Kite Line Shuttle
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2009
- The "LeDuc Line Shuttle" can be used to carry payloads such as cameras, etc. up and down a kite line. The Shuttle allows kites to be launched to a stable altitude prior to lofting the payload. The payload can be raised and lowered up and down the line to any altitude without having to adjust the kite flying altitude. The Shuttle requires no additional rigging to the kite or kite line allowing you to attach it to any kite already in the air. The Shuttle is propelled up the kite line by pulling monofilament fishing line from a small reel mounted to the Shuttle, and does not require electrical power or motors to operate, making it very compact and light weight.
The major components of the Shuttle consist of:
- Frame
- Power Shaft
- Traction Wheel
- Power Reel with Power Line (monofilament fishing line)
- Rigging Pulleys (front and back)
- Line Alignment Clip
- Payload Arm
- Ground-Based Launch Reel
The Frame and Payload Arm are made primarily from carbon fiber and fiberglass materials.
The Traction Wheel is made from maple and is cut using a hole saw. The Power Reel is a standard fishing line spool available at most sporting goods. The Traction Wheel and Power Reel are attached to each other and mounted to the frame on a vertical shaft using ball bearings to reduce friction. The Traction Wheel is allowed to float up and down on the shaft to allow proper vertical centering on the kite line.
The Power Reel diameter must be larger than the Traction Wheel diameter. This is required to provide the necessary mechanical advantage for movement up and down the line. Ive found an optimum ratio between the Power Reel and Traction Wheel diameter to be 1.5:1. I use a Power Reel diameter of 3.75 inches and a Traction Wheel diameter of 2.5 inches. This ratio provides an approximate 2:1 mechanical climbing advantage allowing it to be raised or lowered very quickly. This means that for every 1 foot of line transferred onto the Launch Reel results in the Shuttle climbing 2 feet up the kite line. The Power Reel is loaded with 1000 ft of 8 lb monofilament fishing line. This allows you to loft the Shuttle approximately 667 feet up the line by pulling 333 feet onto the ground-based Launch Reel.
The outer edge of the Traction Wheel must be routed to a concave shape to keep the kite line centered on the Traction Wheel and to keep it from walking off the edge of the pulley as it turns. I use a concave radius of approximately 0.2 inches. A Dremel tool or router may be used to achieve the concave shape on the edge of the Traction Wheel. The Traction Wheel finish must provide enough friction to allow good traction to the line, but not too much friction as to impede smooth assent and decent up and down the line. Ive found it best to have a smooth, hard finish such as polyurethane on the Traction Wheel.
The front and rear Rigging Pulleys are mounted approximately 4 inches on either side of the Traction Wheel center line. The vertical adjustment of the Rigging Pulleys is important to reduce line friction as the Shuttle is moving up and down the line. The front Rigging Pulley (closest to the kite) should be rigged to be slightly below the vertical centerline of the Traction Wheel (approx 0.05 inches below center line). The rear Rigging Pulley (toward the ground) should be rigged to be slightly above the vertical centerline of the Traction Wheel (approx 0.15 inches above center line). This vertical rigging tends to spread the kite line as it enters and exits the Traction Wheel and helps reduce friction. Note that too much vertical spread between the front and back Rigging Pulleys results in unwanted friction and force on the Traction Wheel and makes it hard for the Shuttle to return down the line by itself.
The Line Alignment Clip is used to keep the Kite Line and Power Line close to each other as the Power Line exits the rear of the Shuttle. This helps reduce the force on the frame as the Kite Line and Power Line split away from each other at higher altitudes. Without this clip, tension on the Power Line may cause the Frame to flip around the kite line resulting in tangles between the lines.
Line friction is a major factor that needs to be managed in order to insure smooth assent and decent. Friction becomes a major issue with increased kite line tension. Ive found that keeping the line tension to no more than 15 or 20 lbs helps insure the Shuttle will return down the line on its own. Ive found that flying the rig with a smaller kite in stronger winds helps manage line tension. I use a Flowform 30 for winds up to ~15mph and a Flowform 16 for winds above that. Key design features used to manage friction are:
- Concave shape and finish of Traction Pulley
- Vertical alignment of front and rear Rigging Pulleys
- Use of ball bearings on all rotating parts
Mike (IowaKAPer@gmail.com) 
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Excellent development of an old idea. I really like the simplicity of it. Obviously, your workmanship is top notch for how easy the device works.
Many years ago (about 35 of 'em), I needed some overhead photos of a complex construction project for a presentation I was doing to help my bid proposal for part of the project. But, the local air craft rental, plane and pilot was over $300.00 an hour. Way too much to invest for a chancy bid presentation. My company was small and we didn't have room to even waste a dime. My wife suggested a kite camera. So, I bought a cheap kite at K-mart, and used a small 110 camera. I made a rubberband windup timer to "push" the button on the camera when it arrived at the kite on a little slide "line messinger" . Then Sunday wife and I went to the site and although I had to push and pull my "messinger" up and down for every shot, I managed to get 3 good shots of the subject out of 24 frames. My presentation went off without a hitch and my company got the job that was up for bid because of it. So, these little "toys" can sometimes save all kinds of money and make a big difference in the right circumstances. Your rig is so much simpler and easy to use than mine was. You've done a good job, indeed.
Great job. You're the only guy I've seen using a device to send the camera up the line rather than attaching the rig to the line and adjusting the altitude of the rig by bringing the kite in or letting it out. No need for a picavet either. I don't use a picavet for my rigs either I just use a pendulum system and have had no problem with stability.
You have got some great engineering skills there.
Great idea so you can get photo's at different altitudes on a timed shutter rig!
I love the simplicity of this.
For what you will use it for, it is ingenius.... That's a damn-good idea! If you just want to drop something, like a glider or parachute, there used to be a device called a kite trolley for that, and they worked real slick, but for a camera, or what-not, this is great!!!
Very helpful... Thank you.
Nice system. How about using a small kite or set of wings attached to payload that will lift and move payload up, taking most of the weight off the line (for better stability) ? A fixed obstruction at the top of the line could both trip the camera shutter and release payload and lifter back down the line, ready to repeat. Excellent video, great job!
WOW what an amazing simple yet effective idea.
Nice set up... :)
Great IDEA 👌
Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great job. I just became your 100th subscriber. What kite is that?
that was pretty cool, you made it your self? or is it a kit online that you can buy?
Great for kite fishing...
Excellent !
Want to try this for s sailfishing on kite fishing rig. I want to use DC motor to climb kite line . Any ideas would be great
Thank you all for the comments. I've had a lot of fun working with this concept. FYI I've got additional videos of other shuttle approaches that you may enjoy on my channel.
what Kite model is it where to buy ? thank you