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This page gives you information about the Tower.
The Tower.
With a couple of members from our scouting group we helped building a tower. The tower is 24 meters in height
It took us several saturdays of working before it was finished. All the permanent connections in the tower were
not made with rope, but with screwthread and bolts.
We used tree-trunks from pine-trees. Before using them we had to remove the tree-bark from the stems. The
branches had allready been removed. We used four long stems with each a length of 24 meters.
We started to build two frames on the ground. Each frame consisted of four horizontal poles, and four diagonal poles.
The width of the frame down is six meters, and the width of the frame on top is four meters.
On the site where the structure would be placed, we digged four holes.
These holes were about half a meter deep. A crane was used to place the first frame. We used ropes
and cables to guide the frame on the right place. After that we secured the frame with the ropes and
cables. To keep tension on the ropes we used various knots we know from scouting. After the frame
was secured, we used the crane to lift up the second frame. The second frame was also secured with ropes.
Then we started to connect the two frames together. This was a very tough job, because the tower itself
was not stable enough to climb in. All the work had to be done in a sort of bssket wich we had connected
to the crane.The poles had to be placed at the correct height, had to be fastened with ropes, and then
the holes were drilled for the screwthreads and bolts.
Because time was money, and we had hired a crane, we jumped as quickly as possible to
the platfom connecting bussines. Together with the crane, and a lot of guiding ropes we managed to place all
four platforms in the tower. They were not yet secured with screwthead and bolts, but only with
ropes. The crane left as sson as possible so we were on our own again. The time of connecting and raising the
frames had taken two working days. The days that followed were used to secure the platforms.
And we had to align the tower. Logically we started with the first platform. From that platform we
worked our way up. At first yopu don't feel safe when you walk on the platforms.
After a little time you get used to the heights and the moving tower. And as the work keeps continuing
the tower gets more and more stability. At the time that we finished the last platform, you could walk on
the platforms, while thinking you were on the ground. The platforms didn't even stirr a little when you walked
on them. And because of the rail on the side, you felt secure. The tower was allmost ready for use.
The tower needed a couple of accesoires before it was finished. To be more precisely, the tower needed
a long metal cable, total length about 120 meters, so people could use the cableway. With a lot of manpower
and with a winch we managed to put enough tension on the cable, so that it could be used. The breaking
system we used is very dimple and very decent. If yopu look at the drawing you will see a little gate before
the cable is connected to the tree. The cable is pressed down by the top-bar from this gate. The cable is not
connected to the bar, in hangs loose. If you start on top of the tower, you will be down in about three seconds.
(The trolley system on the cable goes very smooth.) Your own weight will pull the cable down from the top-bar,
so the trolley system will not collide with the bar. After you have passed the gate, the cable goes up, and simple
physiscs makes you slow down. The normal gravity creates enough downforce to slow down. The next step
is that the trolley will seek the lowest point, (wich is naturally ) at the gate. At this point the safety belt
can be hooked off, and the cable is free for the next person.
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