Kiteforum.com

what dont you understand...your steel ring is a hard eye. It will wear a groove in the shackle and not release even when open.

FlyingWeasel:
Some years ago I rigged my winterkite with a SS ring and a Wichard shackle. Logged numerous hours on this kite, used it on the water also, and never experienced the wear problem you are refering to. I guess you have to make sure the tubing diameter of your SS ring is sufficient to avoid excessive point load. Wear on the Wichard will also be a function of the hardness difference between the ring and the Wichard.

Ole Lie
M Eng

.

Yes FlyingWeasel you got that right. I am norwegian but relocated to Gran Canaria 5 years ago for more consistent conditions. Right now I am actually in Norway also but on a drilling rig offshore. Anyway, thats besides the point.

I feel you are being very negative here now. This is supposedly a thread to improve on a design that currently has some issues. Main problem for me (well my wife actually as she is the one lacking gorilla arms) is that the release system on most bars take up to much length and limits the depower throw. It is always much easier to criticize than to suggest new ideas and many possible improvements have been killed by to many people saying they suck and "what we have is much better so shut up !". Personally I would prefer feedback that addresses your points of concern in a slightly less aggressive manner and perhaps keeping in mind the goal: Finding a better solution.

So lighten up a bit and see the suggestions for what they are: Namely a brainstorm discussion on possible solutions. I don't think anyone of the posters here are suggesting that their ideas are the best or even practical but if we can come up with a good selection of ideas and then give each other constructive feedback on the pros and cons of these we might get somewhere.

Aloha, peace & love from the north sea

.

flyingweasel wrote:This thread is kook central

Yet you are still here.

I hope this conversation will continue.

Its obvious to me that kiting equipment hasn't reached the end of the line yet in terms of development.

For unhooking, it makes more sense to me to have a hook that quick releases than a chickenloop that releases.
None of the Q/R hooks on spreader bars so far developed are good enough IMO, but I'm sure a simple, effective design can be made.

We have mostly been looking at the non-unhooking type of equipment on this thread, but it could include what makes the optimum Q/R spreader bar hook and why it would be better than the current systems.

Thanks for the mention of one more activity that requires a "quick release"... that is Lifeboats and Liferafts. I did a quick search trying to figure out the "how and why", and it was quite enlightening... but unfortunately, not particularly valuable to our present endeavor, which is "how to replace the present kiteboard 'hook and loop' system, with an improved connection system.

It seems that there are quite a few inventions, presently being used and also, presently being developed to solve the problems inherent with the "connect and disconnect" of Lifeboats. It reminds me of the problems encountered as the activity of kiteboarding has developed. Here are some pictures of the devices being used and being proposed for use to connect and disconnect Lifeboats. Maybe some of the basic mechanisms seen here could be applied to our project. As you can see, some of the mechanisms basic principles are already incorporated into kiteboard equipment. The goal of all of these inventions is the same: "to quickly, conveniently and efficiently release a heavy load, by using a very reliable and slight force as the 'key'".

The "Stenhouse Slip" design looks quite ancient and illustrates the "KISS" principle of simplicity.

^^ 3rd pic up above looks like a still from a car crash slow mo right before the dude puts his head through the windscreen. Can't believe i've read the entire thread, something mesmorising about the kookiness. f*** me i need a better job!

Thanks for mentioning the car accident... reminds me of the "airbag"... which in a way could be thought of as the ultimate "quick release" as it releases the compressed air very quickly and reliably, all as a result of good engineering which was refined over the years... all the result of some "kooks" initial idea of using a balloon to solve the problem of people going through windshields or getting impalled on steering wheel columns.

It might be time to summarize what we have so far, as the leading contenders for a mechanism of the device that we hope to create. I will post some pictures of what I think of as the best designs, so far, in the brief history of kiting.

Flyingweasel mentioned that over 10 years ago the RRD Z types bar system had something similar to what we are hoping to design. If anyone has a picture of this device, PLEASE post it for our "historical" record of kiteboard release devices. I don't remember any kite manufacturer offering a bar system with a "shackle". Was it offered for use with a "kite buggy"? I remember the RRD Z type "C" kites as being good kites for experts only, and remember RRD as being a "innovator" with their clever use of the fifth line, starting in about 2005...but at that time they had a chicken loop. Can someone clarify this?

tomatkins wrote:Thanks for mentioning the car accident...

You're welcome, glad to be of service