SUNY AT BUFFALO

Project 08
Course Final Project
Daniel Simich
11/5/2009

This paper details the process of designing a “green” ski lift for Western New York ski resorts.
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Table of Contents
Tables ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
Figures ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
No table of figures entries found. .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2 Problem Statement ............................................................................................................................... 4
3 Design Intents ....................................................................................................................................... 4
4 Research on Existing Products .............................................................................................................. 4
4.1 Comparison of Products................................................................................................................ 5
4.2 Similar Features I Would Like to Include On My Product ............................................................. 6
5 Project Management ............................................................................................................................ 6
5.1 Gantt Chart.................................................................................................................................... 7
5.2 Sketches ........................................................................................................................................ 8
5.3 Comparison of Design Ideas........................................................................................................ 10
5.3.1 Explanation of Weighting .................................................................................................... 10
5.3.2 Explanation of Elements ..................................................................................................... 10
6 3D CAD Models ................................................................................................................................... 10
6.1 Lift Tower .................................................................................................................................... 11
6.2 The Lift Stations .......................................................................................................................... 12
6.3 The Chair ..................................................................................................................................... 14
7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 14

Tables
Table 2: Comparison of Features ................................................................................................................. 6

Figures
Figure 1: (a) Bullwheel at base of lift; (b and d) Variations in lift tower height; (c) Typical chair style ....... 5
Figure 2: The full lift tower. ........................................................................................................................ 11
Figure 3: Several close up images of the solar panel. (a) is simply the front of the solar panel. (b) shows
the easy removal system of the solar panel for cleaning or replacement. ................................................ 11
Figure 4: A render of the array of pulleys used used to support the cable. .............................................. 12
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Figure 5: A vew of the upper lift station. .................................................................................................... 12

Figure 6: (a) A full view of the bottom station. (b) A detailed look at the gear system. .......................... 13
Figure 7: A detailed look at the bullwheel. ................................................................................................ 13
Figure 8: (a) shows the full chair. (b) gives a detailed look at the glass and joint of the footrest and chair.
.................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 9: (c) shows the ease of removal of the seats for cleaning or replacing. ....................................... 14
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1 Introduction
Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding are a major form of recreation in areas, like Western
New York, that tend to get a lot of snow during the winter. In these regions, there are ski resorts that
cater to the needs of the participants. These ski resorts contain ski lifts, which allow skiers to get easily
to the top of a hill to ski down are not very energy efficient. They generally run on electricity with diesel
power back-up systems in case of a power outage.

2 Problem Statement
The problem with ski lifts is that they use a lot of energy. Many ski resorts in the East have the ability to
move 20,000+ people per hour and ski resorts in the West can move 65,000+ people per hour. Moving
all of these people requires a lot of power and I am going to design a lift that uses potentially
significantly less power.

3 Design Intents
I have several design intents. My lift design should be comfortable and safe for the riders. Riders may
spend 10 minutes or more per run on a ski lift. If the skier is uncomfortable, they may not come back to
that lift or even the whole resort. My lift should also be energy efficient or even energy neutral. It
should also be economically feasible for a Western New York resort to build and maintain.

4 Research on Existing Products

Current ski lifts are very varied in form, but all have the same general functionality. Every lift’s main
purpose is transporting people from one place to another, typically from the bottom to the top of a hill
or mountain. Every lift needs to be safe for the riders. Typically, chair-style lifts restrain riders from
falling out of the chair by a restraining bar that riders manually place down. Gondola lifts have doors
that automatically close. Lifts are suspended off of the ground by cables that run around lift towers that
can vary in height from 20 ft to greater than 80 ft. The height varies due to the slope of the hill and
terrain underneath the lift. Lifts are powered by electric or diesel motors positioned at the bottom of
the lift. To make the chairs move, the motor is connected to a bullwheel that, due to the tension on the
cable, causes the lift to move. There is a second bullwheel at the top of the lift that supports the chairs
at the top of the mountain.
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4.1 Comparison of Products

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Figure 1: (a) Bullwheel at base of lift; (b and d) Variations in lift tower height; (c) Typical chair style

Ski lifts come in several different styles. They can be gondolas, chairs, t-bar surface lifts among other
varieties. I will be focusing on gondolas, chairs, and t-bars to determine which is best.
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Advantages Disadvantages
Gondola Fast Has to be shut down when windy
Protection from elements Very expensive
Large Capacity High maintenance
Downhill and Uphill Loading
Chair Medium Speed Usually does not offer protection from elements
Reliable
May offer protection from elements
Cheaper than gondola
T-Bar Reliable Uncomfortable
Does not have to be shut down Slow
during windstorm Tiring for riders
Very inexpensive Useless in the summer

Table 1: Comparison of Features

4.2 Similar Features I Would Like to Include On My Product

I would like to protect the riders from the elements. My lift will be affordable for most ski resorts. It will
be able to move an average to above average number of people up the mountain.

