US2152555A - Controlling apparatus for winches - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1939. 5 G. T. MACFARLANE 2,152,555

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINCHES Filed July 7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI.

lo I. j 9 as P March 28, 1939. G MACFARLANE 2,152,555

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINCHES Filed July '7, 193'? 3 Sheets-Sheet IWU March 28, 1939. T MACFARLANE 2,152,555

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR WINCHES Filed July 7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /71 ey?for $60 719 Tyya rzaye Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNl'i'ED STATES A'E'EN'E OFFICE CQNTROLLING APPARATUS F01. WINCHES Application July 7, 1937, Serial No. 152,450 In Great Britain December 15, 1936 2 Claims.

This invention relates to winch gear for hauling, cargo working and like purposes with more especial reference to single barrel or single drum Winches or those made up of a plurality of such single drum units.

Embodiments of winch gear of this general character are described. in the specification of co-pending application Serial No. 150,204 wherein combined clutch and differential or epicyclic reversing gear is interposed between the main or power shaft driving the drum or barrel through reduction gear and its prime mover, e. g., an electric motor.

In all constructions of winch gear of this character, it is desirable to provide controlling means which are as near foolproof as possible, and the present invention has for its object the provision of means and apparatus to this end.

Further and favourable objects will appear from the following description:

Apparatus for controlling winch gear for hauling, cargo working and like purposes according to the present invention, includes interlocking means preventing the brakes, clutches and other elements to be controlled from being operated in other than a predetermined sequence or sequences.

Preferably, the controls are grouped and connected to a single control wheel equipped, it may be, with a dead mans handle so that on release it always returns to safety position in which the operating parts are retained stationary.

Hoisting is effected by movement of the wheel in one direction from normal position so as to close the hoisting brake, the holding and lowering brake remaining on so as to hold the hook immediately the control wheel is released or otherwise returned to normal position. For lowering, the wheel is moved in the other direction, the hoisting brake or clutch remaining open and the initial movement of the wheel releasing or partially releasing the holding brake whereon if the hook is loaded, lowering ensues, or if the hook is empty, resort can be had to further movement of the control wheel which throws in the lowering clutch to drive down the empty hook.

Before the hoisting clutch or brake can again be re-engaged, the control wheel requires to be first returned to normal position whereon the lowering clutch is opened and the holding brake re-engaged to hold the hook in any hoisted position, a unidirectional clutch or free wheel being associated with the lowering brake to permit the hoisting operation.

jacent the control panel or platform of the driving motor is connected through bevel gearing to a control shaft extending along the winch parallel to the main shaft and at right angles to the shaft and the drum or barrel.

This control shaft mounts at or near its end 10:

remote from the control wheel a releasing gear for the holding and lowering brake and in rear thereof an operating tine or lever for the hoisting brake, and still further along its length, towards the control wheel end a nut or other actuating mechanism for throwing in the lowering clutch, it being understood that rotation in one direction of the control shaft applies the hoisting brake, rotation in the other direction first releasing this brake, then after the control wheel passes neutral position releasing the lowering brake, and lastly, in the limit operative position closes the lowering clutch, both brakes being off.

Where the epicyclic gear is carried on the main drum shaft with a layshaft carrying the holding and hoisting brakes and the lowering clutch, it may be found more convenient for the control wheel to actuate through levers, in which case a sliding toothed rack is conveniently combined with the hand wheel, this rack carrying an abutment which when the hand wheel is moved in one direction contacts and swings a bell crank lever closing the hoisting brake, while on movement of the wheel in the other direction, it first contacts with the lever partially or wholly to release the holding brake, and subsequently either by further movement of the same lever or by resort to a third, closes the lowering clutch, all the levers being weighted or spring urged to ensure their return to neutral safety position.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying explanatory drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of control apparatus applied to a single drum winch in accordance with the specification of the aforementioned co-pending application, and wherein- Fig. 1' is a horizontal section through the winch, clearly showing the quadrated disposition of the barrel shaft and main shaft, and on the latter, the clutches, brakes and epicyclic gear to be controlled.

Fig. 2 is a detail and elevational view of the brake and clutch gear with its associated control mechanism. I 5

Figure 3 is a view taken along the lines 33 of Figure 2 with portions removed to more clearly show the details of the hoisting brake mechanism,

the brake lever being shown as spring urged.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the holding brake mechanism showing a Weighted brake lever and the preferred form of free wheeling clutch.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the actuating controls of the overhauling clutch.

Referring now to the drawings, but first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the detailed construction of the winch is fully described in the aforementioned co-pending application and includes the drum or barrel shaft, generally designated I, carrying the main or hoisting drum 2 and suitably supported for rotation in bearings in a main winch housing 3.

,Within the housing 3 the shaft I mounts at worm wheel 4 enmeshed with a Worm 5 on a main shaft 5 which also carries epicyclic reduction gear I, connecting such shaft with a driving motor 8, and for the regulation of such epicyclic gear 1, a hoisting brake 9 having a brake band I0.

At its other end the main shaft 6 carries a holding brake I I having a brake band I2, a unidirectional clutch or free wheel I 3 connecting the brake drum II with the main shaft 6 and permitting such shaft to turn in a direction torotate the drum 2 for hoisting while the brake band I2 of the holding brake II remains on.

For hoisting, the brake band It of the hoisting brake 9 is applied and holds the planet cage of the epicyclic gear I stationary, whereat the drive is transmitted from the motor 8 to the main shaft 6 at a reduced ratio, and thence through the worm reduction to the drum shaft I, the holding brake H remaining applied and being operative to hold the load in any hoisted position.

