Xcelerator

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Xcelerator
Xcelerator-Launch.jpg
Knott's Berry Farm
LocationKnott's Berry Farm
Park sectionThe Boardwalk
Coordinates33°50′45″N 118°00′03″W / 33.84583°N 118.00083°W / 33.84583; -118.00083Coordinates: 33°50′45″N 118°00′03″W / 33.84583°N 118.00083°W / 33.84583; -118.00083
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 22, 2002
Cost$13,000,000
ReplacedWindjammer Surf Racers
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelAccelerator Coaster
Track layoutDual Overbank Figure 8
Lift/launch systemHydraulic catch car launch
Height205 ft (62 m)
Length2,202 ft (671 m)
Speed82 mph (132 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:02 (25 seconds from launch to brakes)
Max vertical angle90°
Capacity1,330 riders per hour
Acceleration0 − 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3 seconds
Height restriction52 in (132 cm)
Trains2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Xcelerator at RCDB
Pictures of Xcelerator at RCDB

Xcelerator is a steel launched roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It was Intamin's first hydraulically launched coaster, while also the fourth Intamin installation at Knott's, alongside Sky Cabin, Calico River Rapids and Perilous Plunge (removed in 2012).

History[]

Following the demise of the short-lived Windjammer Surf Racers, a roller coaster plagued with issues surrounding its design and operation,[1] Knott's Berry Farm announced its replacement in December 2001.[2][3] They hired Intamin to build and design a new roller coaster called Xcelerator,[2] the company's first hydraulically-launched roller coaster, which uses pressurized oil and a series of hydraulic fluid chambers to rapidly propel a coaster train along a straight section of track.[4] The total cost was $13 million.[3] Intamin pioneered the hydraulic technology used on Xcelerator, which would later be built on a larger scale on future record-breaking rides, including Top Thrill Dragster and Kingda Ka.[4]

The ride was originally scheduled to open in May 2002,[2] but the opening was delayed to June 22, 2002.[3] During the 2004 season, both Xcelerator and Superman: Escape from Krypton at the nearby Six Flags Magic Mountain were closed to undergo modifications to the restraints. This was due to an accident that occurred on Superman – Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England in Massachusetts.[5]

Xcelerator was closed in July 2017 for maintenance.[6] The ride eventually reopened in March 2018.[7]

Ride experience[]

Xcelerator's powerful hydraulic catapult motor accelerates the train from 0 to 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3[8] seconds (about 1.62 g). It only uses 157 feet (48 m) of track to launch the train. The twin hydraulic catapult motor achieves a maximum of 10,500 horsepower (7,800 kW) each while accelerating the train. Xcelerator's hydraulic motor system has the mechanical capability of accelerating vehicles to a speed of 117 miles per hour (188 km/h) or more, though it only needs to hit 82 mph (132 km/h) for the train to crest the hill. In order for a train to launch, the train must "drift" back to "hook" on to a catch car. Twenty-four volts are used to demagnetize a pin underneath the third car, which causes it to drop. At the same time, two bellows actuators fill up with air. Meanwhile, near the back of the train, two drive tires that are holding the train in place begin to retract. The brakes will lower while the train rolls back to hook into the catch car—which is over 7 feet (2.1 m) long. Once connected the motor will engage to launch the train. The catch car passes over its own set of magnetic brakes to retard it. The motor has to work harder to attain launch speed if the train is not loaded with enough riders. On occasion, the catch car can overshoot its end position if it cannot attain the proper speed within set parameters, which causes it to stall near the end of the launch track. The train must also clear the launch track within three seconds. If it does not the ride will shut down. From the time the launch begins, the train has 8.25 seconds to pass over a proximity switch (Hall effect sensor) near the bottom of the first drop which clears the starting block. If the train does not pass over the switch within the given time frame, the ride will shut itself down.

After the launch the train crests a vertical 205 ft (62 m) top hat element, then soars through a 110 ft (34 m) and 95 ft (29 m) over banked turns and glides to a smooth stop though brake run and returns to the station house. The magnetic braking system consists of mounted magnetic clippers on the trains and copper alloy fins mounted onto the track. The alloy fins on the launch section retract during the launch procedure so as to not interfere with the train. In a case of a rollback, the magnetic brakes retard the train. They are raised section by section after the train has passed over them. The brake fins on the brake run are stationary and cannot be lowered. The train is traveling at approximately 67 miles per hour (108 km/h) when entering the brake run.

Trains[]

Xcelerator's Red Train exits the first overbanked turn.

