High Speed Chairlift: An Explanation

Рет қаралды 27,731

4 жыл бұрын

Doppelmayr High Speed Lift. If you ever wondered how the main run moves so quickly but the load/unload stations move very slowly, I hope this explains it

Пікірлер: 62

@charlieburleson3310 3 жыл бұрын

I've spent countless hours operating/maintaining that very lift you were sitting on. I was on the lift maintenance crew at sugar for nearly 4 years, full time/year round. I have as of this season made the short move to nearby beech mtn, NC where I'm now on their maintenance crew. Anywho, high speed detachable grip ski lifts are so interesting and fascinating to learn about and work on. There are so many things happening in the terminals and so many moving parts. A whole system of 95 belts and 95 wheels/tires of different diameters control the speed of the chair as it moves through the station. Theres even a proximity scanner based anti collision system for the chairs since they are literally detaching themselves from the haul rope twice per full revolution. It's insane how much the technology has improved in recent years. These are truly the Lamborghinis of ski lifts

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the work you do to keep those lifts running and keeping the skiers safe. And thank you for the explanation of how the mechanism works inside the terminals. I’ve been skiing at sugar mountain since 1987, the high speed lift was one of the best things they ever did there.

@legpol 3 жыл бұрын

Charlie Burleson: I am glad to have read about your experience. May I ask you a question? What is the purpose of the detachment of the gondolas and chairs from the haul rope? I think the purpose is to let the gondolas and chairs come to a full stop so as to load and unload riders. Is it safe to load and unload riders with moving gondolas and chairs?

@charlieburleson3310 3 жыл бұрын

@@legpol the purpose of a detachable grip ski lift is to allow chairs and gondolas (or any carrier for that matter) to travel at a snail's pace at either station while still allowing the rest of the ski lift to operate at high speed independently. By eliminating the obvious issue of difficulty unloading and loading on a very swiftly moving ski lift, you can run at much faster speeds and get more customers up the mountain per hour. Thanks for your question!

@charlieburleson3310 3 жыл бұрын

@@legpol and to answer your last question, most ski lift whether they be gondolas or other chairs don't actually come to a complete stop in the terminals but slow down to such a slow rate that it is plenty of time for the average skier or snowboarder to safely load

@legpol 3 жыл бұрын

@@charlieburleson3310 : Thanks for your prompt answer. It means that all the gondolas cannot come to a full stop. "Cannot" is the key. If a gondola carries too many riders, or there are handicapped riders in wheelchairs, the gondola still keeps moving when it unloads or loads them.

@idahoskilifts4242 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing this! I love learning more and more about ski lifts. Seeing how they work is really cool.

@HKPSG1Shooter 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I’m always interested in mechanical things. For a long time I didn’t know how the high speed lifts worked, but after reading about it and seeing it in action, I decided to do this video for a visual explanation

@robertlane6675 3 жыл бұрын

I never saw a high speed lift in person. I have worked on several derail circuits on old Riblets but now you got me thinking about high speed. I will have to find some other videos and check them out.

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

I always wondered how they worked and then after reading up on it, and observing them in operation as I rode on them, I figured it out.

@andregarceau4563 Жыл бұрын

Hk psg1 shooter you say…. Man am I jealous, so cool, and you ski. Hahaha I need friends like you!l going to have to check out your other videos. Also this is like the 4th video I’ve watched trying to figure out the mechanics of how this works and some guy riding the lift with a cell phone is the one who shows the parts and explains them so clearly. Appreciate your time.

@HKPSG1Shooter Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, glad this video helps explain how these things work.

@eadecamp Жыл бұрын

I've always wondered how those high speed detachables work. It makes no sense to me that the chair would slow way down at the top or bottom but the other chairs would keep moving at their regular speed. First time I rode one was at Crystal Mountain, WA. Scared the blank out of me to go so fast, thinking how the hell am I going to get off this thing? Before the place became an overpriced tourist trap, Crystal had put them in almost everywhere, especially on the Rainier Express, where the easiest run was a black diamond.

