US3729173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endless jaw chain self-clamping winch
Assignee: Tractel SAS
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Filing: 1972-01-24
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1992-01-24
Abstract
Abstract The rope extending through the device is clamped in a groove of substantially semi-circular or part-circular cross sectional contour, formed in the outer periphery of a pulley, along a predetermined arc of this pulley, by clamping jaws of curved longitudinal configuration and part-circular cross-sectional contour, said clamping jaws being adapted to move along with the rope during the travel thereof through the device, said clamping jaws being carried by an endless chain meshing with at least one circular set of teeth rigid with said pulley, suitable means being provided for automatically exerting against the ropeengaging jaws a clamping force varying as a function of the tension of the taut run of said rope.
Inventors
- 👤 R Levardon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:11
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66D; B66D1/00; B66D1/60; B66D1/74; B66D1/7415; B66D3/00; B66D3/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A winch with illimited rope travel, wherein the rope is adapted to be clamped radially in the groove of a power pulley along a certain arc thereof by the links of an endless chain which are urged in turn against said rope by roller means as a consequence of the winch load, said chain adapted to press said rope in the pulley groove being rotatably solid with said pulley, through the meshing engagement of the pivot pins of the chain links with notches formed in an annular member rigid with said power pulley, whereby said chain can partake in the driving and retaining of said rope in conjunction with the pulley and the groove of said pulley is given a semi-circular cross-sectional contour improving its rope-engaging surface while avoiding any wedging of said rope which might involve damages thereto, so that at the same time and given a same load the force exerted by said rollers on the chain can be reduced accordingly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A winch with illimited rope travel, wherein the rope is adapted to be clamped radially in the groove of a power pulley along a certain arc thereof by the links of an endless chain which are urged in turn against said rope by roller means as a consequence of the winch load, said chain adapted to press said rope in the pulley groove being rotatably solid with said pulley, through the meshing engagement of the pivot pins of the chain links with notches formed in an annular member rigid with said power pulley, whereby said chain can partake in the driving and retaining of said rope in conjunction with the pulley and the groove of said pulley is given a semi-circular cross-sectional contour improving its rope-engaging surface while avoiding any wedging of said rope which might involve damages thereto, so that at the same time and given a same load the force exerted by said rollers on the chain can be reduced accordingly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
Winch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said chain links comprises at one end an elongated hole for the interconnecting pin, in order to ensure a constantly uniform angular velocity of said link and therefore of the rope, nothwithstanding the possible wear and distortion thereof, thereby avoiding any relative slip between the link and the rope while ensuring a flexible meshing engagement between the link pins and the notches of the annular member rigid with said power pulley.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
Winch as set forth in claim 2, wherein inlet and outlet guide members are provided for the endless chain, said guide members consisting of a pair of stationary ramps engageable by the rollers of the chain link pins, said ramps having a corrugated contour wherein the waves have an angular pitch corresponding to the angular pitch of the links so that a constant slack equally distributed throughout the chain length is obtained while guiding said chain along a path smaller than that corresponding to a simply circular guiding path, whereby the number of chain links and the over-all dimensions of the winch can be reduced accordingly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
Winch as set forth in claim 3, wherein a deflector pulley connected to a stress multiplying lever controlling the rope presser rollers and receiving the rope along one fraction of its groove is adapted as a consequence of the rope deflection to exert on said rollers a clamping effort proportional to the load, thus avoiding any reaction between the casing and the clamping means, whereby the possible engagement of said casing with an obstacle during the winch operation in the release or lowering direction will not cause a reduction in the effort exerted on the rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Winch as set forth in claim 4, wherein the chain links are shaped to constitute clamping jaws of which the clamping face has the contour of a semi-circular groove, the opposite face being shaped to constitute a continuous circular race engageable by said clamping rollers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |