Whether moving or switching tracks for monorails or maintaining tension on steel cables for cable car transport systems, RACO all electric actuators are the best choice for most People Mover systems. Moving people in groups from place to place is a very demanding application. Specifications for equipment integrated into any of these types of transportation systems will demand the most in terms of safety, performance, component life, accuracy, and low maintenance.
The Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh is one of a few cable car transportation systems still operating in the United States and RACO actuators keep them operational to this day. Many people rely on this cable car system daily to get to and from work in downtown Pittsburgh. Like any people mover or transit system, the system must work every day, without interruption.
Requirements
This cable car system was first installed in 1877 and was steam powered. Over time the design changed to all electric. The cable cars share a haulage cable and a safety cable during operation. Over time, travel, and temperature changes, the cables needed a way to help adjust and maintain tension. Especially to meet ADA guidelines (Americans with Disabilities Act) the positioning of the cable car to the platform has been the requirement. As hydraulic oil and leaks were unacceptable on an incline platform of nearly 30 degrees, the focus had to be on other means of adjusting for cable length . The haulage cable force required was 33,000 pounds and the safety cable needed 2000 pounds of force. A stroke distance was calculated to be 63 inches maximum.
Solution
All electric actuators were chosen to independently adjust tension on the haul cable and safety cable in order to make sure both cable cars line up with the platform at the end position. RACO Linear Actuators would be sized and selected to handle to ambient conditions, the forces necessary, as well as the stroke and movement speeds needed during cable car use. Size 9 cylinders were chosen with internal ball screws and each was driven by an AC Induction Motor and utilized a Power Release Brake. The control scheme was fairly straightforward: manual push button. In this way, each car floor could be leveled to the corresponding staging area floor level, assuring safe entry and exit of the passengers.
Electric Actuators are the primary solution over hydraulic systems in the Transportation Industry
From the outset, hydraulic systems were not considered, in this application. Any leaks would create unsafe and environmental concerns that completely ruled them out.
The Electric Actuator System is compact in design and component count. Hydraulic actuator systems require many subcomponents to make the system work. Pumps, fluids, piping, seals, monitoring sensors, and valving components need dedicated space. The RACO all electric cylinder system is a self-contained, easy to install system package. Plus, it is energy efficient, only consuming energy when moving the load.
Maintenance required for an electric linear actuator is very minimal. Periodic cleaning and inspection is the norm. Hydraulic systems need inspected often checking for leaks and must be cleaned often as there can be excessive heat buildup, which only can lead to failures. All and all, an electric actuator system will require less maintenance than the hydraulic actuator, run more trouble free, and last longer.
Benefits of using RACO Electric Actuators in these types of applications
RACO International has been applying electric actuators successfully for over 50 years. This expertise is a definite benefit to any machine or facilities designer/engineer.
RACO Electric Linear Actuators are:
In summary, RACO's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement positions them as a leader in People Mover and Transportation applications. Through the integration of smart capabilities, energy efficiency, and user-centric design, RACO is also a safe and green choice for the long term environmental concerns of this industry.