Poma urban transport
Heron Poma, whose ski lifts are well known to the industry, has released some details on its Poma 2000 system for urban transport. The system claims to provide the capability of high capacity over lines from 7 to 10 miles long with numerous intermediate loading and unloading points. Using 30 passengers per vehicle, the manufacturers project capacities of 7,000 per hour in each direction.
The Poma 2000, which is expected to be commercially operational by 1975, uses small passenger cars mounted on four pneumatic wheels running on a special track. It is a “guideway” system in which the vehicles are carried—not suspended. The cars, which are spaced on the track about 100 meters apart, follow each other at a frequency of 10 to 14 seconds.
The development of the Poma 2000 system is designed to meet the need for alternatives to the automobile and other high pollutant transportation in high density communities.
Inray people-heater
At Brandywine Ski Center, Northfield, Ohio, an outdoor Inray high-intensity, infra-red, oil-fired heater provides warm comfort for cold skiers.
According to The Glass-Lined Water Heater Company, manufacturers of Inray, the infra-red heating principle warms up only people and other solid objects. “No fuel is wasted in heating the air, and the snow around the heater is not melted into a wet, muddy area,” according to a company spokesman.
Weighing 65 pounds, the Inray heater can be set up as a free-standing unit or attached to a post or wall. It may be wheeled or sledded to the desired location.
For information, write Inray, 13000 Athens Ave., Cleveland, Oh., 44107.
Larchmont’s Drifter
To cut down on labor involved in moving snow guns, as well as for quality control, Larchmont has introduced The Drifter, a self-propelled unit that can travel between six inches and two feet per minute.
According to Joe Tropeano, Larchmont president, the three towers are so designed that an operator can have the lead nozzles lay wet base, while the next set of nozzles lays a medium and the last set lay powder. “The perfect snow stream,” adds Tropeano.
The manufacturer claims each unit is capable of covering 2,000 lineal feet of slope per day.
Area signs by Smith
A complete line of ski area signs, both standard and customized, are available from Pete Smith Co., P.O. Box 1274, Sun Valley, Id., 83353.
Smith supplies signs for indoor as well as outdoor use, and can make them in varying sizes out of many materials.
A catalogue and price list is available.
Maxey snow Mover
The Maxey “full flow” Snow Mover is designed to redistribute snow. It is a piece of equipment designed specifically for ski area use. The five cubic yards picked up, transported and released represents a blanket of snow 8 feet wide, 24 feet long and 6 inches deep.
Manufactured by Maxey Manufacturing Co., Fort Collins, Colo., the Snow Mover will be on display at the Great Gorge Trade Show in May, according to Loren Maxey, President.
The Maxey Snow Mover is pulled by any of the larger over-snow vehicles (300 CID and larger engine size). A control lever lowers the cutting edge for snow pick-up. As load filling is completed, the operator moves control levers to rear which simultaneously lifts cutting edge and brings hood forward, thus holding snow load in the vehicle.
In addition to transporting snow, the Snow Mover is also used for mogul grooming, and also for high compaction packing, given the extra weight of the snow.
Cascade’s Line Saver
Cascade Toboggan Co., of 25802 W. Valley Hi-Way, Kent, Wa., 98031, has developed what it calls a line saver.
It is claimed that this device will prevent lift cables from cutting into expensive nylon line. The loose end of the line is threaded through the line saver and tossed over the main cable. When the line saver is pulled up to the cable, it automatically locks on.
Used in conjunction with a double pulley, the line saver has 3 to 1 leverage and can pull himself up to the chair seat.
Cascade offers a catalogue of its extensive line of rescue equipment.
New Hall lift
Hall Ski-Lift Co. of Watertown, N.Y. has announced the design of a new chairlift model which will be available this year. According to General Sales Co-ordinator, Stewart R. Kidder, the Model 2004 will utilize a combined drive and tension terminal with overhead drive, permitting under-the-bullwheel loading.
Plastic chain
Designed for crowd control and safety boundaries, the chain is offered in three sizes. Tensile strengths range from 18 lbs. for small chain to 300 lbs for the larger. It comes in yellow, white, black, green, red and blue. Ground posts are also available.
The high-density polyethylene chain is manufactured by PCC Corp., Dept. 26, Hebron, Ill., 60034.
Skytram systems
Skytram employs a new concept in motive power and propulsion. It is a self-propelled vehicle on a stationary fixed cable. Since it does not use moving cables, the manufacturer claims it is free to corner as much as 180 degrees.
A subsidiary of Bud Brown Enterprises, Skytram Systems, Inc. is located at 14439 N. 73rd St., Scottsdale, Ariz., 85254.
Airless snow machine
B. A. Rice Industries, Inc., of Canandaigua, N.Y. has announced the development of a new design, self-contained, airless snow machine.
Designated “Alp Maker IV”, the machine has a capacity up to 160 G.P.M., according to Bruce A. Rice, President. The machine weighs under 500 pounds, is sled-mounted and will be marketed for approximately $5,000.
The manufacturer claims that the gasoline engine drive will operate at any angle with no danger of burn-out due to lack of lubrication.
Una-Track design changes
The Una-Track system for converting any four-wheel-drive vehicle into a tracked vehicle has undergone some design modifications which will greatly improve its durability and overall performance, according to Imagineering Associates, 131 Townsend Street, San Francisco, Ca., 94107.
