OBSERVATION

WHEEL
FERRIS WHEEL HISTORY: PAST,
PRESENT, AND FUTURE

LUSTROUS FERRIS
WHEEL

PAST: The Birth of the Ferris Wheel

A documentation paper about

the history, design structure,
foundation, safety and the
methods of construction of
the miniature ferris.

In 1893, the world turned its attention to the American city of Chicago,
where that years World Fair was being held. Besides being only the third
city in the United States to host the exposition, after the 1876 fair in
Philadelphia and the 1884 fain in New Orleans, it also marked an
important anniversary for the New World. In honor of Christopher
Columbuss landing in the Americas four hundred years earlier, the 1893
Fair was officially known as the Worlds Fair: Columbian Exposition.

SUBMITTED BY:
Torralba, Marco
Tirona, Anna Karenina
San Pedro, Jamaica
Dela Cruz, Jen Elaine
Velasco, Jerbs

it

was

necessary to

summon

the

To ensure the City of Chicago shined in the worlds eyes, the city recruited
the best American designers, artists, architects, engineers and scientists to
put on a show that was full of innovation and splendor. For those wanting
to ensure they were able to get the best view possible of the elaborate
attractions, it was necessary to summon the bravery to travel 264 feet
above the fairgrounds. Fortunately they were able to do this in comfort
and relative safety, thanks to what was perhaps the jewel of the
First observation wheel: Chicago Wheel

Columbian Exposition, the Chicago Wheel. Modern fair goers might be

more familiar with the attractions other name, the Ferris Wheel.

One of the engineers who travelled to Chicago to help design the Expo was a thirty-two year old bridge builder for the
railroad named George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. Ferris received word of the challenge issued by the Fair organizers
to design an attraction that would dwarf the splendor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, a city that had already
hosted four previous
Worlds Fairs, including the most recent event in 1889, which is the year the Eiffel Tower
was completed. Though the concept Ferris had in mind would pale in comparison to the
Towers 915 foot high viewing platform, it would have a distinct advantage. The Chicago
Wheel would rotate in a circle adding a new dimension and a greater thrill to the act
of aerial observation.
The problems George faced are the same many observation wheel designers face
today: how to build a wheel larger than any previously built, how to get
permission to build at a desired location, how to finance such a gigantic
undertaking, etc. George actually wanted to build a 300 foot wheel but it was
decided 300 feet would not be much better than 250 so the plans were scaled
down.
Once complete, the Chicago Ferris wheel would be a marvel of modern
engineering and steel forging. It rotated around a seventy ton axle manufactured
by the famed Bethlehem Steel Company of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and could
accommodate 2,160 passengers at one time. The passengers enjoyed each 20
minute ride in the comfort of one of the wheels forty hanging chairs, each of
which held sixty passengers. For this short ride and spectacular view, each
passenger paid $.50, which at the time must have seemed rather expensive.
After the 1893 Fair, the wheel was relocated to another area of Chicago, where it
remained until it was once again disassembled and shipped to St. Louis, MO so it
could thrill visitors to the 1904 Worlds Fair. Once this ended, the wheel was
scrapped, but not before the device could form a lasting legacy in the realm of
fairs, carnivals and city attractions. In 1895, the Chicago Wheels 264 feet height
was surpassed by the newly constructed 308 feet tall Great Wheel in London,
England, which itself was soon dwarfed by the 328 foot Grande Roue in Paris. The
race for Ferris Wheel supremacy was on!

PRESENT: A Modern Marvel

Though the Ferris Wheel has maintained a prominent place in its country of origin, in more recent years it has been
European and Asian cities that have taken the lead in creating bigger and more spectacular observation wheels.
Currently, the worlds two largest wheels are the 525 foot tall Star of Nanchang in Nanchang, China, and the 541 feet
tall Singapore Flyer in Singapore. However, perhaps the most spectacular observation wheel currently in operation is
the 443 feet tall London Eye, which sits on the banks of the River Thames in the city of London, England. Though not
everyone is overly thrilled with the presence of the London Eye amidst the classic, subdued architecture of old London
town, the wheel attracts more than 3.5 million visitors annually and is the most popular premium tourist attraction in
all of the United Kingdom.

