A spring-activated quick-response mechanism for legs of a mooring mast: Conceptual design and analysis

Abstract

A mooring mast is used for safe and secure ground-handling of airships. It occupies space, and hence there is a need to make it foldable and portable. The mast is provided with long legs to have adequate ground-stability; hence it is important for the legs to be quickly foldable. This paper describes a mechanism designed to enable quick unlocking and folding as well as quick unfolding and locking of the legs, in an appropriate orientation. The mechanism employs a spring-activated quick-response rod. Kinematic analysis of the mechanism and stress analysis of its key components have also been carried out.