Today, an individual can kick their feet up and relax as an inclined elevator carries them up and down a hill, but this wasn’t always the case. It took centuries for this product to offer the smooth ride it does today.
Muscle-Power
The earliest inclined elevators used muscle power. One of these, the Reisszug in Austria, carried goods and people to a castle situated on top of a summit. For its cable, they used a hemp rope. Its tracks were wooden rails, and its power came from men or animals.
Counterbalancing
Pulling loads of people and their things uphill is tiring work. It’s no surprise that someone along the way decided that enough was enough. Using two counterbalanced carts, engineers discovered an easier way to move people across tough slopes. First, they would attach two carts together via cable. They would then fill the cart at the top of the slope with weight, while leaving the cart at the bottom of the slope light. Gravity would then do all the work of lifting and lowering. Uphill trips became a little bit easier.
Today’s Inclined Elevators
A new inclined elevator doesn’t rely on muscle power or counterbalancing weights. They’re equipped with motors. Electric power fuels the force, and this power can come from all sorts of places. For Hill Hiker®, it comes down to the power sources available. For some of our projects, there isn’t always a main power grid to tap into. In these cases, solar energy is a great source.
Power upgrades aren’t the only improvements. Today’s lifts use steel for the tracks, carts, cables and more. At Hill Hiker®, we use galvanized steel on many of our components, offering extra durability and corrosion resistance. You’ll also find concrete beams and pillars supporting the track for some modern locations.
Diversity of Modern Inclined Elevators
Besides offering leaps in improvements, modern inclined elevators are diverse. Each system we build at Hill Hiker® is unique, as no two slopes are the same. Despite the diversity, there are three common types: winding drum systems, continuous loop systems and WDX systems.
Winding Drum Systems
These inclined elevators are simple systems, but very reliable. Their defining feature is a cylinder-shaped drum. The drums are grooved to keep the cable wraps from tangling. This type of system pulls the cart and its people uphill by coiling the cable around the drum. It lowers the cart downhill by uncoiling the cable, gradually releasing slack until the inclined elevator’s passengers arrive safely downhill.
For customers seeking an aesthetically pleasing lift, this may be the best option. Because a winding drum inclined elevator allows us to conceal the system’s power pack. The power pack includes the gearbox, motor and shaft configuration. With the winding drum incline elevator, these pieces can be strung out along the course of the track, mounted beneath and hidden from view.
Despite the attractive look of these systems, there are a few drawbacks. The longer the track for the inclined elevator, the larger drum you’ll need. This can place some limitations on length. For example, the longest winding drum inclined elevator we’ve produced is 505 ft. These systems also need to be mounted to a concrete slab, which can increase the cost of the project.
Continuous Loop Systems
Winding drum systems are the go-to choice for many clients, but many others prefer a second option–the continuous loop inclined elevator. This system, also known as a traction drive system, uses a drive cable moving in one loop all the way up and down the hill through pulleys.
Because they don’t require a concrete slab, like the winding drum system, they save clients money. There’s no drum inside a continuous loop system as well, which makes it easier to produce longer tracks.
With the continuous loop system, the power pack can’t be tucked underneath the track. It must be mounted to the top of the track. At Hill Hiker®, we place a painted metal sheet over the power pack to protect it from the elements and to dress it up. Some clients go even further by getting creative with their landscaping, building little enclosures around the power pack called doghouses.
WDX Systems
WDX (Winding Drum X) inclined elevators are our newest systems. They combine features of the Winding drum and continuous loop inclined elevators to save on costs. Like the winding drum systems, they use a drum. They have a simple design, which doesn’t require pulleys at the bottom of the slope as do continuous loop inclined elevators. Unlike the winding drum systems, they don’t need a concrete slab for mounting. This also saves the customer money.
Despite the cost saving benefits of the system, they aren’t for everyone. There are length restrictions of 150 ft. max for the track. Anything over that length, the customer will need either a continuous loop or winding drum inclined elevator.
To decipher what system is best for you, consult our team. Our staff knows their inclined elevators, having studied all of the innovations that create the smooth and safe motion up and downhill. With a conversation about your needs and the conditions of your slope, we’ll point you to the perfect system.
