28 replies to this topic

[floridaskier]

Many lifts are being built with 90 degree loading nowadays. Is there any technical change needed to accomodate 90 degree loading, or does it only matter where you put the ramp? For example, if a resort wanted to change the loading patterns on an older lift, could it be done, or does something have to be done (i.e. strengthening the rails for the added load, etc.) ?



It's kinda fun to sit on the outside and go around the turn

[poloxskier]

The only advantage I have seen from it was that the people getting on get more time to be settled into the chair before it takes off. I have seen less falls and less serious misloading incidents on the chairs with 90 degree loading.

[floridaskier]

No, it's a good thing, maybe it's easier to load but it definetly gives the mountain more options for maze setups in tight spaces. But can any lift have it or only ones built with 90 degree loading in mind?

[poloxskier]

I was refering to what I had seen from my own experience but I can see where the set up of the load staging area or maze would be made easier by 90 degree loading. I have however seen lifts be loaded at 90 degrees when they have not been set up for it as a regular loading position but as to wether it's ok or damaging to the lift I don't know.

I could see where using 90 degree loading would make downloading difficult and if it were even done it would probably require slowing the lift signifigantly to unload the chair and then reload it.

This post has been edited by poloxskier: 24 March 2005 - 07:36 PM

[Kicking Horse]

poloxskier, on Mar 24 2005, 08:34 PM, said:

I was refering to what I had seen from my own experience but I can see where the set up of the load staging area or maze would be made easier by 90 degree loading.  I have however seen lifts be loaded at 90 degrees when they have not been set up for it as a regular loading position but as to wether it's ok or damaging to the lift I don't know.

I could see where using 90 degree loading would make downloading difficult and if it were even done it would probably require slowing the lift signifigantly to unload the chair and then reload it.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i would think if they downloaded a chair the lift would do a normal stop to offload that pax then the lift will restart to load the chair.

[liftmech]

90-dergree loading can be done on any lift with a tyre turnaround. The chains aren't built to take the load of a carrier with four passengers, but the rails and support beams are plenty beefy.

[Duck]

Which chains are you refering to, liftmech?

-Iain

[floridaskier]

Older detachables have chains with teeth every so often that pull the chairs around the turnaround. This system also handles the spacing. Newer lifts have tyres for spacing and going around the turnaround

[Duck]

I'd have to see a chain system in real life in operation to understand it, I guess. :)

-Iain

[barnstormer]

floridaskier, on Mar 24 2005, 11:29 PM, said:

No, it's a good thing, maybe it's easier to load but it definetly gives the mountain more options for maze setups in tight spaces. But can any lift have it or only ones built with 90 degree loading in mind?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I worked at Mount Snow, we turned the Canyon Express (A Poma HSQ) into a 90 degree loader one morning in January. We made up an "extension cord" for the operator pedestal in advance. Then it was just a matter of rebuilding the ramp and plugging her in!

[liftmech]

Duck, on Mar 25 2005, 10:37 AM, said:

I'd have to see a chain system in real life in operation to understand it, I guess. :)

-Iain
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here you go.

 O_1_cadence.jpg (96.42K)
Number of downloads: 71

Look near the top of the hanger arm and see the fingers that push the carrier around the turn. This is a cadence chain; it is timed so that it spaces the carriers properly on the rope. What I was saying earlier wfas that this chain isn't strong enough to carry a loaded chair around the turn (especially if the skiers/boarders are dragging their feet) and it will break repeatedly. It wasn't designed for that sort of application.

[vons]

the only issue I could see with a newer lift having issues with 90 degree loading is on the poma omaga terminals since the hole terminal moves to tension the lift the chair moves laterally over the loading ramp so in theory if the lift experienced enough rope strech or contraction it could place the chair over your decks

[floridaskier]

Doesn't seem to be a problem at Breck, at least on the Super Connect. Do the six pack terminals move too? It looks like they're more attached to the support towers than the quad ones, and I would guess the Quicksilver Super 6 is all internal

[liftmech]

The carriages on the sixpacks are internal and more like the older lifts.

[poloxskier]

I guess it kinda fits here but how many lifts do people know about that have 90 degree unloading? The only ones I am aware of are the Palmer Express, and the Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express.

[Powdr]

DV's new Silver Strike HSQ has a 90 degree loading. It also has a slight alignment change about four towers up. This lift perplexes me. It serves runs already in existence and there was no need for the extra capacity. I can only conclude it was built for real estate reasons. Oh, wait this is Deer Valley were talking about. Should have known better.

Powdr

[Skidude]

Face lift at mammoth has 90 degree unloading.

[floridaskier]

Powdr, on Mar 29 2005, 07:08 PM, said:

DV's new Silver Strike HSQ has a 90 degree loading. It also has a slight alignment change about four towers up. This lift perplexes me. It serves runs already in existence and there was no need for the extra capacity. I can only conclude it was built for real estate reasons. Oh, wait this is Deer Valley were talking about. Should have known better.

Powdr
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If DV paid one cent for this lift, it would surprise me. Deer Crest and the gondola are the same thing, the real estate developers built the lifts with DV's specs. They like to say that it's to take some of the pressure off Northside in the afternoon, which may be nice in the future, but without a connector run to get to the bottom of Silver Strike from the bottom of Northside (which they might someday do) it's pretty pointless. It's not used too much by anyone, and the houses aren't even built
What DV probably did was make some agreement that if the developers wanted to put houses down there, they have to put in the lift too. The sale price of just one of those houses would be enough to cover the lift.
That said, yes, it does have 90 degree loading.

 ss_support.jpg (53.25K)
Number of downloads: 45

The Baldy Express at snowbird has 90 degree unloading (and a turn too)

[highspeedquad]

Is it possible for the terminals on Omegas to move enough to affect loading?

[Mike]

highspeedquad, on Mar 29 2005, 07:11 PM, said:

Is it possible for the terminals on Omegas to move enough to affect loading?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is one thing I don't like about 90* loading w/ poma's current design. I wish they only moved the bullwheel (like quicksilver) instead of the whole terminal. Since you ski this area, you might notice the red cones (same as traffic cones) that are on either side of the load area. These can be moved as the terminal position changes and helps direct people into the correct position. Another problem w/ 90* loading that I've seen is that after the skiers go through the load gates, they look up hill to see how much time they have to get to the load board. They see the next chair coming into the terminal full speed and they just freeze (thinking they are about to get hit by a chair going 20mph). With regular loading, they don't see the chair moving full speed and feel they have more time to load. The benefits are that skiers have more time to get situated in the chair if they misload. If they do misload completely, they can ski straight and be out of the way of the chair (as opposed to possibly skiing into the oncoming chair). Another benefit is that mazes are easier to navigate. Once skiers get used to the idea of 90* loading, I think it will be a much better way to load.