AU684362B2

AU684362B2 - Windlass

Info

Publication number: AU684362B2
Application number: AU22573/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ewald Ettrich; Peter Hase
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-04-19
Filing date: 1995-04-04
Publication date: 1997-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-04
Also published as: EP0756575B1; EP0756575A1; WO1995028349A1; AU2257395A; EP0685423A1; NZ284073A; DE59501336D1

Description

WINDLASS

The invention sets out from a device for the retention and tautening of ropes, lines or cables, more particu- LarLy in sheet windlasses, halyard windlasses or anchor windlasses, in tackles or pulley blocks with the aid of rigidly or gearingly interconnected conical disks, which are power operable or manually operable by means of a crank or a tackle line and which possess a surface profile outline that produces an adequate gripping or retention force with only one winding coil of the tautening or traction means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such a device is known from the DE 26 02 629 C3 and the DE 25 52 436 C2. In these windlass models, the tautening or traction means, viz. ropes or cables or lines, are retained by means of inherent friction between the conical disks or by means of the tautening means being arrested in order to ensure an adequate frictional force also when substantial strains are involved, with a multiple coiling or winding about the drum, as is the case in the DE 27 40 090 C2, Also other devices for the retention, tautening or slackening of ropes possessing an infinite or a medium Length without a coiling of the rope around a drum are known, in which provision is made for making possible means for the tautening of the rope in both directions of movement independently of its length. For this, a roll with a groove is provided, in which the rope is automatically urged through movable jaws, with the rsult that it becomes possible to tauten or slacken any lengths of the rope. These jaws impede a speedy shifting of the tautening means, though, in addition, the forces which I Irr 2 can be expended with the aid of a jaw do not always suffice for the rope being adequately arrested in the tautening means. Moreover, owing to the relatively powerful tensile forces acting upon the tautening means, the jaw is also exposed to substantial tensile forces.

Over and above that, all profile outline configurations known up to now are subject to the disadvantage that they are based upon the principle of friction and that, in the event of a coiling, they do not grip reliably and additional friction-augmenting coilings are necessary, which disadvantageously increase the overall height of the windlasses, as is the case in the DE 27 40 090 C2, or that they produce a very high degree of wear on the surface of the rope, as is the case in the profile outlines depicted in the DE-GM 75 00 571.

The technical problem of the present invention is to improve the device stated in the beginning to the effect that the secure clamping effect of the conical disks is achieved on a rope placed in position solely with one coil winding without that, even in the case where loads of 10KN ormore are involved, a wearing or destructive effect on the rope takes place, that the placing in position of the tautening or traction means is made possible with only one hand and in a locking manner without the risk of resulting overruns so that, in the subsequent manual tautening operation with the aid of a crank or a tackle line, both hands are free, that the slackening (veering) can take place expeditiously and with one hand, that the hauling and veering while subject to a great load by means of a force-intensifying thread is made possible and that it is possible to significantly reduce (by up to 50%) both the weigh tand the overall height.

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PI':\WDOCS\MAP\SIPECI\614529.I1)[ 27/8/97 -3- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for the tautening and retention of a rope, cable or line, more particularly a sheet, halyard or anchor windlass, in a tackle or pulley block with the aid of rigidly or gearingly interconnected conical drum disks, which are power-operably or manually drivable by means of a crank or a tackle line and which each possess a profile outline, wherein the profile outlines are comprised of substantially radially extending waves which are configured so as to be straight or curved, with a retention force being exerted upon the rope, the cable or the line by the conical drum disks by means of said profile outlines, which are also designed so as to minimise wear on the rope, cable or line or so that a plaited sheathing thereof is not overstrained or worn, characterised in that an ogival radius r of each profile outline, within a contact diameter, is larger than 1.5mm and smaller than 3mm and in that a flank angle (alpha) of the profile outline is constructed so as to be steeper than the flank angle (beta) on the opposite side of the profile outline.

