EP0391805A1 - Self-tailing winch with articulated teeth - Google Patents

Abstract

The self-clamping winch with articulated teeth comprises a fixed support (2) forming a base, a drum (1) mounted rotatably on the fixed support (2), a vertical shaft (14) for rotationally driving the drum (1) connected to the latter via a transmission with a reduction gear train, and means for automatically gripping a cable or cord (45) wound around the winch, which gripping means are mounted in the upper part (29) of a drum (1) in order to form a self-clamping head for the cord (45). The means for automatically gripping a cable or cord comprise a plurality of articulated teeth (30a to 30e) distributed at the lower part of a block (31) which surmounts the drum (1) and is rotationally integral with the latter, and springs (33a to 33e) mounted in the said block (31) in order to exert individually a downward pressure on each of the articulated teeth (30a, 30e) which themselves individually exert a pressure on the cord (45) in order to nip the latter on the upper end (29) of the drum (1), which enables the same winch to operate efficiently with cords of a different type and cross-section. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a self-holding capstan with articulated teeth comprising a fixed support forming a base, a drum mounted so as to be able to rotate on the fixed support, a vertical shaft for driving the drum in rotation, connected to the latter by the by means of a reduction gear train transmission, and means for automatically clamping a cable or cord wound on the capstan, which clamping means are mounted on the upper part of the drum to form a self-winding head. rope maintenance.

Self-retaining capstans are also known, also called "self-tailing" type winches, used in particular on sailboats, and making it possible to keep a cable or rope taut while it is wound on the capstan drum. . Such capstans allow the user to exercise a maneuver with one hand.

Self-supporting capstans often include a notched V-grooved pulley at the top of the drum. Such a type of capstan is however only suitable for a given cable diameter or for a given type of fiber. Consequently, it is necessary, in particular on a sailboat, to have a large number of capstans of different sizes adapted to the different ropes used on the boat (halyards, sheets ...).

In addition, the known capstans are often inconvenient to handle due to insufficient reduction in the drive kinematics of the capstan. In other cases, the manufacturing and maintenance costs are too high when the kinematics are complex.

In addition, the safety of use of a capstan on a boat is often limited, in particular because the rotating head is liable, by its rotation, to cause accidents.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and in particular to allow a large number of different cables or ropes to pass over the same type of capstan so to reduce, in particular on a boat, the number of capstans required.

The invention thus relates to a capstan provided with an automatic head ensuring the self-maintenance of a rope and allowing the use without particular adjustment of a large variety of ropes having diameters of rope varying from simple to double or comprising fibers of a different nature conferring different stiffnesses.

Another subject of the invention is a capstan, the manufacture and use of which are improved by means of kinematics ensuring a large reduction in a small volume, this kinematics being able to be produced in a standardized modular form applicable to different sizes of capstans, which further contributes to reducing manufacturing costs.

The present invention also aims to improve the operation and the safety of use of the capstans.

These aims are achieved by means of a self-holding capstan of the type defined at the head of the description, characterized in that the means for automatically tightening a cable or cord comprises several articulated teeth distributed at the bottom of a block which overcomes the drum and is integral with it in rotation, and springs mounted in said block to individually exert a downward pressure on each of the articulated teeth which themselves exert a pressure on the rope to pinch it on the upper end of the drum.

The support block of the clamping means has in its lower part a cylindrical portion whose diameter is substantially equal to that of the drive zone of the drum, and the drive teeth are guided laterally in slots made in the block.

The number of drive teeth can be between 4 and 8.

Advantageously, the end of the drive teeth is made narrower by an oblique chamfer defining a pressure edge.

The drive teeth are arranged in the block so as to define a polygon and have pressure edges arranged tangentially to a circle whose diameter is substantially smaller than that of the winding zone of the drum.

The drive teeth are articulated in their lower rear part around horizontal axes trapped in a groove formed in the upper part of the drum.

According to a particular aspect of the present invention, the capstan comprises a fixed casing mounted on the fixed support and enveloping the head of the capstan so as to provide protection for the rotating parts thereof, and a guide for passing the rope from the drum to the self-holding head is fixed to said fixed casing.

The capstan includes an ejector mounted on the casing or the guide retaining pin and arranged above the end of the drum so as to prevent the rope from continuing to rotate in the self-retaining head after an angle of predetermined rotation.

The ejector is mounted at a level immediately below that of the articulated drive teeth.

Advantageously, the ejector is mounted below the drive teeth at a level such that it constitutes a cam slightly lifting each tooth as it passes over the ejector, so as to exert a positive control for loosening of rope training.

