thedevariouseffect Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 So just because I love this kind of stuff and wondering if anyone has had access to see it or a better understanding. Has anyone seen inside the tower or understood it's mechanisms & how it works. I get how it's picked up & dropped, & have a general understanding but does anyone have a good technical understanding of an intamin gyro drop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTD-120-420 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/kings-dominion-rollercoasters/38847.html In this video they talk about Kings Dominion's Drop Tower. Around the 14 minute mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbum123 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 You are stopped from crashing into the Earth by the simplicity of magnets. There are metal plates on the carriage that slide between two magnets (multiple sets of course) interrupting the magnetic field and it's the invisible field that is slowing you down. Magnets don't suddenly stop being magnets so you never run the risk of smashing into the concrete below. Simple, effective and an amazing thrill! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Yeah got that because those are the long white strips you see running from about halfway down to base. It also has a failsafe shocks (I believe failsafe) at the bottom of the ride under the gondola (four of them)..Biggest thing I'm looking for are internal mechanics, computer, what top of tower design is like, ect...I'm a technical kinda person lol dunno why but this stuff fascinates me. You don't wanna know what it was like working power tower at Cedar Point. That thing is a technical masterpiece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbum123 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Same here. I am a tech geek by trade. I can't go anywhere without wondering how it works. I spend a good half of my time at KI looking at everything and wondering. I know WindSeekers tower has ladders inside to access the top. (you could see them in the construction pics) I would think DT would have them as well. That climb would suck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Theres a member on this site, that knows Drop Zone/Drop Tower very very well, his name is "AZ Kinda Guy" Give him a PM, I'm sure he be more than happy to share his vast knowledge about the ride. Edit: I'm not 100% sure, but I'm 99% sure the magnets actually just slow you down, what actually stops you are these prongs that are sticking up out of the ground under the tower, you can actually see them when the carriage is lifted up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCrypt Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I would actually like to hear AZ's response. Sounds interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sexy Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Engineering from the creative minds of intamin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 I was ganna say hopefully he takes notice of this thread, I didn't find info elsewhere on the forum so I'm sure if posted here future people may enjoy his reponse. I get that it's probably elevator driven or possibly winched up, would be odd why as counterweight would make more sense . Magnetic braking slows to halt aided by hyraulic/electric pistons on bottom to cushion fall and act as failsafe possibly. Ride unit attaches up top on both sides via a clip, four outer prongs contain motors to move gondola. As for motor placement, height detection, when to drop, ect. overall mechanics I'm at a blank. I could tell you anything about Power Tower or any S&S combo/turbo/space shot towers but never had great in depth with intamin gyro drops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB1 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 There are many here who work at Kings Island, in a myriad of jobs, as well, positions. You never know who really could be on the site! Or who actually works there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 Then post here and let us know the magic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 KI's Drop Tower really isn't all that complicated(mechanically at least) and it really is a what you see is what you get type deal. At the top, there is nothing more than drive motors and large spools for the cables to wrap around. A ride to the top is achieved via a small elevator. At the bottom, there are hydraulic buffers which raise when the gondola is lifted up by the catch car. There are also load cells at the bottom, which do not move, that measure the weight of the gondola. The spinning of the gondola is achieved via motor driven rubber tires on the legs of the catch car with support wheels underneath the gondola. The catching and releasing of the gondola by the catch car is achieved with automated pneumatics. Sit and watch Drop Tower for a few cycles and you will be really astonished with how simply some things are done. Edit: IMO, Intamin got it right with the KD model. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Riding the elevator inside is more terrifying that the actual ride. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Riding the elevator inside is more terrifying that the actual ride. If you go up with someone you're not real close with, you are when you get back down. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 darn I figured it had some special stuff at least going on =/ So is all of that contained within the checkered top piece of the tower basically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 darn I figured it had some special stuff at least going on =/ So is all of that contained within the checkered top piece of the tower basically? Sure is. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted June 11, 2013 Author Share Posted June 11, 2013 Any pics of said area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanofFirehawk Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 So I have a question. The series of magnets running down the bottom of the tower are just magnets, they aren't electro magnets. I find it hard to believe that they are just magnets slowing down a very fast traveling, very heavy gondola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCrypt Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Magnets can be strong. Plain magnets are used on rides like Drop Tower to provide a fail-safe stopping mechanism. Other instances you will see magnets used are on Diamondback, The Beast, and Top Thrill Dragster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanofFirehawk Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Magnets can be strong. Plain magnets are used on rides like Drop Tower to provide a fail-safe stopping mechanism. Other instances you will see magnets used are on Diamondback, The Beast, and Top Thrill Dragster. Those have to be pretty strong magnets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCrypt Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Think about it. How effective would electromagnets be if the power failed? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanofFirehawk Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Think about it. How effective would electromagnets be if the power failed? Yeah, that was kind of what I was getting at. Cause if they were electromagnets they would that would take away the whole "Drop Tower is safe even if the power goes out" aspect about it. I kind of always assumed you guys would have pointed it out earlier, but my father seems to believe only electromagnets can display that level of force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanna Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 You are stopped from crashing into the Earth by the simplicity of magnets. There are metal plates on the carriage that slide between two magnets (multiple sets of course) interrupting the magnetic field and it's the invisible field that is slowing you down. Magnets don't suddenly stop being magnets so you never run the risk of smashing into the concrete below. Simple, effective and an amazing thrill! I think I can ride it now. Thanks. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ Kinda Guy Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Drop Towers magnets are not electromagnets. They are "rare earth magnets" according to Intamin. In other words, they can not fail. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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