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Floating Bullwheel Design?
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SnowmakerGregg Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: May 23, 2002 Posts: 18 Location:Logan, UT	Posted: Jun 03, 2002 - 5:06 AM GMT Hey Guys, I have seen some pics of some lifts with the top bullwheel floating in the air being held up by the tension from the Chairlift Cable and the counterweight. Beaver Mountain here in Utah has one and I think I remember seeing or reading something at NELSAP about it. Any info, brands, years built, etc? THanks, Gregg

Jonni Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Oct 12, 2001 Posts: 2341 Location:Sunapee, NH & Rutland, VT	Posted: Jun 03, 2002 - 6:08 AM GMT While I don't know too much about the floating bullwheel design I do know of a brand that did build the floating bullwheel design type of lift. Poma. The bullwheel, usually the return terminal bullwheel, would float by way of a massive counterweight and the tension in the cable. This does not mean that the wheel is phyisically (one to many i's in there I think) floating, it is supported by a frame that makes up the last tower on the lift. Basically the last tower on the lift would be top heavy and consequently it had to be supported from the front by another cable that was attached to the counterweight. At least I think that all that information is correct. I hope that I get a second opinion.[addsig] __________ Fall Line n. Imaginary line following the most direct path down a slope that skiers continuously traverse on a run, often stopping at other invisible slope features along the way like the Tumble Lane, the Stagger Path and the Topple Zone.

PatrickSullivan Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 16, 2001 Posts: 695 Location:	Posted: Jun 03, 2002 - 7:16 AM GMT Jonni you sound like me! We have another up and coming lift nut. The one you're thinking of is or was at Hurley Ski Training Center in VT. One other FB I know about is a Poma Double at Sterling Forest in NY. Here's a pic from Dave's Chairlift Page: Later, Patrick

SnowmakerGregg Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: May 23, 2002 Posts: 18 Location:Logan, UT	Posted: Jun 03, 2002 - 7:02 PM GMT Hey Guys, That is similar but not quite like it. The one I have seen has the bullwheel literally floating with a good 10-15' of distance from the last tower and the counterweight tower. I found a picture of it, but when I clicked on the thumbnail it opened a different picture. I will see if I can just show you guys a pic of the thumbnail. Thanks for your help so far. I did learn it is a Poma, maybe just a different style than the picture above. Thanks again, later, Gregg

SnowmakerGregg Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: May 23, 2002 Posts: 18 Location:Logan, UT	Posted: Jun 03, 2002 - 7:17 PM GMT I don't know how to get a picture into my message or I would do it. But I found the pic of the lift I am talking about...heres the address... http://content.lib.utah.edu/cgi-bin/pview.exe?CISOROOT=/Photo_Archives&CISOPTR=8110&CISORESTMP=/qbuild/photo_template1.html&CISOVIEWTMP=/qbuild/template2.html Later, Gregg

JoshuaB Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Dec 19, 2001 Posts: 2176 Location:Hudson, MA	Posted: Jun 03, 2002 - 11:04 PM GMT Cool! Here it is: [ This message was edited by: JoshuaB on 2002-06-03 19:05 ]

ibrakefortbars Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Oct 12, 2001 Posts: 380 Location:Ohio	Posted: Jun 04, 2002 - 2:30 AM GMT Patrick: You are right! We have another up-and-coming lift nut!! Before you know it, we'll have another fan of a certain surface lift!!!! IBRAKE

Anonymous Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 01, 2001 Posts: 1434 Location:	Posted: Jun 04, 2002 - 2:46 AM GMT Oh, and would you be planning on trying to convert him? ME

Betsy Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 04, 2001 Posts: 1995 Location:Burlington Area, VT	Posted: Jun 04, 2002 - 4:26 PM GMT I believe Middlebury College Snow Bowl has a chair w/a floating bullwheel. Was perusing their site for pics but didnt see any. Our fearless leader has some though, so maybe he'll post them!

Jonni Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Oct 12, 2001 Posts: 2341 Location:Sunapee, NH & Rutland, VT	Posted: Jun 04, 2002 - 6:13 PM GMT Wow! I really like the above photo of the floating bullwheel design. That is the ultimate floating bullwheel! As I usually say when I like something,"I want one of those for my room!"[addsig] __________ Fall Line n. Imaginary line following the most direct path down a slope that skiers continuously traverse on a run, often stopping at other invisible slope features along the way like the Tumble Lane, the Stagger Path and the Topple Zone.

Jonni Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Oct 12, 2001 Posts: 2341 Location:Sunapee, NH & Rutland, VT	Posted: Jun 04, 2002 - 8:58 PM GMT I did a little digging on the "ultimate floating bullwheel picture. It was taken at a mountain in Utah called Beaver Creek. This area which was little when the picture was taken now has grown to a large resort. It has many lifts and it has constructed two whole towns around this large resort. Looks like a nice place.[addsig] __________ Fall Line n. Imaginary line following the most direct path down a slope that skiers continuously traverse on a run, often stopping at other invisible slope features along the way like the Tumble Lane, the Stagger Path and the Topple Zone.

