Jim,
You make some good points and we agree on a lot, but the Leeson analysis
re spreading the moment only works in some cases, IMO.
As a counter example, consider the HDX589 (I think you have a 689 with
the same top section?) As you note at the top there is a tube sleeve
that constrains the 2" od mast over about 10" and thus precludes the
bending moment to be transmitted to below that sleeve. Almost all of
the moment goes into the two welded plates holding that sleeve since
there is very little clearance sleeve to 2" mast. It's like making a
lever and welding the lever to the pivot. So for this tower design all
of the moment is exerted top and bottom of the sleeve, no matter where
the rotator is mounted. As one post noted, the taper top R25AG has legs
bent in and the sleeve only held at the point, no wonder these legs
bend. The other 25AG1/2/3/5 point tops all have tube bracing top and
bottom of the 15 to 24" of tube (which share the moment) and won't pass
any mast moment on to the rotator with a mast that is close fitting to
the tube ID.
How much a top bearing permits the mast moment to be shared with the
rotator depends a lot on the bearing construction. If the bearing acts
as a pivot with unconstained angular motion (at least over a several
degrees) then the lever arm analysis I think is correct re spreading the
moment over a longer section of tower when the mast length inside the
tower is increased. Whether that spreading is needed within the other
factors considered re tower loading is doubtful to me. Otherwise, tower
manufacturers would specify top bearing construction and rotator
locations (which UST did for the 589 with welded in place structures!)
and PE's would specify these as well. I also note the BAS25G 16" very
short section combo top plate and rotator plate has about 14" between
the two plates.
I think a top bearing such as the new DX Eng design won't tilt much from
what is shown in the cutaway drawing. The Rohn TB I had many years ago
had little angular stiffness. The pillow block bearings some folks use
with spherical od outer races have no angular stiffness by design.
OTOH, one set of grub screws in a single plane to hold a mast smaller OD
than the bearing ID is probably going to permit (some, a lot?) the
moment to transfer - ala DXE, Rohn, Yaesu. My 4" thick polymer closely
fitting (0.030") radial bearing is pretty stiff angularly, but probably
not as much as the UST589/689 sleeve.
Leeson gives a one brief example of moment spreading but does not
provide a thorough analysis. (who am I to argue with him hi hi). I
think other factors as well as the bearing construction play
significantly into that analysis.
Grant KZ1W
..snip..
On 4/19/2017 9:22 AM, Jim Thomson wrote:
## What you folks are all missing is.....with more mast inside the tower, you
REDUCE the SIDE LOADING at BOTH the top bearing AND the rotor. This is clearly
explained in Leesons book, on page 7-14..which is in chapter 7... Masts +
Rotators.
## IE, if the wind is coming FROM the north..and yagi pointed north, the side
loading
will be at the south end of the top bearing plate, and at the north end of the
rotor plate.
## If you move the rotor from 4 ft inside the tower.... down to say 8 ft
inside the tower,
you will have reduced the side loading at both the top bearing plate and rotor
plate by one half.
## now if you install a 2nd bearing, down 4 ft inside the tower, the side
loading is now between
the top bearing..and 2nd bearing. The rotor is still down 8 ft inside the
tower. In this case,
using two bearings, the rotor can be located any where below the 2nd bearing,
and you will
have no change in the side loading between the two bearings. There will be NO
side loading
at all on the rotor..when 2 bearings are used above the rotor.
## the side loading is between the top bearing.....and whatever is the 1st
thing below it, which may
be either a rotor, or a 2nd bearing.
## On top tower sections that are not very strong, installing the rotor down
6 ft or more is a real
advantage, esp if there is a lot of mast above the tower, or wind loading on
the yagi is high, or both.
## grant is correct. The mast inside the tower does not add to the strength
of the tower, 3% at most,
and even less, if bigger face width towers are used, like 45, 55, 65.
## re mast calculators, they assume the top of the tower is a fixed
attachment. So even if your shiny
new 3 inch CM mast, with its .25 inch wall thickness, and sticking 20 ft
above the top of the tower,
with the remaining 4 ft inside the tower, with rotor down 4 ft, looks good on
the mast calculator, you
also have to factor in the strength of the top 4 ft of the tower. With huge
windloads, esp way up the
mast, the side forces at the top bearing plate and rotor plate will be massive.
If the top 4 ft of tower
is not strong to begin with, it will fold on you, even with guy wires at the
top of the tower. It will still
fold on you, with guy wires down 4 ft from top of tower. Ditto with guys down
2 ft from top of tower.
## Most crank ups have heavy duty top sections. UST uses both a welded top
bearing plate, and a 2nd
welded plate, just a few inches down from top plate. Then a welded tube
collar, between the two plates.
Then the mast is positively captivated between the 2 plates. Then either a
2nd bearing, or a rotor can be installed
4 ft down inside the tower. Then another plate can be installed 6 ft inside
the tower..with a rotor installed.
## I used the top bearing, and a 2nd bearing down 4 ft... then the prop pitch
down 6 ft. Then a 20 ft length
of 2 inch OD x .375 wall CM mast. 6 ft inside the tower, and 14 ft above
the tower.
## For the OP, who just wants a mid sized tri-bander 4 to 5 ft above the
tower, a 10 ft length of just about anything
will suffice, with the rotor down 6 to 5 ft. 4 ft down and 6 ft above
tower..with yagi at 4 to 5 ft above tower will also
work.
## The mast estimator / calculator on DXE site, uses the UBC-97 Exposure D
spec..which is very stringent imo, beyond overkill.
The UBC-97 Exposure D spec also requires you to input a height. Their mast
calculator is based on 100 ft tall tower, with mast
above that.
Jim VE7RF
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