Patent ID: 9669320
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: A63G,F16C

Claim:
1. An observation wheel type ride, comprising: a wheel, comprising: multiple passenger cabins, wherein said passenger cabins are supported by the wheel; a drive mechanism configured for rotating the wheel about its rotational axis; a support structure comprising a support frame and a support axle, wherein the support axle extends through said axial opening provided in the wheel hub and is supported by the support frame and wherein the support structure supports the wheel; two first bearings, the two first bearings each comprising an inner bearing ring and an outer bearing ring, and wherein two first bearings enable rotational movement of the wheel about its rotational axis, and wherein the first bearings are provided at opposite ends of the wheel hub and between the wheel hub and the support axle to rotatably support the wheel hub on the support axle and thus enable rotational movement of the wheel about its rotational axis; a first bearing locking mechanism for each first bearing, said first bearing locking mechanism can selectively be converted between a locking condition, in which the first bearing locking mechanism prevents rotational movement of the first bearing inner bearing ring relative to the first bearing outer bearing ring, and an unlocking condition, in which the first bearing locking mechanism allows for rotational movement of the first bearing inner bearing ring relative to the first bearing outer bearing ring; two second bearings, the second bearings are friction bearings and are each provided between the support axle and the support frame to rotatably support the support axle on the support frame, and thus enable rotational movement of the wheel about its rotational axis when the first bearing locking mechanisms are in their locking condition, wherein the second bearings each comprise an inner bearing ring and an outer bearing ring or outer bearing semi ring; and a second bearing locking mechanism for each second bearing, wherein the second bearing locking mechanism can selectively be converted between a locking condition, in which the second bearing locking mechanism prevents rotational movement of the second bearing inner bearing ring relative to the second bearing outer bearing ring, and an unlocking condition, in which the second bearing locking mechanism allows for rotational movement of the second bearing inner bearing ring relative to the second bearing outer bearing ring, wherein the second bearings outer bearing rings each comprise a semi ring support section that is part of the support structure for rotatably supporting the second bearing inner bearing rings, and a semi ring clamp section that is part of the second bearing locking mechanism, and wherein the locking mechanism further comprises clamping devices for pulling the semi ring clamp section towards the semi ring support section to clamp the second bearing inner bearing ring between the clamp section and the support section and to thus block rotation of the second bearing inner bearing ring relative to the second bearing outer bearing ring.