December 22nd, 2005, 06:39 AM
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#1
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Phoenix, az
Posts: 7,925
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Retractable Roof Open at Stadium
Dec. 22, 2005 -- Photos are now posted on this page (in the left hand column) of the retractable roof, which was opened for the first time this month. A signature element of the new stadium and the only one of its kind in the U.S., UK or Europe, the 800-ton roof can be opened in 12 minutes. The roof crawls at a snail-like pace of 1/4 mile per hour to ensure control and safety while moving the huge panels. Each panel is covered in Birdair fabric and rides along the curvature of the roof by eight transporters. Four of these transporters are powered by engines which use cable-drum drives to winch the panels open and closed along eight cables. The cable-drum drives have a built-in redundancy of twice the amount of capacity needed for normal operation. All of the drives are linked by fiber optics and are constantly synchronized to assure even cable tension at all times.
Workers are currently finishing fabric installation in areas which could not be reached when the roof was closed, testing and tuning the drives, and installing components which keep the roof in alignment. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:40 AM
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#2
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Registered
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Location: Phoenix, az
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View from the southeast corner toward the north end zone showing open roof and progress on seat installation. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:41 AM
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#3
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Location: Phoenix, az
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Cable drum drives in transporters winch the panels along these cables. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:41 AM
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#4
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Location: Phoenix, az
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J.D. Bynum of Uni-Systems shows the motors which power the cable drum drives in a transporter. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:42 AM
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#5
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Registered
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Location: Phoenix, az
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The south panel is retracted over the top of the non-movable portion of the roof. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:43 AM
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#6
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Location: Phoenix, az
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It's about 206 feet down to the stadium floor from the roof, here viewing the slot where the field tray rolls out. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:43 AM
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#7
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Registered
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Location: Phoenix, az
Posts: 7,925
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The steep angle of the roof and the height of the retractable panel on the left is more apparent in this photo featuring (from left) Jim Garrison and Tom Leslie, Hunt Construction and J.D. Bynum, Uni-Systems.
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:44 AM
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#8
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Phoenix, az
Posts: 7,925
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Workers are starting to put the finishing touches on seats, cup holders and aisle railings in the southeast corner. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:44 AM
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#9
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Registered
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Location: Phoenix, az
Posts: 7,925
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All photos are of course courtesy of Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority
www.aztsa.com |
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December 22nd, 2005, 06:51 AM
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#10
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 100
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Great Pix
But I still don't like the gray seats. Except for the facemask, gray is not a main color in the Cardinals' uniforms. Red, obviously, then white, or black, but gray? The asymmetry of the seat colors also bugs me. Man, I need to get a life...
J4Cards
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December 22nd, 2005, 11:04 AM
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#11
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Avondale, AZ
Posts: 1,105
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It's a thing of beauty...
what are we going to do without those aluminum bleachers blistering/freezing our arses?
Wee hee!!!!
__________________
Peace!
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December 22nd, 2005, 11:05 AM
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#12
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H.S.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Aventine
Posts: 35,345
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by clif
J.D. Bynum of Uni-Systems shows the motors which power the cable drum drives in a transporter.
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This guy better becareful. I don't think his mustache is up to OSHA regulations. |
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December 22nd, 2005, 01:19 PM
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#13
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Championship!!!!
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: ordinance 2257
Posts: 14,959
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Beautiful 
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December 22nd, 2005, 03:19 PM
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#14
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A Title before I die, please!!
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 13,633
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by clif
Dec. 22, 2005 -- Photos are now posted on this page (in the left hand column) of the retractable roof, which was opened for the first time this month. A signature element of the new stadium and the only one of its kind in the U.S., UK or Europe, the 800-ton roof can be opened in 12 minutes. The roof crawls at a snail-like pace of 1/4 mile per hour to ensure control and safety while moving the huge panels. Each panel is covered in Birdair fabric and rides along the curvature of the roof by eight transporters. Four of these transporters are powered by engines which use cable-drum drives to winch the panels open and closed along eight cables. The cable-drum drives have a built-in redundancy of twice the amount of capacity needed for normal operation. All of the drives are linked by fiber optics and are constantly synchronized to assure even cable tension at all times.
Workers are currently finishing fabric installation in areas which could not be reached when the roof was closed, testing and tuning the drives, and installing components which keep the roof in alignment. |
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS SEAT FOR GAME ONE IN THIS BUILDING.
__________________
"Coach 'em hard...hug them later"
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