[ATM] String scope quick connect

["Donald Good" <donald.good@comcast.net>]

To all you string scope ATMers out there, I came across this quick connect
while on a sailing trip that you might find useful.  It is called a Pelican
Hook.  Its advantage is that when open, it can capture the eye hook at low
or loose tension, and the lever action while closing the pelican hook will
bring it up to a repeatable, pre-set tension.  During the initial rigging
and setup, you use the screw and locknut to pre-set the tension.  Then a
simple pull on the spring loaded quick-release pin is all that is necessary
to open the hook for setup or knockdown in the field.  And you can't loose
the pin.
http://home.comcast.net/~donald.good/pelicanhook1.JPG

A Google search for Pelican Hook found these examples.  Note that the "old"
example does not have the extended "bill" and therefore lacks sufficient
lever advantage to bring up the tension.  An additional advantage of the
"newest" design and the one above is that the tension point is directly in
line with the pivot pin, reducing the force on the hinged part of the
Pelican Hook and the release pin, also reducing the tendency of the Pelican
Hook to snap open when the release pin is pulled.
http://home.cogeco.ca/~mquill/pelican_hooks.html

Clear skies
Don Good

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