As such, the profile outlines of the conical disks constructed or configured in such a way that the gripping or retaining forces are primarily generated by a positively locking contact and not, as is the case in the types known up till now, by frictional contact. In this case the surface profile outlines are configured in such a way that, when the lines 20 engage, the same is produced by means of the conically inwardly narrowed waves, a r longitudinal compression of the line and, with it, an increase in volume takes place. By offsetting the upper wave profile contour in relation to the lower profile contour, the entire volume increase of the line may be pressed into the opposite wave trough. The wave is preferably constructed in such a way that the profile ou.dine flank, in the direction of traction, is steeper than in the unwinding direction so as to prevent the rope from being pulled through. On the other hand, the steepness of the pulling wave flank and the configuration of the wave chamber or shoulder is preferably such that 1o notch effect occurs which would damage the rope or its sheathing. Hereby a considerable improvement in the clamping effect in comparison with the prior art may be achieved RA which is devoid of a rope-destroying wearing action. In this connection it has to be noted /gQ that use of the word waves, is intended to include webs, ribs or the like.

~4BPIPld P:\VI'I)OCS\MPSpAPI1EC[\I4S29.DII .2718M -4- In order to additionally increase the clamping effect by means of an inwardly directed component, the profile outline may be adjusted or set so as to be curved or straight in the direction of traction.

An arm, a pin or a roll is preferably provided to ensure the coiling possessing a longitudinal axis located parallel to the exis of rotation of the drum, which are mounted on the base upon which the rope drum or the conical disks are rotatably disposed, preferably prevents an inadvertent pulling on the loose line or sheet end, whereby the traction means would be pulled out from the clamping groove. Furthermore, this directing or guiding pin or this roll serve to ensure a minimal coiling on the drum or the groove of the conical disks.

This roll is preferably disposed on a lever which is movable in a radial direction and retained by a spring.

It may also be useful in this connection to arrange this pin rotatingly in the direction of traction so as to be springable in the direction of coiling so as, on the one hand, to achieve an as maximal as possible coiling and, on the other hand, by returning the pin against the spring pressure, to reduce the coiling and to thereby make the slackening 20 (veering) of the tautening means possible.

o If a stripper is mounted on the base likewise parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, it will be possible to effectively prevent so-called overrunners, which are given rise to when, by the rotation of the drum, the free or loose end of the line is drawn underneath the hauling (tautened) line and is thus caught. By preference, the pin or the roll as well as the stripper are spaced away from the longitudinal axis of the drum at approximately equal distances. They may also be combined so as to form one element.

According to a further construction of the invention, the stripper may possess a fingerlike or wedge-shaped arm projecting into the keyway between the conical disks, but I spaced a distance apart from the latter.

P II~I lgl IC- I' W'IC S MAI".Sql'l.II14S29.il- 278/97 The distance from the bottom or base should correspond maximally to the thickness of the rope or cable to be tautened. With this a precaution is taken against a multiple coiling about the drum and dangerous overrunners are prevented by this.

Over and above that the device may be provided with a reducing gear unit with a taper disk brake mechanism fitted in front of the same as well as with a disengageable ratchet clutch for the direct drive of the rope drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment example of the invention is illustrated in the drawings. Thus Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device according the invention with an inserted rope; Figure la shows a view from the direction of traction of the rope; SV Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the device according to Figure 1; Figures 3, 3a and 3b show three different views with alternative profile outline types of an upper and a lower conical disk with the offset profile outlines; Figures 4a to 4c show three different views of a bottom conical disk with alternative profile outline configurations; W, 6 ft LII ~L _qhl II lg~Bri~C~LIi~lRurssllsssra~-a~- ill~ 6 F i g. 5 Figs. 6a to 6c Fi g 7 shows, in a purely schematic view, a/further profile outline configuration; show, in schematic sectioned depictions, the profile outline configuration at the Points Pl

P

2 and P 3 in Fig. shows a sectioned view of a further embodiment of the device; F i g. 8 shows a detail illustration of Fig. 7; Figs. 9 to 12 F i g.13 show sectioned illustrations along the Lines of intersection A-A, B-B and C-C in Fig.7, and shows, in two views, an employment according to the invention in the long tackle block of a main sheet tackle with a pinch roll 201 according to the invention and a springable coiling pin 202.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The windlass 100 depicted in Fig.1 is generally known from the DE 26 02 629 C3. On a base 10, a rotatable drum 11 comprised of two rotatably supported conical disks 111, 112 is known, into whose groove a rope 110 is insertable.

