I have what I feel is a pretty good idea for a slider-up "line modification" for clearing slider up line-overs. I have jumped the system skydiving and the control lines cleared immediately (I didn't pack an intentional line-over; I just released the control lines to see how they would clear). It is moderately easy to install on most toggle systems, and can be done at minimal cost. I have included a JPG illustration of the system, so it may be easiest to print the JPG then read the description of its construction and use.
The system functions by releasing the toggle from the control line, allowing the line to feed back through both the keeper ring and the slider. The end result is that the control lines will be cleared (similar to a slider down line mod after releasing the toggles) with the exception of the fact that the toggles will still be in your hands, not connected to the parachute in any way. Fundamentally the system works by retaining the control line to the toggle with a straight closing pin. The finger-trapped control line (terminal end) is run straight through the toggle grommet and is held in place by a straight pin on the other side. By removing this pin, the line will be freed from the toggle, allowing it to clear.
I have included a diagram of the system in this posting, so I will describe it to try and clarify. The straight pin is stitched to a piece of ribbon tape (I used pull-up cords for all of my test versions). In the diagram, this piece of ribbon tape is purple. This pin-bridle system is unattached to the toggle in the diagram, which will be discussed in further detail later. By pulling on the bridle, the pin is pulled, thus releasing the control line, which then clears back through the retainer ring and slider.
This bridle could be attached, using Velcro, directly to the toggle, but I didn't like this configuration as it could very easily lead to premature release. For this reason I decided to run the bridle through a channel (I used a wider piece of ribbon tape stitched to the toggle along the sides, but left open at the top and the bottom). I also put a small piece of retainer ribbon on the "tongue" of the toggle to retain the tip of the straight pin. In the diagram, both the channel and the pin-retainer are red.
I then inserted the pin-bridle into this channel (i.e. fed the pin up through the channel so it would be in place to hold the control line), doubled back the bridle (from the bridle-pin component) on top of the channel, and attached it with Velcro to the channel. This configuration can be seen in the top-right most diagram of the assembled system.
So, by pulling on the bridle (the terminal end of which is near the toggle grommet), I release the Velcro, slide the bridle/pin downwards through the channel, thereby releasing the line from the pin (and toggle), and the toggle from the parachute.
One significant difference between the diagram and my trial versions is that I attached the bridle/pin to the toggle in my versions (in the diagram the bridle/pin are shown unconnected for simplicity). The reason for this is that the system can be released from a brakes stowed position (releasing the line from the toggle does no good if the brakes are still stowed, retaining the line…). I did this in two different ways, both of which functioned very well:
1) By attaching a piece of ribbon tape between the bottom-most point of the toggle and the bottom of the bridle (i.e. where the bridle U-turns). This piece of bridle must be longer than the pin to ensure that the pin will fully release the line prior to tension, or the system will not release.
2) By folding the bridle that runs inside the channel in half, and narrowing the channel in the middle (in essence, creating a bottleneck that the bridle would slide regularly through, but the pin eye could not fit through). I just put some stitches in from the edge about half way down the channel. I like this configuration better than the first because it eliminated an extra piece of exposed bridle, and thus had a lower chance of unwanted release.
One problem that I haven't worked out is a good solution of what to do with the terminal end of the bridle/pin. The need is for a secure attachment, which will not prematurely release, but that is easy and fast to release in all conditions. I have built the toggle with both a ring on the end and by doubling/tripling the bridle back onto itself creating a small handle to pull. I think that snapping it in place would ensure that the system does not release prematurely (I haven't tested anything with a snap, nor have I had problems with premature release). Note that the pull force of the release system must be less than that of the toggle-line system or you will only be steering your parachute by your release system.
Another problem deals with the question of stowing the toggle. The system as pictured could have potential stowage hang-ups due to the fact that the pin and its sheath are on the tongue of the toggle, which stows into the control line. This is a problem that must be worked out for each different toggle type, as each stows differently. Perhaps the easiest toggle to implement the system on is one that (I am not sure who makes it) has a normal toggle, like those pictured, with a pin that runs parallel to the tongue onto which the line actually stows. This then leaves the tongue free and eliminates the potential problem with hang-ups.
If anyone has any recommendations, potential problems, opinions, questions, or anything of the sort, feel free to e-mail them to me or post them on the board.
Nick Jameson
Nflynnj@hotmail.com
http://www.blincmagazine.com/forum/u...nj/toggles.jpg
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