To solve the problem, the resorts enlisted the services of Pol-X West Inc., an engineering consulting firm based in Carson City, Nev., to design and test a reliable alternative to the failed grip. Pol-X West studied both the operation of the existing chairlift systems and the Ministry's conclusions about the design flaws of the original grips before beginning a redesign. The purpose of a detachable-style chairlift is to enable passengers to board and dismount the chairs at a comfortable pace while maintaining a constant cable speed, so passengers reach the top of the slope quickly. With this system, the cable stops only for emergencies, such as when a skier falls or misses the chair at the loading or unloading stations. The new grip design eliminates dependence on gravity to secure the grip to the cable on the ski lift.
Helical springs exert the entire gripping force and prevent slippage.
Each chair is attached to the cable via a detachable grip. The cable travels on a pulley system at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute. As the chair approaches the passenger loading station, the grip releases from the cable and transfers to a track, which slows the chair to let passengers get on or off. The chair assembly then accelerates along the track to the speed of the cable at which time the grip reattaches to the moving cable. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs identified many factors that could lead to grip failure and developed a set of criteria for the new design to which the engineering firm had to adhere.