GB2242695A

GB2242695A - Portable ground anchor for winch cables

Info

Publication number: GB2242695A
Application number: GB9007413A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Brian Muckle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-04-02
Filing date: 1990-04-02
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-02
Also published as: GB9007413D0; GB2242695B

Abstract

The ground anchor consists of a series of inclined tines 1 fastened to a triangular frame 2 by rollers 3. A drawbar 4 is attached to the triangle and has the cable attached at one end. In operation the unit is laid on the ground and the winch engaged. As the unit is drawn, force is applied to the tines causing them to engage in the soil until their re-action equals that of the cable, the rollers moving down the upright portion of the triangular frame. The unit is demounted by removing pins (a) and folded into a small package for transport in the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE GROUND AHCHOR FOR WINCH CABLES Introduction Winches are increasingly being fitted to vehicles for off-the-roal application.

In use, the end of the ca.ble must be fastened to some anchor sufficiently strong to resist the force developed in the cable.

Natural anchors such as tree trunks may not occur in the appropriate place. Artificial anchors such as plates Dinned to the ground by steel pegs or spare wheels sunk in trenches dug in the ground are effective but laborious in use particularly when this hes to be repeated frequently.

The invention described is a portable anchor which is self-engagiiig in the ground yet which can be extracted easily and demoted to form a modest package to be carried in the vehicle in a simila)' manner to a spare wheel. It is complementary to the winch, transforming it from something of limited use to a. valuable acquisition.

The same principle can be used when mounted on a. portable, hand or engine operated winch which can ena.ble vehicles recovery operations to be carried out in a chew ear and more flexiblc manner than at present.

Description The ground anchor consists of a number of tines welded to a frame fig. 1 & 2 (1) and inclined at a.n angle to the surfacc. The frame (1) is attached to the vertica.l shaft of the triangle (2) by means of rollers (3) which permit it to slide down -the shaft yet maintain the same inclination to -the soil surface. The drawbar (4) is pinned to the triangle (2) and the cable is attached to its end. The winch is demounta.ble into three parts b,y removing the pins (a.). It can then be arranged in a small package.

The size of the tines may be varie d to suit the winch capacity. The shape cf the tines may be va.ried to suit different soil conditions.

Operation The anchor is laid on the ground at a distance from the winch with the cable as near horizontal as possible. The winch is engaged and a small vertical force applied at print fig. 1 (b) to initia.te the engagement of the tines in the soil. A lerson's weight is sufficient.

As the anchor is drawn towards the winch the tines gradua.lly engage in the soil and the rollers (3) on frame (1) slide down the shaft.

The tines cease further engagement in the soil when the reaction generated is equal to the force in the cable. Further operation of the winch causes the vehicle to move toward the anchor.

The turning moment generated by the tines is resisted by the drawbar and the plate (5). To disengage the anchor the cable is removed and the anchor lifted out of the ground in the vee-shaped slots created during the initial engagement of the tines.

Claims

C L A I M S

a) The rollers figs 1, 2, 3 & 4, (3) maintain the geometry of the frame during the entry phase of the tines in the soil.

b) The rollers (3) allow the automatic engagement of the tines in the soil until the reaction is balanced. They likewise permit any increase in reaction to occur automatically during the winching opera.tion.