LIMs vs. Hydro

I understand with LIMs, you could theoretically keep a train moving at a constant speed the entire ride if lims were placed along the entire track. As for WT, we all know that the lims stop before the pull-out, and then the kinetic motion takes over and eventually gravity. My question is this: Do the Hydrolic-launched coasters immediately start losing speed after the launch, or are they similar to LIMs to where the speed is constant until the train is released?

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Michael McCormack CP '02: 40
Magnum XL 200: 359 (484)
Millennium Force: 8
Wicked Twister: 28

Good question. I don't know the answer. What I do know is that I have read the LIM's are a great deal more reliable the LSM's in coaster applications. Superman - The Escape is LSM whereas WT is LIM.

There is a pulley that pulls the train the whole length of the launch, which increases the speed through the whole launch. But when the train reaches the end of the pulley (right before it starts going up on Xcelerator), it will start losing speed.

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Brent Haley
Gemini Crew '02

They have to start losing speed, seeing as how the hook only has so much distance to travel before reaching the end of its track.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Actually, I admit, for some reason, I had no idea that the trains were pulled down the track. I thought it was similar to a air launch where you're pushed out. So are hydrolic launches basically similar to say, a slingshot?--not the ride.

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Michael McCormack CP '02: 40
Magnum XL 200: 359 (484)
Millennium Force: 8
Wicked Twister: 28

On Xcelerator, the hydro system sits under the pull-up into the tophat. It has a little sled (much smaller but similar to the one on MF's lift) connected to a cable, which hooks onto the train. The cable is then reeled in at a VERY high speed, dragging the car towards the tophat at 80MPH.

But when I'm riding it, I don't care about any of this stuff. :)

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BirdOfPrey00 said:
I thought it was similar to a air launch where you're pushed out.

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Actually, if you are referring to TA2Ks like Hypersonic XLC, the trains are not "pushed out" by the air. It's the same deal as the hydraulic launch - the train is driven by a cable that it hooks to. In fact, the only major difference between Intamin's hydraulic launch and S&S's air launch is that S&S uses compressed air to drive the cable and Intamin uses pressurized(?) liquid of some sort to drive the cable.

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"Meh."
Wicked twists: 9
Danger: Hgih Voltage!

From how I understand it (which very well could be wrong) the cable is driven by a turbine engine. What happens is that hydraulic fluid sits in a tank. Nitrogen gas is pumped in the same tank to a very high pressure. Since the gas is at that high pressure, when released it shoots the hydraulic fluid into the turbine system, powering the cable.

Here's a bit more information about the launch mechanism.

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Tommy Penner - Variable X
Cedar Point FanBoy since 2001. || (PT) Cruiser Boy since 2002.
What would you say if I told you I met my Homecoming date at Cedar Point?

If the tanks holding the liquid/nitrogen ever get a leak, that generates quite an explosion! Where do you put the tanks to ensure safety in such an (unlikely!) event? Is burying them and putting big concrete reinforcements enough protection? Maybe you bury them on the island?

-- Harley

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CP fan since 68.

Knotts seemed to answer this issue by burrying the equipment in a concrete tomb of sorts. Chernobyl style I guess you could say.

Then going and placing a retail store on top of the concrete tomb...well, that's another story...

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James Draeger
-Captain Sarcasm

According to Amusement Today, the walls are six feet thick... that is EXTREMLY, EXTREMLY, thick.

That seems a bit much. The construction pics from Xcelerator sure didn't look like 6 ft. to me. One ft. sounds more reasonable to me.

I'd guess that a leak would be detected by the computer and in turn shut off the Nitrogen accumulators. Stop the system from pressurizing further and you stop it from leaking worse.

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2002 Raptor Crew
"Hey, Cool. My voice is on the lift"

I think the 6-foot thick section is the middle of that area. The other walls aren't nearly that thick.

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June 28th: LocoBazooka Tour (Sevendust headlining)
July 11th: Korn, Puddle of Mudd, and Deadsy

When did AT say they were six feet thick? We've all seen the construction photos on Twisted Rails, and that ain't six feet. Six feet deep, perhaps, but not thick.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

http://www.twistedrails.com/kbf/mar09-10.shtml

This photo makes it look like there is a maybe six foot thick chunk of cement in the center of the launch mechanism chamber. It is not 'explosion protection.' Explosion protection would be the red thick steel canisters that the mechanism is contained within.

The block of cement is perfectly centered with the launch track-- it is launching an extremely heavy train, and this weight gives the mechanism a very very heavy anchor, and since it is mounted somewhat behind the 6 foot wide ledge, it is held in even more securely. (see http://www.twistedrails.com/kbf/mar31-07.shtml)

-albert

**edited for complete incomprehesibility. didn't really fix it that well. sorry.**
*** This post was edited by alviolin 10/1/2002 3:48:09 AM ***

Jeff, I remember reading the article in Amusement Today that interviewed Jack Falfas (sp) about Xcelerator, and he mentioned the need for six-foot thick walls.

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June 28th: LocoBazooka Tour (Sevendust headlining)
July 11th: Korn, Puddle of Mudd, and Deadsy

So then AT was wrong. You guys pick apart every incorrect newspaper article that hits the stands. Why do you want to believe this one is The Word? Look hard, there is no six-foot wall.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Those "red thick steel canisters" are part of the launch mechanism. That's the spot where the hydralic fluid is contained before it's forced into the turbine of sort. Look at some of the later pictures and you can see smaller red tanks, the storage for the nitrogen.

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2002 Raptor Crew
"Hey, Cool. My voice is on the lift"

I'm not claiming that the walls aren't six feet thick, just that I'm stating what I read in the Article...obviously they were misinformed.

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June 28th: LocoBazooka Tour (Sevendust headlining)
July 11th: Korn, Puddle of Mudd, and Deadsy

If this is a Hydro launched ride...Why isnt CP building the "tomb" enclousure for the Nitro tanks....in these pics looks like Knotts started the Construction of the "tombs" pretty early.

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Guess who's back....back again ;)