X-Array™ Loudspeaker Systems
primary support for the loudspeaker enclosures,
while the front rigging hardware is mainly for aim-
ing the enclosures vertically. (The front does pro-
vide some secondary support, however.)
Figure 1a
illustrates an array column suspended
with a grid. Like the loudspeaker systems, the grid
utilizes horizontal rigging-track hardware at the
back and vertical rigging-track hardware at the
front. The top enclosure is secured to the grid
with two quick-release Xrhg grid hinges at the
rear, and two quick-release Xrss short wire-rope
rigging straps at the front. The grid hinge has only
one possible vertical attachment position on both
the enclosure and the grid. The front straps, how-
ever, have six possible vertical attachment posi-
tions to choose from on the enclosure and two
possible vertical attachment positions to choose
from on the grid. The grid hinges allow the enclo-
sure to pivot from its top back corner. The vertical
angle of the top enclosure, relative to the grid, is
set by the linear position of the front rigging straps
in the track on the front of the enclosure and on
the grid.
The bottom enclosure shown in
Figure 1a
is linked
to the top enclosure with two quick-release Xrhl
linking hinges at the rear and two quick-release
Xrsl long wire-rope rigging straps at the front. The
linking hinges allow the bottom enclosure to pivot
from the back corner of the top enclosure. The
vertical angle of the bottom enclosure, relative to
the top enclosure, is set by the linear position of
the front rigging straps in the track on the front of
the top and bottom enclosures. Additional enclo-
sures may be linked together in the same fashion,
as long as the working-load limits for any of the
enclosures, rigging hinges or straps are not ex-
ceeded. The array column is raised into position
by a motorized chain hoist of sufficient load rating.
Figure 1a
shows the short Xrss rigging straps
securing the top enclosure to the grid and the
long Xrsl rigging straps linking the two enclosures
because this is the most common configuration;
however, the straps may be interchanged in
many circumstances. When the short Xrss rigging
straps are used between the top enclosure and
the grid, the enclosure may be angled upward
relative to the grid or downward a moderate
amount. When the long Xrsl rigging straps are
used between the top enclosure and the grid, the
enclosure may be hung parallel to the grid, or
angled downward substantially relative to the grid.
When the long Xrsl straps are used between en-
closures, the bottom enclosure may be hung
parallel to the top enclosure or angled downward
substantially relative to the top enclosure. When
the short Xrss straps are used between enclo-
sures, the bottom enclosure may be hung parallel
to the top enclosure or angled downward a mod-
erate amount relative to the top enclosure.
When a grid is used, each array column must
be balanced by adjusting the position of the grid
hanger towards the front or back until the grid
hangs level. Several of the grids may be con-
nected together horizontally and raised in unison.
When using the grid, the splay angle between
array columns is adjusted by the positioning of the
grid retractable-coupler arms.
In permanent installations, the motorized chain
hoists and grids are sometimes eliminated, and
the loudspeaker columns can be secured directly
to the building structure. This application is shown
in
Figure 1b
. The back of the top enclosure is sus-
pended with two Xrhp pickup hinges. Each Xrhp
pickup hinge utilizes standard chain that will ac-
cept chain connectors, shackles or other standard
rigging hardware which are, in turn, secured to
the building structure via custom wire-rope or
chain assemblies. The front of the enclosure is
suspended by two New Haven NH32102-2
double-stud swivel-ring fittings attached to the
front track of the enclosure and which are, in turn,
secured to the building structure via two custom
wire-rope or chain rigging assemblies. The hard-
ware and techniques used to secure and angle
the bottom enclosure to the top enclosure are
identical to the previously described case where
a grid was employed.
In installations where a custom grid is employed
that does not use track that is compatible with the
X-Array™ Xrhg grid hinge or the Xrss or Xrsl rig-
ging straps, the Xrhp pickup hinge and custom
wire-rope rigging straps that utilize New Haven
NH32102-2 double-stud swivel-ring fittings can
be used to suspend the top enclosure as illus-
trated in
Figure 1b
.
Note that the weight of an array can be quite sub-
stantial and the grid, chain hoists and building
structural supports used to suspend the array
must be capable of supporting such a load with
a sufficient safety factor. The reader is directed to
section
5. References of this manual for a list of
rigging references (for background in general rig-
ging practice) and mechanical engineering refer-
ences (for background in structural engineering
analysis).
1.2 Enclosure Rigging Hardware Details
All of the flying X-Array™ models utilize identical
rigging hardware, and they all have the same
strength ratings.
Figure 2
shows key dimensions,
weights and the centers of gravity for all of the
X-Array™ systems.
A proprietary high-strength aluminum-alloy track
is used at the back of the enclosures near the top
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