How Do San Francisco's Cable Cars Work Mechanically?

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SUMMARY

San Francisco's cable cars operate through an underground steel cable system that moves at a speed of 9.5 mph, driven by large motors located in a central power station. The cable extends several miles beneath the city and can stretch up to 100 ft over its lifetime. To maintain constant tension, the cable utilizes a 1.5-meter diameter tensioning pulley that rolls on rails, with a 2000 kg block attached to its cart via a rope and pulley system.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mechanical systems and pulleys
  • Knowledge of cable-driven transportation mechanisms
  • Familiarity with basic physics principles related to tension and motion
  • Awareness of urban infrastructure and engineering
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanics of cable-driven systems in transportation
  • Explore the design and engineering of tensioning pulleys
  • Study the history and evolution of cable car systems
  • Investigate the maintenance practices for underground cable systems
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Engineers, urban planners, transportation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the mechanics of cable-driven systems.

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The cable cars in San Francisco are pulled along their tracks by an underground steel cable that moves along at 9.5 mph. The cable is driven by large motors at a central power station and extends, via an intricate pulley arrangement, for several miles beneath the city streets. The length of a cable stretches by up to 100 ft during its lifetime. To keep the tension constant, the cable passes around a 1.5-m-diameter "tensioning pulley" that rolls back and forth on rails, as shown in the figure. A 2000 kg block is attached to the tensioning pulley's cart, via a rope and pulley, and is suspended in a deep hole.
 

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