TROLLEYS AND CARRIERS
are used to move produce along the cableway. Multiple loads can be coupled together with spacer bars in "railroad" fashion, and the "train" can easily be pulled over a long distance regardless of ground conditions. Specially designed, maintenance-free ball-bearing trolley wheels make movement fast and easy. A wide variety of carrier and trolley designs is available to suit virtually every kind of agricultural product!
SOLID STEEL CABLE
is the basic load-carrying element of the AGRICON system. Only 11mm in diameter, the cable is made of special alloy steel with 8 breaking strength of over 8 tons! In addition to supplying cable, Thomas Cableway Products offers all of the necessary cable accessories: cable couplings, cable grippers, cable tensioning equipment, etc. Also available is AGRICON rigid track for use wherever curves or switches are required. Cable and track may be used together to meet all types of system layout requirements.
END POSTS
together with earth anchors, are used for providing cable tension. The unique design makes for easy tensioning at the time the cable is first installed as well as allowing retensioning If It Is ever required. Standard end posts are made of high-strength steel and made with welded construction. They are available for both single and double cableway installations.
EARTH ANCHORS
are used at both ends of a cableway so that tension can be applied to the cable. The anchors are burled about 2 meters below ground level to prevent movement. Several types of anchors are available to suit different local soil conditions. Once the anchor is buried, no further attention is required for the life of the system. Only two anchors are needed for each straight cable run, regardless of its length.
SUPPORT ARCHES
are the most common type of structure used for supporting the cable. Made of high strength galvanized steel tubing, they are generally spaced 10 to 15 meters apart, according to the weight of the conveyed product. Special AGRICON base plates and wedges are used to make installation quick and easy. In greenhouses and shadehouses, cables are frequently supported by the existing overhead structure of the "house", and support arches are therefore not required.
CABLE SUPPORTS
transfer the load on the cable to the supporting structure (arches, overhead beams, roof purlins, etc.) Two different series are available to suit various mounting requirements. A similar series of supports for rigid track is also available. Cable and track supports are easily installed by unskilled workmen.
ACONTROLLED TENSION is the key to the AGRICON cableway system. Using a small, hand-operated hydraulic ram, tension of up to 5 tons is applied to the cable. Once the correct tension is applied, as indicated on the gauge, cable grippers automatically lock on the cable to maintain the desired tension. The ram and pump can then be removed for use elsewhere. If a cable ever loses tension, retensioning is easily accomplished using the same equipment. A cable in tension is surprisingly rigid. With supports every 10 meters, the cable can carry greater loads than a bulky, heavy-weight steel truck that costs 5 to 10 times more. By only requiring support every 10 to 15 meters, the coat of support arches and support hardware is low, and of course, there is an additional savings in the reduced coat of installation. It is easy to see why, when large areas must be covered, the AGRICON cableway system is the lowest cost material handling system available anywhere in the world!