Track to support dampers?

[Dirk_Ermen]

Okay, I've noticed something today on Xcelerator in Knott's. On both turns after the top hat there are several connectors, with some kind of dampers in between, to probably cushion the movement onto the supports. Here's a couple pictures to show what I mean:

Those type of connectors...


You can see the dampers in between the pieces of steel.


As you can see, It's not mounted onto every support.




A bit harder to see but it's also on the other turn underneath the top hat.


Also I don't understand that it's only mounted on a couple supports.
So my question remains: Why are these on Xcelerator and not on any other coasters (to my knowledge)? All coasters flex when a train runs over the tracks. Some a tad more than others depending on the strength of the track but that's usually compromised by the amount of supports.
So why does Xcelerator has to be the special coaster to have these type of connectors?

My only guess is that it's a prototype...

[hyyyper]

It could be prototype intamin created, to test something out.

Or perhaps there was not enough space to put more supports, resulting in a more flexible track, which has to be compensated.

Perhaps the support could not be made a flexible as they wanted, and therefore made the connection more flexible.

B&M has had something similar for years and less bulky...
http://www.rcdb.com/1.htm?p=6518
http://www.rcdb.com/1365.htm?p=11128
http://www.rcdb.com/4079.htm?p=21366
http://www.rcdb.com/4079.htm?p=33039

[hyyyper]

^Those seem to be for thermal expansion. The one's on Xcelerator look like they're built for a smaller timescale.

perhaps for an earthquake?

I immediately thought earthquake when I saw that, too. California is known as a hotspot for earthquakes, and it wouldn't surprise me if most structures out there had some sort of damping system. The question remains, though, why this system is only on a few supports and not all of them...

It looks like they're only on the overbanked supports.

Originally posted by CKidd

perhaps for an earthquake?

That's my thought too. Or if not for something as major as earthquakes, perhaps to compensate for tectonic plate movement.

[hyyyper]

tectonic plate movement.

Originally posted by hyyyper

tectonic plate movement.

Laugh all you want. Some structures are built in such a manner that they won't be destroyed by the plates in the earth moving. If this coaster was built in an area that's particularly prone to earthquakes, it wouldn't be entirely out of the question.

He's laughing because what you said is nonsense. The tectonic plate movement would have nothing substantial to do with these dampers; just possibly the earthquakes that this movement causes sometimes.

That's a cool find though Dirk, I'm surprise it wasn't brought to the surface before. I think they look pretty effective too.

[Coasterkidmwm]

Whatever happened to painting the ride?

Both of these are ways to transfer certain kinds of movement to the supports but not others. On Xcelerator that means that the track can bear on the support vertically, but is free to move laterally. The B&M supports you found will transfer vertical and horizontal loads, but not moments (twisting motion, or torque) in either direction.

In English, all this means is that stresses on the supports are lower (read: "supports can be smaller and cheaper to build") than if the support was rigidly attached to the track (which has its place in the design too). You'll see simpler versions of these types of support connections in bridges if you pay attention next time you're on a highway.

[yoshifreak]

I believe the seismic activity theory may hold some water because not only are they seen on Xcelerator, but also on Thunder Dolphin and California Screamin. Any more instances would help make the case, but three instances in high seismic zones does suggest something. As to why they're not on every support I'm not exactly sure, but it probably has to do with meeting safety requirements while still balancing the extra cost of adding them. There are far more of them on Screamin and Thunder Dolphin then on Xcelerator as well, so if you're looking for more photos they're not hard to find.





As said before they could be in place to alleviate some of the lateral movement that might be experience during an earthquake, but in all honesty this is all just speculation.

[Dirk_Ermen]

Now that you mention about California Screaming, I noticed them EVERYWHERE on that coaster. Not unlike Xcelerator in specific parts. So the reasoning about earthquakes is reasonable. But now I'm curious why something like that isn't installed on all the other coasters in the area? There are plenty of other big coasters that don't have them...

What about all the B&M Rides at Cedar Point where we dont have any viable fault lines for VERY long distances? And then the randomness of those areas?

Actually I cant find any reason why B&M does it. Youd initially think higher stress areas but look at this pic I took of Mantis near the end when its painfully slow:



The bottom and left support, youll see the connector is on a ball. That moves up a down a little bit. Ive watched it on the areas near the pathways. Same for the ones on Raptor.


If it were for earthquakes, there would be more of them or every support would have them. This is related to the ride and its forces, not mother natures forces.

So while I dont have a clue why, I am fairly certain its not for an earthquake. It would be more consistent.

[Coasterkidmwm]

I think it's for areas of high torque. Lets the track bend easier.

thats a sick photo

Originally posted by Coasterkidmwm

I think it's for areas of high torque. Lets the track bend easier.

That's what my brain initially went to. Basically, areas of "Dynamic Forces" where you've got either strong or forces in several directions.

Like there's one under a Zero G Roll on Inverts. Sure its not pulling many G's vertically but it is torquing the track a lot I would think.


Kyle - Mantis has quite a few areas of really cool just track photos. This is one of them I think.

Ik i have seen it in person. That picture is on the verge of being pornographic.. it should be illegal for those curves to be so openly exposed to the <18 gp

No it's to make installation easier.

If you have followed the evolution of B & M track, you remember how it used to have ball and socket joints on the bottom of track pieces to facilitate the installation process. Now the steel fabricator has tightened the tolerances to within one millimeter for all measurements. This has eliminated the need for the joints and also eliminated the need for the customer to continue lubricating those joints for the life of the roller coaster. While this seems like a small thing, coasters can last for a long time if properly maintained so customers really appreciate any small savings that continue to add up year after year.

Taken from a NewsPlusNotes.com article here

There ya go. Interesting reason. Pretty lame reason too. Just so they could have looser tolerances on it? Just do it right the first time and you can eliminate something like that. Took a long time for that.

^ It only applies to the B & M connectors not the intamin ones.

[AyTrane]

The ones on Screamin' may have something to do with noise suppression.