The drum 11 is provided with a driving head 12 having a recess 13, into which a ratchet crank not shown in the drawing can be inserted.

If the ratchet crank is rotated in the direction of the arrow 14, the drum 11 is moved along by means of pertinently provided carrier elements, whereas, in the direction opposite to the depicted direction of rotation, the drum is arrested. Preferably it is also possible to make use of a locking or ratchet gear, which, in dependence of the rotation of the crank, unblocks the desired I 7 direction of rotation, but which, when the crank is released, blocks the opposite direction and vice versa.

On the base 10, parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum 11 and at a slight distance from the keyway of the conical disks, an arm, a roller or a pin 15 as well as a stripper 16 are mounted. The latter possesses a wedgeshaped projection 17, which juts into the keyway 18 between the conical disks 111 and 112, but which is spaced away from the keyway bottom 18a. This distance should be smaller than the thickness of the rope or cable 110 that is to be tautened.

As becomes apparent from Fig.2, the drum 11 is comprised of an upper conical disk 111 and a bottom conical disk 112, said disks being centered by a bushing 113, which, at the same time, by means of a change in its height, makes an adjustment to differing rope diameters possible and which are connected by means of screws 19 and, relative to the base 10, are disposed in a rotatable manner.

The rotatable support is known from the state of the art so that no need exists of having to deal with it in detail here. In Fig.2, for the sake of a clear illustration, the coiling pin 15 is depicted so as to be offset in the plane of the drawing.

The upper conical disk 111 depicted in the Figs. 3a c possesses, on its internal side 111a, a straight or curved profile outline that is comprised of radially proceeding waves. Their pitch t corresponds approximately to half up to one rope thickness and the contouring of the same is offset in relation to the bottom conical disk 112 by 1/2 t.

The progressions of the profile outline are inwardly directed, Like 111a, c, d in such a way that the pitches

I

8 of the upper ones relative to the ones at the bottom are offset in relation to each other by 1/2 t. The angle alpha of the profile outlines of the conical disks can be adapted to the type of rope in question.

Four screws 19 serve for the attachment which, through the bores 10 of the bushing 113, are screwed into pertinently threaded packet bores 22.

In the course of their progressions, the profile contours 111 and 112 a,c,d undergo a change in their cross sections, as is illustrated in the Figs. 3d and 3c. The waves which constitute the contouring possess, at the beginning, a distance t which, contingent upon the circumference, increases to a distance T within the region of the edge 111b.

The bottom conical disk 112 illustrated in Figs. 4a c is provided with bores 23 for the screws 19 to be passed through, moreover, just like the upper conical disk 111, acentral bore 24 to 25 for accommodating the driving head 12 or a hollow shaft in order to ensure the rotatability of the drum 11 relative to the base The profile outlines 112a,c,d of the bottom conical disk corresponds with regard to the progression of the profile outlines and the alignment to the contour.ing 111a, c,d on the condition that it proceeds in an opposite direction in the case of windlasses operating in a twosided fashion. This means that, when two 6isks 111 and 112 are placed on top of each other, the profile outline on the bottom disk proceeds in a left-hand course anf the profile outline on the upper disk in a righthand couse. By means of the profile outline 111a,c,d or 112a,c, on the one hand, a guidance of the rope relative to the keyway bottom or base 18a is ensured in the

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9 direction of rotation, while the profile outline directed in the opposite direction on the oppositely located side intensifies the frictional effect of the inserted tautening means. on this occasion the direction of traction is identified with Z. The groove bottom 18a is made up by a cylindrical bushing which centers both conical disks and with its aid the distance adjustment for different rope thicknesses is effected.

