US1946145A - Winch - Google Patents

Description

Fb. 6, 1934. A Al JOHSON 1,946,145

ATTORNEYS.

Feb.- 6, 1934. A JOHNSON 41,946,145

I WINCH Filed June 22, 19:51' 3 sheets-sheet 2 lNvENToR Q rn.

BY v @7L W, if sm ATTORNEY WINCH Filed lJune 22. 193.1 i

3 Sheets-Sheet I5 lb d INVENroR.

@y was. ATTORNEYS.-

Patented Feb. 6, i934 tenia Almen al. Joon, Superior, Wis., assigner to Superior Iron Works Company application .lune 22, 193i. Serial No. 546,917

i3 Claims. (Cl. 25d-172) My invention relates to Winches, and has for its object theprovision of a simple, compact, durable and eiiicientreversible winch, capstan, or the like, adapted to automatically overhaul, or pay out a towing, hauling, or mooring line, or cable, when the strain thereon is reduced or increased beyond a predetermined tension. It has for a further pbject the provision of a winch of the character referred to which may also be arbitrarily operated. With these and other objects in view, it. consists of the structures, combinations, Vand arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a. section of my invention approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a section of said invention approximately on the line 1-1 of Fig. l, partlybroken away and lomitting the motor and train of gears between the motor and drum shaft hereinafter referred to. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of said invention. Fig; 4 is `an enlarged rear elevation v'of an operating lever, locking quadrant and fragment of a rock bar. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of said operating lever and quadrant, and of a latch for said lever. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of two pivotally connected levers, one of them beingl in section qn the line 3--3 of Fig. l. v

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central horizontal section of a modified form of controller. `Fig. 8 is an en'- larged vertical section of said modiiied form of controller, on theline 4 4 of Fig. 7'. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a modified form of prime mover. Fig. i9 is a schematic view of the interior of the preferred electric controller and electric switch panel, showing also an electric motor and dynamic 1 brake. Fig. l1 yis a top plan view of a gear 5 (shown in Fig.v i) and of transmission means between a modified form of prime mover (shown in Fig. 9) and said gear.

iin the drawings, l`is a base of any suitable fo or structure. Journalled in any suitable bearings on said base, as le, 22, is a drum shaft 2, upon which is mounted a gear 3, adapted to rotate said shaft and to be driven by any suitable engine or prime mover, as by an electric motor 4, or by a a steam engine 50, preferably through a train of speed reducing gears, as Wand 6.

1 Loosely mountedV on said shaft, is a cable drum member '7. Loosely mounted on said shaft is also a brake wheel member 8, provided with a flange 8a, upon which is mounted a brake band 8b.

Keyed to said shaft and adapted toA be rotated' thereby'is'a sun gear 9. Journalled upon one of" saidmembers are one or y,more planetary gears adaptedi to engage said gear 9, and to engage an ,inafter described spring 21.

internal gear formed upon the other of said members, 'as planetary gears 10, 11 and l2 preferably journalled upon one end of said drum and adapted to engage said gear 9, and an'annular internal gear 8 formed upon said brake wheel, by which planetary gears said internal gear 8 and said gear 9 are enabled to turn said drum. it will be observed, however, that when the prime 'mover and shaft 2 and gear 9 are idle and stationary said gear 9 forms a fixed fulcrum for the planetary gears, which, if the drumfbe then rotated by the excessively strained cable will tend to rotate said brake Wheel, or to slip said brake wheel with re,.-y s'pect to said brakeband. But before such slip can occur, said band, because of its frictional en- 7 gagement with said wheel', will be rocked a short distance by said wheel in opposition to the here- Said' movement of the band, or wheel, or both of them, will be communicated to any suitable devices for admittingany suitable energy-creating Imeans to the prime mover as through levers 24, 25, 26 and 27 to an electric controller 28 for admitting electric current from any suitable source, as a battery 28B to an electric switch panel 28h, which is connected 8 to said controller by a circuit wire cable'28c, and to said motor 4 and brake lL by the circuit wire cable 28d. Instead of said source of electricity, electric controller, circuit Wires, electric motor and dynamic brake, there may be substituted a source of steam pressure as a boiler (not shown, but well known to the art), and a suitable reversing steam valve 51, adapted tocommunicate with said boiler through a. pipe 58, and through pipes 51B and '5lb with the steam chest 52 for the cylin- 9,

