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  1. #1
    Senior Member peteypk's Avatar
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    Lightbulb portable hammock stand CONCEPT?

    Hey there! I am a relatively new hanger, and ever since joining the HF I have been on a part-time quest to find an existing or craft my own portable hammock stand for those instances where I am left with one tree/structure and nothing else -- the one tree hang. I dunno why, but my mind keeps thinking about how to craft one that is as close to portable, durable, and reasonably lightweight, all without being overly expensive. Yeah, yeah, yeah… I know… that is a combination likely to never to see the light of day. But one can dream, right?

    There have been lengthy, yet inspiring, threads here on HF like:
    @TurtleDog stand
    @turtlelady's bamboo stand
    @Almosa's portable hammock stand

    As well as products like:
    Byer of Maine's Madera bipod stand
    TreeMount's stainless steel bipod stand

    ♪♪ But I still haven't found what I'm looking for...♪♪
    I think the TreeMount comes closest as it has a great aesthetic… but it's fairly pricey at nearly $200!

    I'm no engineer, but I have found myself doodle-sketching possible ideas and taking time at work to noodle through some concepts w/ my engineering-type co-workers. I've even taken to Google SketchUp to mock up some drawings, where most ideas fall short of reality.

    However, my latest idea kind of has me jazzed -- I know that this will fall short of the lightweight and inexpensive criteria, but I like its potential as a portable stand. I don't have the budget to buy the materials to test it out, but I figure it might be worthwhile to see where this goes..…. thus, I am posting this for all to critique, and possibly see if someone would dare give it a shot. As I've mentioned, I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, so I ask that you forgive my ignorance of terminology and physics… but I think this might-could work. Yes? No? Maybe?

    There are TWO ideas that I wanted to address:
    1. COLLAPSIBLE -- the stand is portable because the structure is collapsible, and the bulk of its parts can be packed within itself.
    2. COUNTERWEIGHT -- use your own weight, when in the hammock, to counter (partially?) the force that would otherwise pull the hammock stand towards center. I actually have no clue of this would work, but it seems to make a bit of sense in my head? The premise is

    So, here are my SketchUps -- they're incomplete without the bolts/wingnuts and the telescoping pins. But I hope these drawings are able to give you the big picture. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how to improve on this, or if this idea is even viable. (Be kind )














  2. #2
    Senior Member
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    I'm no engineer but like to think I have a fairly good "feel" for these things.

    I'm confident the "counterweight" system just sets up a series of opposing forces in the system that cancel each other out. No gain, no loss.

    What appears to be left then, is an Alamosa stand with a telescoping pole.

  3. #3
    Member trippaw's Avatar
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    I think there is more to it than that. Since that lower arm extends out from the main pole, you get some leverage working for you. Imagine extending it further with theoretical frictionless pulleys. I could be convinced that it would indeed pull outward with similar forces to what your weight is putting on the hammock side.

    I am actually curious as to how cranes work. They have the top portion, the jib, that leans far forward. There are some pretty sophisticated mechanisms at play there to keep the cranes from tipping. I'll have to dust off some of my physics!
    "Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive" - Elbert Hubbard

  4. #4
    Senior Member Fish<><'s Avatar
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    Love the idea, I subbed this thread to see where it goes. It looks like you thought long about this design. Very nice graphics as well.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Tjalling's Avatar
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    Oh dear. Any engineers available? I will comment with a force diagram when I have the opportunity. My employer expects me to do other things right now.
    For now, I can assure that you need more than two stakes to hold this contraption. I like the design and clever use of aluminum though. Very nice art work!

  6. #6
    Senior Member hppyfngy's Avatar
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    I admire your Sketchup skills and think you have something there. Perhaps on your way to designing a fine trebuchet.

    Keep on thinking! Good stuff.
    Some say I'm apathetic, but I don't care. - Randy

  7. #7
    Senior Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by trippaw View Post
    ...I am actually curious as to how cranes work...
    Massive counter weights.

  8. #8
    Senior Member peteypk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by trippaw View Post
    Since that lower arm extends out from the main pole, you get some leverage working for you. Imagine extending it further with theoretical frictionless pulleys. I could be convinced that it would indeed pull outward with similar forces to what your weight is putting on the hammock side.
    I'm thinkin' the same. As I'm thinking more and more about this, I think I should have extended the "braces" to add for more leverage.

    I'd sure love it if an actual engineer could figure out the correct angles and tensions and compression forces and anything else that would make this, or something similar, to work. ;-P

  9. #9
    Senior Member peteypk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hppyfngy View Post
    I admire your Sketchup skills and think you have something there. Perhaps on your way to designing a fine trebuchet.

    Keep on thinking! Good stuff.
    Thanks! I've often wondered how I might fare in a trebuchet competition! LOL!

  10. #10
    Senior Member Tjalling's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by trippaw View Post
    I think there is more to it than that. Since that lower arm extends out from the main pole, you get some leverage working for you. Imagine extending it further with theoretical frictionless pulleys. I could be convinced that it would indeed pull outward with similar forces to what your weight is putting on the hammock side.
    Sorry guys, according to this assumption I can lift myself of the ground by pulling my crotch upwards. Michael Jackson couldn't do that and no one can.
    To hold the hammock all the forces necessary must come from the soil (like a tree does).

    I will not bother you with diagrams, but beleive me. Each stake need to hold a force in the order of half your weight.
    Last edited by Tjalling; 06-19-2012 at 14:13.

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