis; and 
 a plurality of spokes extending radially from the wheel flanges to the peripheral rim; 
   the wheel support structure comprising:
 a first mast comprising a first bearing assembly configured to rotatably support the first wheel flange; and 
 a second mast comprising a second bearing assembly configured to rotatably support the second wheel flange, wherein the first and second bearing assemblies are directly connected to the first and second mast respectively. 
   
     
     
         2 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1  wherein each of the bearing assemblies is configured to support an axial load in a direction along the central rotation axis. 
     
     
         3 . The amusement ride according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the bearing assemblies comprises a slewing bearing. 
     
     
         4 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mast each comprise a top portion that is configured to receive the respective bearing assembly, wherein the top portion is configured to absorb the axial forces along the direction of the central rotation axis C. 
     
     
         5 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1 , wherein no stationary connection having a structural purpose is provided between the first and second masts. 
     
     
         6 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the wheel further comprises a plurality of connective elements extending from the first wheel flange to the second wheel flange, wherein the plurality of connective elements is configured to space the first and second wheel flanges from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The amusement ride according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of connective elements are arranged at a radial distance between 80 cm and 300 cm from the central rotation axis C of the wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The amusement ride according to  claim 6 , wherein the connective elements are pins. 
     
     
         9 . The amusement ride according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of connective elements extend from the first wheel flange to the second wheel flange in a direction parallel to the central rotation axis C. 
     
     
         10 . The amusement ride according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of connective elements weights less than 50 kg. 
     
     
         11 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral rim comprises two rings interconnected through a plurality of rim connective elements. 
     
     
         12 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1 , wherein each spoke comprises a first portion extending from the first wheel flange to the peripheral rim and a second portion extending from the second wheel flange to the peripheral rim, and wherein the first and second portion are connected to each other through a plurality of braces. 
     
     
         13 . The amusement ride according to  claim 12 , wherein the braces extend diagonally with respect to the first and second portion. 
     
     
         14 . The amusement ride according to  claim 12 , wherein the wheel further comprises an annular support structure, connecting the spokes to each other, the annular support structure connecting to each spoke at a distance between 40 to 60% of the length of each spoke along its radial direction. 
     
     
         15 . The amusement ride according to  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of diagonal struts are connected to the annular support structure, preferably wherein each spoke comprises two diagonal struts. 
     
     
         16 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral rim inscribes a circle having a diameter of at least 20 m, or at least 50 m. 
     
     
         17 . The amusement ride according to  claim 1 , wherein the amusement ride is transportable. 
     
     
         18 . A wheel for an amusement ride according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method for assembling an amusement ride, the method comprising:
 providing a wheel support structure comprising a first mast having a first bearing assembly and a second mast having a second bearing assembly;   installing a wheel in the wheel support structure by connecting a first wheel flange of the wheel to the first bearing assembly and a second wheel flange of the wheel to the second bearing assembly;   connecting a plurality of connective members to the wheel flanges to extend between the first and second wheel flanges.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of installing the wheel further comprises: connecting a plurality of spokes to the wheel flanges; and unfolding the spokes and providing a plurality of rim connective elements to form a wheel, the wheel configured to rotate around a central rotation axis.