The companies of Altra Industrial Motion offer many critical drivetrain products utilized in ski lift and amusement ride applications including overrunning and backstopping clutches, gear drives and geared motors, brakes and linear actuators.

1. Applications & Innovations
Ski Lift and Amusement
Ride Markets

2. We’re committed to the
Ski Lift and Amusement Ride
Markets
The companies of Altra Industrial Motion offer many critical
drivetrain products utilized in ski lift and amusement ride applications
including overrunning and backstopping clutches, gear drives and
geared motors, brakes and linear actuators.
Altra Brands Deliver Value Throughout the Drivetrain
Altra Industrial Motion is positioned to provide OEMs with
exceptional drivetrain value by ensuring component compatibility
and optimized performance combined with time-saving,
single-source convenience.
Extensive Technical Experience in Ski Lift and
Amusement Ride Applications
Major OEMs routinely rely on the vast ski lift and amusement ride
application knowledge of Altra’s engineering teams that collaborate
to
thoroughly analyze specific customer applications and then apply
the latest technologies in design, materials and manufacturing.

3. Application Profile
Ski Lifts
Problem:
A major Colorado ski resort required reliable overrunning
clutches for use on their chair lifts. The resort has more than
20 ski lifts that typically run close to capacity for seven
hours/day from mid-November through the end of April. The
rigorous operating schedule, along with the heavy passenger
loads, puts significant wear and tear on the lift’s drive
components.
Solution:
Formsprag FSO 500 overrunning ball bearing clutches were
selected for use on the resort’s lifts due to their exceptional
reliability and long-lasting performance – a 6-year service life
is typical. The clutch prevents reverse rotation of the large
bullwheel that drives the primary lift cable, stopping the
suspended chairs from sliding backward down the mountain
in the event of a power failure.
• FSO 500 clutches supplied have a torque capacity of
1,175 lb.ft. (1621 Nm).
Model FSO Overrunning Clutches

4. Application Profile
Ski Lift
Problem:
Doppelmayr, located in Wolfurt Austria, is a leading
manufacturer of cable lifts and cable cars. On a Friday afternoon
they received notice that gear drive on a ski lift, in Wagrain,
failed and shut the entire system down. An emergency call was
placed to Bauer for a replacement gear motor.
Solution:
The call came into the Bauer order center in Munich 45 min.
before closing time. Bauer employees understood the critical
nature of the call and responded quickly. A parcel service was
contacted and shortly afterwards a recently assembled BG-06
spur gear motor was picked up. About 16.15 hrs. the gear motor
arrived in Wagrain for installation. On Saturday the lift was fully
operational again.
• A BG06 geared motor was emergency-shipped within an hour
and installed in less than 24 hours
Model BG06 Geared Motor

5. Application Profile
Roller Coaster
Problem:
A large, Midwestern theme park needed a replacement
overrunning clutch for use on one of their most popular
inverted roller coasters. The ride begins with a lift hill that
ascends
137 ft. (42 m). Trains are pulled up by a 9,000 lb. chain lift
before moving through various climbs, dives and corkscrews
while reaching a maximum speed of 57 mph (92 km/h).
Solution:
To meet the ride’s requirements, Formsprag supplied a
grease-lubricated, 15" diameter FSO-1027 clutch with a
27,000 lb.ft. (36,720 Nm) torque capacity. The clutch prevents
reverse rotation of the chain lift to keep the attached loaded
train cars from sliding backward down the steep lift hill in the
event of a power failure.
• The FSO clutch provided has a torque arm mounted to the
outer race and is positioned on the gearbox’s double
extended input shaft.
Model FSO Overrunning Clutch

6. Application Profile
Amusement Ride Conveyor
Problem:
A major amusement park located in Orlando, Florida, needed a
replacement drive for use on one of its attractions. The ride
features boats that transport passengers through a series of
greenhouses and gardens where many of the plants are grown
hydroponically. The plants are suspended from a slow
overhead looped conveyor system that operates 24/7. The
conveyor moves the plants through the skylighted exhibit. The
conveyor’s original reducer was showing signs of wear.
Solution:
Boston Gear supplied a compact, non-flanged double
reduction Model 738 speed reducer to provide long life in the
tough 24/7 operational environment. The unit features a 600:1
ratio and a rated output torque of 5,900 lb.in.
• High-strength bronze worm gear
• Large oil reservoir
700 Series Double Reduction Gearbox

