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Key working components explained
This topic is for the newer members, it shows the key components of a ropeway mechanical power transmitting system along with a video of start, run and stop sequences. This video shows a detachable ropeway motor room but the key components can also be found in most fixed grip ropeways - I believe this video was taken during acceptance testing.
Component Description – see image below
A – Acceleration or deceleration pulleys for the tires that move the grips – this bank of tires moves (conveys) then “accelerates” the grip to the same speed as the haulrope for a smooth attachment. The acceleration tires are usually powered by the main gearbox that turns a smaller gearbox (not seen) but also they can be powered by the haulrope, bullwheel, rope sheaves, or electric motors.
B – Brake disk – much like a car’s disk brake it can stop and or hold the ropeway from turning.
C – Coupling – This couples the electric motor to the gearbox – This style of coupling is called a universal joint and is very similar to a truck drive-line. The gearbox side of the coupling shaft is hidden by the brake disk. This driveline style allows for construction and operational misalignment and is balanced before use.
D – Brake – Much like a car’s disk brake – these grab the disk on both sides (image angle only shows one side), the brake looks small but is extremely powerful on a disk of this diameter. Possible reasons for two brakes are: engineering redundancy, manufacturer philosophy, code specifications, owner specifications or all of the above.
E – Electric motor – Specifically this shows the output shaft housing - the video will show the full length of the motor. The electric motor turns the coupling which then turns the gearbox input shaft.
G – Gearbox – Simply an enclosure full of gears and oil. The gearbox transmits the power to the bullwheel which then turns the haul rope. The gearbox also: changes the direction from the electric motor (most often a 90 degree turn inside the box), reduces the speed about 100X, and increases the torque. It can be compared to a single speed transmission in a car. Also it can be called a speed reducer or gear reducer because it reduces the speed of the electric motor. This style of gearbox is called planetary (gear arrangement resembles the sun and planets); a smaller example of planetary gearing is used on a battery drill found in your local hardware store.
R – Directly under the letter “R” is the radiator for the secondary power input to the gearbox. The secondary or auxiliary power system is usually a combustion engine that has a similar coupling system to the gearbox as the electric motor. It is used if the power or controls for the electric motor are not available for normal use such as in a power outage.
Additional nomenclature and descriptions can also be found at Skilifts.org Glossary Page http://www.skilifts....ld/glossary.htm
Motor-room-vid-capture.jpg (49.89K)
Number of downloads: 60
Video description at each time period
For a full appreciation of actual sound you should turn up your sound as high as it will go…talking is quite difficult inside of a motor room.
:00-05 – Much of the sound throughout video is masked by the cooling fan of the electric motor that can be clearly heard in this time period, also heard is the startup warning beep beep.
:06 – Brake release can be seen if you closely watch the pads (pads open less than ¼”) and the hum from the electric motor (almost sounds like a horn rather than hum).
:07 – The driveline briefly turns the opposite way just after the brake pads release – this indicates the ropeway is under a full load – most ropeways have a “one-way” brake and or fine motor controls that will not allow this to happen– either these were disconnected for acceptance testing or not needed for this design.
:08 – The disk will turn in its normal rotation – the technician has pushed start then the “full speed button” almost simultaneously, the ropeway accelerates to full speed from this point
:10 – The accelerator pulleys can now see to be turning – they turn around 100X slower than the electric motor
:10-18 – Electric motor sound increases
:18 – Gearbox sounds are just becoming audible – these are the gears that spin the fastest that you hear – accelerator pulley turning is now easy to see.
:18-38 – Acceleration phase to top speed is almost complete
:39 – Lower speed gears in the gearbox can now be heard as a low rumble tone
:40 – Camera pans across the electric motor – the smooth shroud past the motor fins is the cooling fan housing
:39-44 Top (normal) speed, the haulrope speed is about 1000’ every minute or 17 per second – notice the accelerator pulley speeds
:45 - 46 – A stop is initiated – the ropeway is just beginning to decelerate – no lower or intermediate speed is selected, the ropeway will decelerate until it stops
:50 – Accelerator pulleys are turning very slow at this point – in most respects the ropeway will seemed to be stopped.
:51-52 – The ropeway has now stopped, slowing from 17 f/sec to zero…the “stopping distance” takes around 30’ and 4 seconds if you were riding this ropeway.
:52 – The brakes now grab the disk (a clunk can be heard - small pad movement can be seen) just after the disk stops turning – the brakes in this case do not slow the ropeway, most deceleration is done by the load and or the electric motor – think of driving a large truck uphill…as soon as you remove your foot from the gas pedal the truck quickly slows then stops, the brakes are only needed to hold the truck from going downhill.
:53- end – You can just hear another clunk – this can be the gearbox gears “accepting” the load from the ropeway and/or the accelerator drive train accepting the load…or someone dropping a wrench.
This video comes from YouTube poster Stahlseil (steel rope in German) – he has a number of clear videos featuring European ropeway machinery that are worth the look.
Video link:
