ELT mounts

[astjp2]

So I am working with a machinist to help design a new universal elt mount that would put the mount just behind the seat on either the pilots or copilots side and would have 3 each 7050-T7451 brackets that clamp the tubes and mounts a .125" plate to bolt an elt to. If others are interested, I can have extra mounts made that would require some fabrication to install and meet the owner produced part rule. more details to follow when I get to that point. Tim

[M Towsley]

Re: ELT mounts

Hey Tim,

Count me in, I think my mount is not exactly perfect in its current form.

[3Dreaming]

Re: ELT mounts

I would be interested as well.

[astjp2]

Re: ELT mounts

I just received the first set of clamps, they still need tapped and final ream for fit. Now I need to look at incorporating the mount plate. Tim

[M Towsley]

Re: ELT mounts

Looks nice, Tim.

[astjp2]

Re: ELT mounts

Progress, drill, reamed and tapped holes

[astjp2]

Re: ELT mounts

Mostly done, just some last clean up on the clamps, the screws are there to hold the halves together.

[M Towsley]

Re: ELT mounts

Hi Tim,

Status on these, just curious.

[astjp2]

Re: ELT mounts

Well here are some pics, it was a lot of work, more than what I expected.... the sheet is .125" 2024-T3, the straps are .075" X .625" Stainless strap and the block clamps are 7050-T7451, the connecting tubes are .035" took about 8 hours to make and install. If I was to do it again, I would put in a couple of bends, but I have to find someone who can bend .125 material and not crack it. Tim

[astjp2]

Re: ELT mounts

This is a challenging project to create enough stiffness on the 1/2" tubes, I had to make structure where there is none to give the mount the rigidity it needs. I would also dimple the lightening holes and add a few more. Hopefully I will find some tooling to make the dimples and use that big rivet squeezer to move .125" aluminum. I also need to try and lose some more weight from it, its stout but I think that I could stiffen and lose some weight at the same time. Since there are so many differences in each airplane, the block clamps need to be drilled specifically for each airplane. I wish I had an uncovered airframe to do some more testing on....and to come up with some installation procedures. Tim

[M Towsley]

Re: ELT mounts

Yikes, I am apparently a bit naive when it comes to this. I thought the clamps would mount to the EBC holder and then to the structure. That is way more than I expected.

[astjp2]

Re: ELT mounts

Those two .5 tubes flex a lot and they are not stiff enough so that is why the added structure....its not supposed to flex more than .100 with 109 lbs. pushing against it. Those tubes by themselves move a lot. That is why I tied it into so much of the other structural tubes. Tim