5 replies to this topic

[coskibum]

Mount Bachelor installs digital system on ski lift

10/08/2005

Associated Press


A new digital control system is being installed on one of the main chairlifts at the Mount Bachelor ski area to improve safety.

The switch from the old control system will prevent a repeat of the accident last December when the Pine Marten Express chairlift lurched to a halt, dumping seven people from a height of 10 feet.

Nobody was seriously injured, but one person broke a thumb.

"The digital drive can react quicker to a fluctuation in power, so if it does see a ripple it can start a controlled shutdown quicker," said Rick Brooks, maintenance director at Mount Bachelor.

The drive system controls the lift's electrical motor, determining lift speed, acceleration and deceleration times and stopping distance.

The new Pine Marten control system should be up and running by Thursday, when crews will begin load tests to check motors, brakes and overall safety of the lift, Brooks said.

Half the chairlifts at Mount Bachelor already use digital drive systems, he said. After the drive on Pine Marten is changed, the Outback Express, Rainbow Chair, Red Chair and Carousel lifts will be the last ones running on the older system.

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[Aussierob]

Does anyone have details of the accident, as well as type of drive (manufacturer) etc.
Thanks

[edmontonguy]

Pine martin and outback are Doppelmary HSQs, the other three lifts are all older YAN triples and doubles.

[SkiBachelor]

Aussierob, on Oct 10 2005, 08:15 PM, said:

Does anyone have details of the accident, as well as type of drive (manufacturer) etc.
Thanks

The old Asea analog drive on Pine Marten was replaced by a new ABB digital drive. Rick Brooks who's the maintenance manager at Mt. Bachelor and member of this forum can probably give you full details.

Cameron

[Aussierob]

We still have 2 of the analog Tyrak 8 drives and it would be great to know if there is an issue with them we should know about.

[Rbrooks]

Rob I think the tyrak is still a good drive we replaced one of ours because we thought we would see inproved reliability and easier maintenance. The digital drive has no pots that can drift out of adjustment that need to be routinly checked. I would make sure you drive is still adjusted to load test specs such as accel/decell rates, curent limits and field supply current. We were having a hard time keeping our field current settings correct.

Rick