The Orbiter is a
fairground ride
Amusement rides, sometimes called carnival rides, are mechanical devices or structures that move people especially kids to create fun and enjoyment.
Rides are often perceived by many as being scary or more dangerous than they actually are. This ...
, which involves a number of cars spun by a rotating axis. The ride was first presented to the public in the summer of 1976, at Margate Dreamland's Amusement Park.
The ride was invented by Former Showman Richard Woolls in 1976, and was manufactured by Tivoli Manufacturing.
History
The idea of the Orbiter was instigated by Richard Woolls and his Brother-in-law, Bob Nichols, as Woolls was experienced in Industrial Engineering.
Showman
Showman can have a variety of meanings, usually by context and depending on the country.
Australia
Travelling showmen are people who run amusement and side show equipment at regional shows, state capital shows, events and festivals througho ...
Henry Frederick Smith invested in the
blueprint
A blueprint is a reproduction of a technical drawing or engineering drawing using a contact print process on light-sensitive sheets. Introduced by Sir John Herschel in 1842, the process allowed rapid and accurate production of an unlimited number ...
s and consequently became the first owner, taking delivery in 1976 of the OB-1. The ride made its debut at Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate, Kent.
The Orbiter is made by
Tivoli Manufacturing, a British company, and by their U.S representatives, Amtech.
Description
The Orbiter has a number of articulated arms radiating from a central rotating vertical
axis
An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to:
Mathematics
* Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis
* Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...
. Each arm supports a cluster of cars, which are lifted through 90° into the
horizontal position once the ride is spinning. At the same time, each cluster of cars rotates around its arm's axis.
The Orbiter's arms do not always tilt at the same height (90%). Some might tilt all the way, while others tilt little. Most Orbiters consist of six arms, and have three cars for each arm with up to two people sitting in each car. There is a metal
lap bar
A roller coaster train is a vehicle made up of two or more cars connected by specialized joints which transports passengers around a roller coaster's circuit.
It is called a train because the cars follow one another around the track, the same ...
that comes down on the car for the restraint.
References
External links
National Fairground Archive history of the Orbiter
{{Amusement rides
Amusement rides
Upside-down amusement rides