Thanks to the popularity of the original Chicago Wheel, carnivals

and other travelling shows were quick to take advantage of
smaller

wheels

that

could

be

quickly

disassembled

and

transported on trailers. These have been a staple of local fairs

and carnivals around the world for over a century and will likely
continue to hold a place for many years to come. However, they
are no longer the mini versions of observation wheels they used
to be. The current record for a transportable Ferris Wheel is 217
Ronald Bussink wheel.
Over

the

years,

the

classic Ferris Wheel with

its single-wheel, round
design

with

hanging

baskets has been joined

by

more

designs.
most
the

innovative
Among

the

spectacular

are

eccentric

wheels.

These wheels act like a

combination roller coaster/Ferris Wheel as the

individual

baskets slide along the rails of the wheel for a more

dynamic ride.

FUTURE:

Tomorrow

Looking

Forward

to

passenger

As we continue into the 21st Century, we can

expect to see the classic

Ferris or observation wheel maintain its place in

fairs

parks around the world. But we will likely see more

innovative and grander

designs erected in cities around the world. New

York

Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada are all planning

spectacular rides hoping

and
City,

amusement
Orlando,

to restore the grandeur of the Ferris Wheel to its home nation. But the competition is still as cities such as Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, Kolkata, India and Shanghai, China have their own projects in the works. What the future holds
for the humble observation wheel no one can say for sure, but one must speculate that somewhere in the world today,
there is someone dreaming of the first observation wheel on the Moon, or perhaps on Mars.

Notable Dates in Observation Wheel

History
1620- Ferris wheels are observed in the Middle East
1893 William Somers issues patent for 16 seat roundabout.
George Ferris invents the first Ferris wheel
1895 The Great Wheel in London becomes the worlds tallest
Ferris wheel at 308 feet
1896 Big wheel at Blackpool opens. George Ferris dies.
1900 The Grande Roue de Paris becomes the tallest Ferris wheel with a height of 328 feet

1920 New Yorks Wonder Wheel is the worlds first eccentric

Ferris wheel
1989 Japans Cosmo Clock 21 becomes the tallest Ferris wheel
yet, topping out at 353 feet (later increased to 369 feet).
1997 Tempozan Ferris Wheel opened with a new record of 369
feet
2000 The London Eye smashes the current record holder with a
total height of 443 feet
2006 The Star of Nanching in China becomes the first Ferris
wheel over 500 feet tall, with an official height of 525 feet
2008 The Singapore Flyer in Singapore is becomes the worlds tallest open
and operating Ferris wheel with a height of 541 feet.
2014 The High Roller in Las Vegas takes the height record.

OBSERVATIONWHEEL TECHNOLOGY
State-of-the-art engineering

has

made

larger

and

more

sophisticated

observation

wheels possible. Heres a look at some of the latest observation wheel

technology and a peek at whats to come in the future.

Propulsion Systems
How do observation wheels rotate? Observation and Ferris wheels
use hydraulic motors driven by electric pumps to provide energy to
rotate the giant wheels. The hydraulic motors power standard truck
tires placed along the rim of the wheel that act as friction rollers.
The rotating tires rub against the rim of the wheel structure forcing
it to rotate on its axis. A computer controls the hydraulic motor
speed for every tire. In the event of a power loss during
operation, the wheel has an emergency generator. Theres also a
battery back-up braking system for an extra layer of redundancy.

Cables and Dampers

Some observation wheels, such as the London Eye, are held in place by large cables. Attached to each cable is a
stockbridge damper. These tuned mass dampers are used to suppress wind induced vibration on the taut cables by
dissipating the energy of any oscillations. You can often see the dampers attached to the outer rim to prevent the
wheel from vibrating at its natural frequency.