gear 5. The valve stems 53d and d'of-said engine 100 may be pivoted at their outward ends to'eccen'tric.- collars 56B and 56h, respectively, journalled on said shaft' 56. Thereupon s'aid prime mover and intermediate gears will rotate said shaftZ, which will turn said gear 9, thus changing the character 105 of gear 9 from a figed fulcrum for the planetary gears to a driving gear for said drum and changing the character of the brake Wheel from a driven wheel to'a stationary fulcrum dominated or fixed by said brake band. The ,drum will thus 1 be operated to pay out said cable rapidly until the excessive strain thereon is relieved, when, as

will hereinafter appear, said motor will be stopped and said band will be retracted to normal posi-v tion by said spring 21.

'I'he ends of said brake band in the preferred form of my said invention are spaced from each other, and each of such ends is provided with an outwardly directed tongue, as 14 and 15, respectively, extending substantially parallel to and spaced from each other. Said band is contracted or set upon said wheel under predetermined primary pressure by any suitable resilient means provided with any suitable bearings. For example, at one side of such pair of tongues, a post 16 is erected upon said base. Extending loosely through both of said tongues, is a bolt 1'7, provided with la head adapted to bear against the outer face of the one of said tongues farthest from said post. A compression spring 18 and compression follower 19 and nut 20 are mounted upon said bolt between said post and the adjacent one of said tongues and spaced from said post, and a compression spring 21, and a compression follower 22 and nut 28 are mounted upon said bolt at the, opposite side of said post with the forward end of said spring 21 bearing against said post, by means of which spring 18 said brake band is set at a predetermined primary tension upon said brake wheel, and by means of which spring 21, any rocking movement of the brake band and brake wheel in one direction is yieldingly resisted and limited. If desired to temporarily loosen said brake band 8b in order to manually run the cable oif the drum to towing or mooring length, the terminal nuts on the rod 17 may be retracted to release'the tension on the springs 18 and 21, so that the brake wheel and drum will turn freely. If desired to omit said brake band, said rod 17 may be attached in any suitable manner directly to said wheel 8, as to a wrist pin 8d thereon, instead of to the tongues 14 and 15; in such case, the spring 18 may be omitted, as will be readily understood.

Secured at one end to any suitable anchorage adapted to lbe moved by said wheel 8, as to a wrist pin 8c1 on said wheel or, preferably, to one of said tongues, is a train of transmission devices -of any suitable structure as, for example, a series voi? pivotally connected links or levers, 24, 25 and 26, which train is secured at its opposite end to .a valve stem or controller lever for any suitable structure or type of prime mover, as to the controller lever 27 of a controller 28 of any suitable structure or type adapted to control the ow of power uid or energizing means to such prime mover, and preferably to also govern a suitable brake for such prime mover; for example, to control the flow of electricity to said motor 4, and to govern any suitable form oi magnetic or other electric brake, as de.

Said lever 25 is plvoted intermediate of its ends, as at 25 to one end of ay transversely reciprocate.- ble link 29 which is pivoted at its opposite end, as at 29e, to a rock shaft 3d, which rock shaft is mounted in any suitable bearings, as 30a and 36h, and is engaged at its opposite end by a manually operatable lever 3l. provided with any suitable locking means, as a latch 32 adapted to engage a locking quadrant as 33.' g i As has been observed, said spring 18 ymay be adjusted at anyI suitable constant primary tension to set said brake and hold said brake wheel against any suitable predetermined degree of strain on the towing or mooring tine or drum, but that ii such strain is exceeded, the drum and brake wheel will tend to rotate and rock said wheel and brake band a short distance in opposition to said spring 21. Any movement of said wheel and band under such conditions will be communicated through said train of links to the controller which will close the circuit of said magnetic brake y and close the circuit to said motor which will then through the train of intermediate gears rotate the drum and pay out said cable to relieve the excessive strain yon the same. When said strain is relieved, said spring 2l will draw the brake band back to normal position, which motion will be communicated to said controller lever and cause it to cut off the current to said motor and to open the circuit of said magnetic brake. Said controller is also preferably adapted in any suitable manner and by any suitable means to vary the speed of said motor according to the degree of excessive strain on said cable. This is accomplished by the modified steam governed form of my invention by the controller valve operating to enlarge or reduce the open area of the steam ports according to the degree and direction oi the oscillation of the brake wheel or brake band. Any of various forms or arrangements of electrical operating means or control may be used in combination, or connection with said winch, in

