Accelerator Coaster

Accelerator Coaster
Statistics
Status	In Production
First installation	Xcelerator (2002)
No. installations	15
Manufacturer	Intamin AG
Restraint system	Over-the-shoulder, Lap-bar

The Accelerator Coaster is a hydraulically-launched roller coaster model designed and sold by Intamin AG. This type of roller coaster is recognizable for its long, straight launch track, "top hat" (although this does not appear on all Accelerators), and its magnetic brakes that smoothly stop the train without touching it.

Usually, the ride starts with a top hat, and after that the layout varies widely, ranging from a flat brake run (Top Thrill Dragster} to multiple inversions (Storm Runner).

Trains

On Furius Baco, the seats are arranged at either side of the track, instead of above it, much like on X.

Restraints

The Accelerator Coaster use restraints that consist of a U-shaped lap bar that locks into place. The lap bar is also secured by seat belts that run between the legs of riders. On later models, the restraint system features an over-the-shoulder restraint (OTSR) harness designed for comfort and fast loading times. Only two accelerator coasters have a lapbar restraint without the over-the-shoulder harness - Xcelerator and Top Thrill Dragster.

File:DSC03753.jpg

Over the shoulder restraints on Rita at Alton Towers

The newer over-the-shoulder design adds to the lapbar and allows for faster load times. With lap-bar designs, riders must rely on a seat belt around their waist as a backup restraint. It must be checked by ride attendants before the lapbar can be lowered, significantly slowing load times. In contrast, the over-the-shoulder restraints are simply held down with a seatbelt. This means that guests can pull down their own restraints and buckle their own belts saving ride attendants time.

Another notable feature is the locking system, which uses two hydraulic cylinders for redundancy (in case one fails) rather than relying on the older ratchet design. While a ratchet-based restraint locks at a one of several positions that can be too loose or uncomfortably tight, the hydraulic system allows the restraints to be pulled down and locked in any position to better match a rider's body dimensions. In the extremely unlikely case where both locking cylinders fail, the restraints are still held down by a seat belt.

Launch system

The Accelerator Coaster's launch system operates on the same basic principle as a Super Soaker water gun, but on a much larger scale. The coaster's power source is several hydraulic pumps, each capable of producing 500 horsepower (370 kW). These pumps push hydraulic fluid into several accumulators. These accumulators are divided into two compartments by a movable piston, one side filled with hydraulic fluid and the other with nitrogen gas. The nitrogen is held in large tanks directly beneath the actual accumulator. As the hydraulic fluid fills the accumulators, it pushes on the pistons, compressing the nitrogen. It takes approximately 45 seconds to pressurize the accumulators with all pumps operating. All of this pressure is released during each launch, which typically lasts between 2 and 4 seconds.

This is the catch-car on Kingda Ka that connects to the train to launch it.

The heart of the launch system is a large winch, around which the launch cables are wound. This winch is driven by hydraulic turbines. The two launch cables are attached to the winch on its ends, and run through two grooves on top of the launch track. The cables are attached to the sides of the catch-car, which runs in a trough between the grooves. A third, single retractor cable is attached to the rear of the catch-car, it runs around a pulley wheel at the rear end of the launch track and returns to the hydraulic building along the bottom of the launch track, where it is wound in the opposing direction on the winch's drum.

The train connects to the catch-car with a solid piece of metal known as a "launch dog" that drops down from the center car. The launch dog is normally retracted and is held in place by a small magnet, but the launch area has electrical contacts that demagnetize the magnet and cause the launch dog to drop down. The launch dog drops down at an angle, similar to the chain dog that a lifted coaster uses to connect to the lift chain.

Once the train and catch-car are in position and all is clear, the operator presses the "Launch" button and the launch sequence begins:

1. The train's launch dog is released.
2. The drive tires that advance the train to the launch track retract. Because the launch track is sloped slightly upwards, the train rolls backwards a few inches, until it is stopped by the launch dog engaging the catch-car.
3. The anti-rollback magnetic brakes on the launch track retract.
4. Approximately five seconds later, the launch valves in the hydraulic room open. The compressed nitrogen in the accumulators forces the hydraulic fluid into the turbines that drive the winch. As the winch winds in the launch cables, the retractor cable is unwound from the winch. After the train moves off the electrical contacts in the launch area, its launch dog is held down only by the force of the accelerating catch-car.
5. Each section of brakes on the launch track pops back up immediately after the train passes a proximity switch.
6. When the train reaches full speed and all the pressure in the accumulators has been released, the catch-car, still connected to the train, enters its braking zone. The catch-car uses the same braking configuration as the train, but is much lighter, so it slows down very quickly. As the catch-car begins to slow down, the train's launch dog retracts - the shape where it drops into is a "v" shape, so the dog is forced back into position as it runs over the catch-car and is held in place by the magnet, as the train continues on its way.
7. Once the catch-car has stopped, the launch system resets - the winch reverses direction, returning the catch-car to the launch area using the third retractor cable, and the pumps begin recharging the accumulators. This normally takes about 45 seconds, after which the next train can be launched.