Capsules
Observation wheel capsules are typically secured to the outer rim of the
wheel and are aerodynamically shaped for the least amount of wind
resistance. There is a built-in stability system, meaning the capsule
will remain upright and parallel to the ground even if all the
passengers were to suddenly move to one side of the cabin. The
large glass windows that surround passengers ensure that the views
are magnificent and unobstructed and protect against ultraviolet
rays. Many use heating and air conditioning along with sophisticated
condition monitoring systems to keep guests comfortable all year
round.

Transportable Wheels
Thanks to the popularity of the original Chicago Wheel, carnivals and other traveling shows were quick to take
advantage of smaller wheels that could be quickly disassembled and transported on trailers. These have been a staple
of local fairs and carnivals around the world for over a century and will likely continue to hold a place for many years
to come. However, they are no longer the mini versions of observation wheels they used to be. The current record for
a transportable Ferris Wheel is the R80 XL by Ronald Bussink.

Lighting Packages
Many large observation wheels feature elaborate lighting packages and look visually stunning at night. The latest
illumination technologies include special LED RGB multicolor lights that provide a spectacular display. Wheels
sometimes employ clusters of LED lights each with a microprocessor allowing networked control of lighting color,
intensity, or effects. Wheels can be coated in every color imaginable at the click of a button and can even create
choreographed light shows.

The SkyVue observation wheel in Las Vegas is planning to kick it up a notch by installing the largest LED screen in the
world to the side of the observation wheel. The screen is said to be so massive youll be able to see it from every
airplane flying into and out of Las Vegas. With over 100,000 square feet of high definition LED screen, SkyVue
integrates the bright lights of Times Square with the eye popping views of the London Eye. SkyVue will forever
transform the Vegas skyline.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The manufacturing processes used to make ferris wheels varies with the design of the wheel and the manufacturer.
Most of the components are built in different parts of the shop before they are brought to the main construction area
for final assembly. Here is a typical sequence of operations used to build a transportable ferris wheel used in carnivals
and county fairs. In operation, the wheel described is about 60 ft (18.3 m) in diameter with a capacity to carry up to
48 riders in 16 seats.

Building the chassis

1. The trailer chassis forms the base for the ferris wheel, both when it is being transported on the highway and when
it is in operation. The component parts of the chassis are cut to length, either with a metal-cutting saw or with a
torch, and are welded together. Two vertical support posts are welded to the forward section of the chassis. These
posts hold the upper end of the two wheel support towers when they are in their lowered position for travelling.

2. The completed chassis is then sandblasted to remove any scale and spatter formed during the welding operation.
This ensures a smooth surface appearance and prevents the scale from chipping off later and leaving patches of bare
steel.
3. The chassis is then coated with a rust-in-hibiting primer. After the primer has dried, one or more coats of finish
paint are applied in the desired color.

Installing the towers

4. The two wheel support towers are fabricated and painted elsewhere and are lifted into position on the chassis. The
lower ends are attached to hinges on each side of the chassis, and the upper ends rest on the two support posts. The
towers include ladders welded along one edge to provide access to the electrical rings and brushes at the wheel hubs
and to the electrical drive motors and wheels that tum the drive rim on each side. The center axle is then installed
between the wheel hubs at the tops of the two towers.
5. A long hydraulic cylinder is attached between the chassis and the wheel support tower on each side, about halfway
along the length of the tower. These hydraulic cylinders are used to raise the towers into their upright position when
the ferris wheel is being set up for operation. The cylinders are secured in place with a pivot pin at each end.
6. A separate lateral support arm is attached near the top of each wheel support tower. These arms each consist of
two pieces of square tubing, with one piece slightly smaller in cross section so it slides inside the other. When the
wheel support towers are raised for operation, the lateral support arms are pulled out to the side and the inner section
of each is extended and locked in place with a pin. Two other pieces of square tubing are hinged to the chassis frame
on each side and swing out to attach to the bases of the lateral supports. This gives the ferris wheel the required sideto-side stability it needs.
7. Hydraulic and electrical lines are routed inside the chassis frame pieces where they will be protected. The operator's
control station is installed and connected. The chassis axles, brakes, tires, wheels, and stabilizer jacks may be
installed at this time or they may be installed after all other work is complete.