Preferably, in the capstan according to the invention, the reduction gear train transmission comprises a planetary reduction gear comprising a central pinion integral with the input shaft, a bell-shaped planetary gear comprising a toothed crown and a pinion of output, a set of satellites cooperating with the crown and rotating around axes fixed on a planet carrier whose reverse rotation is made impossible by a set of pawls, a toothed crown formed at the bottom of the drum, at least two pinions diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft and cooperating with the output pinion and the crown toothed, and a set of pawls which make integral, in the opposite direction of the rotation of the drum, the shaft with the planetary.

The entire transmission, with the exception of the diametrically opposite pinions and the toothed ring secured to the drum, constitutes a modular assembly independent of the size of the capstan mounted on the input shaft and introduced from below at the inside of the support closed at its lower part by a removable plate.

• - la figure 1 montre une vue générale en élévation d'un cabestan à auto-maintien selon l'invention, avec une demi-coupe axiale de l'ensemble et une coupe partielle de la partie inférieure montrant une partie de la cinématique,
• - la figure 2 est une vue en élévation selon la flèche F de la figure 1,
• - la figure 3 est une section selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2, montrant les dents articulées de la tête d'auto-­maintien du cabestan selon l'invention,
• - la figure 4 est une coupe locale à travers la tête d'auto-maintien selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3, le capot de protection de la tête étant enlevé,
• - la figure 5 est une section selon la ligne V-V de la figure 4 montrant la forme chanfreinée de l'extrémité d'une dent articulée,
• - la figure 6 est une vue en coupe du cabestan de la figure 2, sans capot, prise selon la ligne VI-VI de cette figure 2, l'éjecteur étant en place,
• - la figure 7 est une section d'une dent articulée et de l'éjecteur selon la ligne VII-VII de la figure 6, montrant un éjecteur de câble jouant également le rôle de came d'écartement vis-à-vis des dents articulées,
• - la figure 8 est une coupe selon la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 1 montrant une partie de l'ensemble modulaire de trans­mission,
• - la figure 9 est une section selon la ligne IX-IX de la figure 1, le socle du cabestan étant ôté, et
• - la figure 10 est une coupe selon la ligne X-X de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 shows a general elevation view of a self-holding capstan according to the invention, with an axial half-section of the assembly and a partial section of the lower part showing part of the kinematics,
• FIG. 2 is an elevation view along the arrow F in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a section along line III-III of FIG. 2, showing the articulated teeth of the self-retaining head of the capstan according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is a local section through the self-retaining head along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, the protective cover of the head being removed,
• FIG. 5 is a section along line VV of FIG. 4 showing the chamfered shape of the end of an articulated tooth,
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the capstan of FIG. 2, without cover, taken along line VI-VI of this FIG. 2, the ejector being in place,
• - Figure 7 is a section of an articulated tooth and the ejector along line VII-VII of Figure 6, showing a cable ejector also playing the role of spacer cam vis-à-vis the articulated teeth ,
• FIG. 8 is a section along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1 showing part of the modular transmission assembly,
• FIG. 9 is a section along line IX-IX of FIG. 1, the base of the capstan being removed, and
• - Figure 10 is a section along line XX of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a general view with partial section of the invention.

The capstan comprises a drum 1 rotating around a base 2 by means of a roller bearing 3 which can be single or double stage. A plastic washer 4 which could be replaced by a needle or ball stop of a known type allows the drum 1 to rest on the base 2 with a minimum of friction.

The drum 1 is driven in rotation by means of a toothed crown 5 actuated itself by means of two distance pinions 6 placed symmetrically on either side of the axis of symmetry 7 of the capstan. The two pinions 6 rotate around axes 8 fixed on one side in the base 2 and on the other in a base casing 9 forming part of the base 2.

The pinions 6 receive their movement from an output pinion 10 of the reducer. The pinion 10 is itself secured to a toothed ring 11 of a planetary 24 in the shape of a bell. The sun gear 24 is driven by three satellite pinions 12a to 12c regularly distributed around the axis 7 (Figure 8). The satellites 12a to 12c mesh on a central pinion 13 secured to a vertical input shaft 14 driven by a crank or possibly by an electric or hydraulic motor.

The three satellites 12a to 12c rotate around three axes 15a to 15c, themselves fixed in a planet carrier 16.

The planet carrier 16 rotates on the lower end 17 of the axis 21 of the reduction gear. It has at its periphery teeth 18 on which spring pawls 19a, 19b of a known type are supported, fixed in the fixed casing 9 (FIG. 10).

These pawls 19a, 19b oppose the rotation of the planet carrier 16 clockwise (looking at the capstan from top to bottom).

The assembly of the planetary reduction gear thus formed rotates concentrically about the axis 21, guided in rotation on a roller bearing 20 or another bearing of a known type.