7. Application Profile
Amusement Ride Boat Drives
Problem:
A large theme park located in Virginia needed replacement
drives for one of its rides. The attraction features flat-bottom
boats that move passengers along a shallow water canal.
Geared motors drive approximately 30 submersed, rotating
rubber wheels that make contact with the bottom of the boats as
they pass, propelling them through the canal. The problem was
that, due to water ingress, the original geared motors installed on
the ride
were failing at an unacceptable rate, causing untimely shut
downs that amounted to almost half of the first peak season.
Solution:
Bauer BG Series geared motors were selected to replace the
failing competitor units. The modified BG50 units supplied
feature IP 68 motor gearbox, brake sealing, shaft seals with
stainless steel springs, and V4A stainless steel output shafts. A
WIMES coating was also added to provide an extra level of
Modified BG50 Geared Motors

8. Amusement Ride
Problem:
A major amusement park contacted a Canadian ride contractor
to ensure the proper operation of its simulator attraction. The
ride raises 3 rows (pods) of seated passengers, suspending
them in front of a large concave theater screen. The project
engineers required a low-maintenance, durable braking
solution operating with low noise levels that would not interrupt
the riders’ experience.
Solution:
Twiflex GMR-SD caliper disc brakes were selected for their
robust design, ease of maintenance, quiet operation and low
air pressure requirement. Multiple brakes are positioned at the
top of each seat pod to clamp and hold the pod onto a guide
rail
during the operation of the ride.
• Spring-applied, air-released caliper brakes
• 30 kN braking force per brake
• Lightweight, modular design
Application Profile
GMR-SD Caliper Brakes

9. Cabin Door Lock On World’s
Tallest Ferris Wheel
Problem:
The Great Wheel of China, a 680 ft. tall, 48-cabin ferris
wheel, required extremely reliable actuators to serve as a
secondary door locking system on each of the forty-person
capacity cabins.
Solution:
Warner Linear developed a modified K2 actuator design to
meet specific customer requirements.
• Adjustable end limit switch
• End stroke signaling
• Special stud, nut, and washer arrangements
• Manual release lever
• 450N, 68mm/s
• Lightweight aluminum tube for corrosion protection and
reduced weight
Application Profile
K2EP1.2 Linear Actuator
Application Profile

10. Car Racing Simulator
Problem:
Rugged actuators were needed for use on a new race car
simulator attraction developed from airline simulator technology.
The race car simulator provides the driver with a full sensory
immersion experience by combining full motion and 3D imagery
displayed across three screens. Two actuators are positioned
vertically under the driver seat and are controlled by
sophisticated gaming software to replicate pitch and roll
Solution:
Durable Warner Linear K2x actuators were selected over
competitive units for this challenging application due to their
exceptional response time, load carrying capacity, duty cycle
and overall value.
• Up to 2,800 lbs. (1270 kg) load capacity
• Patented screw end bearing guide
• Heavy-duty, sealed double ball bearing motor
• Nitrotec® treated end fittings
Application Profile
K2X Linear Actuators

11. Application Profile
Skeet Machine
Problem:
A New England manufacturer of commercial skeet shooting
equipment required an overrunning clutch solution for their
line of clay pigeon throwing machines. The clutch is used
as a backstop to prevent oscillation of the throwing arm
after each stroke.
Solution:
CSK backstopping clutches were selected over a competitor’s
clutch due to their reliability in this high-cycle application. The
CSK clutch allows free rotation in the throwing (overrunning)
direction while preventing any rotation (bounce back) in the
opposite direction.
• Model CSK 25 units feature a 77.5 lb.ft. (105 Nm)
torque capacity
• Maximum overrunning speed: 5,200 RPM
• 2.05 in. (52 mm) diameter units are bearing supported,
grease lubricated and protected against dust
CSK Backstopping Clutch