TECHNICAL BRIEFTECHNICAL BRIEFTECHNICAL BRIEFTECHNICAL BRIEFTECHNICAL BRIEF

ropewaysgravity

FOR FURTHER INFORMATIONPractical Action Nepal, Pandole Marg, Lazimpat,

PO Box 15135, Kathmandu NepalTTTTTel:el:el:el:el: 977-1-4446015/4434482, FFFFFax:ax:ax:ax:ax: 977-1-4445995, EEEEEmail:mail:mail:mail:mail: info@practicalaction.org.np

BBBBBrake Srake Srake Srake Srake SystemystemystemystemystemFUNCTION The brake system is usedto control the speed of the trolleyduring landing at the down platformby applying force to the handle. Itconsists of brake strips connectedwith the fixed support at one endand connected to the brake handleat the other end.

Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &specificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecifications >> >> >> >> >>

TTTTTrrrrrolley Golley Golley Golley Golley Guide Puide Puide Puide Puide PulleyulleyulleyulleyulleySSSSSystemystemystemystemystemFUNCTION The trolley guide pulleysystem guides and providescushioning effect to the support wirerope and converts gravitational forceinto kinetic energy. The systemconsists of pulley guide and dummypulley attached to the supportingchannel. Between these two pulleysthe wire rope slides. The ringconnected to the trolley hanger isalso attached to these pulleys.

Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &specificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecifications >>>>>>>>>>

TTTTTrrrrrolleyolleyolleyolleyolleyFUNCTION Trolley is made from themild steel (MS) pipes with a hangingtrolley box for loads. The flexiblesupporting hanger is connected tothe guide pulley system. Its weightshould be as light as possible withapproximate value of around 30 kg.The center of gravity of the trolleyshould be balanced during operatingcondition.

Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &specificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecifications >> >> >> >> >>

TTTTTop and Dop and Dop and Dop and Dop and Dooooown-stationwn-stationwn-stationwn-stationwn-stationPPPPPlatformlatformlatformlatformlatformFUNCTION The top-station and the down-station platform are civil foundations whichinclude housing control pulley, supportingcable, brake system and other functioningstructures. Both the stations are used asloading and unloading platforms. The civilstructure and foundation should be stableenough to bear all the impact and operatingload of the system. This can be constructedof dry timber, iron beams and concretestructures depending upon the availability ofraw materials and technology. The concreteconstruction makes the structure morestable which allow the ropeway alignment tobe stable.

Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &specifications specifications specifications specifications specifications >>>>>>>>>>

LA LA LA LA LAYOUT DRAYOUT DRAYOUT DRAYOUT DRAYOUT DRAWING OF GRAWING OF GRAWING OF GRAWING OF GRAWING OF GRAVITY ROPEWVITY ROPEWVITY ROPEWVITY ROPEWVITY ROPEWAAAAAYYYYY >>

>>

>>

>>

>>

SSSSSupport andupport andupport andupport andupport andContrContrContrContrControl ol ol ol ol WWWWWiririririre Re Re Re Re RopeopeopeopeopeSPECIFICATIONS- 6x7 strand steel core F 10-12mm wire rope for

support cable- 6x7 strand jute core F 8-10mm wire rope for

control cable- The factor of safety should be at least 3 or more

T = ((( 2 * W + w * L + Ww * L ) * l) / (8 * b)) / Cosß where,T = Total load on the cableW = Weight of loaded trolley (kg)Ww = Wind load factor (kg/m2)w = specific weight of wire rope (kg/m2)ß = cable inclination with saddle pointL = l [ 1 + 0.5 * { (h / l)² } + 8/3 * { ( b / l )² } ] + Lbb = l*h / (8*e-4*l)

where,L = Total length of the wire rope

b = Sagging at mid-way from highest pointe = Lowest point horizontal distance from highest point

l = Horizontal distanceh = Vertival distance

Lb = Backstay length at up station and down station

SERSERSERSERSERVICE PRVICE PRVICE PRVICE PRVICE PROOOOOVIDERSVIDERSVIDERSVIDERSVIDERS1. For wire ropes of ISI standardUsha Martin Industries Limited14 Princep Street, Calcutta 700 072, IndiaTel: 27-2203

Navin Steel IndustriesDhangu Road, Pathankot – 145001, IndiaTel: 01893-244690, Fax: 01893-24408

2. For wire rope accessoriesNavin Steel IndustriesDhangu Road, Pathankot – 145001, IndiaTel: 01893-244690, Fax: 01893-24408

3. DesignPractical Action NepalPO Box 15135, Pandole Marg, Lazimpat, KathmanduPhone: 977-1-4446015/4434482, Fax: 977-1-4445995Email: info@practicalaction.org.np

4. Installation SupportAmbika Fabrication and Repairing Pvt. Ltd.Bhaktapur, Katunje, Ward No. 9, Sallaghari, TinkunePh: 977-1-6610353Contact Person: Doordam ThapaCell Ph: 9851052853

Structo Nepal Pvt. Ltd.P.O. Box: 228, Block No. 27,Patan Industrial Estate, PatanPh: 977-1-5521192, Fax: 977-1-5542118Contact Person: Rajendra Pradhan

w w w . p r a c t i c a l a c t i o n . o r g

Appropriate Technology Developmentand Goods Manufacturing Industries (ATDGM)Balaju Industrial Estate,Balaju, KathmanduPh: 977-1-4356191Contact Person: Shankar Man ShresthaE-mail: shankar@manjee.wlink.com.np

Brake

Brake

Trolley Guide Pulley

Trolley and Trolley Guide Pulley

Control Wire Rope

Typical Top and Bottom Station

Plan

Elevation

Construction of roads is capital-intensive, tedious and timeconsuming in a topography that is

harsh and the cost for transportingconstruction materials by air is high.Therefore, the gravity ropeway is a viablealternative mode of transport. Thissystem improves accessibility of poorpeople living in the remote areas andenhances their living standards.