The axis 21 includes a ring gear 22 on which spring pawls 23a, 23b are fixed fixed in the body of the sun gear 24 (FIG. 9).

These pawls 23a, 23b make the axis 21 and the sun gear 24 integral in rotation when the axis 21 is driven anticlockwise. The axis 21 and the input shaft 14 are secured by a pin 26. A roller bearing 25 or other bearing of a known type ensures the rotation guide of the axis 21 in the base 2.

• a) Quand l'arbre d'entrée 14 est entraîné dans le sens anti-horaire, le pignon de sortie 10 du réducteur est entraîné directement sous l'action des cliquets 23a, 23b et de la possibi­lité de rotation libre dans ce sens du porte-satellite 16. Le rapport de réduction ainsi obtenu est égal au quotient du nombre de dents de la couronne 5 par celui du pignon 10.
• b) Quand l'arbre d'entrée 14 est entraîné dans le sens horaire, les cliquets 23a, 23b sont débrayés, le pignon 13 entraîne la couronne 11 du planétaire 24 en sens inverse par l'intermédiaire des pignons satellites 12a à 12c. Dans ce cas en effet, les cliquets 19 s'opposent à la rotation du porte-satellite 16.

The epicyclic reduction gear thus formed allows, thanks to the pawls 19a, 19b and 23a, 23b, to obtain two different reduction ratios depending on whether the axis 14 is driven in one direction or the other:

• a) When the input shaft 14 is driven anti-clockwise, the output pinion 10 of the reduction gear is directly driven by the action of the pawls 23a, 23b and the possibility of free rotation in this direction of the door -satellite 16. The reduction ratio thus obtained is equal to the quotient of the number of teeth of the crown 5 by that of the pinion 10.
• b) When the input shaft 14 is driven clockwise, the pawls 23a, 23b are disengaged, the pinion 13 drives the ring gear 11 of the sun gear 24 in the opposite direction via the satellite pinions 12a to 12c. In this case, in fact, the pawls 19 oppose the rotation of the planet carrier 16.

The planetary gear train then acts fully, by adding its additional reduction gear and by reversing the direction of rotation, which makes it possible to obtain a new reduction ratio more geared down at the level of the drum, the latter always rotating in the correct direction (clockwise) . Its reverse rotation is made impossible by the play of the pawls 23a, 23b and 19a, 19b.

The assembly of the planetary reduction gear is held in a vertical position by means of a bush bearing 27 itself retained by a closing plate 28. This plate 28 also ensures the maintenance in their housings of the base casing 9 of the pawls 19a, 19b (FIG. 10).

The automatic self-holding head consists of a block 31 which can be made of plastic in which are articulated drive teeth (30a to 30e) in variable number according to the size of the capstan, for example 4 to 8 (FIG. 3) and which can be produced, for example, by molding in aluminum or steel.

The block 31 is fixed to the upper part 29 of the drum 1 by screws 32 or by another known assembly means. This block has in its lower part a cylindrical portion 34 whose diameter is equal to, or very close to, that of the drive zone 36 of the drum (FIG. 1).

The drive teeth 30a to 30e, particularly described in FIGS. 3 to 5, are articulated in their rear lower part around axes 35a to 35e and are guided laterally in slots in the block 31.

The end 37 of the teeth is made narrower by an oblique chamfer cut in the tooth so as to exert a well localized pressure on the rope and to facilitate the introduction of the latter into the self-retaining head (Figure 5) .

Each tooth exerts pressure on the cord trapped between its end 37 and the upper part of the drum 29 under the effect of springs 33a to 33e (Figures 1, 4 and 6). These springs may for example have the shape of a hairpin but by having several turns placed vertically in the housings of the articulated teeth (FIGS. 4 and 6).

The cord wound on the active part 36 of the drum leaves the latter to enter the head by passing over a guide 38 of a known type, fixed or rotating, around an axis 39. The guide 38 is fixed on a prominent part 41 of the fixed head housing 40 (Figures 1 and 2).

In the rotational movement of the head, each tooth alternately climbs the rope 45 by pinching it against the face 29 of the drum, as shown in FIG. 2.

Due to the tangential direction of the teeth, the pressure edges 37 of which are tangent to a circle of diameter substantially smaller than that of the drum 36, the rope is rotated and pressed against the central diameter 34 of the block 31 (FIG. 3) .

Each tooth 30a to 30e has, thanks to the articulation around the horizontal axes 35, a large travel travel at its end 37 so as to pinch a wide variety of rope diameters and this automatically, without manual adjustment.

Unlike known systems in which a circular continuous jaw presses the entire rope by a spring or position adjustment system, here we limit parasitic friction and wear of the ropes by only pinching along a surface and an appropriate direction which favor the correct positioning of the rope in its housing 34.

