Accelerator Coaster

Product
Accelerator Coaster
Status Discontinued
Number built 15
First built Xcelerator (2002)
Last built Formula Rossa (2010)
Statistics
Manufacturer
 Intamin, Liechtenstein
Type Steel - Launched
Propulsion Hydraulic launch

The Accelerator Coaster is a hydraulically launched roller coaster product designed and sold by Intamin. This type of roller coaster is recognizable for it's long, straight launch track, "top hat" (although this does not appear on all Accelerators), and its magnetic brakes that smoothly stop the train without touching it.

Usually, the ride starts with a top hat, and after that the layout varies widely, ranging from a flat brake run (Top Thrill Dragster) to multiple inversions (Storm Runner).

The Accelerator Coaster has been superseded by Intamin's LSM Launch Coaster, which requires less maintenance.[1]

Trains

On Furius Baco, the seats are arranged at either side of the track, instead of above it, much like on Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster.

Restraints

The Accelerator Coaster use restraints that consist of a U-shaped lap bar that locks into place. The lap bar is also secured by seat belts that run between the legs of riders.[2] On later models, the restraint system features an over-the-shoulder restraint (OTSR) harness designed for comfort and fast loading times.[3] Only two accelerator coasters have a lapbar restraint without the over-the-shoulder harness - Xcelerator and Top Thrill Dragster.

The newer over-the-shoulder design adds to the lapbar and allows for faster load times. With lap-bar designs, riders must rely on a seat belt around their waist as a backup restraint. It must be checked by ride attendants before the lapbar can be lowered, significantly slowing load times. In contrast, the over-the-shoulder restraints are simply held down with a seatbelt. This means that guests can pull down their own restraints and buckle their own belts saving ride attendants time.

Another notable feature is the locking system, which uses two hydraulic cylinders for redundancy (in case one fails) rather than relying on the older ratchet design. While a ratchet-based restraint locks at a one of several positions that can be too loose or uncomfortably tight, the hydraulic system allows the restraints to be pulled down and locked in any position to better match a rider's body dimensions. In the extremely unlikely case where both locking cylinders fail, the restraints are still held down by a seat belt.[4]

Launch system

The Accelerator Coaster's launch system operates on the same basic principle as a Super Soaker water gun, but on a much larger scale. The coaster's power source is several hydraulic pumps, each capable of producing 500 horsepower (370 kW). These pumps push hydraulic fluid into several accumulators. These accumulators are divided into two compartments by a movable piston, one side filled with hydraulic fluid and the other with nitrogen gas. The nitrogen is held in large tanks directly beneath the actual accumulator. As the hydraulic fluid fills the accumulators, it pushes on the pistons, compressing the nitrogen. It takes approximately 45 seconds to pressurize the accumulators with all pumps operating. All of this pressure is released during each launch, which typically lasts between 2 and 4 seconds.

This is the catch-car on Kingda Ka that connects to the train to launch it

The heart of the launch system is a large winch, around which the launch cables are wound. This winch is driven by hydraulic turbines. The two launch cables are attached to the winch on its ends, and run through two grooves on top of the launch track. The cables are attached to the sides of the catch-car, which runs in a trough between the grooves. A third, single retractor cable is attached to the rear of the catch-car, it runs around a pulley wheel at the rear end of the launch track and returns to the hydraulic building along the bottom of the launch track, where it is wound in the opposing direction on the winch's drum.

The train connects to the catch-car with a solid piece of metal known as a "launch dog" that drops down from the center car. The launch dog is normally retracted and is held in place by a small magnet, but the launch area has electrical contacts that demagnetize the magnet and cause the launch dog to drop down. The launch dog drops down at an angle, similar to the chain dog that a lifted coaster uses to connect to the lift chain.

Once the train and catch-car are in position and all is clear, the operator presses the "Launch" button and the launch sequence begins:

  1. The train's launch dog is released.
  2. The drive tires that advance the train to the launch track retract. Because the launch track is sloped slightly upwards, the train rolls backwards a few inches, until it is stopped by the launch dog engaging the catch-car.
  3. The anti-rollback magnetic brakes on the launch track retract.
  4. Approximately five seconds later, the launch valves in the hydraulic room open. The compressed nitrogen in the accumulators forces the hydraulic fluid into the turbines that drive the winch. As the winch winds in the launch cables, the retractor cable is unwound from the winch. After the train moves off the electrical contacts in the launch area, its launch dog is held down only by the force of the accelerating catch-car.
  5. Each section of brakes on the launch track pops back up immediately after the train passes a proximity switch.
  6. When the train reaches full speed and all the pressure in the accumulators has been released, the catch-car, still connected to the train, enters its braking zone. The catch-car uses the same braking configuration as the train, but is much lighter, so it slows down very quickly. As the catch-car begins to slow down, the train's launch dog retracts - the shape where it drops into is a "v" shape, so the dog is forced back into position as it runs over the catch-car and is held in place by the magnet, as the train continues on its way.
  7. Once the catch-car has stopped, the launch system resets - the winch reverses direction, returning the catch-car to the launch area using the third retractor cable, and the pumps begin recharging the accumulators. This normally takes about 45 seconds, after which the next train can be launched.