one form of which electrical means, 4 is an electric motor comprising an armature 4d, a series field 4b and a shunt iield 4. Said controller 28 comprises an oscillatable drum, not shown, adapted to be rocked or oscillated by the crank lever 27. Mounted upon any suitable stationary supports adjacent to said drum are two groups of stationary contactors, one of which groups comprises the contactors 28, 28f, 282, 28h, and 281, spaced from each other and from said drum and insulated from their support, said contactors being electrically connected together in any suitable manner as by a conductor wire orv bar 281. The other said group is spaced and insulated from the rst said group and comprises the contactors 28k, 281, 28m, 28, 28 and 28p, spaced from each other and insulated from their support and electrically connected with each other by the conductor wire or bar 28m. i Between said two groups is a group of movable contactors 60, 6l. 62, 63, 64, 65, and 66, mounted on said drum and adapted to be moved thereby.

The contacter 60, is connected with said source 28a in any suitable manner, as with the plus side thereof by the wire 281.

One of said stationary groups, as the group 28e to 281, inclusive, is termed the heaving-in group or side of the controller, three or more of the contactors thereof being in circuit during the heaving-in operation of `said winch.

The other of said stationary groups of contactors as the group 281* to 28D, inclusive, is termed the paying-out group, or side of said controller, three or more'of the contactors of the latter` stationary group being in circuit during the paying-out operation of said winch.

eWhen said drum is oscillated a sucient distance in one direction, three or more contactors of the heaving-in group come into contact with `respectively opposite contactors of said movable group. When said drum is rocked or oscillated in the opposite direction, four or more contactors of the paying-out group come into contact with respectively opposite contactors ef the nier/able group. When the drum is at eentrai er neutral position none of the contactera dithe nic-Vahle ldd either of said stationary groups.

The movable contactorll is connected with the opposite side of said source as by a minus line wire 28 and a branch Wire 61, in which latter wire is interposed a solenoid coil 61, adapted to close a normallyopen relay 61,fthecoil being distant from said relay in the diagram to. avoid confusion in connecting wires.

Said movable contactor 62 is connected with the minus side of said source through said line 28 and a branch Wire 62, in which wire 62 is interposed a, normally closed interlock circuit closer 62h, a solenoid coil 62, adapted to close a normally open relay 62d, and a solenoid coil 62 adapted to close a normally open relay 621. The movable contactor of the interlock circuit'. closer 61 is mounted upon 'the movable contactor of the 'relay 63d, hereinafter referred to, and is adapted to open when said relay 63 closes.

The movable contactor 63, is connected with the minus side of said source by said line wire 28 and by a branch wire 63, in which latter wire is interposed a normally closed interlock circuit closer 631?, a solenoid coil 63 adapted to close a normally open relay 63d, and a solenoid coil 63 adapted to, close 'a normally 'open relay 63f. The movable contactor of said interlock circuit closer 63 is mounted on the movable contactor of said relay 62d and is adapted to be opened thereby when said relay 62d closes.

Said movable contactor 64 is connected with the minus side of said source by said Wire A28s and a branch Wire 64 in which branch Wire is interposed a solenoid coil 64 adaptedy to open a normally closed contact 64 which is normally held closed by a spring 64d.

Said movable contactor 65 is connected with the minus side of said source by said wire 28 and by a branch Wire 65, in which wire 65 is interposed a solenoid coil 65b adapted to close a normally open relay 65.