Installing the spokes

8. Sixteen pairs of spokes run from the center hubs at the tops of the towers out to the seats. To install the spokes in
the factory, the first pair of spokes is laid flat on the factory floor, and two crossmembers are installed between the
spokes. One crossmember is located at the point where the drive rims will be attached, which is about 5 ft (1.5 m) in
from the outer end of the spokes. A pair of curved sections of the drive rims are also bolted in place on each side at
the same point. Only one end of the drive rim sections are bolted, leaving the other end free. This procedure is
repeated for the remaining spokes, crossmembers, and drive rim sections until they form a stack. The inner ends of
each pair of spokes are pinned to the pair below it. V-shaped lighting booms are installed between the center of every
other outer crossmember as the stack is assembled. This overlapping pattern of lights produces a double-star effect.

9. The stack is then lifted onto the trailer with an overhead crane, and the top pair of spokes is pinned to the hubs. In
operation, the spokes are all pulled into the vertical position when the towers are raised. The spokes are then pinned
to the hubs, one pair at a time, and the free ends of the drive rim sections are swung down and bolted to the adjacent
spokes to form the wheellike a paper fan being unfolded.
10. Electrical cables are connected from the electrical rings at the wheel hubs to each lighting boom. Mechanical
support cables are installed between the ends of the spokes around the outer circumference of the wheel. Other
mechanical cables are installed in an x-pattern between each pair of spokes to give additional stability.

Finishing the wheel

11. The entrance and exit stairs and walkways, safety fences, and trim pieces are fabricated, painted, and installed.
The seats are fabricated and painted. In operation, four of the seats are carried attached to the wheel. The remaining
seats are carried separately on the trailer and are manually lifted and pinned into place after the wheel is erected.

METHODOLOGY
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS

The following materials will be needed for project:

Board
Flywood
DC Motor
Electrical wires
Power supply
Strip lights
Adhessives such as glue stick, super glue
Wooden sticks
Rubber bands
Hair roller
Paint
Cutter and scissors

WHEEL

MAKING
The frame was made from a solid card board. An octagonal shape
was measured with equal lenghts and angles on each side to ensure
the stability of the wheel. It was then cut by the use of cutter and
painted to make it visually appealing. The procedure was repeated
to make the second frame.
Then, the two frames were punch to create holes. 16 holes were
made to guarantee the steadiness of the frames. Wooden dowels or
sticks were glued at the holes to bind the two frames together.

CAPSULE ASSEMBLY
Hair rollers were used in this project as a capsule to mimic some of the

real life

cylindrical capsuled-observation wheels. These rollers were attached to the

eight sides of the

wheel with the use of aluminum wires.

SUPPORT FITTING
After the assembly of the capsules, the whole wheel was then installed in a lateral
support arm. The support was made with flywood to ensure that the support can
convey the weight of the whole wheel. A triangular shaped support was made
instead of a two armed support which is a bit complicated to made. A steel rod was
inserted at the center of the frame and at the tip of the support.

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
Arrange the little bits together in this order: Battery + Power, Wire, DC Motor, Wire,
Pulse, Light Wire. Insert and arrange them in the motor box such that the DC Motor
shaft sticks out of the hole cut in the container side, and the Light Wire sticks out of
the box. Attach the light strips in the corner of the wheel. Cut the end wirings, and
attach it to the power source. Align the center opening with the DC Motor shaft, apply
glue, and slide them onto the shaft. Make sure that the shaft can still turn and rotate
freely.