Patent GB-625061-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved winch
IPC: B66D1/28
Filed: 1946-10-17
Abstract: 625,061. Winches. JOHNSON, A. A. Oct. 17, 1946, No. 30918. [Class 78 (v)] A winch, useful for dropping an anchor at the stern of a ship when the latter is beached by its prow, comprises an electric motor 8, Fig. 5, an intermediate shaft 20, and a cable drum 40, an epicyclic train of gears 39, 46, between the intermediate shaft and the drum, a simple train of gears 18, 26, 261, 35 between the shaft and the internal epicyclic ring gear 49, governed by clutch 27, 28 ; and brake means 74 for the ring gear, whereby the drum may be rotated to give either a higher or a lower speed ; the brake means 74 being yieldable when the cable tension exceeds a predetermined limit, its movements causing the motor torque to increase as the strain increases and vice-versa. Intermediate shaft (Fig. 5). The drive from pinion 22 of motor 8 passes to pinion 18 on shaft 14 whence it passes to pinion 211 on shaft 20 through internal teeth 19 and to hollow quill pinion 26 through clutch 28, 27. Drum 40 (Fig. 5). Rotates freely on shaft 30 driven by planet pinions 46 which are journalled in the drum, and which rotate between sun pinion 39 and ring gear 49. Sun pinion 39, fixed on shaft 30, is driven through gears 211, 34 ; ring gear 49 is integral with pinion 35 which is driven through gears 261, 26. When the brake 74 is released the speed of the drum is high ; when the brake is applied the speed of the drum is lowered and clutch part 28 automatically detaches itself. Pressing cable on to drum (Fig. 12). Expanding spring 152 presses rod 151 to the .left and through levers 145, 144, 146 presses rollers 148 on to the cable to smooth it out as it is wound up. Auxiliary rolls (128, 133, 132) Figs. 5, 11. The cable is fed on to the drum between rolls 132, 133 and then between vertical rolls 129, all of which rolls are carried on carriage 125. The carriage moves on guide rods 107 and derives its cross-movement from dog 126 which is integral therewith and travels along the double-cut spiral 127 of spindle 10. This latter is driven backwards and forwards through gearing 123<SP>1</SP>, 123, 121, 120, clutch 116, shaft 110 and gear 129 from pinion 52 on shaft 30. Dog 60, Fig. 10. Operated by the rotation of shaft 61 through the levers 63, 64, which shaft is operated by foot pedal 65. The shaft in turn automatically operates switch 216 through lever 215 engaging cam 217, also fixed on the shaft so that the dog prevents rotation when the motor circuit is open. Clutch 27, 28 (Figs. 1, 2). Clutch part 28 is secured to levers 163 which are made to pivot on shaft 162 by hand lever 166, 167 secured to the shaft In the clutched position the bottom 167 of the handlever is caught by the depressed pedal 168 and at the same time lever 174 of switch 173 is operated. Tension control mechanism (Figs. 6, 7, 9). Brake band 74 is split and to its two ends are respectively fastened brackets 87, 88 and these are connected by two rods 94 each pivoted at 101 and each threaded at 88 into a pinion, both pinions being movable by rotation of shaft 95 by handwheel 97 so as to tighten or slacken the band. Also, attached to the band at an intermediate point is bracket 199 which is connected through levers 200, 201, 203, 204 to rod 205, Fig. 9, the head 207 of which sliding within the sleeve 208 fixed in tube 206 acts as a dash pot and after lost motion passes the movement through the levers 193, 196, 198, 197 to operate the arm 238 of the resistance of the motor. Movement of the brakeband therefore starts the motor and operatively drives the drum which is restored by springs 821, Fig. 7, which are also attached to the band at 75. The position of the arm and therefore the speed of the motor can be varied from handwheel 183, Fig. 1, the movement passing through levers 187, 188, shaft 189, 190, Fig. 6, 191, 192 to shaft 193 on which lever 194 is fixed, the latter thereby displacing the lever 195, &c. since lever 194 is pivcted to lever 195. Operation. The ship is beached at its prow and the anchor attached at the end of the line is run out by the above winch from the stern to hold the ship fast. When a surge of the sea occurs the line is pulled out (the clutch 27, 28 being disengaged) and the brakeband is dragged by an amount depending on the strain. This movement of the band is transmitted through bracket 199 and its associated levers to the starting resistance of the motor, and the motor starts, so permitting the payout of the line. When the surge ceases the opposite movement of the band occurs under the action of the return springs and this movement, through the same lever system, reverses the motor and heaves in the line. Again, the ship is pulled off a beach by a slow tug on the anchor and this is accomplished by starting the motor with its brakeband released and clutch 27, 28 engaged. When the ship has been pulled off the beach and the anchor is freed from the sea bottom, the line and anchor are pulled in quickly. This is accomplished by re-applying the brakeband so that the drive to the drum passes through only the one set of pinions 211, 34, 39 and clutch part 28 is automatically flung off to break the drive through gears 26, 26<SP>1</SP>, 35. The various switches are included in the appropriate circuit. Manual control (Fig. 15). Handle 270 may be operated to cause the motor to either pay in or pay-out the cable on the drum, the automatic control thus being cut out.