Vinten Osprey Elite Studio 3574-3C Manual

Vinten
Camera Control Solutions
Operators Guide
Osprey Elite
Pedestal

Osprey Elite
Pedestal
Publication Part No. 3574-8 Issue 4
Copyright © Vinten Broadcast Limited 2005
All rights reserved throughout the world. No part of this document may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, copied
or reproduced in any way including, but not limited to, photocopy, photograph, magnetic or other record without the prior
agreement and permission in writing of
Vinten Broadcast Limited.
Vinten is a registered trademarks of Vinten Broadcast Limited.

3
Safety - read this first
Warning Symbols in this Operators Guide
Where there is a risk of personal injury, injury to others, or damage to the ped-
estal or associated equipment, comments appear, highlighted by the word
WARNING! and supported by the warning triangle symbol.
Warning symbols on the pedestal
On encountering the warning triangle and open book symbols it is imperative
that you consult this operators guide before using this pedestal or attempting
any adjustment or repair.
Critical data
Mass
Column
(including steering ring) 24.5 kg (54 lb)
Trim weights (six off) total 3 kg (6.6lb)
Skid (including kickbar) 21 kg (46.2 lb)
Load
Maximum load 75 kg (165 lb)
Pressure
Maximum pressure 13.8 bar (200 psi) ≤13.8 bar
24.5
kg
<75 kg
21
kg

4
Usage
The Osprey Elite Pedestal is designed for use in television studios and on location to support and
balance a pan and tilt head, camera and ancillary equipment weighing up to 75 kg (165 lb).
The Osprey Elite Pedestal is intended for use by television camera operators.
Further information
For further information or advice regarding this pedestal, please contact Vinten Broadcast Limited,
your local Vinten distributor or visit our website.
For full details on maintenance and spare parts, please refer to the Osprey Elite Pedestal Main-
tenance Manual and Illustrated Parts List - Publication Part No. 3574-9.These are obtainable from
Vinten Broadcast Limited or your local Vinten distributor. For information on-line, visit our website
at
www.vinten.com.
WARNING! If you do not understand how to operate this pedestal, do not
attempt to use it.
Maintenance beyond that detailed in this Operators Guide must
be performed only by competent personnel in accordance with
the procedures laid down in the Maintenance Manual.

5
Contents
Page
Safety - read this first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Critical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Further information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Operation
Assembling the pedestal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Fitting the load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Pressurizing the pedestal
Pressurizing from an external pressure source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Pressurizing the pedestal using the Vinten portable pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Balancing the load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Using the Osprey Elite pedestal
Height adjustment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Brakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Cable guards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Steering tiller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Changing the skid tracking width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Optional wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Transportation and storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Servicing
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Cleaning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Routine checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Adjustments
Skid clamp adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Elimination of radial and side play in the moving column. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Routine maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Parts list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Associated Publications
Osprey Elite Pedestal
Maintenance Manual
Part No. 3574-9

6
Osprey Elite Pedestal
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(25)
(24)
(14)
(19)
(18)
(17)
(13) (12)
(23)
(5)
(20)
(10)
(11)
(15)(16)
(22)
(21)

7
Osprey Elite Pedestal
(1) Four-bolt mounting plate
(2) Pressure gauge
(3) Weight tray
(4) Steering indicator
(5) Moving column
(6) Safety catch
(7) Trim weight
(8) Short strut
(9) Skid clamp
(10) Foot support and strap
(11) Wheel brake foot-button
(12) Cable guard
(13) Kick bar
(14) Outer Tube
(15) Crab/steer changeover foot-button
(16) Cable clamp
(17) Tiller socket
(18) Velcro strap
(19) Long strut
(20) Trim weight stowage
(21) Drag control
(22) On-shot clamp
(23) Removable steering ring
(24) Steering ring mounting plate
(25) Schrader valve and cap