@HKPSG1Shooter Жыл бұрын

First time I rode one I was also leery about how fast it approached the unload station, then it slowed down. Always wondered how they worked and then I studied it.

@andrewbleckov1571 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the explanation. By the way, where is that? I was surprised to see such a large build pop into frame at 3:29

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

That's Sugar Mtn NC.

@areyouarobotz 3 жыл бұрын

It's like the most demonic explanation video, but it's awesome

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

There are some videos on KZfaq that shows the internal mechanism of the terminal as the chairs go through it, showing how they detach and then reattach

@areyouarobotz 3 жыл бұрын

@@HKPSG1Shooter I meant the sounds coming from the background noise, ha!

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

@@areyouarobotz Snow guns.

@charlieburleson3310 3 жыл бұрын

@@areyouarobotz yeah, we unfortunately don't typically get enough natural snow to sustain ourselves for the entire winter season here in western NC. So instead, we've enlisted the help of these (rather noisy) "snow demons" that we captured from the south pole using dark magic and a spellbook so we could then force them to shriek ferociously at the mountain until the land has no choice except to freeze solid out of pure fear...(shhh, that's an industry secret)😈 ... just joshin' with ya. Snowmaking is an art I don't understand enough about, but its definitely cool as hell, albeit a bit noisy😆

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

Wet bulb temperature and humidity are just as important as the temperature itself. Also the correct mixture of air and water is important in the nucleation process to make snow. I have a home made snow Gun that’s an internal mix design, uses 5 CFM at 90 psi for the air, and 3 GPM at 1500 psi for the water. In one night I can put about 3 ft of snow in my yard. Here on the SC coast, where it NEVER snows. But it has to be 27 degrees or lower to do it. At 27 it’s a wet slushy snow, once it gets 20 or colder it is a nice powder like natural snowfall

@coopertatterson Жыл бұрын

The satisfaction of being on lift 1

@HKPSG1Shooter Жыл бұрын

I didn’t plan it that way, just an odd coincidence.

@Crazy_Alex_7667 2 жыл бұрын

So the wheels in the station for slowing down for speed, do those wheels travel different speeds due to the size of the gears being spun by the main ropes in the station

@HKPSG1Shooter 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I think that’s how it works. From my understanding the wheels are different sizes and speeds to slow it down and speed it up as it goes through the terminal

@przemysawkoziarski3024 Жыл бұрын

The wheels are belt driven (in most cases). Each subsequent wheel moves slower after disconnecting, and faster after starting to connect, so as to equal the speed of the couch or gondola with the speed of the rope. The whole thing is synchronized with the rope drive because it can move at different speeds. The clamp itself is a brilliant invention. It's hard to believe that it supports a large chair or gondola for up to a dozen people and withstands extreme weather situations.

@kenprice1961 3 ай бұрын

There are many KZfaq videos that explain this in much better detail.

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 ай бұрын

Well, without authorization to go inside the lift terminal and film it in operation, best I can do is try to explain it from the chairlift.

@Chris-0703 3 жыл бұрын

So many things that could go wrong, surprised we don’t hear of more tragedies

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

There's a lot of safety features on chairlifts, and a lot of destructive testing has been done over the years to assess what can be improved. The most hazardous situation is a rollback. Although it's very rare, it can happen. There are videos of that situation, it's a scary thing to watch.

@charlieburleson3310 3 жыл бұрын

@Chris thank your local lift maintenance crew 😉

@przemysawkoziarski3024 Жыл бұрын

@@HKPSG1Shooter In modern systems, there are several independent brakes. Some of them will work even without power. Moreover, they are constructed in such a way that the open position is forced and any failure results in closing. Rollback can happen in old systems or possibly where a person is messing with the hardware against the rules. Look for a recent accident in the Czech Republic on Mount Jested near Liberec (Liberec). The emergency brakes were sticking so they were locked. They had no chance to work when needed.

