Willy Bags
Willy
Bags are
air-inflated bags with or without a tough outside covering.
Where
outside coverings are used, these are laced closed with light rope.
Willy Bags have eyelets which permit them to be tied in place on obstructions such as TV towers, trees, towers, cables, timing eyes, signs and water hydrants.
Willy Bags are usualy inflated by course crew using high-pressure air hydrants associated with snowmaking systems.
Willy bags are used in shipping to secure cargo below decks.
Draft instructions
Using Air Hydrants to Fill Willy Bags
1. Carefully locate a suitable air hydrant and clear a large safe working area. Be aware that if the air hydrant quarter turn ball valve is accidently opened, it is under fairly high air pressure and could cause injury, and will make a sound like a jet taking off.
2. Before connecting cam-lock fitting adapter to hydrant, carefully open air hydrant quarter turn ball valve for a few seconds to blow any ice or debris from air system.
3. Connect cam-lock adapter fitting to air hydrant, ensuring locking wings are in the locked position, then quick couple a hose to the air hydrant adapter, then quick couple a ¼” quarter turn valve to the hose (ensure the valve is in the closed position indicated by handle at right angle to valve), then quick couple the oval shaped willy bag air fill adapter to end of ¼” quarter turn ball valve.
4. Slowly open the air hydrant quarter turn ball valve until fully opened.
5. Test system is pressurized by slowly opening ¼” fill system quarter turn ball valve, letting some air escape. Close ¼” fill system quarter turn ball valve.
6. Connect willy bag air adapter to willy bag, then open valve fully;
7. Fill willy bag to proper inflation: DO NOT OVERFILL, as it is difficult and time consuming to remove air from overfilled willy bags. Normally, fill willy bag with air until when leaning over the willy bag and pushing down hard with both fists at shoulder width near centre of the willy bag, fists will not quite hit the ground or snow. Have Crew Chief check for proper inflation before filling too many.
8. When finished using the air fill system, shut off air pressure at the air hydrant quarter turn ball valve. (Valve handle at 90o to hydrant valve flow)
9. IMPORTANT: Bleed the air pressure off of the willy bag air fill system after closing the air hydrant quarter turn ball valve by opening the ¼” fill system quarter turn ball valve. Do not disconnect any quick couplers until system is bled.
10. When POSITIVE that there is no pressure in the system, open the locking wings on the cam-lock adapter and remove from the air hydrant. NOTE: If there is ANY air pressure left in the air fill system, the adapter will “blow off” with considerable force when the locking wings are opened.
the above are Draft instructions
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