31 replies to this topic

[highspeedquad]

Hi, just wondering how all those detachable surface lifts work. I've never actually seen one, so if anyone has any pics then that would help too.

[crazyskier91]

You might want to check out this topic. Storm King

[highspeedquad]

Do you have any other info? I didn't think that topic had a lot of detail. By the way, are those lifts very popular among surface lifts today?

[crazyskier91]

There are a few remaining poma lifts but mostly they are being replaced with chairlifts or T-Bars. If you want more info on how they work you are better off talking to John (liftmech).

[liftmech]

highspeedquad, on Feb 6 2005, 02:12 PM, said:

Do you have any other info? I didn't think that topic had a lot of detail. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You're right, it didn't.
Poma's J-series works by gravity and friction. The little round 'buttons' in the photos have the rope run through them at all time. It's a little tiny rope, only 11mm or so. The rack at the bottom is structured to that it holds the buttons on the same plane as the rope, and the rope runs through them without touching. When a stick releases from the rack, the 'button support' that attaches the stick to the grip drops down, canting the grip so that it now touches the rope. The stick weighs enough that it provides a positive locking force to the grip, and away you go. When the stick returns to the bottom, the button support, being forward of the buton itself, contacts the rack first and lifts up to a parallel plane again. The rack is slanted so that the sticks can move down on gravity alone to the ready position, where they repeat the process.
Here is a poorly drawn but hopefully informative picture of the way this stick looks.

Attached File(s)

•  J_100_schema.JPG (33.87K)
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[Duck]

Thanks for the explanation! How common is this type of lift? I've never run across it in my (admitedly very limited) travels.

Was Poma the only manufacturer?

-Iain

[liftmech]

Perhaps it was. The only ones I've seen in the States have been Pomas; the ones at Hyak, Snoqualmie, White Pass, Loveland, and Copper are (or were) anyway.

[Durrrant]

there is still an operating poma at Killington on Snowden mt.

[crazyskier91]

There are were lots of poma lifts operating in Vermont. Okemo has two still operating, Pico used to have a poma, killington has had at least 4 pomas, all built by pomagalski.

[Allan]

We used to have one a million years ago... well maybe 20 years ago :)

[poloxskier]

Anyone know wnat year the detachable pomas were first installed. Also has this technology been used on t-bars?

[crazyskier91]

I think it was invented in 55 or 56? I don't think you could set a t-bar up this way because a t-bar comes at you, while with a poma you ski at the stick.

[liftmech]

That's a loading decision made by the operator. You could in theory do up a T-bar this way, but you'd have to have one passenger come at it from one side of the rack and one from the other. It would be hard to coordinate.

[poloxskier]

Hey! A new Idea for a lift at Breckenridge :---:.

This post has been edited by poloxskier: 08 February 2005 - 11:56 AM

[highspeedquad]

That does halp a lot. I think that Poma might still make them, considering that on the site it says that the surface lifts can operate at up to 4 m/s.

[poloxskier]

Poma does still make them as well as some other european manufacturers. I'm not sure about Dopp CTEC if they ever made them or if they do now.

[highspeedquad]

I have never seen or heard of a Dopp detach surface lift. I will check to be sure.

[liftmech]

Poma does still make them. However, you must order them from Pomagalski SA instead of LPOA, as Grand Junction isn't equipped to build them.

[highspeedquad]

Hmm, I but that you can order them from LPOA, but them they order it from Pomagalski, because on their website, it says there are some that operate at up to 4 m/s.

[poloxskier]

They allong with T-Bars seem to be much more common in Europe. They probably would be easier to maintain in remote areas especially above tree line.