In the 1920s the first major long distanceropeway was constructed in Nepal and itwas 22 km long. In 1964 it wasimproved and extended to 42 km. By2000 the government and the privatesector had constructed several ropewaysfor hydropower stations. The firstcommercially successful cable car wasestablished in 1998 by the private sector,with approximate span of 3 km,connecting Prithivi Highway at Kurintarwith Manakamana Temple.

ractical Action Nepal commencedits transport programme in 1998.It improved and promotedinnovative transportation systemssuch as cable river crossing

bridges known as tuin, gravity ropeway for hillyand mountainous regions and bicycleambulance/trailer for the terai regions. Thetransport programme seeks to develop, adaptand replicate affordable, accessible andappropriate modes of transport, which directlycontributes to the improvement of livelihoodsof marginal villagers.

Gravity ropeway is an inexpensive and simple means of transportation.It operates basically by gravitational force without the use of externalpower. The gravity ropeway consists of two trolleys rolling over supporttracks attached to a control cable in the middle which moves in atraditional flywheel system. When the loaded trolley at the up-station ispulled downward by the force of gravity, the other trolley at thebottom-station is pulled up automatically by means of control cable.

Principally, the goods coming downward from top station has to bethrice as heavy as the load going up from the down station. The slidingdown of the trolley and its speed depends upon the angle of elevationmade by the cables installed with the horizontal ground.

A flywheel with bearing and bracket is used as a brake to control thelanding speed of the trolley at the bottom-station. Communicationbetween top and bottom stations is done by tapping the wire rope.The operator at the top-station strikes the wire rope with a stick tosend a wave signal through the wire rope to the operator at the down-station. The operator at the down-station then applies the hand braketo control the flywheel.

The tentative cost of

the gravity ropeway

system for the inclined

span of 1000m to

1500m ranges from

NRs.7,00,000 to

8,00,000. The cost

primarily depends

upon the local

topography, angle of

inclination, the

ropeway span at

inclination between the

two stations, and use

of local raw materials

and construction

technology.

Nepal possesses

extreme geographical

conditions ranging from high

hills and mountains to the flat land

areas called the terai. Rugged terrains,

unfavourable weather conditions and

scattered settlements in the hilly and

mountainous regions obstruct the

mobility of people, transport of goods

and services and hinder development

efforts. Although these extreme

conditions create challenges,

interestingly, they provide opportunities

to experiment with context appropriate

transportation systems.

Practical Action NepalTransport Programme

P

Cost

Working Principle andDesign of Gravity Ropeway

Gravity ropeway technology was transferredfrom Northern India to Nepal by PracticalAction Nepal in collaboration with InternationalCenter for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD). In partnership with ICIMOD andprivate manufacturer/supplier, Practical ActionNepal installed a couple of demonstrationropeways in Marpha and Tukche VDCs ofMustang district to facilitate the transportationof apples from orchards to the road-heads.

After a successful intervention in MustangPractical Action Nepal installed Janagaon-

Bishaltar Ropeway in Benighat VDC,Hadikhola-Chiraudi Ropeway in Kalleri VDC ofDhading district, and Torisawara-BishaltarRopeway in Torisawara VDC of Gorkha districtwith financial support from The EuropeanUnion, and UK Trusts and Foundations.

The initial study showed that the transportationcost of agro based products decreased by atleast 50% after being served by gravityropeway system. Such encouraging statistics

provided confidence to the villagers to supplytheir products in larger amounts and to enterthe competitive market of the cities. Accessto transportation system and market linkagesimproved their socio-economic status interms of income, health, education andcommunity awareness. Promotion of thistechnology also helped local economy bycreating employment opportunities andsupporting the business of the localmanufacturers and service providers.

Tran

sport

atio

nin

Nepal

functions and components of the gravity ropewayTTTTTop Sop Sop Sop Sop Station Contrtation Contrtation Contrtation Contrtation Control Pol Pol Pol Pol PulleyulleyulleyulleyulleyFUNCTIONFUNCTIONFUNCTIONFUNCTIONFUNCTION Top station control pulley is used to control and guide the controlwire rope at the top-station. It is supported at the end with two bearingsand the housing is fixed rigidly on the base frame of the platform.

Diagram with components & specificationsDiagram with components & specificationsDiagram with components & specificationsDiagram with components & specificationsDiagram with components & specifications DDDDDooooown Swn Swn Swn Swn StationtationtationtationtationContrContrContrContrControl Pol Pol Pol Pol Pulleyulleyulleyulleyulleywith Fwith Fwith Fwith Fwith Fly ly ly ly ly WheelWheelWheelWheelWheelFUNCTION Down-station controlpulley with fly wheel is used tocontrol and guide the controlwire rope at the down-station. Itis supported at the end with twobearings and the housing is fixedrigidly on the base frame of theplatform. The fly wheel is usedfor the smooth motion on thewire rope.

Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &specifications specifications specifications specifications specifications >>>>>>>>>>

BBBBBearing andearing andearing andearing andearing andHHHHHousingousingousingousingousingFUNCTION Bearing and housingare used to support and providefree movement to the shaftcontaining control pulley. For thispurpose SKF Roller bearing No.6212 with correspondingbearing housing are used.

Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &Diagram with components &specificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecificationsspecifications >>>>>>>>>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

Cast Iron Fly Wheel Elevation Cast Iron Fly WheelCast Iron Fly Wheel

SKF Roller Bearing No:6212

Bearing and Housing