How must the yokes be positioned when ensuring proper pendant tension?

How must the yokes be positioned when ensuring proper pendant tension?

• A. Equal distanced from the runway centerline
• B. Aligned with the runway centerline
• C. One above the other
• D. Adjacent to the tensioning assembly

Answer: (A)

Symmetry around the runway centerline is crucial for pendant tension. When two yokes support a pendant, placing them at equal distances from the centerline makes the forces each side carries equal, so the pendant hangs straight and the tension is balanced. This keeps the load centered, reduces lateral sway, and prevents uneven wear on the tensioning hardware. If the yokes aren’t symmetric, one side bears more load, the pendant tilts or pulls off-center, and tension becomes unequal. The other placements disrupt that balance: aligning with the centerline would place the yokes on the same axis and fail to counteract sideways forces; stacking one above the other changes the geometry and won’t provide equal lateral support; placing them adjacent to the tensioning assembly biases the load toward that area and creates an imbalance.

Symmetry around the runway centerline is crucial for pendant tension. When two yokes support a pendant, placing them at equal distances from the centerline makes the forces each side carries equal, so the pendant hangs straight and the tension is balanced. This keeps the load centered, reduces lateral sway, and prevents uneven wear on the tensioning hardware.

If the yokes aren’t symmetric, one side bears more load, the pendant tilts or pulls off-center, and tension becomes unequal. The other placements disrupt that balance: aligning with the centerline would place the yokes on the same axis and fail to counteract sideways forces; stacking one above the other changes the geometry and won’t provide equal lateral support; placing them adjacent to the tensioning assembly biases the load toward that area and creates an imbalance.