General Facts
Outer Width - Outside North Leg to Outer South Leg
630' (192m)
Maximum Height
630' (192m)
Shape of Arch Section
Equilateral Triangle
Dimension of Arch at Base
54 ft. (16.46m)
Dimension of Arch at Top
17 ft. (5.18m)
Size of Windows
Approx. 7" x 27" (180 mm x 690 mm)
Construction of Windows
3/4 in. (19mm) Plate Glass; Hinged and Locked
Size of Observation Room
7' 2" x 65' x 6' 9" high (2.18m x 19.8m x 2.06m)
Capacity of Observation Platform
100 - 140 persons
Deflection of Arch
18" in 150 MPH wind (0.46 m in 240 km/h wind)
Method of Determining Deflection of Arch
Calculations and Wind Tunnel Tests (240 km/h)
Number of Sections in Arch
142
Thickness of Plates for Outer Skin
1/4" (6.3mm)
Type of Material Used in Arch Exterior
Stainless Steel; #3 Finish Type 304
Structural Capacity of Observation Area
100 lb/sq. ft (488 kg/m)
Weight of Steel in Arch
| Stainless Steel Plate Exterior Skin |
886 Tons (804 metric tons) |
| Carbon Steel Plate Interior Skin 3/8" (9.5mm) |
2,157 Tons (1,957 metric tons) |
| Steel Stiffeners |
1,408 Tons (1,277 metric tons) |
| Interior Steel Members, Stairs, Trains, etc. |
300 Tons (272 metric tons) |
| Total Steel Weight |
5,199 tons (4,644 metric tons) |
Weight of Concrete
| Between Skins to 300' (91 m) |
12,127 Tons (11,011 metric tons) |
| In Foundation Below Ground |
25,980 Tons (23,569 metric tons) |
| Total Concrete Weight |
38,107 Tons (34,570 metric tons) |
| External Protection |
Six 1/2" x 20" (13 x 510 mm) Lightning Rods and One Aircraft Obstruction Light |
"Capsule Trains" or "Trams" operated by Bi-State Development Agency
| Number of Transporters |
2 |
| Number of Capsules per Transporter |
8 |
| Capacity per Capsule |
5 persons |
| Designed Capacity of Transporter |
6,000 lb total (2,700 kg) |
| Total Transporter Weight |
10,000 lb (4,500 kg) |
| Weight of Counter Weights |
13,000 lb (5,900 kg) |
| Transporter's Speed |
340 ft/min or approx. 3.9MPH (1.73 m/s) |
| Travel of Transporter |
748' (228m) |
| Interior Capsule Diameter |
5' (1.5m) |
| Thickness of Capsule Skin |
0.090" (2.3 mm) |
| Size of Capsule Doors (2) |
2' 0" x 4' 6" (0.61 m x 1.37 m) |
| Strength of Capsule Couplings |
Minimum of 25,000 lb each (11,300 kg) Separately mounted motors, chain, and sprocket. |
| Size of Drive Motor |
125 hp (93 kW) |
| Number of Hoisting Cables |
9 |
| Size of Hoisting Cables |
5/8" diameter (16mm) |
| Type of Drive Motor |
D.C. Variable Speed |
| Operating of Capsule & Landing Doors |
Automatic; controlled by Dispatcher |
| Size of Motor Generator Sets |
100 hp (75kW) |
| Size of Transporter Track |
12" (305 mm) Channel - 32.9 lb/ft (49.0 kg/m) |
| Method of Maintaining Horizontal Position |
Front Ring-type frame with 5" (125mm) diameter rolls on each ring - and Rear Trunnion) |
| Method of Communication |
Intercom system between each capsule and dispatcher |
Transporter safeties are maintained on 4 wheel chassis that are connected to the last capsule and which are activated when the transporter exceeds the rated speed by 15% in the downward direction. The safety consists of an eccentric dog that locks on the track to stop and hold the transporter. The safety is connected to the last capsule by means of a hydraulic buffer 24" (0.6 m) long that provides constant deceleration until the transporter is stopped. A similar system is installed on the counter weights, with a hydraulic buffer 18" (0.5 m) long.
Elevators (for stand-by emergency and maintenance service)
| Number of Elevators |
2 |
| Capacity of Elevators |
12 persons |
| Service Elevators' Speed |
400 ft/min (2.0m/s) |
| Type of Motor |
D.C. Worm Gear |
| Service Elevator's Rise Angle |
78 degrees (1.36 radians) |
Stairs (for emergency maintenance use only)
Symbol Key
- m = meters
- kPa = kilopascals
- " = inches
- ft = feet
- mm = millimeters
- kW = kilowatts
- ' = foot
- hp = horsepower
- km/h = kilometers per hour
- lb = pounds
- / = per
- kg = kilograms