Xcelerator features two trains: red and violet. The trains themselves have spring-loaded wheel assemblies and are standard Intamin trains with specially crafted shells to make them look like 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertibles. The red train was accidentally painted with its color scheme reversed when the ride opened. It featured a yellow color scheme with red flames in the front and side, instead of a red train with yellowish flames. During one of the ride's rehabs, the color scheme was corrected by repainting the red train with orange flames added to the front and sides. After an accident in 2009, the red train now features patriotic blue flames. Each train is five cars long and holds twenty passengers. A maximum of two trains can operate at any given time. However, the two train operation is only slightly more efficient than only using one train. Therefore, Xcelerator usually only operates with one train regardless of the number of people in the park. Instead, each train is used by itself for about a year, while the other is undergoing maintenance. When maintenance is completed on one of the trains, it is returned to active duty and the other train is sent to maintenance.

Restraints[]

Xcelerator's trains use hydraulically operated T-Bar lap bar restraints. These restraints are featured on Intamin's earlier accelerator coaster models. However, over-the-shoulder restraints are now used on the newer models due to safety concerns. Xcelerator also had special light meters installed on the restraints. The meter must show all green in order for a guest to ride. If the meter shows red then the guest cannot ride. Eventually the meter system was removed and the park now uses black lines etched on the side of each restraint. The black line must pass a certain part of the seat frame in order for the guest to ride. The ride also has seat belts that must be buckled before an operator pulls down the lap bar. Failure to do so slows the load time considerably. Another contributing factor involving the seat belts and a guest not being able to ride is requirement of one inch of slack must be pulled from the seat belt.

Limitations[]

Rollbacks[]

A train nearly stalls at the top of the hill.

Occasionally, a train will not attain enough speed to make it over the initial 205-foot (62 m) top hat element. Instead, the train will partially ascend the tower, stall and then roll back into magnetic brake fins situated on the launch track. This is known as a rollback and is part of the normal design of the ride. A rollback can cause the ride to close for an indefinite amount of time while the ride is reset and a sufficient number of test launches are performed. Rain, weight, frequency of launching, outside temperature, and overheating can contribute to a rollback.

Weather[]

The ride will not operate in the rain, even during drizzling conditions. This is to prevent rollbacks due to hydroplaning on the launch track. The track usually needs to dry until maintenance has cleared it to operate again before the first test launch is made. This is to reduce the chance of a rollback as well as preventing accidents.

Progression to taller and faster rides with inversions[]

Xcelerator laid the groundwork for taller and faster rides such as Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point and Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, coasters both passing the 400-foot (120 m) mark and 100 mph (160 km/h) mark. Xcelerator also laid the groundwork for rides featuring inversions, such as Storm Runner at Hersheypark, which has banked inversions, and Kanonen at Liseberg, which featured a vertical loop.

While Xcelerator set a successful example for such rides, modifications were made to the larger models. Storm Runner and Kingda Ka use dual loading stations to speed up dispatching times, as well as larger and more-powerful motors.

Lower-powered coasters have been built as well, such as Rita at Alton Towers.

Xcelerator's former Yellow Train (since repainted) cruises to a smooth stop on the magnetic brake run.

Incidents[]

  • On September 16, 2009, a cable snapped during the launch of the ride, sending metal debris flying and seriously lacerating the leg of a 12-year-old boy.[9][10] Another adult male rider complained of neck and back pain.[9] A state investigation determined that the accident could have been avoided with more frequent inspections.[11][12] The park was nearly three weeks behind on their regular six-month inspection, and Intamin told state inspectors they recommended monthly inspections.[11] The state described the recommended maintenance inspection interval in the instructions, which Intamin provided Knott's Berry Farm, as confusing and unclear.[12]
  • On August 7, 2013, the cable snapped during the launch of the ride, which again sent debris flying in the air, however, nobody was hurt. The ride reopened about a month later.[citation needed]
  • On January 31, 2016 during a test run, the violet train was stalled at the top of the top-hat hill. It was there for an hour and a half before it eventually rolled backward after it was blown over by the wind. Nobody was injured.[citation needed]

References[]

  1. ^ Marden, Duane. "Windjammer Surf Racers  (Knott's Berry Farm)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Knott's Accelerates Into 2002 With New Hot Rod Coaster". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Marden, Duane. "Xcelerator  (Knott's Berry Farm)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Hydraulic Launch Coasters". CoasterForce. April 17, 2019. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "Two Roller Coasters Closed For Restraint Modifications". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  6. ^ "Why is Knott's Berry Farm's Xcelerator roller coaster down?".
  7. ^ "Xcelerator & More - Knott's Berry Farm Update - March 27, 2018 - The Coaster Kings".
  8. ^ "California's Best Theme Park and Amusement Park - Knott's Berry Farm". Archived from the original on July 22, 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "2 Hurt When Roller Coaster Cable Snaps". ABC 7. September 18, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Mello, Michael (June 11, 2011). "Knott's Xcelerator is high maintenance". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Quick, Sonya (August 27, 2011). "Knott's reaches settlement over coaster accident". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b MacDonald, Brady (April 28, 2010). "Knott's Berry Farm, manufacturer faulted in roller coaster accident that injured two". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 27, 2020.

External links[]

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