5 Project Management
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5.1 Gantt Chart

10-Nov
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1-Dec
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Date
Project Sub-Project
Initial Proposal
Phase 1
Research
Report
Phase 2
Sketch Designs
Make Decision on Design
Sketch Individual Parts
Phase 3
3D Modeling of Parts
BOM Drawing
User Manual
Animations
Initial Powerpoint
Powerpoint Presentation
Finalize Powerpoint
Figure out presentation
Final Project Report
Finalize Report
5.2 Sketches
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5.3 Comparison of Design Ideas

Elements (Weighting Factor) Gondola Chairlift Surface Lifts
Protection from elements 5 3.5 1
Comfort for riders 5 3 1
Price (x2) 1 4 5
Range up mountain (x1.5) 5 3 2
Maintenance Level/Cost (x1.5) 2 3 4
Speed 5 3.5 3
Feasibility for WNY resorts (x1.5) 1 5 3.5
Potential Greenness (x2) 3 4 2
Final Score 35 42 301/3

5.3.1 Explanation of Weighting

My primary design concerns were cost, feasibility for Western New York resorts, and potential
greenness and I weighted them as such. I also weighted range up mountain because this is a major
factor in determining what type of lift a resort needs to build.

5.3.2 Explanation of Elements

Protection from elements is protecting the riders from wind, snow, rain, and other weather phenomena.
Comfort for riders is the level of comfort for riders, which takes into account the mode of transport.
Price is the average cost of the lift. Range up the mountain is the average length and vertical rise of the
lift. Maintenance level/cost is the average amount of maintenance required for the lift and the cost of
that maintenance. The speed of the lift is how fast the lift can move people.

The feasibility for WNY resorts is a subjective measure of whether a WNY resort could or would use the
lift. As of this year, there are no planned projects for either gondolas or surface lifts however there are
at least four chairlifts in the planning stages, 3 at Holimont and 1 at Holiday Valley. The reason why the
surface lift was ranked higher than the gondola was because there are currently at least 3 surface lifts
currently in operation in Western New York, whereas there are no gondolas. The majority of lifts are
chairlifts.

Potential greenness is also a subjective measure. To determine the score, I estimated the average
power consumption of the lifts and then factored in possible ways of making the lift greener. This
includes adding solar panels to the lift towers, using translucent photovoltaic cells on the windscreens
and windows of the chairlift and gondola, respectively, and using a more efficient motor.

6 3D CAD Models
Below are renderings of the various components of my ski lift design. There are multiple angles of the
major components, allowing us to see the important inner workings of this ski lift.
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6.1 Lift Tower

The lift tower plays a crucial part in making this lift greener. The lift towers come equipped with solar
panels placed on top of the lift. This placement, on a typical lift can bring up to 14.4kW of power. This
power is transported down the hill in electric lines and is stored in a battery when it is not needed.

Figure 2: The full lift tower.

As you can tell, there is no major difference in this lift tower with a normal lift tower, aside from the
solar panel.

(a) (b)

Figure 3: Several close up images of the solar panel. (a) is simply the front of the solar panel. (b) shows the easy removal
system of the solar panel for cleaning or replacement.
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Figure 4: A render of the array of pulleys used used to support the cable.

6.2 The Lift Stations

The lift stations are where the passengers get on and off the chair. The upper station is not very
different from the lower station, aside from the lack of motor, small size, and emergency stop bar.

Figure 5: A vew of the upper lift station.

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In the lower lift, there is significant more bulk. In this station, there is a motor, which connects to the
bullwheel and moves the lift.

(a) (b)

Figure 6: (a) A full view of the bottom station. (b) A detailed look at the gear system.

The gears are held in place by rods that hang from the ceiling of the station. The gears move freely on
ball bearings and do not drift up due to their weight.

Figure 7: A detailed look at the bullwheel.

In Figure 7, we get a detailed look at the bullwheel. It is attached to a beam hanging from the ceiling by
40 bolts. The bullwheel is resting on ball bearings, to enhance movement. The little screws hanging
from the rim of the bullwheel are balancing screws. To adjust the balance in the bullwheel, we change
the position of the screws.
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6.3 The Chair

The chair is how people are transported by the lift. For this lift, the chair has foot rests so that the
person's leg does not get tired from hanging with their ski equipment attached. Also, the chair has a
windscreen. The windscreen is made from photovoltaic glass, producing more energy which is
transferred to the batteries when the chair passes through the bottom lift station.

(a) (b)
Figure 8: (a) shows the full chair. (b) gives a detailed look at the glass and joint of the footrest and chair.

(c)
Figure 9: (c) shows the ease of removal of the seats for cleaning or replacing.

7 Conclusion
In conclusion, I feel that my chair lift is a viable replacement for many of the chairlifts on the market
today. It is green, it is comfortable for the riders, and it is relatively affordable.