An ejector of a known type 42 at the bottom of which the teeth 30 pass prevents the rope from continuing to rotate in the head after a sufficient angle of rotation. The rope is ejected from the head (Figures 1, 2 and 6).

This ejection can be further facilitated if the teeth are slightly raised by the ejector, thus causing the release of the rope (Figure 7).

The fixed casing 40 disposed around the self-holding head protects the rotating part of the head and supports the passage guide 38 as well as the ejector 42. The latter can be fixed by the pin 39 for holding the guide 38 .

The housing 40 is fixed to the base 2 of the capstan by a known connection system such as screws 43 (Figures 1 and 2).

The input shaft 14 carries at its upper part on a small bearing 55 which can be constituted by a small plastic tube.

The input shaft 14 has a greater or lesser length depending on the size of the capstan, but in all cases a modular transmission assembly of standard size can be attached to this input shaft by the axis 21.

Claims (12)

1. Self-retaining capstan with articulated teeth comprising a fixed support (2) forming a base, a drum (1) mounted so as to be able to rotate on the fixed support (2), a vertical shaft (14) for driving in rotation drum (1) connected to the latter by means of a reduction gear train transmission, and means for automatically clamping a cable or cord (45) wound on the capstan, which clamping means are mounted at the upper part (29) of the drum (1) to form a self-retaining head for the rope (45), characterized in that the means for automatically clamping a cable or rope comprise several articulated teeth (30a to 30e ) distributed at the lower part of a block (31) which overcomes the drum (1) and is integral with the latter in rotation, and springs (33a to 33e) mounted in said block (31) for exerting individual pressure down on each of the articulated teeth (30a, 30e) which exert themselves same individually pressing the rope (45) to pinch it on the upper end (29) of the drum (1). 2. Capstan according to claim 1, characterized in that the block (31) for supporting the clamping means (30a to 30e, 33) has in its lower part a cylindrical portion (34) whose diameter is substantially equal to that of the drive zone (36) of the drum (1), and in that the drive teeth (30a to 30e) are guided laterally in the slots provided in the block (31). 3. Capstan according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a number of drive teeth (30a to 30e) between 4 and 8. 4. Capstan according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end (37) of the drive teeth (30a to 30e) is made narrower by an oblique chamfer defining a pressure edge. 5. Capstan according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drive teeth (30a to 30e) are arranged in the block (31) so as to define a polygon and have pressure edges (37) arranged tangentially to a circle whose diameter is substantially smaller than that of the winding zone (36) of the drum (1). 6. Capstan according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drive teeth (30a to 30e) are articulated in their lower rear part around horizontal axes (35a to 35e) trapped in a groove ( 44) formed at the top of the drum (1). 7. Capstan according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a fixed casing (40) mounted on the fixed support (2) and enveloping the head of the capstan so as to ensure protection of the rotating parts. thereof, and in that a guide (38) for passing the rope (45) from the drum (1) to the self-retaining head is fixed to said fixed casing (40). 8. Capstan according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises an ejector (42) mounted on the casing (40) or the retaining pin of the guide (38), and disposed above the end (29 ) of the drum (1) so as to prevent the rope from continuing to rotate in the self-holding head after a predetermined angle of rotation. 9. Capstan according to claim 8, characterized in that the ejector (42) is mounted at a level located immediately below that of the articulated drive teeth (30a to 30e). 10. Capstan according to claim 8, characterized in that the ejector (42) is mounted below the drive teeth (30a to 30e) at a level such that it constitutes a cam slightly lifting each tooth (30a to 30e ) when passing over the ejector (42), so as to exert a positive command to loosen the rope drive (45). 11. Capstan according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the reduction gear transmission comprises a planetary reduction gear comprising a central pinion (13) integral with the input shaft (14), a planetary (24) bell-shaped comprising a ring gear (11) and an output pinion (10), a set of cooperating satellites (12a to 12c) with the crown (11) and rotating around axes (15a to 15c) fixed on a planet carrier (16) whose reverse rotation is made impossible by a set of pawls (19a, 19b), a toothed crown (5) formed at the bottom of the drum (1), at least two pinions (6) diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft (14) and cooperating with the output pinion (10) and the ring gear (5), and a clearance pawls (23a, 23b) which make integral, in the opposite direction to the rotation of the drum (1), the shaft (14) with the sun gear (24). 12. Capstan according to claim 11, characterized in that the entire transmission, with the exception of the pinions (6) diametrically opposed and the ring gear (5) integral with the drum (1), constitutes an independent modular assembly the size of the capstan mounted on the input shaft (14) and inserted from below inside the support (2) closed at its lower part by a removable plate (28).

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