The number of pumps, accumulators, and turbines varies with the speed the coaster is designed to achieve. Kanonen (the slowest accelerator coaster) has a design speed of 47 mph (76 km/h), one pump, one accumulator, and eight turbines. Kingda Ka (the world's second fastest roller coaster) has a design speed of 128 mph (206 km/h), seven pumps, four accumulators, and 32 turbines. The system as a whole is capable of producing up to 20,800 horsepower (15.5 MW) for each launch, although a typical launch uses less than 10,000 horsepower (7,500 kW).

The catch-car is stopped by magnetic brakes identical to those used to stop the train. In order to give the catch-car room to slow down, only about three quarters of the launch track can actually be used to launch the train, the catch-car needs 64 feet(20m) on a 100 km/h accelerator coaster (and significantly more on a faster coaster like Kingda Ka) to slow to a full stop.

One major advantage of this launch system compared to others is its low power consumption, the hydraulic pumps run constantly and actually use less energy than most chain lift drive motors.[5]

Themeing

The basic launch sequence is often accompanied by various theme elements. The most common is "starting lights" that cycle down from yellow to green, the green light lighting up just as the train begins to accelerate.

Rollbacks

If the train fails to complete the top hat and falls backwards (called a Rollback), it will be brought to a near stop (magnetic brakes cannot completely stop a train) well before the beginning of the launch track. Regardless of the position of the catch-car when the train passes it going backwards, there will be no interference as the train's launch dog will be retracted. After the train slows to a near stop, the brakes will be cycled up and down to control the train's speed until it is back in launch position. On the larger coasters, this "launch reset" process can take more than a minute as the train must be moved very slowly. Once the train is back in launch position, it can be launched again or can be returned to the station.

Installations

Name Height Speed Inversions Park Location Opened Status
Desert Race 63 feet 62.1 mph 0 Heide Park
Germany
May 15, 2007 Operating
Formula Rossa 170 feet 149.1 mph 0 Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
UAE
November 4, 2010 Operating
Furius Baco 46 feet 83.9 mph 1 PortAventura Park
Spain
June 5, 2007 Operating
Kingda Ka 456 feet 128 mph 0 Six Flags Great Adventure
USA
May 21, 2005 Operating
Rita 69 feet 61.1 mph 0 Alton Towers
UK
April 1, 2005 Operating
Senzafiato 59 feet Unknown 0 Miragica
Italy
April 3, 2009 Operating
Skycar 111.6 feet 65.5 mph 1 Mysterious Island
China
December 2005 Operating
Speed Monster 131 feet 56 mph 3 TusenFryd
Norway
April 23, 2006 Operating
Stealth 205 feet 80 mph 0 Thorpe Park
UK
March 15, 2006 Operating
Storm Runner 150 feet 75 mph 3 Hersheypark
USA
May 8, 2004 Operating
Superman Escape 131 feet 62 mph 0 Warner Bros. Movie World
Australia
December 26, 2005 Operating
Top Thrill Dragster 420 feet 120 mph 0 Cedar Point
USA
May 4, 2003 Closed August 15, 2021
Xcelerator 205 feet 82 mph 0 Knott's Berry Farm
USA
June 22, 2002 Operating
Zaturn 205 feet 80 mph 0 Space World
Japan
April 29, 2006 Closed December 31, 2017
Matugani
Formerly Kanonen
79 feet 47 mph 2 Lost Island Theme Park
Liseberg
USA
Sweden
May 20, 2023

April 25, 2005

Operating
Closed December 30. 2016

References

  1. "Intamin brochure". Intamin. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  2. "Kiss The Sky: There's no keeping "Stealth" a secret at Thorpe Park" - IAAPA
  3. Accelerator Coaster: Launch Coaster without Inversions - Intamin
  4. Chance Rides Manufacturing Service Bulletin - National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials
  5. Kanonen - Great firepower at Liseberg - Coasters and more


Intamin