Said movable contactor 66 is connected with the minus side of said source byv said wire 28 and a branch wire 66, in which wire 66 is interposed a solenoid oil 66b adapted to open a normally closed relay 66 which is normally held closed by a spring 66d.

Solenoid coils 67, 68, and 69 are connected in.

parallel with the plus side or said source by said l wire 281' Said coil 67 is adapted to close a normally open relay 67 and is connected in parallel with the minus side of said source by electrically parallel Wires' 67 and 67 and/by minus line Wire 28. 'En said Wire 67 is interposed a normally open relay 67cl adapted to be closed by an interlock circuit closer 67e whichis mounted upon the movable contactor of said relay 62f and is adapted to close when said relay 62f closes. interposed a normally open relay 671 adapted to be closed by an interlock circuit closer 67 which is mounted upon the movable contactor of said relay 66 and is adapted to close when said relay 66 opens.

Said coil 68 is adapted to close a normally open relay 68 and is connected with the minus sideof said source by a wire 68b and by said wires 67b and 67 and said interlock circuit closers 67 and 67g and said wire 28. In said wire 68h is interposed a normally closed jam relay 68 the circuit closer of which is adapted to be re. tracted or opened by a solenoid coil 68i when an overload occurs in the motor circuit.

In said Wire 67 is Said coil 69 is adapted to close a normally open relay 69 and is connected with the minus side of said source by a wire 69, said Wire 68, said relay 68, said wires 67b and 67, said normally open Y .interlock circuit closers 67 and 67 and said wire 28. It will be observed that when said jam or overload relay opens, saidrelays 68 and 69 will be cut out or circuit, thus cutting into the motor circuit certain resistance elements 74, 73, and 72, hereinafter referred to.

The solenoid coils 70, 7l, and 72 are holding coils for holding open the relays 67, 68 and 69, respectively, which are open except when said relays are closed by the coils 67, 68, and- 69, respectively, at which times s aid coil 70 is shorted by the closing of said interlock circuitcloser 67 or 678, and at which times said holding coils 71 and 72 are deenergized or shorted by the closing oil' relays 67 and 68, respectively.

Resistance elements 75, 74, 73 and 72 are interposed in the main armature circuit until said holding coil 70 is energized. When the controller drum is turned to rst heaving-in position, bringing the'contactors 60, 6l and 62 into contact with the contactors 28, 28 and 28, respectively, relay 61 closes, .releasing the brake 4; relay 6?d closes; relay 62I closes;' interlock 63b opens; current ows through series held 4b, relay 62; resistance elements 75, 74, 73 and 72, and simultaneously through the armature and resistance element 76, thence through relay 62f to the minus'side of the source; the motor turns slowly. interlock circuit closer 67 closes; relays 67, 68e, and 69 close, cutting outresistance elements 75, 74 and 73, and shorting the holding coils 71 and 72; the speed of the motor increases.

When the controller drum is turned in the same direction to second heaving-in position bringing the contactor 64 into contact with contactor 28h,

relay 64 opens cutting out resistance element 76;

the speed of the motor increases.

When the controller drul is turned farther' in the same direction, bringing the contactor 66 into contact with the contactor 281, relay 66 opens, cutting out the shunt ileld 4, and the motor runs at high speed. When the controller drum is reversed to central or neutral position, the relay 61 opens and the brake 4 is set by a spring. The motor-then running by momentum movable contactor of relay 63d), opens, relay 65 closes; current ows simultaneously through shunt iield 4 and series field 4b, the relay 63d, and simultaneously, or in parallel, through the armature and resistance elements 76 and 77, thence through resistance elements 72, 73, 74

and 75, and relay 67t to the minus side of the source; the holding coils 70, 71 and'72 are energized; the motor turns slowly in paying-out direction.

When the controller drum is turned-farther in the same direction, the contacter 65 passes beyond and out of contact with the contacter 28; the relay 65 opens; the speed of the motor increases.

