extraction arm balanced end

[Gareth J]

I've got an extractor arm that's on a double pivot. As it is, it lets me move it over the areas I weld.

However, in order to set the height, I have to, currently, loop/unloop excess hose which is loosely tied to the arm; kind of like this;

But it's a bit tedious.

I'd like to rig up something that would let me yank on it and drop it down/up.

I thought about a pulley/counterweight but figured it would probably get all tangled and in the way.

Another idea is a balanced bar type thing;

Which might work, especially if I used an old ball joint or something similarly multi directional for the pivot.

Any other ideas/suggestions/things people have done?

 

[Agroshield]

Balanced bar looks good. A couple of plastic washers in the joint and nyloc nutted so you have control of the friction.

As you have drawn it, once the suck end gets below about 45 degrees, the counterweight will hit the top tube. So a large weight and a short balance arm. Alternatively, make the end of the vertical hanger an inverted U-shape then the weight will pass between the legs of the U. You might have to make a swivel at the hose end instead of the fixed ring you show as at extreme angles of dangle, the ring will prevent the end of the funnel from being horizontal.

 

[Gareth J]

Thanks. I didn't think I'd get to this today but managed to.

Went for a simple double pivot in the end.

Some of the welds look aweful. There were a couple of iterations and the last few bits got done in situ with very poor looking results.

Technically, the vertical pivot isn't really needed as the arm can sweep moist places, but it offers a bit more flexibility and slightly improved reach which is a bonus.

Went for a simple bit of wire for the end. Keeping weight down was a real issue - the supporting arm is a bit wobbly. A heavier weight on a shorter arm would have been neater but was really trying not to overdo the weight. Occasionally, I disconnect it to prop onto the exhaust of a car. Hence the excess length of hose.

Quite pleased anyway. A big improvement on the bit of wire I used to faff around with (still see it in the second picture)