GB2024759A - Mounting hoists or winches - Google Patents

Abstract

A hoist or winch comprising a base 12, a drum housing 16 pivotally mounted on the base and containing a drum 18, a length of flat tape 20, secured at one end to the drum, the width of the tape being slightly less than the width of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to wind the tape onto the drum. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hoists and winches This invention relates to hoists and winches for hauling heavy loads such as cars and boats.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hoist or winch comprising a base, a drum housing pivotally mounted on the base and containing a drum, a length of flat tape secured at one end to the drum, the width of the tape being slightly less than the width of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to wind the tape onto the drum.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a top perspective view of a winch according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the winch 10 includes a base 12 having apertures 14to enable the base to be fixed to a support (not shown). Pivotally mounted on the base is a drum housing 16 containing a drum 18 to which a length of flat tape 20 is secured, the tape being of sufficient tensile strength to accommodate the hauling-in of a load such as a car or boat. The tape extends through an opening 22 at the front of the housing 16 and has a width slightly less than the width of the drum. The pivotal mounting for the drum is located toward the rear of the housing and comprises a high tensile bolt 24 passing through the housing base and base 12 and retained by a washer 26 and two lock-nuts 28; positioned between the bases and surrounding the bolt is a thrust bearing 30.At the front of the drum housing base is provided two spaced ball-bearings 32 each located in a respective one of two concave recesses formed in the undersurface of the housing base, the three bearings providing a stable three-point support for the drum housing.

To wind the tape on the drum, there is provided a small gear wheel 34 intermeshing with a larger gear wheel 36 secured to the drum, the gear wheel 34 being mounted on a shaft 38 having a flattened end portion 38a to receive a crank-handle. When hauling in the tape with light or no load attached, the crank-handle may be fitted to a flattened end portion 40a of drum shaft 40.

Two ratchets 42 are spring biased into engagement with the larger gear wheel 38, each ratchet being movable to a disengaged position by a respective one of two cams 44 angularly rotatable by levers 46. When both ratchets are disengaged, the tape can be quickly unwound from the drum.

Advantages of the above described winch are that the flat tape is easier to handle than conventional coiled wire cable, and that the pivotal mounting of the drum housing enables the tape to be wound onto the drum without twisting or kinking especially when loads being winched are not exactly centrally positioned with respect to the winch. Angular rotation of the drum housing is limited by two limit bolts 50 (one only shown) extending from base 12.

1. A hoist or winch comprising a base, a drum housing pivotally mounted on the base and containing a drum, a length of flat tape secured at one end to the drum, the width of the tape being slightly less than the width of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to wind the tape onto the drum.

2. The hoist or winch of Claim 1, wherein the pivot of the drum housing is provided by a bolt passing through the base and a base wall of the drum housing, and by a thrust bearing surrounding the bolt and positioned between the base and said base wall.

3. The hoist or winch of Claim 2, including two rollable support members spaced from each other and from the pivot to provide a three point support for the drum housing.

4. The hoist or winch of Claim 3, wherein the two support members are provided by two ball bearings each located in a respective one of two concave recesses formed in the undersurface of the housing base wall.

5. The hoist or winch according to any one of the preceding claims, including two limit members extending upwardly from said base to limit the pivoted movement of the drum housing.

6. The hoist or winch according to any one of the preceding claims, including a driveable gear wheel fixed for rotation with the drum, and at least one ratchet movable against a spring bias by a manually operated cam to a position disengaged from the gear wheel thereby to free the drum for rotation.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hoists and winches This invention relates to hoists and winches for hauling heavy loads such as cars and boats. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hoist or winch comprising a base, a drum housing pivotally mounted on the base and containing a drum, a length of flat tape secured at one end to the drum, the width of the tape being slightly less than the width of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to wind the tape onto the drum. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a top perspective view of a winch according to the invention. Referring to the drawing, the winch 10 includes a base 12 having apertures 14to enable the base to be fixed to a support (not shown). Pivotally mounted on the base is a drum housing 16 containing a drum 18 to which a length of flat tape 20 is secured, the tape being of sufficient tensile strength to accommodate the hauling-in of a load such as a car or boat. The tape extends through an opening 22 at the front of the housing 16 and has a width slightly less than the width of the drum. The pivotal mounting for the drum is located toward the rear of the housing and comprises a high tensile bolt 24 passing through the housing base and base 12 and retained by a washer 26 and two lock-nuts 28; positioned between the bases and surrounding the bolt is a thrust bearing 30.At the front of the drum housing base is provided two spaced ball-bearings 32 each located in a respective one of two concave recesses formed in the undersurface of the housing base, the three bearings providing a stable three-point support for the drum housing. To wind the tape on the drum, there is provided a small gear wheel 34 intermeshing with a larger gear wheel 36 secured to the drum, the gear wheel 34 being mounted on a shaft 38 having a flattened end portion 38a to receive a crank-handle. When hauling in the tape with light or no load attached, the crank-handle may be fitted to a flattened end portion 40a of drum shaft 40. Two ratchets 42 are spring biased into engagement with the larger gear wheel 38, each ratchet being movable to a disengaged position by a respective one of two cams 44 angularly rotatable by levers 46. When both ratchets are disengaged, the tape can be quickly unwound from the drum. Advantages of the above described winch are that the flat tape is easier to handle than conventional coiled wire cable, and that the pivotal mounting of the drum housing enables the tape to be wound onto the drum without twisting or kinking especially when loads being winched are not exactly centrally positioned with respect to the winch. Angular rotation of the drum housing is limited by two limit bolts 50 (one only shown) extending from base 12. CLAIMS

1. A hoist or winch comprising a base, a drum housing pivotally mounted on the base and containing a drum, a length of flat tape secured at one end to the drum, the width of the tape being slightly less than the width of the drum, and means for rotating the drum to wind the tape onto the drum.

2. The hoist or winch of Claim 1, wherein the pivot of the drum housing is provided by a bolt passing through the base and a base wall of the drum housing, and by a thrust bearing surrounding the bolt and positioned between the base and said base wall.

3. The hoist or winch of Claim 2, including two rollable support members spaced from each other and from the pivot to provide a three point support for the drum housing.

4. The hoist or winch of Claim 3, wherein the two support members are provided by two ball bearings each located in a respective one of two concave recesses formed in the undersurface of the housing base wall.

5. The hoist or winch according to any one of the preceding claims, including two limit members extending upwardly from said base to limit the pivoted movement of the drum housing.

6. The hoist or winch according to any one of the preceding claims, including a driveable gear wheel fixed for rotation with the drum, and at least one ratchet movable against a spring bias by a manually operated cam to a position disengaged from the gear wheel thereby to free the drum for rotation.