When the controller drum is turned farther in the paying-out direction the contactors 64 and '66' are brought into contact with the contactors 28n and 28p, respectively; the coil 64b is energized and relay 64c opens; the coil 66b is energized and the relay 66c opens, de-energizing the shunt eld 4c; interlock 67g (mounted on the movable contactor of relay 56), closes; coils 67, 68 and 69 are energized; holding coil 70 is shorted and relay 67a closes; holding coil 71 is shorted and relay 68a closes; holding coil 72 is shorted, and relay 69 closes. The closing of relays 67a, 68, and 69a cuts the resistance elements 75, 74 and 73 out of circuit; the motor runs at highspeed.

If, while the motoris turning slowly in the paying-out direction, accelerating forces occur, due to the overhauling action, or increasing tension of the cable and tending to speed up the motor, said motor will, in resistance thereto, regenerate and operate as a dynamic brake; the result being somewhat similar to that effected by an automobile engine turning ahead in low, or second gear and resisting acceleration by gravity of the speed of the car while moving down hill.

v But if the tension on the cable becomes suicient to move the controller to a higher speed, or higher electrical gear paying-out position, the speed of the motor will be accelerated and the tension of y the cable will be temporarily eased.

In operation, however, the lever 31 is normally locked in heaving-in position, thus temporarily swinging said link 25 onv its pivoted connection with said link 24 and causing said links 25 and 26 to operate said controller lever thereby starting the Winch to heave in until the strain on the cable rocks the brake Wheel and brake far enough to straighten said link 25 on its pivot 25 thus returning said controller lever to neutral and stopping the motor. Under such circumstances, i1" the cable becomes slack, said spring 21 will rock said band and Wheel to their original positions, thus swinging said link 25 on its pivot 25a to operative heaving-in position until such slack has been taken un.

If it is desired to arbitrarily slack the cable, said lever 3l is temporarily set at the opposite, or pay-out side of center or vertical axis oi said quadrant thus swinging the link 25 and valve or controller stern or lever into payingout, or motor reversing position. When it is desired to stop such pay-out operation until the cable has become taut again, said lever 3l may be set at. center or neutral position, or again returned to a heave-in position.

When the lever 3l is set at center, or neutral, and if there is no strain on the cable, one of said tongueaias l5, bears against a fixed shoulder or stop 3e of any suitable structure, pref erably extending from, or forming part of said base and on the pay-out side of' said tongue.

When it is not desired to use said Winch, vany suitable cut-od valve or switch may be arbitrarily operated to cut of? the admission of energy' creating means to ksaid prime mover, as will be Well known to the art.

assaut A towing or mooring cable 35 is engaged by said drum.

While I have described one form of my said inI vention, it is obvious that various modifications thereof er alterations therein may be made within the scope and spirit of certain of my claims.

What il claim 'is--a l. The combination of a shaft'a cable drum journalled on said shaft, a brake wheel.V journalled on said shaft, a brake band mounted on said wheel, means for putting said band under tension, a prime mover, means connected to said brake band for automatically governing the admission of energy to said prime mover, means for transmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft, and means for transmitting motion from said shaft to said drum and brake wheel.

2. The combination ci a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled on said shaft, a brake wheel journalled on said shaft, a brake band mounted on said wheel, adiustable means for putting said band under tension, a primemover, means connected to said brake band for automatically governing the admission of energizing fluid to said prime mover, means for transmit ting motion from said prime mover to said shaft, and means for transmitting motion from said shaft to said drum.

A3. The combination oi a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled on said shaft, a brake wheel journalled on said shaft, a brake band mounted on said wheel, resilient means for putting said band under tension, a prime mover, means connected to said band for automatically governing the admission ci energy to said prime mover, means connected to said automatic governing means for manually shifting a portion of the same to arbitrarily govern the admission of energy to said prime mover, means for transmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft and means for transmitting motion frein said shaft to said drum and brake Wheel.

4. The combination of a rotatable shaft, a cable drum member journalled on said shaft, a brake wheel member journalled on said shaft, a brake band applied to said brake wheel, resilient means for putting said band under tension, a gear keyed to said shaft, ne of said members being provided with a relatively stationary annular internal gear, the other of said members having a gear journalled thereon in mesh with said internal gear and said keyed gear, a prime mover, transmission means for transmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft, and means connected to said brake band for automatically governing the admission of energizing uid to said prime mover.

