How can LIMs malfunction?

So, I'm 99% confident that there will be a launch hill at the beginning of this ride. And, from looking at the track in the staging area, it will have an evacuation stair attached to the side.

So, my question is, what are the different ways a LIM launch hill could malfunction? Could they just not fire and the train would roll back? If so, there would need to be some sort of brakes attached to the hill too, right? Is that why there is a stair on the hill?

I'm guessing if the mid-course launch were to fail in some way, it would roll back to the flat section and then could be re-launched without causing harm.

So, who knows the most about LIMs and how they might malfunction. And, what would you do for safety precautions?

just look at what happend on steel venom, if i'm not mistaken, the fins got out of line and hit the LIM block. *** Edited 9/1/2006 3:12:18 AM UTC by GAM man 68***

Also LIMs require alot of power, which is controled by a transformer. Just like what happend to WT last year the transformer could nuke down providing no power to the LIMs as well as possibly the rest of the ride.

I imagine they'd still have anti-rollbacks on a LIM lift hill. If the power were to go out, or the ride e-stops or has some other sort of problem, you probably wouldn't want the train to come backwards. Just my theory.

So, in a midcourse launch, would they need two blocks? One to catch the coaster if it rolls back, and then one to catch the coaster behind it?

The flat track before the launch will have brakes. Only for the possibility of malfunction.

You guys are so sure of yourselves. Do we know what the ride is or something? That was a quick 7 days.

I'm agreeing with Chris on the anti-rollback idea.

Craig, who wants to wait? Guessing all the way to the exact moment it's announced is fun.:)
I mean I think it's pretty obvious that this coaster will use LIMs and that it will have a lift using LIMs, or use LIMs that are situated on track that is angled (aka a lift:)).

*** Edited 9/1/2006 6:14:58 AM UTC by TTD 120mph***

the roller coaster is going to have cable or chain lift hill and then is going to launch down the hill

Sorry but no evidence is proving or can prove that so far.

TTD 120mph said:
Craig, who wants to wait? Guessing all the way to the exact moment it's announced is fun.:)

While I agree, a comment like this isn't guessing, its false information. It's making a lie or just being way to sure of themselves.

The flat track before the launch will have brakes.

Words such as "most likely" or "will probably" makes much more sense and doesnt' throw off some of those newbies on the forum.

It's either a fact or an idea, (fact=Project 2007 is a red Intamin coaster that stays close to the ground) (idea=Project 2007 will pull through 2000+ pph because it will have ten trains running.)
I know I exzagerated a bit, but you get the idea.

*** Edited 9/1/2006 8:41:23 AM UTC by Gomez*** *** Edited 9/1/2006 8:41:43 AM UTC by Gomez*** *** Edited 9/1/2006 8:42:40 AM UTC by Gomez***

One of the safest assumptions that could be made about this coaster is that there will be brake sections before every launch section. Yeah, we don't know without a doubt, but to think otherwise is right up there with thinking this will have a 500' hill.

With any coaster, there needs to be a fail-safe method to keep the riders safe. So, there will likely be spring-loaded brake fins before each launch in the even of a power outage or massive LIM failure. And the stairs are more likely for inspection/repair purposes, as opposed to an evacuation route, since the train would likely roll back to a brake section in such a situation.

One thing that has been nagging me lately is the qualification regarding a "launch hill". At what angle do we consider it to be a launch hill, rather than simply a launch? For instance, TTD's launch is on an incline, correct? And the launch section recently installed is also on an angle, yet doesn't seem to qualify (based on popular reaction here) as a hill. So, presumably there is a critical angle that would need to be met in order to call an inclined launch a "launch hill". Would it be safe to assume we'd deem it a hill if it meets or exceeds the smallest angle of any operating coaster?

I'd call it a launch hill because it has stairs. TTDs launch has a walkway next to it, so its an incline. Once the angle because steep enough to require stairs, it becomes a hill. Once it goes over a certain point and requires a ladder/elevator, it becomes a tower.

At least that's my take on it.

This sure is a steep hill.

;)

Isn't it though? :)

Once you get to 45 degrees, you run into issues. That's why MF doesn't have stairs. Its just too steep to have them.

So, I'm confident in saying the "launch hill" will be at an angle less than 45 degrees, but more than the mid-course launch. :)

I'm sure they'll have some kind of braking system or something to slow the train down on the launch sections them selfs just in case something goes wrong in the middle of a launch. Hitting a small brake run going backwards at 30+ mph might hurt alittle. ;) SV and WT have small magnetic brakes that come down to help slow/stop the train. As for anti roll backs on a launch incline/hill aren't really needed considering you want the train to roll back so it can be re-launched.

Plan and simple, they will most likely use blocks before launch sections and have magnetic brakes, either as part of the lim box or retrackable(like on SV/WT) on the launch sections.

The difference with WT is the LIMS are on a flat surface, so, if they don't fire for some reason, the train will stop on its own. But, if your launched up an incline and the LIMs fail, the train is going to roll back.

If you look at this picture of California Screamin' http://www.rcdb.com/ig731.htm?picture=2 , it appears to have brakes running down the side. I'm guessing that those serve the purpose of anti-rollbacks.

the brakes on cali screamin are probably the anti rollback for that ride, but project2007 trains will probably not have the outside brake fins like cali screamin or MF, but like dragster where the magnets are under the train and brake fins sticking out of the track. This would also explain the notches in the middle of the track as anti-rollbacks for a launched lift. the look very similer to MF's anti-rollback notches, except MF has two rows instead of one. The lift will probably have fins like the ball coaster prototype to get it up the hill. (I am not saying this will be a ball coaster by the way.)

If this is a LIM launched coaster, the fins will have to be on the coaster and the magnets on the track.