@sjfarish 4 жыл бұрын

Every time I see a chairlift now I think of that movie "Frozen" where the people went snow skiing and they got left on the lift. And eventually they were all eaten by wolves... lol

@HKPSG1Shooter 4 жыл бұрын

Never saw the movie, but yeah, the thought of being stuck on the lift is one of those fears that occasionally enters my mind while on the lift. That and the fear of the cable or cable grip failing and me plummeting to my death over one of the areas with boulders the lift crosses over. I try to quickly put that out of my head, especially with my dislike for heights.

@sjfarish 4 жыл бұрын

@@HKPSG1Shooter If you get a chance watch that movie Frozen it came out in 2010.

@WEdway33 3 жыл бұрын

Can the cable break ?? What if the cable breaks, don't all the chairs go down or Gondolas if this was that kind of lift ?.

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

Yes if there is an outright failure of the haul rope, the whole thing comes down. As for how much force or what conditions could cause a complete failure of the cable, that’s best answered by an engineer. But I know they build these things for maximum safety and take all those factors into account. I can also tell you that the cable ends are put together with a long splice, about 100 ft. But it’s done in a way that you would never see it, because there can’t be any lumps in the cable. The long splice is nearly as strong as the cable itself, perhaps more.

@caiwilkie6453 Жыл бұрын

cables in europe have to be atleast 12 times as strong as they actually need to be

@przemysawkoziarski3024 Жыл бұрын

@@HKPSG1Shooter The rope can also fall off the rollers, but fortunately this practically does not happen. Just connecting the rope by twisting is an amazing operation. There are movies - worth seeing.

@DaBluBarron1918 3 жыл бұрын

This is Sugar Nc. There every week. This 6 Chair was a game changer.

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

Been going to Sugar Mountain almost 35 years. I love the high speed lift as well as the new trail they made a few years ago.

@DaBluBarron1918 3 жыл бұрын

@@HKPSG1Shooter Gunthers way is a great run to Flow on for sure. My secret is parking near the 4 big stones at upper lot. Gives you a place to sit and relax during the day.

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

@@DaBluBarron1918 We usually rent a slope side house along lower flying mile. It’s nice to be able to ski right to the house to take a break, grab a bite to eat.

@DaBluBarron1918 3 жыл бұрын

@@HKPSG1Shooter I bet that is Pretty sweet. Them and Beech have some good ski in/out houses. Can’t wait for next season. See you There!!

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

@@DaBluBarron1918 We usually go there every year. Didn’t make it this past year because of Covid and some other issues. But next year we will be back. 👍

@legpol 3 жыл бұрын

Will the gondolas come to a stop for loading and unloading riders? ( I have no experience riding on the gondolas. ) Thanks to whomever answers my question.

@HKPSG1Shooter 3 жыл бұрын

It’s been a long time since I rode in a gondola, but if I’m not mistaken I think they completely detach from the haul cable until fully loaded and then they re attach and take off

@legpol 3 жыл бұрын

@@HKPSG1Shooter Thanks for your answer. But unfortunately you missed the main point, the stopping. Do gondolas come to a full stop to do loading and unloading of riders? Can the gondolas be stopped manually by riders? When a family has a number of little kids to take the gondola ride, can the parents manually stop the gondola for the little kids to walk into? I think the purpose of the detachment is to let the motion to stop so as to load and unload riders safely. And then there are the chair lifts. Will they come to a full stop to load and unload?

@TwinSkiingLiftsRides 2 жыл бұрын

The chairs and gondolas do not stop; rather, they move at a speed slower than the cable to load and unload riders comfortably. Gondolas move slower in the load/unload zones to give people enough time to load/unload the cabins.

@legpol 2 жыл бұрын

@@TwinSkiingLiftsRides ： Thanks for your answer. Now I understand why the gondolas and chairs don't stop. Thanks.

@caiwilkie6453 Жыл бұрын

@@legpol none no matter the type come to a full stop

@jeffjensen27 3 жыл бұрын

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@legpol 3 жыл бұрын

Paul Wanders, I am looking for an answer to my question: Do gondolas and chairs come to a full stop to load and unload riders? Will there be security guards to make sure gondolas and chairs are fully stopped when people are walking in and sitting down?