Apollo 11 LRRR Clevis-and-Tang Fasteners
Commentary Copyright © 2011 by Eric M. Jones.
All rights reserved.
Mike Blaney, Ken Glover, and Vlad Pustynski
contributed to this
discussion
Last revised 21 April 2011.
The relevant section of the final Apollo 11 Lunar Surface Operations Plan
indicates that, probably during training, the fitting came to be known as
the "hockey stick". At each end is a clevis fastener. The end on the right
was fitted to the base of the LRRR package and, hence, was below the one
on the left, which was attached to the deployment boom in the SEQ Bay. Near
the bottom clevis (right) is a red clevis pin attached to a cable which, in turn
is attached to the top clevis (left). (Click on the image for a larger version.)
A clevis fastener is a three-piece
system consisting of a clevis, clevis pin, and tang.
The clevis is a U-shaped piece that
has holes at the end of the prongs to accept
the clevis pin. The tang is the piece
that fits between the clevis with a hole that
allows the pin to penetrate the tang
and tie the tang and clevis together. In the
case of the Apollo 11 LRRR fitting,
the pin is designed for easy removal during
offloading. Drawing of a nautical
example modified from
original donated
to the Wikimedia Foundation by
Pearson Scott Foresman.
Buzz is preparing to offload the seismometer package from the left side of the bay.
Detail from training photo 69-H-675
showing Buzz offloading the LRRR.
Once he grabs the LRRR, he will remove
the upper clevis pin.
(Click on the image for a larger
version.)
Detail from training photo
S69-32250. Buzz is carrying the
EASEP package away from the LM
simulator, with the LRRR
fitting still attached by the lower
clevis fastener.
(Click on the image for a larger
version)
Detail
from AS11-40-5942 shows the
thin ring used to pull
the upper pin and the in-place pull ring for the lower pin.
Placement of the lower pull ring suggests that Neil will
pull that pin and remove the LRRR fitting before
tipping the LRRR onto its base.
(Click on the image for a larger version.)
Detail from AS11-40-5945.
Buzz has just put the LRRR
on the surface. Before deploying
the LRRR, Neil will put the
ALSCC he's been carrying on the flat rock at the lower left and then
turn
the LRRR so the base in facing away from the Sun. (See AS11-40-5952.)
Details of the deployment procedures can be found in an extract from
The Apollo 11 Lunar Surface Ops Plan. (Click on the image for a larger
version.)
Detail from training photo
S69-31200 showing the lower clevis
after removal, along with a cover that
protected the reflectors.
(Click on the image for a larger
version.)
| Journal Home Page | Apollo 11 Journal Index |