Abstract A winch drum or capstan or the like upon which a load-bearing cable or rope is reeled is operated by an hydraulic, hydrostatic transmission through a suitable gear reduction. The transmission is adjustable as to direction as well as output rate by means of a feedback system including a servomotor or valve which has manually selected automatic and manual modes. In the automatic mode, a load cell or other instrumentality directly sensing the tension in the cable or rope acts through the servomotor to adjust the transmission and thereby actuate the reeling device as required to maintain the desired tension in the cable or rope. In the manual mode, the tension sensing instrumentality is rendered ineffective to adjust the transmission.
Apparatus for regulating the tensioning of a load-carrying cord wound on a drum and irrespective of the size of the drum or the number of layers of cord thereon comprising an interconnected, reversible hydraulic pump and motor system coupled to said drum for driving the same, a regulator for said pump, reversible fluid motor means operatively connected to said regulator, a source of reference fluid pressure, and a loadsensing instrumentality directly connected to said cord, said instrumentality being of the type capable of supplying varying fluid pressures proportional to the load sensed and irrespective of the size of the drum or the number of layers of cord thereon, said fluid motor means comprising first and second fluid motors, said first fluid motor having a first movable member operatively connected to said regulator, a first pair of fluid lines connecting said source and said first fluid motor, said second fluid motor having a second movable member with a one-way operative connection to said first movable member, a second pair of fluid lines connecting the outer sides of said first and second movable members, respectively, with said source and said instrumentality, an additional fluid line connecting said source and the inner side of said second movable member, valve means in said additional line for selectively applying fluid pressure to said additional line to shift said second movable member out of operative connection with said first movable member to terminate automatic control of the cord tension, and manual valve means in said second line for applying differential fluid pressures to said first movable member for effecting manual control of said regulator and said drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
Apparatus for regulating the tensioning of a load-carrying cord wound on a drum and irrespective of the size of the drum or the number of layers of cord thereon comprising an interconnected, reversible hydraulic pump and motor system coupled to said drum for driving the same, a regulator for said pump, reversible fluid motor means operatively connected to said regulator, a source of reference fluid pressure, and a loadsensing instrumentality directly connected to said cord, said instrumentality being of the type capable of supplying varying fluid pressures proportional to the load sensed and irrespective of the size of the drum or the number of layers of cord thereon, said fluid motor means comprising first and second fluid motors, said first fluid motor having a first movable member operatively connected to said regulator, a first pair of fluid lines connecting said source and said first fluid motor, said second fluid motor having a second movable member with a one-way operative connection to said first movable member, a second pair of fluid lines connecting the outer sides of said first and second movable members, respectively, with said source and said instrumentality, an additional fluid line connecting said source and the inner side of said second movable member, valve means in said additional line for selectively applying fluid pressure to said additional line to shift said second movable member out of operative connection with said first movable member to terminate automatic control of the cord tension, and manual valve means in said second line for applying differential fluid pressures to said first movable member for effecting manual control of said regulator and said drum.