Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

A friend of a friend of mine is creating a French/English glossary of ropeway terminology and has one question about sheave trains.


Depression tower (or hold down tower)


Support tower


The question is: what is the name for this type of tower?

To me*, this would make sense as being called a "compression" tower. However, I've noticed an older skilifts.org thread where compression is used synonymously with depression/hold down.
*non-lift-expert

Thanks in advance for any help!
Photos from Sherburne at Burke and Jordan Bowl at Sunday River
This post has been edited by Conrad: 30 April 2017 - 05:26 PM

To me a compression assembly is synonymous with hold down / depression.
The assembly in question is called a combination assembly; a support/compression assembly; or by one Manufacturer, a double effect assembly.
Dino

Thank you very much for the information Dino, and the person with the question says a big thanks as well!

The French word being translated is specific to the tower itself. So would it be appropriate to refer to such a tower as a "combination tower?" Or perhaps "combination assembly tower?" Or is there just not a commonly used phrase specific to these towers?
Many thanks again for the help!

In Doppelmayr terminology (Doppelspeak) this is a 4T/4D assembly, the T if for Tragrollenbatterie (support) and the D is for Druckrollenbatterie (compression)
So an eight sheave support assembly would be an 8T, and an eight sheave compression assembly would be an 8D

Conrad, on 02 May 2017 - 04:57 PM, said:

Thank you very much for the information Dino, and the person with the question says a big thanks as well!

The French word being translated is specific to the tower itself. So would it be appropriate to refer to such a tower as a "combination tower?" Or perhaps "combination assembly tower?" Or is there just not a commonly used phrase specific to these towers?
Many thanks again for the help!

Since he is using "Support Tower" and "Depression Tower" I would suggest 'Combination Tower' or 'Support/Compression Tower'.
Also, in keeping with the Doppelspeak when D= Compression, I would change "Depression Tower" to 'Compression Tower'.
JMHO
Dino

As others have suggested...This style is often shortened to the word “combo” … combination assembly.
The original picture shows a spring tensioned assembly, Riblet (in most cases) uses the rubber of the sheaves as a tension device in their combination assemblies.
Spring Combo
Solid Combo

Thank you all very much for all the help!