5 replies to this topic

[Skier72]

So, apparently Borvig made a detachable chairlift (Spirit Mountain, Minnesota) with Leitner grips and sheaves. I'm wondering if this was a one of a kind lift, or did Borvig attempt at making any detachables anywhere else?

Photos here:
https://drive.google...s2CiJJwhD_ZTzCR

[Lift Dinosaur]

Borvig purchased sheave assemblies, grips, carriers, terminal mechanisms (acceleration, deceleration and turn arounds) and electronics associated with chair spacing and anti-collision directly from Leitner. Borvig engineered and built the terminal masts, towers and cross arms, and the drive terminal and associated equipment.

This post has been edited by Lift Dinosaur: 21 January 2021 - 05:51 PM

[ne_skier]

Borvig possibly made another but I have yet to find it. These were definitely far from common. As the story goes, Borvig always worked with Leitner, they provided them with springboxes for their T-Bars and Platters, for instance. This was ramped up drastically circa 1985, when Leitner gearboxes, electronics, sheaves, and in some instances hanger arms and chairs were making their way onto Borvig lifts, so this partnership was not isolated to detachables. In the early 90s, Leitner was fed up with Borvig not being able to keep up with the pace Leitner was setting for lift installations, and Leitner essentially demanded that Gary Schulz, Borvig's owner hand over the company, threatening that Leitner would put him out of business otherwise. Schulz didn't want to let Leitner win, and simply closed down shop himself in 1993. Just 3 years later his son Hagen would start Partek, which is effectively a continuation of Borvig. Leitner went on to do something similar with Ontario's Blue Mountain Lifts and entered the North American market in the mid-late 90s.

[2milehi]

Looks similar to what Poma did in the 80s. I wonder if the drive accel/decel used PTOs or a generator/motor from the drive section to power the divorced part.

[Lift Dinosaur]

2milehi, on 28 August 2021 - 06:06 AM, said:

Looks similar to what Poma did in the 80s. I wonder if the drive accel/decel used PTOs or a generator/motor from the drive section to power the divorced part.

Leitner used PTO sheaves that were shaft coupled to a series of gearboxes, much like Poma did in the 80's. The exception being that Poma powered their gearboxes with a connection to the bullwheels.
Dino

[2milehi]

Thanks Dino, at the return of Poma's terminals they got power from the bullwheel and distributed power with driveshafts and splitter boxes.