Let's figure out how to lower the load to the dropzone when a speedline is high overhead.
is a fiddle block with a remote release cleat. Two toothed cams, one on either side of the sheave, grip & fairlead the rope thru an adjustable-angle ubolt shackle, into the block. The operator can pull the line out of this channel, the cams then lose their grip, and the line is released to run through the in-line pulleys.
The excellent Maas "Speedline Raiser" diagram earlier in the 'Technical Removal' thread
shows the tensioning mechanism at the far right, out in front of the chip truck. This is a common use for the fiddle block 'kit', and was nicely explained by Don Blair in an article for TCI magazine a while back, and currently included in training seminars by both Robert Phillips and ArborMaster. This technique will be handy in the Highlands Maple removal, as the climber can move his upper speedline anchor around in the tree after the ground crew slacks it off at the tailholt.
But how 'bout placing a fiddle block up on the rigging plate carriage that rides along the speedline? The speedline will be running downhill at a fairly sharp angle, from the climber to the truck-guyed Pine in this case, so it will need a control line to brake the speed of the run. This control line (haulback) will also be how the climber retreives the rigging after completion of each run. A third line, a short letdown line, running through the fiddle block & cleat could actually lower the work from the carriage to the ground, after it arrives over the drop zone. The hole man can just give this lowering line a yank, freeing it from the cleat, and lower it the 18 feet from the skyline to the ground behind the chipper.
How does this sound, feasibility-wise? There are other ways to remotely release a load, including the
Wichard line snap used for the Big Shot. Let's not forget knots. The idea is to reduce the amount of labor through fancy rigging. We're only using technology to eliminate our own jobs.
Loggers use a diesel powered carriage on their 'skyline' rigs to power itself on the run from pickup to landing, and lower and raise the rigging at each end of the run. In these cases, the 'speedline' is constantly tensioned to fly the logs over creeks and other obstacles. Us backyard loggers can take a few lessons from these guys who use 1 1/8" mainline.
A great logging website that has loads of rigging info such as
is at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0622e/x0622e15.htm
The excellent Maas "Speedline Raiser" diagram earlier in the 'Technical Removal' thread
But how 'bout placing a fiddle block up on the rigging plate carriage that rides along the speedline? The speedline will be running downhill at a fairly sharp angle, from the climber to the truck-guyed Pine in this case, so it will need a control line to brake the speed of the run. This control line (haulback) will also be how the climber retreives the rigging after completion of each run. A third line, a short letdown line, running through the fiddle block & cleat could actually lower the work from the carriage to the ground, after it arrives over the drop zone. The hole man can just give this lowering line a yank, freeing it from the cleat, and lower it the 18 feet from the skyline to the ground behind the chipper.
How does this sound, feasibility-wise? There are other ways to remotely release a load, including the
Loggers use a diesel powered carriage on their 'skyline' rigs to power itself on the run from pickup to landing, and lower and raise the rigging at each end of the run. In these cases, the 'speedline' is constantly tensioned to fly the logs over creeks and other obstacles. Us backyard loggers can take a few lessons from these guys who use 1 1/8" mainline.
A great logging website that has loads of rigging info such as
