I know that some of you are fascinated by lifts, and in particular, the technology of a detachable. I figured I would put together a few pics with a brief explanation of each. Feel free to ask any questions you'd like. These images might help give you a better idea of how these machines work.
Descriptions are ABOVE photos.
This is the motor room of a very large detachable quad. You can see most of the major components of the lift system in this image:
This is the motor, or the Prime Mover. The high speed shaft comes out of the prime mover, and you can see the flywheel, which leads into the gearbox (the vertical blue thing in the far right of the photo). Gearboxes in most modern lift installations are complex planetary gearsets. Out of the bottom of the gearbox, the low speed shaft leads to the bullwheel (not shown in picture).
The shot below is the bullwheel. In a detachable lift, the bullwheel diameter is smaller than the line gauge, and so the haul rope must be deflected by sheaves (not shown) into the smaller diameter of the bullwheel. In this photo, you can also see the bullwheel brake and the rollback brake (the clamp-like red things on either side of the photo:
This is the power take off (PTO), that powers the accel/decel tire banks. The force of the haul rope is transferred to a series of pulleys by a bank of sheave wheels, which connect to the pulleys via belts. These PTO pulleys connect to the pulleys that drive the tire banks.
Here is an image of the belt drive tire system. The pulleys that drive the tires are geared by using differing sizes and belts. The friction plate on top of the grip on each chair is driven by the tires in the terminal (it is not longer attached to the haul rope). The rate of decel/accel depends on the ratios of the pulleys. This is how the ramp down/ramp up occurs, and it is synchronized with the line speed via the PTO system as described above (and shown also in the right side of this photo).
This is an electrical/electronic panel being constructed and wired at the Leitner-Poma factory in Grand Junction, CO. Don't ask how it works. Monkeys and mirrors, and a little smoke.
Same as above.
This is an operators' panel (for drive station) being constructed at the L-POA factory. This is the circuitry and controls that operators and mechanics use for regular operations.
Well, hopefully you learned something! Ski lifts are fascinating pieces of equipment!
Descriptions are ABOVE photos.
This is the motor room of a very large detachable quad. You can see most of the major components of the lift system in this image:
This is the motor, or the Prime Mover. The high speed shaft comes out of the prime mover, and you can see the flywheel, which leads into the gearbox (the vertical blue thing in the far right of the photo). Gearboxes in most modern lift installations are complex planetary gearsets. Out of the bottom of the gearbox, the low speed shaft leads to the bullwheel (not shown in picture).
The shot below is the bullwheel. In a detachable lift, the bullwheel diameter is smaller than the line gauge, and so the haul rope must be deflected by sheaves (not shown) into the smaller diameter of the bullwheel. In this photo, you can also see the bullwheel brake and the rollback brake (the clamp-like red things on either side of the photo:
This is the power take off (PTO), that powers the accel/decel tire banks. The force of the haul rope is transferred to a series of pulleys by a bank of sheave wheels, which connect to the pulleys via belts. These PTO pulleys connect to the pulleys that drive the tire banks.
Here is an image of the belt drive tire system. The pulleys that drive the tires are geared by using differing sizes and belts. The friction plate on top of the grip on each chair is driven by the tires in the terminal (it is not longer attached to the haul rope). The rate of decel/accel depends on the ratios of the pulleys. This is how the ramp down/ramp up occurs, and it is synchronized with the line speed via the PTO system as described above (and shown also in the right side of this photo).
This is an electrical/electronic panel being constructed and wired at the Leitner-Poma factory in Grand Junction, CO. Don't ask how it works. Monkeys and mirrors, and a little smoke.
Same as above.
This is an operators' panel (for drive station) being constructed at the L-POA factory. This is the circuitry and controls that operators and mechanics use for regular operations.
Well, hopefully you learned something! Ski lifts are fascinating pieces of equipment!
