Completely pre-assembled energy supply for gondola lift in fairground ride

Problem

Already in the same year that the transportable rafting track "Wild 'n Wet" was presented, the attraction had to prove itself in the load test. In the first days of Bremen's Freimarkt alone, 15,000 trips were made on the rafting track. But there was not a single interruption.
This is also due to the energy supply system, which reliably moves all the cables of the 20-metre-high gondola lift. This elevator takes the gondolas, which are designed for up to 9 passengers, to the starting point of the white-water ride. From there, the turbulent slide through the serpentine water tube winds downwards begins. In a few seconds, the lift overcomes the 20-meter distance.
The Trier-based elevator manufacturer Baasch & Didong GmbH, which was entrusted with the implementation of the lifts, had to find a suitable solution for the aforementioned cable routing. Since 1998, Baasch & Didong have built elevators for three stationary lifts in Phantasialand near Cologne and in Belantis Park near Leipzig, among others. The special challenge for the energy supply system: When the gondola is raised, it rotates 180 degrees around the elevator construction on its platform. The 180-degree rotation also exerts centrifugal forces on the parts.
At the same time, the platform emptied at the top rotates downwards in the opposite direction to accommodate the next gondola.
But that's not all. All parts of the elevator, including the energy supply system, are also permanently exposed to wind and weather. Due to the constant sunlight, a chain made of UV-resistant material that does not become brittle was required. Normal plastic would quickly become brittle here. The same applies to the insulation of the power cables. Recently, heat, frost and moisture must not be able to affect the pipeline. Not only rain showers, but also splashing water from the attraction itself must not have any effect on the reliability of the system.
Once the funfair is over, the attraction and all the equipment must also be dismantled quickly in the shortest possible time and transported to the next location. This required a ready-to-connect energy chain that was already crisscrossed with the right cables.

Solution

The electricity for the elevator is transported via two robust and reliable, fully assembled E4/4 energy chains (3838 series), which extend from the power connection at the bottom of the elevator to the power connection of the generators on the platforms. The fully assembled energy chain, the so-called "readychain", brings several advantages to the user. From the procurement of all necessary special parts to the provision of the ready-to-connect system on a fixed assembly date, the customer efficiently and securely transfers its entire procurement logistics to the supplier.

When it comes to automating machines and systems, there are a number of different reasons to opt for pre-assembled energy supply systems. Production costs are reduced, and sources of error are virtually eliminated. The project planning effort is reduced and reliability increases. Together with the field staff, the requirements for the overall system were defined on site before an individually assembled "readychain" energy supply system was put together.

The chain itself is made of special plastic, which is light but almost indestructible. The energy chains not only withstand the mechanical loads caused by the sometimes-fast movements, but also protect the cables in the chain from damage. In order to remain stable even with the centrifugal forces following the 180-degree rotation, the E4/4 has a so-called rear grip. This design trick ensures that when rolling up and down in the bend, the front chain link engages with the next one and thus stabilizes it.

In the "Wild 'n Wet" winding, the two E4/4 energy chains run wear-resistant in guide channels. During the rapid upward ride with simultaneous rotation, this prevents a swing to the sides. The e-chain is so silent that not even a quiet humming sound can be heard. The smooth running is an indication of low friction, low vibrations and thus a longer service life. The energy chain protects the power cables housed inside from damage.