# US 10,501,292 B2 · Winch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,292 B2 - Document ID: US10501292B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/531,137 - Filed: 2015-11-27 - Published: 2017-11-09 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-27 - Assignees: Kite Power Systems Limited - Applicants: Kite Power Systems Limited - Inventors: William Hampton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501292B2 ## CPC - B66D 1/365: {by means of pivotably mounted drums or barrels} - B66D 1/38: by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel - B66D 1/60: adapted for special purposes - F03D 5/00: Other wind motors (controlling thereof F03D7/00) - F05B 2240/92: on an airbourne structure - Y02E 10/70: Wind energy - B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B) - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A winch for a power generating system using a tethered airborne device, the winch comprising a drum rotatable about its main axis a guiding apparatus arranged to guide an airborne device tether to wind and unwind around the drum; wherein the drum is rotatable relative to a pivot point to move in a first plane and the guiding apparatus is disposed relative to the drum to move along part of an orbital path around the drum in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the drum, thereby allowing alignment of the winch with respect to an unwound length of the tether. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A winch for a power generating system using a tethered airborne device, the winch comprising: a drum rotatable about its main axis; a guiding apparatus arranged to guide an airborne device tether to wind and unwind around the drum; wherein the drum is rotatable relative to a pivot point to move in a first plane and the guiding apparatus is disposed relative to the drum to move along part of an orbital path around the drum in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis of the drum, thereby allowing alignment of the winch with respect to an unwound length of the tether; and wherein the guiding apparatus is arranged to move along part of the orbital path around the drum by moving along a curved track that is coaxial with respect to the drum and extends along a section of the orbital path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the drum has a centre of gravity located between the pivot point and the unwound length of the tether. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the guiding apparatus comprises a guide piece to guide the tether on to a part of the drum proximate the guide piece when the winch is in a winding mode and to guide the tether away from a part of the drum proximate the guide piece when the winch is in an unwinding mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the guiding apparatus comprises a guide piece, and wherein the guide piece is arranged to move bidirectionally along a longitudinal track substantially parallel to the main axis of the drum and wherein the axis of the drum is fixed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, further comprising a turntable on which the drum is mounted so that the main axis of the drum sits in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the turntable is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, further comprising a turntable on which the drum is mounted and further comprising a mast mounted on and fixed with respect to the turntable, the mast being arranged to facilitate launch and capture of the tethered airborne device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, further comprising rails on which the drum is arranged to shuttle bidirectionally and a controller configured to control the movement of the drum with respect to the guiding apparatus to ensure alignment of the 5 guiding apparatus with a particular region of the drum. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, further comprising rails on which the drum is arranged to shuttle bidirectionally provided with a screw thread having a crossing helix. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, further comprising a cradle in which the drum is secured, wherein the drum is arranged to be rotatable in a substantially vertical plane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to actuate movement of the drum around the pivot point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, further comprising a controller to control movement of the drum in the first plane and movement of the guiding apparatus in the second plane in accordance with an airborne device flight plan. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the tether is a ribbon. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The winch of claim 1, wherein the tethered airborne device is a kite. ### Claim 14 A winching system for plural tethered airborne devices, the system comprising a plurality of rotatable turntables coupled to a central column wherein a respective winch is mounted on each turntable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of turntables are coupled to the central column by at least one movable arm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein each of a plurality of movable arms is movable independently of each of the other movable arms. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising a drive motor and a controller coupled to said drive motor, wherein the controller is configured to control the drive motor to orientate one or more of the respective turntables and arms to a desired orientation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising respective masts mounted on each of the turntables, the masts being arranged to facilitate launch and capture of the tethered airborne devices.