Winches (was Aerotow with Diesel engine?

In addition to AGCSC, there is a winch at Twentynine Palms, and one run
by the CAP somewhere around LA. That makes at least three known
winches operating in California.

Hey Guys:
Check out this site........http://www.permiansoaring.us/ They have
built their own state of the art winch and it sounds like they did it
on a shoe string.

Nice winch but I wouldn't fly up it until you have the guillotine setup
sorted out!

Nice 'rock polishing' photo on your home page.

Ian

"Phoebus N196J" wrote in message
m...
Hey Guys:
Check out this site........http://www.permiansoaring.us/ They have
built their own state of the art winch and it sounds like they did it
on a shoe string.

Here is a design that one of my friends designed tfor our club winch. The
beauty of this design is that there is no chance of getting a finger cut and it
works perfectly.

The design is based on a rotating cylinder mounted inside a metal cube. The
metal cube has a hole drilled through it through the center line. The cylinder
also has a hole drilled through it. In normal use, the hole in the cube lines
up with the holein the cylinder. To activate, a handle rotates the cylinder,
which the cylinder rotatesImagine an 8 inch square solid metal cube.


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Nice winch but I wouldn't fly up it until you have the guillotine setup
sorted out!



Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam

illspam (Jim Vincent) wrote in message ...
Here is a design that one of my friends designed tfor our club winch. The
beauty of this design is that there is no chance of getting a finger cut and it
works perfectly.

The design is based on a rotating cylinder mounted inside a metal cube. The
metal cube has a hole drilled through it through the center line. The cylinder
also has a hole drilled through it. In normal use, the hole in the cube lines
up with the holein the cylinder. To activate, a handle rotates the cylinder,
which the cylinder rotatesImagine an 8 inch square solid metal cube.


Great Idea, I bet driving the rotating cylinder/blade with a heavy duty
starter would make a very nice install. Sharp machined surfaces should
cut "Plasma Rope" cleanly although might not have enough energy to shear
wire. This may be just what I've been looking for. I'll never use wire
again anyway. Thanks Jim.

Craig-

The cylinder only needs to rotate about 20-30 degrees.

We use a lever mounted to the end of the cylinder. The lever is attached to a
handle in the winch cabin with a cable. In normal position, the cylinder holes
are in line with the block. Pull the handle and the cylinder rotates.


Great Idea, I bet driving the rotating cylinder/blade with a heavy duty
starter would make a very nice install.



Jim Vincent
N483SZ
illspam

I don't understand all the worry of a guillotine or cutter, if you are
flying with a weak link...?? Isn't the idea of the weak link that you can
induce a break in hte even things all go awry..??

Can someone clarify a bit further please...



Steve.

Steve Hill wrote:

I don't understand all the worry of a guillotine or cutter, if you are
flying with a weak link...?? Isn't the idea of the weak link that you can
induce a break in hte even things all go awry..??

Can someone clarify a bit further please...

No, a weak link is to prevent overstressing the glider during the launch.
Here in the Netherlands, a cutter installation is mandatory on a winch.

André

"Steve Hill" wrote in message
...
I don't understand all the worry of a guillotine or cutter, if you are
flying with a weak link...?? Isn't the idea of the weak link that you can
induce a break in hte even things all go awry..??

Can someone clarify a bit further please...



Steve.

The winch weak link is pretty strong - about 1.3 times the gross weight of
the glider. You can break it but I wouldn't want to rely on that option.

The most common reason for firing a guillotine 'in anger' is that the lead
rope has fouled with the gliders wheel or skid so the pilot can't release.
This may happen when the glider gets jerked forward and rolls over the rope
in an unsteady start. That shouldn't happen if the lead rope is very stiff
as it is supposed to be. (BTW, this can also happen with air tow.)

Your inferred point that a guillotine is rarely needed is true. But, like a
parachute, it's pretty handy to have if the need arises.

Bill Daniels

Phoebus N196J wrote:

Hey Guys:
Check out this site........http://www.permiansoaring.us/ They have
built their own state of the art winch and it sounds like they did it
on a shoe string.

On this page
(http://www.zweefvlieg.net/index.cfm?....pagina&id=279) you can
find some information on the winch the Aeroclub Salland took into service
this season. The site in in Dutch, but here are some key features:
-6 drums
-diesel motor driving an hydrolic pump
-drums driven by an hydrolic motor
-automatic adjustment of speed and force (launch is practicly automatic, but
manual override is possible).
-dynema cable (lighter and stronger than steel)

This is what I considder 'state of the art'...

André