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The Galzigbahn Ferris wheels, Austria
In ISR 8/2006 we described the innovative solution adopted for the carrier conveyor system in the lower terminal of the new Galzigbahn.
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This report focuses on the engineering solutions employed for the ropeway and its Ferris wheels.
Ropeway engineering for the new Galzigbahn
The new system – a replacement for a jigback that had seen several modifications since its construction back in 1937 – is a double monocable installation (Funitel) with a double haul rope loop, a design that Doppelmayr has already employed a number of times. The drive in the upper terminal comprises tandem motor sets, each with two inline DC motors. The tensioning for the four haul ropes is located in the lower terminal and comprises a frame supporting two rope sheaves, from which 104 t steel plate counterweights are suspended. Please consult the technical data box for the other main specifications.
The Ferris wheels
What makes the Galzigbahn Funitel unique in ropeway engineering is the Ferris wheel solution adopted for carrier handling in the lower terminal, where they are lowered and lifted almost 10 m to negotiate the difference in height between the passenger loading and unloading level and the line level for gondola arrival and launching. This Ferris wheel configuration comprises two huge wheels for each line, with the gondolas suspended between the two wheels for terminal conveyance just like a Ferris wheel in an amusement park. The only difference comparedwith a conventional Ferris wheel is that the Galzigbahn gondolas only travel through one half turn of the wheels. The solutions for the various components and assemblies required to control carrier movement gave the design engineers a number of tough nuts to crack! Each set of wheels is fitted with pairs of carrier supports, which are chain controlled to ensure that they are always in the horizontal position. The carrier arriving from above or below is positioned exactly between the two supports. Once the carrier is in the correct position (tolerance +/-5 cm), an engaging dog swings into the rope channel on the grip so that the carrier is securely held on the Ferris wheel and is ready for the half-circle upward or downward journey. When the carrier has completed the ride between the two levels, the engaging dog swings down and sideways to release the grip and the carrier is returned to the horizontal conveyor system. That all sounds very straightforward, but in fact the electronic controls for the Ferris wheels are far more complex than anything to be found on a conventional ropeway, and the engineers spent several weeks on the fine-tuning in the commissioning phase. The photographs, too, only give a superficial impression of the complexity of this carrier handling system. But just take a look!
Josef Nejez
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