The front idler wheel group has been raised for better track climbing and performance in deep powder. Secondly, one-inch axle shafts will be installed at all idler and bogie wheel positions to permit the use of standard one-inch bearings at these wheel positions. Thirdly, a new bogie wheel configuration features a 2-inch deep side wall tire molded from a more resilient rubber to provide improved shock absorption capability when Una-Tracks are installed on three-quarter ton trucks.
Riblet Detensioner
Designed for wire rope inspection and chair clip movement, the Detensioner can compression basket 1-18”, 1-14” and 1-12” wire ropes.
The manufacturer claims it is capable of pulling 25,000 lbs with 1,500 PSI hydraulic pressure, and that the unit is readily adaptable to any existing hydraulic power source. Alternatively, power units can be supplied with it.
The manufacturer, Riblet Tramway Co., P.O. Box 5220, Spokane, Washington, 99205, says the unit is a time-saving one, and safe. They say that initial installation of chair clips has been done averaging 2 minutes per chair. Routine 2-year location changes have been done in 3 minutes, according to Riblet.
Belt tracks for Tuckers
Sierra Engineering, Inc., of 1651 Glendale Rd., Sparks, Nev., 89431, announce the availability of new belt tracks designed to fit a Tucker 500 Snow Cat. The price is $5,483 plus freight.
According to the manufacturer, the belt tracks will eliminate the costly maintenance of the steel pontoon.
The rubber belt tracks feature special steel grousers, pneumatic steel-guarded tires and polyurethane sprockets.
Hedco Mark III Snowmaker
Hedco has introduced the Mark III model, with weight one of the chief features. At 500 lbs, the Mark III is roughly one-quarter the weight of the H-2D.
For maneuverability on steep slopes, the dimensions are 54 inches wide, 60 inches high and 83 inches long.
The manufacturer claims that at 28-degrees the Mark III will operate at about 30 to 35 gallons per minute. At 18 degrees, they claim 110 GPM.
Price of the Mark III is listed at approximately $9,500, according to Hedco, 11 Park Place, Paramus, N.J., 07652.
Howard Spike Rotor
The Howard Spike Rotor, manufactured by Howard Rotavator Co., of Harvard, Ill., 60033, is designed for breaking up ice and compacted snow, leveling tow track ridges and other general slope maintenance.
The machine features spiked tines that are arranged at 2-inch intervals in a scroll pattern around the power-driven rotor. In operation, these spikes revolve at high speed. The adjustable roller that follows the unit controls the depth of cut and smoothes the snow to the desired consistency, according to the manufacturer.
Spike Rotors are available in 70, 80 and 90-inch widths for tractors of 45-60 H.P. They mount to any Category I or II 3-point linkage tractor.
New platter pull
Ski Facilities, of 2740 4th Ave. South, Seattle, Wa., 98134, is adding a platter pull to its 1973-74 catalog. This will be in addition to the manufacturer’s line of Mitey Mite II surface wire rope tows.
The new platter pull will be called the Goose, according to Donald Nitsche, president of Ski Facilities.
Ratnik’s Snow Giant Guns
The Snow Giant II snow gun is a product of Ratnik Industries, Inc., 367 Orchard Street, Rochester, N.Y. 14606.
It is claimed that Snow Giant II is designed in a unique way by which water is broken up before it mixes with air. The combined air-water mix is atomized again before it enters the nozzle.
The tower Snow Giant II is designed for semi-permanent installations at areas of special concern (high snow need or hard to get at). The gun height is adjustable from four to nine feet. The inlets are 2-in. diameter, quick-connect fittings.
The Snow Giant III, designed as a high capacity snow machine to cover a given area in a short length of time, is mounted on a light-weight sled.
X-Country track setter
Bullard Products, Inc., of North Hyde Park, Vt., 05665, have created Track-Pak snow grader and the new Track Setter attachment for setting tracks on cross country ski trails.
According to the manufacturers, the Trak-Pak with mogul shear and the track setter can easily be handled by a 20 H.P. snowmobile. The combination is designed to level, smooth, pack and set tracks in one operation. Picture shows two Trak-Paks side-by-side being pulled by one machine.
Locker services brochure
A new 8-page brochure on the use of coin-operated lockers is available from the American Locker Co., AVM Corp., Jones & Gifford Aves., Jamestown, N.Y. 14701.
In addition to providing case-history information on several major locker installations, the brochure includes specifications and installation instructions on the company’s line of lockers.
Special ski clothing
Extending its line of chairlift seat pads, tower safety pads, portable snow fence and other ski area equipment, Colorado Ski Area Equipment Co. of Denver, Colo. has introduced a new line of ski clothes that is now available to ski area operators.
Marketed under the name of Ski Athalon, these color-coordinated pants and parkas feature stretch nylon with Neoprene insulation.
On the practical side, they are, according to the manufacturer, warm, lightweight, waterproof, snag and tear resistant.
Cat auxiliary lift power
McCoy Co. of Denver, Colo., reports that a new concept is to equip key lifts with auxiliary power that will allow these lifts to continue operation at 100 per cent capacity should the prime electric motor be interrupted. Previously, auxiliary power was designed to ensure an evacuation capability, but not an operational one.
One of these replacement units is a Caterpillar D334, sold by McCoy Co. in Denver. Recently installed at an elevation of 11,250 ft. on Vail’s No. 5 lift, the 220 H.P.
Stadeli spring box
Stadeli-Lift, of Oetwil, Zurich, Switzerland, has introduced a new spring box for T-bars.
Unlike existing ones, the new spring box has a hydraulic oil pump which is designed to provide a smooth and even start. Among other advantages the manufacturer claims for this design is longer wear and less maintenance.
