Section 7.467. Terminals and stations

(a) Power source. Electrical and internal combustion energy may be utilized as a power source, as follows:

(1) Electrical. The utilization of electrical energy shall conform to the provisions of § 7.427(a)(1) (relating to terminals and stations).

(2) Internal combustion. Fuel tanks shall be buried or so located as to be free of fire hazard. The engine shall always be shut down during refueling. The fuel entry opening shall be capped and located to avoid toxic fumes and fire hazard during refueling. Liquid fuels shall be stored and handled in accordance with the standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters as outlined in Pamphlet No. 30, Flammable Liquids, June 1959. Also liquefied petroleum gas installations shall be made in accordance with the standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, as outlined in Pamphlet No. 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gases, as amended through 1959.

(b) Prime movers. Prime movers shall have the capacity to handle the most unfavorable design loading conditions. Internal combustion engine exhausts shall be discharged into the atmosphere.

(c) Speed reducers and gears. Speed reducers and gears shall comply with accepted standard practices, and have the capacity for starting the tramway under the most unfavorable design load conditions.

(d) Bearings, couplings, and shafting. Bearings, couplings, and shafting shall conform to the provisions of § 7.427(d).

(e) Clutches. Any clutch device used between the prime mover and the drive sheave shall meet the requirements for bearings and couplings specified in subsection (d) of this section.

(f) Acceleration and speed control. When necessary to satisfy the requirements of § 7.466 (relating to capacity, speed and loading interval), a variable speed drive shall be used, so that the speed of the rope may be changed to suit variations in snow conditions and the ability of skiers to mount the lift. The drive equipment shall be able to accelerate the line safely under all conditions of loading.

(g) Brakes and stops. Every system shall be provided with the following:

(1) Brakes. The lift shall have a backstop to prevent reverse rotation of the lift under full load.

(2) Stops. Electric switches affecting all power shall be installed at all loading and unloading points, and be so located as to be immediately available to the attendants. The tramway shall be started only by the operator or other designated attendant. Reference should also be made to subsection (s) and § 7.468(d) (relating to line structures).

(h) Machine rooms. Motive power shall be housed in a well-ventilated machine room in a manner which permits proper maintenance. Adequate lighting and protection against lighting and static electricity shall be provided. A minimum of 18 inches clearance shall be provided between machinery and machine room enclosures, and passageways between units of machinery should have the same minimum width. A fireproof room is preferable but in any event, adequate fire-prevention measures and fire fighting devices shall be installed, except for a cabinet type unit. In all cases, all safety devices, such as backstops, brakes, relays, and the like, shall be protected from the weather.

(i) Protection against moving parts. Moving machine parts which may normally be within reach of personnel shall be fitted with safety guards conforming to American Standard B15.1-1953.

(j) Bull wheels. Bull wheel frames should be so designed that they will retain the wheel in the event of shaft breakage. Where this is not feasible, the shaft design working stresses shall be not more than 60% of those otherwise allowable. The minimum diameter for bull wheels shall be 72 times the diameter of the rope, if no gripping device passes around the bull wheel. The minimum diameter for bull wheels shall be 80 times the diameter of the rope in cases where the gripping devices travel around the bull wheel. In such instances, the angle formed by the cable as it enters and leaves the grip body when passing around the bull wheel shall not exceed seven degrees. The bull wheel mounting at all terminals shall be supported from the ground by rigid structures. The mounting that travels under the action of the counterweight shall be supported on rigid straight rails by means of wheels. The available travel should be such that the frame does not reach either limit of motion during normal operation and until the hauling rope needs to be resocketed or respliced for other reasons, or replaced. Guides shall be installed to lead the towing outfits in and out of terminals and around the bull wheel without danger to themselves, terminal structures or equipment, or personnel.

(k) Sheaves and bearings in terminals. Sheaves and bearings in terminals shall conform to the following:

(1) Drive sheaves. Drive sheaves shall meet the requirements of § 7.427(k)(1).

(2) Hauling rope sheaves. Guide sheaves shall be placed to prevent misalignment of the rope entering and leaving the bull wheels. Sheaves shall meet the specifications of § 7.468(d). When necessary to prevent the rope from leaving the sheaves, counter sheaves shall be installed adjacent to them. Provision shall be made for grounding the wire rope to offset the effects of static electricity and electrical storms. When deflecting sheaves are required, they shall satisfy the requirements of § 7.427(k)(2).

(3) Counterweight rope sheaves. Counterweight rope sheaves shall conform to the provisions of § 7.427(k)(3).

(l) Anchor connections for counterweight ropes, tower or station anchor cables or guys, and the like. Rope and cable sockets shall be so designed that they will not be stressed beyond the yield point of the material used when the ropes or cables which they anchor are under tensions equal to their catalog breaking strength. Anchor connections should be above ground. Any part of the anchorage below ground shall be protected against loss of strength due to corrosion.

(m) Counterweight ropes. Counterweight ropes shall conform to the specifications prescribed in § 7.427(n).

(n) Counterweights. Counterweights shall conform to the specifications prescribed in § 7.427(o), except that reference shall be made to subsection (j) in regard to bull wheels.

(o) Structures. The structures of chair lifts, gondola lifts and skimobiles shall conform to the specifications prescribed in § 7.427(p).

(p) Foundations. The foundations of chair lifts, gondola lifts, and skimobiles shall conform to the sepcifications prescribed in § 7.427(q).

(q) Loading and unloading areas. All loading areas shall be of sufficient length and grade to permit starting of skiers with maximum ease and comfort and to permit them to become adjusted to the towing outfit before they start uphill. All unloading areas shall be at least 16 feet long and approximately level, but may be inclined slightly to aid the passengers to ski away from the towing device. The distance between the unloading area and upper terminals guides shall be sufficient to allow the towing outfits to become retracted and to permit their oscillation to diminish adequately before they enter the terminal. This requirement will result in a different distance for each type of towing outfit and each line velocity.

(r) Attendants. There shall be at least one attendant at each station, one of whom shall be in charge of all operations.

(s) Safety stops. A safety stop actuated by contact with a passenger or towing device shall be provided at the unloading terminal to stop the lift before a passenger or unretracted towing device comes in contact with any mechanism or obstruction. The distance from such stop to the first obstruction shall be not less than the distance traveled by the unloaded lift operating at maximum speed after application of the stop, to which shall be added a safety margin of 50%. The safety stop shall be marked by a red flag or other attention-arresting device. Limit switches shall be installed to stop the tramway before any counterweight or bull wheel carriage reaches either end of its travel. All electrical stop circuits shall be closed circuits so that, in case of power failure or malfunction of the stop switch, the system will fail safe; it shall also be all metallic and ungrounded, unless otherwise approved by the authority having jurisdiction. After any actuation of a safety stop, the cause shall be determined and removed, and the safety stop reset. Safety stop circuits shall not be bypassed during passenger operation. In the case of such stops, the lift shall never be started except by the operator. Reference should also be made to subsection (g) and § 7.468(d) (relating to line structures).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 7.461 (relating to definitions); 34 Pa. Code § 7.462 (relating to applicability); and 34 Pa. Code § 7.468 (relating to line structures).