The profile outline depicted in the Figs. 5 and 6a c is depicted in such a fashion that the retention force of the conical drums is brought about by means of a formfitting profile outline which, on the one hand, is configured in such a way that it produces the requisite retention force and, on the other hand, that the ropes, cables or lines do not become worn or that a plaited sheathing is overstrained or torn.

The construction of the profile outline is in this case such as can be gathered from the Figs. 6a through 6c.

The base radius R of the drum profile outlines within the pertinent contact radius of the rope, cable or line is configured so as to correspond to the radius of the rope, cable or line or smaller than the same. The radius of the ogive of the profile outline is, in this case, within the contact radius, larger than 1.5mm and smaller than 3mm (1.5mm-' r 3mm).

The angle of incidence of the profile outline opposed to the direction of traction, depending on the case of application, ranged from 350 through 450 and the center line M of the profile outline proceeds through the center of the drum or is tangent to a circle of the diameter d, which is smaller than the external diameter D of the drum.

10 Provision is preferably made for the profile outline of the upper conical disk to proceed in the o)posit i.e.

the mirror-inverted, direction of the profile outline of the bottom conical disk.

Provision is also made for the height H of the profile outline to be at Least 2mm and maximally 3mm and for the flank angle alpha of the profile outline, in the direction of traction, to be constructed in such a way as to be steeper than on the opposite side (flank angle beta) of the profile outline. The top side of the profile outline is provided with a wear-reducing hard layer.

In the Figs. 7 through 12, the windlass 200 is illustrated in the form of a further embodiment. A bearing flange 32 is screwed on to a base 31. The bottom drum portion 33 is rotatably supported thereupon, which is connected to the the upper drum portion 34 with the aid of screws The drive of the windlass drum can, if a rotating crank is involved, be connected direct with the drum via the crank receptacle 36 and the latching ratchets 37 (Section In this case the annular detent brake comprising conical brake surface 36a, brake Latching disk 39 and gear shaft 38 is opened so that the ratchets (Section B-B) are able to grip the same it is true, but that the detent brake ring 39 is able to rotate freely.

The gear ratchets 42 are unable to grip or clamp, the gear shaft 36 spins freely in the central pinion gear 43.

The planetary gear comprised of central pinion gear 43, intermediate wheels 44, planet wheels 45 driven by the drum gearing 33a, passes the direct coupling and merely spins. If the force of traction in the rope increases to sucn an extent that the 1:1 drive no longer suffices and the crank movement ceases, then the drum is II DIY~I~TrVI(T~QC- I~ 11 pulled back by the traction rope so far until the gearing ratchets 42 engage into the central Pinion gear 43. The central pinion gear is coupled to the gear shaft 36 which now turns with its left-hand thread 38a into the crank receptacle 36 and seizes the detent brake ring 39 and entrains the same in an anticlockwise rotation until the ratchets 40 engage into the detent brake ring 39. The windlass is blocked thereby and the force of traction is retained. If the drive crank and, with it, the crank receptacle are turned around to the left, the ratchets 37 are unable to be effective, the lefthand thread of the crank receptacle 36 clamps the brake force disk 39 against the thread of the drive shaft, whose ratchets 40 skip when continuing to turn to the left, the ratchets 42 become effective so that the planetary gear is able to enter into action, the rope drum 33, by means of its internal gearing 33a, is rotated further clockwise in a reduced drive with increased force.

On the top portion 34 of the drum, supported in the same, a switching disk 46 possessing a readily gripped profile outline 46a and a detent or stop pin 47 is -cated.

Pressed into the switching disk i3 a switching ring 48 with catch grooves 48a and ratchet windows 48b. In the top portion 34 of the drum a stop pocket 49 is to be found which, by means of the stop pin 47, restricts the switching movement of the switching disk 46. likewise in the top portion of the drum, in a recess 50, a spherical latching element 51 is located which engages lockingly into the catch grooves 48a of the switching ring 48 and retains the switching disk in the set position.