The number of pumps, accumulators, and turbines varies with the speed the coaster is designed to achieve. Kanonen (the slowest accelerator coaster) has a design speed of 47 mph (76 km/h), one pump, one accumulator, and eight turbines. Kingda Ka (the world's second fastest roller coaster) has a design speed of 128 mph (206 km/h), seven pumps, four accumulators, and 32 turbines. The system as a whole is capable of producing up to 20,800 horsepower (15.5 MW) for each launch, although a typical launch uses less than 10,000 horsepower (7,500 kW).

The catch-car is stopped by magnetic brakes identical to those used to stop the train. In order to give the catch-car room to slow down, only about three quarters of the launch track can actually be used to launch the train, the catch-car needs 64 feet(20m) on a 100 km/h accelerator coaster (and significantly more on a faster coaster like Kingda Ka) to slow to a full stop.

One major advantage of this launch system compared to others is its low power consumption, the hydraulic pumps run constantly and actually use less energy than most chain lift drive motors.

Theming

The basic launch sequence is often accompanied by various theme elements. The most common is "starting lights" that cycle down from yellow to green, the green light lighting up just as the train begins to accelerate.

Rollbacks

If the train fails to complete the top hat and falls backwards (called a Rollback), it will be brought to a near stop (magnetic brakes cannot completely stop a train) well before the beginning of the launch track. Regardless of the position of the catch-car when the train passes it going backwards, there will be no interference as the train's launch dog will be retracted. After the train slows to a near stop, the brakes will be cycled up and down to control the train's speed until it is back in launch position. On the larger coasters, this "launch reset" process can take more than a minute as the train must be moved very slowly. Once the train is back in launch position, it can be launched again or can be returned to the station.

Installations

Name	Height	Speed	Inversions	Park	Location	Opened
Desert Race	63 ft (19 m)	62.1 mph (99.9 km/h)	0	Heide Park	Soltau, Lower Saxony, Germany	2007
Formula Rossa	170 ft (52 m)	149.1 mph (240.0 km/h)	0	Ferrari World Abu Dhabi	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	2010
Furius Baco	46 ft (14 m)	83.9 mph (135.0 km/h)	1	PortAventura Park	Salou, Tarragona, Spain	2007
Kanonen	79 ft (24 m)	47 mph (76 km/h)	2	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Göteborgs-Bohus, Sweden	2005
Kingda Ka	456 ft (139 m)	128 mph (206 km/h)	0	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, New Jersey, USA	2005
Rita	69 ft (21 m)	61.1 mph (98.3 km/h)	0	Alton Towers	Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK	2005
Senzafiato	59 ft (18 m)	62.14 mph (100 km/h)	0	Miragaica	Molfetta, Puglia, Italy	2009
Skycar	112 ft (34 m)	57 mph (92 km/h)	1	Mysterious Island	Zhuhai, Guangdong, China	2005
Speed Monster	131 ft (40 m)	56 mph (90 km/h)	3	TusenFryd	Vinterbro, Oslo, Norway	2006
Stealth	205 ft (62 m)	84 mph (135 km/h)	0	Thorpe Park	Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK	2006
Storm Runner	150 ft (46 m)	75 mph (121 km/h)	3	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA	2004
Superman Escape	131 ft (40 m)	62 mph (100 km/h)	0	Warner Bros. Movie World	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia	2005
Top Thrill Dragster	420 ft (130 m)	120 mph (190 km/h)	0	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio, USA	2003
Xcelerator	205 ft (62 m)	82 mph (132 km/h)	0	Knott's Berry Farm	Buena Park, California, USA	2002
Zaturn	213 ft (65 m)	81 mph (130 km/h)	0	Space World	Yahata Higashi, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan	2006

Blitz Coaster

Intamin also manufactures a very similar model known as a "Blitz Coaster", which uses LSMs rather than a hydraulic launch. The most notable of these models are Maverick at Cedar Point, Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa, and Taron at Phantasialand.