The High Speed Quad

Here is a short explanation of how a high-speed detachable ski lift works. The lift pictured below is the Thunderhead Express in Steamboat, Colorado. It was built by:

This page is a flow chart of how a high-speed quad terminal works.  Follow down and click pictures for larger views.

The chair rounds the station.

A chair going down the line to the terminal.

Here are the black wheels talked about earlier.  They provide the motion for the chair when it isn't on the cable.  Notice the derailer is in the down position.

The chair enters the derailer.  Notice how the black arm stabilizes the chair.

The black metal strip derails the chair while the black wheels slow down the chair until the unloading speed is reached.

Sensors ensure that the grip is properly attached on the cable.

A chair in the base terminal slowed down to the loading speed.

Here are brittle bars or sensors that would stop the lift in the event of a derailing.

If a chair needs to be repaired it can be removed here and left on this rail.

And off goes the chair!

Doppelmayr chairs consist of two major parts connected where the chair number is located above.

Doppelmayr high-speed lift controls:

High-speed lifts are sometimes built with rails (shown in the picture to the top right) so the chairs can be removed in the summer or for maintenance.

Here is a quad chair with covers.

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The chair begins to accelerate to leave the terminal.