~r rba--- IIP"CI~ 12 It is the object of the switching aisk lift the ratchets 37 out of their effective position by means of a left-hand rotation and to thereby achieve that the operation is executed in the reduced gear drive only. Thereby, by virtue of the described conical disk braking mechanism, the forward and the rearward operation of the windlass is made possible which allows a tautening (hauling) and a slackening (veering) of the line to be performed in small dos s as it were. In this case, the tautening of the lines is effected in the manner described in the foregoing. When slackening, the switching disk 46 is, in actuated operation, first of all rotated to the left up to the stop of tne stop pin 47 and the ratchets 37 are thereby rendered inoperative by the switching ring 48. The drum is braked in the aforedescribed fashion. If a veering is now intended, then the drive crank is rotated to the right, whereby the brake is raised by the cancellation of the clamping effect between crank receptacle and drve shaft 38 and the annular detent brake 39 is disengaged.

In Fig.13, in order to illustrate an application case of the invention, a long tackle block 200 is depicted in a side view and in a section, in which case the pich roll is identified with 201 and the coiling pin with 202.

c I 13 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS windlass rope,cable conical disks bushings base drums driving members recess arrow stripper projection keyway keyway bottom screws bores threaded pocket bores bores basic radius flank angles radius of ogive center line external diameter height base bearing flange drum bottom portion drum gearing drum top portion screws crank receptacle conical brake surface 100,200 110 111,112 113 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 18i 19 22 23,24,25

R

alpha, beta r

M

D

H

31 32 33 33a 34 36 36a i aMEMENOW 14 drum ratchets 37 gear shaft 38 Left-hand thread 38a annular detent brake 39 brake ratchets gear ratchets 42 central pinion gear 43 intermediate wheels 44 planet wheels switching disk 46 profile outline 46a stop pin 47 switching ring 48 latching grooves 48a ratchet windows 48b stop pocket 49 recess spherical latching element 51 long tackle block 200 pinching roll 201 coiling pin 202

I

Claims

1. Device for the tautening and retention of a rope, cable or line, more particularly a sheet, halyard or anchor windlass, in a tackle or pulley block with the aid of rigidly or gearingly interconnected conical drum disks, which are power-operably or manually drivable by means of a crank or a tackle line and which each possess a profile outline, wherein the profile outlines are comprised of substantially radially extending waves which are configured so as to be straight or curved, with a retention force being exerted upon the rope, the cable or the line by the conical drum disks by means of said profile outlines, which are also designed so as to minimise wear on the rope, cable or line or so Sthat a plaited sheathing thereof is not overstrained or worn, characterised in that an ogival radius r of each profile outline, within a contact diameter, is larger than 1.5mm and smaller than 3mm and in that a flank angle (alpha) of the profile outline is constructed so as to be steeper than the flank angle (beta) on the opposite side of the profile outline.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that a basic radius R of the profile outlines, of the drums, within the pertinent contact radius of the rope, cable, or line, corresponds to the radius of the latter or is smaller than the same. 20 3. Device according to either Claim 1 ro 2, characterised in that the angle of incidence of the profile outline against the direction of traction, depending upon the respective case of application, ranges from 350 through 450.

4. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 3, characterised in that the run-off angle (beta) of the profile outline ranges from 350 through Device according to any of Claims 1 through 4, characterised in that a center line of the profile outline proceeds through the center of the drum or is tangent to a circle of the drum. lir I' WI'1)( 'S'MAI".N'I'lif 1529.)11 27/r97 -16-

6. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 5, characterised in that the profile outline of the top conical disk proceeds in the opposite, i.e. the mirror-inverted direction in comparison with the profile outline of the bottom conical disk.

7. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 6, characterised in that the height of the profile outline is at least 2mm and maximally 3mm.

8. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 7, characterised in that the surface of the profile outline is provided with a wear-reducing hard layer.

9. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 8, characterised in that the wave contouring of the top disk, in comparison with the wave contouring of the bottom disk, is offset by 2 pitch. 15 10. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 9, characterised in that the profile outline of the top conical disk is constructed so as to proceed in the opposite direction than the profile outline of the bottom disk does. I11. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 10, charactei ised in that the 20 adjustment of the clamping effect upon the diameter of the traction means is effected by :changing the height of the bushing.

12. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 11, characterised in that, at a distance from the drum formed by the conical disks, with a longitudinal axis parallel hereto, an arm, pin or a springable roll is disposed.

13. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 12, characterised in that, at a distance from the drum formed by the conical disks, with a longitudinal axis parallel hereto, a stripper is provided. II. I I ,WI'IO)(S\M AI'.SPIiCI\l61429.D)If 27/V97 -17-

14. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 13, characterised in that the roll is rotatingly disposed so as to be springable in the rope coiling direction. Device according to either Claim 12 or 14, characterised in that the stripper is disposed in the proximity of the pin of the roll, by preference approximately equidistantly from the longitudinal axis of the drum.

16. Device according to any of Claims 12 through 15, characterised in that the stripper and the pin constitute a unit.

17. Device according to any of Claims 12 through 16, characterised in that the "stripper possesses a wedge-shaped or finger-shaped projection which juts into the keyway between the conical disks, but spaced away from the latter.

18. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 17, characterised in that the distance to the groove bottom corresponds maximally to the thickness of the rope or cable to be tautened.

19. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 18, characterised in that, outside the 20 conical disks, a radially springable lever supported in the base is disposed so as to serve as roll carrier or support. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 19, characterised in that, on the lever, a roll supported in a friction bearing or in a ball bearing or in a roller bearing is located, which ensures the coiled winding of the rope and offers the least resistance to the line passing through. I I -P '"32!1 I WI'I)O~)'S\MA SPll'(I l614i 29.DI -27/8/97 -18-

21. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 20, characterised in that, outside the conical disks, a shock-mounted axle supported eccentrically to the center of the windlass is mounted, which is constructed in such a way that the roll running thereupon, by means of the run-off line being pulled, is able to move out of the way against the direction of the coil winding and that the winding of the coil is reduced to such an extent that the rope, cable or line is able to slide off over the profile outline.

22. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 21, characterised in that the gear dome is comprised of a driven threaded sleeve, a locking or clamping ring and a clamping spindle, wherein the threaded sleeve and the clamping spindle are provided with a left-hand thread when the windlass is left-handedly operated or vice versa. .23. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 22, characterised in that the locking S: ring, in the form of a ratchet wheel, allows only on direction of rotation. 0

24. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 23, characterised in that the clamping or locking angle of taper of the threaded clamping sleeve, locking ring and clamping spindle is geared to the friction angles of the material. 20 25. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 24, characterised in that the threaded pitch of the clamping spindle and the threaded sleeve is selected in such a way that it generates the requisite frictional force on the detent brake ring for teaining the load.

26. Device according to any of Claims 1 through 25, characterised in that, with the aid of a switching ring, the ratchets for the direct drive of the drum can be connected. i IPI 1118~ I' 'S MAI'.SI'ICI ,14~29.DII -27/8/9 -19-

27. Device for the tautening and retention of a rope, cable or line, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 27th day of August 1997 ANKE HASE By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE I e'e e• 9 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Device for tautening ropes, cables or wires. In order to improve a device for the gripping and tau- tening of ropes, cables or wires, more particularly in sheet, halyard or anchor windlasses, in tackles or puLLey Lifting tackles with the aid of rigidly or qgaringly interconnected conical disks (111,112) which are power-operable or can be operated manually by means of a crank or a tackle line and which possess a surface profile outline and having only one coil wound around the traction means, in such a way that the secure clam- ping effect of the conical disks on a rope placed in position with a sole coil winding is achieved without any wear or rupture occurring on the traction means, that the application and the slackening (veering) is facilitated and that, moreover, the improvement with regard to both directions of rotation acts independently of the direction, it is proposed that the surface profile outline (111a, b, c, 112a, b, c) be comprised of radially inwardly directed waves of the described construction, which are configured so as to be either straight or curved. Fig. 1 I