Gerhard Müller (engineer)

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Aerobus test facility in Dietlikon 1974
Detachable gondola to the Wasserfallen , Switzerland, built in 1956, dismantled in 2006

Gerhard Müller (* 1915 in Männedorf , Canton Zurich ; † 1985 in Dietlikon , Canton Zurich) was a Swiss engineer .

In 1932, at the age of 17, Müller built his first ski lift from motorcycle parts , which was installed on the Albis Pass . Later he had his design principle patented. In 1947 he founded the machine factory Gerhard Müller Dietlikon (GMD) in Dietlikon , Canton Zurich, which subsequently developed into one of the world's most important manufacturers of ski lifts, chairlifts and gondola lifts , see also Müller-Klemme . His numerous inventions and new developments are characterized on the one hand by a high degree of pragmatism, on the other hand they are also characterized by Müller's constant search for a mechanically perfect solution. By standardizing components, he has achieved considerable cost advantages over his competitors.

As part of a philanthropic commitment, Müller financed, designed and installed an aeration system for the overfertilized Pfäffikersee on his own initiative in 1958 . The ventilation is still in use today in a very different form.

In 1969 Müller invented the Aerobus , an electric vehicle for local public transport that runs on wire ropes that are braced like a suspension bridge. Despite major technical advances and successful test installations, Müller was unable to sell the system. In 1985 he died of a heart attack.

Many Mueller cable car systems were in uninterrupted operation for up to 50 years before they were shut down, which speaks for the robustness of the construction principle. Tightened, the EU legislating adjusted operating regulations for cable cars in Switzerland have the extinction of the gondolas and chair lifts for the system Müller performed while numerous ski lifts have survived to this day. Müller chairlifts can still be found in Germany , Scotland , Canada , Mexico and the USA .

Outstanding inventions

  • T - bar lift close to the ground for skiers, called baby lift or pony lift (1932, patented 1935)
  • Automatically operated screw clamp for detachable cable cars , the so-called Müller clamp (1949, patented 1952)
  • Overhead conveyor with cable structure (1972, worldwide patented 1976)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Patent specification Skilift: http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?FT=D&date=19341231&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP&CC=CH&NR=174250A&KC=A&ND=5
  2. ↑ Website of the successor company Rowema AG: Archive link ( Memento of the original from September 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.rowema.ch
  3. ↑ Pro Pfäffikersee: water protection measures
  4. ↑ Aerobus patent specification: http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?FT=D&date=19760315&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP&CC=CH&NR=573321A5&KC=A5&ND=4
  5. ↑ Patent specification for automatic rope clamp: http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?FT=D&date=19520731&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP&CC=CH&NR=284670A&KC=A&ND=4
personal data
SURNAME Müller, Gerhard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss engineer
DATE OF BIRTH 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH Männedorf , Canton of Zurich , Switzerland
DATE OF DEATH 1985
Place of death Dietlikon