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

In the same year that the transportable rafting ride "Wild 'n Wet" was launched, the attraction had to prove itself in a stress test. In the first few days of the Bremen Freimarkt alone, 15,000 rides were taken on the rafting railway. But there were not a single interruption.
The energy supply system, which reliably moves all the cables of the 20 metre high gondola lift, also played a part in this. This lift 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 begins. The lift covers the 20 metre distance in just a few seconds.
The Trier-based lift manufacturer Baasch & Didong GmbH, which was entrusted with the realisation of the lifts, had to find a suitable solution for the aforementioned cable routing. Since 1998, Baasch & Didong has built lifts for three stationary rides at Phantasialand near Cologne and Belantis Park near Leipzig, among others. The particular challenge for the energy supply system was that the gondola rotates 180 degrees around the lift structure on its platform as it rises. The 180-degree rotation also causes centrifugal forces to act on the parts. 
At the same time, the platform emptied at the top moves downwards in the opposite direction to pick up the next gondola.
But that's not all. All parts of the lift, including the energy supply system, are also permanently exposed to wind and weather. Due to the constant exposure to sunlight, a chain made of UV-resistant material that would not become brittle was required. Normal plastic would quickly become brittle here. The same applies to the insulation of the power cables. Finally, heat, frost and moisture must not be able to damage the cable routing. 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 have to be dismantled quickly and transported to the next location. This required an energy chain that was ready for connection and already had the right cables running through it.

The power for the lift is transported via two robust and reliable, fully assembled energy chains of type E4/4 (Series 3838), which extend from the power connection at the bottom of the lift to the power connection of the units on the platforms.
The fully assembled energy chain, the so-called "readychain®" , offers the user several advantages.
From the procurement of all necessary special parts to the provision of the ready-to-connect system on a fixed installation date, the customer efficiently and securely transfers its entire procurement logistics to the supplier.
When 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. Project planning costs are reduced and reliability is increased. The requirements for the overall system were defined on site together with the sales representatives before a customised "readychain®" cable carrier system was put together.
The chain itself is made of special plastic, which is lightweight but virtually indestructible. The energy chains not only withstand the mechanical loads caused by the sometimes rapid movements, but also protect the cables in the chain from damage. The E4/4 has a so-called rear grip to remain stable even under the centrifugal forces resulting from the 180-degree rotation. This design trick ensures that the front chain link grips into the next chain link when winding and unwinding in the bend, thereby stabilising it.
In the "Wild 'n Wet" lift, the two E4/4-energy chains run wear-resistant in guide channels. This prevents them from swinging to the sides during the rapid upward journey with simultaneous rotation. The e-chain® runs so quietly that not even a low hum can be heard. The smooth running is an indication of low friction, low vibrations and therefore a longer service life. The energy chain protects the power cables housed inside from damage.