Table 1 . Comparison of Proposed Designs of Boom Connectors 



Connector 



Advantages 



Disadvantages 



Figure 



1A 



1 . Not susceptible to decoupling 



1 . Must slide full height 







from horizontal surge forces 



of boom during assembly 







acting along the boom. 



and disassembly. 







2. A certain amount of swivel 









action possible. 





Figure 



IB 



1. Extruded shapes. 



1 . Must slide full height 







2. Easier fabrication than 

 connector in Figure 1A. 



of boom during assembly 

 and disassembly. 







3. Relatively insensitive to 

 accidental decoupling. 



2. No rotational freedom 

 about axis perpendicular 

 to the plane. 



Figure 



1C 



1 . Two halves can be connected 



1 . Vertical alignment for 







without sliding their lengths 



installing the small 







relative to each other. 



retaining pin through 







2. Connector marketed commer- 

 cially. 



both connector halves 

 may be difficult. 



2. Only the retaining pin 

 holds the sections 

 together and could fail 

 or be accidentally 

 pulled out or lost. 



3. Subject to decoupling 

 from wide variety of 

 surge forces always pre- 

 sent in the field in 

 event of pin failure. 



Figure 



ID 



1 . Two halves can be attached 



1 . May prove difficult to 







without sliding their lengths 



align in field. 







relative to each other. 





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