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Accumar Cable Lifts and Track Lifts… often referred to as trams,
funiculars, hillside elevators, gondolas, waterfront elevators, incline
elevators, hillavators, hillside hikers, cable trams, and outdoor
elevators… are made to traverse steep hillsides, often at high bank
waterfront homes. They can provide home and beach access, cargo hauling, and
handicapped access, in one conveyance.
These trams are individually made to match
the architecture and aesthetics of the property.
Accumar funiculars can be
finished traditionally with beautiful woodwork, or very contemporary with metal
or clear panels. Accumar encourages input on the appearance and design finish.
Powder coated finishes (an oven baked-on color coat) from a quality custom
finishing shop is often used over the aluminum gondola frame and components to
provide a high quality of finish. Or, the aluminum can be left natural with a
grained or polished finish. There is no steel in an Accumar gondola…the
frame is welded aluminum, and fittings are stainless steel. Some are fully
enclosed with roof, windows, and doors. Seating is always provided, with plenty
of hand rails.
Washington State has a lot of high bank
waterfront that is difficult to access with steep staircases, hillside trails,
and track-based trams. Construction of staircases on slopes is expensive, and
unstable soils cause constant maintenance problems.
Cable Lifts span the steep slopes
and cliffs on cables, usually without any construction on the face of the
slope. At the bottom landing (sometimes just the beach) there is typically no
landing…just two cables disappearing into the ground, with the anchor
below grade. This makes them very environmentally attractive around critical areas such as
beaches and slopes. Accumar trams are regularly approved by various
Shorelines Departments, the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Dept. of Ecology,
Building Departments, and Elevator Departments.
Cable Lifts are almost invisible and are very quiet. The
two support cables, typically 5/8" diameter, visually disappear from view a
short distance away, unlike staircases and tracks that can be seen for miles.
The gondolas are electric, and are whisper quiet as they slip along their
cables. Cable Lifts have extremely low visual impact to neighborhood views and
recreation areas. And, Accumar uses no hydraulics…that means no hydraulic
oil messes! |
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A new
Track Lift design from Accumar is
the Hill Hugger. This Track Lift
is distinctive in that it does not require a "pit," or hole, for the carriage
at the bottom. A high raised landing is not required, either. The car rides
down the track without the typical "wedge shaped" carriage under the floor,
allowing the car to land almost level with the ground. The "pit" on most trams
is aptly named, as it can be a nuisance to build railings around, or
incorporate into the surroundings. The alternative, a high platform, can mean
steps down to grade. The Hill Hugger solves this problem…no pit and no
high landings.
In Washington State you will find many
Accumar funiculars in Kitsap County, Hood Canal, Seattle, Whidbey Island,
Bainbridge Island, Skagit County, Camano Island, Pierce County, Seattle,
Wenatchee…all over! Cable Lifts are also installed in California, Idaho,
British Columbia, and elsewhere in Canada. Accumar designs and builds equipment
packages for local elevator companies when they are installed outside of
Washington.
Other tram companies, such as Munson Works,
Hillside Elevator, Hill Hiker, or Marine Innovations, do not offer the same
quality and freedom from building track structures on the slope as Accumar
does. The Accumar Cable Lift is truly unique.
Accumar Cable Lifts and Track Lifts are
built to the national ASME Residential Inclined Elevator codes, and Washington
State WAC codes. In Washington they are inspected and licensed as a type of
residential elevator upon completion. After installation, they are not
inspected, except when requested by the owner. Accumar plans are individually
created and engineered to fit the site, using standard parts and methods to
help reduce costs and increase efficiency. Professional engineers provide
analysis for each individual system.
Site visits can be arranged to analyze the
best solution for steep slope access. Contact us at
accumar@gmail.com. |
