[TowerTalk] Need install a BRAKE to protect antenna and rotator...

[jimlux]

On 4/1/16 8:38 PM, Douglas Ruz / CO8DM wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I installed a modify spiderbeam few days ago. Spreaders are 7m long because
> I added 2 elem (shortened) on 40m.
>
> Few days ago, during a windy day, both U bolts with saddle clamps in the
> rotator fail...the antenna mast (aluminum tube) rotate inside the saddle and
> broke both coax cables.
>
> I quickly tie a pipe between the center hub and one leg of to tower until I
> find a solution.
>
> Maybe I need a Brake mechanism to protect the rotator. Some kind of
> mechanism to operate with a rope from the bottom of tower.
>

how about something with a bunch of "teeth" that engage with a pawl that 
is on a lever actuated by your rope. Imagine having a bunch of spokes 
sticking out from the mast, and a stick that gets poked in between them.?

Or do you need "no motion at all"?  I'd think about something like a 
band clamp that gets tightened by a lever action from your rope.
(not exactly like this, but similar..
http://www.protex.com/27SPG-HT070-115SS-70-115mm-diameter-hi-torque-spring-claw-stainless-steel-quick-release-bandclamp-natural
or
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/12-heavy-aluminum-springform-cake-pan/327900412.html
)


Or a spring that actuates the brake, and the rope that pulls it off. 
Depends on which way you want it to fail if the rope breaks: braked or free.