Some need restaintes others don't
The answer is that NO coaster *needs* shoulder restraints (excepting Stand-Up and Flying Dutchman models, and a case could be made for not having them on the stand-ups...).
The shoulder bar as we now know it was invented in 1975 and is credited to Thomas Milton Humphries. The patent is #4,005,877. Its first use was on the Corkscrew roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm; I would be interested to see if there is any earlier use of a shoulder bar on an amusement ride. There is not, to the best of my knowledge.
Earlier ride designers, most notably Lee Eyerly, demonstrated that an inverted rider is effectively secured by a lap restraint, and nobody has yet demonstrated to me convincingly that a shoulder bar is any more effective. In fact, I have seen some particularly frightening demonstrations that shoulder bars are in fact neither appropriate nor adequate for effectively securing riders. This tells me that the benefit of the shoulder bar is primarily that it *looks* more effective than other means.
Arrow Development (and by extension Arrow-Huss and Arrow Dynamics) have adopted the shoulder bar for use on their multi-element looping coasters. Iron Dragon has shoulder bars because Arrow's suspended coaster tub uses essentially the same seat molds as the multi-element looping coaster...a seat design which is already optimized to accommodate shoulder bars instead of lap bars. In fact, Iron Dragon could probably run safely with no active restraints at all.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
The shoulder bar as we now know it was invented in 1975 and is credited to Thomas Milton Humphries. The patent is #4,005,877. Its first use was on the Corkscrew roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm; I would be interested to see if there is any earlier use of a shoulder bar on an amusement ride. There is not, to the best of my knowledge.
Earlier ride designers, most notably Lee Eyerly, demonstrated that an inverted rider is effectively secured by a lap restraint, and nobody has yet demonstrated to me convincingly that a shoulder bar is any more effective. In fact, I have seen some particularly frightening demonstrations that shoulder bars are in fact neither appropriate nor adequate for effectively securing riders. This tells me that the benefit of the shoulder bar is primarily that it *looks* more effective than other means.
Arrow Development (and by extension Arrow-Huss and Arrow Dynamics) have adopted the shoulder bar for use on their multi-element looping coasters. Iron Dragon has shoulder bars because Arrow's suspended coaster tub uses essentially the same seat molds as the multi-element looping coaster...a seat design which is already optimized to accommodate shoulder bars instead of lap bars. In fact, Iron Dragon could probably run safely with no active restraints at all.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
I read that coasters have shoulder harrnesses to make the rider FEEL more safe. Its all in our minds,people are scared just by the inversion, add more protection (even if there is no need for it) people will feel better about riding.
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14 and counting
See my Po!nt?
"Dont post if there is nothing to post about"
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14 and counting
See my Po!nt?
"Dont post if there is nothing to post about"
First look at a returning Millennium Force train and see how secure those riders obviously feel on that train.
Then go stand on the platform in the railway station and watch a Millennium Force train go through the very last turnaround. You can see it best from the outside of the curve.
'Nuff said.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Then go stand on the platform in the railway station and watch a Millennium Force train go through the very last turnaround. You can see it best from the outside of the curve.
'Nuff said.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
The fact is, when the force of the ride is pulling you in to your seat, OTSR's are completely pointless. Yes, you could ride Corkscrew without the restraint if it weren't for the front seat air on the hop. MF's overbanked turns always keep you in the seat because the forces at work are always under your butt. MF has no lateral forces.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 23
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 23
Even if you somehow got STUCK in a loop, where would you rather your weight being supported, on your thighbones (among the thickest, strongest bones in your body), or your collarbones (which are comparatively easy to break, and PAINFUL when it happens...)
I know which *I'D* pick, given the choice. Give me lapbars over horsecollars ANY day...
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/ *** This post was edited by GregLeg1 on 5/16/2000. ***
I know which *I'D* pick, given the choice. Give me lapbars over horsecollars ANY day...
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--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/ *** This post was edited by GregLeg1 on 5/16/2000. ***
Having ridden Outer LIMits at Kings Island, where because the train STOPS on the mid-course brake, the train goes so slowly through the fourth inversion...a Corkscrew...that the forces needed to hold you in the seat simply are not there, I can say with some certainty that I would rather have a lap bar for the corkscrew than a shoulder bar. Why? Because the shoulder bar does NOTHING to secure the body at its center of gravity. When riding alone, I ended up sliding to the other seat and dislocating my outboard shoulder. The truth is that lateral forces ought to be handled by the seat structure anyway, not by the lap- or shoulder-bar.
I'm just gratified to see that other people are now posting my arguments for me... :)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
The only ride that I can think of that totally utilizes the over-the-shoulder harness is the turbo drop side of Power Tower. But even so, you could probably get away with just lap bars here as well, but, personally, on PT I like the secure feeling. Notice, this preference is for a non-coaster.
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Anticipated CP trips:
May 17, 23, June 2...
Autographs by Request.
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Anticipated CP trips:
May 17, 23, June 2...
Autographs by Request.
I dont know if any of you have ever visited Kings Dominion in VA(close to me down here in MD), but the ride Anaconda is a good example of the pain overhead restraints can cause. Some rides are simply not designed well and like the final two inversions on Anaconda (corkskrews) can be very painful on the rider. on that note do MFs restraints act as a normal lap bar or are they positoned diferently, because all i have been reading is the level of comfort that they have over other restraints
On Millennium Force it's just a standard lap bar. The big difference is that it does not surround your legs, and because it is all-hydraulic (I think) it is very stiff. Once locked, it can be pulled down, but you have to apply force to move it. It will not fall down during the ride, and there are no adjustment notches. You put it where you want it, and it stays there until one of the attendants comes along and rams it hard into your gut.
(In fairness that only happened on my first ride...)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
(In fairness that only happened on my first ride...)
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
One reason is that the shoulder restaint does not let the rider move foward. Ona ride like Power Tower the Shoulder restaint is probable needed because the rider has the abillity to lean foward wich could cause an injury(if there was a lap bar the rider could do this).
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Live for FUN!
*** This post was edited by MagnumFAN on 5/16/2000. ***
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Live for FUN!
*** This post was edited by MagnumFAN on 5/16/2000. ***
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