8
Introduction
The Osprey Elite pedestal comprises a central two-stage telescopic column and a steerable, fold-
ing skid assembly. For transport and storage, the steering ring (23) may be removed and the col-
umn and skid separated.
The moving column (5) is pressurized from an external pressure source. Trim weights (7) are pro-
vided for fine balance.
The skid comprises a centre casting with carrying handle, a fixed leg and two folding legs. Each
leg carries twin wheels, with brakes (11) on the folding legs and a tiller socket (17) on the fixed leg.
Two versions of the skid are available. The OB skid has 160mm (6.3in.) wheels. The studio skid
has 125mm (5in.) wheels with cable guards (12). The Vinten heavy-duty tracking skid, designed
for use on 620mm track, may also be used with the Osprey Elite pedestal.

9
Operation
Assembling the pedestal
Turn the skid upside-down, depress the leg locking plungers and swing each folding leg out until
the plungers lock the legs in the fully open position (See Changing the skid tracking width).
Fit the kick bar (13), which is secured by three sliding catches on the underside of the centre cast-
ing.
Set the skid on the ground on its wheels and apply the brakes (11).
Fit the steering ring to the column as follows:
Position the steering ring (23) in the cut-outs of the mounting plate (24).
From the underside of the mounting plate, tighten the three screws using a suitable screw-
driver, coin, or similar tool.
Install the column on the skid as follows:
Ensure that the rubber straps on each foot support (10) are to the outside of the ball joint.
Hold the column upright and release the Velcro retaining strap (18) holding the three struts.
Raise the longer strut (19) to about 30o from horizontal. The strut joint is adjusted to retain
the strut in this position.
Lift the column, holding the two shorter struts (8) out from the column. Align the long strut
with the fixed leg of the skid and carefully lower the column base into the skid centre. En-
sure that the struts engage with the ball joints on each foot support and the steering tube
locates in its socket.
Secure the struts to the supports with the rubber straps (10).
Tighten the skid clamp (9), using moderate hand pressure only. The clamp lever has a
spring-loaded ratchet-type action and is operated as follows:
Turn the clamp lever clockwise as far as possible.
Pull the lever outward against the spring pressure, return it to vertical and release.
Turn lever clockwise again.
Repeat until the skid clamp is sufficiently tightened.
Secure the Velcro retaining strap (18) clear of the skid wheels.
Slide the steering indicator(s) (4) to the desired position (See Steering).

10
Fitting the load
Fit the pan and tilt head and payload before pressurizing the pedestal. The Osprey Elite pedestal
has the standard four-bolt mounting plate (1) which permits the use of various Vinten camera
mounts including pan and tilt heads, Quickfix and Mitchell adapters. The mounting bolts are cap-
tive in the pedestal and the bolt heads are accessible from the underside of the mounting plate
with the column fully depressed and the safety catch engaged. However, installation of the pan
and tilt head is facilitated if the column is extended.
Fit the pan and tilt head and payload as follows:
Ensure pedestal pressure does not exceed 3.5 bar (50 psi). Reduce as necessary, using
the Schrader valve cap (25),
Push down on the steering ring (23) against residual pressure and release the safety catch
(6). Allow the column to extend under hand restraint.
Apply the on-shot clamp (22).
Fit the pan and tilt head and tighten the bolts securely using a flat-bladed screwdriver or a
spanner of the correct size. A Vinten spanner, Part No. J551-001, is available for this pur-
pose.
Set the safety catch slide (6) to ON (I), release the on-shot clamp (22) and lower the moving
column under hand restraint until the safety catch engages.
Fit the camera and accessories to the mounting, ensuring that all items such as pan bars,
prompters, lenses etc, are fitted. Attaching these items at a later stage may upset the ped-
estal balance. Install three trim weights (7) on the weight tray (3).
WARNING! A pressurized pedestal will rise rapidly when safety catch is
released. Do not lean over the pedestal when releasing the
safety catch. Always restrain the pedestal by hand pressure on
the steering ring when the safety catch is released.