Shipboard winch with retract reel actuator

Claim 2

In a marine winch, the combination of a speed-reducing drive train, including a rotatable drive element at the output end thereof, a drive shaft secured to said drive element for rotation therewith, means connecting said drive shaft to a winch body to effect reduced-speed rotation thereof in response to actuation of said drive train, an axle shaft, an actuating reel rotatably journalled on said axle shaft, uni-directional clutch means interconnected said reel to the input end of said drive train to actuate it for rotation of said drive shaft in a given direction, a flexible element wound upon said reel and extendable therefrom to effect actuating rotation of said reel, spring means connected to said reel and energized in response to actuating rotation of said reel to urge counter-rotation of said reel upon release of said extended flexible element, and uni-directional locking means engaging said drive train to prevent counter-rotation thereof.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a spring-loaded pawl.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive train comprises a belt and pulleys in speed-reducing relationship, and said drive element is one of said pulleys.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive train comprises a chain and sprockets in speed-reducing relationship, and said drive element is one of said sprockets.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive train element comprises a speed-reducing gear train, and said drive element is a drive gear.

Claim 7

In a winch, the combination of a first speed-reducing drive train, including a drive element at the output end thereof, means connecting said drive element to a winch body to effect reduced-speed rotation thereof, a first spring-biased retract reel, first uni-directional clutch means connecting said first reel to the input end of said first drive train to actuate it to rotate said winch body in a given direction, a first flexible element wound upon said first reel and extendable therefrom to effect actuating rotation of said first reel in opposition to its spring-bias, a second speed-reducing drive train having its output end operatively connected to the input end of said first drive train, a second spring-biased retract reel, second unidirectional clutch means connecting said second reel to the input end of said second drive train to actuate it to rotate said winch body in said given direction through said first drive train, a second flexible element wound upon said second reel and extendable therefrom to effect actuating rotation of said second reel in opposition to its spring-bias, and uni-directional locking means engaging said first and second drive trains to prevent counter-rotation thereof.

Claim 8

In a winch, the combination of a first speed-reducing drive train, including a drive element at the output end thereof, means connecting said drive element to a winch body to effect reduced-speed rotation thereof, a first spring-biased retract reel, first uni-directional clutch means connecting said first reel to the input end of said first drive train to actuate it to rotate said winch body in a given direction, a first flexible element wound upon said first reel and extendable therefrom to effect actuating rotation of said first reel in opposition to its spring-bias, a second speed-reducing drive train having its output end operatively connected to the input end of said first drive train, a second spring-biased retract reel, second unidirectional clutch means connecting said second reel to the input end of said second drive train to actuate it to rotate said winch body in said given direction through said first drive train, a second flexible element wound upon said second reel and extendable therefrom to effect actuating rotation of said second reel in opposition to its spring-bias, and uni-directional locking means engaging said first and second drive trains to prevent counter-rotation thereof.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said first-named and second drive trains each comprise a gear train and said drive element is a drive gear, said first-named gear train includes a pinion gear engaging said first-named drive gear, and means connecting said second drive gear for coaxial rotation with said pinion gear.

Claim 10

In a marine winch, the combination of a first speed-reducing drive train, including a rotatable drive element at the output end thereof, a drive shaft secured to said drive element for rotation therewith, means connecting said drive shaft to a winch body to effect reduced-speed rotation thereof in response to actuation of said first drive train, a first axle shaft, a first actuating reel rotatably journalled on said first axle shaft, first uni-directional clutch means interconnecting said first reel to the input end of said first drive train to actuate it to rotate said drive shaft in a given direction, a first flexible element wound upon said first reel and extendable therefrom to effect actuating rotation of said first reel, first spring means connected to said first reel and energized in response to actuating rotation of said first reel to urge counter-rotation of said first reel upon release of said extended first flexible element, a second speed-reducing drive train, including a second rotatable drive element at the output end thereof connected to the input end of said first speed-reducing drive train, a second axle shaft, a second actuating reel rotatably journalled on said second axle shaft, second uni-directional clutch means interconnecting said second reel to the input end of said second drive train to actuate it to rotate said drive shaft in said given direction through said first drive train, a second flexible element wound upon said second reel and extendable therefrom to effect actUating rotation of said second reel, second spring means connected to said second reel and energized in response to actuating rotation of said second reel to urge counter-rotation of said second reel upon release of said extended second flexible element, and unidirectional lock means engaging said first and second drive trains to prevent counter-rotation thereof, whereby actuation of said first actuating reel imparts rotation to said winch body at a given speed-reduction ratio and actuation of said second actuating reel imparts rotation to said winch body at a substantially reduced speed and higher torque.

Claim 11

In a marine winch, the combination of a first speed-reducing drive train, including a rotatable drive element at the output end thereof, a drive shaft secured to said drive element for rotation therewith, means connecting said drive shaft to a winch body to effect reduced-speed rotation thereof in response to actuation of said first drive train, a first axle shaft, a first actuating reel rotatably journalled on said first axle shaft, first uni-directional clutch means interconnecting said first reel to the input end of said first drive train to actuate it to rotate said drive shaft in a given direction, a first flexible element wound upon said first reel and extendable therefrom to effect actuating rotation of said first reel, first spring means connected to said first reel and energized in response to actuating rotation of said first reel to urge counter-rotation of said first reel upon release of said extended first flexible element, a second speed-reducing drive train, including a second rotatable drive element at the output end thereof connected to the input end of said first speed-reducing drive train, a second axle shaft, a second actuating reel rotatably journalled on said second axle shaft, second uni-directional clutch means interconnecting said second reel to the input end of said second drive train to actuate it to rotate said drive shaft in said given direction through said first drive train, a second flexible element wound upon said second reel and extendable therefrom to effect actUating rotation of said second reel, second spring means connected to said second reel and energized in response to actuating rotation of said second reel to urge counter-rotation of said second reel upon release of said extended second flexible element, and unidirectional lock means engaging said first and second drive trains to prevent counter-rotation thereof, whereby actuation of said first actuating reel imparts rotation to said winch body at a given speed-reduction ratio and actuation of said second actuating reel imparts rotation to said winch body at a substantially reduced speed and higher torque.

Claim 12

A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said second flexible element is wound upon said second reel in a direction opposite to the direction of said first-named flexible element.