*
Tuesday 11th 36F, overcast.
The second set of 84mm skate wheels should arrive in the post this morning.
I plan to fix the 48cm long, top bogies to the shutter boards via the wheel axles. These will be long, stainless steel bolts with stainless Nyloc nuts. Here, I have mocked-up the fixings with temporary studding to test shutter movement. The dome was completely covered in black ice!
I should be considering adding several eye bolts to the dome segment clamping. This will provide secure tie-off anchors for ladders when the dome is raised. Though a horizontal rail would be more secure. Giving the ladder something to rest against. This would need sturdy stanchions.The dome can be rotated to bring it to a suitable position for better working access from the front of the building.
Though a working platform, stretched between the buildings, would be better still. Allowing much safer access to the outside of the dome from skirt level. I'll have to give this idea some serious thought. Access to the dome's exterior will inevitably become ever more difficult with my increasing age. [75 and still rising]
Avoiding towering ladders, resting on the curved dome from ground level, would be very sensible indeed. I could fit some of the old veranda, meshed fencing to the back of the platform for safety. The ridge of the adjoining shed is close to level with the top of the observatory building.
Why haven't I thought of this before? It would solve a number of access problems. The platform could even be accessed though the open slit from the observatory floor. Using a secured stepladder after the dome was turned to face east. No ladder access required from the ground. Then the platform could be securely fenced, front and back, to avoid all risk of falls.
Bolting the bogies to the top boards will ensure firm, long term support. The sides of the bogies will lie flat on the boards. So should be simple to work on in the event of any future problems. The shutter, top boards are accessible on the inside when the shutters are wide open. Provided I can reach them!
It might be sensible to bolt through between the wheels. Then the wheels could be changed individually. Without losing the bogie's support for the shutters. I'll ponder on that before making a decision. Meanwhile, I'll be using the four M8 axle bolts per bogie anyway.
The drawer slides are a nightmare to work on when in place. Multiple, small, wood screws are progressively covered by the slides. With access to the screws only via small holes when the slides are in fixed, relative positions. The screw heads had to be a particular size, 4.5mm. To fit the fixing holes without obstructing the slide movement.
The skate wheels are already proving their value in low friction and rolling resistance. Months of struggling to open and close the shutters is finally coming to an end. I have often had to use a long batten to just get the tops of the shutters to move. The drawer slides were just not up to the loads being applied.
*
No comments:
Post a Comment