AZ Kinda Guy Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 OK, the Drop Zone thread above had me thinking. Now CYoung mentioned in that post that PKD's DZ has its machine room at the bottom instead of the top like KI's DZ. I really don't see how this could be for several reasons. First, where would the cables spool at at the bottom? Second, where do you put the motors to raise and lower the "catch car"? Now one could simply answer this by saying underground but I don't see how this could be. Think about it, you still have a good length of tower that extends below ground so the mentioned items couldn't go directly below the above ground portion of the tower. I believe that PKD's machine room lies at the top of the tower just like PKI's. A quick comparison of the ring of seats on each model will show you that PKD's APPEARS to be much lighter than PKI's version. Ok, so now your saying "But PKD's has 56 seats and PKI's has 40 seats making PKD's heavier. That doesn't make sense." Ah but it does. If you notice, KDs version has almost a spoke-like design. Therefore, having less metal. A look at KIs will show you that there is a greater amount of metal supporting the ring of seats. Meaning, more weight for the catch car to raise. Also, KIs is designed to spin on the way up, KDs is not. Since there is no spinning there is less weight. How so? Well obviously you need motors and wheels to spin the thing so if those aren't there, less weight. Now I'm not an Intamin engineer but after operating DZ for four years I've learned a few things about the mechanics of the ride just by simple observation. I could be wrong and KDs machine room could very well lie at the bottom. Or I could be right. Either way, go ahead and add your two cents if you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastfreak Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 Sparky, I believe you are correct in saying that the machines are in the top at PKD just like at PKI. The only difference I believe is that the ring of seats are different like you pointed out. In PKI's and I'm sure PKD's there is a small elevator that runs up the inside to the machines in the top. That is also there on PKD's. Now, if the motors were on the bottom then there would need to be room inside the tower for the cables to rise upand back down the outside, plus room at the bottom for the pulleys to redirect the cables to the motors, most likely that would be off to the side above ground (cause its easier). But that just makes things very complicated and require a much greater length of cable. Plus, all the extra weight of cable is just more for the motor to pull. So, overall it is just easier to put the motors in the top and leave them there for all models. Its proven that it works, why change it? Now I am an engineer, but not an Intamin engineer, and that is just my opinion. Plus, I visited PKD this summer and saw no room around the base of the tower that would indicate that it held any kind of motors or cable systems inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradb055 Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 From an engineering stand point, like beastfreak, putting the motor at the top seems to be an easier design. Of coarse I didnt design DZ so I could be completly wrong. The additional weight of the cable would be a serious issue considering the cable would have to be at least an extra 300 feet long. Thats a lot of weight!!! The passenger carrier seems to have a lighter design but by the time an extra 14 people are added, the weight is dramaticly increased. The design of PKD DZ also seems to be more airodynamicly efficent. This, would help it reach the faster speed along with the further drop. I am in total agreement with the both of you but then again I have never seen PKD's DZ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CYoung2003 Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 I see what you mean. I dont know its kind of something I've been wondering about for awhile. I guess it does kinda not make any sense. The way I always pictured it was there was a motor underground with pullys and the cables ran up through the tower by following a metal track (the elevator would still be there), and more pullys up top and spool out the sides and onto the catch car. Thats the way I always saw PKD's, I know KI's wouldnt be able to do that because like Sparky said, the weight of the chair ring. PKD's is more light than PKI's. But I guess more and more I think about it, the more impossible and time hassling it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DegenRider Posted October 23, 2003 Share Posted October 23, 2003 Factoid about PKD's model. It has more seats beacuse its not a gyro drop. Its a Gaint Drop. PKD decided to have more seats instead of the seats gyrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losing Streak Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 The box on the top looks to be about the same size, so I'd have to go with the motors being on top. But their color scheme is way better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastfreak Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 I like our color scheme better, but its fading... fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DegenRider Posted October 24, 2003 Share Posted October 24, 2003 Face off needs a new paint job. Its gotten REEEEEEEEAAAAAALLLLLLY bad. Drop zone looks new compared to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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