Patent ID: 8517348
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: B66D

Abstract:
1. A compact windlass for exerting a force upon a load along a selected direction of force, the windlass comprising: a drum extending along a longitudinal axis of rotation and having a peripheral surface for rotation about the longitudinal axis of rotation, the drum including a cylindrical member having an exterior and an interior, the peripheral surface extending along the exterior; a line engaged with the peripheral surface of the drum and extending in a line spooling direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation for being spooled onto the drum in response to rotation of the drum in a spooling direction of rotation, and off of the drum in response to rotation of the drum in an unspooling direction of rotation; a drive mechanism coupled with the drum for rotating the drum selectively in either one of the spooling and unspooling directions of rotation, the drive mechanism including a motor and a gear drive, the motor and the gear drive of the drive mechanism being placed substantially entirely within the interior of the drum; a frame, the drive mechanism being mounted upon the frame and integrated with the cylindrical member of the drum for rotation of the drum, the cylindrical member and the drive mechanism as a unit relative to and within the frame, thereby providing a compact arrangement of the drum and the drive mechanism within the frame; a carriage located closely adjacent the drum and coupled with the drive mechanism for movement in spooling and unspooling directions extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of rotation, in synchronism with rotation of the drum in respective spooling and unspooling directions of rotation, the carriage being engaged with the line at a line engagement location placed in close juxtaposition with the peripheral surface of the drum, along a line path of travel extending from the engagement location along the line spooling direction to alignment with a load path extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of rotation and spaced from the drum in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of rotation for directing the line between the line spooling direction and the selected direction of force substantially aligned with the load path to exert a force upon the load along the load path, in the selected direction of force as the line is spooled onto and off of the drum; a passage in the carriage for receiving the line from the line engagement location, directing the line along the line spooling direction, and further directing the line along the selected direction of force; a lead screw coupled with the drive mechanism for rotation about a further axis of rotation, the carriage being coupled with the lead screw for movement in the spooling and unspooling directions in response to corresponding rotation of the lead screw about the further axis of rotation, the carriage extending in a direction transverse to the further axis of rotation, between the further axis of rotation and the drum, and the load path being placed between the further axis of rotation and the drum; and a guideway having a channel extending substantially parallel to the further axis of rotation, the channel extending along substantially the entire length of the peripheral surface of the drum, the further axis of rotation being located within the channel, the carriage being engaged within the channel for sliding movement along the guideway in the spooling and unspooling directions, while being constrained by the channel against rotation about the further axis of rotation such that the line is confined substantially to the line spooling direction as the line is moved to and from the peripheral surface of the drum throughout movement of the carriage in the spooling and unspooling directions, thereby assuring smooth operation and promoting a balanced operation while maintaining compact dimensions.