Opening New Vistas

Soaring scenic elevators by Suzhou Rhine Lift are a catalyst for tourism in southwestern China.

by Jiang Liming
photos courtesy of Suzhou Rhine Lift Manufacture, Co.

Shennu Stream is an important scenic area in Wushan County in Chongqing, a sprawling municipality at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers in southwestern China. The location has always been known for its beautiful scenery. The mountains are high, the stream is deep and the current is swift. The constraints of the harsh geographical environment help preserve the area’s relatively primitive natural features. Thanks to a new, all-outdoor observation elevator system, visitors can now reach the mountaintop quickly to enjoy the stunning scenery of Wushan Gorge. Due to the convenience provided by this vertical-transportation system, Shennu Stream has become a must-see destination.

Designed and manufactured by Suzhou Rhine Lift Manufacture Co., Ltd., of Jiangsu, China, the observation elevators are adapted to work in a sometimes harsh outdoor environment. They have a very wide view conducive to “panoramic sightseeing.” The two units have become important catalysts for development of the scenic area. Standing against Wushan Mountain, the elevators are of all-steel construction. The upper end of the elevators is 703 m above sea level, and the total height is approximately 200 m. Together, the elevators can carry approximately 600 visitors each hour.

The project developer was Chongqing Wushan Tourism Development Group Co., Ltd., and the general contractor was Chongqing Construction Residential Engineering Co., Ltd. The two elevators each have:

• Rated capacity of 1600 kg
• Rated speed of 4 m/s
• 1:1 suspension
• 23 stops
• 173 m travel distance

Maple leaf design elements are carefully integrated into the car interiors. In November of each year, the mountains are full of maple leaves and the forests transition to red, which most visitors find very beautiful. After enjoying the maple leaves on the mountain, visitors can reach the bottom of the valley by elevator, where they can take a boat to look around Shennu Stream, up at Shennu Peak, and enjoy the scenery from a different perspective.

The two observation elevators are located in the upper reaches of Shennu Stream, under the cableway of Huangyan Tourism Turnover Center. Due to the mountainous terrain and steep roads, transporting materials and workers was tricky. Therefore, logistical planning was required to successfully finish the elevator project.

Technology Innovation and Highlights

The elevators in this project have the highest speed and the highest lifting height among any of the outdoor elevators the company has completed. For the first time in an outdoor elevator project, a magnetic grating for system performance monitoring was used. Due to the size limitation of the pit, this project adopted a buffer to reduce stroke. According to elevator manufacturing standards, when using destroke buffers, the traction machine must be monitored for normal deceleration to ensure the safety and reliability of the elevator during deceleration.

The elevators in this project adopted the magnetic grating ruler and safety box to monitor the safety of elevator deceleration. One end of the magnetic grating ruler is fixed at the top of the elevator shaft, and the magnetic grating ruler hangs naturally. The tension force of the magnetic grating ruler is maintained by means of tension springs or counterweights at the shaft’s bottom pit. The reading sensor was installed on the side wall of the car, and the magnetic grating ruler is fixed in the card slot of the sensor. When the car moves up and down, the magnetic grating ruler sensor moves up and down with the car to read position information. According to position information, the system monitors traction machine speed to ensure the elevators’ safe operation.

Since this project is in an open-air environment, wind has the biggest influence on the magnetic grating ruler’s magnetic strip. The magnetic strip swings with the wind, which brings unsafe factors to elevator operation. Therefore, we incorporated a closed cavity to house the magnetic strip to eliminate the influence of wind on it.

The car adopts a double-layer, waterproof structure. Waterproof rubber strips were used to create a seal between the stainless steel wall and the glass. The internal material of the car is hairline stainless steel, and the external material of the car is stainless steel and paint.

Wind-Speed Monitoring

The company adopted a waterproof hook structure for the interface between the car and the door. Designs in wind monitoring included setting up a wind speed monitoring device. Considering the influence of wind on elevator operation, elevators can be used only when the actual wind speed is lower than the design wind speed. According to the company’s design requirements, outdoor elevators can operate at a wind speed that does not exceed 15 m/s. Once wind speed exceeds this value, the wind speed monitoring device will output an alarm signal to the elevator control system. Thus, the elevator will run to the base station, open the door and stop. When someone restores the elevator, it can run again.

Earthquake Monitoring

Considering that the elevators are attached to the mountain cliff, if an earthquake occurs, it brings safety risks to the elevators and their passengers. Therefore, earthquake monitoring has been incorporated. When an earthquake is detected, the elevators will arrive at the base station as soon as possible, open the door, then stop. This ensures the elevators can be used safely.

Protection for Electrical Components

The electrical deceleration switches in the shaft are all protected with enclosures not less than IP67-grade waterproof. At the same time, electrical wirings are also enclosed in a waterproof structure to ensure the elevators can operate normally in the rain.

The traveling cable is set in a sealed cavity, which alleviates the influence of wind on the cable and ensures the cable will not rub against other parts in the shaft, such as the guide rail brackets, during elevator operation.

In the past, tourists could only take a boat to enjoy the beautiful scenery in Wushan. Now, as an important tourist carrier, the outdoor observation elevators provide people with a brand-new sightseeing experience. Suzhou Rhine Lift Manufacture Co. is proud to have been a part of it.