For lowering, the brake band I2 of the holding brake II is released, while for driving down the empty hook, provision is made for rotating the barrel 2 by means of an overhauling or lowering clutch I4 which is operative to couple the planet cage to the sun wheel of the epicyclic gear I, thus causing the latter to rotate solidly and transmit-- ting the drive from the motor to the main shaft at double speed in the reverse direction.

To ensure actuation of the hoisting brake 9, holding brake I I and overhauling clutch I 4 in the necessary sequence to prevent conflict, with resulting damage to the mechanism and danger to the operatives, resort is had to a unified control at a single control wheel 20, operating a control shaft 2I, whereon are interlocking means preventing operation of the brakes and clutches in other than the predetermined sequence.-

The control wheel 20 is disposed at a convenient location for the operator, being carried by a gear box 22, supported by a tubular extension 23 of the main winch housing 3, the gear box 22 enclosing a bevel 24 on the shaft of the control wheel 20, enmeshed with a similar bevel 25 on the main control shaft 2| running across the winch housing parallel with the brake and clutch carrying shaft 6.

The control shaft 2| is furnished with suitable bearings 26 and 21 in the housing 3, and within such housing mounts cams 28 and 29 for the operation respectively of the brake band ID of the hoisting brake 9 and the brake band I2 of the holding brake I I, to apply the former for hoisting and to release the latter for lowering.

With reference more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the actuating cam 28 for the brake band I0 of the hoisting brake 9 co-operates with a tappet 30 on a rocker shaft 3|, which, at its other end carries a cam or eccentric 32, in turn co-operating with an adjustable link 33 carrying the free end34 of the brakeband I9, the arrangement being such that as the control shaft 2| is rotated in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3, the cam 28 abuts with the tappet 30 and the rocker shaft 3| is turned sufflciently to apply the brake band II! of the hoisting brake 9.

35 is a release spring which returns the rocker shaft 3! with its tappet 33 and cam 32 to pristine position, when the control shaft 2I is returned to normal position by the control wheel 20.

The actuation of the brake band I2 of the hold ing brake I I is similar, except that on actuation it is released from its normally applied condition, and as will be seen more clearly from Fig. 4, its actuating cam 29 is reversed and co-operates with a tappet 49 on a rocker shaft 4 I, the other end of which mounts a cam 42, coupled through an adjustable link 43 to the end 44 of the brake band I2, the rocker shaft 4I also mounting an arm 45 bearing a counterpoise 46 tending to rock the shaft 4! in a direction to hold the brake band I2 normally applied, and after its release by actuation of the cam 29 to re-apply such band I2 of the holding brake II.

The actuating cams 28 and 29 are so located on the control shaft 21 that in the mid or neutral position of the control wheel 29 neither is operative, movement of the control wheel to one side of its neutral position applying the hoisting brake, and it being necessary to return the wheel to neutral and to move it in the other'direction to release the holding brake for lowering. 1

To bring in the overhauling clutch I4 for driving down the empty hook a further movement of the control wheel 20 in the lowering direction is called for, the holding brake II thus remaining released and the overhauling clutch I4 being coupled by the mechanism now to be described, with reference more particularly to Figs. 2 and 5.

On the control shaft 2| within the tubular extension 23 is secured an externally screw threaded sleeve 53 upon which rides a nut 5I having a lateral projection or ear 52, sliding in a longitudinal slot 53 in the tubular extension 23 and permitting the nut 5I to travel along the shaft 2I, when the latter is rotated while holding the nut 5I against rotation.

The projection 52 carries a screw threaded stud 54 serving as an abutment for a lever 55 mounted on a cross shaft 55, which in turn carries actuating levers 51 for the collar 58 of the overhauling clutch I4, the arrangement being such that as the control shaft 2i is rotated by movement of the control wheel beyond the lowering position, the nut 5| moves towards the right in Fig. 2, and, operating through the abutment 54 and levers 55 and 57, closes the overhauling clutch I4 to couple the motor 8 with the main shaft 5 for rotation of the latter in the reverse direction to normal without the intermediate reduction gear I being operative.

59 is a return spring for the lever 55 serving to open the clutch I4 on its being released by the nut 51, when the control wheel 20 is returned to normal position.

The driving motori! is furnished with a switch, and is preferably arranged to run constantly during the time the winch is in operation.

The winchgear with its controlling apparatus according to the invention, eliminates the necessity for the costly provision of a solenoid brake, since with the control Wheel 20 in neutral position,

the drum 2 is held stationary, and as will be understood any appropriate means may be asso ciated with such control wheel to ensure its positiVe return to safety position on release. W'here desired, the control wheel 29 may be located away from the winch and connected to the shaft 21 mechanically, electrically, or in other appropriate manner.

By the present invention the control of winchgear for hauling, cargo working and like purposes is rendered substantially foolproof, all likelihood of conflicting operations within the winch itself being removed.

What I claim is: c

1. In apparatus for controlling winchgear, including holding and hoisting brakes and a free wheel for the holding brake comprising a single control element and actuating means for the holding and hoisting brakes so connected to the control element that the holding brake remains applied when the hoisting brake is actuated while the hoisting brake remains released when the holding brake is released.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a planet gear drive and an overhauling clutch giving a high speed reverse drive through the planet gear for overhauling wherein the actuating means for such clutch are so connected to the control e1ement that both brakes are released before the overhauling clutch is connected.

GEORGE THOMAS MACFARLANE.

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