5. The combination of a shaft, a cable drum journalled on said shaft, a brake wheel member journalled on said shaft, a brake band member mounted on said wheel member, a prime mover, means for transmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft, means for transmitting motion from said shaft to said cable drum and brake wheel, a throttle valve for said prime mover, and transmission means connected to one of said members and to said valve for operating said valve.

e. The vcombination of a rotatable shaft, a gear keyed to said shaft, a cable drum member journalled on said' shaft, a brake wheel member journalled on said shaft, a brake band mounted on said wheel,y resilient means for putting said band under tension, one of said members being provided with an annular internal gear, the other `means engaging said wheel member ,and drum of said members havingv a gear journalled thereon infmesh with said internal gear andwith said keyed gear, resilient means for resisting and limiting motion of said Wheel and brake band, a prime mover, means for transmitting motion from said prime mover to said shaft,

and means connected to -said brake band for.

automatically governing the admission of energizing fluid to said prime mover.

7. The combination of a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled on said shaft, a brake wheel member journalled on said shaft, meansfor transmitting motion from said shaft'to saidy Y said prime mover, and transmission means conv nected to one of said members and to said throttle for automatically operating saidthrottle." 8. The `combination With a suitablesupport, of a rotatable shaft, a cable drum journalled on said shaft, a Wheel member journaled on saidshaft, a brake member applied to said wheel member, resilient means for pressing said brake -memberagainst said Wheel'member, a prime mover, transmission means connected to one of said members and to the controlling valve of said prime mover,transmission means engaging said prime mover. and said shaft, and" transmission means engaging said shaft and drum and Wheel ling valve, transmission means engaging said prime mover and said shaft, transmission means engaging said wheel member and drum and shaft,

a series .of levers connected to one of said members and to said controlling valve,` a lever connected to one of the levers of said series for arbitrarily shifting its position, and resilient means for resisting rocking movement in one direction of said Wheel and wheel brake.

l0. The combinationv of a support, a shaft.

journalled on said support, a drum'journalled on'said shaft, a prime mover provided with a controlling valve, transmission means engaging said prime mover and said shaft, a wheel member axially alinedlvvith said shaft, transmission and shaft, a brake for said-prime mover, a brake member for said Wheel member, transmission means` engaged by one of said members and adapted to operate said valve, and a lever connected to said valve-operating transmission means for arbitrarily adjusting the same.

11. The combination with a rotatable member,

, of a rotatable shaft, a gear mounted on said shaft and adapted to turn the same, a prime mover, 85 transmission means engaged by said prime mover and engaging said gear, an internal gear journalled on said shaft, a sun gear mounted on said shaft and adaptedv to be turned thereby, a planetary gear carried by said rotatable member and lengaging said sun gear and said internal gear, resilient means adapted to resist the movement of said internal gear, in one direction, `a valve adapted to `govern the admission of energizing means to said prime mover, transmission means 95 governed by said internal gear and adapted tol operatevs'aid valve,fand means for adjusting such valve operating transmission means. I

12. The combination with a rotatable member, of a rotatable'shaft, a prime mover, transmission 100 means engaged by said prime mover and by said shaft for turning said shaft, an oscillatable member journalled on said shaft, a sun gear mounted on said shaft and adapted to be turned thereby, a planetary gear carried by one of said members and engaging said sun gear, the other of said members having an annular gearportion adapted to engage said planetary gear, yielding means adapted to resist the movement in a rotarial direction-of one of said members, a valve for controlling the admission of energizing means t0 said prime mover, transmission means adapted to be actuated by one of said members and adapted to operate said valve, and means for adjusting such valve operating means.

13. 'Ihe combination with a rotary member, of a rotatable shaft, a prime mover, transmission means engaged by said prime mover and by said shaft for turning said shaft, an oscillatable mem-l ber journalled on said shaft, a sun gear mounted on said shaft and adapted to be turned thereby,

4a planetary gear carried by one of said members ALMON A. JOHNSON. E3@

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