Push-type gas springs pull the whitewater pods back to “shore” after the ride

Inno Heege‘s white water rides can be found in amusement parks all over the world. The pods are individually designed according to the wishes of the park management.

The task should actually require pull-type gas springs

The outer ring, to which the “pods” are attached, rotates. The centrifugal force pushes the pods outward. With the help of a steering wheel in the pod, the “driver” can control the rudder underneath the pod and thus influence how far it drifts outward. The pods and their rudders turn the water into “white water”. When the ride is over, the pod is pulled back to the outer ring and thus to the platform, so that you can get off again comfortably and safely. The function would require a pull type gas spring, because the deflected chain must be pulled again and again towards the platform in the middle.

But this is not possible in this case for several reasons: Pull-type gas springs require more space due to their design. In addition, the gas springs must have relatively high force in this application, but at the same time, the stroke must be correspondingly long. To avoid the risk of bending, the piston rod must have a larger diameter than would be possible with a comparable pull type gas spring.

In addition, pull type gas springs do not offer as many variation possibilities as push type gas springs. For whitewater pods, it is important that the piston rod of the gas spring does not extend too quickly, as this could result in jerky movements of the pod.

This is why a gas spring with floating piston was selected, in which the extension speed can be greatly reduced depending on the application.

Thanks to an ingenious design, all functions are realized with the help of push-type gas springs

In order to take advantage of all these benefits of a push type gas spring, Inno Heege has integrated a complex mechanism into the system which redirects the compression forces of the gas spring so that it always exerts tension on the chain.

The gas springs used have several functions:

• Although it is a push type gas spring, it uses a mechanism devised by Inno Heege to ensure that the pods are pulled back into the park position to the middle platform after the ride.
• The pod is reliably held in place for safe entry and exit.
• During the ride, the gas spring also works by pulling the pod against the centrifugal force towards the middle platform again and again. The “passengers” can effortlessly influence the course of the ride with the steering wheel in the pod thanks to the balanced force ratios that result. This is the only way to really enjoy the ride.