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| This solution is my solution to a MakeShift challenge from page 188-189 if Volume 03 of Make magazine. I do not have permission to copy the challenge, but I can explain my solution. The problem was how to suspend a fiberglass life size cow from a crane boom. Here is my solution as sent in to the challenge. Remember there were limited resources to suspend the cow. |
| The funny thing about a life size sculpture of a cow is that no one
on the ground can see it in great detail, but if the 100 lb beast falls
it is going to catch everyone by surprise. But if an eccentric real estate
mogul wants it on his tower crane, he isn’t going to change his
mind where he wants it.
Here is my proposed solution: With the limited materials and mounting the cow safely for $20, placement of the cow is essential. But since the cow is constructed of ½ inch fiberglass and is a shell structure, I cannot expect the structure of the cow to support its own weight by just attaching the legs to the crane because of a high wind force across the cow’s body. My solution is to use the harness that is pictured. The harness on the original crane that will lift the cow to the final crane. I am going to turn the harness upside down and put it beneath the cows uniform. And then the key part, I am going to use the cable of the tower crane as a suspension wire. My crew is going to lower the crane closer to the roof. Here we will feed the hooked end of the crane cable underneath the boom. The cable will be feed upward through the boom at any area that seems fit for the cow. The cable hook will be fitted to the harness of the cow, in order not to break the cow. I am especially concerned with the cow only being supported to the crane with its legs. That is why I elected to keep the harness. I will then weld the hook from the crane cable shut, once it is attached to the cow’s harness. With my extra materials such as the packaging materials and cardboard, we will construct a platform. Specifically, we will wrap the roll of chicken wire around the cranes boom. Around the top of the wire will be a cardboard box in which the chicken wire was woven through and then duct tape for extra support. This is only to create a more secure base in which the cow can be seated on and pressed against during air currents. Just for sake of more stability I will cut 4 1-liter bottles of cola in half and place them in holes in the card board and chicken wire for increased support. That is it the only thing left is adjusting the tension of the crane’s cable (Pulling the main support cable tight.), and then raising the crane in which the cow is secured to its desired position. |
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In all it’s not a bad idea. Safety is a concern, but I see no better way to suspend the cow. I do not know the strength of the cranes cable and haven’t figured the tension that would be on the cable when the cow is in high winds. Also I did not fully explain the connection between the harness and the crane’s cable. There is much left to design here. The solution is not perfect, but it shows some thought considering it is a fast answer to a challenging problem. |