PatrickSullivan Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 16, 2001 Posts: 695 Location:	Posted: Jun 05, 2002 - 2:41 AM GMT IBRAKE!!!!!!!!!!!1 How nice to see ya again. Don't worry, I'm already proficient in Hall-Tbars. I'm sure jonni will too. I once wanted a 10 gallon of Doppelmayr Special blend gear oil for an air freshener for my room.

rocket21 Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 13, 2001 Posts: 8400 Location:USA	Posted: Jun 05, 2002 - 6:48 AM GMT Floating bullwheels are illegal in a lot of states now, a retentive device is required. __________ NewEnglandSkiHistory.com

Anonymous Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 01, 2001 Posts: 1434 Location:	Posted: Jun 05, 2002 - 6:11 PM GMT A great place to look at a free floating bullwheel on a Poma double (like the picture above) is at Holiday Mountain in Monticello, NY. The lift terminates a few yards away from Rt. 17. You can either hike the trail (Upper Tombstone) or park on the highways' shoulder, hop the fence, and take some really great pictures. It doesn't traverse a ravine like the above picture so you can get really close. It's really neat engineering but I wouldn't want to be there the day the cable snaps! IBRAKE (posting from the office) PS: those who are fond of floating bullwheels will find themselves inexplicably drawn to Riblets and Hall Tbars. It's a natural evolution!

debris_slide Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Jan 26, 2002 Posts: 202 Location:	Posted: Jun 05, 2002 - 11:14 PM GMT The (classic) poma double chair on the upper mountain at Bolton is another floating bullwheel example.. When I was learning to ski there, i was always impressed by how the entire bullwheel platform would sway back and forth in the wind and in response to skiers unloading. It's pretty creepy to watch if you're not used to it though! -debris slide

Anonymous Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Sep 01, 2001 Posts: 1434 Location:	Posted: Jun 06, 2002 - 1:48 AM GMT Check out the chairlift at Otis Ridge. It has a floating bullwheel. It is a Poma.

debris_slide Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Jan 26, 2002 Posts: 202 Location:	Posted: Jun 06, 2002 - 6:01 AM GMT so is it safe to assume that Poma was the only company to use them extensively? I've really never seen it anywhere except for old (pre-omega driveterminal) poma doubles and some pomalifts......... there was a long PONY lift (handle tow) which had a floating bullwheel anchored to a tree (!) at Brodie, Mass., on the furthest over to the left expert trail......looking up the mountain from the base, that is. -debris slide

Jonni Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Oct 12, 2001 Posts: 2341 Location:Sunapee, NH & Rutland, VT	Posted: Jun 06, 2002 - 6:18 AM GMT I think that they still use them now, in a vague sort of way. The new 6x6's use that design for the drive terminal. The whole motor, gear box, and bullwheel, kind of perched atop a pillar that also helps keep the tension in the cable. Here is a picture of one. [addsig] __________ Fall Line n. Imaginary line following the most direct path down a slope that skiers continuously traverse on a run, often stopping at other invisible slope features along the way like the Tumble Lane, the Stagger Path and the Topple Zone.

SnowmakerGregg Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: May 23, 2002 Posts: 18 Location:Logan, UT	Posted: Jun 09, 2002 - 11:15 AM GMT Jonni, You could not be more wrong about your post about the lift. The mountains name is Beaver Mountain. It is located near Logan, UT 32 miles us Logan Canyon. Logan was around for a long time before Beaver Mountain and it was the skiers in Logan that got it started. It has only two lifts and finally this last season got a web page! Its not very big and caters only to locals, lifts tickets run for $20! Its a nice Mom and Pop place,litterally, Ed Seeholtzer and his family run the resort by themselves. Its fun to see so much interest in a picture I found, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Later, Gregg

Jonni Profile \| Galleries Rank: Member Since: Oct 12, 2001 Posts: 2341 Location:Sunapee, NH & Rutland, VT	Posted: Jun 09, 2002 - 5:17 PM GMT Yeah your right I just checked the information about the picture on the page that it originated from. It's Beaver Mountain, not Beaver Creek. Even though there is a Beaver Creek that is quite large and has 3 lifts that run year round for aerial lift rides. It's a good thing that you guys are around to keep people like me in line with my information. [addsig] __________ Fall Line n. Imaginary line following the most direct path down a slope that skiers continuously traverse on a run, often stopping at other invisible slope features along the way like the Tumble Lane, the Stagger Path and the Topple Zone.

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