Английская Википедия:Fire Ball
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Redirect Шаблон:Infobox attraction model
The Fire Ball is a type of amusement ride manufactured by Larson International.[1] It replaced a series of Larson rides manufactured prior to its unveiling, the first being the Super Loops and the second being the Ring of Fire. The ride features a roller coaster-type train which rolls along a ring-shaped track, turning riders upside down at the top of the loop. Older models of this ride type have trains with each half of the train facing opposite directions, with a protective metal cage and a rigid lap bar restraining the riders. In 1998, Larson introduced a new roofless, open-air train with over-the-shoulder harnesses and seats that sit riders face-to-face with each other.[2] Some owners of the older Ring of Fire rides have had the caged train replaced with the new Fire Ball train.Шаблон:Citation needed
Though the ride share similarities with that of a roller coaster, notably having a train which rolls along a track, it is often not considered as such since the ride is powered by motorized drive tires, and not by gravity like a roller coaster.
Design
Larson makes three different versions of the ride: The Fire Ball, the 22M Giant Loop, and the Giga Loop 100ft. Each ride provides a similar ride experience, but are larger than each other in terms of both size and capacity.
| Model name | Height/Length | Rider capacity | Transportable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Ball | Шаблон:Convert | 20 passengers | Шаблон:Yes | [5] |
| 22M Giant Loop | Шаблон:Convert | 24 passengers | Шаблон:No | [6] |
| Giga Loop 100 Ft | Шаблон:Convert | 32 passengers | Шаблон:No | [7] |
The ride structure is a large steel boxed-track loop attached to a concrete base or portable trailer with supporting outriggers and steel cables. In this boxed track is a multiple-piece pivoted end-rim (inertia ring) with wheel dogs attached settled within this boxed track. On one section of the rim the train is snugly placed. The rim is run through a shock-absorbent tire drive, which drives the train around the loop.[8]
The ride's train is rocked back and forth at a generous rate, as not to put too much stress on the tire drive. It elevates on every pass through the station until it has gained enough momentum to make it completely around the loop, thus riders experiencing hangtime (the feeling of themselves almost falling out of their seats). Once a number of consecutive loops are made, it can be shifted to go the other direction. It can also be stopped at the top.Шаблон:Citation needed Since the Super Loop-styled rides are tire-driven, even the slightest water build-up on the rim can cause the drive tires to hydroplane on the rim. This action keeps the ride from completing its loop and can sometimes make a loud squeal. Like many amusement rides, these rides should not be operated during inclement weather such as thunderstorms.[1]
Operation
Most, if not all, of the Super Loop-styled rides are manually operated with a toggle handle. Most of these rides have a dead man's operator chair that detects the absence of an operator. This prevents the ride from moving in case the handle is bumped without an operator being sat in the chair. Operators of these rides have to be knowledgeable of weight distribution and speed-to-distance ratio.Шаблон:Citation needed The amount of power needed to operate this ride is 240 volts, 250 amps (60 kW).[1]
These rides have numerous safety features that include:
- Emergency power cut-off button.[1]
- Dead-man's operator chair that detects the absence of an operator.[9]
- Anti-air double-lock harnesses with secondary precaution belt that activates when air is released.[10]
- Pull-up-and-move operation toggle that will only move when tip of handle is compressed.[11]
- Height requirement of Шаблон:Convert.[1]
Park installations
| Name | Park | Country | Model | Opened | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Street Fireball | Six Flags America | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2014 | Шаблон:No | Removed in 2023. |
| Brain Drain | Elitch Gardens | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2014 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Brain Drain | Frontier City | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Chaos
Formerly El Diablo |
La Ronde Six Flags Great Adventure |
Шаблон:Flag iconCanada | 22M Giant Loop | 2019 | Шаблон:Yes | Originally announced as Looping Dragon at Six Flags Great Adventure but was renamed El Diablo before its opening. Closed in 2018 and relocated to La Ronde for the 2019 season. |
| Cyclone | Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | Fire Ball | 2012 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Dare Devil Chaos Coaster | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | Шаблон:No | Removed in 2022. |
| Delirious | Valleyfair | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2018 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| El Diablo | Six Flags Over Texas | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | Giga Loop 100 Ft | 2019 | Шаблон:Yes | Originally announced as Lone Star Revolution but was renamed El Diablo before its opening. |
| Eye of the Storm | Kentucky Kingdom | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2017 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Fireball | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Fireball | Six Flags New England | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | Шаблон:No | Damaged beyond repair during a storm in 2021. |
| Fireball | Six Flags St. Louis | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Fire Ball | Cliff's Amusement Park | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | Fire Ball | 2013 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Fire Ball | Lake Winnepesaukah | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | Fire Ball | 2012 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Flare | Kemah Boardwalk | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2014 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Giant Loop (环翼飞车) | Happy Valley Shenzhen | Шаблон:Flag iconChina | 22M Giant Loop | 2019 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Greezed Lightnin' | Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Joker: Chaos Coaster | Six Flags Over Georgia | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | Шаблон:No | Removed in 2022 after years of operational difficulties. Replaced by Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster in 2023. |
| Mardi Gras Hangover | Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World Six Flags Great America |
Шаблон:Flag icon United States | Giga Loop 100 Ft | TBD 2018 - 2023 |
Шаблон:No | The first installation of the Giga Loop. |
| Ring of Fire | Clementon Park and Splash World | Шаблон:Flag icon United States | Fire Ball | 2010 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Rolling Thunder | Six Flags Darien Lake | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | Шаблон:Yes | |
| Zero G | Indiana Beach | Шаблон:Flag iconUnited States | Fire Ball | 2016 | Шаблон:No |
References
External links
- Шаблон:Official website at Larson International
- Super Loops at Amusement Ride Extravaganza
