From rotation to fun: e-chain circular module in the PowerSplash water ride

Load cables, signal cables and pneumatic hoses safely guided in the pivoting gate

At 100km/h and a drop of 45m, the "PowerSplash" launch coaster races through the water in the Walibi amusement park in Belgium. To ensure that passengers can board and disembark safely, the developers of the water ride from the company MACK Rides installed a pivoting gate, which made special demands on the energy supply. igus provided the right solution with a rotary module.

What was needed: guiding device for the load cables, signal cables and pneumatic hoses under the pivoting gate
Requirements: movement of the cables by +/-180°, suitable for high loads, long service life, minimum installation and maintenance requirements
Industry: amusement rides
Success for the customer: a modular igus rotating energy supply consisting of two vertical e-chains and a guiding device reliably moves the many cables in both directions. The system is robust and space-saving, is designed by our engineering specialists, delivered ready for connection and installed by us upon request.

RBR energy supply in the PowerSplash coaster from MACK Rides

Problem

The designers at MACK Rides equipped the PowerSplash with a pivoting gate as a station element between the station building and the roller coaster area. These stations allow passengers to get in and out comfortably while on the other side the next boat starts its ride on the actual rail. A suitable energy supply was needed for the many load cables, signal cables and pneumatic hoses. It has to be able to rotate the cables by 180° in both directions. The revolving platform has a diameter of 12.4m, is 4.9m high and, together with the two boats, has an impressive weight of 40 to 59t.

Solution

The igus engineering team provided the perfect solution: a modular rotating energy supply consisting of a double side-mounted energy chain in a guide rail. It ensures that the pivoting movement and the movements of the disc are implemented and guide the cables safely and without damage. With the help of specially shaped chain supports, any height offsets that occur during operation can be compensated for. To save time, money and effort, the PowerSplash designers opted for a ready-to-use harnessed readychain system, which our engineering team installed directly under the rotary disc.

Ready-to-connect energy chain systems such as the rotary module are designed, harnessed, assembled and tested at igus in Cologne. This means that the customer receives a system with a guarantee from one source.

The PowerSplash is a launch coaster in which the boat is propelled forwards and backwards with over 2000HP until it reaches a drop height of 45m and 100km/h.

A pivoting gate serves as an element of the station. While the passengers of one boat change, the second boat turns into the actual roller coaster rail.

RBR energy supply in PowerSplash water ride

Compactly installed under the revolving platform: a rotary module with two energy chains from igus ensures reliable guidance of the many cables and hoses.